Dishing up some new thrifty finds

Haha, no, contrary to the way it may appear, this little blog has not completely fallen off the face of the earth! I haven't been posting here much (or anywhere for that matter) but I am still keeping up with reading all my favorite home/decorating/DIY/craft blogs... it has been a busy year with my daughter graduating from high school and now getting ready to go off on her summer missions trip and then head to college. I am a proud (if somewhat weepy) mama! 

I also finally have a few days off from work, and got the bug to go thrifting today. Tried a few garage sales but found nothing worthwhile (I feel a "pet peeve" post coming on!), then hit one of my favorite thrift stores and found this pristine Liberty Blue dinner plate. 

This is a pattern I've wanted to collect for awhile - I love the rich blue-and-white combination - but, I am actually doing a little experiment with this piece. You see, what I really would like to have is another Royal Albert Old Country Roses dinner plate, so that I will finally have a set of four. So I have posted my Liberty Blue in the barter section of my local CraigsList, and I have also started an "Items I'll Barter" board on Pinterest - all in hopes that someone locally will want to trade plate-for-plate. 
I also found a few other wonderful bargains, including this little set of four Fireking bread/dessert plates - just 89 cents apiece. 

And, three pieces of Pfaltzgraff Summer Breeze - a 14-inch platter, and two 8-inch serving or mixing bowls, just $2.99 each. I might just try bartering these too, but I do love the colors. Maybe I'll keep the bowls and barter the platter. 

More soon!