Life in threes
When I visit my local op shop I’m always on the lookout for things that come in threes. I wasn’t always this way, but kitschy things from the ‘60s and ‘70s seem to come in sets so I’ve kind of fallen back into the trend.
Here are some of my threesomes (ok – not a great word for this family-style blog, but it’ll do).
My latest acquisition – three budgies on a piece of wood
Three flying ducks on a part of the unfinished kitchen wall. They have fallen off a few times and broken, so I just keep sticking them back together again!
Three happy elephants
Salt, pepper and toothpick thingy
Three kitten angels that came out a bit blurry in this shot.
Three jar things and I have no idea what to do with them – other than let them sit on a shelf
Graciela Rodo Boulanger _ Holiday on Wheels
I bought this at the op shop for $10 because I liked the three ladies on pushbikes. But once I got it home and took a good look at it I realised it’s probably worth a whole lot more than I paid for it. It was framed in the 70s and I need to have it appraised to keep my mind at ease that it’s not an original (or I’ll have to add it to my home contents insurance!) 😀
***Have a great week with all good luck coming in threes!***
Dianne Gray author 
Things always look better in threes! You have some lovely, quirky threesomes here 🙂
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Thanks Andrea – I have some very quirky things hanging around the RUC and I just love them 🙂
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I immediately thought of the rule of three in writing, Dianne. 🙂 I love the elephants!
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Oh yes, Jill! So true. When I was writing this post I looked up the number three and there were pages of facts (too much to add in here). It’s a wonderful number 😉
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You op-shop finds are fantastic. It’s a fun hobby. They say that once you have three of something it’s a collection. So you have a collection of collections!
My recent Tafe assignment required multiple descriptors for sets of three… the thesaurus got a work-out but I managed to avoid three-some -because it was for a theoretical client- although it would’ve got a laugh ☺
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A collection of collections – what a great comment. I love it. And I know you love op shops as well – they are our secret treasure trove xxxx
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Lots of fun, all of your threesomes. 🙂
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Glad you like them, Fen and I hope you’re doing well 😉
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Perhaps a single flower in each of your three vases will be a nice temporary option? 🙂
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What a great idea, Gina. Thank you! xxx
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Oh Dianne such fun it is looking through opp shops and vintage shops, my husband knows what I like and will often come back with some little gem for me. I love your collection he brought me home an ornate metal teapot the other day he paid $1 and was very chuffed with his purchase. You can find such treasures among someone else’s trash.
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I love the sound of that teapot, Kath! How lovely that your hubby knows what you like – he’s a treasure! xxx
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I love your collections……..and I am forever sad that my mother dispensed with the 3 ducks she had on the dining room wall. Do you have the 3 monkeys? ( or is that one kitsch step too far 😀 )
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Looks like you have some beautiful display shelves.
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The display shelves came from the trophy cabinets that came with the RUC. They were the top part that we removed (because they looked a little silly in a normal ‘house’) and we used them to build shelves below the trophy cabinets – they look fantastic so I’m glad you noticed xxxx
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Brilliant idea.
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Good things come in threes! I got a kick out of the trio of bikes . . . let us know if you “won the lottery” with that acquisition.
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I’ll certainly let you know. Nancy because I’ve always been excited about people finding ‘treasures’ in places they least expect 😀
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Ok, first of all, I don’t know what an op shop even is, so I am assuming it’s like an antique mall over across on the other side of the planet?
And I just love the salt and pepper thingie!!
Pretty would love to have that threesome…
Have a great week, Dianne.
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Haaaa – you’re right about the op shop. I should have explained – it’s a place where people take their old stuff and when you buy it the money is given to a charity. It’s short for Opportunity Shop (I think) e.g. St Vincent De Paul or Salvation Army 😉 The salt and pepper thingy is one of my favourites as well xxx
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I always try to do things in three or five. A quirk of mine. 😉 Plus it’s much more eye pleasing. I love the picture of the three ladies. 🙂
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I love that picture as well, Jackie – there’s so much movement and fun in it! xxx
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I have a set of 4 ceramic birds that sit high on a shelf in my kitchen, but every time I shut the cupboard below them too hard, the blue bird falls and another piece chips off him. So I fear soon I’ll have a set of three instead of four! 😄
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Mine have broken so many times that hubby keeps telling me to chuck them away but I just keep super-glueing them back together again 😀 At one stage a bird flew in the house and knocked them off the wall – ironic! 😉
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Ha, I love that! The symmetry is perfect. 😄
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There’s something very appealing about things in threes. Two can be boring, but three is perfect. The Boulanger print is wonderful. If you have an original lithograph, it is certainly worth more than $10. It looks like the color may have faded so if you have it re-framed, you could consider protective glass to protect what’s left.
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It actually looks much lighter in the photo (I’m not a good photographer) 😀 I’ve been thinking of having it re-framed because each lithograph has a number on it that I can’t find because it’s behind the frame. I’m so glad you like it – and you’re right about the number three, it is very appealing xxxx
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I’m guessing that there’s a mystical quality to the ‘threesome’ you have going on there. It’s a natural inclination, so it must come from a universal place. And yes, three feels and looks…comfortable. I love these objects you’ve shown us here. And that last piece of art – oh la la – I think it’s worth something, even if not in $$$ , in the expressions of the women and the aura of friendship/togetherness it evokes.
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Hubby was really surprised when I bought that picture because it’s nothing like the things I usually buy – but hey, I’m not one to stay the same over time 😉 I also have three children so even their photos on the wall makes things balanced 🙂
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Love all your threesomes, but especially the ‘Holiday On Wheels’. What a fun painting it is! Do let us know if does turn out to be an original. That would be really excellent value for $10. 🙂
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I’m so glad you like the threesomes, Sylvia. There is something kind of special and magical about that number. If the painting is worth anything, you’ll be the first to know 🙂
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Those budgies look so life-like! That’s a great threesome.
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I’ve taken a very close look at the budgies and they really are so life like – it must have taken someone a long time and a really good eye to make them. I’m so glad you noticed, Janna! 🙂
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I posted about the ‘three-click rule’ on my other blog, that people won’t go beyond three clicks when pursuing something online. In researching that rule, I found out that sets of three are what lots (and lots) of people like. So, you’re on to something!
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So good, Jacqui! I remember that post – great minds think alike xxxx
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They all have such a whimsical feel to them, especially the ladies on pushbikes. I hope the creatures like them too! 🙂
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Oh yes – the creatures love them, especially the ducks on the wall that were knocked to the ground and smashed by a wayward bird one morning. I spent the day sticking them back together 😀 I’m sure the bird was trying to get them to fly off with it!
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You are seriously into threesomes, aren’t you? 😉
Odd numbers and asymmetry with decor are always better. Pairs and symmetry are just too ordinary. Love the elephant trio—better hide those when I come visit you one day. I might steal them!
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Haaaa – yes, those elephant are very cute, Britt! I had a big giggle over your comment about being seriously into threesomes 😀
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Love that bike pic. I’m a sucker for bike art.
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It’s just got such a beautiful feel about it – she certainly is a very talented artist 😉
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I like things in threes, also! I like odd numbers in general. Love your collection–especially those sweet elephants!
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The elephants certainly are very cute, Kate 🙂
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Your threesomes are stunning, especially love those cycling ladies.😊
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Oh I couldn’t resist that picture when I saw it – great minds think alike, Cocoa 🙂
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Oooh, fascinating. Keep us posted on what you find out about that painting. Toothpick thing–love your technical word for that. 😉
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Oh – thank you for dropping by and CONGRATULATIONS again on the arrival of the new little cutie xxxxx
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Love the tangled together ladies and the adorable elephants. Happy Sunday, Dianne 🙂 🙂
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Happy days to you, Jo. I’m so glad you like my ‘threes’ 🙂 🙂 🙂
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My favourites are the three green jars. I love green as an accent colour.
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Green isn’t that easy to come by, Carol. I’m still looking for antique jars or plates to match my green kitchen windows. I think we must have similar tastes 😉
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I have three daughters, which I think is mighty fine!
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We’ll done, Allen. I also have three children so everything in this house is balanced 😉
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They do say that everything should be arranged in THREES to decorate well! Lovely little threesomes. But I had NO IDEA that it’s spelled thingy. All this time I thought it was thingie!
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Haaaa – I probably spelled it wrong, Luanne 🙂
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Of course, because I am the spelling expert hahaha.
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I love the ladies on the bicycles. What a great find!
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That’s one of my all time favourites, Susan 😉
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Those flying ducks, the height of 70s kitsch. I love them!
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Hi – the three ladies on pushbikes does look like an original – I know you are busy – but when you get a chance – let us know if you had it appraised yet….
also – it is a fun action piece with friendship – so nice.
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That’s quite a collection of threes🙂. There’s something about threes. Its like a perfect number to decorate. Lovely painting and vases.
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