I popped into Heavenly Threads once while I was living in Midcoast Maine for several weeks and it…read morewas a total success. They only allow a set number of people into the two-story shop at a time. This means one has to queue in the front yard in order to get in but as it's a church thrift shop in gorgeous, peaceful, and quaint Camden, ME, one's line mates might become immediate thrifting buddies, as was the case with me. Time passes quickly when one is sharing banana bread recipes and wondering when the first frost will hit.
Inside the shop, it's up to each person to maintain six feet or more feet of distance apart, per shop rules. Some folks wore gloves, everyone wore masks, it felt safe. And because there is so much lovely stuff to look at, it wasn't that difficult staying put in any given area, having a proper browse, whilst waiting for the next rack, shelf or display case to be clear. There seemed to be an unspoken choreography at play with folks just getting when to stay put and when to move. All of this takes time so please don't come for this shopping experience if you're in a rush. Like: why are you thrifting anyway? Thrifters know that at least 50% of the pleasure of hunting is the slow pace.
I found a gorgeous, hand knit, variegated spruce green wool sweater (think deep dark fir run through with bits of turquoise, dark brown, pops of crimson, ecru and pale grey) that I swear-to-gods just took off to hand wash today, after wearing it several times a week for five weeks. It's become my blankie, my superpower, and sweater-shaped best friend. And when I was walking around in Maine, I looked like a spritely moving shrub. Cost: $10.00.
I also found two excellent macrame wall hangings--70s-style or actually from the seventies. Mid-century freaks, FYI, this spot is for you as I paid $4.00 per piece. My newly found thrifting pals let me know that they shop at Heavenly Threads on the regular and then resale in their vintage stall down the way at 10 Mechanic street. They told me that the macrame pieces I found would make hipster summer folks mental. That just made me feel very good inside :D
Just before I cashed out with one of the very sweet elder lady volunteers, I happened upon a number of lovely black and white mounted photographs and a strange little original lithograph. Acquired 8 works, 6 bucks.
The hours are a bit odd, Wednesday-Saturday 12pm-3pm. Obviously, Saturday is the busiest day. It's worth it to make the trip over if you can, not just for the thrifting but for the gentle company of low-key Midcoast ME fellow thrifters and super nice staff.
