What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Flushed Out Some *JUNK* Today

As I told my pal Oliveoyl last night, I didn't have any plans to go to any sales today. But, you, me and Oliveoyl all know perfectly well that I did, indeed, go to a few sales.

First I wanted to show you that not everything I buy is a wonderful fabulous find.

For instance, his sweet little vintage skiing girl with her doggie. When I unpacked her I discovered her arm is completely missing. It is very obvious in this photo and I swear I should have noticed it. I looked in the car to see if it broke there, but I can't find it. I must check things out better.

Three funny JAPAN guys - once again, I got them home and discovered that all three of them have at one time, had their heads broken off and reglued. Seriously! All three of them! Luckily, they are glued pretty neatly and they still have some cuteness left in them. I only spent a total of $1.00 on all four items, but I wish they wouldn't have been broken. Boo Hiss.

These came from the same sale as the broken stuff. And, I only paid 50¢ for all four pieces. So, factoring in the other $1.00, I still did okay. Each one of these table runners has the two Scotties embroidered on them on both ends. They are so darn cute. I love them. When I picked them up, I planned on selling them, but they have walked into my heart and right into my linen collection.

An old handmade wooden box for 25¢ which was full of old screws, light bulbs and assorted odds and ends and a reproduction copy of the 1900 Sears Catalog for 50¢. I have another copy of the Sears Catalog that I planned on using in collages, but it is so much fun, that I could never cut it up. Now, I can keep one and cut one up. Did you know that a 5 piece Parlor Set (love seat, fainting couch, two chairs and a footstool) cost $15.50 in 1900? Where's that time machine?

A white glass loaf pan for 50¢, old cookie cutter, celluloid buckle, miniature handpainted cottage scene and two spun cotton toadstools - all from the 4/50¢ box. It wouldn't have been a proper weekend if I didn't find some toadstools.

The last sale of the day was a lady selling off the contents of her Mother's craft room. And, I got there late. Craaaaap. I spent $7.00 and it took me and The Bean both to get it all to the car. Lots of vintage trims, vintage velvet ribbons, thread spools, vintage patches, tons of lace yardage, ribbons galore and more and more. Most Etsy bound. These four floral baskets were 25¢ each. They are made of a plastic-y sort of material. They remind me of my old bicycle basket when I was a kid.

I was super excited to find a brand new wet felt felting kit for 50¢ at one sale. They had little and this was the only good thing, but so worth the stop. Only 50¢ to finally give needle felting a try. The 10¢ book has some patterns that I can use for making my softies.

Five of these thingamabobs, doohickeys or whatchamacallits. Not sure what they are, but they were rusty and cool and cheap - 25¢ for all five. Any ideas? I thought maybe hung horizontally to hold vintage tea towels or something.

There's all five of them along with two cool old round bales of rusty wire for $1.00. Good for crafting or creating.
Six old insulators. I have several of these and I see them at sales all the time. But, people usually think they are worth about $5.00 each. They really aren't worth much, but I think they look cool on the fenceposts in the backyard. These had the very lovely price of 10¢ each on them. 60¢ for six insulators - yes sirree Bob, that's my kind of price!
When we pulled up to a very fancy house I saw this old child's chair at the end of the driveway. I told the Bean it was just my thing, but I knew they would call it an "antique" and want a ton for it. Which, I said, was good because I didn't need to buy it. There wasn't a price on it, so I asked anyway. As you can see, I got a ridiculously low price and now it is at my house. Only $1.00. It's hanging on the fence. I have a highly decorated fence!
So, since the chair was cheap, I asked about the old rusty milkstool. $1.00. Score.
Well, what about the old freezer basket? 50¢. Score again. (Great for storage).

And that old wooden box with the copper lining? $1.00. Great for flowers.

It even has a drainage hole for the flowers. Handy, right? As I was leaving she said, "You do know what that is, don't you?" I do now. Do you? Answer tomorrow.
*Edited to add - Yes, it is a toilet. I think I'm nuts.

9 comments:

  1. You. Always. Make. Me. Laugh.
    Thank you!
    Pam

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  2. Anonymous8:10 AM

    where the hole and water line are it looks like a wooden toilet tank. but, the flowers will look excellent in it

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  3. Anonymous8:59 AM

    Fun stuff!

    I decided to no go out and yardsale yesterday, and I didn't! It was too darn hot/humid here.

    Have a great weekend!

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  4. Hey Shara...COOL stuff! Too bad about the broken stuff...grrr...I get very annoyed w/ myself when I get so excited about a find, I neglect to check for booboos. At times, it really doesn't matter...but missing arms are serious business! Okay...the box w/hole ...was it used for maybe a block of ice in an old ice box?? *elaine*

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  5. That little skiing girl is totally screaming "Omigod, my arm just broke off!" How could you not see that? Just kidding--if I don't wear my specs, I'm ALWAYS bringing home chipped and busted stuff.

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  6. I knew you would cave. Obviously there was good junk calling out,"Shaaaara where are you, we need a new home."

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  7. Ha, I would have guessed ice box, but I just reread the blog title and it is most definitely going to be part of a toilet. LOL

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  8. I've boughten things also and then noticed when I got home that it was chipped or broken...Hate that!!
    Love the Scottie linens and I would keep them also!
    Love your little fairy with her fairy pig...too cute!!
    Deb :)

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  9. Even armless, I love skier girl. Love Her:)

    ReplyDelete

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