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.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Week in Junk: Razorbacks, Books and Wire

I am up to my ears in preparation for The Junk Ranch.  I go between not thinking I have enough to OHMYGOD I have too much.  I don't have one place to keep and store all the things I have acquired, so there are Junk Ranch things all over the house, under the bed, the garage, both storage sheds, the driveway ('cause I'm classy) and on and on.  Today I pulled a lot of my better and more fun things from the booth, so now the car is packed full too.  Today is the day I stop acquiring and start pricing and sorting.  I have been doing that already and have quite a bit ready. But, there is always MORE TO DO.  

Since I have been on the hunt for things, I have been hitting sales and the thrifts in search of goods.  I haven't have wild success, but I have found some things that I think I can do well with.  


***Speaking of finding things - I found this giant roll of copper wire today sitting by a pile of trash. Has anyone sold copper?  I mostly grabbed it for the wooden spool, but we discovered it was copper wire and I know that was worth saving!  I normally like to save things and get them in the right hands.  But I am thinking scrapping this would be the best solution.  Anyone?


These are very old handmade dolls.  Tiny seed beads on the moccasins and dress. I don't think they are worth a fortune, but I will research a bit before I list them.  


 Today I picked up all these small things.  I have a favorite sale full of Ziploc baggies for 25¢-$1.00 that happened to be today.  This is just a small portion of what I bought.  The triangle thing on the bottom left says Chicken Furniture.  Now what, pray tell, is THAT????  The big yellow thing is solid sulfur from a sulfur mine.  Who knew THAT existed?  Love the tiny pottery ( I am keeping the white piece) and the two tiny bank bags from competing across the street banks from my childhood town.  


I drove four towns over and fought copious amounts of traffic to go to four thrift stores.  The first one had a huge pile of mattresses by the front door with a FREE sign on it.  I had a hard time getting past the SKEEVE factor in there so I left empty handed.  The second thrift had no skeeve factor, but I still left empty handed.  The third stop netted what you see above and the fourth stop was yet another dud.  But, at least I did find some things.  I spent $8.00 on what you see.  I am keeping the White Rabbit Rolls tin, the rest will go somewhere.  


I picked up this grubby doll crib.  It was in bad shape.  I cleaned it up, removed the plastic lace ruffles and put a new bottom on it.  The kitty graphics made it just too cute to leave behind for the $1.00 price.  

CLOSE YOUR EYES EDDIE.


Giant box full of all sorts of doll heads.  There are some sweet ones in there, but I will have to agree that the whole box is a bit Aiieeee!  


I found this Razorback at my flea market last weekend.  It caught my eye because all Razorback things are red.  As soon as I picked I up, I could tell it was old pottery.  A bit of research and I knew what I had in my hand.  I paid $5.99 for it and it sold a week later on ebay for $85.00.  Now, I had mixed feelings about buying it from someone I know and reselling it.  But, that is half the game of having a flea market - research you stuff before you price it.  My feeling is that the vendor got what they wanted and they were happy with the $5.99.  I was super happy with the $85.00.  :)


And lastly, some of the prettiest Reader's Digest books I have ever found.  There are certain decades that are just the loveliest.  The 1950's had the prettiest covers.  I stopped cutting the covers off the books and I am selling the books as they are at The Junk Ranch.  I have over 100 books, but I will only that the ones that are fall, Christmas and Winter colors or themes.  I have never, ever seen the Redbird cover.  It's a beaut and already sold.  SAD FACE.

So, there's the junk.  I'll try to think of something to blog about that isn't about getting ready for The Junk Ranch.  I never want you to tire of me talking about it.  But, it is a TON of work.  Having said that - I LOVE it and I love doing The Junk ranch.  It is some of my happiest days watching people shop my tent, admiring my things. I really do LOVE it  

12 comments:

  1. I research every thing before I sell it. I also hate that people research everything before they sell it! But you got lucky with that pig. Don't feel bad!

    Erica

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    1. A good seller researches things. A bad seller researches it then tries to get that amount at the flea market. Never going to happen! I feel bad she didn't figure it out.

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  2. Good luck getting ready! Shows are so much work!

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  3. Suh-WEET on that razorback paperweight!!!

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  4. I don't ever get tired of the Junk Ranch posts! I'm so in love with all your stuff. Great find and sale on the Razorback and as others said don't feel bad, you did the research and got the profit! But I'm with Eddie on the doll heads...ewww!

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  5. AIEEEEEE!

    Also, never feel bad about making money when you didn't lie cheat or steal to do it.

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  6. If someone gets tired of your posts, then they are not that big of a fan. We come here to share in your adventures.

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  7. Oh,no. I LOVE your Junk Ranch lead up posts, almost as much as I love (no caps) your photos while at the Ranch! Can't get me enough Junk Ranch!!!

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  8. Best wishes getting your final treasures ready for junk ranch! Can't wait to see it unfold on IG.

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  9. I never tire of reading about your Junk Ranch readiness plan. It's a lot of work, but such a feeling of accomplishment when your ready to go.

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  10. The Junk Ranch posts are the most fun! Wish I could go to there. Love your good/bad seller theory. Good luck at the show!

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  11. my Dad and Brother sell scrap metal... They ALWAYS strip their wire before selling it (I think the scrapyard lowers the price they are willing to pay if the coating is still intact.) ~JUST A BORING FYI~ Not NEARLY as FUN as living the Junk Ranch vicariously through your posts!!!!!

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