Junkin' With The Joneses

Wednesday I dropped the boys off at the movies (to see Pacific Rim - totally NOT my kind of movie) and I met my Dad for a couple of hours of thrifting.  First stop was the thrift where I found the fabulous tin dollhouse a couple weeks ago.  It is a Church run thrift - but the church is one of those mega churches with three huge local campuses.  They get a lot of new and upscale items there, so it is really not my favorite thrift.  but, lately they have been getting some vintage items in and since they prefer new and shiny over old and dusty, they price the vintage items cheap.  So, now it is one of my favorites IF I am in the area.  We also went to my favorite old lady run Hospital Auxiliary thrift where things are still priced 35¢.  After that, we went to a big thrift where their focus is feeding schoolkids and where they often have Day Old Stone Mill Bakery Bread for free with purchase.  I taught my Dad to go there and buy a 25¢ book to get a free loaf of $8.00 bread.

On the way to meet him, I dropped off a big box of kitchen items that I had culled out earlier in the week.  I smelled a musty smell and discovered some mildew under a drawer.  So, we took out the drawers, sprayed everything with bleach and ran a fan on it for about five days.  Since all the drawers were out, I cleaned out a bunch of weird items and things we had doubles, triples or, I'm afraid to say EIGHT ice cream scoops.

In addition to these seven, we have a big plastic spade that we keep in another drawer most of the time for ice cream scooping.  So, since we have eight ice cream scoops, what do you think I bought at that first thrift?

Ba-Bam!  TWO more.  Now we have TEN ice cream scoops.  The one on the right is old, so it might go to the booth.  And, the bigger one will go in the cookie making drawer for scooping my super famous Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut cookies.  Mmmmmmm.

Found the sweet pink pottery at the Hospital thrift for 50¢, two very old dictionaries that, when asked "How much?" the clerk responded, "I should pay YOU to take them!"  but instead charged me 50¢ for both, and a nice piece of jadeite green pottery from the Church thrift for 50¢.

A nice big bag full of old clothespins was 45¢ at the Hospital thrift.  I want to hang baggies of ephemera on those old lampshade skeletons at the Barn Sale.  

I found two paper parasols at the Day Old Bread Thrift.  One was white and one was pink, but they both had rips in them when I opened them.  I found this little child's sized one on a different aisle and it is in perfect condition.  We like to watch "How's it Made" and we recently saw paper parasols being made.  Not in a factory, but by a group of about five people that make the paper by hand, an soak the reeds, make the frame, apply the paper, coat it with wax, then more paper, etc.  It was really interesting and made me appreciate what I figured was just a Made in China thing.  (I know you think I make The Bean (see his shirt?) do these thing,s but he usually just does things and I happen to have a camera at the ready!)

Two old crochet pattern books - one of the most precious baby clothes and one of the most attractive and atrocious hats all in one.  The Mhing game is a card game based on Mah Jong.  The cards looked neat if nothing else.  

My Dad picked up a plastic baggie and showed it to me, "What the heck are these things?" he asked.  "I squealed and threw them in my basket.  I thought he knew I would love them, he thought they were UGLY and I had lost my mind.  

This sweet old tin was from the Church thrift and was 50¢.  

My deal of the day occurred at the last stop.  I spotted a shelf full of Reader's Digest Condensed Books. They all had their dust jackets, but I could see the pretty patterned covers peeking out on the top.  There was a sign that said all books were Buy One, Get One Free.  But, there wasn't a price on the RD books.  I asked at the register and she told me they were 25¢, so they would be 2/25¢.  I told her I was going to go back for some more and I headed that way.  My dad said, "I'll wait here while you go get another one."  Silly man.  I went back and got 47 more!  

I brought them home, cut the book out and rescued the lovely covers.  The books from the 1960's have the best covers.  Bright and happy.

I also realized that some years had themes - like these swirly paint covers are all from the same year.  

Here's a sampling of my favorites.  

When I opened the very first once, there was a nice bookplate on the inside cover and it said, "Mrs. Harvey Jones".  Harvey and Bernice Jones founded Jones Trucking in Springdale, Arkansas.  They lived a frugal, yet nice life, in spite of the fact that they were multi-millionaires.  They left behind land and money to build the Jones Center which is FREE to anyone that "behaves like ladies and gentlemen", Har-Ber Village in Grove, OK which is a outdoor museum of collections, Har-Ber High School, Har-Ber Meadow, Har-Ber Acres, and the list goes on and on.  I went to Jones Elementary School from first to sixth grade.  I met Harvey and Bernice (pronounced Bur-niss) many times.  I went ahead and cut apart all the books, but I kept one from 1965 with her nameplate and signature in it.  A little bit of local celebrity in my own home.  

I need to find some more ideas and projects for these covers - I think I have about 100 of them now.  I can only sell so many clipboards!  I tried making the boxes, and it did work, but it wasn't as streamlined and as perfect as I would have liked it to be. I need to try again, but I hate to ruin a lovely old cover!

*I was typing htis up last night when the power went off, so I was scared it would all be GONE.  Thankfully, it was still here this morning - so her goes PUBLISH.  Happy weekend and happy junking to you all!

I Want It

Found this cute little camper on a not much traveled road last week.  

It's taunting me.  

"Buy ME!  Buy ME!"  

It isn't perfect, but it's not bad either.  

Wouldn't it make an awesome storage shed for my JUNK?  And, when I do a show, I could just tow the trailer there and BOOM it's all there already.  No more back and forth and forgetting things.  

And if I needed a breather, I could go to my quaint little trailer, reach into my vintage PINK cooler and pop open a frosty A& W Cream soda and lie down on my vintage bed, rest my head on  vintage feather pillow in a vintage pillowcase and relax.

Oh sure, I've never even done a show and I'm just about to do my FIRST show, but really, is that a reason not to invest money in a trailer to use for any shows that I may or may not do in the future?  

*Breathe!*

Can you see the price?

$500.00

I think that is cheap.  But, I really have no idea.

On my next trip by, I am going to STOP and look inside.  

That will clinch it.

I WANT IT.

*Edited to add:  I'm not going to actually buy it.  I am just lusting after it.  

You Can Find the Best Things at A Garage Sale

Today I went to one garage sale.  It was listed on Craigslist as an "Eclectic" Sale.  They had a list of things that sounded right up my alley.  So, despite the heat, I stopped.

The first thing I found was a big stack of old books.  I am not supposed to buy books of any sort.  I made that rule.  But, golly, these books were OLD and in really nice condition and only twenty five cents.  So, I guess the rule was mine to break.  I think old books make great decorator items.   I think I will use the red and green books in my Christmas display at the Barn Sale.  The red, white and blue books are Zane Grey books - I put them in my Patriotic tubs for next year.  Some of these are interesting old Nursing books.  

The second thing I found was this old red and white checked tablecloth.  I was picking up and admiring it and the lady was trying to come up with a price for it.  While she was thinking I was telling her my dream of having a family BBQ with each table set with a different gingham tablecloth.  As soon as I said, "Gingham" this lady walking up the driveway towards me said, "I KNOW YOU WHO ARE!"  Turns out, it was Lara from Pretty. Quirky. that I had just blogged about not having ever met despite our constant emails and plans to set up at the Barn Sale.  Well, we got all excited and hopped up and down and hugged each other and told the lady having the sale all about us and how we have blogs and we have known each other for two years but never met and blah, blah, blah.  I bet that lady thought we were half nuts!  Maybe not, when we left she was looking up our blogs.  (Whoops - HI LADY!)  So, I almost didn't even ask about this red tablecloth because I already have about four of them.  But, if I hadn't I never would have known it was Lara standing there.  So, I am SO glad I asked about it.  Nice to "meet" you Lara!

Next stop was an Estate Sale run by a couple of ladies that watched me pick up a box of vintage birthday candles at a sale one day and yelled, "ARE YOU MONKEYBOX?"  My first and only sighting as a famous person.  :D  Anyway, not that you care, but Lara is friends with them, and I am friends with them and we all have a different mutual friend so it is one small world.  The estate sale had lovely old things, but my budget was small, so I only bought a couple small things.  There was a very awesome old bread/cake display from a grocery store that I LOVED.  I wish I could have bought it for my booth to display all my little ephemera junk.  I wish it would be left at the end of the sale, but I know it will be long gone.  It was so neat!

I bought several big plastic bags filled with Christmas.  This old tinsel and these sweet deer were among the keepers.  See, those old red and green books do look good with Christmas!

Oh, I forgot - I bought this at the "Eclectic" Sale.   I  only wanted the box, but they sold it all to me for $1.00.  It was full of old shed junk, but I managed to salvage out some old hinges and hardware too. 

Back to the Estate Sale.  Kind of like the tomato box, this big can was full of nails.  I asked if I could just buy the can.  I really don't know why - but the old school Green Giant appealed to the inner kid in me.  

Let's go back to the Garage Sale again.  Dizzy yet?  After the nice guy at the garage sale carried the bag of books to the car, I went back up to visit with Lara a minute.  That's when I spotted a big plastic bag that said FEEDSACKS on it.  I opened it to count them and there were six very big sacks.  They are in prisitine condition.  

Two in this pattern.  

 Bright cornflower blue flowers  on a pink and burgandy background.

One of this pattern.

 Aqua background with white and bittersweet colored flowers.  

Two of this pattern.

Jadeite green, cornflower blue and burgundy flowers.

One of this pattern.

A nice stripe - I bet this one would have made a nice skirt.

I'm sort of in love with them.  But, they are headed to ebay.  

*Speaking of ebay.  I am sitting at 999 Feedback.  I have been waiting to get to 1000 feedback forever.  I sold a few items last week and I have one person waiting to leave feedback.  But the are from Japan and I have never gotten feedback from anyone that I have ever sold to in Japan.  I could buy a little something to get that one feedback, but I want to earn it!  

Hope you all have a lovely weekend crammed full of junk and journeys.  

Some Mid-Week Junk

Today while out thrifting, The Bean purchased this deadly weapon, a Mace.  Question.  Who would donate a WEAPON to the thrift?  Weird, right?  He collects things like knives and swords but he just looks at them.  They are not weapons in his hands.  He likes historical weapons.  He also bought a Rated "M" Video game.  I asked him if he wanted me to swing through the Liquor Store for some beer and cigarettes to complete his day.  He declined.  ;)

I found a few items today and a couple over the past week.  No garage sales for me since I have been busy and really, it is just too darn HOT to go.  It was  101 today.  Boo. Hiss.

First up, let's sing the Dustpan song.

"Don't put your dust in my dust pan, my dust pan, my dust pan."  Catchy, right?  At the thrift I went to today, orange tags were 25¢.  The clerk had just gone down one aisle gathering up all the orange tags and she let me dig in her cart.  I can across a bundle of school posters including this Dust Pan poster.  There are few about Pop Bottles that were cute too.  Good fodder for the Barn Sale.

A deck of old Crazy 8 cards with fun graphics.  

I found these two plaques at Goodwill yesterday.  They will go to the Booth.    Goodwill had done a complete rearrange this week and I HATE it.  I love blowing in and out of a thrift quickly when I know the layout.  They did have about a twenty foot layout of bric-a-brac as they call it.  Now they have moved it and condensed it down to four feet.  The laundry hampers are were the kitchen stuff was and the holiday stuff moved and I don't like it one bit.  I know that once I get used to it, they will move it all around again.  I don't know why they don't call me personally and ask permission first.  You'd think I was kidding, right?

This old Kitchen Prayer plaque isn't something I would normally pick up, but it was only 50¢ and it has a date of 1944 on it.  I'm not sure what used to be in the upper corner, but I need to disguise it somehow.  

Someone painted up this old cutting board with an Atlas mason jar.  Now, I'm not  a fan of tole painting or the Country look, but this looked pretty modern to me.  And, by modern, I mean Pinterest-y modern.  

Pretty awesome representation of a Mason Jar, don't you think?  I've been making some glass tile pendants with blue Ball jars on them. 

And, I decoupaged this serving tray the other day.  'Scuse that crap around it.  It's in my "stash" and I was just too lazy to move it out for a professional photo shoot.  

This funny wind up teddy bear plays his drum at an alarming speed and is quite annoying.  I did not know that, however, when I made the decision to buy him at Goodwill.  He's pretty cute though.  He's not new, but not that old either.

This little basket is marked Dansk on the bottom.  I thought Dansk stuff was worth money, so I went ahead and grabbed it.  It's not the usual Dansk things, so who knows.  

I found this little girl in the bottom of the stuffed animal bins.  Yes, I dig in stuffed animal bins. You never know what you will find.

She hangs up and has a slit in the back for something.  I think maybe barrettes or something.  I want to say she is a clothespin bag so I can keep her.  So, she is a clothespin bag! 

A new old never used label-maker.  Scrapbookers like these, I think.  It's sort of cool.  I have a bunch of the tape that goes in it, so I  might use it to make signs or tags.  

For weeks, I have looked at this huge bag of wooden cutouts.  They are kind of country and kind of dated, but then again, plenty of people still like that look.  There are hundreds and hundreds of cutouts.  Each one is marked 2/$1.00 at Hobby Lobby.  I had seen them in the toy department for weeks, but they were priced too high.  Today they hit the magic 25¢ price, so I grabbed them.  

I'll dump them in a big basket and sell them 10 or 20 for $1.00.

So many people out in blogland find the most darling vintage tin stoves and kitchen items.  I have found a few items like that, but where I live you are more likely to find the sort of stoves that people actually used.  

I grabbed this sweet cast iron stove right as the clerk sat it on the shelf today.  It's a reproduction, but still older.  

I think it came with everything except the muffin tin.  I'm not sure what I will do with it.  I kind of like it right now, so it's on a shelf in the living room.

Lots of sales in the paper this weekend as usual.  I might go to an Estate Sale that some friends are running.  But, family matters are pressing and that's what's still the most important.  Junk can wait - family can't!

Decisions, Answers and Thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions on my Barn Sale set up. 

My decisions so far:

I had planned on pricing items exactly the same as I do in my booth because I will eventually put anything that doesn't sell in the sale to the booth anyway.  I was just curious what people might "think" the prices will be.  I haven't been to any of these kind of sales, but I tend to think that even within my own flea market, prices are sort of high. But, as we all know, I am cheap and frugal to a fault!

I will use my vintage tablecloths since I think it will complete my look.  Also, none of my tablecloths are perfect so they won't get hurt.  But, if I do see a child wiping his now on one, I will faint.  (gross)

I plan on setting up my canopy, banner, tables and display pieces in the back yard for a couple of days to get the right look.  I'll snap lots of photos so when I do set it up, it should go quickly.  *Remind me of that when I am in tears sweating like a pig while the "early shoppers" are lined up to get in!

I'm gong to have a mix of vintage Fall/Halloween/Christmas items in one area of the booth.  I'd love to get more into the making and selling aspect rather than the buying, cleaning, storing, pricing, rearranging aspect.  I love the hunt and I could still hunt - but for different items.  

The plan is to be set up beside or close to Lara over at Pretty. Quirky.  That way we can buddy up, watch each other's stuff for bathroom breaks and a quick bite.  An added bonus to this is that we will actually MEET each other.  :D  We email/Facebook/Pinterest and read each others blogs PLUS we live about five miles apart, but we've never met.  I asked her what will happen if we meet and she decides, on the spot, that I am just a big old b*tch.  (I don't think I am, but you never know!)  

I keep making references to "being alone" and "doing it myself" and one day The Bean said, "I AM GOING WITH YOU!  You will not be alone!"  I had hoped he would go, but I never expect him to go or require him to go.  We plan to have fun with it and he will take a stack of books.  

I plan on a check out area and some chairs, because you have to sit at some point or you will just be exhausted.  But, I hate booths and really even yard sales where they people just SIT and look at you.  Makes for a not so friendly environment and makes me just want to move on to the next booth.  I like to mix and mingle and hear what people have to say about things.

I do not plan on bartering and working on prices much.  I price things pretty affordable.  I am uncomfortable dickering with prices when I shop and I really don't want to do it when I sell.  This is a marketplace with priced items, so I really don't foresee dickering.  *That's not to say that I won't offer a deal if they buy multiple items, or offer a better price from time to time.  

Keep the ideas coming!  I love hearing from veteran sellers.  *Laurie - I have looked at every one of your SHOW posts!  

The Barn Sale: The Prep Begins

The Barn Sale is getting close.  Well, two and a half months is close in MY opinion.  It's actually called the "Farm Fresh Vintage Market" now.  But, it will always be the Barn Sale to me.  This is the first sale of it's kind in my area, so I am happy to be in on the ground floor.  Hopefully, it will continue to grow and grow and be held a few times a year.

I still have two and a half months to prepare, but I swear I had five months just a week or so ago.  Time flies when you are busy as hell!  :D

I'm starting to work on my set up early so I know just what I an dealing with.  I will only have my SUV to load up, so I want to be able to take all the display items in one trip and all the merchandise in the second trip.  It's about six miles each way, so I can make a few trips if needed.  I have all day to set up, but only one evening to take it all down.  

We had a canopy that I had bought on clearance several years ago, but we had never put it together.  The three of us (who cannot assemble anything without a good old fashioned family fight) discovered that it was cheap and flimsy and not meant for going up and down over and over. 

I mentioned those EZ Up canopies and how affordable they are (less than $55.0 shipped) and how we could use it for other things and it would be a good investment and The Breadman suggested that I order one.  HA!  It was his idea just like I planned!  So, I went online to Academy Sports and ordered myself a sweet EZ Up canopy.  What I didn't mention when I said how versatile and useful it would be is that I was going to order a PINK one.  So much for him taking it tailgating.  *Insert evil laugh*   

This is the flimsy canopy set up.  It was not going to work at all.  I ordered the banner from VistaPrint.  I like the idea of hanging it, but I would LOVE it framed, IF I could figure out how to properly hang it once it was framed.  Wouldn't a big old ornate crusty frame look cool????  If I can't do that, I just need to put some grommets in the corners so I can hang it up.  

To decorate the banner, I took a HUGE step of faith and cut up all those gingham shirts I bought a few weeks ago.  I am going to make pennants out of the material and use only the pink/white and black/white for the banner at the sale.  I think it will be cute.  But not too cutesy.  I want my STUFF to stand out, but I want a nice looking booth that fools people into thinking I actually know what I am doing.  (I do not know what I am doing).

I also ordered some new PINK business cards that have the ever popular blog header photo on it and monkeybox on it.  Then I included my flea market location and booth number and offered 10% off any purchase with the card.  I can include them  with purchases and I will have some out on the tables for people to pick up.  

I have two folding 6 foot tables that I can use for displays as well as a card table for my check out area.  I want to cover the tables so they don't show.  I want to use all my vintage tablecloths that have pink in them, but I really don't want them to get ruined or worse yet, have anyone want to BUY them.  Noooooo!  I'll have to think on that.  I wish my thrifting mojo would bring me a big bolt of white material for the tables.  *Fingers crossed!*  :D  If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.  I probably will use my vintage tablecloths.  I think it will complete the look the best.  

I plan on having a mix of handmade kitschy crafts and vintage items as well as Ephemera of all sorts.  I have a huge list and each day I just try to take one thing off the list.  Today the item was make labels on the computer, but I cannot for the life of me get Works to use.  Windows 8 is the death of me, I swear.  I need 100 labels that say this and 100 labels that say that and so on.  I wanted to look professional not to mention, who wants to write FLASH CARD one hundred times????

So, this post is just me wondering and planning out loud, so to speak.  I have lots of ideas, but limited time and I really want to do this without spending any more money.  We will use the canopy again and the cards can be used in the booth, so I really am only out the $25.00 vendor fee and that is CRAZY cheap.  But, I want to make money, not spend money!  

Now, I have questions for you!  

Are you looking for Christmas items the last weekend of September or more Fall/Halloween?  If you are like me, if I see it and like it, I buy it no matter what the date.  

What sort of things would YOU like to find at a market like this?  Rusty and crusty?  Handmade?  Repurposed?  Vintage?  Pinterest items? A mixture of all of the above?  

I'm curious about pricing - I want to sell!  I don't want to give it away, but I sure don't want it to NOT sell.  I am setting up to SELL and to promote my Flea Market booth.

What prices do you expect?  Yard sale prices?  Thrift Store Prices?  Consignment Store Prices?  Flea Market/Antique Store Prices?  What about a price for ONE Vintage Flash Card?  Or an old lampshade skeleton?  One skeleton key?  

What would you LOVE to find at a sale like this?

Okay, thanks for your input.  I know in the end, these are all my decisions.  But, I am curious what the norm is in other parts of the country.  This is my first sale, but i don't want it to be my last one!  

A Very Patriotic Bean

My stepfather is in the hospital with a bad infection in his foot.  It might have been a spider bite, but not sure. I'm going out to stay with my Mom for awhile since she still had limited mobility and mostly because I enjoy her company.  Hoping and praying that my stepfather is well enough to come home before very long.  Stuff just keeps happening to out little family and it is difficult.  The Bean is a strong young man, but he hates to see his family suffering and sad so he takes it hard himself.  He is a dandy kid, I tell you.

When he was three years old, I took him to the local 4th of July Rodeo parade and I was obsessed with getting his photo in the newspaper.  I dressed him up all patriotic in a big Uncle Sam hat.  We sat on the curb waiting for the parade and suddenly, a man with a big camera appeared and aimed it git at my kid!  Woohoo!  He came over and asked his name and age and then left.  The next day I could hardly WAIT to get the local newspaper.  I looked all through it but he wasn't in there.  I was crushed!  He was certainly the cutest kid at the parade (I know, I know....that's my opinion).  Why wan't he in there?  A little later in the day, someone called to say that he was on the FRONT PAGE of the newspaper from LITTLE ROCK that goes out to the entire STATE.  Holey Toledo, that's BIG!

See, he really was the cutest kid at the parade!  (That date on the photo was from when I scanned it in 2007.  It was 1997.)

Being the super cool good sport that he is, I talked him into recreating that photo this year.  

God, I love that kid.  

Happy 4th of July to you and yours!

May the 4th Be With You!

It's almost the 4th of July, so I thought I would share my Patriotic decor before I have to have it all down.  I just got it all set u the way I like it and now it's almost time to pack it away again.  

I like to use vintage patriotic items, vintage inspire items, old red, white and blue packaging or packaging with Americana themes and odds and ends.  It's not decor that some people totally understand, but it's ME and that's all that matters.  (I often have to explain to The Breadman why I have an ice cream box in the 4th of July decor).

This house lights up at night and has fireworks shooting over it.  Glass jars of appropriately colored straws, poker chips and tickets with a vintage flash card make a fun display.  

I bought about fifty all red, white and blue Patriotic themed match boxes a few years ago.  This is just a few stuck into an old flower frog.  

After I got this all set up I realized I should have used a red picnic basket, but what am I going to do about that now, right?  Domino boxes, a Miss America Cherry box, more straws, Uncle Sam and a flag that plays the Star Spangled Banner make more fun.

Top of my craft cabinet.  I found that swag of patriotic material in my Grandmother's house with my Great Grandfather's Navy uniform.  I think it might be off a ship from WWI, but I'm not sure.  I picked up that tall Uncle Sam since last year at the thrift.  He's handmade and really cool.  

The famous white shelves.  Probably the best $5.00 I ever spent!  

MOre stuff of all sorts, vintage souvenirs, packaging, STARsnaps, USA puzzle, Liberty Olive jar and a few other things.  

This old school souvenir from 1920 belonged to my Great Grandfather when he was a teacher.  It has his photo in it and a list of all the students in the one room school.  

George Washington Pipe tobacco tin, Star covered pastille tin, eagles and some old store signs.  

The flag in the frame was handed to me by Sam Walton when I worked the Grand Opening at a Sam's Club in 1982.  Yes, I keep everything.  

The second set of white shelves.  Another well spent $5.00.

Mini monuments, Statue of Liberty's and flags.  

I FINALLY figured out how to make rosettes so I've made some for every holiday.  I was trying to figure out how to make them and I was really over complicating them.  They are super easy.  

 Giant glittery star and a plethora of odd things.

Love that old matchbox and the sweet handmade German bears.  

And lastly, Hazel in her patriotic getup.  I repurposed her square dancing outfit to make it work for the 4th of July too.  I threw on all the vintage red, white and blue jewelry that I could find.  I know that dressing up Hazel is really silly, but I just love keeping her out all year long and working her in to the decor.  She's a part of our family!

*Really cannot believe that I used a Star Wars reference in my title!