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, August 21, 2010

Saturday's Finds @ The Super Cheap Thrift

I drove by The Super Cheap Thrift yesterday and saw the Half Price Sale Banner out front.  So, I went back today when they were actually open.  I was surprised that the shelves were still very well stocked, as the Half Price Sale brings people out of the woodwork and the store is generally pretty empty by the second day.  The Bean has had his eye on a pair of framed prints there for about two months.  They were $6.00 each, so today, he decided to buy them for $6.00 total.  But, when we checked out, we were told that it was Clothes Only this sale.  And, that is fine, but the sign should have stated that it was clothes only.  He decided to only buy one of the prints, but I decided to buy the other one - I hate to break up a set of anything.  Plus, they are very nice - professional framed and matted - probably from a hotel or something.  The Bean is certain they are from Criss Angel's room at the Luxor in Vegas.  (He kids, but he'd love it if it were true!)
 

The Bean is completely into all things Mythology, so these are a really nice find for him.  Not your typical "almost 15 year old boy" sort of thing, but better than scantily clad girlie calendars and Vampire posters.

So, what did I buy?  Let's see...


A big wooden cheeseboard with knife attached.  So completely not my thing, but I will stick it in the Flea Market Booth.  That reminds me of something.  I have had four calls in the last four days from the Flea Market.  People have brought items up to the checkout and asked them to call me at home and ask if I would take less on items.  This morning they called with a $15.00 offer on a $25.00 item.  That $25.00 item is worth about $70.00, so I have a good price on it.  I can see people wanting a discount if they buy multiple items or are buying an item over $100.00 or something.  But, wanting nearly half off an item?  I don't think so.  Besides, it is a store - not a yard sale.  If I had stuff spread out on a table and they asked for a better deal, okay.  But, I have to pay rent and a commission.  Sorry. Enough about that - I just thought it was weird.  What do you think?

Back to the stuff:

An odd salt glazed piece of pottery - not sure what the holes are for.  Another weird thing to research.

A "vintage" tin, or so the tag said.  Old enough for me to chuck buttons in it. 

Love this little painting on black paper.  Very sweet.  The sticker in the corner needs a bit of elbow grease before I can clean it up. 

Tru-Tone Taps for tap shoes, stacking salt and pepper shaker teapot set, funny JAPAN pig and a "yet to be determined if it is silver or junk" Phoenix necklace. 

An old Paymaster Paycheck Writing machine.  This thing weighs a ton.  It has that neat old industrial look.

Check out the original price on the back!

And for the keepers:

Even though this says it is a French Terragon (spelled incorrectly, I might add), I'm pretty sure it is an old Brach's Candy jar.  I have another one just like it and it stll has the Brach's label on it. 
 
My two favorite finds today...two old metal thermos bottles.  I have quite a few of these already and I have told my self that I will only collect RED ones.  Or ones with RED in the design.  But, I really, really like that gold one.  I do have a red with gold and a blue with red, so I guess a gold and blue one could fit in.......Any excuse to keep a treasure.  That's me!

So, what did you find this weekend?  Spill it!

8 comments:

  1. I recently saw in a book or magazine where they are making lamps out of the old thermos'it looked pretty darn cute too.
    Good finds I had to work so no fun for me today.

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  2. You got some great finds!! I love those thermos's. I hate when 1/2 price is only on clothes and you don't know...grrr.

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  3. I used to have several booths and later a shop. If someone asked for a better price I gave 10%. I had that figured into my price. The managers knew that was all I would deduct and I did not want to be called.

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  4. Anonymous9:19 PM

    i'm pretty positive that the salt glazed pottery item is made by williamsburg pottery - and i believe it is a pencil holder for your desk. if you search google images for "williamsburg pottery pencil holder" you will find some similar items.

    you see a whole lot of williamsburg stuff in my neck of the woods ...

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  5. When I had my booth at All My Treasures, I got a few kookoy calls to, but i did have it written into my contract to take off 10% if the customer wanted a discount. Someone once repriced a $65 McCoy cookie jar I had for sale in my booth to $5...very badly and plainly someone trying to be sneaky. The person working there charged the customer the 'discounted' price. The store reimbursed me, thank goodness.

    What did i find this weekend? Tartan hi-tops, a vintage dress, a load of books for free (someone had thrown them in the rubbish bin at the car boot sale), a few toys, a cool old necklace.

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  6. Many stores have a policy that they won't call on items unless they're over a certain amount, usually $20-25. The antique mall I'm in will give 10% off if a customer asks for a discount but since the owner is also the salesperson she's usually not going to encourage further price reductions since she gets 10% of every sale. So I have to factor in losing at least 10% and many times 20%. Plus I live in a somewhat small town north of New Orleans so everyone thinks we should be cheaper than the New Orleans stores. I HATE that when my stuff is just as good! Wish we had a Super Cheap Thrift here--all our "thrift" stores aren't so thrifty any longer.

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  7. Anonymous2:36 PM

    If you have a fair price on something you shouldn't have to give a discount. I agree about no more than 10%. I am an artist, and at craft shows people always ask why don't I do the big fairgrounds flea market on weekends. Why? Because everybody wants to offer you half price for everything. No way. Stick to your prices, you deserve to make a profit. It takes talent and lots of time to find the good stuff!!!

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  8. The painting of the lady looks Hawaiian, any signature? Makes me think of the high dollar hibiscus pics you pics.

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