The Booth and a Basket

This weekend is Bikes, Blues and BBQ.  There are 500,000 people coming through town starting today and everything will be packed.  They stay in nice hotels and eat at all the local restaurants, shop everywhere from the Malls to Flea Markets.  It is a huge weekend for the economy and that is a very thing!  You might think, as I did, that someone on a motorcycle couldn't buy much. But, most of those people don't ride their motorcycles here - they have fancy enclosed trailers for them and SUV's to pull that.  They buy a lot!

Because of that, I made my weekly trip to the booth to straighten up.  I don't talk about the booth much because I don't make much money at it.  I always make my rent and my commission and get a check too.  So, I think that is successful enough.  I have been there a year now and each month my checks get a bit bigger.  August was my best month yet, despite being told that August is the worst month for booths, the heat being unbearable and me hardly even stopping by to straighten it all month.  When I stopped today. a lady was checking out and had bought about fifty dollars of things in my booth.  Thanks lady!

Whenever I straighten my booth, I have to take a look around.  There are three other booths that sell the sort of things that I like and they have interesting displays, so I like to look for inspiration.  My booth is really just shelves full of items since I prefer to sell smalls.  I try to arrange the shelves and have themes - green pottery here, Razorback items here, toys here, etc.  But it really is just shelf upon shelf of stuff. 

In one of the newest booths, I spotted a big basket full of vintage Christmas ornaments.  I started digging in it because I love vintage Christmas.  (You like the way I say that like it is a big surprise to everyone?  Whaaaaaaaaaaat?  You like vintage Christmas?  I didn't know THAT!  ha)  So, I dug and I dug and even though I didn't really find anything that I consider to be truly vintage, I dug all the way to the bottom removing each ornament as I came to it.  Suddenly, the basket was empty and I realized that I was looking at an incredibly old basket. 

I held my breath as I looked for a tag, because often, things like that are marked DISPLAY ONLY (I am guilty of that myself) and not for sale.  But, this tag said, "Antique Basket" on the front.  Uh-Oh, Antique is never a good word to see as that means $$$,  I flipped the tag over and it said $5.00.  Holy crap!  S-O-L-D!  It is really the biggest buttock basket that I have ever seen.  That's what it's called.  Honestly.

I love the feel of a truly old primitive basket. The wooden handle is slick and worn from years of use. It has repaired areas - people used to repair items and make them last instead of tossing them out like we do now.

I already have a smaller one and this one matches it beautifully. 

I may have to think on this one - old baskets command high prices.  But I really love it so.  I might enjoy it awhile and then let it go.  In any case, I think it was $5.00 well spent.

That Thing I Collect

I mentioned below that I bought something for one of my never before mentioned collections. 

There is one in this photo. 

What do I collect?

No, not nekkid baby dolls. 

Not costume jewelry pins. 

Not head jugs. 

What is it? 

This is it. 

Do you know what it is? 

A collapsible cup. 

I remember my Great Grandmother carrying one in her purse and using it to get a drink from the drinking fountain. 

I only have six of them, but as we know - three is a collection, so I am well on my way!

You put a pill in the little pillbox inside the lid.  Then the cup smushes down flat inside the lid.

I used to carry one with my emergency antacid in it.

It is one collection that is easy to keep together. 

This one is my favorite.  Fancy!

What weird little thing do you collect that  you haven't shared....   yet?

The Weekend in Junk

This weekend I was able to hit a few sales on the way to my Grandmother's house for the very.last.time. We finally got it all cleaned out. It is empty and it feels SO GOOD. It is all done and over. I know that sounds cruel if you don't understand the relationship I had (or rather didn't have) with my Grandmother or if you don't know that we have working HARD for over a year to clear out that house).   When I left for the last time, I literally felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders.  I felt light and happy for the first time in a very long time.  Now I can get back in control of my own life, my own house and my own junk. 

Speaking of junk.  As the contents of the house dwindled and the idea of making multiple 40 mile round trips to the thrift to donate things became less and less appealing, I started putting a few things out at the curb.  Not junk, but not "make a 40 mile round trip to Goodwill" worthy either.  Each time I put things out, it was always gone the next day.  I read in the newspaper that it was Clean Up week last week, so I put out a TON of stuff out - Christmas tree, laundry basket, dish drainers, suitcases, plastic tubs, small little shelving units and miscellaneous things.  Clean up week means that the city will take it all to the landfill, but it really means that people (myself included) drive all over town looking for treasures.  By the end of the week, everything I had put out was gone, so either someone took each item or the trash truck handled it.  Imagine my surprise when I re-read the the newspaper and found out that this week is actually clean up week.  Whoopsie!  I guess a few people had an early Christmas at the curb thanks to me.  :D  I'm just glad it's G-O-N-E!

Since I thought Clean Up was over, but it was actually just starting.....well, I had to make a loop through town, you know. 

I found this neat old crate and snagged it super fast.  I had all sorts of ideas about it.  As I drove home, I thought about it and I decided it was a Strawberry Crate - each slot holds a quart berry basket perfectly.  That's nine quarts per crate and it's just wide enough to hold in your hands at arms length and the size would slide onto the back of a truck easily.  Yep, I had it all figured out. 

Then I got home and noticed that on the end.  It's a cigarette display - and a pretty new one, in fact.  So much for my lofty Strawberry Crate ideas.  I still like it though and I will use it somehow.  What do you think?

Now, on to the yard sale finds. 

I found this pretty vintage Mother with a baby for 10¢ first.

She will go with my Mother's Day Collection.

Then this cute little boy for "June" for a 25¢.

Then these two little #1 Girls for 5¢ each.

And this little January Girl for 25¢.

I think it's fun when you find sort of the same type things at each sale you hit.  And, at 75¢ total for them all...well, you can't go wrong.

A couple of novice oil paintings.  I think these sort of things are quirky and fun.  They are headed to the booth, to see if anyone else feels the same way.

The "smalls".  The little nekkid Sunshine Family being my favorite find.  I carried my little baby around in my pocket until she was nearly bald.  I paid 60¢ for everything shown.  One of the items in this photo will go into one of my favorite collections.  A collection I have never mentioned on here.  Hmmmmm...can you figure it out?

A Gaudy Golden Gilded Owl.  With Jeweled Eyes.  I was almost embarrassed to pay for it.  But, I happen to know it will fly off the shelf at my booth for about $10.00. 

While I have sworn off all things Watermelon (except a lonely potholder, of course), I had to pick up this little handmade sea grass basket for 25¢.  It fits in the palm of my hand and must have taken forever to make.

This plastic cut "glass" cake plate flips around and over to make a serving bowl and plate.  Perfect for cakes, cheese and crackers and chips too.  It is in really good shape, although there are knife cut marks on the tray inside where cakes were cut over the years.  I like things like that though, but o the booth it will go. 

On the way out of town, I spotted a sale at the Storage Business where they were selling off things people had left behind or not paid the rent on.  I whipped the car in the parking lot with visions of Ton and Barry in my mind finding guns and saddles and such.  Sadly, it was just rows and rows of boxes of stuff.  Random stuff like toys and books and whatnot's and kitchen things.  Nothing exciting.  I did buy two boxes of books for $1.00 each (the bulk of which I had re-donated to the Salvation Army within twelve hours) and this Woodcut print for a dollar. 

I was going to stick it in the booth for a few dollars, but on a whim, I decided to try and research the artist.  His name is Herschel C. Logan and his woodcuts sell for between $200.00 and $1,500.00.  I am still researching this one as I cannot find it  online anywhere.  I was in contact with an Art Gallery earlier today that quoted a price of $75.00 to clean up the water stains on it.  (If it happens to be worth a thousand bucks, I will spring for a cleaning!)  They also showed an interest in purchasing it, but wouldn't make an offer, instead wanting me to name my price.  I will need to do some more research and decide what to do - put it on ebay or find a buyer myself.  I'm pretty excited to have possibly found an item worth real money.  It gets me excited about junking and selling and finding treasures to sell again. 

I'll keep you posted!  :o)

Winner.............

Thanks to everyone that left a comment to win the My Memory Suites Scrapbooking Software.

I took all the names and wrote them on a slip of paper. Because I am Old School like that.

Then I put them in my Confetti Mixing bowl and shook them up.  Because everything is better in a Confetti Mixing Bowl.

Then I reached in and drew out a name.  Because the Randmon Number Generator is faster, but not as much fun to do.

Then I unfolded the slip and saw that it said,

YSPrincess!

Hurray for Leanne!  Drop me an email, Leanne, because the one I sent you got bumped back to me. 

I am sorry to everyone else that entered. 

If I was Santa, I would give one to everyone!

(That was just an easy way to sneak in a photo of my Santa Blow mold that I found on Friday.  I spotted him from the road, squealed in on two tires and dashed to the table to grab him.  The ladies having the sale thought I was NUTS because they had been opened since 6:00 am and it was now 2:30 pm and not ONE SINGLE PERSON had even looked at him.    Whew.  Thank goodness.  Now he is all mine!  He is about three feet tall and cost three buckaroos!)

My Memories Scrapbooking Suite

I've had a couple of comments on my new banner - I'm so glad you noticed!  I've always admired blogs with seasonal banners with multiple photos and personalization, but really never figured that I could do it myself.  I always thought they paid a professional to make their headers for them.  I knew how to make my own banner, but they only had one photo and a few simple words. 

Last week, I was contacted by My Memories and given the opportunity to download their My Memories Scrapbooking Suite  for FREE and give it a try.  At first, I only had ideas for Digital Scrapbook pages, greeting cards and other things that I could print out.  But, then I realized that this was something that I could really use on my blog.  So, I opened up the My Memories Suite and started playing around. 

I knew I wanted multiple photos because I wanted the old Black and White photo of my Great Grandparents to be in all my headers, but I also wanted to be able to add in photos of my junking finds, my collections and seasonal photos too.  I started from scratch and added in photos, resizing them to fit and adding in the text at the end.  I picked the colors, the fonts, the curve of the word art, the texture and all the other elements.  I designed this header pretty quickly and I love it.  But, I know now that I can get really fancy if I want too - word art, embellishments, multiple photos - it is all within  my grasp now!

The whole program is so easy to use.  I was surprised at how quickly it downloaded to my computer and how little actual space it takes up.  It is all on your computer so no need to be online at all to actually use it to design things.  There are links within the program that take you to My Memories whee you can purchase additional layouts - but there is a ton to chose from just on the software or you can completely design your own pages from scratch.

I am having so much fun with this program.  Now I am learning how to turn words and add embellishments and features.  I'm thinking this page of Maci & Kennedy will make great gifts this holiday season.

The wonderful people at www.MyMemories.com   have offered to give a copy of the My Memories Scrapbook Suite to one of my readers.  Go visit My Memories and have a look around to see what all you can do with this great software. Come back and leave a comment telling me what you think you would do with your copy of the Scrapbooking Suite.  No entries after Saturday at midnight.  Winner to be announced on Sunday.

If you like what you see at My Memories, and just cannot wait to get your very own copy - please use this special code STMMMS49190 that will provide a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value!

Junk I Drug Home

I've been to several thrifts lately, but really haven't found much at any of them.  I usually always pick up a thing or two, but not a major haul or a really awesome find lately.  Now that it is cooling down, the yard sales should really pickup around here so I am dreaming of one good digger sale before the 2011 yard sale season ends.  Someone asked about my 2011 Wish list over there in the sidebar - I have not found a single thing on it yet.  I still have hopes, though!

Here are my recent finds, some to sell, some to keep.  The usual, of course.

A fun old tray in blue - I have several old trays, but most of mine are in reds.  I like the *pop* of blue.

These old bubble bath bottles were in the FREE sale I blogged about last week.  I thought they might be Soakies, but I think they are just old Avon bottles.  I'll stick them in the booth and see what happens.

A Fenton Shoe.  Now, don't hate me, but I just don't "get" glass.  I don't especially like it or appreciate it, but I know many people do like it and appreciate it - (Ottermom, Vintage Christine and Buckaroo that I can think of off the top of my head....).  Since the Fenton Company ceased operations recently, I have been looking for pieces of Fenton.  This pink shoe was my first find.  To the booth it will go.

An old set of JAPAN salt and pepper shakers  - dogs on high heels.  Weird, but for 25¢, I'll throw them in the booth too.

I heard the Super Cheap Thrift calling me today and I had a feeling I might find some pottery.  I did end up finding these two pieces, but they aren't the cool vintage things I was dreaming about.  The little one will go with my other miniature pieces of pottery and the planter will go on my shelves with the rest of my beloved pottery.  I thought it  was white, but next to my white pottery it looks blue and next to my blue pottery it looks lavender and by the pink pottery it looks white, so I honestly have no idea what color it really is, so I will just find a spot where it looks pretty and tuck it in there.

This old LeGrue's Creamery crock was one of the few vintage items I spotted at the thrift yesterday.  I have a small assortment of vintage advertising crocks so it will go with them.   

I did find this old stoneware fish at the SCT today.  It looks shinier (is that word?) in the photo than it really looks in person.  The pastel colors fit right in with my pottery, but I am afraid to add in a stirped piefce for fear that I will need to start collecting striped pottery too!  Yikes!

This item really intrigued me.  It is a very old wood slab handpainted with Native Americans in their canoe.  It will require a lot of research which may lead nowhere, but that's half the fun of finding something unique.  It may end up being nothing, but then again, who knows?

A fun set of Kokeshi Dolls.  Destined for ebay, if and when sales EVER pick up on there.....

Four old letter baskets.  I love these and pick them up whenever I find them.  I have a whole stack of them, but I never actually use them.  What is wrong with me?  Hello, I am a compulsive letter tray hoarder. :)

A huge bag full of old swirly Poker Chips.  They aren't Bakelite, but they do have that lovely old patina and swirl of colors in them.  I have a thing for Poker Chips too.  Hello, I am a compulsive Poker Chip Hoarder too.

And, last a nice old soft bristle brush from a FREE pile.  Such a sweet old soft brush.  I still can't believe that I like things like old brushes and letter holders and poker chips.  I remember when I used to order from catalogs and think new shiny things were pretty.  Now I like old junk. 

****Come back next time and I will be giving away something pretty neat that I think everyone would enjoy.

Family Photos

My new PINK camera has a feature called Fish Bowl.

It makes everyone look like they got caught on a Convenience Store Security Camera.

And kind of like beady eyed Turtles.

It widens noses and makes hairlines recede.

Faces lean this way and that way.

And it makes some people have giant noses.

I happen to think it is about the funniest thing I have ever seen and if I ever take a "normal" photo again, I will be really surprised!

Free Stuff and More Bluebirds

The Breadman was on vacation last week, so we managed to go on three picnics, go to Sam's Club, go grocery shopping, visit to Terra Studios, go to the Clothesline Fair, visit the Apple Orchard, have The Bean's birthday, The Breadman attended two U of A football games, go to the MALL, eat at Chili's, take a trip out in the BOONIES on ten miles of dirt roads to look at The Breadman's Grandma's abandoned house, have FREE breakfast at Chick-fil-A and still fit in a little junking.  Vacations are very tiring!

On Friday, I passed this yard.  Can you read the signs?

 Every box was marked FREE. I slammed on the brakes and The Breadman said, "Seriously?" Uh, yea. It's all FREE! 

I think it was the contents of the shed or the garage or the weird things left after an Estate Sale.  In the end, I didn't find that much, but I did find a few things like an old Bushel Basket, an old rope jump rope, a big bundle of vintage bread ties that someone had methodically saved and added to over the years, a couple vintage plastic cat bubble bath bottles and a few other things.  I left behind about fifteen pairs of older used Reeboks - all in their original boxes.  They were dirty and worn, but weirdly enough, those things sell for $75.00 and up a pair, but I am just not into selling things like that.  The "eeeew" factor outweighs the $$$ factor.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the tour of Terra Studios.  I forgot to show you what I bought!

I really hadn't planned on buying any Bluebirds since we already have 50+ of them, but I had to pick up a big pink one.  I have a teeny pink one, but have never seen any of the larger ones second hand.  The pink ones are for Breast Cancer.   This is a second, but you really cannot tell unless you hold it up to a top quality bird.  On this one, the tail has a bit of a lilt to it.  I learned that the seconds are not signed at all, they just get the Terra Studios sticker on the bottom.  So, if you ever find a Bluebird (or red, pink, gold etc.) that doesn't mean that it isn't a "Leo Ward" or a Terra Studios, it just means that it is a second.  Out of our 50+, we had about twenty that we thought were imitations, but now we realize they are actually just seconds but real "Leo Wards".

The second thing I bought was something that I wished they would have, but didn't really think that they would.

But they did!  Teeny Bluebird of Happiness earrings!  I love them!  I don't often wear blue, but I guess I will need to start so I can wear my sweet little birdies.

Since everyone enjoyed the tour so much - here are a few more photos. 

 Awesome tile mural.

Matching mural.

 Troll football player.

 Tile, mirror and glass mural with water feature.

 The water feature made music when it dripped.  Like windchimes, but with water.

 The Wuggytug. (On the left!)

 Another Troll.

 My blue glass wall and the restrooms.  I used the Vivid Color setting on my camera for this one.  Beautiful!

I could have stood in front of that blue glass all day.  In fact, I think I did!

Another mural made of tile, mirror and glass.

There were giant posts leading to the Gallery and each one was topped with dozens of blown glass flowers and bluebirds.  I can't imagine what the ice storm must have done to this place!

Funny highway full of pottery vehicles leading to the Gallery.

 Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!

Door leading to the Gallery - smaller door for Trolls (or children).

Gorgeous photo of a stained glass toadstool that I may or may not have taken while using the restroom.  :p

And, the Gallery full of Bluebirds.

Okay, no more Bluebird chatter - I promise!