Friday Finds

A quick stop in a seldom shopped Thrift netted some vintage goodies today.  

A nice bBIG vintage chalkboard, an old book, a nice pile of vintage clothespins with great patina, a vintage jump rope - the long kind that two kids turn and a globe missing it's base.  I have found three globes in less than two weeks.  The good ones went straight to the booth.  This one didn't have it's base, so I pulled off the Equator like Super Woman and pulled it into two pieces.  Now I can do something creative with it or glue it back together and throw it in the booth as is.  Sometimes I have big ideas and then I gets lazy.  :(

I also found a little sack of vintage Jacks (or is it Jax?)

I've been picking them up when I find them and throwing them in a jar.  Now my jar is full!  Does anyone have any ideas of anything to do with them?  I looked on Pinterest, but I only saw one pair of earrings made out of some.  (Uh, no thank you.)  

I used to love to play Jacks.  You could keep a set in your pocket and have instant entertainment at any time or place.  Ah, the simpler times.  Not like these whippersnappers now with their high falutin' techno-logical handheld video games ans what not.

I kid.

*Anyone going to see Magic Mike?  I suspect it is full of bad acting and a sorry plot line.  But the stripper aspect outweighs all of that, huh?  Hubba Hubba.

Red, White and Blue

*First of all - thank you for all the sweet comments on the hutch post below.  I wasn't looking for compliments, although they meant the world to me.  Also, I only paid $30.00 for the hutch, so I did make $60.00.  Sometimes I just like to blog about things that happened so I can always remember them.  I used to keep a diary.  Now I blog.  :)  Thanks again.

The 4th of July is rapidly approaching so I have out all my red, white and blue stuff.  This bit of Patriotism may be the only aspect of the 4th of July that we get because it is too damn hot to even think about going to the parade and we are in a Burn Ban, so no fireworks at all.  I loathe little stupid fireworks you shoot off in the driveway, so that is a good thing.  but, I really like those big blasters the big city blows off so that's a bad thing.

A few years ago, I had big old stars everywhere.  I kind of got over that, but I still have the stars.  On a whim, I glittered this huge one bright red and I LOVE it.  I have another one just like it and I want to glitter it bright blue, but I can't find it.  Pretty sure it will pop up on July the 5th like clockwork.

My photography skills are really lacking lately.  I use my phone too much.  I need to get the actual camera back out.  Anyway, this is on the shelf under one of my windows.  I made a folding ruler star to hang at the top.  Some vintage DC souvenirs, Uncle Sam's and other Patriotic stuff round out the shelf.

My favorite part is this huge spool of Baker's twine with the flags and stars in it.  I use Baker's Twine on all my pricing tags at the booth.  Can you believe that no one in the whole place had ever even heard of Baker's Twine?  I bought some new colors yesterday that will surely spin their heads!

A little tribute to our Cousin, Ben Franklin.   The Bean has actually found all of these things on our thrifting runs.  The Avon bottle, the autobiography of Ben Franklin and a pair of old spectacles are all we have found.

The shelf o' stuff is mighty full.  I love finding things that are unusual and working them into my display.

Red, white and blue Domino boxes, a Richardson Dinner mint tin and old George Washington Tobacco Tin fit in well.  

Baby Bean in his Uncle Sam hat is a mainstay.  The house is Bill Clinton's Boyhood home in Arkansas.

 More of the same - sheet music, the local Confederate house, one of my Shara Soda bottles and some Statue of Liberty's.

Top of my huge cubbie of drawers.  The Uncle Sam in the back is about two and a half feet tall.  The giant jar is full of poker chips.  The snow globe features the World Trade Center and was made prior to 9-11, so I love it.  The big Humpty Dumpty is more prim or country than I like, but he was too cute to leave at a sale - especially when I saw his 50¢ tag!

In my mind's eye - this was going to be a sweet little neighborhood vignette.  In actuality, the truck is too big. But, I still think it's cute, so here it is.  

The house lights up and the colors change.  Sometimes I will get up in the middle of the night to get a drink and find that we have left the house on.  It's really pretty.

So there it is, my mixture of old and new things.  I guess it doesn't matter what you use - as long as you love it!

She's Just So Happy

Today was my day to work at the Flea Market.  Before today, we only had window units and fans cooling this store, but as summer is getting fierce - the A/C guys came and installed Central Air.  Unfortunately, they didn't gt it installed until after I had been there all day and after they had to turn off the breakers and leave me with no fans or window units running.  It ended up being about 95 INSIDE the store before I finally got permission to go home.  Next week should be a whole new ballgame with nice COOL air blowing around.

Before it got beastly hot in the store and before my mood got completely shot to heck, a sweet young couple came in to look around.  I was in the process of putting items in the store on our Facebook Page and I had just posted a photo of my hutch with a reduced price of $125.00 on it.

The couple walked around the store and when the saw my hutch, they just stopped in their tracks.  She said, "Oh, honey.  It's just what I've been wanting!"  The looked at the tag that I had just marked down to $125.00 and they started talking.  They were trying to budget in gas for a trip to the Children's Hospital.  They were looking at their calendar seeing when his Disability check would come.  Meanwhile, she kept caressing the hutch with such love.  It really got to me.  I know it's just a piece of furniture, but I have had love for pieces of furniture too.  I understood.  They asked if we had layaway, which we do not.  They kept adding up figures and talking about what money they needed and when they needed it.  She sighed and said, "I just wish we could, it's exactly what I want."  He said, "I know, baby." Then he said, "I'm going to figure it out."  That's when I decided to step in and make it happen.  I told them they could have it for $100.00 cash right then if they could swing it.  At first they asked me to hold it until the weekend, but then the husband said, "No, she wants it now.  I'll go to the ATM and get the money," and off he went.  

He came back about an hour later with five crisp twenties, a man to help load it and a truck.  He handed me those twenties and said, "She's just so happy."  When I went to ring it up, I forgot about tax, so I lowered my price to $90.00 to cover the tax.  So, in the end, I sold the $150.00 hutch for $90.00.  I lost $60.00.  But, the idea of the wife being happy and how proud her husband was for being able to get it for her.  Well, that's worth a lot more than $60.00.  

Weekend Junk

I kind of blew having a Week in Junk post since I already posted about that turtle quilt and my other finds.  Friday morning I read Craigslist and discovered that there were four sales on the street behind me.  So, I jumped in the car all ugly with no makeup or anything and went on a treasure hunt.  The first sale had a lot of older stuff, but most of it had gotten absolutely drenched on Thursday when we had an unexpected downpour (which we needed oh, so badly but it was so fast and heavy that it did not help at all).  I was digging in a box of Christmas stuff and about two thirds of the way down, I hit water.  Ick.  I did manage to scoop out a nice big old Santa Boot planter which I have already packed away without photographing.  On to a tub full of craft supplies and it was full of water too.  I dug out three half pint quilted Kerr jars full of old plastic faceted beads and quit digging.  There were other things I would have liked, but they were soggy.  

I did happen upon one huge tub chock full of older greeting cards.  They were dry - all the way to the bottom.  I saw some cute older kid's Valentine's and some sweet Easter cards, so I asked how much they were.  They told me that thew were 10¢ each.  I thought about how damn hot I was and the sweat was dripping off my nose and how I would have to squat or sit on the hot concrete to look through them and I decided that was just not an option.  So, I asked, "How much for all of them?"  And they said, quite quickly, "$3.00."  SOLD!  They 8 year old daughter had gotten in trouble the night before so her punishment was to do whatever needed to be done at the yard sale.  So, they made her take all those cards out of the tub and put them in a big bag for me - she was sweating and sitting on the hot concrete and well, didn't I just feel like a big old meanie.  I tried to help her, but the Mom said "NO! She is learning a lesson." No, she was about to have a heatstroke, I thought.

Sunday I sorted those greeting cards and there were 482 cards with envelopes.    That's $48.20 at their 10¢ price, not to mention the regular prices on the cards.  The bulk of them were valentine's and from the 70's and 80's.  I kept a lot of them - over one hundred, but I am taking the rest of them to Goodwill later today.  Still, a good deal at $3.00.

The only thing I bought at the other three sales was a pillow a lot like this one.  Except the one I bought is a big white square with yellow trim and far, far, far more creepy than this one.  It was only 25¢ and I do enjoy having one piece of vintage kitschy crap-ola in the booth to attract attention.  I sold my CREEPY CLOWN so I need something else to fill the void.  I bet she sells too.  

Stopped in Goodwill later and only bought this old Catalin/Bakelite poker chip and playing card rack.  It will go on ebay later this Fall.


And, you found __________________?

A Day of Thrifting: All By Myself

Yesterday I dropped the boys off at the movies to see Men In Black 3.  It was really hot and I really would have preferred going to the movies too.  But, I am not a fan of a) aliens, b) robots or c) shoot outs and that pretty much surmises the entire men in Black series.  So, I dropped them off and headed out into the heat to do some thrifting.  I headed to the next town over, the home of my High School Alma Mater and my teenage angst years to see what I could find all by myself.  Four thrifts later, I had only found a few things.

I bought a couple yards of this vintage material at the Salvation Army.  It had no price and signs all over the store said "NO TAG - NO SALE", but I decided to take it to the register anyway.  The lady didn't blink and eye about no tag and told me it was $1.00.  Whew.  I'm still trying to identify it, so if  you have any ideas, let me know.  I also bought a plastic shoe box full of very expensive decorative tassels which I forgot to photograph.  The entire box was only $1.00 and I think I can sell them in the booth for at least $100.00 individually.  

Two crocheted watermelon potholders for the collection.  50¢ each.  Surely I am about to find all that were ever made?   A polka dot bent glass tray that reminds me of Wonder Bread bags for 50¢.

A 1948 copy of Huckleberry Finn with spelling like "Arkansaw" for $2.00.

 A nice old Atlas where all the maps are in red, white and blue.  It's from the 40's, and it includes a map of space and the planets.  It was $1.00 at a thrift that said, "ENTIRE STORE 50% OFF:, so I paid 50¢.  Funny thing was, I noticed that most of the prices were at least double if not more than they usually are.  So, half price want' that great after all.  (Not the book - the book was a good deal).

An old metal letter basket (I hoard these things), a small glitter-y duck for my Easter decor and a book, "Two Kisses for Maddy".  I read Matt, Liz and Madeline and have been wanting to read the book.  This is an Advanced Uncorrected copy that was not Retail Sale, yet I paid 35¢ for it at my favorite "old lady thrift".

My favorite "old lady thrift" - that sounds  politically incorrect, but you know what I mean.  The whole thrift is run by women over 80.  I noticed a lot of the items were priced 15¢, 35¢ and 85¢.  Times are hard, prices are going up so they have increased their prices from 10¢, 25¢ and 75¢.  Love those ladies.  They still price egg cartons and empty Margarine tubs because they feel they have worth and are not just trash.  I have been going to this thrift since I was in Elementary School.  It will always be one of my favorites.  

As I looked around, I had only found the Maddy book and the two potholders.  I decided to hit the fabric bins.  This store, and many other thrifts, are notorious for putting vintage tablecloths in the fabric bin.  So, I always have a dig.  Plus the thought of finding a feedsack is always there too.  I didn't find a tablecloth, but I did spot what looked like feedsack fabric, so I pulled it out.  

It was an old quilt top with feedsack turtles on it.  I have never seen a turtle quilt before.  (I wish it was a completed quilt.  I really need to figure out how to finish off all these quilt tops I seem to find.)  The price on the masking tape was $6.00 which was a great price for all those old feedsack turtles.  When I went up to pay, the lady rang up my purchases....."Thirty five cents.  Fifty cents.  Fifty cents.  Six dollars.  SIX dollars? SIX DOLLARS!" she said.  "I didn't know we EVER priced anything THAT much!" she said.  She looked at me to make sure I still wanted it.  I said, "Big money, huh?"  And she laughed and I paid my $7.35.  I showed her the turtles and she loved them.  She had never seen a turtle quilt either.  

By the time I picked up the boys i thought I hadn't found much, but now that I see it all here, I suppose I did okay.  I really do love that quilt and that was probably worth the day out.

Things In My House

I look to look in other people's houses.  When I was little we would take walks just before it got dark out, right before everyone closed their blinds.  You could look in and see their living rooms and how people lived.    I've always found it interesting to see the things that people choose to put on their walls, look at every day and live with year after year.  Some people have giant framed sports photos over the couch, others have family photos on every wall.  One of the first disagreements that we had when we were setting up our first home was that The Breadman was adamant that we hang an calendar in every.single.room.  And, not like on the back of the door where only "we" would see it, but as in right by the front door and by the dining room table and by the bed and in the bathroom near the toilet.  I was very, very, very, VERY adamant that we would NOT hang a calendar in every single room.  One calendar, in the kitchen, was enough for any normal family.  Twenty one years later and it is still working.  I have never once regretted my decision to hang a calendar by the toilet.  No sireee.

Folk art handmade Woodpecker door knocker.  This hangs on the left of the utility closet in the hallway.

When we first got married, we knew another newlywed couple and we would often go to their house for dinner.  I think she had bought stock in Home Interiors because every room had a different arrangement of three pictures, a shelf under each picture, fake greenery and a porcelain statue.  She had the same candle on each end table and matching table runners and throw pillows.  It looked nice, but it was all so matchy-matchy and it looked exactly like the pictures in the catalog that she would shove under my nose hoping I too would join the three picture, shelf, fake greenery statue club.  I am happy to say that I did not.

Folk Art handmade Woodpecker door knocker #2.  This one hangs on the right side of the utility closet.

Instead, I joined the the yard sale brigade.  And, I found unique one of a kind vintage items that did not break the bank.  Items that love and adore.  Things that are me and no one else has.  I like being different and having different things.  I don't often have house guests, but when I do they usually tell me that I have interesting things and they love to look around.  I know I definitely have more things than the average person.  Most people I know have one single pottery vase on the shelf.  Not over 100 in one shelf like I do.  But, that's okay by me.  I like it and I'm not going to change to be like "those people."

Giant red comb and giant red Safety Pin Carnival Prizes.  These are in a teeny nook in the wall between the linen closet door and the bathroom door.  

There is a single man that lives around the corner from us.  His living room walls are completely bare.  Not one thing on all four walls.  He has a recliner and a TV and he leaves the overhead light on while he watches TV.  I am DYING to get in there and slap some crap on his walls!  And buy him a lamp.  It's driving me crazy!

Vintage Ajax Paper Cup Dispenser.  Hanging in the kitchen.  The Breadman pointed to it and asked me "What is that?'  (He never notices ANYTHING!)

Do you have unusual things in your house too?  What do other people think about your "stuff"?

The Week In Junk: June 18

I didn't think I was going to have a Week in Junk post this week.  I did go junking, but nearly all of it went straight to the booth.  I had thought that I wouldn't bother blogging about hings that are going straight to the resell pile, but heck, if I did that - I might not have many posts anymore!  And, we can't have that!  :)

Friday I went to as many sales as The Bean would tolerate (two) and to Goodwill.  He's a good sport, but it is really starting to get hot and he hates the heat as much as I do.  So, I see our yard sale time coming to and end soon.  Besides, we usually hit sales on the way to go somewhere and neither of us wants to arrive all sweaty and gross.

An assortment of frames - $3.00 for all.  Brightly colored frames sell like crazy at the Flea Market.  I had sworn them off because I don't want to sell what everyone else sells.  But, then I realized that no one sells vintage colored frames, so I am painting these all soft pink, Jadeite Green, Aqua and white.  We'll see.

An usual piece of Haegar pottery - I've never seen one like it.  I've told myself no more white pottery unless it's different and unique.  Whew!  This one fits the bill.  It is a keeper.  The Head of Christ drawing caught my eye because it reminds me of a piece of artwork by my Uncle.

This is the one by my Uncle who is a very well known and respected artist that I have never mentioned.  because his daughter likes to find pieces of his artwork and swoop on the owner and try to take them away from them as part of her inheritence.  So, I can't mention names.....  Anyway, the one I purchased at Goodwill is signed and dated and is by Lars-Birge Sponberg and is worthy of some research.  

A nice old globe, a sweet Samsonite train case, a carnival chalkware cat  and an old folding ruler.  That traincase was the filthiest thing I have ever seen.  It had this brown greasy residue on every inch of the surface.  but, I took a chance on it because I knew that the surface could handle a scrubbing.  I sprayed it with bleach spray and let it sit them scrubbed it with an SOS pad.  It looks great now!  I'm never afraid of a little work if it will net some cash.  Cleaning things I already own - meh, not so much.  :D

And lastly, an item I impulse bought on Etsy the other day.

The biggest spun cotton toadstool EVER.  It fills up my entire hand.  

Go here to get one for yourself.  

Now, what to DO with it???

What did you pick, buy or find this week?

Banana Day

Spotted this card at the store the other day.  

Thought it was pretty funny.

And kinda true.

Hope you are having a nice Father's Day with your father, Hubby or both.

*When the Bean was a very wee Bean, he couldn't make the "D" sound so it came out as a "N" sound.  Therefore, he called Daddy - Nana.  Absolutely CRACKED ME UP since that is a Grandma name.  But, he was so cute, running all excited yelling "Nana!  Nana!"  He used to get mad at Daddy aka Nana and tell him he was a "Bad Daddy" which came out as BaNana.  Ha!  "You a BANANA!"  I would have to leave the room and go laugh alone because it didn't make Nana aka Daddy happy to hear me hooting and laughing about it.  One day he told The Bean, "You know, my name is D-A-D-D-Y."  "Oh, Daddy!" he said.  And, that was the end of Nana and Banana.  :(

Weddings and West Coast Choppers

Monday night I met up with the Mom and Bride and we came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to work out.  The daughter really wants a "Hollywood Glamour" look to her reception - lace, pearls, crystal, etc.  I think the Mom hard vintage and just thought that meant old stuff.  Even after I told them that I didn't have any of that stuff, the Mom still wanted me to decorate and coordinate the reception.  Which is funny because just because I have an interesting booth doesn't mean I could set up an entire Wedding.  I actually think I could do it, but for her to think it is sort of funny.  So, I will just take it all as a big compliment and move on.  I really have a lot going on with my usual stuff, the booth, junking, working at the Flea, getting The Bean his license and starting to study for his GED.  So, my Wedding Planning career came to a fast start and an abrupt end.  (I'd still  like to set up a big party with all my JUNK!)

Today I had donations to drop off at Goodwill, so I ran in super quick.  I din't really find anything, but on the way to the door I spotted a bit of gingham hanging on the rack.  It was a pristine hot pink gingham apron with Chicken Scratch on the pocket.  

Just like my collection of rainbow aprons.

After I paid for it and I was holding it up to admire it, The Bean asked me if that was the West Coast Choppers emblem on the pocket.  

He was kidding, of course.

But, I'm not sure I can ever look at my aprons in the same light again!

The Week in Junk 6/11/12

Between Friday and Saturday, I brought in four huge shopping bags full of yard sale finds.

(Yes, those are giant Joann's bags - I love those darn bags!)

I brought it all in, sorted it into keep and sell and found I had a lot in the "keep" pile, but most of it wasn't very photoworthy. I bought a big stack of books. Every week I tell myself NO BOOKS. Those are the weeks I seem to find boxes of books that are practically FREE. The very first sale I went to this week had a box of brand new expensive hardback kids books for 10¢. I picked up a pile of them to mail in surprise packages to two certain special little ones in my life.  I also found several good books for The Bean and a few books for me to thumb through.  The very last sale yesterday, a lady gave me a pile of decorating books including Martha Stewart books for FREE.  She was funny - more on her later. 

Friday morning I went to a few sales before we had errands to run.  I headed out looking for a few things to sell in the booth.  I wasn't looking for furniture, but I found some!

I spotted this hutch from the street and was surprised it was still there.  Furniture usually sells first thing in the morning, so I assumed it was probably expensive.  I was surprised to see a price tag of only $30.00 on it.  I decide to bite on it.  The Flea market recently added a furniture only booth where we can put furniture for no rent, but a higher commission.  I've never had room for furniture, but now I can branch out and pick up a piece when I see one.  I think I can get $125.00-150.00 for it at the Flea Market.  I considered painting it and redoing the hardware, but honestly, I'd rather let someone else make it their own than go through all that.  If it doesn't sell, I'll attack it then.

On to the other things:

In breaking news:  I bought shoes at a yard sale.  I do NOT buy used shoes.  I don't even look at the shoes.  Ew.  But, I have been wanting a pair of Wellies so these caught my eye.  Luckily, they were still attached together with the elastic cord, so they aren't officially "used".  They were only $1.00, they are cute and they fit.  Perfect!

This light box is from Target.  My idea is to take out the plastic that says LOUNGE and replace it with MONKEYBOX to put out in the booth.  Wish me luck on that one.  If it doesn't work, I will sell it.  $1.00.

A trip to the Super Cheap Thrift netted me this tin chock full of 54 skeins of embroidery floss and a slew of buttons all for the ripe sum of 25¢.  Whenever I get to the tin area at the SCT, I stand there and shake all the tins because they often price the tins with the contents included.  I'm certain I look a fool standing there shaking tin after tin, but if I can get 54 skeins of floss for 25¢, I'll just keep on shaking, thank you very much.

A kit to make any bottle into a lamp.  We picked up some gallon glass bottles at TBM's Grandmother's house that I think will make an awesome lamp.  $1.00.

These gold Napier Owl Salt and Pepper Shakers were 75¢.  To the booth they will go, owl things sell quickly.  I don't understand it myself.  

The last sale of the day yesterday was the last house in a group of neighborhood sales.  They didn't have much, but then again, they still had quite a bit for the end of the day.  I spotted a box with some older tins in it and I proceeded to pick out a couple and ask how much there were.  The lady said, "Sorry - you have to take the whole box - it's only a quarter."  I couldn't argue with that, so I picked up the whole box.  

 Then I found these old flower frogs - again, "How much?"  "Put 'em in your quarter box", she said.

And this old fork turned into a photo holder?  "In your box", she said.  I found several more things that have been long forgotten and added them to the box too.  I found the books I mentioned before and asked how much.  She said, "Those won't fit in your box.  So, they are free."  

Then I found a box of pretty new DVD's.  I asked, "How much?" and she said 50¢ each.  So, I gathered up all of these movies.  As I was paying, she kept pointing to the street and saying "LOOK!"  When I looked back at her, she was sticking random things in my box.  I spotted one more thing as I was leaving and she told me it was a quarter.  "But, you get everything else on the table for FREE with it."  She made getting to a sale late in the day fun.  Most of the extra stuff went to Goodwill, which is what she was trying to avoid doing herself.

 Next door to her house, I found this cool vintage apron - "To Hell with Housework!"  Can I get an Amen!  I really, really try not to collect aprons.  But, this one might have to stay with me for awhile.  It cost 12¢.  I kid you not.

I found this vintage BBQ Apron at a sale for 50¢.  It will either go to the booth or to ebay.  I haven't decided yet.  First, it needs a washing.

At the Veteran's Cemetery fundraising sale I bought a box of Christmas items and salvaged these items out of it.  I especially love that pink holly thingy.  

I also got this old ornament hook box for my collection.  Notice the original price of 10¢?  Then notice the store's lowered price of 8¢?  Speaking of noticing things - did you notice the box the Christmas ornaments were in?

FRIED CHICKEN!  It's a Fried Chicken box from Carlsbad Caverns.  I did some research and found that there used to be a cafeteria at the bottom of the Cavern and they sold cold Fried Chicken box lunches.  

Notice the FREE pickles, mustard and mayonnaise at the stands.  WOOHOO what a deal!  This silly old fried chicken box is probably my favorite find of the day.  It never should have been saved or kept around for all these years.  It was trash, yet here it is all these years later.  I'm researching it a bit more, I may sell it since it is a hard to find item, I assume.  The price for my Fried Chicken box?  5¢.

Hmmmmm...I wonder if Popeye's is open?

What did you find this weekend?

Seriously, does anyone know if Popeye's is open????