Let's Visit the Booth

It's been awhile since I took you on a tour of the booth.  I think I had mentioned the possibility of expanding into the small booth to the right of mine.  I was planning on it, but then the current vendors decided to stay, so that fell through.  Then the vendors in the booth on the left of me decided to vacate, so that became available to me.  But, it is the same size as my booth - about 7' x 8".  I cram a LOT of stuff in my booth so I really didn't think I could come up with that much more stuff to keep mine properly stocked and fill up the new space too.  So, I am still in my one area but that is okay because it works for me.  

The flea market is an old building that was once the town's doctor's office and it has been rehabbed many, many times. Several times I have been working in there and an old man has said, "I was born in here!"  The first time, before I knew it used to be a doctor's office, I thought "WTH?" It has bare rafters inside and you can see the old star joints in the walls, pieces of old tin ceiling and parts of old bricks.  I think it is kind of neat in there if you know the history.  Other people think it has an unfinished look to it.  Fluorescent lighting is scattered throughout the building.  With the high peg board walls, a lot of the booths are kind of dark and shadowy.  So, each vendor has found some sort of old lighting or chandelier to hang up for their own lighting.  Somehow, I lucked out and got the only full complete light fixture in my booth.  So, it is very well lit and easy to shop.  It is, however, difficult to take photos due to the bright light.  So, bear with me.

As you can see, I like to cram it full.  I took this photo before I straightened up.  

The back wall.  More stuff and stuff ans thing and things.

 My ephemera section.  Framed flash cards, Scrabble tile words, letter tile words, ephemera packets, wooden letters, paper straws, horse ribbons, corsages and lots of other fun stuff.  I sell a lot from this area.

I made all of the Scrabble tile words and attached the tiles to card stock with double stick tape.  Then I put them in my car overnight and guess what?  i twas cold and all the damn letters popped off the cards.  At least they are still in order and they make sense, but I was so happy to have figured out a good way to package them.

I was saving all the Razorback stuff until Fall, but then I decided to just throw it on top of the shelf now.  Vintage Razorback items always do well for me.  Those old pennants came out of someone's trash many years ago.  I like them hung up plus they do sell.

Packets of paper straws in 12, 24 and 36 count packages.  I have red and white, blue and white and red, white and blue.  I want to find some black, green and orange for the other holidays.  And pink.  I love pink!

There are 2x4 beams that run along the middle of the booth, so I cram stuff on there too.  No wasted space in MY booth!

The toy box full of all vintage toys.  It's usually a big hot mess on the floor when I get there to straighten up.  I think some parents park their kids in there to play while they shop.  I'd prefer they didn't do that, but what are you going to do, right?

 I bought this old plastic Hobby Horse at Goodwill last week and that spawned a horse themed display.  I sell a lot of those horse ribbons, so I added them, a wool throw and a horse ranch lamp.  I found the Horse Encyclopedia and the plastic horse on the way to the flea market at the Super Cheap Thrift.  Kind of kismet. I don't know if any of it will sell, but at least it's different that most of the other booths right now.

Georges Briard glass serving plate and set of Georges Briard glasses.  I used to sell this stuff in my other booth in the college town,but I don't know if it will sell out there in Flea Market land.

Milk glass.  I SWORE I would never buy it.  But, it's hot in weddings now and I'll squeeze a dime out of anyone anyway I can. 

I'm shameless.  

Funky old books and funky owls.

My vintage hankie collection (yes, I am selling off one of my collections), books, pottery and more horse ribbons.

 This clown freaks out many people that come in my booth.  He's kind of the mascot of the flea market.  He made the Facebook page awhile back and, for the most part, people FREAKED OUT about it.  SO, I stuck him in the back corner for an added "ACK" from people.  He's actually a Bozo the Clown and kind of cool.  Albeit a bit scary.

How about that "Here's looking at you" glass - with those creepy googly eyes on it?

Cubbies full of stuff.  Flash cards, vintage baby clothes, frames, lamps and a bit of everything.

Sometimes I wish I had one of those froo-froo booths that are all one color or all one theme.  But, I get a lot of compliments on my things and the fact that they are all vintage and unique.  So, more STUFF is what I will sell.

If you're ever in the area - I'll give you a tour!

The Weekend in Junk

Saturday morning I had the alarm to get u and go hit a few Church Sales and some yard sales.  I won't tell you what time I set the alarm for because some of you would be, well, alarmed, at what time I was getting up. Let's just say that some of you die-hard's would have been up, gone, shopped, had a Starbucks and donuts and been back home before I was even planning on getting up.  I am just not a morning kinda gal.  Ok, so now that I reread that, I suppose you are thinking I slept in until about noon.  I was planning on getting up at 7:30, but when I woke up, it was raining, so I rolled back over for another hour and then I got up to do a weather check.  It was still wet and dreary, but I knew the Church Sales would still be on no matter what the weather, so I downed a cup of coffee and hit the road.  

Church Sale #1:  (If you read YSQ, forgive me for the obvious cut n paste)

Church Sales are few and far between in my are, so I was happy to find one. I got there after the sale had been going for three hours. Remember that. THREE hours. 

As I got to the back of the room, there was a table full of old rusty junk - wrenches, a level, some weird what nots off old stuff, and I don't really know what any of it was originally, but it was cool and I like junk I can re-purpose. Things were priced 10¢, 25¢ and 50¢ so I started gathering up an armload. 

As I was putting about the fourth thing in my had, a man and a woman from the church walked up and started discussing the pricing. Someone had sent them back to remove all the prices and then place a Make An Offer sign up. He (whoever that is) felt it had been priced too inexpensively and wanted higher prices). Even though the table was still full three hours into the sale..... Anyway, I said I would put my things back and they both said NO you already had them, go ahead and take what you want. So, I picked up a few more things and went on my way. 

I walked around holding my rusty junk and looked for other things.  I spotted an old enamel heater.  I remembered that Laurie bought one in Texas and schlepped it all the way to Oregon in her suitcase so I figured I had to buy this one.  I have no idea what to do with it, so I can't wait to see how she re-purposed the one she bought!  It was only $1.00, so I am sure I will figure out something.

I also found a Terra Bluebird.  These things are at every single sale around here.  But, I always buy them if they are 25¢-50¢.  This one was a quarter, so it fit the bill.  

Oh yes, and this.  A GEEK necklace.  "Geek" is a big word in my family.  I answered to "Geek" as a child and considered being a Geek a good thing.  I think it means more of a computer nerd now and not a Circus Sideshow act like we all meant it.  

When I was done shopping, I went outside on the porch to check out and the man looked at my stuff and did a big puff of air out of his mouth indicating he was NOT happy that I was buying these cheap things. I told him that someone had told those people to raise the prices, but they said I could have it at those prices. But if he didn't want me to have them, it was okay. He said it was fine he wasn't going to argue over it (with the people, not me). But! Then he opened the door to the church and made all the workers come out so they could look at my items and then he went on and on and on about the prices and it being too cheap and how they should have been priced higher. Meanwhile, I feel about two years old and about two inches tall standing there even though I did nothing wrong. My total came to $3.00, so I gave him a five so maybe he might feel a little better. As I walked to the car, I could still hear him telling them what a bargain I go and how much money they just lost. 

So, if it really was such a great deal for me and such a big loss for them, how come those things were still there three hours into the sale? It kind of knocked the wind out of my sales for the rest of the day. I didn't do anything wrong, but I kind of got made into an example.

Here's the little pie of rusty junk.  See, nothing great or valuable.  Just old rusty junk.  

Oh, well.  On to the next Church Sale that was supposed to be a half a mile up the road.  But, I never could find it so they must have cancelled it due to the rain.  I spotted a yard sale sign up the street, so I followed it. When I got there, the yard was jammed pack with STUFF and I got really excited.  Then I realized that it was mostly all new old car parts and car manuals and manly stuff.  They did have some other stuff like books, but each one was wrapped in Saran Wrap with a price sticker on it - the kind like Grocery Stores use.  I hate it when yard sales price things with a sticker gun.  I don't know why, but it seems too professional to me.  Plus, they never price things lower than $1.00!  So, I left empty handed.  

On to the third supposed Church Sale of the day.  I found it, but it was mostly books, some junky toys and lots and lots of clothes.  I left empty handed again.  

I decided to give up and hit a couple thrifts.  The thrifts have been better to me than yard sales lately.  

I found this set of hand blown glass napkin holders/place markers in a baggie.  They had the ungodliest ugly flowers hot glued to them.  They were hideous!  They were in the final week so they were only 50¢.  I took a chance and soaked them in water all night until everything popped off.  They are really sort of pretty.  I'm trying to think of another use for them other than napkin rings.  

A baby shoe planter.  I don't usually buy baby planters, but this one is heavy pottery and really cute.  Plus, in the words of Macklemore - IT WAS ONLY NINETY NINE CENTS!

A sweet Mother cup for my collection.  Hey!  I need to get my Mother's Day stuff out.  

It's purt near here!

Three small toleware trays.  I'm a sucker for these but I don't know why.

There was a lady standing in front of the shelf where this old turtle planter was sitting and I didn't want to be rude and snatch it out from her, so I waited.  I did chant under my breath, "Step away from the turtle...Step away from the turtle" and shot daggers through her with my eyes.  Luckily, she moved on and I grabbed it.  I knew it was a cool old piece of pottery when I saw it.  

And, I knew it was a good one when I saw that McCoy mark.  Score.  When I checked out the lady admired it and asked me what I thought it was worth.  She said she LOVES it when someone finds a treasure and it is worth something.  She also told me that she had a collection of turtles that her co-workers had given her over the years.  I thought that was really sweet until she told me they gave her turtles because she was a slow worker.  She kind of hung her head and said, "I wasn't slow.....I was thorough."  She did pat the turtle on his head as I picked him up.  He will live in my pottery collection.  

Today I went to a sale and picked up a vintage Babee Tenda childs table.  It's missing the baby seat, but the graphics on the top were just too wonderful.  I already have one of these with the baby seat in my garage, but the top is just plain.  So, I am going to swap out the tops and keep the sweet graphic one and sell the other one.  I only paid $3.00 for the one I have and $5.00 for the one today, so for $8.00, I have two.  Not a bad deal!

And, this old wooden shelf for the booth.  It was red but I slapped a very bad coat of white paint on it.  I staple old flash cards and marquee numbers to the sides so it fits in my booth and I fill up the shelves with so much stuff that you will never be able to tell the paint job looks like someone from the School for the Blind painted it.  :)  Plus, I have learned that if you paint a shelf really nice - people want to BUY it!  

Did you find any good junk this weekend?  I'm hoping for some sunshine next weekend a a TON of sales. 

*I use a GPS, but still - it's true!

It was only 50¢

Sometimes you see something at the thrift and you think, "What the ???"  

Like, for instance, this wooden bunny.  He was in the Easter items, reduced by half price.  

He's holding something in his hand.  

What do you think it is?

And Easter egg?

No.

A carrot?

No.

A jelly bean?

No.

A basket?

No.

A chicky?

No.

A ducky?

No.

A baby bunny?

No.

A plastic Mardi Gras baby?

How did you guess?

It was too funny to leave behind, so I had to buy it.  

Wouldn't you?

The Week in Junk: Thursday Edition

Wednesday I dropped the boys off at the movies and went to meet my Dad for an afternoon of thrifting.  He goes to garage sales on his own, but he never goes to thrift stores unless he's with me.  I take that back, there is one thrift that gives away of high dollar Bakery bread with any purchase on Thursdays.  So, occasionally he goes and buys a 50¢ book and scores a $8.00 loaf of bread.  He never buys anything at the thrifts, but he likes to follow me around thisclose to see what I pick up.  Then he wants to know why on EARTH I am buying THAT.  I gave him a crash lesson on upcycling and repurposing.  The last time we were together, I bought an old time card holder and he really didn't understand that one.  It works great for holding flash cards at the booth though!

We went to three thrifts and I only spent about two dollars at each one.  It wasn't the best day for finding good stuff.  But, it's always fun to go thrifting even if you don't find a carload of good stuff.

 The first thing I bought was this old metal Chinese Checkers game.  It was still in the box with the marbles too.  I have sold five of these so far in the booth as wall art.  So, to the booth!

At the same thrift, they have a never ending supply of vintage party decor and craft booklets.  I picked up three copies of this Party Favor booklet.  There are some pretty funny ideas in there.

*Keep one, sell two*

Including a St. Patrick's Day that is a match made in heaven for Laurie.

The second stop had me purchasing some items that the checker asked, "What's THAT?"

The egg/tomato slicer had her baffled first.  Then she picked up the big plaid egg and said "What is THIS?"

I told her that is was a form for sewing sleeves on dresses and shirts.  "Oh, you are smart" she said.  No, not smart, I just have a whole lot of useless knowledge in my head about junk!  I was thinking about re-purposing it into a cat or a Santa, but I see they sell for about $25.00, so I might throw it on ebay.

When she saw this old plate she said that they had made bets that it wouldn't sell since if has names on it.  I think the sweet vintage graphics outweigh the fact that it was "Janet and John" anyway.  Next year will be their 60th Anniversary.  

*Booth*

At the third thrift, I was looking on the shelves with the Fisher Price plastic toys.  My Dad really wondered why I was looking at that stuff.  But, I have learned to look everywhere at the thrift.  Because, you never know what you will find anywhere.  It was at that moment that I spotted IT.  The thing that I knew I was meant to find - the reason I stopped at that store and the reason I was looking in Plastic Toyland.  

What was it?

Vintage Gurley Birthday Candles.  In the original package.  Not melted.  

And, they are cowboys to top it all off!  

Asking price of these fabulous little candles?  50¢.  

MINE, MINE, MINE!

This was one of those finds that I clutched to my chest and hid from other people in fear of being attacked by jealous shoppers.  No one else would have even wanted them, I'm sure.  But, golly, they made my DAY!

Today I went out to re-foof the booth and stopped at the Super Cheap Thrift along the way.

Since my Mom went home, we have found there are things that she needs to make her day easier or things that her therapists or the nurse have suggested she should have available.  Today I found three things for her - things I wouldn't have even noticed when I was thrifting in the past.  Just another reason to always look at the thrift before you go buy anything new.  Well, almost anything.....:)

The Nurse wanted her to have a second pill box, the therapist had mentioned a pulley exerciser and she was saying she needed some sort of a way to carry things in her wheelchair.  So, I found a pillbox, an exerciser and a pouch that ties on to a wheelchair for the remote, glasses, etc.  *She can walk and does, but she sits in her chair instead of trying to maneuver her recliner right now.

Other finds included an old ice cream spade.  I love these and always pick them up when I find them.  The checked tablecloth isn't especially old, but it's not especially new either.  I seem to have a crush on checkered tablecloths lately.  I keep picturing a wedding with a checkered tablecloth, an old thermos and a picnic lunch packed in a vintage picnic basket for each group of guests to eat picnic style.  Yet, I know NO ONE getting married.  But, does that stop me from buying these things and thinking about that wedding?  Nope.

Some old Fisher Price people and vehicles.  Love the mail truck.  

*Booth*

Two old hard plastic rattles.  Blue bunnies on one, a duckie head on the pin.  I found these mixed in the baby department with the new Gerber stuff.  Like, I said, you have to look everywhere!  

*Keepers*

I'm not much on religious things for the booth, but the pink in the background of this sweet vintage planter sold me.  I think it's super sweet and will surely speak to someone.

*Booth*

This stool was $1.00 so I scooped it up.  I can't decide if I will paint it or leave it as is.  I don't know if I will keep it or sell it either.  I suppose if I keep it, I will paint it.

Since I am vertically challenged, I keep a variety of small sturdy stools all around the house.  

There are a slew of sales this weekend.  Including TWO Church sales within eye shot of one another.  it sounds like super fun right now, but when the alarm goes off and I have to think of actually getting up and going - not so much.  I am so not a morning person.  But, we'll just have to see what I decide when the time comes.  

Hope you find some good junk this weekend.  

Here a Chick, There a Chick...

This week I had a surprise box from Eddie at Eddie-torial Comments.  It was chock full of goodies that he had found and saved for me over the course of about a year.  I am often the recipient of surprises in the mail and they never fail to surprise me or delight me.  This box was no exception.

In the box was this wee little teeny tiny chick on a card.  It's amazing that it stayed on the card all these years and that it was never lost.  The chick itself is about the size of a green pea.  

What is even more amazing is this:

I have a nearly identical teeny tiny chick from my childhood animal collection.  It is about the size of a pinto bean.  How I have kept track of it all this time, is a miracle too.  Now my little teeny chick has a wee little friend to hang out with on my shelf.  

It's chick destiny!

Eddie is going through some hard times right now, but he still took the time to think of me.  Go on over and give him some love, okay?  Thanks!)

(Thanks Eddie!)

A Church Sale

My Mom is home again.  Jiggity Jig. Jiggity Jig.  That's not to say that she is healed or back to herself.  She still has a lot of limitations.  She is also considered to be "home bound" so she has two therapists and a CNA that will come to her house during the week.  She will still be busy, but at least she is in more familiar surroundings again.  Her own chair, her own TV, no roommates, food of her choice, bedtime when she's ready, etc. All of the breaks and injuries that occurred with the fall have completely healed.  But, she has nerve damage in her arms that makes her right hand almost useless.  She can do some things with it, but very little. The therapists are still working on it and have hopes that someday it will be as good as new again.  KNOCK WOOD.  

I went out again today to help her make room for her walker and her wheelchair to easily more from one room to the next and to get her things where they are more accessible for her.  My step father is there, but he, of course, but he's well......(Do any of that side of the family read this blog?  Think WOMAN think.......No, I don't think they do) .......he's a MAN. When she goes to the bathroom I check on her to see if she needs anything and wait to make sure she comes out okay.  Not him.   Nope.  He wouldn't notice if she went missing in the bathroom for three hours.  He loves her very much, but he's just not very aware of his surroundings.  I asked him to do a few things today and he did them right away.  So, I think he's like The Breadman.  He'll do anything, you just have to ask (Okay, TELL) him to do it.  So, she needs to ask for things.  She can and will do a lot for herself, but if he's in the kitchen getting a drink, maybe he could make on for her too?  I think a lot of that has to do with the differences between men and women.  We are MOM's.  We think about everyone else first and do things for everyone first.  Most men?  Nuh-uh.  (And to any men that might be reading this that are sweet and caring caregivers......WILL YOU MARRY ME?)

Oh, what's that title up there?  A Church Sale.  I nearly forgot.  On the way to see her, I came across a Church Sale in a tiny town along the way.  It's usually outside on the lawn, but for some crazy reason it was freezing (literally) today so they moved it inside.  It wasn't huge or crazy full of vintage things like some Church sales I read about out there in blogland.  But, I found a few things to make it worth stopping.

A train case, two vintage doilies, two abstract Melmac ashtrays, an old wooden box purse with a bird on it, a huge vintage trick or treat blowmold pumpkin and a vintage woolen throw.

I don't think a kid could lift this thing once it was full of treats.  The handle is inside, but it's there.  

An old 1970's Ohio Art tin toy  toaster.  

That train case again.  I consistently sell these for $18.00 at the booth.  So, finding this one for two bucks was great.

Such a crappy picture.  This vintage Faribo Woolen throw was still sealed in it's original plastic storage case. I bought it to put with my tailgating display, but it's kinda toasty and warm and sweet.  But that could be the aforementioned freezing weather we had today.  At $2.00, I guess I could keep it and not break the bank.

Now this thing, it's just weird.  It looks like a Dakin Dream Pet, but it has that big spring as a neck.  It says "Merry Christmas" on it's side so I would think it was a deer - but it looks like a giraffe.  I am thinking that you might stick Christmas Cards in his neck, which, let's face it, is kind of a stupid look, but I think that's really what how it was intended to be used.

 Several vintage books which one lady told me were $1.00 each, but when I went to pay for only one - another lady told me that they were 2/25¢.  "Oh let me go grab a few more" I cooly said.  :D

 Vintage Farm Animal Book.

Little Swimmers which is really just too cute.

A book titled, "I want to be an Animal Doctor" in which I spotted that ungodly freakish creature in the bottom center.  Upon actually reading the book I found that it is a MONKEY.  Oh, hell no.  That's no MONKEY.  That is the spawn of HELL!

Vintage 1930's Junior Instructor Book which has an assortment of plays, stories, lessons, songs, craft activities and other fun things including a very scientific lesson about Space Travel.  In the 1930's.  It's awesome.

It has great drawings and graphics that I think would be great framed.  

But, I've never been able to cut up a vintage book yet.  

And, several vintage religious books with super great drawings and graphics.  

All in all it was a good day.  Saw my Mumsie, bought some junk and went to eat Chinese Food for the first time in months.  I did notice at one point that our waitress had watery eyes and looked like I felt back earlier in this week.  When she refilled our water all three of us said, "Don't drink the water!"  She ended up leaving and we had a new waitress.  And, now, my stomach is making god awful noises again.  Oh my, not again.  Please, not again!