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.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Weekend in Junk: Holiday Edition

Friday I headed to the booth to get it straightened up for the holiday weekend.



Along the way, I found a few garage sales.  So many that I never made it to the booth.  Whoopsie!

One sign that I saw was pointing down the street where I got all these blow molds for 50¢ each last year. Now, the signs was just pointing to that same street, but I remembered all those blowmolds, crossed my fingers and drove up the street.  It was the same house!  Woohoo!  The lady having these sales is cleaning out her Mother's house and she sells things for cheap.  She has massive amounts of junk - baby clothes, old musty not cool vintage clothes, sheets, towels and the usual household junk.  Oh, and collections.  Last time it was the ceramic mask collection (THE HORRORS) and the ELEPHANT collection (I found some cool elephants that I sold).  This time it was the Home Interiors collection (THE HORRORS), Made in China frogs (THE HORROR) and the rest of the ceramic masks. (THE HORRORS).  

But, in the midst of the junk, if you really look you will find some good old junk.  And cheap.


All this for $4.00.  
Service for four of these Federal dishes.  They have a silver edge with the silver swirly thing going on.  I NEVER ever, ever buy dishes, but these were kind of pretty and I think they will sell.  Two bucks for the set.
A Japanese Saki bowl that I will plant something in, a GINGHAM tray (might become a magnet board), a big Boy Scout kerchief, a doily, a 7UP Uncola glass and a red Lustreware silverware tray.  I seem to be a magnet for those plastic silverware trays. 

I adore these stacking cups.  Aren't they just the prettiest pastel colors?  I just might have to keep these  - they were ten cents each.  The little PINS, NEEDLES and BUTTONS drawer is missing a knob, but I will fix it somehow.  

Oh yes, I got this.  
No comment.
Two large embroidered table runners with butterfilies on each end.  Someone spilled nail polish on them, so they aren't usable as table runners anymore - but does anyone really use a table runner anymore?  I think I will frame the embroidered butterflies - they are quite pretty.  
I also got all these old crafting booklets from this sale.  I sorted through the stack of magazines and found all these good old ones and set them to the side to buy.  But, when she boxed them up, she gave me ALL the magazines, so I had to sort them again when I got home.  I ended up with 40 good old ones. 

There some with adorable dolly graphics.  

These are my favorites.  I just might have to learn to crochet so I can made some of those.  See that Scotty dog?  Eek.  I was hoping there would be instructions for the watermelon potholder so I could frame it and hang it above my collection, but no such luck.  

This booklet is interesting.  "Knit for Defense."

Apparently during WWII everything was in short supply for the soldiers.  In order to help out, a lady could buy this booklet, knit something according to the dress code of the military and then send it in to be given to a soldier.  Isn't that neat?  There are some awesome photos of soldiers in this booklet.  

Saturday I actually did make it to the booth, but managed to squeeze in a Moving Sale along the way.  

A cash register till for $2.00.  I think I will use it to hold milk caps, dice, keys and junk at the Farm Fresh Sale.  I can clip the signs on the money clip things.  Cool, right?


The metal thing on top is an old receipt book folder from a delivery driver - like a milk man or ice cream man.  Under that is a great old letter organizer.  It's heavy and very Mad Man-esq.
I spotted this old POST box in a 25¢ box.  I didn't even open it, because I thought the box was interesting and whatever was in it would just be a bonus.  

And what a BONUS it was!  A very old drafting compass set.  Thy are all solid brass and they nestle in their own little divets in that luscious velvet.  I think they might be worth something. but my research disagrees. They are just so nice!

I picked up this milk bottle for 25¢.  I happen to know that you can return it to the store for the grocery store $2.50 deposit refund.  Hey, why not?
I also found this tiny handmade basket which is one of my favorite things in the world.  It fits in the palm of my hand and cost twenty five whole cents.  

The stagecoach toy came from a yard sale with the beaded necklace.  The Miller Studios Chalkware Duck thermometer was found at Goodwill and the box of Christmas light bulbs was from the Vintage Market Days of NWA that Lara and I went to on Saturday.  It was an upscale Vintage Venue with lots of wonderful displays.  I got lots of ideas for future projects and set ups at any venues I do in the future.  There was SO much good stuff there.  I think Lara will blog about it - I only took a couple photos while we were there.  

The farm Fresh Sale is June 13 so it is CRUNCH TIME and I have done NOTHING so far.  Time to round up the junk and figure out the set up.  Junk, junk, junk!

Hope you all have a lovely Memorial Day and BE SAFE out there!  

18 comments:

  1. Love love that little sewing notions box and all those vintage craft booklets. what fun finds!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gosh, you had fun this weekend already with all your finds! As usual your junk radar was working and you found some great stuff. Love the doily, pastel cups and the butterfly runner!

    We had everyone over last night so it was make potato salad time again! Today I'm going to breakfast with a friend and my granddaughter and then we are going to go thrifting. She's been looking forward to it since we talked about it last week! I know the stores will be mobbed but I NEED to go!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We helped my daughter move and passed a million yard sales and because of time we couldn't stop. great finds as always.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  4. So much good stuff! I think the duck is my favorite find this week. What the heck is the deal with the towel. Whore house and green stamps? I need to wipe that image from my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Since I'm not junkin much these days, I'm really enjoying your finds. Love the little notions box, the drafting tools are awesome and I love those plates! Fun finds and good prices!
    hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  6. I use table runners! My dining room table is so big that a lot of times, I will iron a tablecloth into a table runner size just so I can put something on it. Otherwise, it would be bare all the time and I can't have a naked table!

    In love with that Lustro Ware silverware tray. I never find them. Ever. They must all be in Arkansas at your house.

    The Barn Sale is the 13th and you've done nothing?! Shara! Get your butt moving!

    Erica

    ReplyDelete
  7. The knit for defense would have come home with me and I don't knit.

    ReplyDelete
  8. If you are interested in selling the crochet books, I'm interested in them.
    My daughter is working towards moving out on her own, she has the right idea: she intends to furnish her first place with flea market/thrift store/craigslist finds if it's at all possible.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great finds as always.
    I have a keychain to match your Mable's towel. Who doesn't love double green stamps;).

    ReplyDelete
  10. What WONDERFUL finds!! You always seem to find the best stuff. I'm prepping for a sale that I'm doing June 7-8. Been working on it for almost 2 months - but I only put in about 5 hours a week... but lately I've been putting in a few hours everyday! I feel like I'll never be prepared! >_<

    ReplyDelete
  11. All of that is so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Mabel's Whorehouse towel is not vintage. They are sold at truck stops/gas stations. The only reason I know this is I have a dozen or so and give them away as gifts.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew it wasn't vintage. But it will made the perfect gift for my Dad on Father's Day.

      Delete
  13. My dad might have had one of those towels or one similar. I think he had one that he kept in his bar - he didn't drink, so his bar was filled with candy for the grandkids. But I'm pretty sure he had a towel like that somewhere. If not, he would have loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great stuff as usual! Love seeing all the great things you find.

    ReplyDelete
  15. That towel is hilarious! Do you think your Dad want's my Slick Willy Marijuana bag as well??? Yes, make that gingham tray a memo board, for sure. Those craft books are to die for. And the embroidery -- have seen where people have taken doilies and table runners that are ruined for some reason and cut them up for banners. So darn cute.

    ReplyDelete

I love my comments. I'd love to respond to everyone, but if you don't have an email address tied to your ID, please sign your name so I will know who you are! It makes it nice to know who is saying what. Now, leave a comment! Please? ;o)

I Can See You!



Look at my Visitors!

Fellow Junk Followers