The Week in Junk: What You Can Buy for $5.00

Once again, I didn't go to any yard sales this weekend.  SHOCK*HORROR*  Saturday we had Christmas in July at our house with my Mom and Step Dad.  It is a completely silly day - we cook out hot dogs and have a summery dessert  - I decorated the table in a Summer/Christmas theme:

This year it was a Kneehugger camping trip.  Any excuse to bring out the Romper Room camper set.  The best part of our Christmas in July are the gifts.  Strict rules apply - you cannot buy anything, it all has to come from your own house, wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a Walmart bag.  FANCY.  I received gloves, laxatives, microwave popcorn, and EMPTY gift box and a lot of other odd but hilarious to open items.  It is a silly fun day and MUCH needed at my house.  MUCH.  (More on that in time......)

Sunday I met up with Lara, the twins and our other junking friend Laurie at a big Antiques Show.  I thought it would all be pricey antiques, but it was mostly vintage things.  A lot of the sellers from the other shows were there and we are all getting to know each other.  It was fun to walk around and look at all the things that were for sale plus look for display ideas for my shows and booth.  Of course, all that looking makes you see things you want to buy.  Most were out of my budget, but I found just enough to make me happy and not be sad about missing yard sales the day before.  

On booth had hundreds of these new old stock signs.  It took me FOREVER to decide which one to buy.  I'm still not sure I made the best choice, but I do love this one.  It will look great in my cake decorating corner during the holidays.  

One of my favorite sellers had a big baggie of vintage Christmas items. I saw one item that made it worth the whole package and the price, so I bought it.  Lots of fun vintage things in the bag.

Spun head angels at the bottom of the bag were a sweet surprise.  

This pipe cleaner Santa is what I spied in the bag.  I just really, really, really LOVE this guy.  

After I left the Antiques Show, I popped into Goodwill.  

I spied this wonderful Peterboro Market Basket sitting on a low shelf with a book and a plastic cup in it.  I waited for someone to come around the corner and grab it, but no one did.  So, I grabbed it.  I was SO happy to see it was only $3.00.

It is lined with red GINGHAM oilcoth.  I looked on the Peterboro website and it is a $50.00 basket.  Nice!  You know how much I love a good handmade basket.  And this one is really useful, so that is an added bonus.

Today I made a quick run to the booth to straighten up and clean up after our Christmas in July sale we had all weekend.  On the way, I stopped at the SCT.  Lara had sent me a text earlier that she had been there too, but I don't know what she found.  Maybe she will tell us if she EVER UPDATES her blog?   (Like she has anything other to do with a new GIANT booth, three year old twins and a father recovering from a quintuple bypass.......)

So, back to my purchases.  I call it the Super Cheap Thrift for a reason.  Today, I spent $5.00. 

And this is what I bought.  For five dollars total.  :)

Two Readers Digest books with pretty covers - (already taken apart and made into clipboards), a wee piece of crockery, a JAPAN elephant, tiny angel playing the harp planter and a wooden crate that I will add a vintage label to before I sell it.  

A fun bunny planter.  

A hefty piece of Floraline pottery for 50¢.  I know - I don't do green and I'm not supposed to buy plain pottery - but I just cannot leave a piece of McCoy behind for 50¢!  

(Self imposed rules are easy to break).

Four small toleware trays, an accordian mug rack (these always sell) and a sugar shaker to make more string holders.  

Handmade Raggedy Ann.  I have a soft spot for Raggedy Ann dolls.  I don't keep them but I like getting them into the right hands.  She looks a little mischievous.  

And lastly a Barbie book.  I never knew there were Barbie books.  

Nothing is particularly valuable.  But, there is money to be made, projects to complete and a couple pieces of pottery for me, so it was a well spent $5.00. 

I do need a little help from you guys.  My friend Laurie gave me a baggie full of these hollow tubes.  She thought they were screwdriver handles, but I don't really know. 

The CANDY one is my favorite one - whatever it is. 

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Pitiful Purchases

Last week I didn't go to any sales, and this weekend I only went to one.  The weather is just hot and sticky and none of the ads look very promising.  Actually, I did go to two sales yesterday, but one was laid out really weird and I got claustrophobic and left.  I have some weird experiences lately, don't I?

I spotted one old badly made sign which usually means a good sale, so I hobbled up the long gravel driveway to the old shop building.  There was a lot of stuff, but mostly junk.  Bad junk.  The man running it was nice enough but he talked and talked and talked.  "That's a dollar, that's five dollars, make a pile, it's all gottta go" and on and on.  I like it when people are friendly, but there comes a point when you just want them to BE QUIET so you can shop.

I scrounged around and made a sad little pile of stuff and spent $6.00.  I got two big wooden bead Christmas garlands too that I already cut apart so they aren't in the photo.

These hand thrown pottery face mugs used to sell pretty well on ebay, but I don't know if they still do.  I don't think anything sells on ebay right now.  My auctions have tanked and the ones that DO sell - well, "I'll pay you next week".  I don't understand why you can "buy" something on ebay and not have to pay for it immediately.  

I love the old red tool organizer.  It was pretty gross when I found it.  The keys were all on a round key ring, then they rings were all hooked together and it was a big smelly wound-up mess.  But, you know me - I got them all apart and sorted out.  I sell those giant pencils in the booth whenever I find them - I guess they don't really make those as souvenirs anymore.  The two bank bags are unique - little denim bags complete with belt loops and pockets on the back.  

I went to the booth to straighten up and get ready for our "Christmas in July" sale after that sad sale.  There is a booth in the flea market that is ran by the Animal Shelter.  All the items are donated, the rent is free plus there is a donation bucket on the counter for them, so they do pretty well.  I think that's great.  Since their items are donated, they sell them cheap.  So I always take a look.  I don't always find something, but this time I did!

Sweet Royal Copely planter with a sweet bird on it.  

 And a second Royal Copely with a bird on it.  So sweet.  

I've been collecting matte white and pastel colored pottery for years.  

But, lately I have been more drawn to the shiny sweet pieces like these.  

 And this.

 And this.

 And this.  

You know what that means.

Uh oh.  

*Now that I see them all together I see they all have bird too.  

The Week in Junk - Family Edition

So, you worried about me after that last post, eh?  I am fine - hell has not frozen over, I am still alive, it is not the end of the world and sadly, I did not win the lottery.  The truth is - I just wasn't feeling it the weekend.  Does that make sense?  Friday I did stop at one sale.  I got out of the car and walked about five steps and for some reason, I just turned around and got in the car and left.  There was just a vibe there that didn't' feel good to me.  Not just the junk, but the whole place.  I don't know why - I have been to some downright scary places all by myself way up on top of hillbilly mountain.  This was in town at a house with a family.  But, I just didn't think it felt like a hospitable place.  So, I left.  And I didn't go to anymore.  Part of the reason that I didn't do any others is that I seem to have hurt my MCL in my knee and I have a lot of trouble getting in and out of the car and walking.  All three of those things are kind of important!

Lest you think I have been without junk all week - well you are WRONG.

*Surprise!*

Wednesday we drove to the next big town over.  I dropped the boys off at the $3.00 Matinee to see Spiderman #346.  Okay, maybe it is just Spiderman 2.  Who cares, right?  The point is that I had THREE hours to go thrifting all by myself!  The bad news is that I had a strict $20.00 budget.  No, I can do a lot of damage at a yard sale with $20.00.  But, thrifts cost more.  So, I had to only get the GOOD STUFF.  I ended up buying everything that intrigued me and I only went $1.00 over my budget (But that's because I got hungry and had to grab a bag of Doritos...).

On the way to the thrifts I spotted a Wednesday yard sale which is just weird.  But the temperatures are awesome right now and the lady decided to just go with it.  I bought several things.  Almost all of which I have failed to photograph - what's the fun in that?  Sorry.

I did get this full box of vintage spun cotton doves.  They are on ebay right now.

 First thrift store netted a pile of books since ALL books were 5/$1.00 that day instead of their usual $2.00-$5.00 Each.  I bought then that looked interesting.  Three were Reader's Digest books that I gutted (ouch), one is a cookbook for The Bean and one is on ebay right now.  The rest already went to Goodwill.

Second thrift is my favorite LOL (Little Old lady) thrift.  In the back, I found a Rubbermaid tub with huge backs of fabric scraps.  I dug in there and found a gallon Ziploc bag crammed FULL of vintage feedsack scraps - the cute ones with kids and animals on them - for TWENTY FIVE CENTS!  I bought a 50¢ bag that had a handful of vintage mixed in with polyester and an HUGE bag cull of all polyester with one full feedsack inside it for $1.50.  When I checked out, the (LOL) lady told me that quilt scraps were half price, so I paid, $1.25 for it all.  She said, "I just don't know how to ring up half of 25¢": so I told her full price was fine.  She clutched her heart like I was the nicest person ever for giving her that extra 12.5¢.  I kept the good stuff and released the polyester back to Goodwill.

Third stop  - NOTHING.

Last stop was Goodwill across the street from the movies.  When I walked in, I heard laughter and immediately knew it was Amy Duggar.  I've never been to that particular thrift without seeing a Duggar or nine.  This was my first Amy sighting though.  

I bought this Ouija board.  The Bean said, "Get it out of here" as soon as he saw it and most of the people on Instagram agreed.  So, it is on ebay too.  

My find of the day was this:

Shawnee planter/candy dish with an adorable bluebird on it.  

*Swoon!  

It was only $3.00 - SUCH a deal!  

(That looks like a chip in the photo - but it's not, I promise!)

Friday after I worked in my booth, I looked at the new booth right beside mine.  For some unknown reason to me, they have priced almost everything in their booth 50¢.  It is going to take a lot of sales to make their $52.00 rent!  Yowza!  I bought a few things even though I can't resell them in my own booth (it's not really a rule, but it's frowned upon).  

Sweet little JAPAN pincushion girl.

Two JAPAN doggie ashtrays.

Sweet, sweet, sweet JAPAN doggie ashtray.  

It's so darn cute I just might start smoking!  

Saturday I had family to meet for lunch, so I skipped junking all together.  

But, when I saw my Aunt, she handed me a huge box chock full of vintage Christmas ornaments!  Shiny Brites, a spun head, a vintage ornament hanger box, German glitter boots and a lot of other great stuff.  Isn't that a great kind of family to have - the ones that "get" your junking????

Thanks Aunt Dorothy!

**Booth News:  I had a message today that one couple came in looking for vintage items for their apartment and they bought $98.00 worth of things from MY booth!  They money is great - but I get stoked when people like the things I sell!  Old framed advertisements, vintage flash cares, old school posters, etc.  That stuff makes me happy and I love it when someone loves it too.  Plus, $98.00!  Woot!

BREAKING NEWS ALERT

I did not go to any yard sales this weekend.

I repeat. I did NOT go to any yard sales this weekend.

That is all.

The Weekend in Junk - It Was Meant to Be

Friday and Saturday I decided to go to a few sales, but I didn't get started until after noon on either day.  I know I am a disgrace to "real" yard salers.  But, I always find things that make me happy and things to sell, so it's all good.  By the way, I don't sleep until noon or anything.  I'm just not a get up and go kind of gal.  I get busy with laundry and paying bills and checking emails and before i know it it's noon.

I finally wised up and took my pictures in the groups as I bought them since I usually have something fascinating or wildly entertaining to say about each and every thing I buy.  HA-HA-HA-HA-HA

Well, except for this photo - I instagrammed the Rusty and Crusty things yesterday and threw them all in one photo together.

The stool came from a "50 years in one house" sale.  The seed planter, two metal boxes and the croquet set (no balls) are all from a Shed Clean Out sale.  The boxes will go to the booth, the croquet set will be re-purposed or sold in pieces at the next Junk Barn Sale.  The stool will be for my behind when I do my next sale.  I never sit down and then I am wrecked for about four days.  So now I can perch and still look at the ready.  (Don't you hate it when sellers just sit?)  The bicycle wheel came from a one sale and it was my only purchase.  

Have you seen them turned into photo displays?  This is my plan, but we'll see.

Here is the seed planter in it's original shape - D-I-R-TY.  I love the way it says the names of all the veggies all around it.  You put the seeds inside the red doohicky then dial up what you are plating, say PARSNIPS and then it drops a seed every so often based on the proper planting rules for said vegetable. It's a SMARTYPANTS.  I think it looks like a flower, so I think I will stick it in the flowerbed somewhere.  

I stopped at a huge fundraiser and spotted a pile of 1980's Care Bears on the ground.  I asked how much and they told me about a dollar each, but if I bought several, they would make me a deal.  I said, "What about all of them?"  We counted and found there were nineteen in all.  She said, "How about $14.00?" then in the same breath she said, "or $12.00?" and then she looked in my hand and saw a $10.00 bill, grabbed it and said, "that'll work."  I brought them home, threw them in the washing machine and held my breath.  But they all came out fine - they mostly had a little surface dirt from being in storage for 30 years.  Last night we watched World War Z and I listed all the CareBears on ebay.  (ZOMBIES!)

I stopped at one sale and it turned out to be the family of my adopted family.  I didn't acquire anything that belonged to Bill and Margie, but I found a couple of things.  The Fenton praying children will go on ebay - does anyone know what you call that weird greenish glass?  Is it Vaseline?  (Ottermom - I know you know!).  I spotted that tiny BABY collar in a baggie with old nail clippers, phone chargers and kitchen utensils.  I thought it looked old, so I pulled it out.  It is handmade, mother of pearl button and so delicately embroidered B-A-B-Y.  So, so sweet.  I am happy that I rescued it.  "You can have that old thing" she told me.  Which made me happy.  And sort of sad too.

Early in the week there was an ad for this sale:

HUGE Garage Sale - almost 50 years in same house

Now that sounded like a GOOD sale and it was all of four minutes from my house.  It was a no brainer that I would go to it first!  I got the Cosco stool from the first photo and ALL OF THIS........

That's IT.  They had nothing.  And if you are thinking that is because I got there late on the first day - you are WRONG.  Lara hit it bright and early and they had NOTHING.  She got a few rolls of uber sweet wallpaper, but that was IT.  She had to drive a lot farther than four minutes to get there too.  I do love the pottery and the old ruler though.  The wooden/ lucite horse pin will go on ebay, the tin will hold crafty junk, the ruler will go in my collection.  The pottery is undecided.

They had this old TV set that I loved, but I didn't even bother to ask the price of it.  Wouldn't it be a fun thing to take apart and repurpose?  I just have no room for any more projects.  *sniff.

I swung by the SCT since I was driving past.  They were decidedly low on merchandise and especially low on anything COOL.  One good thing is that they are putting Christmas stuff out, but so far it is all new-ish Made in China junk.  But the possibility of something good awaits.  I bought the old camp stove toaster, heavy duty industrial stapler, the set of colorful vintage fondue forks and a Minion (not shown) all for $2.00. You may not get much there, but what you DO get will be Super Cheap!  :)

This brings me to the Shed Clean Out sale.  The guy having this sale works for the local auction company. When people start to lose interest in box lots or piles of stuff, he says, "put it on my tab" and he gets it for a dollar or so.  He takes it home and puts it in his shed.  When the shed is full - he has a sale.  I stopped by Friday and got a pile of stuff and he told me to come back the next day since he hadn't even started cleaning out the shed.  So, I went back on Saturday too.  

Everything he has is small and very cheap.  You pretty much gather up anything and he will throw this really low price at you and then say, "Or is that too much?"  I got everything you see here plus what is in the next two photos, plus the croquet set, the seed planter and the two metal boxes for FIVE DOLLARS.  

Saturday I spotted an old box shoved under a table with writing on it:

I picked the whole ting up, never opened it - and put it on my pile.  

What I found when I got home made me SO HAPPY.  Look at all those chenille critters and that huge - albeit scary - rabbit candy container, plastic baskets, vintage Easter Grass and a few other odds and ends.  

THOSE BUNNIES.  O M G.  They feel like a real baby bunny.  

As I was leaving, Amy, the brains behind the Farm Fresh Sale, was arriving.  She saw that box marked Easter and said she had seen it at the auction where he got it and had thought about bidding on it for me.  But she didn't and it went away to his shed where I found it and bought it.  WEIRD, right?  As she said, "It was meant to be".

Stuck inside the Easter box was this wee trick or treat pumpkin.  It is about the size of a grapefruit.  The black cat candy container was inside the pumpkin.  He's missing a cap of some sort, but he's still cute to me.  If I only bought perfect things, I would have NOTHING.  

I spotted a box of wrapping paper on the ground - inside it was a plastic bag full of old bows - but peeking out at me from a bow was this:

So, of course, the entire box. lock. stock and barrel went in my pile.  98% of it went in the trash or to Goodwill - but the spun head bow was worth it all.

As well as a few packs of fun old wrapping paper.  

A handful of old metal cookie cutters for crafting, scrap of lovely old feedsack and a handmade turtle shell.  It's made of clay and very well done.   The CANDY jar was full of peppermint sticks and everyone was saying - "Ew gross -old candy" and I was thinking - "Hey cool - neat jar."  You can throw away the candy, don'tcha know? 

These old plastic flowers were in a box and when I spotted them. I heaved the box up to my chest and wrapped my arms around it so no one would come and steal them from me and yell "OLD PLASTIC FLOWERS - JUST WHAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING!"  Of course, you know that no one else had given them a second look all day, but when you find something GREAT you are excited.  :)  I hate silk flowers and fake plants.  But these old plastic ones make my heart sing.  

ARE YOU STILL THERE?

More heart palpitations.  I love old candy boxes for storing my craft supplies - the GOLD CHEST is a new to me box- vintage Jingle Bells make the BEST jingles (Am I right, Heidi?), a tiny kneehugger and a rock painted (very well) like a rabbit.

There she is again! 

"Do you see me?"

Old Jello molds for crafting, glass Stars and Stripes toothpicker, vintage rickrack that I can NEVER leave behind, teapot salt and pepper shakers, lots of old rub on transfer letters from my journalism days, a huge box of stick on labels for sticking on things and a box of Lambs Nipples.  Yes, I said LAMBS NIPPLES.  I will buy anything in a box lot.  Point PROVEN.

Old receipt books and "While You Were Out" pages for ephemeral packs, a Guest Plaque, vintage SALVE tins and a huge bunch of crocheted flowers.  Crocheted flowers do not make me giddy.  At all.  To the booth!

My little pile of keepers and happiness makers.  Plus the Easter stuff - of course.  

It was a cheap and very happy junk filled weekend!  

It there anything better?