House Arrest: I BROKE FREE

I had put myself under house arrest and forbid myself to go to any yard sales this weekend.  But BAD IDEAS were meant to be broken and I snuck out for about an hour this morning.  (Auto-correct says "snuck" isn't a word, but I say it IS A WORD. Whatev.)

I went to the Super Cheap Thrift, a yard sale and two estate sales.  It pays to live in a tiny town where you can go to all of those in an hour! 

The SCT thrift is putting out Halloween and Christmas in slow doses.  As I was looking at each item on all the shelves searching for vintage, I spotted a Santa Blowmold under the shelves.  Yea!  As I carried him around, one of the volunteers spotted it and was not happy that I had it.  "Where did you get that?" she said.  "It was under that shelf.  I collect them so I am happy that I found it."  Yes," she said.  "I collect them too and the people in the back KNOW I collect them."  So, apparently if I ever find any more there it will be a miracle, because she has requested them all.  But, we'll see.....  Yes, I need blowmolds for The Junk Ranch, but I collect the Santa's just this size, so he will most likely stay with me.  Plus, he was only $1.00.  Surely I am worth $1.00?!

The main reason I went out to some sales was that I spotted something in an ad that I really wanted, but I KNEW it would be gone by the time I got there.  

A vintage herb drying rack.  Not only was it still there, but everything was half off so it was only $7.50.  It folds up perfectly flat and then opens like I have it here or in more of a cross with each side at a different point.  I'm going to clip all my baggies of vintage Christmas to the rungs at the Junk Ranch.  Better than being in baskets or tubs for digging, I think.  It's light and easy to store,so that is always a good thing to find.  Also, I loathe yellow, but this is an old pale yellow and I kind of love it because it's different.

Other finds at a different estate sale - which was also half off - two nice old aprons for 50¢ each. OH, there's Santa again.  Hi!

Santa!  I know him!  an old Dick and Jane Reader, big piece of aqua pottery, a great old millinery hat, restaurant mug, and a few other cheap small things. 

A vintage tablecloth which I probably overpaid at $4.00.  I know that isn't much, but it's a lot for me since I really do not need anymore tablecloth and I will never let one go either.  

A miniature shopping cart.  I think this is my fifth one.  *COUGH*  They are so damn cute, I can't pass one up.  I need to put some in the booth.  I keep thinking I will think of the perfect use for them.  The sorting bear was bought from a man, who I am most likely old enough to be HIS mother, but he told me that it was OLD.  VERY OLD.  It was his when he was a baby.  I think it is from 1988 or so? (That ain't old).

An angel, a tiny brick, a Goebel bird, a flower pin and a big striped hat box that will hold rolls of vintage wrapping paper.  The Jack O Lantern is older, not truly vintage, but old enough.  

The whole enchilada.

On my last spin through the SCT I found these Gurley candles.  I never found the little girl Pilgrim, but believe me - I looked!  

Tomorrow I will haul all of the Junk Ranch merchandise out into the driveway where I will decide HOLY CRAP THAT'S A LOT or HOLY CRAP I NEED TO GO SHOPPING.  I predict it will be the former, but I will pretend it is the latter since I am going to Pickin' Time on 59 this coming weekend.  I'll keep you updated.  

The Week in Junk: Vintage Christmas and Dolls, Dolls, Dolls

It seems every time I come here, I begin with an apology for my absence.  I wonder sometimes if anyone even comes to read blogs anymore, let alone my blog.  But, then I start getting emails and texts from my reader friends asking if I am okay.  I don't not blog (whut?) just so I will get those thoughtful notes, but when I do get them, it sure makes my heart happy.  You like me, you really like me!  (Is that Sally Field thing from too far back to still use?)

My step father is feeling good.  He was so very dizzy for weeks, but it was the blood pressure meds and not even from the heart surgery itself.  So, his doctor took him off all the extra new meds and he felt better within a few days.  He drove himself to the doctor last week and then took my Mom to the dentist and out to eat a couple days ago.  That was nice for them to finally feel normal after the last two months.  He still can't lift anything over twenty pounds, so I am the grocery shopper for the most part.  He can do light stuff, but I have to do the dog and cat food, bottled water, juice, etc.

I deep in Operation Junk Ranch.  The Fall Show, for me is primarily vintage Christmas.  It sells well and it makes it easier for me to concentrate on one theme.  I do have a good amount of vintage Halloween.  As for vintage merchandise, I am trying to only take Farmhouse style stuff like red and green handled utensils, wooden bowls, milk bottles, etc.  I always through in my usual "cute crap" for which I am known.  So, that means I have A LOT OF STUFF!

Speaking of The Junk Ranch!  It was featured in the most recent issue of Flea Market Style Magazine which is SUCH A BIG DEAL.  I am a proud Junk Ranch Vendor so this was very exciting.  

Back to Operation Junk Ranch  - I don't have a lot of big vintage Christmas stuff - I have only found one set of blowmolds this year.  I think everyone else discovered them.  DAMN.  I have a small nativity set that I got in Neosho at the City Wide Sales, but that is it.  I do have several big old wooden cutouts of some carolers, but I bought those just to be nice at Christopher Shane's grandma's sale.  They are still old and kind of neat so I'm sure they will sell.  

Friday morning I went out to get the newspaper and spotted a yard sale sign on my own corner!  I thought it was at a house with young kids, so I didn't get in a hurry to get there.  I did go about 11:30 and OH MY GOODNESS.  I am SICK I didn't go earlier.  Now, when I tell you what was at that sale you will think I am crazy.  

LOOK AWAY EDDIE!

There must have been over 500 dolls and tables of Avon bottles.  Am I crazy???  It was at a different house and it is an older couple that have lived there for 45 years.  She collects dolls from yard sales, redresses them and then hangs them in all of the bedrooms.  I had no idea I lived up the street from the house OF HORRORS.  I like dolls.  But hanging them on your walls is just not right.  Ai-eeeeee!  I spent about an hour an a half there looking at each doll.  I got a couple that are probably a hundred years old, a Chatty Cathy, a Baby Crissy and several other good old dolls.  They will all go on ebay eventually.  

There was also a table full of Christmas where I grabbed anything and everything vintage.  Just as I finished, a car pulled up and they bought all the remaining Christmas.  I was so glad I got all the good old stuff first!  They had a full blowmold Nativity for $40, but I wasn't sure there was much meat on the bone at that price.  

As for the Avon bottles.  I do not do Avon bottles because they are too plentiful and people usually think they are worth more than they are in actuality.  But, they had some really unusual ones and the price was right  - $1.00.

They really don't even look like Avon bottles, do they?

I plan on giving them a Christmas makeover somehow.  Probably just a tree tied on top.  The Winnebago will get a very classy "Christmas Vacation" makeover - "The shitter's full" sort of makeover.  

One of the dolls I bought was a walker doll - toddler sized.  She was wearing these awesome vintage TufNut overalls.  They are dirty, but I think that adds to the charm of vintage overalls,  I will try to give them a soak though.  They date from the 1950's.  An adult size recently sold for $112!

She was also wearing these impossibly cute little plaid tennis shoes from the same time period. They are just the cutest.  (Yes, now I have a half  naked doll in my garage.  Aiieee!)

The Bean helped me carry my purchases into the house when I got home.  When I went into the kitchen, this is the sight I saw outside my kitchen window.  I may have dropped an F bomb.  Several f bombs.  

I have put myself on house arrest for the next few days to get the rest of my things priced and organized.  The Junk Ranch is Oct. 6-7.  Usually the weekend after is Pickin' Time on 59 which is a nice yard sale crawl through several small towns.  I love to go because the stress of buying for TJR is over.  But, this year it is the weekend of Sept. 29th, so I have to carve out some time to go then.  I am still on the hunt for more stuff, so why not?  

I'll be back before then come hell or high water!