The Week in Junk: Vintage Christmas Edition

Well, the weekend anyway.  Saturday morning was chilly but it was sunny and I had the JUNK fever.  There are only a handful of weekends left for good sales, so I feel it is my JOB to hunt them down while the gettin' is good.  I usually just get up and head out and see what I find where I find it.  I like to go to the small town to the West of me where everyone lives in little old houses where they have lived for 50 years and they still price things 10¢.  

But, this time I had looked on Craigslist and planned out a route for my first few stops.  First sale on the docket said the had thousands of old wool spools.  Well, that, I had to see.  So, I headed that way.  They did have a lot of old spools in different sizes on a table and then tubs of different colored spools with different colored wool thread on them.  But, I would describe it more as hundreds of spools.  Not thousands.  Unless a dump truck came and bought most of them before I got there.  The big ones like I like were $9.00 each all the way down to $2.00 each for the think little bobbin type spool.  That was cost prohibitive of me buying my own truckload, so I passed on all of them.  I think they are still popular and have might have sold if I could have scored a bunch for cheap.   'Cause I am cheap,  You know.

(Photo borrowed from the Internet because I forgot to take a photo....)

All I had found was a 1942 copy of "Fortune Telling for Fun and Popularity" for 50¢ so I was about to pay and leave.  That's when I spotted a vintage Add-A-Count Math Scale on the table.  I remembered that Eddie had found one of these earlier this year and I was enamored by it.  Who doesn't love red and aqua and numbers?  Forget that it is about MATH.  It is cool!  :)  It wasn't pried so when I asked about it, the lady at the sale told me it was $1.00.  Then she pointed under the table where there was a big box FULL of them.  It was about that time that the man of the house started telling people how he was ready to go in and he would about give stuff away just to get rid of it.  So I took that as my opportunity to ask, "How much for all the scales?"  The price was a winner, so I grabbed the box and took them all.  There were 25 in all, but seven of the scales were broken.  So, I ended up with 18 complete scales and a pile of extra numbers for crafting.  I think they are kitschy, don't you?  

After that sale, I headed to a sale not to far away that was on "Munchkin Lane."  Now, who wouldn't go to a yard sale on Munchkin Lane, I ask you?  I got there a little after ten and they greeted me at the end of the driveway asking what I was specifically looking for at the sale.  When I said I just like to prowl around (my standard answer to that annoying question), they said that they were taking it all to Goodwill because the were closing up.  It was 10:00 am!  Who closes down at 10:00 am?  Geez, at least take down your sign and then start boxing it all up.  When I pulled away about five cars were arriving and I just laughed and laughed.

I stopped at a few more sales, but didn't really find much  - I did find some new unopened packages of postcards, labels, printer paper, stickers and photo paper for 25¢ each.  I love finding things like that for cheap.  I can always use it somehow.  

I decided to circle back to my sweet little old lady town, hit the Super Cheap Thrift and go to one sale that advertised Vintage Christmas.  I hit the SCT first, found a little Energy Chime which you strike with a mallet and it rings forever.  I love it.  The cats hate it.  I bought one other thing for 50¢, but cannot for the life of me recall what it was right now.  Hmmmm.....

On to the Vintage Christmas sale.  I spotted a table full of little things when I walked up.  Not anything that great, but it was all old and kitschy.  I asked how much things were since none of it was priced.  She quoted me ten dollars for everything on the table.  Since I didn't want every single thing, I started picking up a few things.  As I gathered things up, her prices were getting near the "whole table" offer, so I just stopped and told her I would take it all after all. 

Weird little Mid-Century guy, Swedish tree candle holder and two old brass bells.  The bells say "Merry Christmas" and "Glad Tidings".  

Six little pixies with glittery exteriors.  I didn't think the were old at first, but once I picked them up and saw JAPAN on the bottom, I knew they were vintage.

Six angels playing different instruments.  The have that same glittery exterior.

Made in Sweden Candleholders.  

Four little porcelain bells.  The three angles gets a bit more strange in the face the farther over you go.  The last one reminds me a bit of one of the Three Stooges.  

Now, let's discuss these "elves" for a minute.  

I say they are the spawn of the devil.  

What do you say?  

These five little figurines are place card holders.  

I am not usually a fan of this sort of craft. But,her little glued on bead curls make her a winner in my book.

This assortment of tiny angels are just adorable.  

I love their little chippy faces and their pouty expressions.  

Kissing Santa and Mrs. Claus with two vintage trees.  

Santa in a sleigh.

Demented "thumbs up" Santa in a chimney, sexy "come hither" Santa and a sweet pair of mittens.  

And, last but not least, five vintage cherub slash angels that appear to be in their undies.  

They do have really sweet faces though.  It almost makes me forget they are in their undies.  

As I was leaving, I spotted another box for $5.00 that was full to the brim of Christmas tree ornaments.  I bought it site unseen and took it home.  It was full of probably 150 ornaments, some as small as one inch tall and every.single.one of those ornaments was wrapped up in a paper napkin.  Every.single.one.  I do not who had the time to wrap each one up individually like that.  Or why in heavens name they did it in the first place. Not one of then was glass.  Most of them went straight to Goodwill, but I did keep a lot for my wreaths.  

I guess I did okay after all what with all the vintage Christmas and those fun Add-a-count scales.  But, next weekend, I think I will just follow my hunches and go my favorite direction as usual.  

Did you go junking this weekend?

Out and About on Beautiful Fall Day

Yesterday was one of those gorgeous Fall days that I LOVE.  The kind of day that puts a spring in my step and makes me SO happy.  It was int her 40's in the morning, but warmed up to the 70's by mid day.  Cool enough for a light hoodie, warm enough for Capri jeans.  PERFECT.

We loaded up about 9:00 and headed towards the War Eagle Craft Fair.  We drove for miles down winding narrow roads with the leaves drifting down.  Oh, it was just lovely.  The leaves are just starting to turn - mostly the Maples are starting to have shocks of bright red deep within the leaves near the trunks.  I just love this time of year.  

The War Eagle Craft Fair is on one side of the bridge, the Sharp Show is on the other side.  One side is fine arts and crafts and is jurried, so only the very best all handmade things are on that side.  That is a nice side to look.  The other side has handmade and some JUNK.  That is my favorite side.  :)  We parked and waited in line to cross the bridge on foot.

When they say "GO", you GO!  You can't stop and take photos so everyone just snaps away and hopes the get a good one in the end.  

Headed towards the Mill.

Wonder how that guy ahead of me would feel knowing he was on my blog.  

The Mill was built in 1832 and has been a working Mill ever since.  You can still buy flour in sweetly printed floursacks, biscuit mix and jellies of all sorts.  They have a huge variety of enamelware that I adore. Red splattered, blue splattered, green, yellow, blue - you name it.  We did go in to the ground floor this visit, but it was really, really packed and I get very claustrophobic in places like that, so I had to get out of Dodge. We prefer to go out there when it is NOT craft fair time when we have the whole place to ourselves. 

This was at the Sharp Show way in the back by the Chainsaw artists.  You could just see a very small portion of the craft tents and people, but you can see that it is BIG.  There is something like 650 Vendors.  I love to look at what people are selling and making and what sort of displays the are using.  I got a lot of good ideas and I was tapping them out into my phone so I could remember them.  I want to do more shows, but I could NEVER do a show like this one - From set up to tear down it is six days with a four day show.  Nuh-Uh.  Not going to happen.  

After we saw everything on that side, we got back in line to cross the bridge again.  

By this time, we were ready for lunch.  There is every kind of food vendor there you can imagine including a Salad Hut and waffle cones.  A lot of it looked good, but this frugal Mom had a bag packed with PB&J, cheese, celery, chips and water.  I just seem to enjoy an outing like this more if I pack food and don't get all hung up in what to get and how much money is it going to cost.

We sat by the water and enjoyed the cool breeze and all the people running down to the water's edge to take photos of the ducks.  People are so funny now that everyone always has a camera at the ready.

You can't take photos of the crafts or the displays, so that is the end of my photo from there.  We went through all the tents and saw all the beautiful handmade goods - fine art, pottery, jewelry, etc.  Lots of pretty wonderful things.  

And then we were done.

But, then my kind of fun started - JUNKING!

All along the roads up and down the highway and in every yard, there is JUNK strewn about.  You can see from the car if it is crafty stuff, yard sale stuff or more swap meet stuff.  I prefer the more swap meet kind of stuff.  We stopped at one place where there were about seven different people set up with stuff.  I didn't get a lot, but I did find a few fun things.  

I thought this little JAPAN snowman was sweet.  He still has the 10¢ original price on the bottom.  It wasn't until I put this on Instagram that I see he looks a little demented and kind of like a vampire.  With a SHOVEL! *Cue the slasher music!*

 I dug these little china babies out of a big bin of salt and pepper shakers.  They aren't SP shakers, so I don't know why they were in there.  But, since they were $1.00 a pair, I'm glad they were.  Love me some babies. 

Cute little girl planter for 50¢.

Baby chicks from the S&P bin - again, not S&P's.  But adorable.

The rest of the things I actually got at the Craft Fair.  

Three little red wooden handmade cars for $1.00 each.  I'm going to tie bottle brush trees on them and take them to the Bazaar/Booth.

A sweet old chocolate box.

Filled with a vintage ten pin game.

It was a wonderful day filled with fall leaves, cool temperatures, good company, PB&J's, crafts and JUNK.  What more could I possible ask for other than spotting Justin Timberlake in the crowd?  :D

Crafty Sunday

Today I stood in one spot in my kitchen for over six hours and made, made, made.  I like making things, but the getting out of "stuff" is overwhelming.  I don't have a designated crafting area, so I have things stored away in different places throughout the house and in the garage.  I get an idea for what I want or need.  But then I have to go get whatever it is I need at that moment and that takes time away from making.  I wish I had a craft room.  Someday.  After I win the lottery.  (Hey, did I tell you I won $600.00 in the lottery last week?  I won $100.00 one day on a $20.00 scratch-off and then $500.00 the next day on a $5.00 scratch-off!  Wow.  That was exciting!  But, not enough for a craft room......)

Anyway, today I finished up some things I have been working on and started some new projects.  They are all for Christmas and the Holiday Bazaar.  It is so odd to be making things out of season.  I am in full blown Christmas craft nirvana and then I walk into the living room and it is all orange and black with pumpkins.  I usually like to craft with the holidays.  But, in order to make to sell, you have to plan ahead.

I made six JellO/Bundt pan wreaths.  I think they are quirky and fun.  I have to figure out how to hang them up at eh Bazaar so people can see them.   The ones that I bought already painted?  Well, I just used them as they were.  The blue one was this copper colored, but it had faded to this weird pale pink coppery color., so I sprayed it turquoise.  I kind of love it now. *Eh gads, our front door needs a power washing......

These collages have been an ongoing project over the past few weeks.  The just have random things in them, but I think each one ties together.  I glittered the frames and then sealed them with a clear spray I found at Lowe's.  The glitter stays put on the frames and doesn't make a mess anymore.  The little green choir boys is pretty simple - just sheet music and an old greeting card image.  The line from "Elf" is for us to keep.  I LOVE the movie Elf.  It makes me happy.  

An ornament encrusted wreath.  I have enough ornaments to make a dozen of these, but I am in low supply of wreath forms.  I keep looking for them at the thrifts, but I haven't seen any.  I could *gasp* go to a RETAIL STORE, but what fun is that?  And that would affect my pricing too.  

And, lastly this frame is covered in real glass German Glitter and then lightly sealed.  I trimmed the tree so it would lie flat then added some vintage glass mini ornaments and the wee deer.  The "Let it Snow" piece was an after Christmas sale find last year.  I like to use all vintage, but sometimes, something NEW that looks vintage works well enough for people that just like the "look".  

Ad for my feet in that last photo.  Well, I just cannot believe I left my FEET in a photo and actually put it on here for you to see.  I have such at THING about feet in photos.  Don't even get me started about photos that are JUST FEET.  Gack.  So, please forgive my feet in that photo.  I am just too tired and too lazy to crop them out tonight.  They probably have paint and glitter on them anyway......

Did you make anything this weekend?

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A Different Kind of Thrift Store

There is one thrift store that is not far from me.  It is one of my very favorite thrift stores in the WORLD.  But, I only allow myself to visit it ONCE a year.

 Today Was That Day.  

It isn't the typical thrift store that I blog about.  

It is.......are you ready?

The Little Debbie Thrift Store.

I KNOW!

(The Little Debbie Plant is not far from me, so that is why we have an Outlet Store.)

Oh, it is a train wreck waiting to happen.  That's why I only go once a year.  

The entire store, front to back, side to side is nothing but Little Debbie's.  This aisle is the Granola Bar and cereal aisle, which looks like it could be a sort of healthy type store.  But, you would be so, so wrong.

Look to other way and BAM - SUGAR OVERLOAD.  

Most boxes are $1.00 each, many are 75¢ each.  

There are closer dated items that are even 4/$1.00.  

This wall is full of boxes of the BIG snacks you buy at the convenience store.  The ones that are $1.00 each.  Well, here you can get a box of TWELVE for $1.50.  But do you really need twelve giant double Decker Oatmeal Creme Pies?  

Yes.  

Yes you do.  

;)

Most everything is close in date, but usually has almost a month left on it.  When we get home, we divide it up - some to go to different family members, some for the freezer, some to keep out to eat.  By putting them in the freezer, they are safe from late night snacks.  Or are they???  Have you ever tried a frozen Swiss Cake Roll?  Mmmmmmm.  That's the only way I even like to eat them now.  

My very favorite thing to buy there is the bulk ingredients that are used to make many of the treats.  We love the coconut based Granola that is used in some of the Granola Bars.  You can get a three pound bag of the Granola for $4.00.  Today we also bought a two pound bag of mini peanut butter and chocolate chips for $3.00 to put in the freezer for baking.  

*Don't worry, most of this has already been shared or frozen away with the exception of the Granola Bars and Struesel Cakes.  This stash will last us a year. until our next visit.

Like we need to bake now that we have been to the Little Debbie Store.....  Today's buys - the Harvest Spice Granola Bars are divine.  Also, the new Peanut Butter Creme Pie is possibly the most delicious thing I have ever eaten in my life.  Like ever.  I wish my ex-Hostess now SaraLee deliver man would have gotten a Little Debbie route.  

So, before you think I am a total gluten.  

Before I went on a cake run, I went to the Farmer's Market and got all this delicious HEALTHY stuff.  Grapes!  

Apples!  

Green Beans!  

Peppers in SEVEN colors!  

Zuchinni!  

Cucumbers!  

Tomatoes!  

Grape Tomatoes!  

Healthy!

Healthy!

Healthy!

A Peanut Butter Creme Pie is calling me......can you hear it?

Mid-Week Junk Finds

I haven't really done much junking lately.  More unjunking - selling, loading up the booth and donating.  But, I still find myself under a massive pile of JUNK here at the house.  After several days of rearranging, sorting, making and clearing out, I needed a day out in public with REAL people. Sadly, when I do go anywhere, it usually ends up being a Thrift Store.  Today was no exception.  I ended up going to two different thrifts after bribing the boys with Zaxby's for lunch.  :)  You gotta do what you gotta do.

I found this big old crock with a truly heinous floral arrangement stuck in it.  I didn't want that dusty old thing, so I just pulled it out and left it on the shelf for someone else to buy.  I always check the flower area, I often find vintage pottery holding horrible old floral arrangements.  That photo above shows my messy front porch and staging area, but I wanted you to see that it is a big crock. 

I don't know why it has that one handle on the side.  It looks like a giant coffee cup with that one handle.  Hey - guess what, I went and did a little research and it is an Apple Butter Crock.  Interesting! 

This sweet vintage pottery duck is butter yellow.  It reminds me of Jemimah Puddle Duck from Peter Rabbit.  I am anti-Goose, anti-country duck, but this is neither.  This is sweet!  And, a keeper!

At one Goodwill I go to occasionally, the sign clearly states that books are $2.00, but they always charge me 50¢.  So, I always have to take a peek.  This book is about the Secret World of Elves, Fairies, Gnomes and Trolls.

It has really sweet drawings of gnomes and such which always pull at my heartstrings. 

A craft booklet for making animals out of paper plates.  Now, I have no small children, I am not a teacher, I do not babysit, I have no grandchildren...yet, I felt compelled to buy this book.  I mean, hello?????  Look at those adorable paper plate animals!  Maybe when I get snowed in this Winter I will make some paper plate animals.  It will be my secret if I do!  :)

 

Since we are on the subject of children's books and cuteness and sweetness and adorableness, this would be the WORST time to show you this jewel.

Wicked John and The Devil. 

What a sweet bedtime story to read to your little lambs before you tuck them into bed. 

It starts as all good children's books do -

THE FIERY GATES OF HELL. 

 

Try getting your kids to sleep after that! 

I thought this old industrial book rack would be good in the booth to hold sheet music. 

It holds books. But, would hold more papery type items. 

A Scrabble game for word making and a box of Greek Flashcards. 

 

The Bean has a fascination with Greek Mythology and Culture. 

I thought these would be interesting. 

But, it's all Greek to me. 

HAHAHAHAHA

 

Some newer and older cake decorations to add to my jar. 

 

This old green Bundt pan will become a Christmas Wreath.  It's funny that I found this today, because on Sunday I went to Goodwill specifically looking for Jell-O molds or Bundt pans to use to make wreaths.  This one was 75% off $2.99* - so CHEAP!

And, I found FIVE!  So with today's find, I am up to six in one week.  The funny part is that they were all spray painted, which I don't usually do.  But, I kind of like it.  The big orange one will become a pumpkin for Fall.  The rest will be Christmas wreaths. 

 

*The Breadman found a bunch of shirts today for work that were 75% off.  He was spouting off the original prices trying to figure out what they would cost.  The Bean did fast and immediate Thrift Store Math to the penny, which thrilled me greatly.  We aren't really great in the Math department around here like Trigonometry and the like.  But, we can do Thrift Store, couponing and Hobby Lobby discount math at the drop of a hat.  Really, which one do you do more often anyway?