Vintage Junk in My Trunk

Rainy Weekend Update

So even though Saturday was a rainy yard sale day, I did manage to score a few things.

Love this narrow chippy box with compartments.

Great industrial-look red and gray chair/stool.

Fab yellow metal mailbox with scalloped edge.

And that was the weekend! 

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On Sunday, Mr. VJIMT will be selling again at Clover Market. I had a previous commitment and knew I wouldn't be available that day, but he wants to give it a shot. Our stuff is still tagged and stored in the garage from the event earlier this month, so there is a lot less work than the first time around. Our intent was to have a barn sale at some point this spring, but we couldn't pass up this great opportunity to destash with 50+ other vintage and handmade vendors.

Lovely weather in the forecast, so if you're local, stop by and say hi!

Ugly Duckling No More

Remember that gray beat-up-table-with-shelf-thingy I trash-picked last week? You knew Mr. VJIMT would be right on it, as he LIVES for a new project (remember the fabulous apothecary?)

And you knew it would involve zinc, especially after seeing his last creation. 

So here is the “after” -- what a transformation!

Imagine what it will look like after the zinc ages and darkens, and the green paint is chipped and distressed.

Not bad for a freebie, eh?

Want to see more fabulous furniture makeovers? I am linking up with Cassie’s blog Primitive and Proper for “Piece of Work Wednesdays”. Check out some other amazing transformations!

Happy Easter!

Image courtesy VintageHolidayCrafts.com

It Was a Good Friday

My kids weren't happy that I scheduled their dental appointment for 10 AM on their first day of Spring Break. They would have been even less happy had I dragged them to the estate sale earlier that morning. So even though they were within a half mile of each other, I wasted some of my $4 gas and went alone to the estate sale. I'm selfless like that.

Found this great old box of creamy cotton spools.

A couple of books, one of which featured some nice color fairy illustrations.

A small square tablecloth/cover; a striking blue with hand-done white embroidery.

The ubiquitous (for me, now) Bingo cards.

And this scary Santa plush doll. Is it me, or are most of these 1960s-era Santas really creepy?

And, oh yeah, Shiny Brites. 

Aqua.

SEVEN DOZEN OF THEM. 

Woo hoo!

We May be Slightly Obsessed

Family headed to a yard sale.

In the pouring rain.

We are either very dedicated, or in need of medication.

Zinc-a-dink-adoo

This is our family room table. It serves many needs: crafting area, shipping station, computer desktop, homework central, regular meals, and family gatherings.

The top had seen better days, as someone had permanently disfigured it with marker, paint, glitter, and stickers. And it wasn't me.

The children were in tears when Mr. VJIMT told them he was going to paint/distress the table. These are the same two who bawled relentlessly when we finally junked our big, ugly, ratty sofa bed from the living room.

The sofa bed they had named Sofalomew and mourn to this day. 

My kids are weird.

Anyway, we discussed a variety of ways to go and then Mr. VJIMT had an epiphany. We have an antique general store counter in our kitchen that is topped with zinc, which we think is pretty fab.

So after some research, he ordered some sheets of zinc online and did this: 

After adhering it to the top of the table, he distressed it and put a solution on it to make it look more worn. So easy, and way cheaper than the (gulp) $6000 he was quoted for someone to come out to do it. Seriously? I think he’s in the wrong business.

We think it looks pretty cool. And a direct quote from my handy man: “Over time, it will also get darker and develop more character. Just like me!” 

Our kids? They HATE it!

Clearly, One Person’s Trash…

You should have seen me struggling to lift this solid wood and deceptively heavy table-with-shelf thing and get it into the trunk of my little car. Sophia offered to help but couldn't get unbuckled from her car seat fast enough. Good thing I was only eight blocks away from home. Who looks out the back window anyway? 

Mr. VJIMT already has plans for it.

Did Someone Say Pic-i-nic Basket?

Yeah, I’m not a big fan of the community-wide yard sales. Usually just lots of baby toys and kid clothes for sale. I know, because I've sold them!

So even though there were 300 alleged sales yesterday, I knew the vintage pickings would be slim.

Plus it felt like it was February out there. And then it started to rain. So I guess I should be glad I got this much.

I do like the stash of rusty keys Mr. VJIMT spied.

You know it's bad when the highlight of the morning is my neighbor and his homage to Yogi Bear. 

You have to give him a free pass, as their yard sale was a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Philadelphia. (Donation link is here if you would like to contribute.) 

Three Oh Oh

yard sale sign image found on the internet

The number of yard sales listed for our town-wide event on Saturday?

300.

Chance of rain?

100%.

Drats.

Bubble Wrap, Beads, and Bow-Wows

Why is it that everything always happens at once? Does the universe know when you're under the gun?

Last week was totally insane. There was all the getting-ready for Clover Market -- and I mean all the behind-the-scenes stuff that had to happen BEFORE we loaded up the cars -- designing and printing tags, business cards, and signs, buying a tent, pricing and tagging the actual items...

I also had two job interviews, a doctor's appointment, a meeting with the school principal (in a good way), a freelance design job to finish and a dinner dance meeting. Oh, and I also hosted Bunko that Friday night!

Then there were the online sales. I had a good week, so I'm not complaining, but everything sold was big, fragile, and heavy! It took me three hours to bubble wrap everything individually and pack it up. I must be the slowest shipper ever!

But it did all get done. And you know I still hit the yard sales on Saturday morning, right? What am I, some kind of wuss?

How disappointed would I have been if I had missed all these Christmas yummies?

These indented balls have tiny figurines and trees inside. Well, three out of four do.

This elongated one is pretty awesome.

Mercury glass beads, which I never find, and always drool over when I see them on other vintage blogs.

The finds weren't limited to just Christmas -- check out these too-cute bride and groom figurines.

This sweet Baby Ben clock with aqua numbers is already sold to a good home!

I don't usually buy doggie needlework, but thought this was too cute to pass up.

And that may have been cute, but this was adorable!