Vintage Junk in My Trunk

Upholster and Conquer

Lately I've been thinking I need a different chair at my computer work station. Something vintage and curvy and velvety. The one I am currently using is an unpadded dining room table chair. And although I have plenty of padding for the both of us, it does get uncomfortable with all the hours I put in researching, blogging, listing, and marketing the vintage.

So I just happened to give Craig's List a quick look the other day -- can you believe I've never purchased anything off Craig's List before? -- and found this beauty for sale in the next town over.

Vintage? Check.

Curvy? Check.

Velvety? Not so much.

Ok, so it looks like a mouse or an anxious cat or some other creature had its way with the cushion.

But it was two dollars! And for two dollars, maybe I can give it a makeover.

Now I've never reupholstered anything before. So this will be interesting.

I don't think it will be that difficult, and it doesn't have to be perfect. All you need is some foam, a lovely piece of fabric, and plenty of staples in your staple gun, right?

I'm betting there are plenty of youtube videos around to instruct me. Of course, if you have any tips, please feel free to advise.

Now about that truck I need for transporting purchases…

Planes, Trailers, and a Breadbox

Mr. VJIMT and I took a weekend trek to Maryland to see if we could find any treasures. Sadly, we didn't come home with a carload like last year. But we did find a few fun things.

He got this cute little metal red trailer.

And this metal airplane.

And this old photo of Oliver Hardy. 

Not really, but I think there's a resemblance.

You could hear an audible gasp from me when I saw this box of pink Shiny Brites. They were a bit out of my comfort zone price-wise, so I passed. See, I'm not a total addict.

The thrifty optimist in me thinks I can find them for less this yard sale season. We'll see if my instincts are good, or if I will regret the decision all summer. I miss you, pink Shiny Brites!

A couple of pretty plates are always a prerequisite for me. I was shocked that the porcelain dish below was only $4 in an antique store -- I thought for sure the price label would read over $30 when I turned it over.

Finally, another vintage breadbox has come my way. At least I think it's a breadbox. There are air holes on the back side. 

But why a handle? It's too big (16") to be a lunchbox. A tackle box? 

What's your guess?

---

Speaking of breadboxes, the aqua one sold in minutes on Etsy. And one of my readers inquired about the New Jersey Turnpike plate and quickly bought it!

Most of the time, I will post my finds on my VJIMT Facebook page or on this blog as I find them, before I list them. Most of what I find will be for sale, so if you are interested in something, just let me know! 

And It Wasn't Even My Birthday!

Since the yard sales from my last post weren't spectacular, Mr. VJIMT was itching to go junking. Unfortunately, I was bogged down with some freelance work and couldn't break away, so he went by himself, which I'm sure disappointed him terribly.

I still got stuff -- and didn't have to move a muscle -- as he saw some things he thought looked Etsy-ish.

Like this avocado green owl cookie jar. I don't like avocado green OR owls (discuss) which of course he knows, but they are BIG sellers on Etsy. So that's where this guy headed.

This deer planter is much cuter, in my opinion, but also headed to my Etsy shop.

As well as this pair of Victorian milk glass candlesticks.

He did get himself some things. Like another group photo (of a school orchestra) to add to his collection.

And this great old metal sign.

And this amazingly colored rusty metal bucket.

I know you want an extra close-up of the rusty yummy goodness.

Also this giant metal hook -- it's about a foot wide.

And these red architectural pieces.

How cool is this big yellow metal gear thingy? It's huge -- about 20 inches wide.

He found these way cool scroll-y architecture pieces, and talked about making them into a base for a table. 

Personally, I think he's been watching too many episodes of Picker Sisters. Which I don't care for much, except for the part where the sketches animate. I won't go into the annoying banter of the hosts, how contrived the show seems, or how ridiculous their "junking" outfits are. 

He must be seeing something else, huh? [insert sarcasm here]

But I digress. The next day, he found this image on the Restoration Hardware website.

Talk about having the eye!

Oh, the Things We Saw while Treasure Hunting in Maryland

We saw some interesting things while we were away (excuse poor quality iphone spur-of-the-moment photos).

Boats that looked like vintage cars.

Gorgeously painted ceilings at the B&B we were staying.

And parked trailers full of junking opportunities. There were about ten of them. Wacky.

I'm going to keep you in suspense a bit as I show you Mr. VJIMT with his favorite treasure. We went back and forth across the road four times trying to get to this shop.

What do you think he got?

I'll show you what it was in the final post about our getaway weekend coming soon!

Treasure Hunting Serendipity, Part 2

Back to our getaway weekend. I got some of these pretty dishes at yard sales we found using the igaragesale app. Vintage and technology goes hand in hand!

I immediately bought this stack of lovelies at the Galena Antique Center in Maryland. They were marked down, and the dealer took off another $10.

I love the olive-y transferware pattern.

When I got home, I realized I had a found a crescent-shaped bone dish in the exact same color and pattern last year on our getaway weekend a year ago. More serendipity!

Got another great deal on this purple velvet-covered Victorian photo album.

Nice illustrated pages and photos.

We also scored this cute little creamy dresser. I've been wanting to get an old bureau/dresser and turn it into a bathroom vanity, and this would fit perfectly in the room, but it's too nice to chop apart to get a sink into.

Look at the knobs and sweet carvings.

Looks like we’ll have to keep looking, and in the meantime we’ll have to find a spot for this one!

Still more getaway weekend treasures coming up!

Treasure Hunting Serendipity, Part 1

No local yard sales for me last weekend. Shocked, aren‘t you?

Well, ok, that's not entirely true -- there were yard sales, and I attended them, they just weren't my usual haunts. Instead of the lovely confines of the southern part of the Garden State, Mr. VJIMT and I headed to Maryland for the weekend to celebrate 15 years of wedded bliss.

And to buy stuff.

We headed first to Havre de Grace and the Seneca Cannery Antiques Mall. I knew I wanted to visit this post-Civil War brick and stone building (listed on the National Register) because Vintage Sue has a booth there.

Twenty thousand square feet of antiques and fully air-conditioned with sparkling bathrooms. I could live there.

Vintage karma smiled on us as there was also an avenue-wide antique flea market down the street from the Cannery. One guy was going out of business and had everything marked down 70%. Yippee!

Here are some of the things we got:

Mr. VJIMT likes these big group photos, although this one wasn't a yard-long. It's a scene from a school house in Amish country -- Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Wouldn't it be cool to say you lived in Paradise? Intercourse, not so much.

He also got that giant yellow cast iron jack.

Sue's booth was full of fun and whimsy, and where I found this sparkly rhinestone tiara.

Got these three vintage glass bird ornaments for a song. You know I love them. 

Is it a Bake - O - Meter or a bakometer? Either way it's cool.

Mr. VJIMT's company is going to be moving to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in a couple of years, so this pin was a serendipitous find.

Nice crackly green pitcher for me.

Big Replogle globe from the 1960s and blue seed box, closed…

… and opened.

More treasures from our getaway weekend coming up soon!

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.

Family Treasure Hunt Day

Ok, so last week was a fairly good one for junking/thrifting/ antiquing (I really need to make a good combo word for this) -- especially considering that it is barely above the zero degree mark here on the East Coast. Everyone had off last Monday and of course the first thing this family (ok, really just me and the Mr.) wants to do is go hunting for treasures!

There is an "antique mall" blocks away from us, but I very rarely find anything there. Got a little lucky this time though; here is our small stash of purchases, including the previously shown baby head.

I initially passed on these two vintage wedding cake toppers because I didn't think I'd be able to resell them for much more than the purchase price.

I had second thoughts about selling them after seeing the collection Emily of I Love Collecting featured on her blog. Aren't they spectacular?

Emily's amazing collection of vintage wedding cake toppers as seen on her blog

Everything "white" was 25% off, but these buttons were already super cheap, and I loved the embossed ones.

I was thrilled to find a vintage arcade card just like the ones Vintage Rescue Squad Sue was selling sold (really fast!) in her Etsy shop. I think it will make a fun scrapbooking page. If I were to ever scrapbook again, that is.

Coming right back with the two estate sales I found later in the week. Stay warm!

Baby Head = Good Day

Despite the freezing temps, my finds were pretty hot! The week's adventures coming soon…

First Finds of the New Year

I don't know about you (actually, I do, since you're reading this I know we have at least some similar tendencies) but these weeks of no thrifing/flea-ing are really getting to me. Even though I have tons of stuff to list, endless mounds of stuff to organize, piles of Christmas stuff to sort through and put away, I am still anxious to scout out a thrift store or two.

So I did. Found a new (to me) thrift store on Monday. Mr. VJIMT was still on vacation, so we made a romantic day of it. I don't think he was too thrilled with the Goodwill store I dragged him in to, but we also went to a (sort of) junky antique store, so he was happy. Here's my pile (including the silver tray):

Got this cool varsity letter "G" at the antique store for a yard sale price. Will join my vintage metal initial letter collection.

Sweet little ironstone creamer with green transferware pattern. I'm pretty sure we have a matching big pitcher and basin from a yard sale in the basement.

I am still drooling over these pink icicle teardrop ornaments I found (oddly affordable) at the antique store. They are my favorite style and color. (Oh,and in case you were wondering, the boxes of Shiny Brites remain in the hallway.)

The rest of the stuff is already on Etsy -- like these 1950s beer steins made by the Pioneer Merchandise Company of Japan.

And this retro (1952) chalkware graduation cake topper.

And this lovely iridescent religious statue/planter.

Meanwhile, I'm praying for more sales!