Vintage Junk in My Trunk

A Bird Cage, A Saint, and Holly Hobbie

I've spoken in the past of my love/hate relationship with the community yard sale. The first one of the season was held nearby earlier this month. Normally it's quantity over quality, but we got a great haul this time.

Mr. VJIMT is keeping this blue tin bread box for himself. We found a lot of this stuff at a sale held by an antique dealer, so they weren't exactly yard-sale priced. She had some amazing things. I wish I would remember to snap some photos to instagram, but I'm too afraid I'm going to miss out on the goods!

I also couldn't resist this sweet bird cage. Just ignore that little guy lying at the bottom of the cage. [update -- sold at Clover Market on Sunday -- I thought about keeping it, but there are already two in my dining room]

And more!

You know I'm a sucker for a red and pink (and aqua) tablecloth. I haven't checked these over thoroughly, but figured if they weren't good enough to sell I could always just keep them in my stash. Pretty sure I have the red and aqua one already.

Adorable little hand-drawn cat in frame. [Also sold at Clover]

Vintage wedding cake topper.

What would a yard sale be without a religious statue purchase?

This little bunny rolling cart makes me smile.

And how about this Holly Hobbie sewing machine from the 1970s?

And more!

Mr. VJIMT found the Christmas in one box of stuff. A lot of it was new, but there were a few treasures.

I would say this sale had more love than hate!

A Horse, A Rabbit, and a Mole

What a difference a week makes! Since we last spoke, I have found loads of treasures at two yard sale weekends, passed listing #100 on The Etsy Project 2014, forayed into the world of Instagram, and enjoyed a fabulous flea market Thursday!

Let's start at the beginning -- the first yard sale day. It was so much fun just to get out and have places to go and treasures to see. There weren't many sales, but it was reasonably warm and finally, April!, so they are going to start sprouting up.

This small type tray is in the Clover Market pile -- my first show of the season is in two weeks, at the end of the month.

A nice old four gallon crock.

Some miscellaneous silverplate.

A cast iron horse.

An assortment of books, including an anniversary edition of the Slovak American cookbook and an early 19th century printing of Jules Vern's "From the Earth to the Moon."

This sweet rabbit print is framed in oak. We may switch out the print for a chalkboard. Or I may put it on Etsy/bring it to Clover as is.

I had my Facebook page fans guess what this implement was. Most knew "mole trap." The woman selling it ran the whole gamut of small rodents -- chipmunk, gopher, groundhog -- before settling on the mole (and after never seeing one of these devices before, I saw two in a week's time).

Finally, a vintage Christmas wreath that includes paper mache glittered bells and plastic holly and poinsettia, in its original box.

Oh, and Instagram. I succumbed to the allure. I still don't know how much different it will be from posting photos on Facebook, or how many more people are instagramming as opposed to tweeting or facebooking, but I'll give it a shot. And if you follow me, I'll follow you (wasn't that a hit Genesis song?) so everybody wins.

You can find me here.

And that's just the beginning! I'll be back soon with the next Etsy Project listings and that fabulous flea market…

Velvet Millinery, Hanging Crystals, and Baby Ben Clocks

How are you doing with all of this social media stuff? I think I have a decent handle on it, although sometimes I forget to blog about the things I post to my Facebook page. Facebook is easy for me because it's simple to put up a photo of what's happening; I feel like I need a big "score" and story to feature something on my blog.

I guess Twitter is similar to Facebook but moves at a faster pace. A tweet needs to be more "in the moment" and I do not think fast enough for that. So my Twitter account languishes. I also know I should be doing more with Pinterest for marketing purposes but I just can't get into it. 

So let's play a little catch up. Here's what's been going on the last couple of weeks -- don't worry, you didn't miss much!

There was one lone indoor yard sale. I had seen a sign driving by the corner days before, but it wasn't on Craig's List or in the newspaper. On the day of, there wasn't even a sign at the door. I was looking for it across the street when some people who had already been in directed me to the proper location.

It was pretty bad, but I did find this box of vintage millinery. Pam from Plucky Maidens Junk Fest and another Facebook friend spied the velvet pink and olive green leaves in the lower right and asked if they were for sale. They bought them all!

Luna is poking through the rest of what I found there -- a box of metal flower frogs and a container of hanging crystals.

There was also a church thrift open that day -- they hold a sale a couple of times a month. I usually don't find too much there, although the thrifty gods were looking down on me because I found this vintage suitcase. There's definitely a pale aqua under all that dirt charm.

I went to the last indoor flea market of the season and found this watering can -- which I don't think is old, but it still has a good look to it -- and three vintage Westclox Baby Ben alarm clocks from the 1930s to 1950s. The green drawer piece has been in our house for years and is one of my favorite things.

Speaking of favorite things, this is my workstation with one of my favorite blue scales. As I was posting this photo, I realized there are four scales within ten feet of me to the right. And another two to the right of that. And one behind me. And probably one or two in the dining room that I'm forgetting. And a couple upstairs for sure.

We may be slightly obsessed. Remember when Mr. VJIMT bought that giant blue scale at Bouckville? I think there are more scales than typewriters. How can that be?

I even made a Pinterest page for them. See, I'm getting it!

Lots of Elves (or Gnomes), A Couple of Sainted Women, and a Turquoise Scale

Well, the last month has certainly flown by! I feel like I've neglected to keep you updated here; I've said it before, but I'm much better at posting a quick image to my Facebook page as things happen.

Luckily, you are seeing most of my finds as I enter them into The Etsy 365 Project, but here are some stories you may have missed:

YARD SALES

One of the last yard sales of the season netted us some good scores. 

Like this super sweet rusty turquoise blue scale, which I bought with the intent to sell. Until I came to my senses, and put it on my desk, where it is staying.

I bought this whole bag of Christmas atrocities because I could see those demonic adorable elves through the plastic. They were item #61 in my Etsy Christmas Countdown listings.

FLEA MARKET THURSDAY 

Mr. VJIMT and I were able to do a quick Flea Market Thursday trip together because the schools were closed. Lots of fun!

THRIFTING ADVENTURES 

My BFF and I managed to squeeze in a day of thrifting between work and kid activities. The St. Dymphna statue sold as soon as I posted this image to my Facebook page. I made a pedestal plate out of the Johnson Brothers Christmas dish and that went too. The blue atomic ashtray was listing #331 of The Etsy 365 Project and sold this morning -- cha-ching!

ANTIQUE SHOPS

Mr. VJIMT had a break during his teaching gigs and stopped at an antique store. I got some gifts! Like this typewriter:

and this giant Mary statue (I left the baseboard dust there to keep it real).

CHURCH RUMMAGE

I blogged about the load of elf/gnome blow molds I found at our school rummage sale, but you didn't see the box I found them in. This is what I saw under one of the tables. I grabbed it and bought the whole thing for double what the church lady wanted without even looking at what was inside.

These large (marked 60 and 80 inches) round Christmas cloths were on top:

This is what it looked like when I got them home -- even Luna likes them! Only two (one Santa and one snowman) were cracked. Five out of the six elves (gnomes?) have sold -- who wants the last one?

Autumn Porch Decor

I forgot to share these photos yesterday -- our porch, all gussied up for the fall. The antique stroller was a recent yard sale purchase, if you can believe it!

Gusty, blustery, rainy day today, and bowls overflowing with candy. Not a good combination!

Best. Junking Week. Ever.

This may have been the best local junking week I ever had. Read on --

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SUNDAY, Clover Market

Technically, no junking for me since I never left my booth, but the week of October 13 started off with our second fall Clover Market. It was a gorgeous day, full of sunshine and shoppers.

This pile of suitcases was about three times higher when I started the day.

I didn't even realize I had brought TEN typewriters with me to sell. And that isn't even my whole stash! I may need to start a museum. Or a self-help group.

This little beauty on top went first.

Scales were also a big seller. The orange was the third to go, along with a rusty green one and this turquoise one.

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TUESDAY, Cowtown Flea Market

This New Jersey flea, farmer's market, and yes, rodeo, is a recent haunt for me.

As you can see, I did well in the vintage Christmas department. I am completely enamored with the soft, velvety, sequined tree skirt. I may have to keep it.

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THURSDAY, Columbus Flea Market

I've gotten some pretty kitschy things in the past at this flea market, but this one has got to take the prize. 

The glittery, tinseled, flocked prize.

Styrofoam glass-glittered cones full of fuzzy santas, plastic reindeer, frosted pinecones, chenille candy canes, sparkly tinsel, and spun cotton elves. 

It is truly a marvel. Or a disaster. I can't decide which. But I know someone is going to pounce on this kitschy dream/nightmare come true. So it's listed.

I did find some less kitschy treasures, like this bunch of scraggly bottle brush trees and a cool frame in which to make a chalkboard.

Still more Christmas, and some religious.

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FRIDAY, Church Rummage Sale

This sale is held only once every two years, so it has been eagerly anticipated. Large rooms full with well-organized (and priced) vintage Christmas and Pyrex.

I came out a little woozy and smelling of moth balls.

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SATURDAY, Yard Sales

The week ended with some rescheduled town-wide yard sales. Here's the first load; we had to stop back home to make room!

And the rest of our finds. Pickle jars, new old stock wedding cake toppers, and a giant ironstone platter among them.

So I wasn't kidding, was I? Best. Junking Week. Ever.

And it may well have been the end of the shopping season here on the chilly East Coast, so at least I went out with a bang!

What Happened to October?

I think I've been remiss in filling you in on all of our fabulous finds. Here it is the end of the month and there hasn't been a junk post since October 1. Our second Clover Market was last Sunday and time has gotten away from me. Unless you're a Facebook fan you haven't seen much. So let's try to catch up.

I started this post on October 7, but neglected to make it live, so I'm just going to roll with it:

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We didn't get a lot at the sales this weekend, but it was still a fun day -- I love these little yellow Fire King Bowls. The woman holding the sale was retiring from her antique business and liquidating her inventory of smalls. Mr. VJIMT got a level and a few other doodads.

I am using one of these crystal lamps at my new old workstation.

These flocked animals are marked "Handwork Kunstlerschutz West Germany" and are pretty collectible. Some animals are more rare than others.

I'm partial to the St. Bernard. He's a little glassy-eyed -- too much brandy?

There was another shopper there who was a half-step ahead of me, and snagged a box of vintage noise makers. Dang. 

Well, at least I got these vintage cupcake picks before she spied them.

I have two of these aluminum paper dispensers now to list. They are just as hard to photograph as mirrors!

More to come soon! A Clover Market recap, weekday flea markets treks, and lots more yard sales!

A Flea Market, a Church Rummage, and a Town-Wide. Discuss.

Last week was a fun one in junking land; a flea market, a church rummage sale, and a lots of yard sales on the weekend. 

Here are the Flea Market Thursday finds. The vintage Christmas will all be listed in my Etsy 365 Project. The Pyrex is for me, and the photo and camera are for Mr. VJIMT.

A church rummage sale started that same night at 6pm. They gave out numbers at 5pm, which I didn't know about. All that number did was get you down the stairs 10 seconds before the rest of the crowd, although I guess every little bit helps!

I got this at the rummage sale; I thought Mr. VJIMT could make something out of this old window frame. He likes when I give him projects.

A church rummage sale staple -- vintage Christmas tablecloths. They have some issues, but I couldn't pass them up.

Saturday featured a local town-wide sale, a (different) church yard sale, and a few other stray ones thrown in for good measure. We got lots of good stuff, although our buying was interrupted with kid dropoffs and pick ups throughout the morning.

But you know it's going to be a good day when this is your very first score!

And second!

I'm not sure what I liked more, the cat snoozing in the sun or the desk. Sadly, neither came home with me.

What we did get: a big set of flash cards, vintage tins, an aqua coffee pot, blue Christmas ornaments, a mid century condiment carrier, a miniature silver Christmas tree, and a fine piece of religious foil folk art. All heading to Etsy!

And… a slate chalkboard, an red easel chalkboard (took the legs off to get it into the car), a wood shelf (another project), and a tin ceiling mirrior.

And look at this GIANT bench for ten bucks!

One more project!

But wait, I'm not done yet! A flower painting, two toolboxes (perfect for holiday decorating), and giant spoon (font?) thing, some flower frogs, a camera, a book on raising dogs, and an aqua jeep.

I told you it was a fun couple of junking days -- hope the rest of the month is more of the same!

Bouckville Bloggers Tell All

Extreme weather conditions and a holiday weekend add up to no yard sales for this girl. The last few weeks have not been kind, with few sales and fewer treasures.

I didn't even buy these holiday blow molds. Mr. VJIMT would not want them on our lawn, and they are too much of a pain to ship. So I passed them by. 

We did pick up this red cooler and galvanized tub, though.

One great estate sale yielded the fab table -- Mr. VJIMT will probably use it outdoors as a bar or serving center -- and the old camera.

All the rest is also from the estate sale. I did have fun digging.

These two tissue holders from the 1950s -- one lucite -- are in excellent vintage condition and were quickly listed -- the green already sold!

Sadly, no typewriters this time, but a typewriting manual is the next best thing!

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If you're not on my Facebook page, you may have missed this -- my blog was featured in Central New York magazine alongside fellow vintage bloggers Colleen of freshvintage, Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad, and Laura Kaufmann of 52 FLEA.

I am thrilled to be part of this fun and creative bunch, and even happier to call them friends. Thanks to editor Linda Bien of My Vintage Soul for pulling it all together.

If you live in the area, be sure to pick up your copy!

Vintage Painted Portraits

Little Miss VJIMT is hosting a sleepover this weekend in honor of her 9th birthday, so I'm pretty sure there will be no yard sales for me. Also, no sleeping, so I figured I'd finally finish this post that's been hanging around…

You've seen the vintage painted portraits we've been finding at yard sales and flea markets -- this one just sold! -- and here are a few of them decorating our home.

This "Lady in Red"…

…sits atop our family room mantel.

"Betty Draper's Mother"…

… got bumped from the mantel, but I like her colors better here in the dining room anyway.

Most of our vintage paintings reside on our second floor. "Green with Envy" is in the upstairs hallway next to the washer & dryer!

This folk art baby portrait sits in our bedroom on a faux fireplace mantel.

This portrait of my mother-in-law Grace was painted in the early 1950s. I especially like that we had the original photograph of the occasion and could tuck it under the lace frame.

We also have some still life compositions. This large vase of roses is also in our bedroom.

As is this still life with apples (although I just saw Mr. VJIMT put it in the Clover Market pile!).

And these bright and cheery daisies.

Hope your weekend is filled with more treasures and shut-eye than I will be getting!

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