Vintage Junk in My Trunk

Oh, Yard Sales, Yard Sales, Wherefore Art Thou, Yard Sales?

I was really looking forward to the first Saturday in April, and the plethora of yard sales that usually come along with it. I'm not really sure what's happening, but there were only a couple of sales listed.

The weather has not been cooperative, as it was still chilly and extremely windy, but the sun was out! I suppose the cold days are keeping folks from going through their things and making piles -- I know it's stopping me from organizing the Clover hoard on my enclosed deck -- but I was really hoping for a long day of sales.

 

Instead I got this one lonely purchase. Oh, well, it's better than nothing. I plan on painting it shabby chic white and hauling it with me to Clover Market. Which is next Sunday, by the way. Have I mentioned the hoard on my deck?

 

 

Fortunately, Thursday was a better day, and I scored a bunch of fine vintage items  (suitcase and yellow box are my props) during my Flea Market visit. I know this Halloween cat would score me some big bucks -- perfect vintage condition, and a rarity -- but I sort of love it. So it's a keeper. I also bought the "18" for myself, since it's my lucky number, but upon reflection, a little too "racecar" for me. I'm on the fence about the scale too. There are only about twelve of them right here in my general vicinity, but the color is divine.

 

I may have gone a bit wild with the vintage figurines, but the price was right and I see them flying off of the Instagram sale pages. The iridescent birds are Enesco (Japan) with original label and the fuzzy cat is a Josef Originals, but the pink and black cow sugar bowl is my favorite find of this lot. The pink porcelain bell around her neck sealed the deal. I probably paid more than I should have, but I think she's REALLY old. I can't find anything like it online. Anybody have one?

 

More figurines, some ironstone, and a giant squirrel cookie jar. All for sale except for the Japan deer planter, of which I'm very enamored. I am going to hold on to her until the holidays and see how she looks with my reindeer gang.

 

 

Because I knew I would be heading to the flea market on Thursday, and in anticipation of lots of yard sales on Saturday, I tried to keep my thrift store shopping down to one day. Finding all of this on Tuesday -- some Christmas, a green metal toolbox, black Couroc skier plate, even the trolls -- made that decision easier.

 

 

Off to make some roasted asparagus and a big tray of pineapple stuffing! Enjoy the holiday!

 

A Treasure Found on Facebook

I forgot to show you this super cool antique game wheel I found on one of those Facebook yard sale sites I posted about yesterday.

It was dirt cheap, and made a great Christmas present for Mr. VJIMT and his game collection.

You can see more of Mr. VJIMT's game board collection here.

Happy Easter

That's Some Suitcase Stash, Yo!

In case you missed it, check out the stash of suitcases Melissa from Melissa's Antiques found at ONE. YARD. SALE. 

I am still in shock.

I thought I had a collection. These have been in my basement all winter. I sell 4 or 5 at every Clover Market, but have been saving these…

To someday make this (sorry, I don't know where this image is from; it's been sitting on my desktop forever).

Melissa has three trees!

Yard-Long Photos, A Collection

I promised I would try to get a shot of Mr. VJIMT's yard-long photograph collection after you saw his last purchase. Here it sits, waiting to find a proper spot.

He hangs them in our upstairs hallway, so it's tough to get any decent photos since it's very dark (even with an overhead light) and a tight squeeze.

This is the best I can do; my back is right up against the washer/dryer! I've even Photoshopped these images to make them brighter; you can imagine how dark it is in the hallway.

He's been collecting these group shots of school classes and sports teams for years. Some are not as long as a yard, but I think they still fill the bill.

Fortunately we only junk with Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad once a year at Bouckville, or those two would be slugging it out for first dibs. 

You can see some of his actual purchases here…

and here…

and here.

And if you're curious about the history of the yard-long photo, there's an interesting piece here.

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Edited to note: I found this photo a few weeks after writing this post and had to include it!

Hunting Season 2014 -- Bagged My First One!

We went to the Spring Garden Indoor Flea Market on Saturday. First junking day for me since early December. Mr. VJIMT has gone a couple of times this winter, but my schedule has not allowed for it. Until today.

It's small, with lots of smalls, but we got some good stuff!

(not this water buffalo)

Mr. VJIMT bought some lantern slides. He has a project in mind.

I bought a few vintage target practice sheets. I have a project in mind.

I also got this gorgeous lot of Mulberry transferware (Rose) by Edward Challinor that dates from 1842 to 1867. 

The lot included 6 large saucers/bowls and 4 handleless cups.

One plate had a chip on the underside (mine!); the others were in great vintage condition with lots of crazing.

One of the cups has a couple of chips, and another was repaired and pretty unusable; I kept both and am thinking of making some mosaic jewelry with the broken one.

The others were listed and sold likethat. The woman who purchased them must have had an alert set to "Mulberry Transferware Rose Challinor" because they were literally active for only a few minutes. I'm glad they went to a good home!

Speaking of a good home, I cannot think of a better home than MY HOUSE for this gorgeous typewriter. The first one of the 2014 season!

As usually happens, Mr. VJIMT and I asked separately about this beauty, then met up to compare notes and knocked each other down racing strolled back to buy it.

The curvy top!

The typeface!

The red keys!

I don't think I can part with it. At least for a little while. We may need to rethink our display options in this house.

Reindeer, Bottle Brush Trees, and Dress Forms

Well, the junking around here has been extremely limited for the last several weeks. I feel like I have nothing of interest to show you!

I did go to my local antique center to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. I should probably make another visit to see if things have been reduced any further.

The large aqua Western Germany ornament broke about 18 seconds after I got it into my house. I put it on top of a cupboard with my other seasonal items -- and then the vibrations of my daughter running through the house caused it to teeter off and smash into smithereens!

So I thought I'd show you some of that seasonal display (you've already seen Bob the Elf). Here is my reindeer collection. Last year at this time I only had about 10 of them. I am at a loss to explain the population explosion.

My bottle brush tree collection also expanded…

… but it is nothing like the collection of a friend's mom (who wishes to remain internet anonymous). Love her display!

Scary santas, courtesy of Mr. VJIMT. They are almost as bad as those elves.

Stella chose to hang out by the aluminum and pink ornament tree most of the season. I'm glad she liked it; my son proclaimed it "an eyesore". Gotta love those teenagers!

Luna preferred the real thing as well.

You know I like to decorate my dress forms. 

The one with the apron just sold this morning in my Etsy shop -- and now I am in a shipping terror frenzy! And kind of sad that she will be leaving us.

{EDIT -- Customer requested transaction canceled, and I'm glad as I was having major seller's remorse! I've decided my full-figured gal is no longer for sale, and will now be occupying a space in my bedroom where a fourth, foam-covered-and-not-as-old dress form resided.}

Speaking of Etsy, my friend Carolyn has opened her own shop full of holiday wreaths -- she was quite the productive little (not scary) elf this season -- click here to see them all!

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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Vintage Dress Form-apalooza

Last month, a local home accessory and clothing store was closing and they were having a big "retirement" sale. I didn't realize they had as much vintage display as they did, and subsequently missed the first day of the sale.

When I strolled in on the second day of the sale, I was really annoyed to see the stack of seven or eight vintage suitcases that were marked "sold".

Really annoyed.

Until I saw THIS.

Now you know I have a minor addiction to the vintage dress form. Much like my obsession with the vintage typewriter, they are not a convenient (or thrifty!) thing to collect.

I have two that I adore, Stefania and Betty Lou. They reside in the living room. Millie is upstairs in our bedroom. We have a dress form lamp there as well.

So you see, I can't possibly find the space for another. Right? Right? 

If you are a Facebook friend, you already saw me post these photos and ask what the going rate was in different areas. Readers from Texas to Canada responded with prices ranging anywhere from $300 to $900.

The Benjamin Model (like mine) sold for $645 on Etsy (Missouri) in December. Plus $100 to ship.

After much debate and internal struggle (keep her! keep her!), I am going to list her on Etsy for $495.

It was difficult for me even to type that.

For those of you who have expressed interest, please contact me and let me know you're a VJIMT blog reader or Facebook follower for a sweeter deal.

I am planning on bringing her to Clover Market in April if she doesn't sell before then so maybe I'll even avoid the dreaded shipping issues.

Although she does look real comfortable hanging out with her gal pals in the living room…

Invasion of the Dress Forms

The frigid winter temps have precluded us from getting our outdoor junking on, so Mr. VJIMT and I stopped in at a local antique shop last weekend. We don't usually have much luck there, and we really didn't expect that to change, but we were kinda desperate, you know?

As anticipated, we didn't find anything to purchase, but we did spy this lovely vintage dress form reminiscent of my own dear Betty Lou.

But not just one dress form -- many, many, dress forms!

I counted at least ten in this one booth.

I thought it was ironic to see so many after just posting mine.

I'm hoping my recent acquisition has not put me on the road to dress form hoarding!