Vintage Junk in My Trunk

Vintage Christmas Mother Lode

I still have a ton of June treasures to show you. In addition to the plethora of summer yard sales, we went to more weekday and Sunday fleas than usual. So get ready!

I couldn't believe my luck when I found these old sleds at a yard sale. Even more spectacular? They were priced at a dollar each!

And although that was an amazing find, this little wood reindeer and sleigh is even better! Isn't he adorable? Most of my vintage Christmas finds head straight to my Vintage Christmas Junk shop, but not him!

That same day, I hit the vintage Christmas mother lode. This is all from one sale!

Two boxes of red candoliers, which I don't typically see, a plastic tree topper…

A giant Santa head and snowman blow mold…

Scary handmade styrofoam crafts and clip-on Santas…

A box of corsages and picks, another tree topper, nativity set, and the usual assortment of Shiny Brites.

Looks like I have plenty of inventory for my Christmas in July Etsy listings. Which start tomorrow -- yikes!

I am trying not to buy as many plates as I normally do, but couldn't resist this lot of vintage blues.

My Saturday is not complete until I find a typewriter. Or until Mr. VJIMT finds me a typewriter.

Don't worry, he also finds plenty of stuff for himself.

A Goebel Raccoon and Some Plastic Deer

Last week I showed you the antique ledgers/diaries I purchased at the indoor flea market. I also picked up a small flow blue bowl, tiny teacup and a pretty porcelain plate. 

But right after that I had to take young Mr. VJIMT to a school function, which I didn't mind so much as there is a Goodwill right across the street. I found this vintage Goebel porcelain raccoon figurine there in perfect condition.

Also this bag of goodies. I could only see the deer, but that's all that I wanted! 

Everyone else did too, as they kept oohing and aahing over the bag in my cart.

Next I stopped at an estate sale that had started at 8am. Only now it was after 1pm and I was surprised to find a line still waiting to get in!  Sadly, I did not come home with this typewriter; it was priced at $200!

But I did come home with this pretty ironstone pedestal compote. 

It did not stay home with me for long though, as I listed it on Etsy (and the Mustard Seed Pages) where it sold practically overnight.

I couldn't leave this charming colored phototgraph behind.

Or this one. I've seen people alter them for Halloween. What do you think? 

Speaking of the holiday season, you knew I would find Christmas in there, right? This appliqued felt tree skirt (or small table covering) is the epitome of kitsch. I found a similar looking snowman one here, which I used last Christmas. This one is going to the Etsy Christmas Junk shop.

And check out these sweet vintage Christmas stockings. Love the Lulu!

Lesson of the day -- it's never too late to find a treasure!

 

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 Christmas Junk (in My Trunk)

Speaking of Christmas, I opened a new Etsy shop dedicated solely to that wonderful time of year (which is less than 4 months away)!

Welcome to Vintage Christmas Junk in My Trunk!

I only have about ten items listed so far, but I have plenty of inventory!

The last couple of days were spent just sorting through my hoard of ornaments.

Most of these were purchased with the intent to make vintage ornament wreaths -- I'm sure you've seen the fabulous ones by Suzy (Georgia Peachez) -- which I have not yet attempted. But I think I have enough to get started, right?

There are some "special" boxes that I've listed for sale.

As well as special chenille angels.

And special elves, already sold!

It's a little bit more work, but I think it will be good to have a shop devoted entirely to vintage Christmas. I wish Esty would allow you to edit two shops simultaneously, link to the same Facebook page, and transfer items between shops, but this is the way it works right now.

I may need to add an additional Christmas listing to the Etsy 365 Project. What do you think?

Head on over and favorite me if you're an Etsy shopper. Facebook "Like" and blog reader discount applies to all purchases!

Reindeer, Snowmen, and Silver Bells

There's been no junking here for two weeks. Sigh. Winter is so depressing.

A neighborhood indoor porch sale looked promising. I was very excited to find these vintage plastic reindeer lawn decorations.

Santa in his sleigh is missing, as well as whatever roping went through the holes in the stakes, and some of the deer have broken antlers, but I still think they're pretty cool!

As is this celluloid snowman piece. He is hollow on the inside, and was originally part of a revolving music box.

Only I think he looks more fetching as a light cover.

Next stop was a church's small thrift shop's monthly sale. I just missed a box of striped Shiny Brites, but at least I managed to snag these.

My final stop was a local antique store. I really much prefer doing my treasure hunting at yard sales, but I had a specific purchase in mind. My mother somehow did this to her pink Pyrex Cinderella Gooseberry mixing bowl…

…and I wanted to replace it for Christmas. I got lucky and found the exact same bowl here in Pyrex heaven, and at 25% off!

There were also boxes and boxes of Shiny Brite teardrop ornaments, in many colors.

Mr. VJIMT got me a couple of boxes of the pink for Christmas!

I also found this sweet garland of silver bells for $3. I may have to rethink my antique store moratorium!

December 24

I am still Christmas shopping.

I am still wrapping presents. 

I am still baking.

I am still grocery shopping.

I am still trimming the tree(s).

But my Christmas card is finished! ;)

May your holiday season be blessed and filled with joy.

From our vintage house to yours.

Christmas Came Early this Year

We spent more time inside that house on Saturday than we had originally planned on, so I had no fantasies that the Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree from the 1960s would still be at the other sale, since it was well after 10:30 by the time we arrived.

Luna was surprised as well.

Yep, the 4-foot Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree from the 1960s was still there.

So I bought it. And its original box.

Even though it is dwarfed by the bigger one I found last fall. Stella seems to like it.

This would have made a nice Christmas card if my son's bare foot wasn't in the background.

You know what else was still there?

This.

They are selling for upwards of $150 on ebay. I thought about keeping it for about two seconds, but I kind of like my aluminum tree silver and sparkly. I'm plain that way.

Plus I still have the Vintage Rotating Motorized Color Wheel I found last year, so I listed it in my ebay shop. 

Because how many Vintage Aluminum Christmas Trees from the 1960s and corresponding Vintage Rotating Motorized Color Wheels can one own?

Don't answer that!

There Really IS a Santa Claus!

December on the East Coast doesn't usually have much in the way of yard sales, so you take what you can get, and hope for the best.

Saturday's listings featured a grand total of TWO indoor sales. One promised a Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree from the 1960s, which I really wanted to take a look at, but the sale didn't start until 10am. The other sale had started the day before, which I had somehow missed. Too much prednisone?

Anyway, not expecting much, we headed to the second sale with plenty of time to get back to the first to check out that tree.

Imagine our surprise when we found the tiny house still PACKED with treasures. And crazy affordable too.

Plates…

Jewels…

Suitcases…

Vintage Christmas ornament clusters! They weren't found in the suitcase, but fit inside nicely for transportation.

These things are huge.

Lots of framed prints and paintings.

Love the details on this print.

Mr. VJIMT scored some paintings.

This frame will be converted to a chalkboard.

This antique print went right into my Etsy shop. Very Botticelli-esque, I think.

Oh, yeah, we found these there too.

Believe!

A Flat Tire and a Vintage Foil Wreath

So far September has been fantastic with two back-to-back big yard sale weekends. This week did get away from me though and although I posted some finds on my Facebook page, I neglected to blog about last weekend's treasures. So let's catch up!

Last Friday we went to an estate sale -- I love when they start on Fridays, which doesn't seem to happen too often around here. 

Unfortunately, this also happened.

Fortunately, it was right in front of the house and AAA came and fixed it within 10 minutes! So I barely missed any shopping time.

But this is all I got -- a series of vintage green Mary Jane books written by Clara Ingram Judson.

And this very lovely illustrated Jolly Surprise Story Book.

I'm going to skip right to Sunday, where we found an unexpected yard sale, this lovely French enamelware pitcher, and a little blue New Testament.

And vintage Christmas foil wreaths! 

Two of them!

And finally, these gorgeous folding wooden stadium seats.

Aren't they fabulous? I'm definitely bringing them to the show I'm doing next month. Saturday's finds coming up next.

Bouckville 2012 -- Christmas Again?

My apologies to those readers who are not fans of the vintage Christmas. Because yes, I found more, and of course, I'm going to show you what I got!

On our way out of Bouckville at the end of the week, we ran across several barn sales in the surrounding small towns. The yard sale prices made it that much more fun!

For example, I found all of these items while rummaging around in a big old dusty barn. The entire bag's worth cost me three dollars!

Here's what I found -- vintage foil candleholders --

A box of green mercury glass ball picks --

Gold mercury glass ball grape cluster picks --

Elves. Enough said.

The little glass mercury bird on the right --

Sequined red felt bird ornament.

Spun head ornament.

And, best of all, 2 strands of mercury glass bead garlands.

Next time I'll be looking for more barn sales!