Out of Jail Thrift Store Hauls

August 20, 2016 by Florence 27 Comments

Pickerlog #4

Out of Jail Thrift Store Hauls

Anyone following my blog lately knows I’ve been laid up this summer recovering from broken bones, so I haven’t been out at all, much less visited yard sales, estate sales, or thrift stores. My doctor released me to do anything I wanted provided I didn’t overdo because one bone still needs healing. So I’m OUT OF JAIL! FINALLY! Anyone who thinks sitting in a chair 24/7 is fun….huh…you just try it. Not fun!

I have 3 favorite thrift stores in town, so I went to all of those in the last couple of weeks. The Foundry Superthrift in Midfield, The Salvation Army in Hoover, and Lovelady’s in Irondale…for those followers who are local. I have a very favorite Salvation Army over near Booneville, Mississippi when hubby and I are camping nearby.

When I’m thrifting or yard saling, I’m looking for smalls that I can resell online and ship easily. Furniture? Nah, I don’t buy it unless it’s an irresistible deal. Just need to resist the irresistible since I don’t have a booth! I’m running over with furniture at home. Maybe I SHOULD consider a small booth in the future! Many projects wait in the wings. In fact, You DO want a tour of my basement, don’t you???

thrift store hauls — Thrift store Haul #1

I love these Vintage Office wooden in/out trays. This one has a sticker for Globe-Wernicke, the maker of high quality furniture and office supplies. It’s available right now in my Etsy shop.

Here is a vintage vanity tray that was incredibly dirty. All it needed was a good cleaning, and it’s already sold!

I will be giving the napkin holder a paint makeover when I decide what color. In the meantime, I hope you recognize the Beatles! I bought these a while back from Kimmy at “Scrambled Pegs” on Etsy. She can paint anything you want on a wooden peg. https://www.etsy.com/shop/scrambledpegs/ Read all about my “Hottest Yard Sale Buy” to hear my Beatles’ story.

Here is a darling cross stitch picture in my shop right now. I find that these sell for me, especially if they’re cute and colorful. All it needed was a new brown paper backing, which was an easy fix. I saw several nice cross stitch pictures at the thrift store, but they were a bit pricey. This wasn’t priced at all. I took it to check-out & told the cashier I would buy it if he gave me a good price….50 cents! An unbeatable buy!

This was the week for finding picture frames. I usually combine several vintage gold frames in a lot to sell. These are in my Etsy shop now.

I found the larger double frame at the 2nd thrift store visit. I don’t see these very often, and I’ve never sold one, so hopefully it will go easily with the smaller ones.

This next piece is an interesting item. I grabbed it because it was silverplate and looked unusual. I figured it as a condiment server of some kind. With a little research, I found out what it is. Does anyone recognize it before I tell all?

Awww, I’m going to tell you anyway….it is a Victorian Pickle Castor. The tongs would have hooked onto the side piece. Unfortunately, the glass jars to hold the pickles are missing. I may have a hard time selling this unless I run across duplicates, or someone catches my vision of using it for something else. It is marked “EG Webster & Bro.”

The last store visited is a favorite. I picked up these lovely finds~

This is not vintage, but I always grab these when I see them. They sell well for me, and this will be even prettier when given a makeover with white paint. Looks like wood, but made of heavy plastic.

I’ll probably try selling these as a pair since they are complementary. They meet the criteria…cute and the price was right at around $2/each. I’m not crazy about the frame color. I might paint them white if these don’t go as is.

A primitive rustic recipe box, in my Etsy shop now~

This is one of the things I always grab if I see them, if you remember from this post~Top Ten Things I Look for in Yard Sales

Vintage Bacon Press is cast iron~

Lastly a vintage suitcase. It was really the interior that sold me on this…so clean! I think I might paint the exterior, and possibly decoupage it. What do you think?

All in all some good thrift store hauls…my OUT OF JAIL thrift store hauls! So glad to be out!

What do you think? What about the vintage suitcase treatment?

PLEASE PIN OR SHARE!

I’m Swimming in Frogs!

July 24, 2016 by Florence 16 Comments

I know you are waiting with bated breath to find out why I’m swimming in frogs…

If you read my last post, “Vintage Picker Off Limits Home Tour,” you may remember I’ve spent the entire summer sitting on my duff and NOT going to any yard sales, estate sales, or thrift stores. YES, I’m stir crazy!

A friend moved this weekend and there was an estate sale. Plans were hatched to send my better half in my stead. He sorta knows what I want, but sometimes I wonder. Off he went the first day. He returned with 4 frogs, a brass paper clip, and a picture frame. I was a little disappointed. “You went the first day and got there roughly when it started, and this is all????” OK, I didn’t say it…I thought it.

Still, I liked what he brought home….

First Day Finds

This frog is adorable and vintage from 1995. I also love the brass paper clip. Both are in my Etsy shop. Frog is here. And the Brass Paper Clip is here. (Froggie is sold.)

I really love this guy!! Isn’t he unique? He is a bit big and heavy to ship, but never mind…I want him!

Gary scored this too, and it is a lucky find~a Panetta brooch. Panetta is highly collectible and of fine quality.

Second Day Finds

I don’t go the second day as a rule, but my good friend was going. She shopped the half-price day for me while staying in touch by phone. (Is that a good friend, or what???) I had a ball “shopping” and out of that I culled:

A wooden chest…quite heavy and big

Ginormous box of fabric scraps (not shown)

Small box of yarn scraps (not shown)

Large metal tray from England and the picture frame from the first day.

An Occupied Japan figurine, modeled after the famous German Hummel figurines.

Cup and saucer from England

A small enamel teapot

Aren’t you surprised this doesn’t have a frog on it?? I know I am….

…and FIVE MORE FROGS!

This guy reminds me of “Alice in Wonderland.” Did that story have frogs?

Here is another favorite….that face! Isn’t he cute? He is actually a bank…the coins go into his mouth, and this fella is made in Japan….

HELLOOOOO…

I never associated my friend with frogs…but now you know why I’m swimming in frogs, and it’s a good thing because I was fresh out.

PLEASE PIN!

Smoky Mountain Pickin’

June 15, 2016 by Florence 16 Comments

Smoky Mountain Pickin’ always follows visits to our daughter who lives in Maryville, near the Smokies. Her hubby is a direct descendant of one of the original Cades Cove families, so we often visit the Cove or an obscure historic site if we can find one. Elkmont fills the bill, a fascinating abandoned village right in the middle of the Smokies, so interesting to visit for its crumbling vacation cottages, most of which are falling in.

old abandoned swiss chalet — Smoky Mountains Elkmont

Elkmont homes caving in — Homes caving in

Look at that fantastic chimney!

Most of these cottages were built between 1910 and 1930 and renovated over the years. Now the Park Service will save only a few, allowing the rest to fall in….demolition by neglect.

The pink cottage, the last one vacated, is in better shape than the others, and restored for modern use. The others? They don’t look too bad until you get up close, and see the deterioration, holes in the floor, holes in the roof, rot, water damage, etc.

The visit is not complete without seeing the site of the Old Wonderland Hotel built in 1911 with its heyday in the 1920’s.

Great Smoky Mountain Pickin — Ruin of the Wonderland Hotel

So back to pickin’~Speaking of antiques, Townsend, Tennessee, where we were staying, is LOADED with antique shops. A great place to browse for us vintage lovers!

Unfortunately, the thrift stores were slim pickin’s. We went to about 5 & this is it!

The real Smoky Mountain Pickin’ jackpot came on the weekend where we hit one estate sale, and several good yard sales. Here is the extent of that haul. This would have been impossible without GPS…Cheapskate Southern Girl Picker finally got one, even though hubby says reading maps is good for the mind.

TN Yard/Estate sale haul — Tennessee Yard and Estate Sale Haul

MOST favorite finds…would you look at that cool 50’s pink can opener?? Vintage suitcase…no handle, and beautiful etched glass lamp…I LOVE old suitcases so this was a lucky find!

The frosted vintage hurricane lamp came from a rummage sale. Examining it closely to discover why it was so cheap at $2, I discovered AFTER I got home~I may have just inherited a new lamp…I’m not so sure it will sell with this much damage…what do you think?

Kicking myself AGAIN for not examining closely enough…one of my biggest faults. (a bad fault to have)

Most of these will be going into my Etsy shop~

But here’s what’s already sold~

Vintage Rotating Tie Holder, Lighthouse Lantern, Boston Rocker Doll Chair, Pink Can Opener, Thrift store Silverplate Tray.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the mini tour of Elkmont! Perhaps it’s encouraged you to visit and pick the riches of Tennessee!

DON’T FORGET TO PIN PLEASE~

Save

Show and Tell Yard Sale Finds

June 7, 2016 by Florence 2 Comments

Show and tell yard sale finds and thrift store scores with a mix of good stuff and junk…

The first stops were thrift stores. I visit one place often for their good prices; the other was disappointing…too far away and too expensive. The below items were from there. I paid too much for the cherub ($7), but it’s OK if it’s for you, right??

She is tired with the green finish and I think she is begging for white!

I sell vintage purses in my Etsy shop so the red bag was a nice find.

show and tell yard sale finds — Tired Green Cherub

Below are finds from the favorite thrift store~

Vintage trash cans were good sellers when I had a booth. I will probably paint this one white.

What do you think about that large Tupperware canister? It was the makeshift liner.

Leave the canister in or find something else? Paint or not?

I’m sure someone would repurpose this as a light fixture, but I’m not crafty that way!

I visited our local Habitat ReStore and found this for $3~

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, other than paint. It’s a metal bin with 3 compartments and a handle on top.

I don’t ship items this big, so it won’t go on Etsy. I might use it for organization in my office area.

I would love to hear some ideas!

Saturday’s sales were the real finds. One was in a depressed area so off the beaten path that few pickers had found it! Score! I love it when I can beat the other guys there.

Vintage silverplate~this is the heavy, old stuff…not made in China. I’ve already done some polishing on the tray, but I may not get obsessive about it like I usually do. Silverplate trays sell well for me, but I’ve not tried any tarnished ones.

Don’t you love these vintage estate jewelry pieces! I especially love the price at $1 each! I don’t deal in jewelry because I don’t know much about it, not being a jewelry person myself, and I can’t get close to the table at estate sales! Too many crowds! What do you think?

These are all destined for my Etsy shop.

My favorite find is this~black wooden frame with a tin insert…$3.

Should I paint this? Leave as is? I can’t decide…

We went to a couple of other places too. The next finds were this cute pine beadboard wall shelf for $1~

This will go to my Etsy shop. It’s perfect as is and doesn’t need anything done to it.

The last finds of the day were these~

Have you ever seen a vintage Bates List Finder? These were popular address books in the ’50s. They are extremely hard to find and sell very well IF you can find one not filled out. The refills are also hard to find, but Ebay has a few. I bought this hoping my spare odd-size refill, would be right, but NOT….maybe I’ll run into one sometime…

The photo on the right is an embroidered table runner…quite pretty even though it has some stains.

Does anyone have a good formula for getting out stains?

Hopefully the earring holder will sell on Etsy.

That’s it for this week! What do you think?

Please Pin This~

Hottest Yard Sale Buy

May 30, 2016 by Florence 23 Comments

MY #1 hottest yard sale buy of ALL time….drum roll please…..framed poster of The Beatles from 1965!!!!!

Takes me back to when I was 13. I saw them in their first movie “A Hard Day’s Night,” and that was it…forever smitten! Even though the guys still living (Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) are in their mid-70’s…doesn’t matter…I’m stuck in 60’s Beatlemania!

I was never lucky enough to see the Beatles together in concert, but if I had, I’m certain I would be one of those screaming, crying girls. Every now and then, I watch them on youtube, so I can reminisce. Check out my Pinterest board here “Gettin’ My Beatles Fix.”

Ringo was my favorite …

#1 Hottest Yard Sale Buy — Fave photo of Ringo

This photo of him makes my heart go pitter-pat…seriously….isn’t he cute???? This leads me to a story…

About a year ago, Ringo came to Birmingham (Alabama) in concert…the closest I’d ever get to the Beatles, although it was Ringo’s group…the “All Starr Band.” Of course, I was dead set on going, no matter HOW much it cost! Can you believe “Cheapskate Southern Girl Picker” is saying that??? Yep, it’s true.

I needed someone to go with me. Hubs REALLY wasn’t interested, so I tried my best friend, and she was like….lonnng hesitation on the phone…”uhhh, can’t you get Gary to go with you???”

I mean…COME ON! THIS IS RINGO!! Obviously nobody understood the importance and gravity of the situation. As the big day approached, I was thinking secretly to myself, “Maybe I’ll get to meet Ringo…maybe even shake his hand…touch him once.” Don’t ask me how this was supposed to happen.

The long-awaited hour arrived, and Gary….bless his heart….good-naturedly went. Finally doors were opened to let us eager beavers inside. The usher pointed to the last row. WHAT??? Visualizing good seats from that little auditorium map…is anyone else ever confused by these? But it was true. Resignedly we sat. I was so glad I had binoculars. The place was packed.

The concert began and Ringo bounded in…sigh! Everyone on their feet! The music was exciting with oldies belted out by the other musicians and Ringo…all familiar old songs. Glancing down to see how Gary was reacting, I was astonished to see him dozing! And would you believe he SLEPT through it all??? I’m talking LOUD rock music here!

But I had the time of my life! I finally got to see the real Ringo. He actually taps his foot and walks around just like I do! But did I take a photo? Nah, he would have been a speck, but in case you’re wondering, this is how he looked….

At my age, I don’t do rock concerts anymore. Not that I ever went to that many….but with Ringo, I’ll make an exception!

So what about the hottest yard sale buy? Buying for resale is my game, but I couldn’t possibly ever sell this. Ironically it’s sitting on the floor on hubs’ side of the bed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go with the rest of my decor…LOL, but one of these days….

Did you ever see the Beatles? Leave me a comment! I would love to hear your story! Let’s reminisce together!