Yard/Estate Sale Finds Archives | Page 4 of 5

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!

Tiny Estate Sale

May 24, 2016 by Florence 13 Comments

I went to a “Tiny Estate Sale” this weekend, a most interesting visit, having been given clearance by my doctor to begin moving around more. I’m quite certain he didn’t mean I was to go to THREE estate sales!

It was in a small historic house in Bluff Park (Alabama), set off from the road, and obscured by a grove of large trees. Having grown up just down the street, I was intrigued, and had it on my “must” list.

Bluff Park, a suburb of Hoover Alabama, is an area with a fascinating history. Originally a resort community in 1910, people from town vacationed on the mountain to enjoy cool breezes. An old hotel, boarding house, log cabins, and huge boulders lined the crest of the mountain. Descendants of the first families still survive, and if you look hard, you can see traces of the old life. A handful of log cabins remain, but sadly the old hotel burned in the 1920’s. The tiny estate sale house was built from a Sear’s plan to be a Superintendent’s Home, located across the street from what is now called “The Children’s Fresh Air Farm.” Pictures below show the quaint interior…a charming doll house…

The old cottage is a DIYers dream!

Here are a few of my finds from the tiny estate sale~

I came twice…once to shop; then back later to take photos. Of course, I had to shop again!

Now that mirror looks pretty cruddy. It’s actually a picture frame…forgotten on the floor, propped up on the wall in that dark dank closet. Rusty with silvering issues, but I have plans for it when my knee is healed. Stay tuned.

About fifty years ago as I was digging for a new flower bed with my mother, my fingers closed on something hard and round. In wonderment, I rubbed off the caked dirt to find an old locket. It looked like gold and there was a tiny diamond still in place! Remembering the couples who must have once strolled here, I wonder who lost this precious locket so many years ago. Were they sorry? Did they look for it frantically? I’ve treasured it all these years, and it has become a symbol of Bluff Park, the nostalgic place of my roots.

Confession of a Desperate Yard Sale Addict

May 9, 2016 by Florence 4 Comments

After many weeks of feeling deprived, I finally made it to a yard sale! So you might say this is the confession of a desperate yard sale addict! Other addicts will understand, you get to the point where you need a fix. Or I could call this…

“Confession of a Desperate Yard Sale Addict or You Know You’re a Yard Sale Addict When….”

You’re going to a yard sale on crutches
You’re asking your hubby to go to the sale for you as you’re biting your nails in the car.
You’re plotting how you CAN go to the sale, yet still sit in the car. Maybe a camcorder and a walkie-talkie?
You’re politely telling him (while gritting your teeth) to please park the car so you can at least LOOK at the sale.
You’re at the yard sale anyway even when the doc told you no…how stupid is that???

I must explain…I have a broken kneecap, and am not supposed to be walking on it, even though it doesn’t hurt. But doc said I may walk around in the house.

Once in the distant past, Gary told me he would go to sales for me. AH! File that away in the brain for future reference. So the time had come to take him up on it. I ~~coerced, arm-twisted, wheedled~~, sweet-talked him into going even though he was suddenly suffering from amnesia.

So there was a sale. Like Cinderella, I was DYING to go to the ball. I pointed out the things from photos ahead of time I wanted him to look for, and where they would be. I knew this was risky because as we know, men have a difficult time finding things. And sure enough, he couldn’t and didn’t. Someone else scored the little chest I wanted. Oh well…. This is what he came back with: not exactly my vision…of a productive Friday! Don’t get me wrong…I AM grateful he went. Desperate yard sale addicts can’t be too picky.

Saturday he talked me into going with him while I sat in the car. We went to about 5 sales, and he walked around forever, but came back empty-handed! (How is this possible???) I was cringing over what he was missing.

At one sale, he came back to the car saying “they have Barbie dolls and tons of other vintage items.” Arrgghh….before I knew it I was casting caution to the winds and going to look! I had my cane, and it’s almost like walking around in the house, right???

Vintage items were priced outta sight. The people kept saying everything was negotiable, but they could have sold a whole lot more if their prices were better. Badly tarnished silverplate trays…yes, I know it doesn’t matter if they are tarnished, but…$20 and $10? No way.

Lots of LP records…saw a Beatles record with a very worn cover….$15…NOPE! They had obviously checked Ebay. But it’s a mistake to price a yard sale like the winning bid on ebay. I’m not usually one to turn down the Beatles. However, I did find a few bargains.

This lovely vintage bookcase for the haggled-down price of $8. I love the pretty details on the edges and the shelves. Just a little peeling veneer on the top, which can be fixed. For an awesome tutorial on how to remove veneer, check out this post by Denise of Salvaged Inspirations.

A lovely paneled door with possibilities

and only $3!

THAT could be THIS lovely rustic chalkboard door~

From my friend Wanda Craft at Just Vintage Home (used by permission)

or THIS….beautiful hand painted cabinet door by Debi Coules Romantic Art and Design. http://www.debicoules.com/

(used by permission)

Here are my other priceless finds of the day~lovely vintage hardware which I literally grabbed…

If anybody knows what this is, please tell me! Close up of item in bottom row of photo above:

More hardware lovelies~

And last but not least….sewing trims and notions are irresistible to me….

One of the collars has stains, but I get around this by dyeing, which causes the stain to blend in.

Advice about selling vintage sewing notions:

Hoops & wooden spools always sell.
Notions and trims do better sold as a grouping or lot, although I have sold them individually. Vintage trims are very popular, but make sure they are vintage. They aren’t dated, so you have to guess by how old the packaging looks.
Generic, solid color yarn with no labels is a hard sell, unless in a lot with others and priced cheap.
DMC embroidery is difficult now that embroidery is out, unless you have a lot of it, with unusual colors.
Embroidery patterns are almost impossible to sell unless the pattern or kit is extremely cute.
Aunt Martha’s iron-on’s? Never tried, but I doubt they sell well.

I always tell myself not to buy sewing notions, but I do it anyway. I still love them, even though my machine and I have not met for many years!

All of the smalls (hardware and sewing notions) will be headed to my shop on Etsy: vintagesouthernpicks.etsy.com.

Otherwise, I would love to know what you think of this post!

Two Vintage Estate Sales Contrasted

April 7, 2016 by Florence 4 Comments

Two Vintage Estate sales contrasted…another fascinating trek. Went to 3 estate sales and 1 yard sale. Drove nearly 100 miles and this is ALL we found today!

Not complaining though. The third and last house we went to was in a location called “Leeds.” The house was PACKED with vintage items of all kinds. Photos below only show a fraction in a small area of the house.

People were dropping $100 bills…no sweat! “Cheapskate” spent a total of $22! Because it was the first day, things were much higher, but a place to get plenty of vintage!! So much in one place.

My favorite finds~Favorites yes, but I was annoyed when the estate sale person priced the tin on the right DOUBLE because it had a few little sewing doo-dads in it, NOT like gobs of old buttons, NOT like vintage crochet trim…I’m talking a mixture of bobby pins, a few ho-hum buttons, rubber bands…you know…worthless junk! And I got charged double! Should have put it back, should have put it down, should have dumped out the contents…blah, blah, blah….but I didn’t. Kicking myself, but doggone it, I liked the tin.

Always love it when I can find a couple of vintage cookbooks! And not that easy to find usually. These are from the 40’s & the 60’s.

Two Vintage Estate Sales Contrasted

The Christmas candoliers came from a different estate sale run by the family, and was one of the few affordable things there. There are usually 2 types of estate sales~those run by the Professionals, and those run by families.

Family -run sales are of 2 types…those where they want things to MOVE, and everything is priced cheap. The other is where, they are hoping to rake in the dough by pricing high. This was of the latter type.

Family has obviously checked Ebay for sold prices, then they price that way. The problem…they are pricing at the upper end of where a dealer has to sell to make a profit, BUT dealers can’t buy for that. So the family prices so far out of the ballpark, no one buys.

I saw a table filled with vintage safety razors for which they were asking $35/each! Waaay over-priced! Which is why all the razors were still sitting there. If you want to sell your vintage items, you have to leave a little wiggle room so the dealers can make a profit. Just my little nugget of wisdom…

Not a bad day at all…now there’s still tomorrow!