It’s a broken record, but following my own advice, I now go junking out of town for at least one trip, and usually find some real treasures. Even if it’s the 2nd day, or the 3rd day. Go with me on favorite junking finds to Shelby Shores!
Off to Shelby Shores~
Shelby Shores, easily a 45-minute drive from where we live, we certainly didn’t get there early. By the time we finally found the place (even with the help of GPS), it was well up in the morning. Knowing it was going to be picked over, we proceeded, putting out of our minds what we missed, focusing on the now.
Arriving at the house~
We approached a run-down place situated on a lake, and entered a house utterly trashed by the 1st day pickers. When I arrived, I noticed someone standing guard over a full silver coffee/tea service which, as I learned later, they had managed to pull out of the very cramped, obstacle-course crawl space. “Well! There must be something good left,” I thought to myself. Not that I wanted a full tea service.
But as I walked through the house, I honestly couldn’t see a thing I wanted. And then…I finally found something.
A vintage galvanized check filing box WITH THE KEY! $2. My husband, standing nearby, said, “What do you want THAT for?” (I hear that a lot.) I told myself….
it’s industrial….
it’s galvanized….
it’s farmhouse….
it’s hot.
But then after I got home, I saw with dismay, there are about 3 pages of the same thing on Etsy….sigh
But guess what? It’s SOLD!
Next up…
A vintage rolling pin in nice shape for $3. I haven’t listed it yet. I’m not sure how it will do.
Again, not terribly exciting, but I actually need these, and refuse to pay retail. I keep written Etsy sales records.
A couple of turned wooden legs and a metal clamp I have use for. $2 for all 3.
And the big find of this trip….
A whole sack of shotgun shells! $1. I’ll figure out something to do with them. I have some ideas.
Actually I’m excited about my shotgun shells.
Now then…let’s head to the next sales….
The next sale was in a nice house, but it was the 3rd day. The only thing left I even remotely wanted was glossy papered and decorative cardboard storage boxes…that the owner had written all over with black sharpies, which was why they were still there. I told myself….you can cover that with doilies….but I didn’t feel like bothering. So my husband bought 2 cutting boards for $1, and it was my turn to say, “what do you want THAT for?”
On to the next sale….
Once we arrived at the house, I realized I had been there in the past at another garage sale. I was remembering the cool vintage mailbox I found, and wishing there would be another. And there it was! My treasure!! Which I grabbed…it was priced at $10, but she quickly dropped it to $5.
Even though there are a lot of these on Etsy in various forms, I’ve never had any problem selling them, and it’s SOLD.
And at the last sale….
The first day…I found…
A Methodist Hymnal from the 30’s. $1. These usually sell, and it did. SOLD.
Vintage Whisk Broom for $1…
About 10 pages of these on Etsy, but it SOLD.
TIP: Don’t let the numbers of things on your chosen selling site scare you!
Lastly, a trio of vintage recipe boxes, which always sell for me. They may take a while (everything usually does). The two metal ones have file dividers, and the middle one is wood. All for $1.50.
Would you pin? Thank you!
That’s it my friends. Hope you enjoyed the tour! Which one was your favorite?
Sharing with these link parties~
Florence
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- The Latest Vintage Hauls - February 10, 2020
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- September Sales on Etsy and My New Antique Booth - September 30, 2019
- Camping Trip Thrift Store Haul - August 2, 2019
I laughed out out at “So my husband bought 2 cutting boards for $1, and it was my turn to say, “what do you want THAT for?” That was hysterical!!
I liked the rolling pin the best. Not a big seller for me but I’m constantly buying them. 🙂
Thank you Kim! Sorry to hear rolling pins aren’t selling, but I’ll still try. Glad you enjoyed the post!
Great finds Florence. I have good luck with recipe boxes too and I always pick up packages of vintage recipe cards whenever I see them and include some cards with the box.
I’m curious to see what you’re planning with the shotgun shells!
Tania
Great idea about the recipe cards Tania! I’ll start picking them up, but I rarely see them. Oh yes, several things planned with the shotgun shells…stay tuned!
The shotgun shells project you have in mind sounds intriguing. I bet you can come up with a plan for the rolling pin also. You did get some good things on this shopping trip.
Thank you Debra! Appreciate you coming by.
I love the colors of the shotgun shells. Can’t wait to see what you have in mind for them.
Yes me too. Such pretty colors! Thanks for the comment Sharon!
Thank you for sharing your finds at Snickerdoodle.
Thank YOU Sharon!
Great buys! I would totally buy all of those things, well except the shot gun shells “can’t wait to see what you do with them.
Thank you Robin! I’m cooking my idea on the shotgun shells!
Florence, you have a great eye for treasure and apparently a very hot site!
Thank you Kim!!
Great finds, even for the 2nd and 3rd day. Maybe you can make a Christmas wreath out of the shotgun shells 🙂 I’m curious why someone would have kept those in the first place, unless you can refill them or something.
If you had seen that house & workshop I found them in, it was apparent that the person never threw anything away. I only got a few of what were actually there. A Christmas wreath is a good idea if I have enough.
Great finds!! I have a mail box that I decorated just like that one!!!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you Debbie! Appreciate your visit too. Sure would like to see that mailbox!
I love shopping at thrift stores. But I have never tried selling anything…. I want to keep it all. haha
🙂 gwingal
Haha, I know exactly what you mean Nikki! I don’t “let” myself keep much. Thanks for dropping in to comment!
Hi Florence,
I love reading about your vintage finds. I used to do a lot more shopping but the blog keeps me so busy. Still I miss it and now I’m determined to make a point of setting up at least a day trip with my girlfriends. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you Patti! I know what you mean about the blog keeping you busy!! Other things frequently go when you blog.
Florence going to these estate sales is quite a full time job. I see that you and the hubs make a good team and have a lot of fun at them rummaging through all the pickins. I can definitely see a lot of these things selling as you told us. And I want one of those rolling pins. As for your bullet shells I cannot imagine what you’re going to do with them. I would have just passed them by. But then again you have such a creative mind I know you will surprise us.
Thank you Mary. Yes we do have a lot of fun going to them…it’s like an outing. I love the thrill of the hunt too. And I love to sell. A win-win.
I love seeing all of the things you pick up during your thrifting/junking trips! Some of these things I would have never thought to buy, but you don’t seem to have any trouble selling them. 🙂 My mom has one of those old recipe boxes, and I love the vintage mailbox!
Thank you Amy! I appreciate your comment! I loved the mailbox too.
These are all great finds! But I am very curius what you are going to do with the bullet shels. I’m looking at them and I cannot think of anything 🙂
You’ll see Christina! Stay tuned as to what I’m going to do with those!
I loved the check file box; I used a plastic one for years for my coupons. Also the turned pieces of wood; looked like a tiered stand waiting to happen. Want to see the gun shell creation!
Thank you Kathy! Love your idea for the tiered stand! Gunshell creation coming soon.
Hi Florence, what great finds! Love the funny way you keep us in suspense abut your treasures! I was almost on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what you found next! Glad to hear your Etsy advice, I recently opened a vintage etsy shop but have not made it public until I get it a bit more stocked up. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
xo Kathleen |Our Hopeful Home
Thank you Kathleen! I’m glad I kept up the suspense! And good luck with your new Etsy adventure!!