I haven’t done a “vintage finds” post in a while, and frankly, I haven’t been anywhere in a while to do one. Not since Tennessee, in fact. I haven’t even shown you my entire haul from there yet. I really slowed down on estate sales due to having an excess, but had to have a fix this weekend! I get like that every now and then, and I’m excited to show you what I found.
We are working now on a massive downsizing yard sale to get rid of things I’ve bought at yard sales, among lots of other things LOL. I’ve been selling a lot on craigslist too. Ready to see Favorite Weekend Junking Finds Birmingham?
Favorite Weekend Junking Finds Birmingham
I stayed close to home this weekend and went to 1 yard sale, and 4 estate sales.
Yard sale finds
Set of 8 black and white cabinet knobs for $5
Cabinet knobs sell for me if I can find cute ones.
More cabinet knobs and a mini spatula set…all in the same sack $4
Vintage Sony Walkman with Cassette Player and Electronic Clock all in same sack $1
I didn’t want the clock and I took a chance with the Walkman. I understand that these sell, but the man at the yard sale didn’t know if it worked. “The man who can fix anything,” better known as my hubby, got it working.
Estate Sales Finds~
2 Tommy Hilfiger ties~$1/ea
I’m on the hunt for red ties to use in a project.
If you want to see one of my tie projects, click here.
Pretty red and gray afghan throw $1. I wonder if it’s handmade though? Does anyone know from looking at the photo? It looks sort of manufactured to me, but if I don’t sell it, I’ll keep it because I really like it.
I found a sandwich size bag with jewelry scrap, which I also plan to use in a project. $3. These are mainly earrings without mates.
It was the only thing I bought in a house loaded with stuff, but everything was out-of-sight expensive, and gaudy to boot.
When I arrive at a sale on the first day, and see only 2 cars, I know there’s a reason. Most everything was removed. But I found 2 things.
Here’s a likely mistake…not a vintage tablecloth, as first thought, but a Christmas sheet sewn together and trimmed in red rick rack. $4.
And of course, there’s a stain, which I didn’t see when I opened it out at the sale…sigh. But it might sell anyway.
I don’t like to attend the sales of the person running this one because she’s known to be high, but it was kind of slim pickings this weekend. So I found a vintage fireplace broom for $5. The handle is a little loose at the top, but I can fix that. This is the right time of year to sell this, so I’ll be listing it pretty quickly.
I finally hit a gold mine on its last day, so all prices you see are already half off. I was surprised there was so much left, but it was a condo sale for the senior set. I wonder if people avoid condo sales? My mentality is this: by the time they’re already in a condo, they’ve gotten rid of everything, so there’s not going to be much there. Does anyone else think this way?
But it proved me wrong this time. I was happy with these finds:
Remember these purses? I wanted one so bad back in the 60’s-70’s when these were popular. See the little turtles on top? So cute! I’m surprised they aren’t rabbits. The person who lived here had rabbits galore. $3
This is the first of these I’ve ever found myself, but I’ve always wanted to find one. Know what it is? A vintage eyeglasses holder $1.50
China rabbit $2.50. Not vintage…it’s for me.
Small rabbit figurine made in Bath England. I usually buy items made in England or Germany if they’re in good shape, and cheap! $2
I left 99 other rabbits behind, LOL.
Here’s another item I’ve always wanted to find…a metal tissue box cover, and this is made by “Ransberg,” who also made trash cans, now vintage as well. $1.50. They are kind of hard to find.
These vintage metal picture frames usually sell. $1.50
I took a chance on these too…real shells used for serving bites of seafood. Found in the kitchen, but probably could be used for crafts too. $1
That’s it for upstairs. Now we descend to the basement. I make a point of that because I’m unsure about the age of some items, but I figure by the time a treasure makes it to the basement, it’s vintage and practically a discard. Right?
Labeled on the bottom “Early American Pewter.” I haven’t had a chance to clean it up yet. It may be hard to see in the photo, but the globe is etched with a design. I couldn’t turn it down for $1
I thought this was especially nice, and it looks older $1
Vintage silverplate cup was interesting with great patina $1. Couldn’t see the markings real well, but believe it said “Wm Rogers.” What is your feeling about silverplate? Prefer some polishing? Or leave it alone?
I was really happy about this little find…a vintage framed sampler. $1. It’s been exposed to too much moisture in the basement, with unfortunate stains on the cloth. The frame is literally falling apart, but I still liked it. I’ll wash it by hand and soak it for a while. Keeping fingers crossed that it comes clean.
I left behind more pieces of silverplate, more unfinished needlework, another sampler (not as cute), more Christmas pillows, pair of vintage TWA airline totes (would have gotten them, but they had a name written on the front), vintage evening dresses, an old handheld metal toolbox (no paint left), box of old clothes, a child size Delft tea set for 4 (1 broken piece and incomplete), a set of “Serendipity” children’s books from the ’80’s (should have bought those), mystery items, and of course 99 rabbits. 😀
Sharing with these link parties~
Florence
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What!?! You don’t need the other 99 rabbits?
I especially like the metal tissue holder. I have two somewhere around here. I’ll pull them out when it’s time to decorate the bathrooms and bedroom.
You had quite a nice haul! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Fonda!
No, I didn’t need the 99 others, LOL, although thinking back on it, I could have gotten a couple more I liked. I always remember the things I DIDN’T get.
You got some great things. I can’t even pick out a favorite. But the checked knobs are perfect for my current project.
I did do good this time, didn’t I? Aww, wish I could get you these knobs.
Hehe. The “tablecloth.” How many times have I done the same thing? You’d think we’d learn by now! 😁
I think the same thing about condo or garden home sales. That they would have gotten rid of the junk I like but have also had some luck at them as well.
Girrrllll….. I would have gone to the basement first! But you found some really neat things. I’m pretty sure I would have bought everything you did.
Oh and silverplate I leave unpolished. I also have a small collection.
Yeah, that’s a bummer about the tablecloth. My eyesight is the pits, and combine it with low light…there ya go. Glad someone else can validate my philosophy on condo sales. Haha…the basement. I didn’t find out it had one till I went to the upstairs cashier. That’s my story & I’m sticking to it…LOL. Glad to know your opinion about silverplate too, so guess I won’t touch it.
Now that I’ve said I don’t polish – And I don’t polish little things like the cups. I like the patina. – I brought home a double burner chafing dish from the Childersburg booth yesterday. I had $75 on it and it was all splotchedy. Nobody is going to pay that much for something that looks that rough. (Not that they would pay that much in C’Burg in the first place.) So….. I guess I’ll polish it and put it on Etsy. Sigh.
Well, sometimes I like a little polish on things to bring out the design a bit more. I’m talking about the cup, but I can easily get carried away. Maybe a chafing dish would look better with some polish since it’s going to be used for entertaining in a social setting. Just my 2 cents.
Lol, I’m getting a pretty good stock of thrift store items myself. I don’t go to estate sales much, they always seem so high.
Over the last couple weeks I’ve got my junkin fix. Now I’m going to have to start wearing blinders till I can get rid of some of it.
Yes estate sales are high, and believe me, I don’t buy unless they’re cheap, which they often are on the last day. Know what you mean about the blinders. I’ve been wearing them lately too.
I’ve made the same mistake with a vintage tablecloth. I was able to lighten the stain but not erase it entirely. The baby cup is my favorite.
Thank you Sharon. Yes I love that baby cup too. Glad to know I’m not the only one that’s made that mistake on the tablecloth.
So many beautiful finds Florence. That vintage eyeglass holder is so intriguing and I love the patina on that cup. I can just picture it filled with roses. So very pretty
Thank you Michelle! Love both of those things too. Everyone loves the cup!
Love the little silverplate cup! I would leave it as is. 🙂
Thank you Jennifer! Appreciate you stopping by.
My favorite is the eyeglass holder. You left all those bunnies behind? I left behind at least 99 owls behinds at a sale this weekend. I do avoid condo sales.
Yes, I left the 99 bunnies, but wish I hadn’t now. You should have gotten you a few owls Donna! Thanks, glad to hear your input on condo sales.
I love the bunnies you found, especially the darker one from England. I have quite a few that I like to get out to decorate with at Easter time. But, ninety-nine?? That’s a bit excessive! But, who am I to judge, I probably have ninety-nine of something that I collect! My daughter would say it’s magazines!
You know, in reference to the afghan and from what I can see in the photo, it could be machine made. I say that because the stitches are all so uniform. I don’t see much variation. But it could be handmade by a really talented knitter. It’s pretty, anyway.
The little silver-plate baby cup is sweet. I’d probably give it a bit of cleaning to see how it looked. It will revert to more tarnished anyway if I don’t like it. I wouldn’t expect to get it looking totally shiny.
Nice collection, Florence. Thanks for show and tell!
Thank you Naomi for your lovely comment. I suspect the afghan is machine made, but I think it’s pretty too. I’m going to keep it…you can’t have too many throws! Ha, what magazines do you collect?
I love your life traveling around and buying junk, I love those knobs, so retro.
Maria
Thank you Maria! Appreciate you dropping in! I like the knobs too.
Those turtle knobs are my favorite. They’re just darling!
Aww, thanks Kim! Not surprised you like those!
Great haul! I love the eyeglass holder and the metal tissue cover. So cool! I hope it all sells well for you.
Thanks Amy! I love those too! Thanks for dropping by with good wishes!
The rabbits are adorable, but that first set of drawer pulls catches my eye! Love the pattern on them.
It’s so interesting to me what you buy and what you look past. I would have a blast going to these sales with you. It amazes me the gems of knowledge you drop as you talk, you’ve got a vast knowledge of so many items. So cool!
Thanks Nikki! I appreciate your lovely comment!
I love little rabbits, too! Yours is sweet ~ the small old kinda dingy one. The other 80’s one is cute, too, but I prefer those old animal figurines. Great finds! <3 Best wishes selling all of those goodies, Florence. Pinned out there for you to drive some traffic your way. <3 The pewter candleholder with shade is lovely!! My mother and father ended up living in Southbury, CT as their last home and were just a town over from Woodbury Pewters is located, a world-famous pewtery. If you need more info., might consider giving them a shout-out. Mom bought me some lovely pewter of which my brothers have all of her pieces now. Paul Revere did a lot of pewter work in addition to silver-smithing, just an FYI. 🙂
Barb 🙂
Hi Barb,
Appreciate that info about the pewter! I so appreciate you pinning for me too. So sweet of you to share!
Florence I used to live with my walkman when I was younger. But it broke. Maybe I could send it over to your mister fix it all. Love those knobs and they were a great price too.
Thanks Mary! Appreciate you coming by!
It is a great collection. I liked all items in the basement. I particularly like that vintage silverplate cup…it is antique.
Thanks Stephanie! I really appreciate you dropping in. Yes I think the cup is probably Victorian or close to it.
Florence, you found some fun things. I especially love the sheet/tablecloth!
hugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann! I appreciate it & for you stopping by.
You are sooooo lucky! I loved all the knobs you found and the broom. But I am so jealous for the eyeglass holder! It is so special! I have never see anything like this before.
Thanks Christina! I love that eyeglass holder too! It’s just your style, I think. Thanks for your sweet comments.
Love the knobs, I can’t resist buying knobs when I see them. Also I’m pretty sure I had a Walkman like that, which brings back memories.
Thank you Claire! Thanks for coming by & commenting!