Junk Sale

I always complain that there aren’t enough junk/thrift sales around here.  My husband emailed me an online advertisement for one taking place this weekend, so I had to go.

And, crazy woman that I am, I loaded up 8 children (yes, all 8 of them) and went.
I arrived on day two, and I was one of two, yes two, customers there.  I’m guessing that a lot of stuff went yesterday, but the advantage to going today was that most items were at least half of what they were yesterday, and all the things marked $5 were now $1.  All of yesterday’s $1.oo items were free today.

For $35, here’s what I scored:

junk sale finds

The “watch children” sign is at least 2 feet square.  It makes me laugh out loud!  Don’t you think that a woman with 8 children should have a sign like this?  I’m not sure yet where I’ll put it, but I believe it’s found an appropriate home.

vintage blue canisters

I got the set of vintage blue canisters for $5.  They’re in great condition, and they’re my color!  I also scored some vintage glass jars, most of them blue and one that is clear.  Two of them are really big, one of which came with a vintage metal lid on it.  The large ones were $5 and the other four cost only $1 each.  I’m so excited to clean them out and put flowers in them.

vintage glass jars

This set of vintage plastic letters was wrapped in saran wrap and I snagged them all for just $1.

vintage letters

They’re about 12 inches tall, and should be fun to use somehow.  I know I’ll use one of the J’s for sure, but because I have multiples of all of them, shout out if you see one you could use!  I’m serious here, I think that someone besides my two sisters reads this blog, so speak up!  In front of the letters is a vintage glass shelf that was in the “free” pile, so I snagged it.  It has potential, I promise.  Remember my pink mirror .  Hiding somewhere in all that stuff is a shelf and two candle holders that mount on a wall which were also free.   Paint can fix anything!

In addition to these things, there was a box of little glass medicine bottles with droppers.  They’ve never been used.  I grabbed it for $1, knowing there will be something great to use them for at some point in time.

vintage glass medicine bottle

Also from the “free” pile, I grabbed some old sports equipment: youth football pads, an old football helmet, a batting hat for baseball, an old football jersey, and an old hockey goalie mask.  I figure at the very least I can clean them and put them in the Halloween costume box, but I also think that the hockey mask might look cool in one of my son’s rooms.

old sports equipment

Just for fun, here’s a picture of some of the huge, cool old signs that were hanging in the building on this guy’s property.  They were fun to look at.

vintage signs

And thus ended my one hour thrifting spree with 8 children in tow.  Now I’ve got to get cleaning!  Hope you’re having a great Saturday!

Vintage baby crib repurposed

It seems that so often when I see spaces that really appeal to me, the aspects I like most are those that are one of a kind.  It’s the vintage item being used in a new way that always makes me sigh.  I particularly like seeing vintage pieces being used creatively for storage/display.

A few weeks ago I spotted a small vintage baby crib, about the size of a bassinet or cradle.  I snatched it up, knowing I would find many things to store in it, but upon coming home I just hadn’t found the right spot for it so it’s been sitting in my studio.  (And much as I love my kids I wasn’t ready for them to claim it for the toy room.)

I have a corner in my studio that has been bugging me:

corner: before

Yesterday I walked in the room and realized that a great solution was sitting on the other side of the room.  I cleared out the spot and wheeled the crib over.  Sure enough, it fit.

corner: after

I took the baby flannels out of the plastic bin and placed them in another flowered tote.  The two totes fit perfectly under the crib.  Whoever painted this crib years ago left a brown strip of wood that sticks out so I put some adhesive on it…


and added a strip of ribbon.  Much better.


A walk around the house yielded a basket to put smaller pieces of fabric in for easy access.

basket of fabric scraps

An unplanned ten minute project yielded an organized corner with more aesthetic appeal.

vintage baby crib storage

Oh that all my minutes could be spent so productively!

Vintage Cake Holder

February usually marks the first time each year when I get out my vintage cake holder.  I found it several years ago at an antique mall.

pink roses vintage cake holder

Made of metal, it is painted a yummy pink and has a rose decal on it.  The handle, amazingly,  is wood.  The little lever for releasing and securing the lid still works, and except for a dent, it is in perfect condition!

vintage cake holder with cupcakes

It’s the perfect thing for holding pink cupcakes….

heart cupcake

And wishing you a great day!

Jennifer

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