monkeybox

It Was Worth A Shot

2012-01-27T22:50:00.000-06:00

Today I saw TWO yard sales in my area so I hopped in the car and went looking. I never did find the first one. Damn little teeny signs with bad directions. I knew where the second sale was and I thought it had promise since the ad read: Large Indoor Sale with a lot of everything. HA! Wrong-O. The sale was outside a building and there were three tables of junk, and I do mean junk and one rack of stinky clothes. Sigh. I know it's Winter and no one is having sales yet, but I got really excited when I saw there was a yard sale. Patooie. I did buy an old metal tool box that is the loveliest metallic blue color. I will use it in the booth to hold sheet music. I'm glad to have it, but it really wasn't worth the makeup and the gas it took to get there. :(

After those disappointments, I stopped in at a thrift that I have only been to once. I used to go there a lot, but then they moved to a smaller location and it wasn't worth going to anymore. But, I found myself in the area so I stopped in - once again, it wasn't really worth stopping. I did find three weird things to buy. When I checked out, the guy said, "Boy, you really needed those three things. I bet you couldn't have lived another day without those three things!" He said it nice and he was only joking, but he should be happy that I came in and bought the three weird things in his store! No one else would have bought them, I betcha.

Here's the blue toolbox and the three weird things - a teak nose (I told you they were weird!), a ginormous paper clip and an old receipt spike. Those little craft cups came from Goodwill later in the day. I think I have six of those receipt spikes now. I just throw them in a drawer for now. I consider it my moral obligation to remove them from the thrift stores so a kid won't poke his eye out with one.

On to Goodwill to drop off some donations and have a look around. I'd be better off if I only donated, but you know you just have to take a peek. So, I peeked.

I didn't find much of anything, so I decided to take a chance on this big cardboard box that seemed to have gift bags and wrapping paper in it. I figured for $5.00 I would take a chance on it. After all, all my other Spidey senses had rocked for the day, right?

I found a few big new gift bags that I can use.

Over thirty packages of older wrapping paper - most still wrapped and including a couple pretty sweet ones.

A ribbon - lots or vintage ribbon. Velvet ribbon, Sasheen ribbon, lace ribbon and some ungodly bright orange yarn that is screaming to be used on The Bean's next birthday. There's also a bow maker in there along with bow pins and instructions as well as a snowflake ornamen kit. (Hey! How'd that nose get in there???)

As I sorted the ribbons, I spotted a hidden surprise. Do you see it?

A vintage spun head Bride and Groom! Eek! That tiny little find made the day out completely worth it. Maybe my Spidey senses aren't entirely whacked after all.

What's in THAT basket?

2012-01-25T22:36:00.000-06:00

(I thought of something to talk about! My junk! Woo-hoo.)

Sitting beside my refrigerator, I have an old freezer basket chock full of kitchen-y goodness. I don't think anyone, including me, knows how much stuff is in this basket. Let's delve in and have a look, okay?

Here's the basket. Forgive some of these photos - I took them with my iphone and I am still learning how to use that contraption. (But, oh Lord, I love that thing...)

First and foremost, the infamous crocheted watermelon potholders. I never set out to collect them. I rescued them one by one from yard sales and thrift stores. Some have even come my way from blog friends. Tonight I counted and I have 51 of them. Crazy, I know.

Along with watermelon potholders, I love and appreciate anything utilitarian that someone put their hard work and time into creating. Doilies and potholders are another weakness. The SCT often puts a bundle of three or four out for 25¢ and I always snap them up.

I like red ones the very best. Each one is different hand has a different use. That ruffly one on the top is a pot scrubber. Can you imagine scrubbing a crusty old pot with that beauty?

I have a few in orange.

A few more in yellow.

This doiley is huge - it goes in the center of a table with all the Daffodils around it. It is fantastic. And a favorite of my Mom's. :)

Of course, you have to have green. That lily pad potholder is divine.

And you really must have blue too.

Maybe even a purple or two.....or three. The tiny one is a wee little coin purse.

Then there are some in all different color schemes. I love the two pansy doilies in the corner. I've never figured out how they made that swirly one in the bottom corner either. So sweet.

Wait! Did I mention pink? You have to have PINK!

These trivets are made out of bottle caps - each one carefully crocheted with tiny little loops around each bottle cap. A couple of the grape clusters have gotten too close to the hot burner over the years, but that doesn't bother me - I still like them.

You would think that was close to the end of the basket, but you would be WRONG.

Hey - how did those wooden ones get in that basket?

A few more colorful items. The red, white and blue one is a dishcloth. Like I could ever use that beaut!

There are dresses and undies. :)

And lots of potholders too.

Feedsack potholders, kiwis from Australia, sweet embroidered apple faces and rug hooked houses.

And the final addition arrived in the mail today:

Eight tiny aprons meant to be "worn" on a Soda Bottle with the straw tucked neatly in the pocket. The 1950's version of Wine Charms. I saw them in Beth's Etsy Shop last week and I tried to resist them. They were still there three days later so I decided fate wanted them to be mine! And now they are. Love!

Do you think I can put anything else in that basket?

I think I can! I know I can! I know I will!

Do you have any secret stashes?

Zilch. Zero. Nadda.

2012-01-24T22:57:00.002-06:00

I really feel like I should blog.

But,

I got nuthin'.

I haven't thrifted anything.

I haven't been anywhere.

I really haven't done a thing.

What about you?

Have you thrifted anything good?

Or been anywhere fun?

Or done anything at all?

'Cause. I got Nuthin'.

*Because all posts need a photo - Photo of a bright orange formal at the thrift.
Perfect for The Bean's future wedding. He lurves orange.

Thrifting with The Mutes

2012-01-18T22:54:00.002-06:00

The Breadman is off on Wednesdays so we always go somewhere and do something. Some days are planned out - a museum, the walking trail, a picnic. Other days are for errands - groceries, Sam's, gas up the car, etc. Other days are like today - nothing planned and we didn't need anything, so we were free and clear. We decided that we would go eat Chinese food later in the day, but until then, who knew?

Have I ever mentioned the fact that The Breadman doesn't talk much? He just sits there. We could get in the car and drive for twenty hours straight and he would just sit and not say one single word. Meanwhile, I would be all up inside my head..."Why doesn't he talk? What is wrong with him? Did I do something wrong? No, I know I didn't do anything. It must be HIM. He must have stick up his rear end about something. I wish he would just SAY what is wrong and move on.....and on and on" So, twenty hours into this hypothetical car ride I would say "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" and he would say, "Nothing. I am just sitting here." He's quiet and happy as a clam. Meanwhile, I could use some high blood pressure medication.

The Bean is a lot like him in that respect. He talks to me when we have a conversation, but he doesn't start up the conversation. So, he sits in the front seat and The Breadman sits in the backseat and I drive along saying, "What do you want to do?' and no one makes a peep. Crickets chirping, I swear to you. "Anywhere you want to go?" *Chirp* "Anything you want to do?" *Chirp* So, my mind starts going again...."What is THEIR problem??????" Finally I just get perturbed and go where I want to go and do what I want to do. And you know what - they are okay with that. They don't mind. Jeez.

Okay, so back to today. No one said if they wanted to do anything or what they wished we could do, so I just started puling into Thrift Stores. Ha. That will teach them. (Not). I had heard that one of the huge Mega Churches in the area had opened a new thrift store in the neighboring town, so I drove up to check it out. It was pretty big and they had a good selection, but not a ton. I did find a really neat old wooden display rack for magazines or brochures that I was contemplating, but I decided to look around the rest of the store before I committed to it. When I decided to go back and get it (you know where this is going, right?), someone was looking at it. Even worse - when he turned around - it was one of my FRIENDS. Ack. Actually, I'm glad that if I didn't get it, someone I knew was getting it. Lesson learned - take it with you and make decisions while it is in your possession.

So, here's what I bought today and one thing from yesterday.

I found this giant old Dictionary at Goodwill. It wasn't priced, but it had about nineteen of their color coded blue tags on it. According to the price list, it should have been $2.00, but since it had nineteen stickers on it, I feared that it was some sort of new pricing structure - 19 x 2 = TOO MUCH! I also had a little kids book that I thought would be 50¢. When I got to the register, the Dictionary (which caused quite a stir from the other shoppers) went right through the register at $2.00 without an eye blinked. The kid's book, however, didn't have a sticker and four GW employees decided that it would have to go back in the pricing bin since it didn't have a tag and it was an "antique" and dated 1947. As Cher in Clueless would say, "What ev" I really only wanted that Dictionary, so that was fine by me. So, now I am the proud owner of a twenty seven pound Dictionary and I have no idea what in the heck to do with it. :)

Things from the new thrift today: a vintage Christmas plaque, a bag of wooden Drapery rings and a set of celluloid S&P's from a Chicken Breeder from the very town I was in (A town famous world over for Chickens and the home of Tyson Chicken). I always buy the wooden drapery rings when I find them - I have a project in mind for them and a stack of vintage sewing supply labels I have.

I thought this was neat - a vintage Boy Scout Thermometer. I'm hoping it will do well on ebay.

Also, this old Boy Scout Trophy. It weighs a ton. Another ebay item.

After the visit to the new thrift, I went to one of my old favorites that I rarely ever get to visit. It is run by the Hospital Auxiliary and the women that run it are near the end of their lives and they remember when everything cost a nickle. I love the masking tape stickers with shaky 85¢ written on it. I got all these vintage knitting books for 10¢ each. They will go to the booth.

This particular thrift always has a plethora of vintage crafting booklets in mass quantities. In the past they were 25¢ each, but today they had been reduced to 10¢ each. I picked out multiples of all of these - I have purchased "Creating with Corncobs" in the past. It just cracks me up. I gathered up all I wanted and didn't not bother counting them. The lady at the register counted with her shaky hands and said, "I counted 18, is that right?" I said that I hadn't counted them as I was picking what I wanted, but that was fine. When I got home, I actually had 27. I can see her miscounting one or two - but nine?????? I owe them 90¢ now.

This wee little Samsonite suitcase was waaaaaay under a big wooden shelf and could not be reached. The Breadman and The Bean wrangled it out for me with a combination of a fireplace poker, a golf club and some belly scooching. They may not care what we do or where we go, but at least they participate once we get there!

*Like the Booth Chatter isn't enough (thanks for telling me it is okay.....), now I have ebay chatter! I have a few things on ebay this week (this is not a ploy to get you to bid or buy things, I promise). But, if you are interested - take a look. I have bids on everything so far and they had five-six days left to go. I love ebay when it is HOT! Shara's junk

The Week in Junk & Booth Chatter

2012-01-14T23:16:00.001-06:00

As usual, I hit a good amount of thrifts this week. Let's see - I went to Goodwill Wednesday and Friday, Potter's House on Wednesday and the Super Cheap Thrift today. I guess that's only four trips.

99¢ was the magic price for this brand new make it your self Rubber Stamp Kit. I think I will make my own tags for my booth that have my booth number, name of my booth and a $ sign on them. Then I can just fill it out, punch a hole and tie it on. Cheaper than those stupid string tags we are supposed to use.

I got this basket hanger at the SCT today for $2.00. I've been looking for a way to display some of my baskets in my booth, so this is the perfect answer. I have a knack for finding vintage handmade baskets and I have been having good luck at selling them, so the hunt is on for MORE!

An assortment of old board games. The hockey game and the Concentration Game will be sold. I like old games like the "Squares" game and we have been on the hint for an old metal Chinese Checkers game. The Scrabble Tiles were added to my growing collection in my craft supplies.

These four old books were only 10¢ each at the SCT today. For some reason, the bindings and half the covers were covered in making tape. I thought that I could still sell them to someone for nostalgia, so I bought them despite the making tape. But, when I looked a little closer, the tape peeled right off and the books are in really good condition. Whey would someone cover them in masking tape? Your guess is as good as mine. To the booth they will go now.

Although this is a Golden Book, it is very adult like in it's content on Native Americans. It has detailed instructions to make actual powwow regalia and real teepee's. It's a keeper.

I am loving these Dick and Jane readers. I bought the one on the right a couple of weeks ago and found the one on the left yesterday. The are keepers too.

A few odds and ends. An old hand painted cutting board, vintage address book, sweet pink and black bowl and a crepe scarf with Marjorie embroidered on it. All for the booths.

A hand-painted Nativity to be put away until next year. It was only $1.00 and someone put an awful lot of time into painting it.

This tin was an ebay purchase. I rarely ever buy anything on ebay anymore simply because I don't need a darn thing but I love the hunt too much. I had some ebay bucks to spend, so I bought this sweet little tin for a couple of dollars. My maiden name was Richardson, so that was a no brainer. I think it will look great full of flags in my 4th of July decorations.

Lastly, two things that I paid RETAIL for - I know - sit down before you fall down! :D I got an Amazon Gift card for Christmas so I decided to buy somethings to make me happy - two huge rolls of Baker's Twine and a box of paper straws did the trick. I've already made a few things out of the straws. I also wound a bunch of twine on old clothespins and threw them in a basket in one of my booths. I think they will sell - I would have bought one! There are people in the world that only need 100 feet of Baker's Twine and not 4600 feet like me.

Forgive me for all the booth chatter. I don't want to become one of those blogs that is ALL ABOUT THE BOOTH. Having one booth has been a learning curve for me and now having a second one is really teaching me a thing or two. The first booth - the Trading Post Booth - I mostly sell things from the 1960's and 1970's since this is in a college town and it is frequented by college kids and a hipper crowd. It is located next to a Pawn Shop and across the street from a HUGE Thrift Store. People go to that area and visit all three stores and save their money until they find something they want to buy. Owls, mushrooms, avocado green and orange are good sellers in this booth. At this booth, I always make my rent, commission and make about $100.00 on top of that. Not a lot, but it gives me a little bit of a hobby and some pocket money. I have been int his booth for a year and a half. I straighten it once a week and take in new stock about every two weeks.

The new booth - The Locals booth - is on a busy street in a small town that has antique stores and flea markets from one end of the street to the other. People come there strictly to shop and to buy things. Here I sell all things vintage, but mostly from the 1940's and 1950's. I wanted things to sell in this booth, so I started off pricing things really inexpensive. And the stuff sold - Fast! So, I started pricing things a bit higher and....they still sold...Fast! Not only do I sell a lot of vintage things, I am having a good luck with vintage supplies - old Probe cards made into words and banners, marquee letter packets, letterpress letters, new old stock food labels and lots of other fun things. I'm delving into making and selling a few things and having good luck with that too. I have been in this booth since November 10th, with the store having limited hours, no advertising and a Grand Opening only two weeks before Christmas, yet I sold quadruple the amount of my other booth in this new store. I have to straighten this booth twice a week and take out new stock once a week.

Today I took in three huge shopping bags full of stuff and these two ladies pounced on it before I even had a chance to put it out. One lady bought over $50.00 worth of things and I didn't even have to work it in. Awesome. :) They loved everything I had and they were gushing about it all - even things that weren't their style - they still appreciated it. That was a fun time for me to actually see customers in there all excited grabbing things up.

The best part is saying I HAVE to go thrifting to find things for my booths! Ha. (Which is a big old lie because I have a crapload of stuff here in my very own house to sell. But, hey, any excuse, right?) I can't wait for yard sales and finding heaps of good stuff to put in my booths. And now, I am off to bed to dream of driveways full of old chippy old chairs, and picnic baskets and mountains of vintage holiday stuff........Sweet Dreams.

A Tisket, A Tasket

2012-01-10T23:00:00.001-06:00

I'm sorting through my Picnic Baskets.

I store all my craft supplies in my picnic baskets. Right now, each basket is just crammed full of various things - millinery flowers, beads, felt, doll heads, you name it - tons and tons of craft supplies. My New Year's resolution is to clean out the picnic baskets, get the craft supplies organized and, perhaps the scariest of all.......sell some of the baskets. There's thirteen baskets in this photo - two in the room you can't see, three in the kitchen and five in the garage. It's a bit of a sickness.

The baskets with the heart on them are keepers - they are all Redman Baskets. The red "X" baskets will are going to be sold or donated. Now that I know which baskets are staying and going, I am sorting through them and pulling out what craft supplies I no longer want or need. A good amount of the items could be sold on Etsy or even in my booths, but I want them GONE, so off to Goodwill they will go. I filled one big trash bag today with stuff to donate and started organizing what was left. I have only gone through about five of the baskets to start.

I bought that new cabinet behind the baskets a week ago at Hobby Lobby. I knew it was big in the store, but it is really BIG in my house. I can't even see in those top two drawers. The Breadman nearly choked at the thought of me paying retail for something and especially at the $200.00 price on the tag. But, I paid for it with my very own money from my booth - so ha on him. I love it. It has twenty drawers to hold the bulk of my crafting supplies. Now when I want to make something, all I have to do is pull out the drawer and use out of it instead of digging in multiple baskets.

So far, I have only filled a few drawers - my beading supplies take up two and my paper punches and rubber stamps take up two. Somethings will have to remain in the baskets, like felt and stuffing since they are too bulky to cram in drawers.

Just to prove I really am trying - here is a basket all sorted out, cleaned up and priced for the booth. See? I can DO IT! (Do not tell me how perfect it would be for the 4th of July, because I know that already and am really trying to resist keeping it for that........)

In other matters of the living room.....

I found this shelf (The photo is crooked, not the shelf......) at the Flea Market last week and it is nearly identical to the other one in the living room, so it is practically a matched set. I put my pastel pottery on it and so far KNOCK WOOD, it hasn't fallen and cracked the Breadman in the noggin. It hangs right above his end of the couch.

This summer we went to The Breadman's Grandmothers old house and ransacked the shed for treasure. I brought home these old vinegar bottles - two gallon bottles and one half gallon bottle. They were absolutely filthy when we brought them home and one of them had kerosene stored in it for about forty years. I rinsed them out, filled them about half full of hot water, a squirt of dish soap, two Denture Cleaning Tablets (from the Dollar Tree) and a half of cup of rice, then I shook the bejeezus out of them until they were sparkling clean. I kind of like the simplicity of them as they are, but I think they might look good full of something, I just don't know what yet. Grandma was famous for her pickles, so having some of her vinegar bottles seemed like a good memory to keep.

I'm ready for a change and I want some of my cool old stuff to take center stage. Until then, the whole living room is in disrepair while I change it up and decide what stays and what goes. Are you switching things up too?

Not a Blogworthy Post

2012-01-06T23:14:00.000-06:00

Well, hello. I haven't really blogged at all this "year", now have I? Every night I think, I need to blog. But, I haven't really done anything "blogworthy" as I like to say. Generally, I look back over my pictures from the past few days to see if I need to blog about anything. This is what I found.

Santa Blow Molds

I sent my Santa's packing like good little soldiers back out to the shed until next year.

Button Mushroom

I ate this perfect butt shaped mushroom the other night.

Birthday Cake Fudge

I "Pinned It and Did It' when I made this Birthday Cake Fudge for a birthday party tomorrow. I cut it into circles so each piece looks like a tiny birthday cake.

The iPhone.

I fell in LOVE with my new iPhone. Holy Mackeral, how did I get by without this thing before????

Hopefully, I will be back soon with something NEW and EXCITING. Oh, maybe not. But, maybe I will have some NEW EXCITING photos like fudge and mushrooms. You just never know!

Have you done anything NEW and EXCITING?

My 2011 Top 10 Thrift Finds

2012-01-02T22:57:00.002-06:00

Every year I do a little recap of my years events and my best thrift finds. I've noticed that a lot of blogs are doing a Thrifting Recap now, so I guess I better keep up with the Jones's and do one again this year!

In no particular order......

A wonderfully chipped, rusted and worn stool. This sits outside my garage and helps me, aka Shorty, reach the flagpole each and every morning.

This great old wooden cupboard - handmade and heavy as heck. It's on the porch holding my vintage lawn sprinkler collection.

I scored this large lot of vintage padlocks this summer in Topeka on the Pickin' Event during my family reunion. The price tag said $25.00 for the lot, but when I asked how much to buy one or two, the lady told me I could have them all for $6.00. Bargain!

A wonderful and incredibly old gathering basket. Snatched up from the toy department at Goodwill - chock full of plastic fried chicken and plastic vegetables which I promptly unloaded and re-donated. This basket is a treasure.

This wonderful old photo of Aunt Marge and Uncle Bill. There is a local family that has sales and keeps selling off items that belonged to marge and/or Bill. I have rescued many of them, including Uncle Bill's purple heart and personal papers from the Army. When I spotted this photo at their last sale, I asked if they knew who it was...when I heard the names - I knew I needed to add them to my family since thier family obviously doesn't care about them.

High on my Thrifting Wishlist this year was a tin dollhouse. One Saturday morning I spent a couple hours looking at dollhouses on ebay, but decided the shipping was prohibitive for ordering one. I left the house, stumbled upon an Auction and scored this dollhouse for $2.00. It isn't perfect, but for $2.00 - it's good enough for me. :)

Another big wishlist item for years has been an old metal tin picnic basket. I finally found one this summer at the thrift for $2.00. It isn't perfect either, but that's kind of my thing, apparently.

I bought of this high priced glitter for 50¢ a tub with the intentions of repackaging it and putting it on Etsy. But, I really hadn't thought about the possibilities of having literally POUNDS of high grade glitter available to use any old time I want. Once I started using a bit here and a bit there, I knew it had to be MINE. All mine! I use this stuff on an almost daily basis.

Since I had found the dollhouse at the auction a couple months earlier, dollhouses were no longer on my radar. But, when I did spot this jewel of a PINK dollhouse at Goodwill a bit later - I freaked! Tin - vintage - PINK! OH my! It is pristine and only cost $5.00.

And now. The Holy Grail.

The. Pink. Evergleam Aluminum. Christmas. Tree. Ta-da.

A moment of silence to revel in it's loveliness.

I paid $45.00 for a grocery sack full of vintage ornaments, this pink tree and a silver aluminum tree. I resold the silver tree for $80.00, so the rest is gravy. I love this tree. I want to marry this tree. It is dreamy.

But, I have a confession. Don't hate me.

I didn't even use it this Christmas.

Can you believe it??????

I'm hoping to fall out of love with it and sell it since a similar one recently sold for over $600.00.

But, that seems pretty unlikely - the falling out of love with it part.

Time will tell......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My New Year's resolutions are to get back on budget, bring home less and organize what I do have already.

On the getting back on budget part - yesterday I ordered an Iphone and today I bought a new piece of furniture (at a retail store!).

Whoops.

But, the Iphone will help me look up things when I am out shopping rather than just buying them willy nilly. And now I have a mobile hotspot, so we can get Netflix on the TV, internet on the laptop and lots of other cool useful uses. (Plus, I just really wanted it!)

The piece of furniture will help me get organized.

As for the bringing less home - well, yesterday I bought thirty troll dolls at Goodwill. Whoops again. Better get them priced and OUT of here!

What did you find this year?

New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T10:56:00.005-06:00

What do you do for New Year's Eve?

The Breadman and I had a couple fun years at the local nightclub drinking champagne and ringing in the New Year with a big old sloppy kiss and a balloon drop. (I used to be a LOT of fun after a couple of glasses of champagne. In fact, if he was smart, The Breadman would serve me champagne every night. :) )

Then we got married.

And had The Bean.

Now we are old and frumpy and just stay home. But, that's okay by me.

For a few years, we even rang in the New Year New York time so we could go to bed early. So sad.

Now we stay up until midnight and watch New Year's Rocking Eve and have a toast of sparking grape juice in our PJ's. Woo-hoo.

I actually found and used my New Year's Eve decorations for the first time. Double Woo-hoo!

Here's wishing all of you a SAFE and HAPPY New Year!

2012

Super Cheap Thrift - The Best Trip Ever

2011-12-29T22:57:00.000-06:00

Today The Breadman was off work due to the holiday, so I left the boys home and I went to straighten up my newest booth. That booth happens to be in the very town of the Super Cheap Thrift, so of course, I had to go. I haven't been since before Thanksgiving. The last time I was in there, I overheard people picking out Christmas presents in the aisles. I decided that I wouldn't go back until after Christmas and leave the items there for the people that really needed thrift store items to have a Christmas.

The picture isn't that great, because the items are not the best part of this post.

Today I found a lot of very nice very well cared for vintage items. I did notice that the SCT prices had gone up a bit, but they are still waaay cheaper than any other thrift around here. I found 28 books for homeschooling, a book carrying bag, a sweet vintage beaded purse, vintage letter holder, two handmade doiley's, a vintage barometer, vintage cake decorating tool, fun set of huge flash cards that say KNOCK KNEES and CLAP HANDS, etc., a lovely vintage tablecloth with weather vanes on it. I also got the loveliest Wildenur rose tablecloth - absolutely perfect condition with eight matching napkins. It was priced $10.00, and I hesitated and debated it, but then I decided to treat myself. $10.00 for a Wildenur tablecloth is a very good price - but I rarely ever spend that much on something just for me. Confident in my purchases, I went to get in line.

I unloaded my bag, the lady at the register punched the numbers into the cash register and another lady bagged my items. They always chat about the items I buy - they say I find the neatest stuff. When they came to the tablecloth, they commented on how pretty it was. "I collect tablecloths and it will be one of my very best" I told them. When they came to the books. they asked what I would do with them - "We homeschool", I said. "We will use them for that". And, with that, my purchases were complete, but the register still said "0.00". I asked, "What is my total?" and they said, "The man behind you is paying for your items today."

Instant tears came to my eyes! I've heard of random acts of kindness and I do a bit of them on my own, but this one really caught me off guard and threw me for a loop. I went to thank him and shake his hand. He shook my hand hard and said he was "Happy to do it." The lady behind the register carried my packages to the door to meet me and she whispered that he had been there all day, paying for everyone's purchases. I realized tonight that he actually did two very nice things for a lot of the people that shop at that thrift. Most of them are shopping with vouchers so they not only got their items today courtesy of him, but they can go back and use their vouchers to acquire even more things that they need.

I will always remember today's trip to the SCT today. I will always remember that nice stranger whenever I see my lovely tablecloth. What a gift he gave me!

After Christmas Thoughts, Sales and Thrifty Finds

2011-12-28T22:53:00.001-06:00

I really feel like I should post something and not still have that "Merry Christmas" post on top. It's still pretty Christmas-y around here - I don't take my decorations down until after New Year's. In fact, I "may" have even added a few things since the after Christmas sales. Well, actually only one thing.

I spotted this Chick-fil-A at Lowe's when they very first put out the Christmas items this year, but the $49.99 price tag set me back. No way, Jose. So, I waited. The last time I was there, they were all gone except the one on display. Yet, I waited. Then they marked them 50% off, but $25.00 was still more than I felt comfortable spending. So, I waited. Finally, Monday it was 75% off. But wait. It was the display and the front door was missing. The clerk marked it to $10.00. SOLD! When I got home, I discovered the front door had just fallen inside. A drop of glue, the door is installed and I have myself a $50.00 Chick-fil-A for $10.00. (We looooooooooooooooooooove Chickfila. Maybe even too much. Slurp.)

Let's see what else have I thrifted lately? Oh, The Bean bought a couple strands of Mardi Gras beads. You see those at every thrift you go to so that is hardly worth mentioning.

Or is it? Ha. Aren't they hilarious. We saw a guy wearing some like these at the Mardi Gras parade once and he said, "You don't even want to know what I paid for these things!" Well, we only paid $3.00, so I want everyone to know!

I found this lone Gurley Candle today for 25¢. I've never seen one like this, so it was a happy addition.

A set of wooden clock ornaments for 50¢. I have a lot of clocks and time related items on my big tree, so I may add these to it.

I bought this book at Goodwill last week for $5.00 and it might quite possibly be my very best find ever.

It's a thick book and it is chock full of housewares and gifts from 1956. It's like all of our dream thrifting finds all bound into one book.

This page for instance has five things on it that I own and one of my dream finds. I have several of the thermos bottles, the Skotch Kooler and the picnic basket. I want that dreamy PINK Coleman jug! (Original price...$4.95).

Wooden crib with decals.......yes, please.

How about this awesom retro mixer with all the cool attachments? A steal at $45.75 compared to today's Kitchenaid mixers. (I wouldn't trade my Kitchenaid for anything though....)

Cosco stools and tables in retro colors? I have that yellow stool and that red three tiered table too.

Christmas? Large Blowmold Carolers.....$7.50. Where's my time machine?

Vintage toys of all varieties. Do you know that the original Cootie game was only $3.00????

I have been reading this book like a novel. It is so much fun and I am learning more about the things I love to find. I'll share more later - including MINK COATS for thousands of dollars stuck in the middle of the five and six dollar items. Who on earth could afford that??????

So, what have YOU found? Any after Christmas loot? No more for me until it hits 75-90% off and then I only like to buy food and paper goods. At least, that's what I TRY to limit myself too. :)

***I Googled the book and found a 1954 edition on Amazon for.......$434.00! Holy Moley!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T09:55:00.000-06:00

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Don't indulge too much like poor old Santa did!*

We rearranged our holiday celebration this year.

No presents until Christmas afternoon.

I'm dying!

I need a GIFT!

Just kidding.

Sort of.

Wishing all my friends in blogland a very Merry Christmas.

And, you really are my friends. I'm not just saying that.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

*Photo taken at my Dad's house where the holiday decorations are bit different that mine.

**Yes, those are Playboy and Hustler magazines behind Santa.

Thrift Finds

2011-12-22T22:38:00.001-06:00

I'm almost ashamed to admit this (because it sounds perfectly awful), but I managed to hit two different thrifts while my Dad was in the hospital. I went to Goodwill on Sunday to buy him a button down loose shirt to wear after the surgery. See, that was a legitimate shopping trip - getting him a needed item. Oh sure, I looked around too, but F-A-S-T. (And, I may have just managed to find one of my Christmas Wishlist items on that very trip!)

The second trip was a few hours after he had the pacemaker implanted. He was back in his room and doing fine. But, he was really tired and needed to rest, so we left him alone for a couple hours. We went to the very upscale and very pricey Mall that is in the same parking lot as the hospital, but after about thirty minutes of retail hell in Hot Topic, Abercrombie and Aeropostale, I could stand NO MORE and had to find a thrift.

I've spent a lot of time on the internet looking at these German Christmas pyramids over the past few months. We have several of the metal angel chimes that take candles and I wanted one of these wooden ones. Well, I was more than surprised when I found one this Christmas. In my very own Christmas tubs! Apparently I found it last year close to Christmas and had forgotten all about it. So, that was a happy find! But, that didn't stop me from looking for another one. I wanted a bigger one with a second or third level.

Sunday at Goodwill, I was taking a quick run through the Christmas stuff and I spotted a brand new cardboard box on the very top shelf and it said "Some Assembly" and "All pieces included" on it. I never look at the new stuff in new boxes, but for some reason I took it down and peeked inside. I was thrilled to spot the top of another Christmas Pyramid inside. It was only $4.00, and I could tell that it was older and that it was just in the new box. Lesson learned! This one has the entire Nativity on it and is really sweet. It really gets to twirling fast when all the candles are lit. Now, I just need to happen upon a nice hoard of vintage candles!

At the other thrift, I found this German tree that takes the very same candles. I do like it, but I am not sure I am in love with it. So, it might get sold next Christmas. (I tell you what I know I am NOT in love with and that is that terrible dust bunny peeking out from behind the bookshelf. Eh gads! Time to dust).

I spotted an old popcorn tin under the table and picked it up. (Have you noticed how tiny popcorn tins are these days? I used to love the old huge ones with metal handles for storing cat food and bird seed and stuff. The little ones won't hold a thing! Rant over...) I've been looking for a BIG one to store bird seed and thought I had found it. When I picked it up....it was heavy. I looked inside and spotted a bunch of very good very old ornaments and got very excited! There was also some crap in there, so I unloaded that onto the table for the next guy and took the good stuff to the register.

In the tin was this wonderful vintage German clip on bird.

And another one! I have a few of these birds, but none like these. Love the pink and teal colors.

There was also a good amount of these blue and white striped candy looking spun satin ornaments.

And some red and white striped ones too. I've discovered this year that I like these old spun satin ornaments. They work great on wreaths. And these striped ones are kind of sweet on the tree.

I dug this vintage knit stocking out of a big bin. It is HUGE as you can see. I would hate to attempt to fill this thing because it would stretch and take a TON to fill it. I made the mistake of buying The Bean a big stocking when he was tiny and I have a hell of a time filling that thing up. Especially since he only likes video games, gift cards, movies, CD's and other teeny expensive stuff.

An old BINGO set, which I have bought too many already, but cannot seem to leave one behind, especially at the golden price of 50¢. I love the old cards and the wooden markers.

A crocheted cover on an old flue cover. I like the fact that someone took the time to make something utilitarian and kind of ugly, so pretty.

A vintage candy tin. I am trying SO HARD not to buy any tims because I have hundreds of tins. But, I cannot leave behind any tin that once held candy or that was made in another country.

This one fit the bill perfectly.

This old truck wasn't thrifted. My Dad was going through some things he had bought at yard sales and thought I could sell them on ebay. Of course, I LOVE this old truck. It is dreamy. But, I will be a good daughter and research it and see if I should sell it for him. Until then, I thought I could "borrow" it and put some of my bottle brush trees in it.

So, have you found anything lately? I have all my Christmas thins DONE so tomorrow I am thinking a thrift run might be on the agenda - you just never know what might be out there!

Home again, home again, yippee

2011-12-22T13:49:00.001-06:00

I'm back home, the cookies are in the oven, I am wrapping presents, my Dad is doing great and all is *hopefully* KNOCK WOOD well in the world! Whew!

Here's my Dad in the hospital. wearing his jeans and his couture gown awaiting the doctor to say "GO HOME". He was very ready to go. We spent one night with him, just to make sure he could do everything for himself. By the time I left at noon, he had done a load of laundry, washed the dishes, made breakfast and sorted through his closet. He likes to stay busy! His only limitations are a)no lifting your arm above your head, b) don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (that's nine pound if you are wondering) and c) no driving for a week. That's the hardest on him, because he doesn't like to stay home. He wants to go!go! go! But, considering what could have happened, he's quite content to be home.

So, let's bring on the Christmas Cheer! KNOCK WOOD one more time, just to cover my own a$$. :)

Merry Christmas everyone! I'll be back next time with what's it like to spend the night in your childhood home for the first time in 27 years. And how my room isn't like you see on TV - preserved in my childhood. Oh, no siree, it is NOT!

*Still nothing on the computer issues, but I will deal with that next week.

Poor Pitiful Me Post

2011-12-20T10:41:00.002-06:00

Thanks for all the well wishes for my Dad. He is doing good, in fact, I am logging off the computer in a minute and headed to pick him up. I will stay with him tonight and see how it goes. Mostly he is just sore from all the IV's in his arms and having the pacemaker put in his chest. But, he is feeling pretty good and ready to GO HOME. I asked the doctor if I needed to stay with him for days or weeks or ???? and he P'shawed me and said, "He'll be FINE! If he was fine before, he'll be better than fine now". Of course, a heart surgeon thinks heart surgery is just a daily affair. He didn't have heart surgery, he had the pacemaker implanted (not installed as I was saying - he is not a Transformer.)

Sunday morning I opened my email and I had some sort of terrible horrible WORM virus - I didn't even open an email...the whole system just shut down on me and went black. After about two hours, I finally got one screen to come up - factory Restore. That is the only thing that would work. So, I did it. And, man oh man, did that do terrible horrible things. All my bookmarks are GONE. My passwords that I had saved are GONE. Our ITunes library is GONE. A book that I had sort of been writing off an on over the past couple of years GONE. And, the WORST - all my PHOTOS...GONE. I sobbed over this one. A few people have told me that you can take it to a computer shop and maybe they can retrieve them from the hard drive, so I will do that once things have settled a bit around here (like I am home again). I have learned a lesson - print out your photos, put them on a web hosted site, get an external hard rive or put them on a memory card (I'll probably do all of these now....)

I'll end this with this picture - one that has nothing to do with me or this blog, but hey, it's on the computer. Stupid, stupid, stupid......

If any of you have time and money for a plane ticket - can you come over and bake some cookies, make Christmas dinner, buy stocking stuffers and wrap the presents. Great! Thanks!

We Interrupt This Blog

2011-12-17T18:27:00.001-06:00

...to bring you real life.

Friday morning my Dad calls to say he is dizzy and has a bad headache. He wants to go to the doctor or to the ER. I get dressed, drive the 25 miles to his house, call the doctor for an appointment, they say they can't see him because they are booked, so just take him to the ER. I load him up, drive the twenty miles to the hospital, drop him at the door (at his insistence), park the car and go in the ER. A nurse is taking his blood pressure and heart beat when she says, "200 BEATS PER MINUTE" and all hell breaks loose in the ER. Suddenly, he is on a gurney, big eyed thinking he only has a headache, but in reality, his heart is beating 200 beats per minute and he is on the verge of passing out and minutes away from dying. Twelve people are in the room and doing all sorts of things, stripping off his clothes, putting in an IV, administering oxygen, hooking him up to monitors, and the worst one - a nurse is rubbing those paddles together getting ready to shock his heart. All the while, he is just looking at me like, "What the hell?"

The doctor tells me that his heart rate is non-life supportive at the moment and if the drugs do not bring it down immediately, he will be shocked. "This is bad," he says, "really bad". Speaking of shocked, my face must have been white as a ghost, because suddenly three nurses descend upon me, pushing me into a chair asking if I can breathe, etc. I felt fine...I was shocked, but I honestly thought they had the wrong guy. He has a headache I kept saying......

Luckily, the meds worked right away and his heart rate dropped to about 80 and has stayed that way since. Today he had an angiogram or an angioplasty or something and they determined that he didn't have any blockage. He will have a pacemaker installed on Monday. All quite the shock to say the least. I know so many people have pacemakers and they have saved their lives. We watched a video today and learned a lot. It looks like a pretty simple procedure and he should just be sore and housebound for a few days.

A month ago he got a new cornea, this week a pacemaker. He'll be completely bionic before we know it! Thanks in advance for all the well wishes. And, if you know anyone with a Pacemaker - tell me. I bet there are LOTS!

What's New. What's Not.

2011-12-15T22:51:00.003-06:00

I have an incredible amount of Christmas stuff and I seem to add to it all year long every year. I'm also very limited on space so everything has a place and has to be in that place in order for it to all get put out on display. But, putting it out exactly the same year after year wouldn't be too fun, so I try to mix it up a bit.

The village always goes on top of the TV wall Unit. I usually mix it all up, but this year I noticed that I had acquired a lot of glittery churches over the past few years, so I put them all together on the top shelf and then only put out my Grocery Store Village on the second shelf. *For anyone new reading this, I only collect grocery stores for my village since this is where The Breadman and I met.

Raggedy Ann and Andy are front and center on the tree where they have been since I was seven years old. That will never change.

The elves are on the shelf where they always are too, but in a different arrangement as last year. I don't think I found a new one this year. I am on the hunt for a thrifted copy of Elf on the Shelf.

This is new this year - I gathered up all my vintage bottle brush trees and some old German houses and made this vignette. I got the old dump truck this summer and thought is just had to hold a tree too.

The huge four foot tall Rubber face Santa is in his usual spot. I love him so much! I bought him for $2.00 about fifteen years ago.

The Christmas Annalee collection has shown a huge growth spurt this year. I found five new mice at Goodwill a few weeks ago. Then, about a week ago, I went to an All Christmas store that is sponsored by the local thrift. I had bought a local deal for $20.00 bought $40.00 worth of goods. Plus, when I got there, everything was 50% off. So, I got $80.00 worth for my $20.00. It was all new stuff and I was having trouble spending my money until I spotted a display of Annalee's! I got six different ones plus a ton of other stuff that day. Every Annalee I own cost me less than $1.00 each.

The Gurley Santa's are in their old clock cabinet. I've never found a better place to put them that I like any more.

The Santa's are on their usual shelf. I did try to mix it up a bit. I like all the little stuff in the old candy jar on the top shelf. And the wire crate full of my Great Grandmother's Santa face cups.

The Bean's Nutcrackers have taken over the top shelf. He only started collecting them a few years ago and man, he has a ton! He's got him Mom's collecting gene, that's for sure!

The old window got a shock of bling. It looks better in real life - lots of sparkle with the wreath, glass beads and picks. I have a ton of old marquee letters, so I made the HO HO HO this year. (*The camera was crooked, the shelf is straight.)

I found these four pots of Mercury Glass flowers this summer. I waited all summer to use them!

The Christmas Countdown Snowman is on the front door as usual. The best part? I still find my kid, even though he is sixteen, moving it over day to day first thing in the morning. I guess you never get too old for Christmas, right?

So, have done things differently this year? Or is the same old, same old? I don't think it really matters, because I love it all the same, new or old!

Coming up: My tour of the new American Art Museum, 2011 Christmas Candy making and an Estate Sale in an Historic Home.

Wreaths Across America

2011-12-10T22:09:00.001-06:00

Wreaths Across America is a program that provides a fresh evergreen wreath to be placed on all graves at Arlington Cemetery as well as other National Cemeteries across the USA. Our local National Cemetery has been a part of Wreaths Across America for the past few years. We often drive past the cemetery and we always stop when we see the wreaths have been laid out. It is beautiful and really a touching thing to see. Thousands of graves with white marble headstones and a green wreath under it. It is very peaceful, respectful and serene. I had heard that a few Boy Scout groups were the ones that laid each wreath out, but I wasn't sure when they did it exactly. Friday I read in the paper that today was the day that the wreaths would be laid out and that the public was welcome to help. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it.

This morning, The Bean and I headed to the National Cemetery to help what I honestly thought would be a handful of Boy scouts and volunteers. When I turned the corner that leads to the cemetery, I was amazed at what I saw - rows of cars lined up on both sides of the road, people walking blocks to get to the ceremony and Wreaths Across America trucks parked along the way.

There were about two thousand people there which really surprised me. I did hear on the news that this is the sixth year that this cemetery has been decorated and up until three years ago, only about twenty people laid the wreaths out.

The trucks were in place and the boxes of wreaths were out, opened and ready to be placed when we got there.

Each wreath is hand made, thick and full of evergreen and topped off with a red velvet bow.

First there was a ceremony - the presentation of the Colors, our Senator spoke eloquently about the Patriot Guard, the Veterans and America. It was emotional. The loveliest version of taps was played, long and slow and perfectly pitched. A twenty one gun salute followed.

Then were dispersed to lay out the wreaths. No one instructed us on the proper method, so we chose a wreath, laid it down, fixed the bow, then stepped back for a few moments of silence. Others were saluting each time, but I assume they had a military background.

I was proud that The Bean wanted to do this with me. We go to the National and Confederate Cemetery quite often and we have gone several (too many) times as a funeral procession for a solider killed in action has come through. He stands quietly and places his hand over his heart as they pass by. He understands what they have done and what their families have to now deal with without their family member. He makes me proud.

The families were to go first and lay wreaths at their loved ones graves. We found a long row of Unknown Soldiers and felt that we were meant to give them their wreaths. They have no one else.

There were a lot of people scattering trying to get to lay at least one or two wreaths out. We did about twenty each on this row before it was filled.

The people quickly left the cemetery once they had placed their wreaths.

We walked down to this area and discovered that no one had put wreaths along the backside of the vaults. By this point, the cemetery was nearly empty of volunteers. I found someone in charge and they brought us over four boxes of wreaths which The Bean and I laid at each spot until it was full. There was another couple there that helped make sure we had one in front of each row. I'm glad we discovered that they had been missed before a family member noticed.

We walked around the cemetery reading the names, the dated, the service dates, etc. You can tell the names that died in service at a young age and the ones that lived nice long lives.

This is my Stepfather's Dad's grave. We weren't able to do the wreath, but we were glad to have found the marker.

If you aren't familiar with a National Cemetery - the soldiers name is on the front and if his wife is buried with him, her name is on the reverse. This is my Stepfather's Stepmother.

I thought this one was interesting. Shirley Oeftering served in Korea.

Her husband is on the reverse. That was the only one like that I noticed all day.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a wreath laying or even to just visit the cemetery once it has been decorated, you really must do it. It is awe inspiring and you won't soon forget it.

Favorite Christmas Decoration EVER

2011-12-08T22:49:00.001-06:00

I have had the same wreath on the front door for the past few years. As I took it out of storage today, I said, "I am sort of over this wreath" and threw it back in the box. The Bean, who was helping me decorate, held up a plain evergreen wreath and said, "Here's a wreath." I said that it was sort of plain, but maybe I could do something with it later, so it would work. Then I went back to my fluffing and displaying while he dug in the boxes of Christmas we had strewn across the driveway.

A little bit later, I noticed this hanging on the front door. Love! He had found a stack of vintage felt Santa napkin rings and put them on the wreath. I never would have thought of it and I think it is adorable! We might add in some mini red and white satin balls, but we might just leave it ala Bean.

At the Flea Market I found a four foot tall Santa.......but I didn't buy it. Can you believe it? What was I thinking? If it's still there next week, I'm buying that bad boy. It was only $15.00. I really don't know what I was thinking..... He needs to go where that sled is. He really, really does. (That sled is mine from my childhood. On the bottom of it written in three inch high Magic Marker letters is my full name, complete address and phone number. I really don't know how or where I thought I was going to lose my sled. But, if I did....I was prepared!)

I could only decorate the front porch this year. I usually have lights along the roof line, the garage and across the front bay window, plus luminaries and lights in the trees and a couple of those you love them or you hate them inflatables. (I hate them, the Bean loves them). But, we recently had a power surge and it blew out the plug on the front porch, so I had to run an extension cord out the garage and rig it all hillbilly style. I will NOT give up my Christmas lights for anyone! (Remind me to call an electrician before next year, 'kay?) I was afraid to blow out the garage plug if I overdid it, but at least the porch looks pretty.

Today I finished outside and inside plus did my Christmas cards. Now it's on to candy making and present wrapping.

What have you done? What do you need to do?

What Have I Bought Now?

2011-12-07T22:43:00.001-06:00

The day I found the adorable Marx Dollhouse, I also found all these cookie pans. They are heavy duty and well made and I only paid $2.00 for all of them together. But, I don't know what type of cookies they make! Help?

#1:

#2:

#3: Madeleine's? Maybe?

#4:

This one is small, I think it is a chocolate mold???? It came with a bunch of small individual molds which I turned into these......

Which isn't at all cookie or chocolate related, but I like them. :)

If you know what any of these are, thanks in advance!

You're Toast!

2011-12-06T22:20:00.001-06:00

Have you heard of Wayfair? CSNStores has changed their name to Wayfair and they have graciously offered to send me a product to review. Wayfair has everything under the sun from Decorative Plates to Kitchen Rugs and even Baby Cribs. Since I am not in the market for plates, rugs or a Baby Crib (sniff*sniff), I have decided to review the Black & Decker Four Slice Toaster.

Our current toaster has four slots, but only half of them work half of the time. That just doesn't cut it when it comes time to make breakfast in a hurry! We are big fans of toast in all varieties at our house. (It doesn't hurt having The Breadman bringing home bread, bagels and English muffins all the time.) When I was 18 months old, my Mom found me in the kitchen sitting on the counter making toast. I even had the Cinnamon-sugar out waiting to sprinkle it on top! Apparently, I have liked toast a very long time! It will be nice to have a nice new toaster to use from from Wayfair. Thanks, Wayfair!

My Dream House

2011-12-05T22:22:00.001-06:00

My dream house would have a pink front door.

Wouldn't yours?

Pink Gables on the second floor would be a nice touch.

Pink clapboard siding would be lovely. Plaster up some shutters with tree shaped cut outs and add some window boxes.

A fireplace in the living room is a must.

A fireplace in the baby's room would be nice too.

Until I can build my very own dreamhouse, this vintage Marx dollhouse will have to do!

I found it today at Goodwill for $5.00. My thrift senses told me to stop. Glad I did!

Have you found anything lately?

If You Love Me, Smile

2011-12-04T22:18:00.001-06:00

I bought this 1932 Algebra book the other day at the Super Cheap Thrift for 50¢. I try not to buy a lot of vintage books. They are cumbersome and don't really demand any real money. But, most of all, I really, really, really do not like Algebra, so I do not need a vintage Algebra book.

But, the dark green aged cover suckered me in first.

Then I flipped through the pages and found drawings and funny notes and silly things.

There are even drawings of ladies in their undergarments.

Notice, this lady in her undies is a "Hot Timally" aka "Hot Tamale".

She is also "Hot Stuff".

It was this little phrase written on the bottom of the book that made me buy it.

"If you love me, SMILE."

I like it.

I Wonder

2011-12-02T22:27:00.001-06:00

I wonder if I had my Christmas stuff out the other eleven months of the year.....

would I still love it so much?

Would I look at it piece by piece?

Remembering where this came from and that one and that one.....

Would I love the colors, the sparkle, the glow?

Would it still make me so ding dang happy?

You know.....I think it would!

B*tch and Moan

2011-11-29T10:12:00.001-06:00

Much to *The Breadman's chagrin I am indeed "dragging in all that Christmas Crap". I feel like I am running behind, but that is partly because we had Thanksgiving nearly a week early, so it feels like I am a week late in my decorating. I have to keep reminding myself that it isn't even December yet!

*If you read my previous post about putting him on a time out for saying that.......A few hours after he said it and he was a grouchy bear all day......he ended up getting very sick with a stomach bug. Oh, the sounds I heard in that bathroom. He vomited for hours. It passed quickly, but it was not a fun day. No sirreeee. He's still not a holiday fan, but I will cut him a little bit of slack since he did get sick.

On the line of complaining - I have done my fair share of that in the past week.

One day last week, I was running late, so I decided to pickup some pre-made General Taso Chicken and a bag of veggies for dinner.

I bought this bag of BirdsEye BROCCOLI, carrots and water chestnuts to make a stirfry. I love broccoli - it is my favorite veggie.

When I opened the bag, here is what I found. Four pieces of edible broccoli, one piece of hard brown broccoli and a zillion carrots. Ick. I wrote the company and they are sending me a replacement product coupon. So it does help to complain.

Saturday night, I had a rather unpleasant experience with a local Dollar General employee. It actually had nothing to do with the store, but the employee. We had gone to a Christmas parade and people were parking up and down the street an in parking lots. The police had all the streets blocked off, so you couldn't even shop at any of the local stores during that time even if you wanted to, and who would bypass going to a parade just to go shop? Anyway, as the parade was coming up the street, an employee came out and started YELLING, "I am having all the cars TOWED in the DG parking lot". He walked up and down the street yelling at everyone, ranting, throwing his arms in the air, etc. He had the phone to his ear saying, "Yes, come immediately, I need a tow truck!" He really made an ass of himself and did not represent the DG company in a very good light. What a way to treat people that were going in there buying drinks, snacks and even gloves before the parade and might have gone back after for some items as well. I had intended to go in for a few things, but changed my mind after his little rant. What a way for a company to represent themselves in a time when they need business and want shoppers to come in this time of year! When we got home, I decided to contact customer service and let them know what happened. Well, yesterday, I had a very nice message from the District Manager who was not at all pleased about what had happened and promised me that he had spoken to everyone and that would NOT be happening again. It was really nice to see that people do care about customer satisfaction. That goes a long way with me in how I see a company.

I often write companies and tell them that I LOVE their products too. I don't just complain!

Have you ever had to tattle on someone????

Time Out

2011-11-26T15:22:00.001-06:00

The Breadman asked me if I intended to "drag in all that Christmas Crap" this year.

Let's just give him a minute to think that little comment over, alrighty?

Thanksgiving Eve Thrifting SCORES

2011-11-24T21:38:00.001-06:00

The day before Thanksgiving is no day to go shopping. Well, for groceries anyway. It is, apparently a VERY good day to go to Goodwill! On my quest to find more ornaments for wreaths and some garland to decorate the booth, I headed straight to the Christmas section. I didn't find any ornaments or garland, but oh, did I find some goodies!

The little vintage "Days To Christmas" Countdown mailbox is sweet and will go to the booth.

A German Baker smoker. Oh, how I love these smokers. I have a few so I was happy to add this to my collection. Note: He is a BREADMAN.

I was really happy to find this sweet St. Lucy. I don't thik she is old, but she is well done with a paper mache face, glass German glitter and spun cotton candles. She is really special.

The only non-Christmas items I bought. I found two brand new boxes of Mr. Sketch Scented Markers. I remembered these from when I was a kid and I didn't think they made them anymore. I was going to resell them, apparently they do still make them and they aren't worth much. I suppose now I can re-live my childhood by sniffing markers. (I always thought teaching kids to sniff markers was a terrible thing!)

When I first walked up to the Christmas area, I was scanning the shelf looking at every.single.item ('cause you just don't know what might be behind that Dollar General Made in China Angel with the lopsided eyes) when I spotted......

An Annalee Christmas Mouse!

Ack!

As I grabbed her and threw her in my basket, I noticed...

A SECOND Annalee Christmas Mouse.

Ack! Ack!

As I grabbed her and threw her in my basket, I noticed...

A THIRD Annalee Christmas Mouse.

Ack! Ack! Ack!

As I grabbed her and threw her in my basket, I noticed...

A FOURTH Annalee Christmas Mouse.

Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!

As I grabbed her and threw her in my basket, I noticed...

A FIFTH Annalee Christmas Mouse.

Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!

FIVE vintage 1971 Annalee Mobiltee Dolls.

(Blogger simply will not let me edit this photo...)

I know not everyone shares my love of these guys, but I adore them. To find FIVE at once, well, that was pretty darned exciting. I did remember to look at the price after I put them in my basket (just in case someone was nuts and priced them ten bucks or something). I was very happy to see the magic price of $1.00 on the bottom of their itty bity feet.

Merry Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:57:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog buddies and family!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

As you can see, we are in a bit of a seasonal transformation around here.

See you when I'm nearly done.

Until then...Keep Calm and Gobble On!

Making a Glittered Mess

2011-11-22T22:27:00.001-06:00

We had our Thanksgiving on Sunday. I normally start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but by having had our dinner early, I gained myself a glorious week of not having to do a darn thing. Yipppeeee.

I decided to spend my week making things. I don't have a designated crafting area, so when I make things, I have to drag it all into the kitchen, set it up, make things, clean up and schlep it all back int the garage. The bringing in and taking out take up more time than I actually get to do the actual making of things. But, I still enjoy getting out my things and making away. And added bonus is that I noticed at our Thanksgiving Dinner that five out of my six guest had glitter on their faces. Welcome to Shara's house! That reminds me - remember when I showed these?

I had some old Christmas bulbs, so I glittered them. When I picked up the basket that had the Christmas light bulbs in them, I noticed those two bigger bulbs. I thought I remembered taking them out of some old blowmolds last year, so I glittered them too. Fast forward to the very next day when I realize that The Breadman had taken some out of the light bulbs out of our kitchen light a few days ago. I had GLITTERED our lightbulbs. The Bean hid his IPod after that. I guess he thinks Mom will glitter it or something. :)

Today's creations:

A Kitschmas Wreath encrusted in all sorts of old ornaments. I put one in the booth last week and it already sold, so I will replace it tomorrow. I love making these. Even when I think it is as full as I can get it, I can still add twenty more little things here and there.

Another basic "Shiny Brite" wreath. They aren't all Shiny Brites, but that's what I call these wreaths.

I've never made one in these colors before, but I really like it! I realized I had a good supply of white, silver and gold Shiny Brites, plus a good amount of white silk balls so I just started putting it all together hoping it would work out. I added in the gold and silver aluminum poinsettias at the last minute and I think it really made it POP.

I went to the Anthropologie website for the very first time the other day. I saw these snow globes (without the water) and thought they were really neat. However, I didn't find the $38.00 price tag to be so neat. When I saw them, I remembered I had an old Pine Mason Jar.

I added a bottle brush PINE tree and an angel to mine. I put some glitter in mine, so if you do shake it up, the glitter does fly around. I think it is cute and it cost me NOTHING, so that is okay by me.

This weekend I will start dragging in the Christmas totes. It takes me about a week to get everything out just the way I like it. I love my Christmas stuff, so I try not to complain about how much work it is - no one makes me do it. I LOVE IT.

Flea Market Tour

2011-11-19T21:45:00.001-06:00

Today I took another carload of stuff out to the Booth. There were a lot of people shopping, so it took me longer to work than normal. I am off schedule setting this new booth up, so I have been going in and working on Saturday's. After this week, I will start going in on Thursdays when it isn't so busy.

This Flea market is in a town known for Antique Shops, Flea Markets and junk in general. The old downtown is one block long and is still comprised of the old buildings that were originally built there.

Obligatory Ghost Signs - the Coca-Cola was restored a while ago. There some lighter ones above it.

Small town USA - little shops on each side of the street. There are big parking lots on the back of both sides, so most people enter from the back and then go up and down the block.

This store is huge and chock full of antiques. I haven't been in there for years due to a very, very bad case of sticker shock I got last time. :)

Here's "our" store. The owners sold window booths, which I think I would have left open for displays, but I don't own it, so that's not my business. I just hope that eveyone doesn't see ONLY little girl rompers and Hillbilly Wine Glasses (Mason jars glued on glass candlesticks.....) and think that is all there is inside. Business has been good and we aren't offically even "OPEN" yet, so that is good.! Grand Opening and Holiday Open House is December 10th. You are all invited!

I took photos of the some of the other booths just for YOU! Ready?

There are a lot of unique booths in this Flea Market. Some people painted and set up their areas like rooms. This one is by the back entrance.

This back wall is filled with handmade windchimes. The neat thing about these is that the man that makes them goes to thrift stores and finds bits and bobs and odds and ends and makes each one individually. It is all recycled stuff. (See that Christmas wreath to the right? It is made of new plastic ornaments and it is $70.00!!!!! I don't feel so bad about my $50.00's on the all vintage wreath now..)

A booth filled with more upscale house decor.

This booth and new, old and handmade mixed togther. They probably have the most stuff in their booth - except for mine. You know me, I pack those shelves. :)

This booth has lots of painted things, pillows and other upcycled items. (I do NOT see that sock monkey, I do NOT see that sock monkey.....).

The people that have this booth covered the walls in reclaimed barnwood and even painted the column that contains the heating unit into a chimney. They make neat things out of old bedsprings.

This booth has a lot of painted items as well., I call it the "Red and Aqua Booth" and I am sure you can see why. I had my eye on that old green Bread box in the back, but it wasn't priced today.

This is the "Man Cave". The owner didn't really want these type of items, but then again, you do need to give the men something to look at while the wives shop. That space age looking thing in the middle on the floor is an air compressor from the 1930's. I'm sure you've all heard a air compressor - they are LOUD. They fired this one up the other day and it sounds like a 1930's car - pbt..pbt..pbt...pbt...it is awesome. I think it is a piece of art!

This booth is directly across from my booth. "Four Funky Friends" - lots of bright pastel colored items. (The Bean swears that signs says LIVER.)

Here's my neighbor to the right. Hand painted signs and some miscellaneous stuff.

More home decor stuff, painted furniture, etc.

Wow. This booth has a lot of stuff in it. :D Yep, that's mine. I've really concentrated on ONLY vintage or handmade items at this booth. That big white shelf in the back was a $5.00 Yard Sale find. It is huge and weighs a ton. It was holding my now non existent Etsy store items on it in the garage. I put a lot out today. My next trip out will be to rearrange and group things better.

Here's my hutch that I love so much. It had glass doors on it until today, but I decided to take them off so they would get broken and things are easier to take out now too. It holds my vintage Christmas items for now.

Here's my Christmas vignette on top of the cabinet. Flocked bottle brush trees, an angel topper, putz church, glittery church, an old tin and a pop crate thrown in for good measure with my wreath above it. I hope people will buy the vintage Christmas stuff after this week. I have sold some of it already.

That old cubby thing was something I bought years ago for 50¢. I intended to put The Bean's Beanie Babies (I know, I know, Beanie Babies!) in it, but he decided to store them under his bed instead. it's been outside by the storage shed for years. It just occurred to me that I looks really COOL now - all weathered and patina'ed up. It holds a ton of smalls.

This wall is a work in progress - I like the way it looks now, but I am on the hunt for a set of short thin bookshelves that will go on that wall instead of my homemade individual shelves. Also, that huge basket full of linens is super fun for people to root through like savage dogs. Fun for me to straighten out each time - not so much.

Here the the glittered cookie cutter ornaments and some other handmade ornaments on a little tree. I set it on an old crate and added some antique baskets around it to give it a rustic feel. It's fun making little vignettes and giving my booth personality. I sold the very first item in the whole Flea market, so that dollar is hanging my the register. I have sold a lot more than anyone else, but I think that is because I have so many different things that everyone is bound to like something in there.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your tour. I promise not to become an all Booth yakkity yak blog. I hate those...... Back to my finds on Monday. I found some GREAT old stuff this morning at a few yard sales.

On the Thrifting Front

2011-11-16T22:45:00.001-06:00

I never think I've been thrifting much during the week, but apparently I do manage to get out more than I realized! I'm still on the hunt for some fixtures and things for the booth, so I have been looking at thrifts.

I did find this nifty homemade cabinet for $2.00. I think it is for spools of thread on the sides and patterns on the shelves. I pulled out all the metal eye pokers and just have the cabinet with shelves left. I will use if for my packets of marquee letters - two packets should fit on each shelf perfectly.

As I was looking around the thrift, I heard four women looking at something on row behind me. "Oh, this is old!" "It is so neat!' "What could we use it for?" Do you think I could put it in my kitchen and store things in it?" "I will have to think about it and come back for it" (Rookie thrifting mistake....if you see it, love it and can afford it - BUY IT!)

As soon as I heard them walk away...I pounced. I honestly don't even know what the darn thing is but I just had to buy it. It weighs a TON. I had to have tow guys with a dolley get it to the check out and to the car for me. It is about two feet deep, all steel and super cool.

I do think it has been painted at some point, which I hate, but it is still an interesting piece.

(Please ignore the odd items such as a Christmas wreath, pumpkin pitcher and giant Charlie Brown - I am still booth pricing...)

The four matching drawers and the huge one at the bottom go all the way to the back so they are nearly two feet long. The middle drawer pulls out and down so it will hold books or ledgers. I am leaning towards thinking it is a bankers desk or something along those lines. What do you think it is? It cost $12.00, which is crazy cheap, but you know me - I had just won $10.00 on a $1.00 scratch-off so I feel like I only paid $2.00 for it too. I'll end up selling it somewhere once I figure out what it is. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you might think it is!

I found the pink Simtex tablecloth at the Super Cheap Thrift for $1.00 and the green floral one for $2.00 today. The tag on the pink one said, "Just like Grandma's...$1.00" Cute, huh?

I spotted this sweet little card table tablecloth today for $1.00. It has those handsewn cherries in all four corners. This isn't my usual kind of tablecloth, but it is really, really, really growing on me.

Here's another strange item. This little cradle says "Cradle of Ohio". Whaddya think that means?

I Googled "Cradle of Ohio", but I'm still not sure what this cradle actually has to do with it. It has the name Marianne painted on the back too. It was only 50¢ and I enjoy researching weird things so this was right up my alley.

This little guy spoke to me - he said, "Take me home, Miss!" He is a little Inuit carved Mountie from Canada. He resembles a Cupie Doll, but he's a Mountie.

Tomorrow is stay home and clean up this darn house day. Friday is wait in line for two hours for the first showing of "Breaking Dawn". Saturday is our first Christmas Parade (can you believe it?) and Sunday is our Thanksgiving Dinner with my family. Whew. I am tired already! Good thing I don't have much to do for a while except decorate for Christmas. HA! The hardest work all year long since I have SO MUCH STUFF!! But, I love it, so it shall be done!

Getin' My Craft On

2011-11-13T21:56:00.001-06:00

I am tired. Exhausted. I have been working night and day getting my new booth ready. My"other" booth has taken me a year and a half to get set up the way I like it and to keep it filled up. My "new" booth is bigger and it was completely empty, of course, so I have had to take out all my fixtures and all my stuff PLUS trying to set it up in an artistic way so that it looks good - not just a mumble jumble of junk. I want this booth to look more like a little vintage market with different areas and different themes.

During the days I am home, I hunt and gather things then in the evenings, I price it all. Last week I took out three carloads of things and it only made a dent in the booth! That is a good thing! Now I can take even more out there. Not only am I taking out much of my vintage hoard, but I am doing some different things. I am making some ephemera packs of junk, packets of old marquee letters and numbers and some handmade things. I showed the glittered cookie cutters last week - thanks for the input on the price I put on them. I stopped at the Super Cheap Thrift yesterday and found a tabletop tree for $3.00 (I knew one would come to me) and set it up in the booth. I put the cookie cutters on it and set the tree on an old fruit crate, so it is good to go. *Crossing fingers* This new place is all about re purposing and reinventing things. Junk is "COOL".

The owner of "The Locals" decided to have a soft opening on Thursday at noon, even though many of the booths are still empty and people are in and out working and filling their booths. She opened the door about noon and put out a "We're Open" sign to see if anyone would come in. They did! By Friday evening - a mere 15 hours after they had "opened" - I had already made rent! I made over $50.00 in that short time. She said people were crazy for my things. I have super high hopes for this booth. :)

Today, I decided that I would made a few more things to take out this week.

I saw these glittered Christmas bulbs on Pinterest and decided to give them a try. I might add them to a wreath or just put them in a glass jar. (It gets dark so dadgum early that my photography isn't that great.)

A wreath - tell me, what should I price this one? It's door sized and has a lot of ornaments on it - but mostly plain colored ones. I cannot bear to glue the fancy ones on a wreath....

These are kind of odd. I bought a bunch of these Civil war Re-Enactment Mittens at a sale this summer. They reminded me of Santa mittens, so I decorated each one and put a tag on it that says, "Why fill a stocking when you can fill Santa's mitten?" I think they would look good on a door or wall with evergreen sticking out of them.

Some vintage bead ornaments. There are big - their heads are nearly as big as a ping pong ball.

It makes me so nervous to make things to sell. I never see the things like I like out for sale. So, I will either sell it all, or not at all. Oh well, it's a learning curve.

Now, what else can I make?

Eye Surgery and a Box of Happy

2011-11-12T10:45:00.001-06:00

On Thursday, my Dad had a Cornea Transplant. He was scheduled at 1:00 for the surgery, but they did not get to him until nearly 4:00, so it was nearly 6:00 before he was released. I had no idea what his recovery time would be - at least four to six weeks of rest, lying about, keeping that eye shut. I spent the night with him on Thursday night after the surgery and came home yesterday. He is not bed ridden, he can get up and move around - he is just not supposed to do those things. Keeping my Dad still is like trying to shove a hippopotamus in a soda bottle - it just isn't happening. He is on the go constantly. He won't even sit down when he comes to visit. Zoom. Zoom. On the go. He walks daily, picks up the trash on the highway, goes to the Senior Center, goes on bus trips with the Seniors (he calls them them the OLD people...uh, hello???) But, I am happy to report that he knows he can't do much - so even though he isn't happy about it - he is doing what he has to do to recover.

My dad on his birthday this year. Those glasses are not prescription. ha.

When he had the surgery, everyone in the office was so excited that he received the cornea of a 14 year old boy. They talked about it and bragged about it and were all wound up about it. My Dad (or me, for that matter), really did not want to think about where this cornea came from. They were all so happy about it. And, somewhere, some family is really going through a tough time. As the Mom of a 16 year old boy - my heart is sad about this. I just think that is information that would have been best kept to the Medical team and not told to us. I am glad that my Dad got the surgery as his vision will be much improved once his eye accepts it and time goes by. Monday I have to try and see if I can get him qualified for a Home Health Agency to come out for a little bit a few times a week and help him out. I will be going back and forth a lot too. But, I really can't go every day - I drove 125 miles just Thursday getting him here and there. I don't mind doing it - but by golly, if Medicare will pay for some help - bring it on! He doesn't need Medical help - just some light housekeeping, a bit of cooking and maybe a trip to the store. He really would like someone to get him out of the house when the time comes he can leave his house. He must be on the go! Zoom! Zoom!

When we left the Surgery Center, I realized I needed to go home with him for the night, if not for a week - I really didn't know. So, we drove to my house and I ran in like a crazy woman to grab my glasses, clothes, pillow, etc. I was grabbing and throwing and talking all excited because I was stressed out, in a hurry and my Dad was lying in the car alone. By doing that, I completely freaked out all the cats - our little girl went and hid inside the litter box, which made me think she was sick so that added to the stress. She hates it when we leave for the night and she is so smart that when she sees suitcases and such she knows it's coming. She has seizures, which makes me worry about her even more. Luckily, The Breadman was home to watch them and once the crazy chick (Ahem. Me.) got the heck out of the house, they were fine,

Friday morning he had to be back at the doctor to remove the bandage (which is just a clear contact lens - who knew?) and get a report on his condition. He decided that he would be fine at home alone once I got him some microwavable meals and some things to eat that didn't require much work. He has really nice neighbors and they have already checked on him five times since I left yesterday and I have talked to him four times. He'll do better at resting without other people around to bother him too.

So, you really wanted to hear all that, didn't you? I do have family that reads this - so that was for them.

When we left his house, I was anxious to get home and check on the cats. As we were just about to hit the Interstate, I spotted a sign that said, " BIG SALE" all scrawled out in old lady handwriting and I knew I HAD to go. I needed a minute of emotional relief and a bit of a dig. Oh, my the sale this was! It was in an old outbuilding and it was set up like a store. I could tell it was a sale that they probably had a lot since it was so professional looking. There were two older ladies siting at a table along with their dog, Baby Doll and they had Gospel music playing in the background. I didn't know what to expect, but then I started finding grab bags for 10¢, 25¢ and 50¢. Boxes of random junk were 50¢. There was lots of junk in those boxes - I did buy one which most went in the trash, but I scavenged a bunch of vintage mercury glass picks off one candle holder and that was worth the junk, work and 50¢.

My very best find was this box:

It's just a old gift box from a department store - about three inches deep. It couldn't hold much, now could it?

Oh! Vintage picks, wrapping paper, cocktail forks, Dresden, big buttons, cupcake picks - fun stuff! But, wait - that's not all!

WooHoo! A box of Happiness. Vintage goodies of all kinds - mercury glass picks in PINK, mercury glass beads, plastic picks, Dresden, vintage gift tags, satin balls, and on and on. I love this little junk so much. Every time I dig through it, I find more and more.

I've not )yet) succumbed to the vintage wrapping paper obsession - but this one could just set me off in this direction. Adorable. The price for the entire box of goodness? One quarter.

I <3 old lady sales.

Other finds included this old plastic tablecloth with awesome graphics. 25¢

Paper placemats with matching oilcloth tablecloth - 75¢.

Mr.s Claus and a yoyo Santa. Not my vintage style - but vintage enough for the booth. 25¢ each.

My high dollar splurge. Vintage tree topper. 75¢ (splurge!)

Sweet girl ornament marked Japan and a fun German woodchopper guy. Keepers. 10¢ and 25¢.

Big pile of new vintage sheet music books - all Christmas themed. Two of each shown.

Nearly twenty unused sheet music books. I'm ashamed to admit the price. 10¢ each. (I know!)

Mattel Red Riding Hood Doll, Whitman Tree Book, Vintage Chalkboard, tiny USA green pepper planter - 80¢ for all.

Look at these! Tiny girl's Chinese slippers (25¢) that look like owls. I mean how stinking cute are they? I have a tiny Chinese outfit and these shoes are perfect for it. Look out Hazel - it's time to change your clothes!

Tiny worn boys leather shoes with hard soles. Not sure why I bought these - they just looked loved and worn and old. I'll stick them in the booth. 25¢.

It was such a fun sale. I asked the ladies if it was a regular sale and they said that they did have them once a month, but they had gotten annexed into the city and could only have two sales a year starting next year. They lived way out in the country, over a low water creek and on a dirt road. It seems silly to me that they have to abide by the same rules as residential sales. I suspect those sales are great entertainment, fun and some money (although not much as I didn't see a thing marked over $1.00 in the whole place) for them.

Oh yes - we got home fine, the cats are fine, the house was fine and my Dad is still doing good. The end.

Today

2011-11-11T18:20:00.001-06:00

Today has been a long day. I'll blog about it later. But, I really wanted a blog post with today's date on it. so here it is.

Sorry you came all the way over to see this silly blathering! :)

Made and Bought

2011-11-09T22:48:00.002-06:00

The plan for today, other than actually working in my new booth, was to try and locate a small Christmas Tree to use to display some ornaments that I made to sell. The Christmas items are showing up in the thrifts, but slowly and most of it is newer and small stuff. They did have a couple big trees set up today, but I need either a tabletop tree or a tall one that is super skinny. I'll find one eventually. Until then, I will be forced to go to all the thrifts until I do. :D

I made these vintage cookie cutter ornaments that the ever clever Heidi made and sent me last year in our ornament swap. I had a ton of these old ornaments at one point, but I have sold a lot of them in my other booth. The new booth is at a place that is sort of a brick and mortar Etsy shop - all vintage items or handmade items. They are big on upcycled and repurposed items too. So, what better thing to try to enter the world of crafting for cash that these cute Cookie Cutter ornaments. Now comes the hard part - what would you pay for one of these ornaments? Each one is a vintage cookie cutter, covered in fine German glitter with five or six vintage Mercury glass beads on each one. I priced them at $6.00 each. What do you think?

Even though I didn't find a Christmas Tree, you know the drill - I did find a few other Christmas goodies.

The three vintage bottle brush trees are identical. Exactly the same. Why do I mention this? Because one was priced 20¢, one was 35¢ and one was 50¢. Ex-actly the same! Still the end total of $1.05 was good for three vintage bottle brush trees. The red metal cup isn't Christmas, but it will fit in nicely in the booth display. Inside the cup are three glass candy sticks. They look so real. Everlasting candy sticks! The Uncle Sam isn't Christmas-y at all, now is he? But, he's vintage and a-dorable, so he had to come home with me. The vintage Santa candle is funny. Unlike most figural candles that are one giant chunk of wax and turn into headless bodies or shapeless blobs once they are burned, this one is hollow inside.

It has a taper candle shape inside, so that when it burns, only the taper shape melts and the Santa head remains. Also, there are holes in his eyes so that when the flame is lit, his eyes get all glowy and slightly creepy. He won't get lit as long as he is in my possession - so no worries about creepy eyed Santa's. Whew.

Let me know what you think about the ornaments and my price of $6.00 each. I am nervous about selling anything I have made! Thanks!

A Few Fun Vintage Finds

2011-11-07T23:08:00.001-06:00

A few quick vintage finds this weekend. I spent most the weekend sorting through my own junk and pricing it for the new booth. I only went to one yard sale and Goodwill hoping to find some wall shelves for the booth. I found a few other goodies to make the trip worthwhile.

Sweet Samsonite Train case for $1.00. It was filthy dirty, but I took a chance and it cleaned up perfectly.

The inside is clean - I just need to re glue the piece under the mirror. Inside the suitcase are 87 key chains from one yard sale. They were priced 25¢ each or 5/$1.00. The Bean has collected key chains his whole life and has over a thousand now. Rather than pick through these, I went up to see what they would take for the whole box. I was prepared to go as high as $5.00, but was thinking they would say $7-$8. When I stepped up to the table and before I even said one word the lady looked at me and said, "Two bucks for them all." Score.

At the same sale where I got the suitcase, I left behind the most adorable yellow Amsco metal doll crib with pink wooden ball trim. It had a sweet lamb decal on it and it was just dreamy. It was $20.00 and I only had ten on me, so I took a chance and asked if that was the best price on the crib. I asked really nice and I really rarely ever ask for a better price. The lady got an attitude and shook her head and told me how old it was and what they sell for online and blah, blah, blah. I didn't need a lecture. They only sell for about twenty on ebay, but that is because the shipping is so much. It was so cute. *Sigh* I loved it. Oh, well.

I stopped in Goodwill today hoping to find some shelves for the booth - and I did - so that made the trip worth it. Since I was there.....you know that old song and dance....I had to have a look around. I rarely look at the books since I have a self imposed "NO BOOKS" rule, but today I ventured over and looked around. Someone had donated a bunch of old books chock full of vintage goodness and vintage graphics. Love the the "Treat Shop" - too darn cute.

These three books are so sweet. I think I am going to have to find the whole set. The Things to Do book has instructions for making pipe cleaner people and a footstool for Mother out of juice cans and other fun retro things. Questions Children Ask has interesting slants on things such as "What are Tattoo's? Tattoo's are permanent ink drawings on the skin of savages." Savages! Ha! Parade of Stories has politically incorrect things such as a Mammy that says, "Sho nuff" and "kin folk".

The self imposed NO BOOK rule can be easily broken when the person setting the rules is also the person breaking the rules. :D I think it's worth if when you score a slew of sweet old books for 50¢ each.

I'm all a twitter hoping the vintage Christmas starts showing up in the thrifts soon. I have a TON of vintage Christmas. But! I really need more. I do! :D

*PS - The Bean felt the Earthquake, but I didn't. Did you? (I was in the shower).

Shutterfly Card Winners

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks for entering to win the Shutterfly Cards! I wish I had enough for everyone. The winners are.....drumroll.......Lynn! Sarah! Heidi!

Congrats ladies. Shoot me an email and I will send you your codes.

The cards I came within about three days of ordering and were even delivered by a cutie in brown shorts (love the UPS guy!).

I liked this one with the Top Ten List on it. I used to do a Christmas Letter, but I stopped a few years ago. I heard for a few people that missed it, but honestly, we don't do anything very exciting - no big trips, job changes, babies, we don't even have the usual school stuff to report on - so our Christmas Letter was getting to be a bit of a yawn fest. This Top Ten List sort of covered the whole year in short and they are the things we will remember most about 2011.

I like to add a bit of humor to our cards - so this is the back.

We found a funny old pair of glasses at my Grandmothers that made our eyes look HUGE and then I used the Fishbowl Effect on my camera to make these funny photos of all of us. I really hope that no one sees these and thinks this is what we really look like! It's silly!

And now you now the names of The Breadman and The Bean if you didn't already.

Let the Christmas Festivities begin!

Or not.

Sometimes

2011-11-02T22:49:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you go to Goodwill looking for two things on your list: a rug for the new Booth and a Tabletop Christmas Tree for the both of the Booths.

Sometimes you strike out and don't find a rug, but you go next door to Lowe's where the nice carpet man sells you the end roll remnant for $13.00 and it is enough that you use it in your own booth and have enough leftover to sell the rest to the person in the booth next to yours for what you paid for the whole thing. Hypothetically...:)

Sometimes you don't find a Christmas tree, but then you remember a huge tree you bought at the Salvation Army for $1.00 last year and you can use just the top section in a stand and not spend a dime. :)

Sometimes while you are at Goodwill, you decided to look at everything in all the departments. Because you just never know what you will find. Like the old curling iron in the kitchen department or the Avon bottle shaped like a firetruck in the toy department. Odd things in odd places. Maybe worth a chuckle or maybe you'll find a treasure hidden in a strange place.

Today after I struck out looking for my two items and as we were walking up to pay for a couple odds and ends, I spotted a basket in the toy area chock full of plastic chicken legs, plastic corn on the cob, plastic biscuits and plastic chicken wings. The price of the plastic food was $5.00. Not a bad price for a huge amount of plastic food. I don't need any plastic chicken breasts. But, wait, what's that plastic food in?

A very big, very old, very nice market basket.

All handmade and hand constructed. Very, very well made.

Probably made in the late 1800's. The patina is just wonderful.

A true treasure - worth a couple hundred dollars at the least. A fabulous antique basket full of plastic KFC food. Crazy. I feel blessed to have found it and rescued it instead of someone buying it for the play food and trashing the basket. I will covet the basket and re donate the plastic food.

I'm sure there's some Chicken in a Basket, Basket of Chicken, Count your Chickens, etc. some sort of thing here, but I can't quite put it together. Insert your own clever line here------------>!

*I never set out to be the antique basket, picnic basket, miniature basket collector that I have turned into. They just come to me!

Fall Colors

2011-11-01T22:43:00.001-05:00

I understand that it is Fall everywhere and everyone has seen colorful trees with their very own eyes this year. But, I can't help but show the trees that I have seen this past week. We had such a long hot summer with no rain for months that the forecast for Autumn color was very bleak. Luckily, just in the nick of time, we had a deluge of rain that made everything spring back to life and brought us the most magnificent colors that I swear I have ever seen.

Last week we got out and drove around just looking for pretty trees. Soon enough if will be cold and we will be home bound, so we took a few days off to enjoy the beauty and the wonderful weather.

The orange trees were spectacular.

The golds are amazing.

The yellows were sublime.

Everything was just beautiful.

Today we had a windy day and so many of the pretty leaves are falling off. Now, the trees aren't so pretty. But, the ground is fabulous!

I hope you had a beautiful Fall too.

That Time of the Year Again

2011-10-31T22:43:00.001-05:00

I can hardly believe that is is almost November, almost December and almost Christmas. This year has flown by! It's the time of the year to start thinking about lots of things like gifts, baking, decorating and Christmas Cards. It seems each we we receive less and less Christmas Cards, but I still send them out to everyone. It is a tradition that I won't let go.

Shutterfly has a variety of Greeting Cards for every occasion. But of course this time of year it is all about Christmas Cards.

I love the Holiday Cards at Shutterfly. They have so many wonderful Christmas Cards (and every other holiday too) available. They can be customized with any photos of your kids, your pets, your family, vacation photos - any sort of photo you want on your Holiday Cards this year.

I love this Christmas Card with one solitary shot on it. Such a sweet kiddo in that photo!

This is a great card if you have a nice family photo to use. At our house, I am the photographer, so there are virtually NO family photos to be found and certainly none of me. So, we usually just put The Bean on ours. At what age do you no longer put your kid on the cards? They aren't exactly adorable when they are 25! :)

I spent this morning going through all the Christmas Cards and Holiday Cards at Shutterfly. I chose a card and designed it with several different photos on the front as well as some surprise photos on the back. I can't wait to get them so I can show you what I made!

Check out the great selection of Calendars and Photo Gifts they offer at Shutterfly too. I think personalized gifts mean the most to the recipient.

Shutterfly was nice enough to give me 50 free cards and they want to give THREE of my readers 25 FREE cards too. The cards will be FREE, but winner must pay shipping. These are gorgeous high quality cards - I know you will be pleased with your Shutterfly Cards.

If you would like to win 25 FREE Holiday cards - please leave a comment and tell me which Shutterfly Card is your favorite. Don't forget to leave an email address or a blog address so I can contact the winners. Winner to be announced Monday, November 3rd.

Thank you Shutterfly!

***Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here !

Hazel Gets New Old Digs

2011-10-28T17:44:00.001-05:00

I stopped in the thrift today, promising ONLY to look for some sort of shelving* and nothing else. They were bringing out the Halloween merchandise in big tubs and everyone was digging in it like crazy people. Something vintage-y caught my eye, so I swooped in under a bunch of college kids and snatched out this homemade Halloween outfit.

I bought it with the intention to hang in on the wall. But, when I got home, I tried it on Hazel and it FIT! I like the fact that it is homemade and not really anything like a character. I guess it's a clown, but to me it just says Vintage Halloween.

It reminds me of this vintage costume from Country Living.

I think Hazel looks adorable in it.

Happy Halloween!

*I need shelving because I signed up for my second Flea Market booth this week. A new store is opening in the tiny town over that is known for stellar antiques store and Flea Markets. This store will feature only handmade, upcycled and vintage items and I am going to be one of the featured all vintage booths. :) I have a good sized booth and I cannot wait to get it set up. It is in the town of the Super Cheap Thrift, so it will be so much easier for me to swing by and straighten it up than my other booth across the BIG town.

Wishlist Item #2 FOUND

2011-10-26T17:50:00.000-05:00

When the Thrift Store that you haven't been to in six months pops into your mind and say "COME TO ME NOW". Do it.

You might scratch another item off your wishlist for the second time in five days. The elusive tin metal basket is MINE....all mine.

*When I spied it on the shelf, I clasped my hands in prayer and said, "Oh please, please let me be able to afford it since it is the first one I have ever seen anywhere EVER."

The price? $2.00.

I can afford THAT!

(This photo is a stock image from the internet but the exact one I found today. The temperatures are dropping, it's all cloudy and dark and rainy so not a good day for photography.)

Halloween

2011-10-25T22:33:00.000-05:00

I swear, it seems like Halloween has been coming forever this year. I dilly and dallied around and didn't think I would ever get my Halloween stuff out this year, now it's been out awhile and we still have a week to go. Before we know it, it will be time to take it all down, muddle around for a few weeks and then Ba-ling out the house with Shiny Brites and Putz houses and PINK trees! :D But, until then, Halloween is still on the way.

Top of my favorite cabinet - Gurley candles in a cloche, silly things abound. Love that Jack O' Lantern on a Pedestal. I prefer vintage, but vintage inspired is okay too.

My Halloween Tree. This is the first year I have had a Halloween tree and I love it! I had miscellaneous things to put on it, but participating in Sarah's Halloween Swap really helped fill it up. I like the white tree and think things "pop" on it better than a black tree.

One of my glittered party hats fits on top just perfect and adds a quirky bit of fun.

Fun stuff. Quirky stuff. Old stuff. New stuff. Picture of Baby Bean in the Pumpkin Pile.

I don't like the creepy scary side of Halloween, but this is my attempt at a "scary" display. Ouja Board, old Poison Bottles, spiders, scary photos and happy fun noisemakers. Well, I tried. I just had to add some happy in there.

Goodies on the shelf. Love those silhouettes - you can print your own here: Halloween Printables.

Little stuff on the old grate. Photos of my Mom and her brothers trick or treating, gifts from friends.

Mish mash of leftovers when I was getting tired. :) I found that mercury pumpkin and tall foil cat this summer.

I kind of always forget that the lamp is full of Christmas Ornaments, so that sort of blows the whole Halloween theme. Oh well. That pumpkin was white, but I glittered it last week. I used a cutting board that is for crafting only, but it must have rubbed against the good cutting board, because I noticed that tonight our celery was glittery.

Happy Halloween!

Box Lot Fun

2011-10-24T22:34:00.000-05:00

Box lots are fun. As long as you see one or two things in the box and you only bid what you are willing to pay for those items, you can't lose. At one point, the auctioneer placed two boxes full of doilies, a box full of tablecloths and a plastic sack on the table and said we were going to bid for Choice. Choice means you bid what you are willing to pay for whichever box or sack you want. If you win the bid, you pick one, two three or all of them and you pay that amount for each box lot.

The Auctioneer started the bidding at a dollar and it eeked it's way up to $8.00 and that was the winning bid. You know I was bidding for the tablecloths and I held my breath when the winning bidder stepped up and took the plastic sack and said, "Yahoo, I got my blender," she said. What the heck a blender was doing with doilies and tablecloths, I don't know. But, I was quite happy that she didn't take the tablecloth box. So, the auctioneer did choice again for the remaining three box lots and the winning bid was $10.00 that time. I held my breath again as the winner stepped up - but they took both the boxes of doilies. That left my precious box of tablecloths sitting alone. I honestly thought they would be the first things to go, but apparently no one else appreciated them like I do.

The auctioneer ended up throwing a bunch of those crap on top of the tablecloths and I won the bid for $6.00. That was my highest bid of the day and there was a lot of extra stuff in those boxes - a lot of it ended up by the dumpster and being donated to Goodwill. I did get these two gorgeous Startex tablecloths in bright springy colors and that was worth the $6.00 to me.

I got all of these things too. A tablecloth, a watermelon potholder, cute camel potholder, a couple trivets made out of old bottle caps, a pot scrubber, embroidered flour sack and a potholder. I'm keeping the watermelon, the grapes and the camel. The rest will go to the Flea market.

Other finds from box lots: An old Funeral fan, brushes, tins, old cars, a brooch, some can openers for old Beer brands, cigar boxes, an old bank bag, blocks and a wee nativity. I'll probably have to keep those blocks since my name just popped out at me when I opened the box, but the rest will go to the Booth.

Two fun vintage Handkerchief boxes with the hankies still intact and some old children's books with stellar graphics. I'll keep the box with the sweet images and sell the other one.

An old cooky press, two spoon holders, a neat old metal box and an old powder compact with mirror. I'll keep the box and sell the rest.

Here is a good example of what I was actually bidding on and what I got. I got a huge box full of really gaudy ug-lee Christmas and Halloween decorations. Nothing cute, just ugly stuff. But, peeking out from the box was that blow mold with the cat, so I bid and won the whole ugly mess for $1.00. That blow mold was well worth the dollar, plus I got that old plastic pumpkin head on the right too. (I had found the other blow mold at a yard sale earlier in the day for 50¢.)

This box was part of the tablecloth lot. I don't can green beans or make jam. I don't need lids and jar rubbers (!) so I should just donate them. But, you and I both know, I better have a look in that box just to make sure.

These things are old and interesting, so maybe I shouldn't donate them. Some of those jar lids are priced at 2/19¢. Maybe they will go to the booth too.

A box of Never-Pick ChikNbits (to keep chickens beaks shut) is a unique find. I can always use a glass lid for one of my old jars and a brand new porcelain lined Zinc lid is always a happy find.

That matchbox is nice. It's very old, has good graphics and would look nice in my vintage packaging display. It sounds empty, but I don't want old matches around for safety reasons, so I better look inside it to make sure it is really empty.

Just some old wax paper crumpled up in it and uhm, wait...is there something else in there?

OhMyGosh! A wee bride and groom cake topper from the 1940's. A-dorable. Turns out, this surprise couple is my favorite find of the day and I didn't even know I was bidding on it.

You just never know what you will find in a box lot!

Saturday Estate Auction

2011-10-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, The Breadman called and asked why I wasn't at the big auction out on the highway. What? Big auction? Our Highway? Me? There! So, I headed out that way.

(Tractor Seat: $35.00)

It has started at 10:00, but I didn't get there until about 1:00. I don't usually go to Estate Auctions very early anyway since they tend to sell the furniture, guns, cars and equipment first anyway.

Watering Cans; $5.00 each, Toys: Choice $8.00.

By the time I got there, it was down to a trailer full of old tools and farm equipment, a shop building full of old junk and holiday decorations plus another trailer full of miscellaneous household items. Oh, there was a mess of blowmolds in there! A huge Santa, three Candles, a Church, a complete Nativity Set, JackOLanterns and some Angels. I wanted that Santa that was about four feet tall. But, they decided to auction them all of at once. ALL OF THEM! I couldn't have even got them all home, so I left the building. ;(

Lanterns $40.0-$65.00 each, "Handful" of tools - $8.00-$12.00

The end of an auction is the best - the antique buyers have bought their antique furniture and glassware and china and headed home. What is left is in their eyes is "junk" but I know there are wonderful things amongst that junk.

I liked this old table - it was in chippy and very used shape, made by a farmer years ago and used in the shop. There was a time, and I have about five of these to prove it, that I could pick something up like this for a few dollars at a sale or at an auction. I bid on it to $5.00 then bowed out. I was really surprised to hear it end for $45.00. I know the lady that bought it owns a shop and will probably put at least twice that on the price tag.

These auctioneers are locals and kind of friendly with my family. They know us when they see us out and about in town, so they are nice to us at the auctions. About halfway through the day, they start getting a little punch drunk and start to say funny things. At one point, he said, "Oh, I got a nice roll of fencing here - good to keep your dog in....if he's not very big." As he said that, he was holding up a little roll of cedar garden edging. He also learns who is going to buy what sort of things and will look right at you when he knows that whatever he is holding is right up your alley. Yesterday, I was bidder #123 and as he started making a box lot and then adding another to that and another to that - he knew he had me at a $1.00 bid.

I bid on these old Fisher Price toys, even though they were filthy dirty. I knew they were in good condition, they just needed to be cleaned up. As I stood looking at them, a camera phone snuck up beside me and clicked a photo of them. A minute later, a text message came through and the guy was bidding against me for them. He was sending photos home, the girlfriend looked them up, then he would bid. Really, a pretty ingenious plan for bidding strategically. BUT NOT AGAINST ME. I must admit, it kind of irked me, so I bid about double what I was willing to pay for things, because I knew he was going to outbid me in the end. Sorry, dude, I spent some of your money for you. It worked out in the end, because he went to load his truck and I scored ten box lots (or better known as "piles") for a dollar each.

I sorted through all the boxlots, or piles, and put anything that I didn't want out by the dumpster beside the house so I didn't even have to take it home. As I was throwing things out, I scored that giant basket, a big heavy vintage pitcher, some vintage Christmas ornaments and a big tin stuffed full of vintage embroidery thread by the dumpster that other people had thrown out. One man's trash is another man's treasure,you know. The back seat just held the overflow.

The back had the bulk of it. If you attend an auction and buy lots of stuff, I highly recommend taking a 16 year old boy with you - he sorted, carried and packed the car while I kept on bidding. Bless his heart. I know you have noticed that dollhouse in there. Funny story about that - I had been looking for one of those old metal dollhouses on Craigslist and on ebay recently. As a matter of fact, I had been on ebay looking at dollhouses when The Breadman called to suggest I go to the auction. It was the first thing I spotted when I walked up and the auctioneers were rapidly approaching it. I went and got my bidding number, Lucky #123 and got in the area of the dollhouse. The crowd was pretty thick and everyone was gathered around. I was ready to go as high as $15.00 for it, but thought someone would outbid me. When the auctioneer finished up the previous item, everyone looked down at the dollhouse and left. Not one person stood there except me. The auctioneer looked at me and said, "Ya give me $2.00 for it?" and I just nodded. (I got that FP barn with it too).

It's not perfect, but it's good enough for me. I have a box full of 1940's furniture that I got at a sale last year, so I am all ready to decorate it. You may be wondering why on earth I need a metal dollhouse at my age. I don't! :D I WANT it! :)

As we were loading our things, there was a big pile of items on the flat bed trailer next to mine that I thought belonged to another bidder. When I got home, I looked through my tickets and discovered that that stuff was part of one of my piles too. Darn it. I hate it that I left things and that I left a mess for them to clean up too.

Next time: What I kept.

What other people think is great.

Why you should check every single thing you buy because there just might be a surprise in there.

Recent Thrifty Finds

2011-10-21T22:44:00.000-05:00

I ventured out on my own today for about an hour to see what I could find in people's driveways. I came across a neighborhood sale about four blocks from my house, so I was able to hit about eight sales in forty five minutes. Not a bad day out! I spent a total of $5.00 and came home with 13 nice books - some older and some newer plus, four huge brand new rolls of clear contact paper, an ornament for The Bean of Santa riding a pig (he has a pig themed tree) and three vintage craft sets - all of which weren't especially photo worthy, but still good deals.

This, however was photo worthy.

Not the best photo, but it is a very sweet baby quilt. These seem to be my latest love. I had paid for the craft kits, when I spotted a box with a blanket sticking out of it. I have learned to dig in those boxes for vintage tablecloths and linens. I spotted the old fabric and grabbed it so no one else would get it. Of course, no one else was even looking at that box, but I felt I had a treasure and it was all miiiiiiine! Then I had to ask the dreaded, "How much?" question. Luckily the answer was only $1.00. The lady took it from me and unfurled it to look at it then she said, "I don't even know where this came from. It's really old, huh?" Then she just tossed it at me, so I got out of there. :D

The entire back is this sweet soft old faded fabric. I never used to be a fabric person. But, I just love these old worn prints. The love and time someone took to make this for a baby. It's just too sweet.

I stopped at a thrift while I was out too. I found this carved wooden roly poly Uncle Sam signed by James Haddon. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it.

Especially since I had just bought this giant Uncle Sam signed by James Haddon at the very same thrift last week. I wonder what I will find next week!

The Christmas items are starting to appear at the thrifts too. I scored this box of Jewelbrite ornaments for 50¢ at Goodwill. The Santa was at the thrift today. I have a couple other Santa's like that one already, but this one has a little something extra.

BLING!

A gold glittered shirt. It's like Liberace Santa. I had to have him.

I bought a quilted tote bag for 25¢ last weekend at a church sale. When I got home, I realized that the quilt square was hand sewn on very loosely, so I clipped the thread and rescued the quilt square. More of those soft old fabrics again....

I thought this was just a piece of fabric when I first spotted it in a box at a yard sale last weekend. When I realized it was a tablecloth, I thought it was a new one from Wal-Mart because it had deep creases in it and looked brand new.

But, then I spotted the Simtex label and knew I had found a wonderful vintage tablecloth in pristine condition - and for only $1.00.

I got this teeny bottle brush tree at the thrift today. It's only about three inches tall and still has all it's glitter and snow on it. (Nice photo there in front of my ten pound jug of jelly beans I bought at Sam's Club today, right?)

The Neighborhood Sale that I found today should have twice as many participants tomorrow, so I will most likely go back. (Oh, you know I am going back, who am I trying to kid?)

Hope YOU find something good this weekend!

(I posted the Renuzit winners on that post - go look!)

Renuzit Holiday Fresh Accents

2011-10-18T22:37:00.001-05:00

***Congrats to Linda @ AlaCarte, SvelteSTUFF and Annette! Send your addy my way to: monkeybox@juno.com. Thanks! :D

I am a member of the Purex Insiders. From time to time, I receive products in the mail to try and to give my opinions here on my blog. I recently received a box containing two new Renuzit Holiday Air Fresheners. I received one Winter Berry Scent and one Festive Snow scent.

Before I go on, I should say that I am very, very sensitive to scents. Candles give me migraines, I don't like scents on my clothes from laundry products and I don't wear any sort of perfumes, body sprays or anything like that. But, I do enjoy certain scents in small amounts. I especially like vanilla and mild scents like that. I was nervous about these air fresheners because of my sensitivity.

I opened the Winter Berry first and it wasn't a bit strong at all and it has been quite enjoyable. We have it near our litter box where our three cats......well, you know. It can get a bit whiffery in there sometimes. The Renuzit Holiday Air Fresheners have kept that area smelling fresh and not overbearing at all.

*Renuzit Fresh Accents feature a two sided design in a festive holiday motif.

*They offer 30 days of continuous fragrance odor elimination.

*No plugs, batteries or flames are needed.

I have three FREE Renuzit Fresh Accent Air Freshener Coupons to share with my readers. I will send you one coupon for you very own free Renuzit. Just leave me a comment saying where you would put your Air Freshener in your house.

Winner will be chosen on Friday 10-21 and announced Saturday.

Good luck! And, thanks Purex Insiders and Renuzit!

Paid Posts and G i v e a w ay s

2011-10-17T17:16:00.000-05:00

Hi. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that in the next few weeks, I am going to do some posts about products and having some freebies for you too. I try to do these sparingly as I want my blog to be about me and my junk and journies. But, I have had a lot of offers to do posts that I just can't quite pass up this time. Offers that will allow our family to have a better Christmas this year. I would NEVER do a paid post for anything that I didn't think was a good product or worth your time. I have four lined up right now.

So, if you see a post like that, read it and you might win something good. Or wait until the next post when I show my lates junk or journey.

Thanks guys!

Christmas in October

2011-10-16T11:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went out to the Golf Course where all the big fancy NEW homes were having Yard Sales. Big fancy new homes usually only have new fancy stuff, which isn't my cup of tea, but we usually do find DVDs, CD's and Video Games, so it is worth a trip out just to look around.

I drove past the first six sales as they looked meager and they were beginning to box stuff up too. The first house I stopped at was one I go to every year. It is an older couple that moved here from Louisiana. They have a three car garage and an attic full of things that used to be in their "Shop". They put out a mixture of old and new stuff at their sale each year and I can usually find a couple of things. One thing that she has is a collection of pristine gingham aprons in every color of the rainbow. She hangs them out at every sale, but they never sell. It could be the $12.00 each price tag she started at a few years ago. Yesterday the aprons were down to $5.00 each, but I still don't think she has sold any. Maybe next year they will be less.

I gathered up a few owl related items and a few other things and my total came to 65¢. Apparently, she has decided to come down on her prices, because I bought several things for 10¢ each. As she was wrapping up my purchases, I noticed a box of old tins so I dug through that looking for old tins. The lady told me if I saw anything I liked to just take it, so I pulled out this old Santa Boot from under the tins.

It's vintage and it was free, so why not?

As I was putting it in my bag, I noticed a paper bag with some old Shiny Brite boxes sticking out of it. The bag was in the back of the garage and peeking out from under a blanket and a few other things. I don't usually ask, but why not? I asked if those ornaments were for sale and she said, "Those are the old glass ones. I didn't put them out because I didn't know if anyone liked those anymore." I said, "I do!" She went and got them and asked if $5.00 was okay. I took a chance and bought them. That one little box is a really great box.

The bag was crammed full of old Easter Grass, so I had to carefully go through it all looking for treasures. All those miniature ornaments in the bowl where gnarled up in the Easter Grass, but were a happy surprise to find. Love that old paper garland too. I had one ornament fatality shooting the photo, but I found a replacement in the bag. So, I still ended up with four complete boxes. Whew.

I told the lady that I just loved old Christmas things and it made my day to find these. She looked me in the eye and said, "How old?" I told her that I loved things from the 1940's and 1950's. She waited a minute then said, "I have one of those old aluminum trees around here too." Then she hollered at her elderly husband to come find it. Luckily, he knew where it was, so he found it quickly.

It was in the box and complete.

The shipping label was even to where I live. Perfection! Of course, I got excited, but then I told her, "I better not get too excited until you tell me how much it is." Because you just never know what kind of price someone is going to say, right?

(Really crappy photo of my junky living room - but it was late last night and taken quickly...)

She told me $30.00 and that is more than I wanted to pay (I'm cheap, ya know?) but I knew it was a good one and a money maker.

So, I was thinking and considering it.

That's when she looked at me and said,

Wait for it..............

"I have a PINK one in the attic."

OHMYGOSH.

I didn't say anything, but I must have had big wide eyes and slobbers because she sent her husband up into the attic to get it. (The Bean later tells me that when he say a glint of pink coming down the steps, he knew I was buying it. No matter what it was or what it cost.)

She told me that she would take $40.00 for both of the trees. I wrote a check, which I think is a first at a yard sale for me, but she took it no problem. It is missing it's stand, but I have an extra one from another Aluminum Tree, so that is okay by me. I also have a revolving stand, so it could go in there too. Pink trees command a high price on ebay - some of the six foot tall ones can go for $600.00 or more. Crazy, huh? This one is only four feet tall, but that makes it easier for most people to use on a tabletop or in a smaller area. So, it might be worth that much too. I like $600.00 a lot. But, I like that pretty pink tree a lot too. My plan right now is to sell the aluminum one and recoup my $40.00, plus a nifty profit (hopefully) and use the PINK one myself.

As far as the Breadman knows, it's not worth a dime. So, let's keep that between us, mmmmkay?

So, Garage Sale Gods, I am sorry that I bemoaned all year. You made my day, my week, my month and my year by bringing this Christmas Glittery wonder into my life. I will not complain any more. Pinky swear!

**Sorry to the Facebook friends and YSQ members that already had to endure my Pink Christmas Tree Chatter. :D

The War Eagle Craft Fair

2011-10-13T22:36:00.000-05:00

Twice a year, barring flooding, it is time for the War Eagle Craft Fair. It is held out in the middle of a huge cow pasture, near the river and the old mill. It is about a seventy mile round trip for us to get there, and I know that isn't that far - but I don't usually venture that far from home. First, there is the gas involved, the fear of a flat or car trouble (even though our car is perfectly fine) and the guilt I sometimes have from doing something "fun" while The Breadman is working. But, you know what I have decided? Life is short. The Bean is this.close to growing up and leaving me. I deserve to have fun too. (He is Mr. Season Football Ticket Holder afterall...). So, this year I am all about getting out there and having FUN and enjoying the day. Yeehaw.

So, this morning off we went to the War Eagle Craft Fair. We used to go when I was a kid and my relatives from KS even planned trips here during craft fair weekend. My Grandmother's house was full of many of the things she bought there over the years - burl wood vases, handcrafted wood inlay mirrors, wooden tulip carvings, a stained glass slag lamp and more. There are two sides to the Fair - one side is a Juried Craft Fair - by invitation only - it is fine art, pottery, quilts, photography, etc. All handmade lovely items. The other side by the Mill also offers handmade things with a mixture of booths filled with antiques and junk and flea market-y type items like tie dye t-shirts and personalized license plates. People come from all over the United States to sell and to attend this fair. I met a lady that had come with a bus full of her old college graduates from Louisiana and a family from Kansas that comes every year. People are all friendly like while you are stuck in the bathroom line.

You are not allowed to take photos of any of the booths or the crafts/artwork, so I couldn't get any pictures of the actual Craft Fair items. I've been to two local craft fairs this past month and seen my share of kitschy crafty what-the-heck were they thinking crafts. But everything here was so nice. I don't think I saw a single tacky thing. Except the sign that said, "My Indian name is Runs with Beer", that was a bit tacky. But, it was very nicely made!

We walked four huge tents chock full of things for three hours before we finally caught sight of the Mill. The actual War Eagle Mill.

We had to wait in a lengthy line to cross the bridge to "get to the other side". Just like a bunch of chickens. I love to take photos of the Mill and the river, but the foot traffic was so fast, that I didn't dare stop to take a good photo for fear of being ran down. My legs are shorter than most, so I have trouble keeping up with fast moving crowds in the first place. Let's see how I did taking photos as I walked and did the old point and shoot.

The river and the dam - not too bad.

The other side not too bad except for the guy that walked up beside me. Oh, wait, that's The Bean. Never mind.

The Mill itself. Kind of crooked, but not too bad.

The highlight of the Mill is the Bean Palace Restaurant. I am not a beans and cornbread kind of gal, so it humored me to see everyone sitting around eating big bowls of brown beans and cornbread. Not your usual fair food.

Speaking of which - anything look good? I'd take a turkey leg, roasted ear of corn and a lemonade. But, I'd have to take out a second mortgage on my house to afford it. About $45.00 for the two of us if I did buy those things. (Cheapo me packed PB&J because I didn't want to spend $16.00 for a couple of turkey legs. Can you blame me?)

So, at this point, you are saying, "Well, Shara......what did you buy?" I usually don't buy much of anything because it is expensive (and by expensive, I mean I saw an $8,000.00 carving of Jesus and a $500.00 witch on a motorcycle) and I do so love my yard sale and thrift store vintage finds. I did buy an handmade scrolly letter "S" to wear on a necklace. But that is all I planned to buy. But, then I walked past a booth and I looked down and something spoke to me. I swear!

I saw this face looking up at me and she said, "Take me home, please Miss?" And I swear to you she has a British accent, although I have no clue why! As I told her (in my head) that I really did not need a doll nor did I need to spend money on something as foolish as her, she said, "No one at this whole fair will ever take as good as care of me as you will." She was right, of course.

I whipped out my money, paid for her and carried her off like she was my baby girl. I hadn't gone twenty feet and three customers and two vendors stopped me to see her. But, they were out of luck - she was one of a kind and now she is mine, all mine. I've named her Dawby in honor of Doby the House Elf in Harry Potter who also only had one sock to his name.

Does any one think I have lost my mind completely this time?

Me and the cat love her. And that is plenty for anyone.

Fossil Hunting

2011-10-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

Last week The Bean and I embarked on a Fossil Hunt. Actually, we just went to the park and walked in the creek beds. But we ended up finding a lot of nice fossils and other things. We have had such torrential rains and flooding the past couple of years that the creek is full of more rocks than usual - rocks that do not belong in that particular creek bed that came from who knows where. It is interesting to find chunks of Feldspar, Slate or Native Stone that you can tell floated in with the rains.

We found a lot of really nice Fossils including this nice big one. The actual fossil measures about four inches across - the biggest fossil I've ever found. We also found a perfect evergreen leaf which I apparently forgot to photograph. We also found a rock full of seashell fossils - those are raised up instead of being indented. I love finding fossils - it was once a living thing, millions of years ago and it has been in that rock since. When I discover it, it is the first time anyone has laid eyes on it. We carried home armloads of rocks to be researched and looked at under the magnifying glass.

That's our street above the creek. We've lived here 17 years and that is the first time I have ever been under our street, that is for sure.

I could walk upright, The Bean could not. Sometimes being short does not suck.

I have always loved rocks. Whenever we went for a walk when I was a kid, I spent the entire time looking down at the ground, looking for special rocks. It's a trait I still have today - always looking for a special colored rock or one shaped like something or a heart shaped rock or a fossil or any rock that speaks to me. I usually have trouble keeping my britches up because I fill my pockets full of rocks on our walks!

In our usual junking frame of mind, we found things along the way that has floated in as well. We played a game of "Man vs. Wild" thinking of what we could use things for if we were lost in the wild. The Bean spotted a Coleman jug lodged under some limbs - a vessel for water would be a great find if we were truly lost and not a mere 100 yards from our own house.

We found pieces of white plastic - good for gathering rainwater, shelter from the elements, to wave at air crafts from below, tie on our heads for protection from the sun and wind. A length of rope - good for hanging clothes to dry, dragging firewood, pulling ourselves up cliffs, combined with the plastic to make a tent, etc. I even spotted an actual spoon glistening up the creek. (Leave it to me to find silverware in the middle of nowhere). The spoon could be used for digging looking for grubs (ick), a hole to take refuge from the wind or snow and maybe even to catch a sun ray and flash an SOS for help.

All in all, it was a good day - a day outside in the sunshine, a day scavenging for fossils and rocks and in a day of Homeschooling even if neither one of us really knew it at the time. Those are the days I enjoy the most of all!

Stuff I've Made

2011-10-09T11:27:00.000-05:00

*I hit a ton of sales yesterday, including four different Rummage Sales within 1/2 mile of my own house. I haven't had a chance to take photos yet. So, the junk shall wait.

I love to make things, but I really only make stuff during the holiday months. Of course, the "holiday" months" means from Halloween to the 4th of July, so that only leaves a couple of months that I don't create. I'd love to be one of those people that makes Halloween stuff in July, but I've never been that organized or clever.

I participated in Sarah's Halloween Swap this year. I had to make 11 Halloween ornaments. I am completely enamoured of the old wooden beaded Crib Toys from the 1940's. Barbara at Oodles posted this pattern a while back and I have been searching for beads at thrifts and yard sales all summer. I've made a crazy amount of them now in all shapes, sizes and colors. I love them all. Now, I see beads everywhere - just yesterday I found two great old garlands of pastel beads for an Easter Tree. I cut them apart and now I have a nice bag full of pink, blue and white faded beads for making more beaded babies.

For Sarah's Halloween Swap, I made Black Cat Trick or Treater's. I thought buying a big bag of black beads would be an easy task, but apparently no one uses wooden beads much anymore. So, I had to do some thinking. We have a $1.00 Jewelry Store here that has some seriously gaudy and tacky stuff and some not so bad stuff too. I had remembered seeing some long strings of black beads with wooden crosses on them a few months ago, so I went back to see if they still had any in stock. They had four necklaces, so for a total of $4.00, I got all the beads I needed to make all of my cats. I added a pipe cleaner tail and ears and at the last minute, drew on some whiskers, which I think was the perfect finishing touch. I ran out of black pipe cleaners, so I took white ones and colored them with a Sharpie and they looked just fine. Now I am thinking of all the custom colored pipe cleaners I can make! Stripes! Patterns! Colors!

I have two special little ones in my life - twin girls that are 16 months old. Their Mom dresses them in tutu's nearly everyday and they are stinking adorable. I like to send them little surprises in the mail like books, but I wanted to make them something from my heart. They needed something for Halloween from Auntie Shara. :)

First, I found black tutu's at the store and bought white onesies.

Since I was already in a black cat making mood, I hand cut out these cat faces, trying to make each one the same. Here is #1.

And this is #2. I think they look pretty similar. I hand sewed them onto the onsies. I've never sewn anything so tightly and with such small stitches before - I wanted them to be baby safe!

I also made black headbands with big orange Gerbera Daisies and their initial in the center of each flower. I can't wait to see the girls in these outfits. I hope they like them. I had fun making them, but I won't be doing much clothing making again.

I've got some things on the way to get me started on some fun Christmas crafting too. It feels good to get my create juices going again!

What have you made lately?

More Junk & Bargain Prices Too

2011-10-07T22:25:00.000-05:00

Boy, have I bought the junk this week! And the week isn't over yet - there is a big Boy Scout Rummage sale to hit in the morning. I love Fall and the abundance of Yard, Garage and Rummage Sales. The weather is beautiful and there are sales everywhere, so I am just enjoying it and letting my responsibilities slide for a few days. Stay at Home Mom's need a couple vacation days too, right?

At the first sale today, I saw a Wal-Mart bag tied shut and the curiosity got the best of me, so I had to untie it and and have a look inside. I was surprised to find these nice big chunks of slag glass in all these pretty colors.

It reminded me of that gorgeous glass wall at the bluebird place, so I had to get it. The magic price of one dollar made it even a better score. Now, I just need about twenty thousand more pieces to make myself a wall o' glass. That'll happen, right?

At that same sale, I got this interesting wreath made of Barbed Wire. I plan to junk it up with some stuff - old sign letters, scrabble tiles, bingo markers - just a lot of random junk.

I also got this old window, which I need like a hole in the head since I have about twenty old windows stockpiled in the shed. But, I liked the lines of this one and think I will add rows of nails to in and hang my jewelry on it. (Forgive the dirty house, power washing was not on my to-do list this summer. But, it is this Fall, I promise!)

The rest of the day brought a few fun things my way. A cool old dustpan to become a noteholder of some sort, a small yellow pottery pitcher and three old metal ice trays.

I was excited to see this nice tall thermos sitting on the table at the American Legion sale. Nothing was priced, so I asked how much....after some thought, it was decided $2.00. Which was fine by me it will go nicely with my collection. When I went to pay, they looked at the Thermos carefully and announced, "Oh, wait...this Thermos is really old." Oh, okay, now the price is going to go up, I thought. The looked at it for the longest time and then said - "How about just a dollar then?" OH! OLD means old and yuck to them. Yeesssss. Then, just as I was handing her the money, she took the cup off the top of the Thermos and said, "OH! The stopper is missing too. How about 75¢?" I think if I could have shown her the small scratch on the bottom, she might have paid me to take it off her hands! :)

I love this thing - this is an old handmade Woodpecker Door Knocker. Pull the string and it pecks away at the board. Love it. I'm going to hang it in the hallway and pull on it for my own amusement.

I really don't know what these are - someone cut up an old quilt and made different shapes. There are eight in all and each one if big enough to use as a placemat. There are some great old floursack prints on them though. They were on the 50¢ each table, but the lady told me she could "let me have them" for $5.00 (Math was not her forte'), but I said okay. Before I went up to pay, she went in to eat and had her husband come out and take the money. When I told him that his wife said they were five dollars, he replied "Oh, she's f*ing crazy - gimme $2.50 for all of it." (including the woodpecker and a few other things). I got the heck out of Dodge before the Missus came back and realized what he had done!

More junk tomorrow after the Boy Scout sale! Hope you are finding loot this weekend too!

Goodwill Hunting

2011-10-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

( I had to use that title at some point, didn't I?)

I still haven't decided if it is good thing or a bad thing to have the Goodwill less than one mile from my house. I haven't had the best luck at Goodwill in the past when I have visited there, the prices were always pretty high in my opinion and the selection wasn't vintage-y in the least. However, this new Goodwill is pretty well stocked with a mix of old and new items, the prices are reasonable and things seem to hit the 50% off week rather quickly.

Yesterday I stopped in and bought a total of thirteen items for $9.00. Here are seven of those items - I do buy non-photo worthy things sometimes too like games and clothes and kitchen items. I don't usually buy baby planters, but that blue boxing baby was just too darned cute to leave behind and it doesn't have that overall pastel baby planer look. I wish the spice boxes were all there, but I still think it will sell in the booth. My heart did a skip when I spotted that Bakelite bird napkin ring in the center. I only found the one, even though I know they were originally a set of six and that set of six is worth about $15.00 or more ( more like $300.00 a couple of years ago). I searched that store from top to bottom looking for it and even looked in the carts of merchandise being put out, but never found another bird.

So, today, on the way to the Optometrist*, which is conveniently located right next door to Goodwill, I stopped for one more look. But, I didn't find any more birds. At least I know I gave it a good try and don't have to think that I might have missed them. (I know someone else might have bought them, but I am trying to to think about that...).

Even though I didn't find anymore birds, I still had to look around.....

I found a couple boxes of Shiny Brites for accents on some wreaths and the five HOMCO figures. They are cute, but not really my thing, so they will go to the booth.

I stopped in my tracks when I spotted an Easter Basket full of these flowers. I scooped them up and hoped that no one would tackle me to rip them from my hands. No one tried. Shock of shocks. Can you tell that the flowers are all made out of nut cups and pipe cleaners? They are vintage and dee-vine. I have them in an old milk glass vase and they look real. These are on my "to make" list now.

Goodwill is very handy, but I know I have to limit my trips in there or I will go broke!

*Do you have your eyes dilated at the Optometrist? I had my eyes done at 2:20 this afternoon. It is now 11:00 PM and my pupils are still enlarged and things are blurry. So blurry, in fact, I bid on something on ebay earlier and left a maximum bid of $11.00. I checked on the auction a bit ago and I still had the high bid at $22.00. I couldn't figure that out, so I went to My eaby and I had bid $111.00. ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN DOLLARS. Holy crap I was sweating bullets watching that auction end. It ended at the $22.00, which is more than I wanted to pay, but man, do I feel lucky that some schmuck didn't decide to bid up the auction! Yowza - that was a close one. Lesson learned - don't bid on ebay when you can't see!

The Weekend in Junk

2011-10-03T22:27:00.000-05:00

This weekend was the Grand Daddy of all weekends for yard sales in my area. The Apple Festival and the Bikes, Blues & BBQ were being held and all the traffic going to and from each event leads right past my house. So, that means lots and lots of sales everywhere plus just random roadside heaps to dig through. In the past, I had a big sale every year on this weekend too and usually made about a thousand dollars. But, now I have discovered it is more fun to go that to have one myself. (Although, I could use a thousand dollars!) I had promised The Bean lots of motorcycle rally time, so my yard saling time was limited. But, in the short amount of time I had, I think I did prety good!

One of the roadside piles turned out to be an Estate Sale of sorts. There was an old building that was chockablock full of stuff. Mostly pottery and glassware. They had about twenty pieces of pink pottery - McCoy, Shawnee, Haeger - all good stuff. But, they knew it and had it priced accordingly. Actually, it was all priced really high - starting about $25.00 a piece and most of it wasn't worth nearly that much. I only bought a few things there since the prices were so high. I'm hoping they will have the sale for the next few weeks and start lowering their prices.

I did spy these two huge old chalkboards leaing against the wall without prices on them, so I decided to bite the bullet and ask how much. "Aww, two bucks each...I just want this stuff GONE", she said. Well, howzabout not pricing everything so ding-dang HIGH then....right? Anyway, chalkboards are all the rage right now, so I am either going to put them in my booth or put them on Craigslist. I think the one with the %'s on it is sort of Mathmatically geeky in some ways and might appeal to someone. I am kind of crshing on that smaller one with the chalk tray, but I really don't have the space for it. Would it be wrong to take down The Baby Bean's photos or The Stacks Wedding Portrait and put up the chalkboard? I kid. (Sorta). (Since I wrote this, I found a spot for it in the kitchen. Yeah, me!)

There is a certain lady that has sales at her house, her firends house, her sisters house, her son's house and at the Flea Market so I can usually find her sales about every few weeks. She has cool old stuff and prices most everything a quarter each or a big grab bag full of stuff for about that. I got this neat old sewing box for 25¢ and the big mix of bias tape, lace and ricrac along with a lot of buckles for 50¢ total. 75¢ for everything above - what a deal!

A few fun old Beistle Jack O Lantern cutouts and a vintage, albeit creepy mask sort of thing (there aren't any eyeholes) - I think it might be to wrap around an actual pumpkin. Nothing makes me happier than vintage holiday stuff.

Love, love, love this funny old doll with his big old wooden shoes. I htink I will doctor him up - maybe for Christmas, I don't know. He just so darn cute - 25¢ at her sale.

Several old Pilot manuals from 1949, Golden Books on Fishes and Non-Flowering Plants, an old photograph and well, I really don't know what that other thing is - a paperweight, I suppose. I don't know what "Adlake" is.....hang on, I'll Google it....Okay, they are in Elkhart, Indiana and they make lanterns, locks and latches. Good to know, good to know. Oh well, I liked the graphics of it - and it is 54 years old now.

Tiny globe for a craft idea, a pie bird, fun turtle inscribed "To Joe, Love, Mom" and a PINK Candy Thermometer. (Pink, I say! Pink!)

I loved this "Mood Barometer" - Moody, Malicious, Very Loving, Tender, Affectionate - ha! What shall I be today? Hmmmmmm. This reminds me of the set of dice The Bean picked up. We like to buy dice and play Monster Farkle. I don't know if you play Farkle - but it's a dice game that takes five dice and you play to 5,000 points. Well, we like to play with oh, twenty or thirty dice and play to 200,000 or more. So, the Bean picked up a pair of dice and threw it on my pile, only seeing they were DICE, not S-E-X dice. Holey, moley, me oh my - when I opened them, I saw "Rooms" listed like the Kitchen, The Closet, The Bathroom and "Positions' like....well, I'm not going to say those positions, but Wow. So, you do this postion in that rooom......okay........needless to say, those dice have mysteriously disappeared. :)

Lastly, what I have waited to find all year long. Vintage Christmas. Not much, but it's a start. And one of the items makes my heart sing.

A few miniature Shiny Brites in aqua, some bell shaped Dresden, a funny snowman and a tiny plaid stocking and...........

A Roly Poly Chiming Santa. LOVE. I found this at a digger sale and clutched it to my chest all the way to the check out table. If I had only found him all day, I would have been a happy camper. I'm hoping he is just a hint of what is yet to come for the rest of the month. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

So - what did you find this weekend?

Vroom...Vroom...Vroom.....

2011-10-01T22:32:00.000-05:00

HI. HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. I SPENT THE WEEKEND WITH HALF A MILLION MOTORCYCLES, SO I AM A LITTLE DEAF. WHAT? I'M YELLING? I'M SORRY. Is this better?

This weekend was Bikes, Blues and Barbecue. I don't ride a motorcycle, I don't particularly like the Blues and I don't really eat Barbecue, but that doesn't stop us from going to BB&BBQ.

The barbecue is everywhere. The line for Big Boned Barbecue was long, so I can only assume it was tasty.

There were fancy bikes from different companies on display. Here is the Geico Gecko motorcycle. There were also freebies to be had at each booth. I'm the proud owner of a Gieco Gecko Fishing Bobber.

Full on Carnival game provided by Progressive. We played, but didn't win the prize. We did get a Progressive Tire Gauge.

And, there were bikes. Lots and lots of bikes. The event has two venues and a train that runs in between the venues. There are thousands of motorcycles at each venue, motorcycles on every street, corner and business. They estimated half a million, but no one really knows how many people were here this weekend.

I'm noticing most of the photos that I took make it look like the County Fair. There's plenty of leather and beer drinking and smoking and music and rowdiness. But there's also a family atmosphere so there's a hint of Fair-ness.

More motorcycles.

Even more.

Wait, did I mention the motorcycles?

We rode the train from one venue to the other. They had a new open air car that was seriously fun to ride. The whole train ride only lasts about seven minutes, but in that seven minutes I decided I want to rent the train for a big party. Dancing and music on the open car - food inside. Yes, I think it will be fantastic!

One last shot of the motorcycles.

We love going - it is like being on vacation in your own town. There are so many interesting people to watch. I watched a lady in the tightest jeans I have ever seen (and no VPL), long orange fingernails, leopard print shirt, black leather doo-rag, leather boots with four inch heels pick out a teeny t-shirt that said, "My Grandma went to the bike rally and stole this shirt for me". I suppose she is just a regular gal most of the time, then she goes to the bike rally and lets her hair down!

A lot of the locals hat Bike, Blues and BBQ - It's too loud, the traffic is awful, everything is crowded...yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, it is loud, but it's only for three days. The traffic is awful, but you see the most interesting things and people at each corner. Everything is crowded, but they are pouring money into our local economy, so just be thankful for it.

Someday I might even have my very own PINK motorcycle and ride is style!

(Never fear, I did go yard saling this weekend and will share those treasures nest time. Oh, the suspense........)

The Booth and a Basket

2011-09-28T22:59:00.000-05:00

This weekend is Bikes, Blues and BBQ. There are 500,000 people coming through town starting today and everything will be packed. They stay in nice hotels and eat at all the local restaurants, shop everywhere from the Malls to Flea Markets. It is a huge weekend for the economy and that is a very thing! You might think, as I did, that someone on a motorcycle couldn't buy much. But, most of those people don't ride their motorcycles here - they have fancy enclosed trailers for them and SUV's to pull that. They buy a lot!

Because of that, I made my weekly trip to the booth to straighten up. I don't talk about the booth much because I don't make much money at it. I always make my rent and my commission and get a check too. So, I think that is successful enough. I have been there a year now and each month my checks get a bit bigger. August was my best month yet, despite being told that August is the worst month for booths, the heat being unbearable and me hardly even stopping by to straighten it all month. When I stopped today. a lady was checking out and had bought about fifty dollars of things in my booth. Thanks lady!

Whenever I straighten my booth, I have to take a look around. There are three other booths that sell the sort of things that I like and they have interesting displays, so I like to look for inspiration. My booth is really just shelves full of items since I prefer to sell smalls. I try to arrange the shelves and have themes - green pottery here, Razorback items here, toys here, etc. But it really is just shelf upon shelf of stuff.

In one of the newest booths, I spotted a big basket full of vintage Christmas ornaments. I started digging in it because I love vintage Christmas. (You like the way I say that like it is a big surprise to everyone? Whaaaaaaaaaaat? You like vintage Christmas? I didn't know THAT! ha) So, I dug and I dug and even though I didn't really find anything that I consider to be truly vintage, I dug all the way to the bottom removing each ornament as I came to it. Suddenly, the basket was empty and I realized that I was looking at an incredibly old basket.

I held my breath as I looked for a tag, because often, things like that are marked DISPLAY ONLY (I am guilty of that myself) and not for sale. But, this tag said, "Antique Basket" on the front. Uh-Oh, Antique is never a good word to see as that means $$$, I flipped the tag over and it said $5.00. Holy crap! S-O-L-D! It is really the biggest buttock basket that I have ever seen. That's what it's called. Honestly.

I love the feel of a truly old primitive basket. The wooden handle is slick and worn from years of use. It has repaired areas - people used to repair items and make them last instead of tossing them out like we do now.

I already have a smaller one and this one matches it beautifully.

I may have to think on this one - old baskets command high prices. But I really love it so. I might enjoy it awhile and then let it go. In any case, I think it was $5.00 well spent.

That Thing I Collect

2011-09-27T22:39:00.000-05:00

I mentioned below that I bought something for one of my never before mentioned collections.

There is one in this photo.

What do I collect?

No, not nekkid baby dolls.

Not costume jewelry pins.

Not head jugs.

What is it?

This is it.

Do you know what it is?

A collapsible cup.

I remember my Great Grandmother carrying one in her purse and using it to get a drink from the drinking fountain.

I only have six of them, but as we know - three is a collection, so I am well on my way!

You put a pill in the little pillbox inside the lid. Then the cup smushes down flat inside the lid.

I used to carry one with my emergency antacid in it.

It is one collection that is easy to keep together.

This one is my favorite. Fancy!

What weird little thing do you collect that you haven't shared.... yet?

The Weekend in Junk

2011-09-26T22:24:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was able to hit a few sales on the way to my Grandmother's house for the very.last.time. We finally got it all cleaned out. It is empty and it feels SO GOOD. It is all done and over. I know that sounds cruel if you don't understand the relationship I had (or rather didn't have) with my Grandmother or if you don't know that we have working HARD for over a year to clear out that house). When I left for the last time, I literally felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt light and happy for the first time in a very long time. Now I can get back in control of my own life, my own house and my own junk.

Speaking of junk. As the contents of the house dwindled and the idea of making multiple 40 mile round trips to the thrift to donate things became less and less appealing, I started putting a few things out at the curb. Not junk, but not "make a 40 mile round trip to Goodwill" worthy either. Each time I put things out, it was always gone the next day. I read in the newspaper that it was Clean Up week last week, so I put out a TON of stuff out - Christmas tree, laundry basket, dish drainers, suitcases, plastic tubs, small little shelving units and miscellaneous things. Clean up week means that the city will take it all to the landfill, but it really means that people (myself included) drive all over town looking for treasures. By the end of the week, everything I had put out was gone, so either someone took each item or the trash truck handled it. Imagine my surprise when I re-read the the newspaper and found out that this week is actually clean up week. Whoopsie! I guess a few people had an early Christmas at the curb thanks to me. :D I'm just glad it's G-O-N-E!

Since I thought Clean Up was over, but it was actually just starting.....well, I had to make a loop through town, you know.

I found this neat old crate and snagged it super fast. I had all sorts of ideas about it. As I drove home, I thought about it and I decided it was a Strawberry Crate - each slot holds a quart berry basket perfectly. That's nine quarts per crate and it's just wide enough to hold in your hands at arms length and the size would slide onto the back of a truck easily. Yep, I had it all figured out.

Then I got home and noticed that on the end. It's a cigarette display - and a pretty new one, in fact. So much for my lofty Strawberry Crate ideas. I still like it though and I will use it somehow. What do you think?

Now, on to the yard sale finds.

I found this pretty vintage Mother with a baby for 10¢ first.

She will go with my Mother's Day Collection.

Then this cute little boy for "June" for a 25¢.

Then these two little #1 Girls for 5¢ each.

And this little January Girl for 25¢.

I think it's fun when you find sort of the same type things at each sale you hit. And, at 75¢ total for them all...well, you can't go wrong.

A couple of novice oil paintings. I think these sort of things are quirky and fun. They are headed to the booth, to see if anyone else feels the same way.

The "smalls". The little nekkid Sunshine Family being my favorite find. I carried my little baby around in my pocket until she was nearly bald. I paid 60¢ for everything shown. One of the items in this photo will go into one of my favorite collections. A collection I have never mentioned on here. Hmmmmm...can you figure it out?

A Gaudy Golden Gilded Owl. With Jeweled Eyes. I was almost embarrassed to pay for it. But, I happen to know it will fly off the shelf at my booth for about $10.00.

While I have sworn off all things Watermelon (except a lonely potholder, of course), I had to pick up this little handmade sea grass basket for 25¢. It fits in the palm of my hand and must have taken forever to make.

This plastic cut "glass" cake plate flips around and over to make a serving bowl and plate. Perfect for cakes, cheese and crackers and chips too. It is in really good shape, although there are knife cut marks on the tray inside where cakes were cut over the years. I like things like that though, but o the booth it will go.

On the way out of town, I spotted a sale at the Storage Business where they were selling off things people had left behind or not paid the rent on. I whipped the car in the parking lot with visions of Ton and Barry in my mind finding guns and saddles and such. Sadly, it was just rows and rows of boxes of stuff. Random stuff like toys and books and whatnot's and kitchen things. Nothing exciting. I did buy two boxes of books for $1.00 each (the bulk of which I had re-donated to the Salvation Army within twelve hours) and this Woodcut print for a dollar.

I was going to stick it in the booth for a few dollars, but on a whim, I decided to try and research the artist. His name is Herschel C. Logan and his woodcuts sell for between $200.00 and $1,500.00. I am still researching this one as I cannot find it online anywhere. I was in contact with an Art Gallery earlier today that quoted a price of $75.00 to clean up the water stains on it. (If it happens to be worth a thousand bucks, I will spring for a cleaning!) They also showed an interest in purchasing it, but wouldn't make an offer, instead wanting me to name my price. I will need to do some more research and decide what to do - put it on ebay or find a buyer myself. I'm pretty excited to have possibly found an item worth real money. It gets me excited about junking and selling and finding treasures to sell again.

I'll keep you posted! :o)

Winner.............

2011-09-25T10:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone that left a comment to win the My Memory Suites Scrapbooking Software.

I took all the names and wrote them on a slip of paper. Because I am Old School like that.

Then I put them in my Confetti Mixing bowl and shook them up. Because everything is better in a Confetti Mixing Bowl.

Then I reached in and drew out a name. Because the Randmon Number Generator is faster, but not as much fun to do.

Then I unfolded the slip and saw that it said,

YSPrincess!

Hurray for Leanne! Drop me an email, Leanne, because the one I sent you got bumped back to me.

I am sorry to everyone else that entered.

If I was Santa, I would give one to everyone!

(That was just an easy way to sneak in a photo of my Santa Blow mold that I found on Friday. I spotted him from the road, squealed in on two tires and dashed to the table to grab him. The ladies having the sale thought I was NUTS because they had been opened since 6:00 am and it was now 2:30 pm and not ONE SINGLE PERSON had even looked at him. Whew. Thank goodness. Now he is all mine! He is about three feet tall and cost three buckaroos!)

My Memories Scrapbooking Suite

2011-09-21T22:42:00.001-05:00

I've had a couple of comments on my new banner - I'm so glad you noticed! I've always admired blogs with seasonal banners with multiple photos and personalization, but really never figured that I could do it myself. I always thought they paid a professional to make their headers for them. I knew how to make my own banner, but they only had one photo and a few simple words.

Last week, I was contacted by My Memories and given the opportunity to download their My Memories Scrapbooking Suite for FREE and give it a try. At first, I only had ideas for Digital Scrapbook pages, greeting cards and other things that I could print out. But, then I realized that this was something that I could really use on my blog. So, I opened up the My Memories Suite and started playing around.

I knew I wanted multiple photos because I wanted the old Black and White photo of my Great Grandparents to be in all my headers, but I also wanted to be able to add in photos of my junking finds, my collections and seasonal photos too. I started from scratch and added in photos, resizing them to fit and adding in the text at the end. I picked the colors, the fonts, the curve of the word art, the texture and all the other elements. I designed this header pretty quickly and I love it. But, I know now that I can get really fancy if I want too - word art, embellishments, multiple photos - it is all within my grasp now!

The whole program is so easy to use. I was surprised at how quickly it downloaded to my computer and how little actual space it takes up. It is all on your computer so no need to be online at all to actually use it to design things. There are links within the program that take you to My Memories whee you can purchase additional layouts - but there is a ton to chose from just on the software or you can completely design your own pages from scratch.

I am having so much fun with this program. Now I am learning how to turn words and add embellishments and features. I'm thinking this page of Maci & Kennedy will make great gifts this holiday season.

The wonderful people at www.MyMemories.com have offered to give a copy of the My Memories Scrapbook Suite to one of my readers. Go visit My Memories and have a look around to see what all you can do with this great software. Come back and leave a comment telling me what you think you would do with your copy of the Scrapbooking Suite. No entries after Saturday at midnight. Winner to be announced on Sunday.

If you like what you see at My Memories, and just cannot wait to get your very own copy - please use this special code STMMMS49190 that will provide a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value!