My Vintage Soul

Rummage Report: Sale No. 1

 

I am happy to report that after what seemed like the longest winter ever that the rummage season has begun. And the first rummage sale of 2011 was pretty much perfect. I ended up with a big bag of bargains and a chance to catch up with Sue, who was also filling a bag and scored a Vera blouse.

As for what's inside my bag, let's just say that it was twice as full before my daughter removed her finds: two skirts (one suede), a dress, a pair of shoes, a scarf, and a big, soft wraparound sweater. And that left my vintage goodness, which included:

 

A yellow rose tablecloth. Yellow Rose of Texas, anyone?

 

Some lacy slips. Maybe I had seen too many picture of Liz Taylor in "Butterfield 8.''  

 

A Home Sweet Home sampler.

 

Some retro blue floral print patterns that may have come from the Brady Bunch's house. 

 

 And my favorite find, which I think I may have made a lunge for when I saw it.

 

An Anchor Hocking salt shaker. Love the lid's tulips and striped flower pots and of course the curves on the glass jar. Actually, what's not to love? 

Here's hoping that your rummage sale finds are just as good.

Luck of the Irish

 

I am not Irish but a bit of luck rubbed off on me on St. Patrick's Day.

First, the day was beautiful. Sunny and warm, it truly felt like it was the first day of the spring, which isn't until Monday.

And then, after several weeks of a whole lot of nothing, the thrifting gods smiled down on me. The heavens opened, the angels sang, and this beautiful coverlet was waiting for me at St. Matthews' thrift shop.

 

 

Now I'm debating which side I like better. Mostly blue.

 

Or mostly white. There's no debate, however, about my next bit of good fortune.

 

This was waiting for me on the kitchen table, buried under a pile of junk mail. As I do every year when the notice for the Annual Spring Cleanup arrives, I let out of squeal of delight. The 17-year-old daughter, as she does every year, rolled her eyes at the prospect of her mom picking the curbsides.

The Annual Spring Cleanup, by the way, is a six-week-long trash-picking extravaganza that occurs every year in my little corner of Central New York. It starts the week of April 11 and runs through the end of May. The No. 1 item that I'm looking for this year is a chippy window screen that I can use to make Amy's Christmas tree, a lovely creation that was inspired by a screen door that I saw at Bouckville last summer.

After that, who knows? I never know what treasure will turn up in the trash and that's why I keep looking year after year. Hopefully, the luck of the Irish will be with me then too.

 

 

Something Pretty

After writing two consecutive posts that consisted of a sign in the stinky snow, I decided it was time for something pretty. But first, I had to make something pretty.

 

I started with these plain-Jane silky eggs that I found at the thrift store. In fact, because there was an abundance of blue eggs, I decided to paint some of them purple. Luckily, it turned out rather well although it did require several applications of acrylic paint (the kind in the little bottles) and a top coat of Mod Podge to add some sheen.

 

Then I rummaged through my millinery odds and ends, and with trusty glue gun in hand, I added a little of this and a little of that. It was a project that was more than visually pleasing. It was also therapeutic to simply sit still and glue.

Here are the results.

 

Something pretty, if I do say so myself.

And now, realizing the benefits of therapeutic gluing, I plan to make a few more eggs and put them and some other Easter items in the Etsy shop next week. The bunny paper in the background, if you're interested, is already listed. Just "hop" on over.

Have a happy weekend.

At a Crossroads

 

I took this photo about 10 days ago, which means that "4" is now a "6." And that  brings me to my point: Strategy.

With gas prices soaring, have you thought about your strategy for the upcoming yard sale/garage sale/rummage sale season?

For me, it's quality junk. Seems like an oxymoron, right? Quality and junk in the same sentence?

Let me explain. I plan to be more selective about where I junk and what I buy. According to Mr. VS, I wouldn't have to buy a single thing for the next three years and I'll still have plenty of stuff.

But that's no fun, is it? 

So here's my plan:

1. Get the most out of church rummage sales and local estate sales. I find that these are my most consistent source of good vintage at bargain prices. And what's not to like about that combination? 

2. Ditto for curb castoffs. Now that my Etsy shop is up and running, I have a way to share some of the good stuff that I've found over the years during the annual town cleanup. That annual trash-picking extravaganza should start in April, if it ever stops snowing (another 12 or so inches fell last night, by the way). But more, actually, much more, about that later.

3. Garage sales? Maybe not so much. For me, they tend to be real hit and miss, and I have to cut back on endless driving for a few good finds. What I may do, however, are more community-wide garage sales, where you drive to one location and can go to several sales.

4. Big-event sales. Well of course, these are hard to give up because they occur  but once a year. But I may have to prioritize and pick just one or two.  

So, what's your strategy?