Week 1: A Silver Lining and a Giveaway

My expectations were pretty low for the first week of Spring Cleanup. The designated area, which is a little bit of a haul from my house, is very rural and I presumed that the picking would be quite sparse. In fact, for those reasons, it's the one area of my town that I've picked the least in years past.

That, however, is changing from now on.

 

The first finds were small: an Ironstone sugar bowl (minus a lid but charming nonetheless) and a cute cup decorated with delicate red roses. Completing the white vignette is a small birdcage, which is actually a decorative plant holder.

After that, things got bigger. Actually, a lot bigger.

 

I had been searching for an over-sized chippy window screen to make my version of Amy's Christmas tree, and I drove by this old screen door twice before I stopped, finally giving into that voice that said "grab it now or kick yourself later." (See Rule No. 2 of the Picking Primer.)

 

If I don't find anything better over the next few weeks, meaning the perfect-sized window screen, I can cut the door down and sand off the black paint to reveal what looks like Barbara's favorite shade of green.

  

And, if I'm really ambitious, I can add some pleated aluminum edging (another find) to frame the screen. I'm not sure what I'll do what that little metal No. 2 but I picked it up as well.

And my homely (read dog-chewed) screen door doesn't look quite as homely when it's used as the backdrop to my next two finds: A couple of Syroco pieces that would be really gorgeous painted using Karla's terrific no-sand painting treatment. Hey, there's another project that I don't have time to do.

 

Finally, the picking gods saved the best for last. Near the end of my journey, I turned up something that's a first in all my years of Spring Cleanup:

 

A variety of pieces of silver or probably silver plate, which were in a big pile of junk near an old barn.

 

There were these assorted trays and what I think is a champagne bucket. The large oval tray is marked John Wanamaker, as in Wanamaker's department store.¶

 

The tea/coffee service is circa 1910, according to a Google search. It's marked Cheltenham and Co., Sheffield, England, and I think Art Deco-ish handles could be bakelite.

Of course it needs a really good cleaning. I'm thinking of trying a method that uses hot water, aluminum foil, baking soda and salt. Has anyone done that before? Let me know how it worked for you.

So, to sum it up: 2011 Spring Cleanup is off to a stellar start and I'm one happy picker. Maybe next week I'll find a fancy vintage tablecloth and service for 12 just in time for Easter dinner.

Now for the giveaway. Leave a comment before midnight Friday and you will be eligible to win the bird cage, sugar bowl and rose cup. And, somewhere around here, in the mountains of stuff that I once called a basement, I think I have a little plate that matches the cup and I'll include that as well.

 

P.S. I nearly forgot another pick and yet another rule for the Picking Primer, which is this: Never pass up power tools. An unexpected gift for the husband is a reminder that driving around with a bunch of junk in your car every spring isn't a complete waste of time and gasoline.

 

Comments

[Into Vintage]

Green with junkin' envy right now! That coffee/tea service is beautiful and so is your screen door. That green peeking out -- perfect! I have a couple of chippy items I plan to hit with my pressure washer to see if I can get down to the next layer of color.

I continue to be amazed at what gets thrown away.

[Shara]

I've been lucky enough to win one of your Clean Up Giveaways, so don't throw my name in the hat. But, I just had to say... ARE PEOPLE CRAZY? Why would they "throw away" power tools and silver? Sheesh. So glad you found it all and rescued it. I am hoping to find an old screen door on my Spring Clean Up rounds this year.

Happy Hunting to YOU!

[Barbara]

I'm with Shara - throwing away power tools? Or, really, any of that stuff? But better for you!

[sarah]

i am with shara. they threw away silver?????? and it's beautiful stuff too, not the usual thrift store boring stuff.

i have used the foil method before. it does sort of work but i read somewhere afterward that it wasnt good for the silver and regretted doing it.

[Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk]

Wow -- you found a screened door your first week out? Amazing! Fun fact of the day: I used to work in the grande dame Wanamaker Building in Philly, which was itself the original store and home to many childhood memories, including a fabulous Christmas light show.

[Wendy]

You found some great stuff!! I love that screen & frame!

[Jenny G.]

I always look forward to seeing what you find during your Spring Cleanup trips. I just wish they did something like that where I live! The closest we get is when the college kids move out and clean out, but it's never fun chippy stuff- usually just a lot of old plastic storage.

[laurie magpie ethel]

Absolutely amazed by what you find curbside...off to a good start! That screen door will be perfect for an Amy style tree - glad you snagged it. I can't believe people throw out power tools and silver. I've said it before, I'll say it again...I'm moving to your neck of the woods!

[Icitea]

Oh my goodness! I saw the birdcage, and I wished that you would be giving it away somehow, but didn't think that would be possible. Then I read to the end... wow! Thank you so much! You're a wonderful vintage scavenger, the projects all have alot of potential. The syroco pieces are divine~ Good luck on cleaning the tea set, and please post results when you're done. I look forwards to it.

[Eddie M]

Looks like it's off to a great start, huh? Totally stunned about the power tools and the service set is simply awesome! Can't wait to see what you'll turn up next. Junk set out is about three weeks away here, but I'm already jonesing for it.

[Joy]

Do the power tools work? That just shocks me that someone would just throw away tools like that. Although my Dad says Black & Decker are junk anyway. He's a Ryobi guy. And how did you rescue that and the aluminum sheeting before the junker guys did?

I always see Syroco pieces at the thrift store. I'm always tempted to buy some and spray paint white, esp. because it's from another dead Syracuse industry and is part of this area's history (my parents live right down road from its now defunct warehouse). But I chicken out.

Great find on the silver set! Hope you can clean it up nice.

[Dawn Gahan]

Please include me in your giveaway. Adore your blog!

Dawn
The Gahan Girls

[Aimee]

Great finds! I used a very similar method that you mentioned for cleaning silver and it worked fine. I don't know about whether it's good for silver or not - I tried it on an old spoon I'd found somewhere, so it wasn't anything really valuable. Good luck during the rest of your picking days!

[Peggie]

You have quite a few neat things there especially the Syroco. My parents had a Syroco Mirror very close to the one in your picture. When my parents got sick and had to go to the nursing home, my sister was in charge of selling their things, I asked if I could have the mirror and 2 pairs of angels that were on the wall. She sold it instead for $5.00 along with 2 pairs of angels. But I love my sister, I am blessed and God is good all the time.