Junk(er) Life

I can't even believe it's almost the end of July, maybe the cooler weather is messing with my head. This week I hit up some pretty fun sales and thrifts and found some great stuff to add to the shop. Today I realized I was a true Etsy shop when I loaded 6 bags of packing peanuts and assorted boxes in my car and could barely see out the back. So without further ado, here are my finds and long winded explanations of how I acquired them.

First stop of the week was a barn sale where I found this NEVER BEEN USED  Michael Lax Copco Tea Kettle. The people running the sale told me that this was received as a wedding gift in the 70s and was never used. I just love hearing the stories behind the stuff I sell and I especially love hearing the stories from my customers. I sold a Pyrex casserole to a woman that told me her mom made pudding in this dish and it just wasn't the same since she lost the dish. Another customer who bought a Dansk carving board from me told me he got this very same one on his wedding day and it had been well used and was beyond repair. He was ever so excited to find this one and he never thought he would be able to replace it. This is probably a (big) part of why I love buying and selling this stuff so much, it's always nice to hear the history, the memories and the joy behind these forgotten objects. I have one of these kettles myself and use it every day and it belonged to my grandma. Since she is no longer with us, it's nice to have a daily reminder of her.

Also found some Blenko Suncatchers at the local vintage store in the bargain basement. I have a set of Noah's Ark sun catchers, that I inherited from my grandma and they hang in my apartment windows (and bring me joy).

Went to a true collector/ vintage hoarder's sale this week, the ad said jadeite and you know me, I had to go. When I got there, all I could see were boxes and boxes of stuff. I found some cute cherry glasses (pictured below), but no jadeite. I finally asked her and she brought out these beautiful bowls. She then asked for my number and told me she would call if she found any other stuff I might like.

Well, she did call and I happily took this other jadeite bowl and mickey mug off her hands. I guess she liked me, because the other woman at the sale who wanted the jadeite kept tell her that she was a dealer and then was pretty pushy. I guess sometimes it pays to be nice and not pushy.. 

Uh, world's cutest salt and pepper owls, I couldn't leave these behind.

Found the Oiva Toikka plate at my favorite thrift store, I spotted a woman walking around with a flora bowl and was super upset I missed it. Then strolled up and down the glass section until I spotted this. The Russel Wright and fun glasses came from another estate sale.

So, all in all, I did pretty well. I have a question for you guys, when you're at sales, do you tell people your dealers? I never do, because I think it gives me an advantage. I mean I also do collect this stuff, but mostly I try to re-sell it. I can't continue to buy if I don't sell. 

I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques, because I like seeing what you guys found and I hope you like seeing what I found too.

Turquoise Milk Glass + Carlo Moretti + Moose Swizzle Sticks = A Successful Week

Had another pretty fun week of road tripping and searching. Here are some of my finds: 

Am I the only one who is in LOVE with turquoise milk glass? Got this  at my first estate sale of the week, along with the cabbage jar below.

I can't resist Jadeite when I come across it in the wild.

These Carlo Moretti glasses are probably my favorite find of the week, they're just such a stunning shade of red.

Found some Pyrex (AT A THRIFT STORE!), tried to do some rehab.. it sort of worked.

I lied.. Maybe this biscuit jar is my favorite score of the week because it was FREE. The lady gave it to me because of the damage to the bottom. It's just so beautiful, I happily took it home and will definitely enjoy it.

Don't worry, I bought this Copco spice rack from the previous sale to make up for the free jar. I've been looking for one of these spice racks for a while and picked this one out the garage. Took some cleaning up, but I just love the honey comb shape.

Bought a huge thing of vintage swizzle sticks and these were in the mix.  

This platter was too fun to leave behind made in Sweden by Upsala Ekeby, the mod flower pattern really drew me in.

I'm not sure I could love treasure hunting more and thanks for looking at my finds. I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques + A Living Space +

Maybe Some Day My Titles Will Be More Creative: The July 2014 Thrift Saga Continues

You guys! I went to the best estate sale ever today, the stuff was incredible. But first I have to tell you about the OTHER estate sales this week...

So, my adventure starts here, I stopped at this estate sale and waited in line, yada yada, you know the drill. As I was waiting in line, a man walked out with a handle of Smirnoff and some dixies cups.. I almost followed him home.. BUT, I didn't (obviously). When I finally got into the sale, I noticed that all of the people working were muscle-y sporty looking men.. It was one of my odder estate sale experiences.

Picked up this cool little art deco compact at this apartment sale, this guy had some pretty cool mid-century stuff.

Last day of the estate sale purchase, I just feel bad leaving behind all that hard work.

Now we reach the part where I tell you all about the 50's estate sale today, after  witnessing some drama with the watched list- these two people claim that they both started the list and this other woman was yelling about how she had been waiting since 5:30am (and the sale started at 10). After waiting in the rain, I finally got in. This house had some awesome stuff! I sadly watched the Fred Press fish barware walk out the door, but I managed to score some awesome stuff. This is about 1/3 of what I came away with...

All in all, a pretty good week. I stopped at this girl's lemonade stand and she was way more legit than I ever was. She had 2 kinds of lemonade, cookies, homemade dog biscuits and a cute stand. I just had to stop..
Hope ya'll had a good week too and I want to know, what's your oddest estate sale experience?
I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques

Some Small Finds This Week

This week has been a bit slow, no estate sales and the thrifts are pretty dead. I still found some cool stuff.

First time ever finding Iittala in the wild, love the bottom of this lowball glass. 

Found this turquoise Le Crueset at the local antique mall and it was pretty reasonable. 

Glasbake mugs, tea strainer and coffee scoop.

Did this display for the 4th of July and it's on instagran

Backyard benefits at my parent's.

Admired this photo of my grandma on her wedding day. I'm feeling pretty good genetically. Haha

As you know, I have a small collection of skeleton keys, does anyone have any ideas on what to do with them? Maybe display them, simple craft? Any ideas would be helpful. Hope everyone had a good 4th, I know I'm excited to get back out there for the estate sales this week.
I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques. 

Weekly Round Up: Pyrex, McCoy, Gawdy Jewelry, Mid-Century Ceramics

Had another pretty fabulous week, estate sale-ing and adventuring. I'm getting better at this whole estate sale thing, getting there early and what not. I still found myself watching people walk out the door with cool stuff and being upset that I wasn't the one who found it first. Haha, I guess I have to share.. but here's what I did come away with:

Woke up early on Saturday and dragged a couple guy friends to this estate sale,  I immediately grabbed these from the kitchen. With a little help from Barkeeper's Friend they cleaned up so nicely. You can find them here. Apparently as I was leaving some lady was asking about "the Pyrex chicken bowls." 

Found these at another estate sale, I just love Hornsea Ceramics, the patterns are just so fabulous.

One of my favorite finds that has already been sold, this promotional pyrex piece. 

The people at this sale kept making fun of my "christmas colors", cherry red Copco pot and McCoy planter.

Some jadeite finds this week. 

More McCoy, Greek style.

This Raymond Loewy tea set was found at the local consignment shop, gotta love this sleek, mod design.

Because who doesn't need a gawdy ring that's half off?

This was also half off and I like the art deco feel of this bracelet.

Went to the local Farmer's market and bought myself some flowers.

All and all, it's been a pretty good week. Thanks for checking out my finds, what was your favorite find this week? What's your favorite find of all time? Mine might be this Dansk turquoise pitcher..

I'm again linking with Melissa's Antiques, check out her blog and the thrifty Friday posts. Also linking with A Living Space.

May Have Spent My Thrift Budget by Thursday This Week

The thrifts were kind of bare this week, I did find this adorable little glass mouse.

And I found this pillow case, which was just too cute to resist.

The estate sales this week were fantastic though, these all came from the same sale. The house was so cool too, stained glass windows and built in the 30s. It was clear the people that lived there were world travelers and collectors, they had such cool stuff! 

Can you tell turquoise is one of my favorite colors? These can be found here: candlesticks, paella pan 

I have a serious affection for skeleton keys, I remember going to an estate sale with my mom when I was probably 7 and I picked out a bag of skeleton keys. What was your earliest thrift find? 

Some more fun stuff that I'll be adding to the shop this week.

I just could not resist this awkward lil nugget, that face.. I had to bring him home. 

I arrived an hour early to the final estate sale of the day and luckily this park was a block away, so I got my number and sat down next to the pond for a while. It was quite relaxing.


How did everyone's week go? What was your favorite find? I posed the question a little earlier in the post, but what is your first thrift/ garage sale/ estate sale find? I would love to know.
I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques and Sir Thrift A lot. They have great finds too.

Friday The 13th and a Honey Moon

 I'm excited to show you all the cool vintage I found this week.

Got this awesome lamp at the last day of an estate sale, it shines stars out the back and has a nautical theme on the front.

Found this cutie at the local consignment shop, you can find this Lefton Blue Bird here.

So.. This was the only reason I stood outside early for an estate sale on Friday, this other woman and I were there for the same thing. She got the shakers, which was fine, they were priced a little more than I wanted to spend.

This Orrefors raspberry candle holder was too beautiful to leave behind.

This is one of my favorite finds this week, wasn't entirely sure it was McCoy but I have a hunch. I asked my friends over at the McCoy Pottery Facebook page and they confirmed it.

My brother fixed this lamp for me this week… aka I had the wrong light bulb.. 

Successful trip to the Goodwill, found the atomic sugar bowl and Poppy Trail city scene plates.  The lamp was from an estate sale.

Ended the week with a picnic on my great aunt and uncle's farm, doesn't get much better than that, right?
Sophie, the dog, was watching the fish eat bugs off the surface of the lake. 

I had a great week thrifting and estate sale hopping, hope you did too! What was your favorite find this week?
I'm linking with Melissa's Antiques and Sir Thrift A lot, be sure to check them out for more fab vintage finds.