My Bargain Shade Garden

Back in April, I promised I would share a pic of my flea market planters that I scored for just $16, once they were all filled in. Now that it's mid-June, they are looking quite lovely, if I do say so myself. The two long wooden ones sit on either side of my porch, where a blend of New Guinea Impatiens, regular Impatiens, Vinca Vine and Coleus thrive in the shade. Didn't get the big metal tub planted this year, as I had too much yardwork to do before the bugs and heatwave arrived, but there's always next year. 

Thrifting Scores - April 2014

Spent a pleasant, sunny day yesterday hitting up garage sales in 3 different cities with my junking pal. By mid-afternoon, we were tired and a little discouraged as we hadn't found much to get excited over. But onward we marched and after grabbing a drive-thru chai tea latte I was re-charged enough to continue the hunt. At our very LAST stop (an open-air flea market), 5 minutes before closing time, I scored these two 24" long wooden planters and the 24" wide metal tub for just $16 from a vendor who simply didn't want to load it back into his truck for the drive home. Talk about a score!!! Can't wait to fill the wooden boxes up with flowers and I'm thinking about doing a miniature herb garden in the big tub. I'll post more pics later after I've got 'em all planted up. :)

Flea market picnic table out of an old wood door

I have a picnic table on my back porch that needs a new top - it is missing large chunks where the wood has rotten through, but the supports and the seats are perfectly fine. So, rather than scrapping the whole thing, I'd like to just give it a new top. Came across this idea in my research of using an old wooden door. Wouldn't that just be so cute? And it would go perfectly with the rustic, weathered nature of what's left of my picnic table. I'll have to keep a look out this summer for discarded doors left on curbs.

Let the Treasure Hunt Begin!

It's that time of year again...never mind what the weather forecast says. Chances are there's at least an indoor sale happening near you - here's a great place to start looking, http://fleaportal.com/
This weekend, I'll be heading to Princeton, IL (approx. 1 hr outside the Quad Cities) for their annual Winter Garage Sale.

Today's Score: Vintage Metal Pieces

So, I was just happily minding my own business, working at the preschool run out a local church, when I started to notice a lot of activity going on in the fellowship hall. Turns out they were gearing up for their annual garage sale (actually more like a mini flea market in size) and they encouraged all church workers to shop early to get the best deals. Oh boy did I! For a whopping $12.80 I scored the following:

3 vintage white metal storage crates: $.10 each (yeah, I couldn't believe it either). I just LOVE the decorative round holes in the sides. Sometimes it's all in the details.
5 wooden frames: $.50 each. I'm collecting them for a black/white photo wall I have planned for my living room re-do.

Vintage metal school desk: $10.00. Now THIS was just too good of a deal to pass up! I had one of those "Ah Hah!" moments when I saw it and quickly nabbed the closest person to put a SOLD sign on it for me. It's just so quirky and fun. I'm thinking of re-painting it a glossy orange color and putting in a corner in my spare bedroom as an art center for when my niece and nephew come over.

Oh Estate Sales, How I Love Thee

As I was walking through the historic Davenport home today, salivating at all the wonderful stuff at rock bottom prices, I couldn't help thinking, "Why haven't I done this before?" If I'd bought this stash at an antique store, it would have cost me probably 10 times what I paid, or more. As it happened, I only paid $24 for the whole lot. Yes, you read that right. Here's the breakdown:
- Stuffed Easy Chair: $7.50
- Antique Frame: $ 2.75
- Original Oil Painting: $12.75
- 2 Silk Scarves: $1.00

I still can't believe my luck. Of course, the chair will need to recovered, but it's comfy and sturdy and for $7.50, who cares?

I managed to suppress the little twinges of guilt that kept popping up, trying to suppress my joy at finding such fantastic bargains, because...well...for the family holding the estate sale, it is usually a painful process. Estate sales generally happen because someone has died, or there has been a divorce, a home was foreclosed or debt needs to be paid off. Parting with all those memories is understandably a very difficult thing to do. But, I hope that the family in this case, finds some comfort in knowing that their long-loved belongings are going to new homes where they will continue to be loved as they absorb new memories of their own.

Opening Day of Flea Market Season: SCORE!!!

A good friend and I woke up at an ungodly hour this past Saturday morning to go hunting...no, not the animal kind. But the thrill of the chase/capture is just as real, I dare say. What other motivation, would I have to drag myself out of bed after only 5 hours sleep? I definitely scored big, though. Considering, I had no idea what I was looking for when I started out, I managed to bring home quite a bit of useful & fabulous stuff - all for around $40! And it's just the beginning of the season!!!


Large blue glass "Ball" jar (hard to find) - perfect for flowers. $5.95


Milk glass and Monterey serving bowls. I'm having a bridal shower at my house this weekend, so they'll really come in handy. $1, $3.50, $8.25 (front to back)


Luxurious, twin-sized, creamy throw. $8.99


Throw texture.


Large white enamel stock pot, $9.95


I've already put it to good use.


Jade glass sacuer = soap dish. I love the subtle swirls throughout the glass. $2


Letter press blocks, which spell my name (backwards of course). This really is the coolest find ever! $.50