Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Looking Into The Future

You might think that looking into the future isn't possible.  I'm here to tell you that it can be done.  And without any effort at all on your part!  Sometimes, you'll be minding your own business at a nice yard sale with your buddies and then BAM!  A lady in a kerchief carrying a tiny dog around and talking to it like it's her pal walks past you and you catch a whiff of yourself. It can be quite startling, really, seeing your future self like that.  Here she is, walking around like she doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks about her. Having an outing with her pal Foo-Foo.  Finding some deals.  Doing her thing.

Thankfully I've seen Back To The Future about a hundred and eleven times.  So I know not to talk to her.  I don't even look her in the eye for fear that we'll both scream "It's me!" and pass out.  I only secretly watch her and smile to myself.  Yep, the future looks pretty balmy from here.

After spotting myself, we stopped at a pretty amazing sale in Hidden Valley.  A lady was selling an incredible amount of vintage ceramic figurines.  Some with jewel eyes, some that were unidentifiable adorable animals.  And many, many that we needed to buy.  

You could tell that she was feeding off our delight at her wares.  (If any of you watched Lost Girl I'd tell you that she was feeding off of our yard sale Ch'i.  I've become very aware of who lives off of what Ch'i.)  She also kept talking about how hard it was for her to part with "her cats" (many of the trinkets were cat shaped).  I bought a beautiful vintage ceramic black cat and told her not to worry, that I had a collection of black cats and she would be joining a family.  She thanked me for telling her.

I also bought a pair of vintage rhinestone earrings for a broach bouquet that my friend is going to make for her wedding.  As we were assessing the earrings the lady asked us what we were buying them for.  I told her and she had never heard of a broach bouquet but seemed charmed by the idea.  Then she asked me if I got the idea from Pinterest.  This lady was at least 65 if she was a day.  You cannot imagine how it warms the cockles of my heart to know that ladies that age are into Pinterest, my true love.  (Sorry Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Pinterest is now taking up more real estate in my heart than you are.  I know it hurts now, but it's for the best.)

We also went to the Churchville Green sales.  Tons and tons of sales, plush fresh popped popcorn and hot dogs (for the meat eaters).  I only got a short teal sarong (Batik with palm trees, obviously.) and a small, red, vintage truck for one of my Christmas displays.


So, In Summary:
If a kid claiming to be Calvin Klein or Clint Eastwood comes up to you looking for Doctor Emmet Brown, just stay out of his way.  He's got important stuff to do. 
Also, don't call him chicken.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Quantity Not Necessarily Quality

This week was a very busy sale week what with the Ronald McDonald House sale and the Monroe Ave Church sale, etc.  All told I went to 5 sales:  2 church sales, 2 neighborhood sales and the warehouse RMD sale.  So, that is exciting.  Although, I got next to nothing, so that is a bit depressing.

At the RMD sale this year there was a lot of fresh blood.  Lots of friends who had never been, lots of excitement.  We bought the shit out of that place.  For the kids.  And a little bit for avarice.  

It was sunny and warm outside which made standing in line a delight.  Some of us even caught a little sun on our skin!  I got tons of stuff for my Etsy page, but only one thing for myself.  And I have to give the credit to Sarah Mae.  Because she found it and presented it to me and I nearly wet myself.  Witness:


This is a rather rare Sigma Muppets Ceramic Box.  $3.  It has a little chip that has fallen off and been repaired.  BUT WHO CARES!?!?  CAN YOU SEE THIS!?!?  Sarah handed it to me and I was just clutching it.  Terrified it might break or slip away from me somehow.  Terrified it might be some kind of beautiful dream.  I stood in line for about 8 minutes just to get it wrapped up so that it would be safe as can be.  At this sale 8 minutes is a lifetime.

As you can see Miss Piggy is laying on her heart shaped bed looking at a picture of her true love, Kermie.  That's kind of exactly where I like to stop in the whole heart shaped bed/Muppets line of thinking.



And since I didn't get a ton of stuff, I'll show you some awesome things that friends of mine got.  This segment is called "Favorite Finds" and is brought to you by the letters R, M and D.

First up is the Gia big eyed sad cat picture.  Bought by Paul.  Paul is moving in with his girlfriend soon and she might not be as amiable to big eyed sad cat pictures as Paul is.  He stands by his purchase, however.  And I have to admit, that thing looks pretty great on the brick loft wall.  


Next up is Sarah Mae's firefighter wire truck planters.  I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like them before.  Adorable and unique!



Michelle purchased this Frenchy shot glass.  The lady on the glass is walking a tiny Dachshund.  Michelle owns an adorable Dachshund named Gilda.  It was meant to be!


Last but not least is Abby and Noah's mid century bar cart.  I was actually ringside for this find.  We were marching towards the checkout, ready to leave.  Noah stopped in the bathroom section at this rack of matching trash cans and tissue box covers.  I was like, "Oh please god, no."  Because there was not a cute set on the entire display and sometimes Noah has...broad tastes.  Abby was like "Oh, whoa.  Yes!"  And I was just looking and looking and trying to find something nice to say.  But, it turns out they were looking at the cart everything was piled on.  Ohhh.  The cart had a tag, but no price.  The fun loving bathroom section lady said, "I'll make you a deal!"  and bustled away to get us a sticker.  Meanwhile Noah and I debated the merits of offering $20 verses $30.  The worker lady came back and slapped a price tag on the cart without even asking anyone what they might pay for it.  $3.50.  THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.  The moral of this story is: RMD sale.


At the Monroe Ave church sale I picked up two items for a quarter each.  Hot pink shoe laces that will look pretty rad in my black Chucks and a vintage shot glass of a lady wearing a veil.  Her eyes are painted on the back of the glass, which makes her eyes look like they are following you.  It says "One is my limit" on the other side.  It seems like there is some kind of joke I'm missing, here.  It's super weird and I love it.


I love me some holiday decor.  That's why I was thrilled to find some  vintage and hand made Halloween stuff this week.  Floral picks of flocked pumpkins wearing witch hats, cats and some hand made crepe paper medallions.  I might string them into a fun little garland.


I scored this vintage board game for 50 cents.  It's never been played.  I love the exclamation point in the title.  Makes it seem like it's going to be super intense.


This white wooden mirror was 25 cents.  Probably my favorite purchase of the week (after the Miss Piggy ceramic box, of course).  It's exactly the right amount of old and chippy to be super shabby chic.


So, In Summary:
It's super nice outside and I have to get out there.  No time for a summary.