Let the Garage Sales Begin!!

And they have in my area.....

It only takes a few good sales to get those "picker junker antique hunter" cells moving again and getting into it full swing for the most wonderful time of the year :-)

When two garage sales happen to be next door to each other, it's even better!

This past weekend was a score for me and I have been furiously listing my treasures in my Etsy shop since then.
(If you see something you want without it being highlighted, send me a message).

These were all from one sale, run by three generations of the family. The eldest lady there had an eye for vintage!

I fell in love with this sweet mirror made in Italy in the 1800's.

And the crate/box it is sitting on was a last minute 'gotta have it' buy. It is painted aqua with shelves and a really nice label on the top.

She was parting with her jadeite swirl mixing bowl and McCoy blue and pink pasta bowl,

and I was glad to take them home with me.

What vintage lover could resist chippy, rusty metal plant holders? Not me! I scooped both up.

These cedar cigar boxes are always good sellers in my shop. This one is in excellent condition and perfect for keepsakes, trinkets and jewelry.

She had a box full of vintage cigar boxes, which are quite collectible, but I resisted taking them all except the White Owl Invincibles cigar box.

I never pass up a tool box, especially when it is aqua! 

I never pass up galvanized buckets or enamel graniteware pans either. The rustier the better! They make great planters or fairy gardens.

This next item is for me. I am going to try this in my garden this year. I love the idea of an old drawer filled to the brim with flowers. I have to plan my colors and varieties still.....ya know we shouldn't plant anything here in the Northeast till Memorial Day, so I have time. I really try to stick with that. I wouldn't want to have to crush this drawer full of flowers by covering it for an impending frost.

Also great as planters and lots of other things, are these wooden advertising boxes.

This one held Libby's cooked corned beef...blech. It's a cute box though!

On to two other sales where I found these Holt Howard roosters.....

this cute anthropomorphic (defined as something having human characteristics) teabag holder

a 1960ish set of vanity containers...

and this set of really cool 1950's pennants.

I have been thrifting all winter but there is something about the hunt at garage sales when the weather turns warmer that makes me want to share what I found.

Gotta go finish listing all this stuff so I can go buy some more!

AnnMarie xoxo

One more thing.....I think I have a new collection starting.....

You may have noticed that I consistently sign my name with an xoxo after it. 

Before Christmas last year I found these cute sterling xo earrings from a local jewelry artist. I wear them almost everyday.

Then at one of the garage sales this past weekend I found these XO letters and of course I had to have them....

I guess that's how it all starts!

I am linking up to these blog parties:

Vintage Charm

You're The Star Blog Hop
Keep in Touch
Tuesday with a Twist Link Party
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
Share Your Cup

This post is featured at Share Your Cup!!

Flea Market Pickin'

I find the best stuff when I'm not lookin'.


It has been so barren and uneventful in the pickin' department around here lately and I have been confined to the local Goodwill and flea markets. It is just about garage sale and yard sale season, but not quite yet.....


This past Saturday was another one of those times when I was out running lots of errands around town and decided to drop into the local flea. It just happens to be right across the street from the bank and the post office.

It is usually hit or miss most of the time there, but I was happy to see that Brenda is back!


Brenda is one of those crazy, thrifting ladies (like me) that loves to chat away about all her finds and where she got them. I don't know her personally but have followed her around the different places she has had shops. She moved south for awhile and now she is back and set up shop in Bob's Flea Market right in town.


She and I have the same taste in vintage treasures.


I really didn't make it much past her booth!


The first thing that caught my eye was this super heavy cement squirrel...

Not sure what I was thinking because I hate squirrels!! Okay, hate is a strong word....I strongly dislike them! They have overrun our yard and invade my bird feeders to the point that I can't feed the birds anymore.

I thought he was cute though. He is from an estate sale down south and probably from the '60's.

Here is all the stuff I got from Brenda's booth.....all except the stool. That one was Bob's, the owner.

I was in the mood for buyin' and Brenda was in the mood for bundlin'. I got a great deal on all my treasures.

The frog is from the same estate sale as the squirrel and he is also heavy cement. He is pretty chipped up but I think he is a keeper. He will keep my other rusty metal frog company for awhile on the front porch steps.



I can never pass up a wooden stool or a wooden tool caddy. I will be listing this one in my Etsy shop soon.

I cannot pass up a pitcher or creamer either....especially an ironstone one. And the recipe box is an FTD flower planter from 1985. It is cute and retro and has a faux wood look with raised flowers and letters. Pretty kitschy!

I was thrilled to see the set of three aqua Butterprint Pyrex dishes (I am thrilled with finding anything aqua!). The refrigerator dishes have their lids but the casserole does not. They are sold as a set in my Etsy shop here.

Then there is the wooden stool. Oh, how I cannot pass up a vintage looking stool! It is heavy, sturdy and nicely scratched up. It was probably a milking stool and is a great farmhouse décor piece to use as a step stool. It is available here.



One last item that thrilled my heart to see today. My daughter texted me that she saw a yard sale on her way to work this morning......on a Monday?


It was on my way home so I had to stop. Lots of high priced furniture and stuff I didn't want but then I spied with my little eye, this wooden aqua tool chest. I asked how much and the guy said, in a voice that sounded like he was afraid it was too high, "$4?" I kept my cool and said okay, "I'll take it."


What??!! Happy dance in my head!

The top is marked "tip up". My daughter and granddaughter informed me that tip ups are the things you use in ice fishing to signal when a fish is on the line.

I learned something new today too.


I think there is a better use for this fabulous box.....how about some potted plants in there with the lid up?

I am happy for now. I saw a few signs for sales coming up in town later this week and my favorite, a church rummage sale, next week.


I like to stick close to home. So far it works for me!


AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these fun blog parties:


Let's Talk Vintage
Share Your Cup
Vintage Charm Party

No Rules Weekend Blog Party

You're all caught up...

Well, where has the time gone?


Since my last post, that is.


Other than crazy busyness, I have had writer's block and/or not enough to write a whole post about in the last month or so.


Oh, there were definitely things happening....


** I could have shared my 60th birthday celebration....


My birthday cake....home made Carrot Cake....

The food we ate.....


Fettucine Alfredo, Greens and Beans, Artichokes French, Chicken Wings, White Pizza

and the family and friends that attended....

Some of my besties

Irene and Me

My daughters Candice and Jena

Darlene and Kim. Kim is wearing the necklace I made for all my birthday guests.

Granddaughters Chloe and Cassidy

and a few of the gifts I received.....

Garnet is my birthstone

Is this me or what?!

** I could have shared all the treasures found from the non-stop thrifting and picking I have been doing.....

I have been thrifting like crazy the last month or so in anticipation of moving into the full room of the booth I have at Rustiques. No time to post about the stuff I have accumulated....been cleaning and researching, pricing and tagging them all. It all happened February 1st.







The sweet yellow dresser has sold already. I have a new passion for offering furniture in my booth and will be thrifting this Spring and Summer for small pieces at the many yard and garage sales that will start popping up. For now I have my local Goodwill which has had some pretty good stuff lately.

** I could have shared a ton of recipes from all the baking I have done.....

I have been baking up a storm lately too, for the Dessert Theatres that our traveling community theatre, Impact Theatre puts on in our area. I have been using my tried and true recipes that I make a lot, like New Jersey Crumb Cake.

and Biscotti

I need to slow down now for awhile and will be forced to soon in March. That is when I will have carpel tunnel surgery and removal of a cyst on my finger, all on my right hand.

Not looking forward to that but it must be done.

Two fingers will be bandaged together but I may still be pecking away at my computer with my first finger and thumb!

** I could have.......

I guess I just did!! 

AnnMarie  xoxo


I am linking up with these fun blog parties:


Share Your Cup
Vintage Charm Party
No Rules Weekend Blog Party
Sweet Inspirations
Anything Goes Pink Saturday
Best of the Weekend