Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Vintage Finds from an Annual Garage Sale


The local Scouts and Venturers have recently had their annual garage sale and it is one not to be missed.  Last year I was bowled over in the rush by those nasty dealers, who seem to check any remaining manners they have at the door.  The Scout parents are a little bit accusatory as well, asking many times if I had paid for this or that, but I guess they have experience of people pilfering stuff so in hindsight, you can hardly blame them. 


This year I left the serious types to go their hardest on the Saturday and decided to wait until Sunday to rummage through the left overs.  Whilst there was not as much "good junk" left by the Sunday, it was an altogether much pleasanter experience and I still came up with a few cute finds.


I scored a couple of these little apothecary bottles.  There was a whole box of them, which I really should have purchased to try my hand at home made scent to give away as gifts, but I have never really been that much of an earth mother. 


So I just bought two and plonked them in with the rest of my coastal collection.


I also scored these vintage ramekins, which will be perfect for some Spanish eggs coming to the Beach House soon.


I bought this etching for $1 and with the frame detailing I couldn't go past it,  One can't help but be a little bit sad that this lady is  possibly someones mother and she is now consigned to the junk pile of life.  It will almost be disrespectful to paint over her with chalkboard paint, so I will remove her first. 


But my favourite piece of all is the decorative chaffing dish holder. She was a black wreck when I spied her, but I knew she would clean up a treat.  She would have once had a glass insert and possibly graced some elegant North Shore table full of roasted vegetables in her day.  She came without the insert, but I had a plastic bowl which fit rather well.  I filled it with camellia from my mother's lovely Winter garden and hey presto, it's one of the pretties things I have seen all week.  It doesn't take much to up cycle old junk, but it sure is worth it.


See you next time Beach Dwellers.

If you would like Desire Empire posts to come straight to your inbox every ten days or so, you can sign up here for my Newsletter.

Today I am linked up here

21 comments :

  1. Wow, great finds! You have great taste.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You found some great pieces. Looking forward to seeing the Spanish eggs. I love the picture frame and the container for your flowers is a true treasure xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the chaffing dish holder - great find!

    ReplyDelete
  4. great finds! love a good market or sale
    Fiona x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your a girl after my own heart. Think the second day is better at a garage sale too, think you just need to use your imagination a little more and often work out for the better. Your chalk board will be lovely... was a lovely etching too! xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. You have such an eye for finding gorgeous things x

    ReplyDelete
  7. You sure do have a good eye Carolyn. How sad that woman'e photo finished up in the junk pile indeed. It would've been a very big deal having that picture done. Never mind.

    Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Lady on the photo was someones mother and also the Queen of Holland, she was the grandmother of the present King.

    Margo (on Vancouver island)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Margo for letting us know. I appreciate it.
      Carolyn

      Delete
  9. Hi Carolyn,

    You have a great eye, love your work! Nothing better than a great day of vintage thrifting....

    Cheers
    Karen
    At Home Vintage

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Carolyn I love that silver dish I think it needs to live over here -love dee x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I got one of those silver dish things at a thrift shop but loved it without the insert. I use it to put candles, pine cones, things like that in it. Reminds me, I haven't had it out lately, will use it tomorrow. Would be pretty to put fancy soaps in with a pretty cloth do you think?
    I love all your goodies. I feel same way you do about the dear lady in the frame. I'd feel bad not respecting her. The frame is gorgeous. Glad you found some great goodies. The ramekins are great, will be very handy and versatile for you. Happy summer or is it winter there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great ideas for using the chaffing dish. Yep it's the middle of Winter down here, although with Spring temps you wouldn't know it.

      Carolyn

      Delete
  12. I have one of those chafing dishes that is terribly black. I think I will try to clean it up. xo Laura

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely finds! The chafing dish is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Carolyn
    woow. really great finds :)
    and do not miss.....

    SATURDAY SHOW OFF

    it is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carolyn, Great Finds! Would love for you to share at Simple & Sweet Fridays. New Follower!

    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is such a great centerpiece! The flowers are stunning! Come link up your post at my party Centerpiece Wednesday http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2013/07/centerpiece-wednesday-85-and-wrap-up.html
    Karin

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...