Spring Vintage Finds, a.k.a. Couldn’t Hold Back…
Spring is closing up and summer is beginning, which means the best season of treasure hunting is winding down…thank goodness! Because the truth is, you can take the store away from the girl, but you can’t take the vintage junk love away! Despite the fact I haven’t been selling for the first time in many years, old habits die hard! The junk hunt is my springtime entertainment! Church Sales, Curbside Junking and Garage and Estate sales is how I love to enjoy the spring. Although I’ve been holding back…there’s still some vintage finds I just couldn’t hold back on!
So before I dive fully into summer projects and decorating, I thought I’d recap what came home with me this spring (and why)! If you love to see the results of a good junk hunt, you may want to check out “Curbside Junking Adventures and Tips”, “Estate Sales 101 and Insider Tips”, “Church Sales 101″, and “A Vintage Junker’s Guide: Where to Find the Good Stuff”. You can live vicariously through my treasure hunting!
The only thing I was really looking for this spring were some restaurant-ware vintage dishes with aqua, grey and green accents. I wanted to mix and match them with some other pieces I’ve found here and there and use them as our everyday dishes. I like their weight, and they wear so well! At my favorite little, old church sale where nothing has a price on it, I found the 6 plates and 5 cups above! I grabbed them immediately, falling in love with their peacock blue design and simple style! Check that off the list; now I don’t need anything else, right?
I wish the addiction was that simple…
Because despite the fact that I could “Feed the 5000”, as Mr. Fix-it tells me, I keep buying dishes! And I never seem to be able to part with any:(
This mish-mosh of Pink Depression was at the same sale! I’ve had little accent pieces here and there, but never actual plates and cups and saucers! Yes, last year I scored an amazing set of Green Depression {“Green Depression Glass and a Little Junk for a Garden Party”} for a song…think I need to stage a pretty party with this new acquisition, now too!
And then there were the 2 boxes of brand new, never-been-used “Friendly Village” Johnson Bros place settings…
Oh, the transferware images with the classic church in the falling snow, and the rustic barn in the country setting…and the colors! Anyone know of a dish-a-holic hoarders group I can join?
One can always use more beautiful, old books in vignettes around the house {“Decorating with Books, 101 and Beyond”}. Old Reader’s Digests with pretty, patterned papers and interesting designs on old hardcovers always catch my eye when they’re the right price (and also in the colors I love:).
I also have a weakness for cake plates. They are so handy for creating elevation when hosting a buffet, and I do love anything with a pedestal! Maybe I need to start renting these out, I have so many…?
There’s a lot of scale lovers out there, I know. I picked up this cutie for $2, and didn’t realize until a week later it’s arrow had broken off. Do I care? Nah-it’s all about the numbers and the graphics! The mini one will look cute with it’s bigger friends.
Enamelware pieces are such a fun vessel to serve picnic foods in, in the summertime. My mom passed her green roaster on to me a while back, so this pretty blue with black one needed to come home and be it’s friend:
I offered it to sister, but she let me have it;)
Is anyone else drawn to old towels? I like their embossed designs and pretty flower designs. They add a nice vintage flair to the bathroom, and I’m also thinking I need to whip up some beach bags with them:
These directional signs were mixed in with the craft supplies at one church sale. They’re super heavy and I think they might have come off an old car. I want to use them in my new office I need to work on this summer!
Floral and craft supplies are always so cheap at church sales! I always add some to my stash when the price is right!
And last, but definitely not least, is the vintage, round, black suitcase I found while Memorial weekend cabin saling with the family girls! My brain’s got re-purposing ideas spinning around for this cutie! Stay tuned!
I wish I could say that was everything…but I’m sure I’m forgetting something! I held myself back from a lot of things I would have bought if I still had the store-honest! Later this week I’ll share my curbside junking finds and my plans for them!
What spring vintage finds did you bring home this year? What are the items you just can’t hold yourself back from? I’m glad treasure hunting season is quieting down now; I need to work all this stuff in! And make a plan to clear some of the old out!
Sharing at these lovely parties:
To Grandma’s House We Go
I have recently discovered your blog, and I love it! Thanks for such great repurposing ideas! When I am out junking I have a jar problem… can’t seem to walk away. Recently though I found two old gallon pickle jars that someone had made wooden lids for on a lathe. They’re my new favorites in my kitchen. But really I will pick up any jar I think I can use or is an interesting shape or such!
Thanks, Heather! So glad you found me here;) I called my former store partner the “jar queen”; all 15+ years we sold together, she was always picking up jars. She soaked and scrubbed them and put absolutely everything in them…even Brillo pads. And we sold a TON of them, so you are not alone, jar lover! I have plenty myself from hanging around her so much;) Your wooden lidded pickle jars sound wonderful! Anything with a handcrafted touch makes vintage even more special!
Great finds Lora, maybe we should do a re-count on the Dish Challenge, I’d be happy to pass the crown!
Ha! I have a feeling you’d still beat me…;)
WOW! You scored big time! Adore those pink dishes and the church scene Friendly Village! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thanks for pinning, Cecilia!
Love all your finds. I bet you can find some clock hands on clearance (or with a c/o) at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc. and super glue it over the existing stub! I have a friend who has Friendly Village; if I had it, I would use it all winter (and here in Maine, THAT’S a LONG time!). I hope one enamel pan nests inside the other to take up less space! Also cut for storage. Can’t wait to see what you do with the black suitcase. It could always live with your great stack of picnic baskets! Love the topiaries; I always pick up craft supplies if they are cheap as they as SOOO expensive now! I miss getting a bag of “deadheads” from Walmart for $1–the blooms that fall off the silk flowers. Great for projects. I am still buying books to read; the only decor I use them for is to fill my not-enough-shelves!!! My finds this week were a Westmoreland candy covered dish with 2 doves and a (probably new) Jadeite cake plate and clear glass cover just big enough for 4 cupcakes! First keeper piece of Jadeite!
Your jadeite cake plate with glass cover sounds amazing, Kathy, even if it’s not old! And yes, I’m sure I’ve got something laying around that I can use as an arrow on the scale. And winter is plenty long here in MN too…I need pretty dishes to help my sanity!
Wow, what amazing finds! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Your welcome, Chas!
I too love to go junking and have found some good bargains. Some times I don’t but I always say if it’s for me to find I am happy and if it’s not it wasn’t for me to have. You really hit the jack pot. I love the books. Thank you for sharing your great fines.
Yes, Jonita, I’m always happy with whatever I come across too. Some days are better than others, but it spreads out the money outlay better that way!