Luck of the Irish? Oh, I Think So.

Today, I went to the first sale of the season for the Edmonson Trading Post. They have a sale at least once a month, March through November, and the prices are always outrageously cheap! The owners are "auction hunters" buying up storage units throughout the year to fill their store. It is one of my favorite places around here. Seriously, I once bought a vintage Los Angeles tablecloth at the Post for 25 cents and sold it for $25 which was a probably a bargain for that buyer. I spent a total of $12 buying quite a few smalls for my booth and this - my best purchase for the day which I'm fairly certain I am keeping:

It has a little damage to the top and some places that need to be cleaned but the glass is in excellent condition and it slides freely in the grooves. I can't decide whether I should sand it down or try some other method of restoring it. The finish is sort of chippy in places. Does anybody have any suggestions? I hardly ever see mid century pieces in this neck of the woods so I am excited about finding it, and the price was only $4 so how could I possibly leave it behind. I think Irish luck came to me a day early!

The Other March Madness

NCAA basketball's March Madness is in full swing this week with conference tourneys being played and the field of 68 being announced on Sunday and I am caught up in all its glory - I love college basketball! However, on Wednesday night, I opened our little rural newspaper and to my shock and surprise, the other March Madness had begun, too - a garage sale was listed for Thursday!  With an unseasonably warm winter in Missouri and current spring-like conditions, listings I don't usually find until late March at the earliest were already popping up. Oh, hooray! Here is what I brought home with me...

The Afga Silette 35 mm camera is marked "Made in Germany" and came with the original camera case and directions - I don't collect any cameras, really, other than Kodak so I am considering selling this one although it is pretty cool. I paid $1 for it - I think it is from 1953. The Kodak Generator Flashholder is probably a keeper. It is in the original box and has the directions with it as well. It, too, was only $1 and is from 1958 - the only bummer is that the sellers put the price on the top of the box with masking tape and when I try to remove it, it rips up some of the graphics. Why do people do that?! The industrial lamp and a bag of vintage frames/photographer's cardboard photo holders were a quarter a piece - I think the photo holders will be fun to use in some art projects - my favorite is the one with the stork on it used for a baby's picture. The hobnail vase marked "Japan" was a nickle.  And I picked up the Equipto industrial bench for $3 - I haven't figured out what to do with it yet. Any suggestions?

After the sale, I went to a thrift store in the same town. I always find something there and Thursday was no exception. One of the best finds was this 1970's Lucite (or acrylic) 2-tier waterfall chandelier.

I researched some on the internet and the asking price for these is between $200 to $800! Wow - score! I have already listed this in my eBay store and hopefully it will find a good home soon.

I also picked up these vintage airline bags at the thrift store for $1 each. I have been looking for some for quite awhile and these were hidden under some other stuff just waiting for me to discover them. I am thinking of selling them but I may have to keep one for myself. The KLM bag has a luggage tag on it with a Braniff Airlines business card in it. Braniff has been defunct since 1989 (I was actually scheduled to fly with them from San Diego on the day the declared bankruptcy) so I am guessing this bag is from the 1970's or possibly early 1980's. I love the offset stripe on the American World Travel bag - very mod - I am guessing it is 1970's vintage, too. 

I have been picking up a lot of books lately. I plan on sharing some of those finds in another post but this diet book is one of the more interesting ones I got at the same thrift store. Now, this is a diet plan I can get on board with following - how could you possibly go wrong with martini's and whipped cream?! Drunk and a sugar high - who's with me? I also bought the chenille bedspread at the garage sale for $5. It has been gently loved but it doesn't have any holes or stains and all the fringe is still attached so it definitely has plenty of life left in it.

So, how has your late winter/early spring thrifting been? Have you found any treasures? Here we go... let the madness begin!

Linking up to Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday. Check out what everyone else is finding!

On Main Street

Trying to extend the Mod Lodge Vintage brand with signage and tags

I contemplated for a long time about whether to rent a flea market/antique store booth. I always liked the idea of being able to display items (merchandising) and also, having a place to take bigger items or items that wouldn't sell for enough to make it worth the effort on eBay. And, I have soooo much stuff. Really, it is taking over my basement. Finally, last summer I took the plunge. It was a disaster. The person who owned the flea market basically skipped town without paying anyone. I didn't lose much as I had only rented there for a couple of months but she still owed my over $100 plus the loss of merchandise and the rental fee. Some people lost over $1000 - ouch! I was wary to try it again, as I am sure you can understand.

Here's a peak into the 4' x 5' booth (but extends upward about 12')

About two weeks ago, I was in Warsaw, Missouri doing some shopping and I went to a few of the flea markets and antique shoppes. One of the places had some good spaces open and is in the middle of Main Street in a neat old building with the tin ceilings. After being inspired by Van at Thrift Core and several other bloggers who not only sell on the internet but also at brick and mortar locations, I decided to give it another try. My husband thinks I am crazy after the last incident but I am excited to have another place to display my thrifting wares! Hopefully, this adventure will turn out to be more positive.

Lower shelves and floor - probably needs a little work

I saved those 1970's National Geographic magazines from a
dumpster and I got the metal display stand for $10

I have a thing for metal milk crates - they're not for sale
but they make great holders and display pieces!

I am planning to add some blank greeting cards with photographs I have taken of local places and wildlife to the booth soon to give shoppers another reason to look inside. So, if you are ever in Warsaw (somewhat of a tourist town in the summer), stop by Hildebrand's Framing & Gifts on W. Main Street and peruse Mod Lodge Vintage. I would appreciate any feedback and of course, sales would be nice, too!

I am linking to Apron Thrift Girl's February Resellers Listing Challenge - even though this isn't actual listing items on the internet, it also inspired me to try again. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some cool vintage Valentine's I thrifted not too long ago for $1.50 for the entire bag which included two sheets of the "build a Valentines" and the car Valentine card. Even the instructions are neat. And the last card has graphics on the front and inside the card.  They sure don't make them like they used to - and these were made in the good ole U.S.A.  I love all the bright colors and fun graphics! Happy Valentine's everyone! Enjoy!

Baby, Baby, Baby

Our family is expecting three, yes three, new additions of the baby kind in the next few months. In fact, one is on her way here this week! We are so excited! Since all of them live a couple of hours away from us, we decided to set up a little baby area in one of the guest bedrooms for overnight visits. Our bedrooms are small so it's a little tight but I think it turned out pretty nice. I tried to stay neutral since we will be having he's and she's. Nearly everything is thrifted or vintage or both.



Overall view.
The pull down wall map is an A. J. Nystrom from 1966.
I got it at a garage sale for $1 - no lie!
The other maps are vintage jigsaw puzzles.

 

The globe on the corner of the vanity is a Fisher Price.
It lights up so it should make a good night light.

The baby quilt came from a recent auction.
The mechanic rag will be great to lay on the sheet
 when changing diapers.
Don't you love the old skateboard underneath? I couldn't resist it!

The bag hanging from the corner of the bed is made out of
a vintage baby blanket. I put diapers and other necessities in it.

 

This is an old shoe shine stool stacked with children's books.
It is in the corner behind the rocker. I thought it would be fun
for the kids to go back there & look through books
 when they are old enough.



Cool Metal Vibe

I have always been drawn to metal objects. I have a hard time passing by a utility cart or a metal watering can or a metal tray, and more often than not, if the price is right, it will come home with me. Over the last couple of months, I have noticed that I have accumulated several metal pieces, a few that I think even Mike and Frank of American Pickers would "pop" on.

Craftsman tool chest, Craftsman tool box, and Eskimo Two Speed window fan

Love this copper handle

I have fond memories of Craftsman tools and accessories. I can remember shopping at the old Sears building at 22nd & Messanie in St. Joseph, Missouri with my dad and we always spent time looking through the tools. In his opinion, there were none better. I can still "feel" the store to this day. The small tool box I picked up at a local garage sale for 25 cents. It is rusty but in good condition and the Craftsman metal plate is in near mint condition. The large tool chest and Eskimo fan I purchased at this estate sale. The tool chest was $30 and is super cool - it even had a few jigsaw patterns in it. I am not sure if the red paint is original but I like it anyway. I am thinking of using it as a night stand or end table. The Eskimo window fan was $10 and I just love the aqua case and... it runs! The copper handle and that it was manufactured in Missouri helped sell it, too.

Here are a few more items I got at the same garage sale as the Craftsman tool box. The industrial metal hooks are super heavy and cost me a whopping $3. I don't know what I am going to do with them yet but I am pretty sure I am going to keep them. The five metal gas cans cost $3.40 for the lot. They all have some red paint on them and are in fair condition. Again, what to do with them is still being pondered!

Crosby Laughlin industrial hooks

Metal gas cans with red paint

Children's wagon wheels (maybe Radio Flyer?)

I absolutely love these vintage children's wagon wheels. I found them at the Big Brown Dog Antique store in Cole Camp. I looked at them on a couple of different trips but finally, broke down and brought them home. They were $10 for the set. I think I am going to make a shelf with the two that have the metal brackets.  They are sitting on a metal magazine table I also picked up at the same place and it was also $10.

Large metal tray and metal napkin holder

I have gotten more than one red metal tray in my lifetime but I think this might be my favorite. The graphics are so fun - who doesn't love a man in an apron and billowy white chef's hat?! And for $2.00 who could resist? Certainly, not me. The napkin holder is vintage goodness, too. And it was only 25 cents!

On a recent trip to River Market Antique Mall I managed to get a few goodies. This license plate is from a long closed meat packing plant in St. Joseph. I don't know if they put them on the delivery trucks or were just for the scooters and lift trucks around the plant. This plant was in the neighborhood where I grew up so I had to have this. It was a little pricey but a piece of history from my hometown was worth the price. It is too bad that neighborhoods are not the same as they were in the past.

Two-sided cushions and cool scroll work
made this purchase a no-brainer

Sleek silhouette

Another thing I picked up at the River Market is this fabulous vintage aluminum patio chair. I don't know if the cushions are original to it but they are definitely vintage, too. We just repainted our deck and now, I am search of vintage patio furniture. I can't find a manufacturer on this piece - does anyone know who made this? I would love to have at least one more chair to match. The cost for this beauty - $34. I thought it was a steal!

So, what have you been hunting for lately? Do you dig metal? Or industrial chic? Whatever you are hauling home, I bet you have found some awesome treasures.

Friday Thrift Trip

I had the best day today. I headed over to an estate sale that was a little north of Jefferson City about 80 miles from our house. They had advertised some vintage state tablecloths and I was not disappointed when I arrived. On my way back, I stopped in Tipton at a place that is an antique store on one side and a thrift store on the other. The thrift store gives you a brown grocery bag and you pay $5 for everything you can fit in the bag and $2.50 for each additional bag. I only filled one bag but I got a lot of stuff in it. Here's my favorite item I stuffed in the bag.



Morgan Designs Bucket Brigade Ice Bucket

How totally fun is this ice bucket? It is really cool (because it's an ice bucket, of course) with the nautical theme as we live between two large lakes in Missouri. It will be perfect for those summer outings - oh, too bad we sold the boat! It will still work out on the deck. And it was made in the U.S.A. so that makes it even better. I don't know much about Morgan & Company except that they were located in Boston. I would guess this ice bucket to be from the 1960's. A great find for a $5 bag!

I've been a little remiss in posting to my blog (actually, a lot). I will share with you some more of my finds from my Friday thrift trip next week. I got some fantastic goodies including a vintage Craftsman tool chest! I think Mike and Frank would be proud. Have a super weekend!