A Silly Verse About Yard Selling

I walk up the lane and take in a wondrous vision. 
So many different things. I am on a mission!

I remind myself not to show my pleasure, 
but I'm jumping inside at the site of these treasures.

Slowly I gaze and wonder around some more. 
Oh look! Oh my! It's milk glass galore!

Another and another. I have found so many things
to fill my spirit. It's as if I had wings.

Walking away, I smile with satisfaction.
I MUST keep going. Its such an attraction. 

-Rachel Harvey

The Value of Knowledge and Experience

 photo by Greg Ruffing via Wired Raw File

The other night Zach and I were discussing our greatest finds. I realized that we have learned and experienced so much in such a short time.

I remember the first time we went hunting for vintage and antiques for our Etsy shop.  We didn't know what to look for. We didn't know what would sell. We just bought stuff we liked and made a lot of guesses too. I remember telling Zach that I could not wait till we knew more about vintage...the history...the popular brand names...whether it was desirable.

Now, we know what we are looking for. We know what sells. Of course, we still take risks on things we don't know about. Risk is important when learning about new things. Zach likes to take more risks than I do, and I am thankful for that. He will buy a pricey item, and I will be very skeptical. I voice my opinion, but we always seem to come out great on his buys. I think he has kinda gotten a big head about it. lol 

It is so exhilarating to find an item at a yard sale for pennies-on-the-dollar and then to find out it is worth hundreds! For example: I bought a vintage item for $2 at a yard sale, brand new, never used. I sold it for almost $200. This is one of my favorite finds!

I encourage you - Go to yard sales and estate sales. Find old things you love and would use yourself. Buy used, instead of new.  Haggle! - Of course, there are bad yard/estate sale days, but it is soooo worth it when it is a good day! Ohh, it just makes my heart start thumping just thinking about it.

Yay! Zach finished it...

Welp, Zach finished my vanity, not in a timely manner, but it looks wonderful! He painted it white and I changed out the nobs for ribbon bows. I had planned on buying glass nobs, but when we took the old ones off we noticed that there were two holes. Poo. So I looked for ideas on Pinterest and found those ribbon pulls. PERFECT! And I had the ribbon already. I am very pleased!

Before...

...After!

Men...

Zach is going to paint it white, and I am going
to add some glass knobs to the drawers.

Where to start. As yall know, I have been working on redecorating my guest room. It is all painted and cleaned. Now I just have to hang up my curtains and pictures and add some nicknacks. BUT! I can't do that until my HUSBAND finishes repainting my vintage vanity. I got it at a yard sale for $22! YES! I love it. It has a art deco feel. I got it months ago and have been waiting patiently for my dear hubby to finish it. He is a very busy man. I told him I can do it, but he told me not to touch it because the old paint could contain lead. uhhh. What is a girl to do? 

I guess I will have to try a different strategy. "Hmmm," I say to myself as I look up to one side and tap my finger on my puckered lips. Compromise, or maybe renegotiation. Or this line..."You can have "this", as soon as you finish my vanity." That is what I will use. Works every time. I'll let you know how it goes.

Vintage Jewelry

I am not one to just go out and buy jewelry at a store. I have a lot of neutral jewelry which goes with just about anything. And I don't go anywhere without earrings. Lately, I've found some great vintage earrings at thrift stores. Studs are what I really look for. Big studs. Most of the vintage studs I find are clip-ons or screw-backs, but that doesn't bother me at all.

I bought these studs for only $1! Since they are mustard color, which I loooove, I wear these a lot. Most of the studs I buy are $2 or less. YAY!

Vintage jewelry usually is better quality then newer jewelry, especially for the price. So if you are a jewelry lover and are on a budget, try searching for vintage!