Sunday, April 25, 2010

Thrifty Treasures for the Home and Garden

This weekend was the start of neighborhood garage sale season in my area. There were quite a few of them so I went Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, I was one of the first people at a home decorator's sale. She stages homes that are on the market. Her prices were wonderful so I snatched up several items. I got three bags of eggs for $1.00 each, a Pottery Barn lamp for $2.00 with a spiral compact fluorescent light bulb still in it. The shutters were $2.00, the painted tray was $2.00, the mercury glass candle stick was $1.00, the old wood finials were $1.00 and the heavy mirror was $5.00. I spent about $16.00 at her house and got a lot of really nice things!

I went to a barn sale and got the old boat oar.



I also picked up three clay fireplace flue tiles at the barn sale, I got all three of them for $10.00. I wanted to use them as planters in the garden. I think I'll use one of them for a bird bath stand if I can find a saucer or bird bath top to fit, mine are too small. I can't wait until I have flowers blooming in this butterfly garden filling in the area around my new planters!

One thing that I have wanted for a long time, but couldn't justify the expense, was a heated bird bath. We stopped at one sale and the sweet elderly lady was moving to Texas to live near her son. She had the heated bird bath for two dollars!

We ended up back in the same neighborhood on Saturday and stopped by her home again. We struck up a conversation with her. She loves gardening and bird watching. She let us in the house to see go through her huge assortment of books and magazines and to see her lovely garden. I now have a a very large stack of Birds and Bloom and other gardening magazines to enjoy along with a wonderful book on attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.

I was also excited to find the green glass drawer pulls and at a different sale I got glass door knobs!

We went to one garage sale and they were packing up early. It had been raining off and on all day Saturday. We were shocked when they told us we could have whatever we wanted. Two red and green cabbage plates were free along with several nice antique china pieces.

I got so many things there's no way to mention them all. I'll try to post about them as I begin to repurpose and decorate using them in my home and garden.

I'm linking today to Southern Hospitality, Thrifty Treasures.

26 comments:

Marla said...

Robin, you really did well, it's unusual to get such nice items at such great prices. I'm sure you will something great to do with them all. smiles, Marla

Hilary said...

Oh how I love garage sales and the wonderful treasures to be found. You sure got yourself some wonderful bargains. Good for you!

René said...

OK next time I am going with you. You must know all of the hot spots. Your finds are all wonderful!!

Have a great week.

Anonymous said...

Wish I had been with you--you mentioned things I'd want too. I seem to like what you like--well I especially like the cabbage plate. I do want to see the rest.
Hugs to you today!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

I am bonkers of the awesome finds you see to luck up on. I am not that lucky. I am green with envy!

Unknown said...

Okay, that's it, I'm going garage saleing next weekend. You had some terrific finds.

F Cameron said...

You brought home some neat finds! I do like the flues for use in the garden. Glad you got your heated birdbath!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Robin, I love, love your finds. Those eggs, mirror & lamp are great bargains. And to get some freebies too, what a deal. Thanks for linking up today.

Gail said...

You have the best luck at these sales and look at the wonderful goodies! I think there are one or two professional crews who hit ours very early and clean out the good stuff! Robin the chimney flues would look good mosaiced with old broken plates and cups! gail

Angie Holden said...

Wow nice finds -- color me jealous!!

Linda said...

Wow, what great treasures you acquired at the garage sales. I love garage 'sale'ing too.

Tammy said...

I bought a 14" beautiful blue glazed pot tray to use as a birdbath bowl. Check out mine at link below. I got it at Gabriels brothers for $9.99
http://tammyinwv.blogspot.com/search/label/Birdbath

Wendy said...

Wow! you did really well! They are some awesome finds and great prices!

Joanne Olivieri said...

It is amazing what you can find at local garage sales. I usually scour Craigslist and try to hit the Estate sales on Fridays before the weekends. It's a great way to shop and decorate your home.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I rarely do yard sales but when I see these kinds of treasures and their prices I kick myself for not getting around to them. I looks like you had a great time.

Anonymous said...

Every time I go to a garage sale, they are full of useless junk! I sure wish I'd find a heated bird bath for $2. You found some real treasures.

Unknown said...

What fun for you! I don't have the garage sale/flea market/yard sale gene, so it would drive me completely bonkers to stop at one of these events , but I'm always delighted by what other people find. Plus we'll have the pleasure of seeing what you create from your newfound treasures!

marmee said...

robin,

sounds like you hit the jackpot for sure. enjoy...i will be looking forward to seeing what you do with all your goodies.
happy april.

Kay said...

wonderful finds..makes me rethink my personal ban on stopping at yard sales!

Jan said...

I suppose I should take advantage of some of the sales but I always seem to enjoy hanging around the house with my family on the weekends...then by the time I want to go out the best things are gone. My mother was a garage sale addict--literally. She did get some wonderful things and luckily she's passed some of them to me since she really couldn't use them all. I like 'estate sales', especially if you're looking for furniture. My mom got the loveliest set--coffee table & 2 end tables--at one. My 'buffet' in my dining room was something she got also...it was painted & she stripped it and put a cherry stain on it. A 'pie' table in my l.r. was one she got, too. You just never know what you'll find. I've enjoyed other posts you've written about your treasures;-)

beckie said...

Wow Robin! I need to go garage saleing with you. Wonderfl buys and I don't blame you for being excited. Those fireplace tile will be beautiful when planted. makes me want to find something like those for my garden.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

What an awesome assortment of treasures! I can't decide if the glass pulls or chimney flus are my favorites.

It's cool you got to visit with the lady who was moving. I met an older lady at a birthday party for her adult niece, and we enjoyed yakking with each other about gardening, working with special needs students and stuff. (Her daughter in Oregon does.)

I need to clean my house before going to many garage sales this season. Also, I need to make some big payments on our kitchen appliances.

Sherrie said...

Okay I'll admit it. I am jealous all of all your finds, every one of them would be fabulous in my home, not to mention that I am drooling over the prices. Good for you.

Connie said...

Wonderful finds....we have similar taste!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What wonderful finds! I want to live in your area....I never find things at garage sales, so I usually just run to the antique mall...
Hugs,
Penny

NCmountainwoman said...

I must start going to yard sales. I had forgotten how much fun they can be. Thanks for the reminder.