One Person's Junk is Another Person's Treasure

I felt compelled to write about my treasures that I’ve found from garage sales, thrift stores, Estate sales, craigslist, and even free-cycle.com. I’m addicted to these activities because I’ve been finding some great items. Every Saturday morning, unless we have other plans or go out of town, we go to garage and Estate sales. Sometimes we come home empty-handed, but most of the time we bring something home, like maybe a $2 baton for Tampa, like the one I used to have that isn’t made anymore or a cool book, kite string, or even an $80 Farberware electric grill that I found for $7 that works beautifully and that I use to cook my tri-tip. There's always a garage sale, at least to look.

Tampa and I have a great little thrift shop in Solvang that we go to after music class every week. I’d say about 90% of the time we bring something home, a basket or a book, maybe, or even something better. I’ve always loved used bookstores, the smell reminds me of a “treasure chest” that my Mom has in her closet. She keeps all of her items from her youth in it and I remember enjoying it when she’d go through her stuff and show me all the cool things in it. My Mom thankfully, still has my Dad’s stuff and whenever I go to visit I enjoy going through the boxes of the things he held dear. That’s why I don’t understand how people could so easily get rid of some of the things I find. :OP But it’s great for me because now I can own and use some of the one of a kind pieces of junk that are now my treasures…

I bought all of this plus a fan that I use every night for $26 at a garage sale. I know it's not very Walorfy, I bought it when Tampa was a wee baby, but it works for her. I ended up buying the Level 1 HOP on ebaby for $25.

This picnic basket was $10 at a garage sale. I told the lady that it was too much. She wanted me to haggle with her. I'm not into haggling. I ended up getting it for $5, anyway. It's perfect for my wool and in the lid part there are pockets for my felting needle, knitting needles and crochet hooks.

This was from a German lady at a garage sale. It was made in Germany along with all the furniture. $30 and Santa Claus delivered it Christmas morning.

Garage sale $7 for all

Library book sale (we happen to be members) $.50 per inch is the rate. These probably cost $2. The illustrations and stories are beautiful. They don't make books like they used to. Mitch placed a moratorium on fairy tale books. I even explained to him that they're different tellings of the same story and different illustrations. I have a slight obsession with collecting large fairy tale books. These pictured aren't the only ones...

This cool fairy tale puzzle was $2 at a garage sale. Being that the puzzle is made of cubes, it has six different fairy tale puzzles.

This wind-chime I just bought from our favorite thrift shop for $1.50. It's a little worn from use, but it still sounds beautiful. The chimes that the picture shows are perfectly tuned in the keys of B D E G C.

Beautiful wooden checkerboard for $2. Again, recent purchase that I bought with the wind chimes.

I also have another dutch oven that goes with this but it's in our camping gear. $2 bought us 2 cast iron dutch ovens, skillet, and a couple of lids that didn't fit. I bought the lid for $8 at a garage sale to go with these. Sure, they aren't as pretty as Le Creuset, but they sure can make a delicious cassoulet or skillet breakfast like you wouldn't believe.

$.50 at our fave thrift store

Bought this at a thrift store driving out of Yosemite on route 40. $2 on sale for $1. Like I really needed another loom. By the way, that's the original weaving, not mine...

Got this yesterday on free-cycle. Perfect touch for our faerie garden.

My pride and joy from last week and the reason why I wanted to write about this. Tampa and I were coming home last Friday from blueberry pickin'. We took the scenic route and followed signs for an Estate sale. $2. Probably used once. I LOVE it!!!!

Anyway, I don't consider myself a consumer, I hate shopping, actually. This is really about finding things that you really want and need. Quality items that don't have the made in China insignia on them. Well, maybe some of them still do, but I think it's worth taking a look and checking out what's out there before buying something overpriced and made in a sweatshop.

Now, if only I could find a grain mill...