Blue Chair Update: Freeze!

I finished the blue chair...I planted it with white daisy mums, yellow mums, red mini-peppers, red geranium and blue pansies. It looked great. I thought I would put a few more small plants in (I like my container gardens FULL) and take pictures of the finished product for you the next day. But my plans were foiled by the strange weather we've been experiencing. Apparently we had two days of fall this year instead of our usual allotment of three. My plants froze. It was 70+ degrees the day I bought the plants and two days later we saw temperatures in the high 20s. Ouch! For people and plants. So, to make a short post even shorter, I will replant it and show you the final project as soon as I can replace the plants.

Look at the table to the left: I DID make that (or my own version)

I love stuff. But I'm cheap. That's the inspiration behind most of my creations. I see things I love in stores I can't afford to even be shopping in: Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Anthrpologie, Z Gallerie, Anthropologie - you get the picture.

When I see something I really want, I'm inspired to try to make it - perhaps "fake it" would be a better term. I carry a picture on my phone and refer to it as I look for similar shapes or details in items at yard sales or thrift stores (pathetic, I know!) Such was the case with the Blue Butterfly Table. If you look left at the "I Want to Make That" feature you will see the inspiration piece from Urban Outfitters (younger, hipper sibling of Anthropologie.) It's a simple pedestal table in a medium blue with just a hint of aqua (check out Pottery Barn Kids - they have tons of furniture the same color. So I was looking for the same shape wooden table, figuring I would have to strip it and try to recreate the color. But fortune was smiling on me - I found THE TABLE, in THE COLOR at a yard sale price. I love it when a good plan comes together.

Found the table just like this!

I got the table home and thought it needed a little something more. Since it has a lip around the edge, I decided to get a glass top to fit into it and then decoupage something on the table surface. But then I had an idea, what if I did something under the glass that WASN'T permanent, something that could be changed at the whim of the owner and that's what I did.

Butterflies!

So currently, the table has lovely Victorian butterfly decals, the kind you put on walls and can remove easily. The results are beautiful, if I do say so myself.  Just waiting for the glass top to be finished and the project will be fait accomplis! Sadly I will need to find this little beauty a new home. I'd rather keep it, but I've got lots of future projects that are crowding my very patient husband out of the house. So it's gotta go. If you are interested let me know...local (Metro Bakersfield) buyers get free delivery. I'll research shipping for anyone not in the general vicinity.

So, if you are interested, please comment me, email me, Facebook me, tweet  me, text me, check out my Etsy shop or just leaflet my house for goodness sake!

You've GOT to see this - Virtual Vintage Vaccuum Cleaner Museum open for business

If you love all things retro...especially those bordering on kitsch, you've got to check out Dennis Foster's Vintage Vacuum Gallery and Museum. Now, I collect some unusual items, but I am thrilled to see the lowly vacuum, an icon of household efficiency, finally elevated to the status it deserves as a design element.

And my kids complain about using a dust-buster!

I understand the museum will continue to grow and that some things may be available for those who are interested. If you are interested in donating your vintage vacuum, I'm sure he would love to hear from you! Click here to go to the Vintage Vacuum Museum!

Recycling Tomorrow Etsy Shop is up and running!

Hi all - So excited to share with you that as of tonight, my Recycling Tomorrow Etsy Shop is officially open! I only have three things on it, but I'm working hard to get more inventory listed for you. So, what's on? Right now, I have listed a set of the Dysfunctional Family Christmas Lights from earlier this week, the vintage embroidered dress pillow and the plaid scrubs pillow.

Dysfunctional Family Christmas Lights

Vintage embroidered child's dress pillow

Scrubs and vintage button pillow

Still to come: vintage button rings, more pillows, fun and funky headbands, vintage hats with interchangeable flowers, mirrors and other framed art, furniture, antique china tiered serving plates and, as always, special orders!

So check it out, give me your thoughts, your feedback, your carefully construed constructive criticism or anything else you want to tell me. Just be gentle, I'm new at all this!

And as this holiday weekend comes to a close I just want to tell you all how thankful I am that you have chosen to spend some of your precious time with me. I'm also thankful to my family for tolerating the hoarding required to create my projects. Most of all, I am thankful to God, for providing me with the blessing of being able to stay home with my children and create (art, not more children!)

Wishing you the start to a joyful holiday season.

Cristy

Family drama? Turn old prescription bottles into my "Dysfunctional Family Holiday Lights."

First, let me say that I come to you, hanging my head in shame, for not blogging for so long. No excuses, just apologies. To honor your faith and understanding, I'm not going to blather on today, I'm just going to take you step by step through a fun and easy project. These "Dysfunctional Family Christmas Lights" will make a great gift for a fellow victim of holiday family drama or your favorite pharmaceutical person!

 What you need:

• Amber prescription bottles of different sizes
• Strand of standard white mini-lights
• Drill with 5/16 bit
• Printable labels (I like Avery because of their easy to use templates)

Step 1: Gather your prescription bottles. Unlike me, you may have trouble amassing a vast array of shapes and sizes. So ask people. Your parents are a good place to start. Then try your crazy neighbor (we all have one, except for me, because I AM the crazy neighbor. Chances are, people are happy to share them once they know the labels will be discarded (some may even offer to remove the labels themselves, which saves you a step.)

 Step 2: Remove the labels from your bottles.You've basically got a 50/50 chance here. The labels will either peel off easily or they will stick like they have been glued, taped and covered in some sort of anti-removal coating NASA invented for the space program. For the stubborn ones, try a little dish soap soak and a scrubby sponge. I STRONGLY urge you to wash the bottles and caps in the dishwasher. While you are not going to be drinking shots out of them (okay most of you aren't and the rest of you know who you are) these bottles have contained drugs. Better safe than hopped up on your grandma's blood pressure medication.

Step 3: Dry and recap your clean bottles. This and the next step will be much easier to accomplish with the lids on the bottles! Using your drill with 5/16 bit, drill through the center of the lid of the first bottle. Then, when your husband tells you that you did it wrong, let him finish it while you kick it on the sofa.

 Step 4: Firmly push the light bulb and socket through the hole. It should be tight but you should be able to push it through. If not, tell your husband HE did it wrong and insist the he drill the holes just a wee bit bigger. If the holes are too large, break out the trusty glue gun and cement the lights in by applying glue on the INSIDE of the cap. Chances are though, they will fit perfectly.




 Step 5: Make up something funny to put on your spoof labels. Mine say "Take up to 10 tablets daily by mouth before attending any family holiday. For best results, do drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication." You can personalize them for a friend, a business, even for those family members that are partially, if not completely, responsible for the dysfunction in family. Print out your labels, apply them and (if you want) coat with spray sealant.

Step 6: Plug in and enjoy!

Divorce: supporting your friends and praying for God's guidance

I have a dear friend who is just beginning to deal with a cheating husband and a divorce. It's his third time cheating and this time she is done taking it. She is an amazing friend, a committed Christian and a loving mother to her three children and her husband's niece, since the girl's mother tends to disappear. She has spent the last 14 years loving him unquestionably, raising the children, keeping the house, caring for her elderly mother and, when she could squeeze some personal time in, attending the nursing program at BC to create a better life for her family.

And her husband, who has a really good job, took it upon himself to take a night job....a somewhat sketchy night job. She didn't like it, but she tolerated it. They needed the extra money. But 4 to 8 quickly turned to 4 to 9, eventually 4 to 10 and sometimes, he didn't come home until the wee hours of the morning. This could have gone on indefinitely if she allowed it. But that is not who she is anymore. She stood up and said "NO!" You can't be a part-time father, a no-time husband and someone who is a part of this family on his own terms. I'm not pro-divorce, but I am anti-walk-all-over-me-because-I love-you.

This isn't about me, but it makes my divorce (more than 13 years ago) very fresh for me. I feel her pain. I feel the roller coaster of emotions she feels as he comes and goes, seemingly unable to choose between his family and the new woman in his life. But mostly, I'm mad on her behalf and for myself.

So David (my beloved husband) and I want to do anything we can to help. This is where our "Mars and Venus" mix-up quite obvious. David (Venus) is the loving, nurturing, "let me hold you and listen to you person." I, on the other hand, am the Mars. My response is "alright, lets get down to business and divorce this sucker right now."

I think she needs both approaches right now. And both of us, having been blindsided by cheating spouses in our earlier marriages, need to help her. We were lucky. We had financial stability, close families to take care of us and, eventually, each other. She has no money, five people to take care of (not counting herself) and a growing fear that her husband is going to refuse to pay support and leave her homeless.

Through all of this, her faith is unwavering. She doesn't pray for God to heal her marriage. She prays for God to give her strength to follow whatever plan He has for her. I ask you, my readers, to pray for her too. It is hard to believe that in today's day and age, that a beautiful, smart, funny, loving woman can be left in the streets through no fault of her own. I believe we are all part of God's plan for her...a plan to help her survive and perhaps a plan for the rest of us to appreciate the gifts he has given us and the wisdom to use those gifts to help others as He did for us.

Bless you all and please, offer up your prayers for this family.

Cristy

Vintage Garden Chair almost finished! Lot of new barn-fresh finds from this weekend!

Hi all - sorry I fell off the radar this weekend. I spent the whole weekend feeling ill, not sick, but just not quite right either. I told my husband that if I didn't know better, I'd swear I was pregnant. But I DO know better....after our last one (unplanned but very much loved) we could off the major supply routes and closed down that factory!

Anyway, I'm feeling better today and wanted to give you all an update on the blue chair and a look at some of the great buys I made this weekend at a killer estate sale! So first, blue vintage garden chair. After I'm finished with this project, I will post a step by step guide on doing it yourself. But I've been so busy doing it, I haven't photographed or videotaped the project as I wanted to. So here is where we are pot chosen, hole in set cut to size, Talavera tile bought and smashed (my favorite part) and the mosaic completed on the seat. Today, the whole thing should be dry and I can plant the pot and it will be ready to dress up someones flowerbeds, patio or yard. So here are some updated pictures:

Blue garden chair, after paint treatment

Vintage pot waiting for its new home

Talavera tile mosaic seat.

Final photos and step-by-step-coming soon!

Here's a look at some of the great stuff I got this weekend that is on the upcycling list! Keep coming back for more fun stuff, great projects and advice on putting your finds to work!

Yummy, wool hand-knit cable blanket. Weighs about 10 pounds. The best part? It's reminds of the Love Plus One video from Haircut 100...cute boys in all white cable knit sweaters. $5

Paid way too much for this, but haven't seen too many this ornate in this good of shape, so I had to have it! $62.50

Vintage embroidery in butter yellow and linen white. Looking to reframe it to bring out the colors more. $6

Plaster rose heart frame. Thinking about painting this in a glossy black, silver or red finish. $1

 

 

 

 

Share your opinion: Would you use a personal bargain shopper?

Hi all - I spend a lot of time in thrift stores and at yard sales. I often pass up really high-end designer brands because they don't fit anyone in my family and, quite honestly, I'm done messing with Ebay. A friend made a really nice offer to buy the Burberry dress I found earlier this week at Goodwill and said she would love to have the ability to bargain shop but just doesn't have the time. The conversation gave me an idea. But I want to turn to you, my faithful followers (all 15 of you) and ask:

• Would you wear clothes from a thrift store or yard sale if they were designer brands, in near perfect condition?
• If you had time, would you shop these sorts of locations for clothing and home items?
• Would you use a personal shopper armed with your sizes and what labels you prefer? 
• Would you pay 10 to 20% (or less) for used designer clothes (which includes the shopper's costs?)

Let me know your thoughts. Today marks the beginning of the shopping weekend and since I will be out there I'm ready to shop for a few clients on an experimental basis!

Cristy (and if you aren't following me yet, do so!)

The Blue Chair Project day one: Paint and destroy!

Painting is one of my favorite things to do. Not rooms. Painting a room is too much work now. There's the "whole falling off the ladder thing," the "pulling your back thing," the "it takes too long for someone who needs immediate gratification" thing. So I sit before a little white yard sale chair, planning on adding a vintage clay pot and some of my plant collection to create a planter chair. But first, PAINT!

 I just want to give a shout out to my friends at Ace Hardware for creating the Paint Pod, a nearly 5 oz. sample of their private label paint. Not only is the coverage awesome and the colors unlimited, it gives you enough to get the job done without feeling an obligation to do your next three to four projects in the same color to not waste the paint. Paint Pods were designed so people can sample the colors, but they've got a whole different audience for these high quality, low volume and cost (under $4 per pod)  treasures.

Old chair, taking the first step towards its new life.

On to the chair. It is solid but the finish is trashed. Perhaps you remember it, above. Got it at a yard sale for a few bucks. Since I want a rough finish, I wipe it down with a soft dry cloth, no stripping or sanding. I brush on a quick but thick coat of Ace's Decadent Blue Paint Pod Paint with an inexpensive brush (remember, we're not going for a smooth lacquer finish here.) It dries quickly,so I do a few more paint and dry rotations.

Now the fun part. DE-painting. Giving it the old "Why yes, I have been sitting beside the barn for several years, thank you for saving me" finish. So I hit it with some hand sanding. (Thanks 3M for the new sanding block with stick-on sanding paper---makes sanding quick and easy!) Knock it around with a hammer. Sand a little more. See, this is the secret of faux finish. Most people think it is hard, but it is really just painting it up, knocking the finish down and repeating it until you like it. That's it. No skill, all boldness BE BOLD!

My Decadent Blue yard sale chair

Blue chair with vintage Mexican pottery.

So, now I have a Decadent Blue aged chair. And I just happen to have a dilapidated vintage Mexican clay pot that will work perfectly with it. The next step is cutting a whole for the pot and planting it up. Check back later make sure I didn't cut off any body parts and to see this project as it comes together. And to see a "before" picture of my next victim!

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When good dentist visits go bad or why I think Tylenol should make a Mother's Guilt formula

What a day. If anyone is actually reading my ramblings, you know Jack had to go to the dentist today. Jack has had an extra tooth surgically removed, two teeth pulled and "acidic" spit which creates the perfect environment for "cavity bugs." Needless to say Jack HATES the dentist.

I was dreading Jack's appointment as much as he would, had he known about it. I learned to not give him advance notice. If I do he becomes fixated and for Jack, that means a constant barrage of questions about general dentistry, what they are going to do to him and the death rates of pediatric dentistry. So he grilled me for the hour between waking up and actually seeing the dentist.

After our last experience at the dentist (two teeth pulled and a root canal) I convinced him that today was going to be piece of cake. Maybe it was even the mention of something sweet in his presence, but when they went into to do the two fillings, they found another one under the gum line and this one went to the root. Great. Now I'm a liar and a guilt-ridden mother thinking I should make him brush his teeth three, maybe four times a day.

He survived the fillings. He survived the fitting for some new mouth appliance to keep his top front teeth from sitting behind the lower ones. He even survived the extra shots. It was when they were cleaning up and pulled out the mouth thingy (I always think condom) and snagged and pulled out his loose tooth which went flying and was immediately lost to the tooth gods (who also apparently oversee single-sock-world.) That was just enough to put him over the edge. Writing the $600 check (my portion AFTER the insurance pays) put me over the edge.

We drove home, stopped by 7-11 to pick up Slurpees (the wonder-drink that cures all.) We loaded up on Tylenol (him for the teeth, me for the headache - they don't make a Tylenol Guilt formula yet.) And we napped. It was wonderful. He sloooooowly drifted of to sleep (maybe Tylenol should consider a Children's PM formula?) And we slept. For a couple of hours. Something I never allow myself to do or get around to doing.

So I'm sorry I don't have a project to share with you. Today, my project was being a mom. And I think it turned out pretty good.

Special note: my son is provided a toothbrush and supervised in its use twice daily. I do not or did not let him sleep with a bottle at night (dad is a different story.) Just wanted to note that...I'd hate to lose that mother-of-the-year award.

Jackson, most likely getting a cavity as we speak.

Creative flow interrupted by a trip to the dentist!

This morning my 7-year-old son Jackson is going to the dentist. He didn't know until this morning, because he would have obsessed himself sick and I would just be tired of playing 20 questions (more like 20,000 questions) about the upcoming dentist trip.

Going to the dentist is a lot different than I was as a kid. We didn't have video games in the treatment area. We had shots and Novocaine not pinches and sleepy water. To our credit, however, we got those groovy spit sinks and plenty of radiation damage from the old skool X-rays, not to mention those Mercury-filled fillings.

But I still get nervous when I get there, open the door and smell that dentist small (antiseptic and burning drilled teed) whooshes out. Suddenly I'm 7 again and I'm not looking forward to the experience, no matter what they call the stuff. But luckily, one thing has never changed - the good kid treasure chest. There is no amount of drilling that can't be forgotten by a cheap plastic ring, some pencils and a sticker. Oh, and Slurpee. 7-11 is our traditional family post-dentist-visit treat!

So have a great day and we will see you at 7-11 with our treasure chest booty and our sleepy water wearing off!

Cristy

Extra: How many blogs can give you cats in sombreros?

Hi all - found this little sombrero at Goodwill today. Knew my cat Gracie had to have it. He didn't agree. So after some heated discussion, here he is in his Halloween costume. Plotting my death or at least some serious pain. And, yes, those are his real paws...

Cristy

Insane Bargain Alert!

Just got back from my Monday run to Goodwill and had to tell you I just found a girls Burberry (yes, Burberry) plaid wool jumper dress. Darling colors, cute cut, perfect condition for a whopping $2.50, probably about 2% of the original price. (My husband corrected me on the percentage, which got me looking at girls' Burberry dresses for girls on Saks and Nordstrom's website. Holy Cat! This is an even bigger bargain than I thought!


This is way too nice for recycling, it just needs a new home with a fashion-forward, label-conscious young lady. So what should I do friends? Ebay? Anyone interested?

Colors are brighter than shown....raspberry, chocolate, 

robin's egg blue and kiwi green on a field of cream...great herringbone pattern!

The Label. A fake? I don't think so. This dress is made incredibly well!

Mixed feelings about Mondays

Tomorrow's Monday, again. When I was careering, I dreaded Mondays. I'd look back at the weekend and all I had accomplished (or didn't quite accomplish) and realize I didn't spend much time enjoying down time or even my family time.

Now, Mondays leave me with mixed feelings. I'm excited for the alone time, to spend on my projects, in my garden or hunting for new finds. But at the same time, I'm a bit sad. I actually miss having the hustle and bustle of the family around. I miss having my husband by my side, working on projects.

Here's to Mondays. Hope yours is a good one.

Just two of the reasons I look forward to Mondays!

Vintage bird cage, barn found soda crates and (finally!) a clam-shell patio chair!

Hi all - as promised, here are the photographic highlights of my yard saling weekend. But first a little story: I got to play American Pickers! I asked a particularly friendly seller if she had any other garden or yard items and she happily toured me around her backyard treasure trove. Bliss! Everything was for sale and everything was a bargain! Moral of the Story: Never be afraid to ask!

So here comes the good stuff:

Old Pepsi soda crate, stamped with the local distributor - $10

Seven Up, Bakersfield soda crate. $10

Vintage grocery/feed scale - $20

Sorry about the rotation issue--I'm still figuring this out. Barn-found birdcage - $1 Chandelier?

Just a chair. Repaint, re-seat and use as a plant stand - $2

 

Unusual vintage radio cabinet according to seller. It will make a great little storage trunk or side table - $5

Why didn't I think of this? Old brake drum as planter. Very rustic, very heavy - no one will steal this off your porch. - $2

Funny little metal tray embossed with a spinning wheel - $2

Sweet little bird figures - free!

Vintage linen apron with embroidery - $2

 

Rotation issue again - sorry. But, I finally got m chipper-shredder - $15

Rotation - this was apparently placed over dishes of food and water for domestic chickens, pigeons, etc. The birds could stick their heads through to eat, but couldn't get in and wallow around in their food. I wonder if they make these in 7-year-old boy size? Got 3 for $1 each. Anthropologie bird cage chandelier??

Nirvana - metal clam shell motel patio chair in better than average shape - $10.

Hope you had a great weekend at the sales. If you did, post your favorite finds. I'd love to see them and, who knows, maybe we could start a trading group!

Cristy

DIY - Welcome Mat "Iron" Headboard

My husband and I finally decided to upgrade to a king size bed to better fit  us, two body pillows, the dog, an occasional cat and regular guest appearances by our 7-year-old son. But it meant giving up our gorgeous hand-crafted iron bed. Since we paid a bit more to get a "green" (and really comfy) bed, we wanted to come up with a high style headboard on a low budget price.

I had seen a segment on HGTV where the designer used rubber "iron" door mats as wall stencils. Thinking I would try it, I visited my local Lowe's (too close for financial comfort) to check out their selection of mats. That's when it struck me--(ding)--the solution to my headboard blues. I could make my own "iron" headboard for under $50 the cost of four mats plus some nails in a similar color. One hour of later, we had a great looking headboard without breaking the bank.

Here's how you can make one too!

1. Choose your mats
2. Decide whether to use them vertically or horizontally. We based this partly on our design preference, but also considered which direction would match up better with the width of our bed.
3. Push your bed up against the wall where it will be. Measure the width of the bed and mark a center point on the wall behind it.
4. Hold the first mat against the wall just above the bed and and on the center line. Mark points on the wall where you can put the nails to hang your mats.
5. Do the same with the other mats, working from the center out.
6. Use a level to make sure all your nail holes will be even and start nailing.
7. Hang your mats up, push your bed into place and, Voila! One really cheap headboard.
8. Bonus note: If you ever change your decor you won't have to buy door mats for years to come!

If you want more specific directions, please sent me a comment. If you have great headboard creations of your own, please share them!

Thanks - Cristy

Shopping an estate sale in a haunted house: it must be Halloween!

Every neighborhood had one. The haunted house. Rumored to be the site of some grisly murder. Spooky. Foreboding. Mine was 400 McDonald Way. It was old. It was a weathered gray. And it sat in silence as our suburban neighborhoods grew up around it. It was now tops on my yard sale list for Friday, which I didn't realize until I pulled up out front and saw the "Estate Sale" signs.

Heart pounding, the theme to Jaws pounding in my head, I crossed the threshold. I was really glad my father was with me (they never cease to be daddy when things get tough.)  It was a house. A normal house. A sad house full of someones memories for sale. I poked around, picked up a vintage embroidered apron, Christmas tablecloth and a few knick-knacks. Then I noticed that there were items on the patio (I love vintage garden stuff!) I made my way outside where I found tons of goodies. I also found a small elderly lady warming herself in the sun.

We said hello and began talking. I found out it was her home and that she was having to move. She seemed sad. I told her the entire haunted house story and she laughed softly and told me she had heard many stories about the house from passers-by. Her favorite, she said, was the story of Old McDonald (I kid you not, that is what he was called) got the house to  put on his farmland. Apparently, Old McDonald won the house in a poker game. To move the home, she said, they rolled it on logs for miles. She continued to tell me stories and she brightened with each.

I ended up with some good stuff at that sale. The best was meeting the lady of the manor and finding out the house that seemed so scary was really a place of love, of light, of memories.

Thanks for indulging my emotional meandering. I'll post pictures of this weekend's finds tomorrow along with an amazing tip for making a beautiful wrought iron headboard for under $50.

Cristy

MY Yard Sale Plan for the Weekend

Hi all - wanted to share my personal yard sale plan for the weekend here in Bakersfield. I pluck these directly from ads and listings, so please forgive any format and/or spelling issues. For once, they aren't mine. This list does not contain every sale this weekend, but the ones that have caught my eye. Hope to see you out there!

Yard Sale List – October 22/23

Friday

11405 Clarion River Dr (Stockdale and River Run area.) Huge moving sale. Everything must go! Bedroom set, Living room set, Kitchen stuff. Too much to mention. Drive by Friday for early sale. Sat 7-11am

12213 Lone Oak Court -Lassen Dr. & Lone Oak Court Furniture, toys, rabbit cages, garden composter, gas BBQ, TV, household items, chipper shredder and lots of assorted kitchen stuff. No early birds please

4109 Garnsey Ln.....in front of Harris elementary school ( behind Mimi's on Calif ave ) furniture, household, misc...Antique display hutch, cedar trunk, Oak rocking chair, kids rocking chair, old chairs, tables, jewelery box, pictures, pots and pans. Will be getting even more, different things, later that day out of storage for Saturday. 7:30am Friday 7:00am Sat

305 S. Myrtle St. ROTOTILLER - SAW - HEAVY DUTY OPEN WOOD BURNING STOVE SAUCER - FIRESTONE 205/65/15 - BRIDGE STONE 235/70/ 16 - HOUSE BLINDS - MISL KITCHEN STUFF - SINK BASIN - Q / SIZE BED FRAME - GAZELLE - CHILD'S 3 WHEELER - ROCKINHORSE - SOME CLOTHING - MORE. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 8:00 AM

12412 PRAIRIE ROSE WAY, ROSEDALE TO ALLEN LEFT ON ALLEN TO DOVE CREEK, FIRST LEFT, FOLLOW SIGNS! HUGH YARD SALE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY LOTS AND LOTS OF STUFF ALL HAS GOTTA GO!!!
FURNITURE, HOME DECOR, TOYS, ETC...SOME NEW ALL CHEEEEEP!!

2020 G Street WAREHOUSE SALE Fri & Sat 7AM

400 McDonald Way. Fri & Sat 9am & Sun10am Roseville pottery & collectibles, furn., applc., and Much More!

ESTATE SALE 3916 Reno Ave Fri. & Sat. 7am. 20 years of teaching material,

Saturday

2216 Chris Ct., Bakersfield, CA 93306 (Located between Mt. Vernon & Oswell. From Mt. Vernon Avenue: Turn east on College, north on Manley, east on Angela and north on Chris Ct.)Antiques, Clocks, Mirrors, Books, Christmas Decor, Crystal, Canister Sets, Cookie Jars, Teapots, Collectibles, Vintage glassware, Lamps, Framed Art, Bird Bath, outdoor water fountain, TV's, etc.
Saturday 10/23/10, 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

2909 Manor  7 am until ???? Furniture: Hide-a-bed, several tables, chairs, small desk, queen headboard, Large Jewelry box, 2 entertainment centers, Vanity and much more .  Clothing: infant boys, toddler girls, teenage girls, women's and men's a few Halloween Costumes, shoes, purses, etc... Household: Decor, Knick Knacks, Pots and pans, dishes  Electronics, tools, fishing poles, tackle, Organizers, white boards, jewelry, Camping supplies, Art supplies, craft supplies, fabric and scrap booking items Too much to list!

CONCORD CT. NW off Brimhall Rd. Multi-Family Sale, Sat. 7am-noon. Lots Of Everything!

9202 Leslie Deann Ct, Multi-Family: Many estate items, vintage collect., antiques, some furn., vintage Xmas & more. Sat 7am-2pm

Korean Presbyterian Church of Bakersfield, 1600 Calloway Dr. 7am-2pm. Clothings, Furniture, Appliances, Electronics, & many more.

Fuel up with your chocolate mini donuts

Becoming a Yard Sale Ninja, Lesson 2

As promised here is the second lesson in successful yard sale shopping. I'm going to assume you used my advice from yesterday and have figured out where you want to go and gathered all your supplies. I need to add another reminder about Friday shopping. You may be thinking, "I can't do that, I work on Fridays." Nice try. Yard sales start at 5 or 6 a.m. whether the ad says "no early birds" or not. That gives you a good hour or two before work...primo shopping time! Okay. My Friday propaganda is done for now, so let's move on to working the actual sale.

1. Make sure you are prepared according to my directions yesterday. List of sales, chocolate mini-donuts and soda with crushed ice, small bills and a navigation system (called a map in my world.) In my advanced yard sale program, you can learn about the more serious tools I've seen in my work. Nothing says serious like a shopper in a miner's hat with a blinding LED light standing on the sidewalk at 3 a.m.
2. Be picky. If the yard sale looks lame, chances are it is lame. So do the annoyingly slow drive-by to see if they have the good stuff in the garage, on the side of the house or (nirvana) an estate sale inside the house. Don't be afraid to keep driving if you don't think it is worth your time. It means more time for you and upholds my personal political agenda of outlawing yard sales with less than 20 items.
3.  Be flexible. Another good yard sale tool is a small set of binoculars. Unless you're 17, your eyes may have difficulty reading those yard sale signs as you fly by, all hopped up on sugar, caffeine and hope. Use your specs to check out the signs you see, make sure they are current (people should have to take down their signs by the end of the weekend or face prosecution in my Utopia) and take a leap of faith as to whether you want to stay the course or follow this new path. Use the force to guide you. And the driver should never serve as the spotter unless you have a death wish.
4. Work with a partner. This is war. And how well you fight it determines how much booty you walk away with. Partner with other upcyclers or friends who "get" you and know what you want. Your last resort is your spouse, but beware. While they mean well, they can be easily distracted by shiny things such as tools, golf clubs or barbecue grills. And then they drop the Petunia Picklebottom Diaper bag in pristine condition for $5, only to have it snatched up by some lady who has no idea who Petunia Picklebottom is, but figures it must be good since you are now beating your husband with the tools and golf clubs (and the grill if you have the strength.)
5. A note about kids. If you must bring yours, it's a good idea to give them each a couple of bucks and teach them about capitalism while keeping them out of your hair. They'll get their new toy itch scratched and you'll have toys to sell in your next yard sale. Other people's kids aren't so easy. For every thoughtful shopper, there seems to be dozens that let their kids run amok. Take a deep breath, remember your goal and shove them out of the way if you have to. And for goodness sakes, watch out for the little urchins as you arrive or leave. Nothing can ruin your shopping day like running over someone.
6. Grab the goods! If you think you may even consider wanting something, grab it and carry it with you...this is where those great oversize recycled bags come in handy...kind of like your own shopping cart. If someone is looking at something you want, don't be rude and grab it (unless you really want it.) Lurk. Sigh heavily. Scream, "Oh my gosh, I just saw Justin Bieber at the yard sale across the street." Works every time. Once you think you've done your damage, hunker down in a corner and paw through your stuff. Keep what you really want and put the rest back (and stand back so you don't get hurt while someone else snatches it from you!)
7. You've heard that most people are more afraid of public speaking than dying. I'm thinking haggling is a close third. You don't want to insult the seller, but every penny you save is...well...a penny you save. Work it like an Ebay auction. Know ahead of time how much are you willing to pay and what you consider your walk-away price. Remember, the earlier in the sale, the less likely sellers are usually willing to haggle. Come back on Sunday and they will pay you to take it! My favorite technique is to let them try and tell me the cost of each individual item. Once I figure out where they are going, I graciously interrupt them and make an offer for the whole lot, usually about 20 percent less than what all the items would be individually. If you pull the cash out of your pocket as you say it, the motivation factor is increased. Nine times out of ten, they will take it rather than have to do the math. And, hey, you've already got your treasures bagged!
8. Finally, make sure your eyes aren't bigger than your car. There is nothing funnier than someone trying to strap a king size bed on top of a Nissan Cube, unless you are that person. Don't be that person. Drive a LARGE vehicle or make arrangements for a friend with a truck to come back later to pick up your larger items.

Okay, this is much longer than I planned, but I want you to be ready to storm the beaches tomorrow (Friday!) I'm going with some of my other gainfully unemployed girlfriends. I'll try and figure out how to post illustrative photos of the process and maybe a video or two! Happy shopping!

Brother, can you spare an authentic South American crewel work blouse in a large enough size for me to make a pillow out of it. Oh, and for a dime?

I've always been kind of into yard sales. The idea that you might find that hidden gem-- that first edition Mark Twain for 25 cents could be pretty motivating. But not motivating enough to get me out of bed at 5 a.m. so I can fight with strangers over cracked dishes and clothes that smell slightly of mold and moth balls.

But then I learned the ART of the yard sale and a whole new shopping world opened up to me. I love Nordstrom and would shop there every day of the week. But the reality is, I'm now unemployed and required to insure a 16-year-old male driver. Needless to say, my discretionary spending barely covers a Big Mac value meal and definitely not super sized.

Okay, so back to the yard sales. As an upcycler, this is your raw material: your canvas and paint. And it's your cheapest source of supplies, except for dumpster diving, which we will save for another day. So listen, dear student, and I will teach you...

Cristy's Guide to Getting What You Want at Yard Sales Without Having to Fight Some Lady and Her Kids, part 1: Where to Shop

1. Do your research. Check the newspaper classifieds, Craig's List, word of mouth, people with OCD who hang their signs on Wednesday.
2. Take Friday off. People are increasingly starting their yard sales on Friday. On Friday, you get the best stuff and there is a much smaller crowd, kind of like Disneyland on Thanksgiving.
3. Limit your options to make the most of your time. Neighborhood/group sales are great one stop shopping, so start there. After that, map out the sales in neighborhoods where you think you may find what you want (yes, this is yard sale profiling.)
4.  A special note about estate sales. The words "estate sale" have long meant that somebody passed away and their family is letting perfect strangers paw through all the stuff in their house for bargains. Sounds macabre and kind of is, but you can really score on the cool stuff! However,  people have started using the term for any old sale because they know we will flock like moths to the flame. I think they should pass a law that says you can't call it an estate sale unless you have a death certificate in hand. And while I'm at it, you shouldn't be able to call it any kind of sale unless you have at least 20 items. 
5. Fuel up for the long morning ahead. Make sure your gas tank is full and while at the gas station pick up a couple of packs of mini chocolate donuts and a soda with crushed ice. It's gonna be a long morning.
6. Get some small bills. If you try to pay for $2 worth of items with a $100 bill prepare to be jumped and detained as a counterfeiter. Or at least be ready for heavy sighs, dirty looks and rolled eyes.

Okay, now that your prep work is done, we can move into the sale itself. But let's save that for the next post, shall we. Don't worry, you will be ready to roll by Friday (YES-Friday,) with mad yard sale ninja skills.