Hi everyone! I promised yesterday I’d give some details about time I spent with my sweet husband this past week-end, celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. On Saturday, we puttered around town, stopping at whatever garage sales caught our fancy. We made several vintage purchases and then decided around 1 that lunch was in order, so we popped into our favorite Indian restaurant, Karavalli’s, in Latham (NY).
After a delicious meal, we drove to nearby Valatie to enjoy their 5th annual downtown craft fair. Live music played and the sun shone as we strolled down the main street. Later, when we drove south out of town, we began to follow some estate sale signs. In the small town of Stuyvesant Falls, we found ourselves pulling into the driveway of a beautiful old home. We had barely walked through the front door when we overheard someone say, “Everything outside under the tent is free.” Music to my ears, of course. I began to walk with great decorum toward the back door, then gave up and sort of trotted out to the tent. Yeah, you gotta run, not walk to the free tent, right?
Before I get to some of the free goods, take a look at this beauty. I picked him up at one of the morning garage sales (cost: $1.00, value: $35-40.00). He’s not an antique, but he sure is handsome.
Here we go–free stuff. Shaker cookbook (value: $3-4.00), hand broom ($8.00), jelly jars ($1-2.00 each). Interested in learning more about the Shakers? Check out my post on the Shaker Heritage Society.
More free stuff. Pottery ramekins ($2.00 each), vintage cake pan ($6.00), cool aluminum pie server ($10.00).
More free stuff. Measuring cups ($5.00), biscuit cutter ($4.00), peeler ($3.00). The cake tin, spoons, and round metal thingy I’ll use for crafting.
Also free. I have a small collection of orphan ironstone lids going. I’ve seen them arranged artistically on a gallery wall. Might do that. If you’re looking for more info about ironstone, check out my Ironstone Price Guide.
This doll vanity (also free) is missing its mirror, but I thought it would be easy enough to replace. The side pieces have slots that should hold a new mirror. With a paint job, it’ll be a cutie.
Isn’t the alligator (I think) bag on top something? It’s handle is in pretty sad shape, but otherwise it’s not bad (also free, value: ?). The leather briefcase below (also free, value: ?) has certainly seen better days, but could not be passed up. The stool they’re sitting on, I actually paid money for, can you believe it? Its bottom brace needs reattachment and then I think it should be good to go (cost: $3.00, value: $20.00).
The leather and brass on the briefcase are ruggedly handsome.
While the wooden stool has a bit of a balance problem, I think it can be fixed (free, value: $25-30.00). Both amazing pairs of cowboy boots came from one sale (cost: $1.00 each, value: $25+). I’ve got to do some research on them as I’ve never sold any before. The pair on the left are “BILTRITE” brand, the pair on the right, “DURANGO.”
Vintage blue willow platter, unmarked, likely American made (cost: $1.00, value: $12-15.00). The International Willow Collectors website offers some interesting FAQs you might want to take a look at.
I occassionally buy country accessories for my customers, like this weeping tree, especially when priced right (cost: $1.00, value: $15-18.00). I thought the basket was so unusual, I had to buy it (cost: 50 cents, value: $20-25.00).
Final Find: I’m not sure what to call this piece–a postal sorting station(?!!). Maybe you all have some ideas for me. The poor quality photo is due to the fact that it still lays in the back of my van–until I find some room for it in my garage. I want to bring it up to my booth (after a good cleaning) as soon as possible. I think it’s a pretty amazing piece (cost: $10.00, value: $100-125.00). Be sure to come back next week when I’ll be sharing the rest of my free finds from under the tent.
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Great finds — and free is the best!
Your finds are wonderful.
The postal sorter item. I have one in my office and it really helps keep me organized.
When I bought mine they said it was the interior of an old desk. Unfortunately they busted up the desk to take to the dump. I always wonder what the desk looked like.
Love all of your goodies, Diana…especially that beautiful horse!
Oh my gosh, how do you manage to get so much good stuff every time? Those old bags are awesome, and uh, free stuff? Forget the decorum, run don’t walk! xoKathleen
Love the doll vanity….The postal box thingy—-Might be interesting made into a Vertical piece (plate tray storage?) rolled linens?) was hard to tell the proportions, but it looks fairly deep. We just don’t shuffle that much paper in our lives anymore. Cool finds, Cool post, Thanks, Sandi
The horse is my favorite of your finds! So cool!!
Yes, the horse is very handsome! So many finds, and I can just see you walking so smoothly to the back door and then bolting toward the free! We have a basket like the one you found in our booth. I love how you got all this free stuff and then paid for the wobblies, lol. We’re all crazy.
Wow, amazing finds! And Oh MY Gosh…all that free stuff…love it all and would have taken it all! I love that peeler the best! The ironstone lids are amazing too and will look so pretty on a wall!
And that horse, so pretty…I love horse items, used to ride when I was younger and there really isn’t another animal that as beautiful and majestic!
It is funny that they made you pay 3.00 for that stool and so many other things worth more money were free…
Can’t wait to see the rest of your free things!
Kimberley
Lots of great stuff! Love the Vintage blue willow platter!
Well Diana, you have amazed us again with your wonderful finds. Great stuff. I think the horse is beautiful. For some reason, I am loving horses right now. The cubby/sorter unit is from inside a desk … if it is large, likely was in one of those antique oak roll top desks like what was in banks. I say banks because that was what was in the vintage bank I worked in. If it is small, it could have been in a drop- front writing desk. Great piece. Looking forward to your Vintage Finds Party tomorrow.
Blessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Fast walking is a necessary skill for a free tent or table. great finds. Everything is my favorite! Like Audrey above I think the sorter is part of a desk also.
The boots are fabulous finds and I’m dying …..a dollar????
Happy anniversary!!
GREAT finds! I especially LOVE that horse. 😀
I am officially jealous! We never have flea markets or yard sales around here with such awesome finds. I agree with everyone else that the horse is pretty awesome, but I would love the postal station for crafts/fabric.
I always love checking out your finds! I can’t believe how many good ones there are each week! I thought I was doing pretty good at yardsales and thrift stores but you do an amazing job! Those Jelly jars are my favorite! There are so many things I would love love love to do with them! I wish we were closer because I would snap those up in a second! Thanks for stopping by to link with us!
Cat
The mail sorting shelves actually look like the shelves they had in motels when they used keys. They would put messages in the little slots, because the rooms had no phones. Whether it’s origin is the post office or a cool old hotel, great find.
Great finds, Diana! I love old cookbooks and that postal sorter is fabulous!