This Week’s Vintage Finds #58

I spied this vintage chalk board and bag of plastic trees at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift–the cheapest thrift store I’ve ever been to. I like the graphics along the edges of the chalk board, and the trees are just plain interesting–different than your typical bottle brush trees. I love the almost hombre variegation in color. What do you think? I’ll list the chalk board for $20, but keep the trees for now.

I’ve been wanting a truck to load a bottle brush tree on, and I found one at the flea market. My plan was to paint it a spiffy red. It didn’t quite turn out that way, but I’ll show you the results on Dec. 14th when I do my post for the Vintage Merry Christmas Thrifter Share event I mentioned recently.

I thought this rocking horse had a kind of folk art quality about it. I’m considering painting it black and maybe tying a Christmas ribbon around his neck with some bells or pine cones. What do you think?

Yes, I found not one, but three pig-shaped cutting boards, all from the same vendor at the flea market. I listed one in my Etsy shop for $11.99 and it sold in about three hours! I’ve listed the second one for $13.99–I’m testing the market!

Isn’t this guy irresistible? I found him in a Goodwill and just had to take him home with me. Not to keep of course, but to provide a temporary home. I think someone is going to fall in love with him and scoop him out of my Etsy shop, perhaps somewhere in the $25-30 range. Maybe a butcher shop needs his services? (Now listed for $29.99) UPDATE: A reader, Christina Dils, has informed me that this is a Breyer model Polled Hereford Bull (as in Breyer model horses). She felt he looked newer (post-1974) and that he would probably have a Breyer mark on his inner thigh, and he does! Thanks Christina.

Okay, the animal theme has ended. I’ve had some luck selling pant hangers, perhaps people like them for hanging art? A common usage I’ve seen on Pinterest. I’ll list this set of three vintage hangers for $9.99.

I like to buy cheap measuring tapes to use the tape for various crafting activities. These two cost $1 for the pair. I’m currently building a small collection of flashlights to sell as a grouping. The one on the left is a vintage Sears; I love all the ribbing. The one on the right is pretty standard, but the red end will look nice with the others I’ve gathered. I will sell five of them for about $25-30 as a set.

The large wooden tray came from Thrift King, my favorite thrift in the Pittsuburgh area. I always find tons of good junk useful and collectible items there. I’ve already painted the tray off-white and am using it to create a centerpiece for my family room coffee table.

The old fashioned clothespins I’m bundling in grouping of five to sell for $3 at the Shaker craft fair I’m participating in. Did you know the Shakers invented a number of useful items, including the clothespin? A remarkable group of people–those Shakers. In England they are often called dolly pegs because you can make dollies out of them. Last week I gave a tutorial on clothespin angels.

I hate to say this, but I bought the New Testament for crafting. Sometimes I like to focus on a particular scripture when making an altered art project and this little NT will be perfect, especially with all of its lovely browning paper.

As you can see, it’s in very poor condition–about to fall apart in fact. Underneath is a leather-bound journal that, once again, my daughter has claimed(!).

These golden orbs will come in handy some day for a decorating project, I think. At two for a dollar, the price was certainly right.

Some more crafting supplies–napkin rings to paint and decorate and silvery coasters to turn into pedestal stands for cupcakes. Each set cost $1.

So I’m beginning to develop a problem with pink and glass baking ware, like Pyrex and Fire King–put the two together and I must buy it. Hopefully someone will help me (again) with this Fire King pattern. My friend Linda at A La Carte just let me know that this pattern is called Primrose. Thanks Linda!

Shopping in Thrift King, I saw this pink beauty sitting on the shelf, and as I walked over to grab it, a man snatched it up before I got there! Oh how I mourned its loss as I continued shopping. About an hour later, what should I spy sitting on different shelf? Pretty Miss Pink Pyrex, waiting patiently for me to take her home, for all of $1.35. The Pyrex-snatcher must have changed his mind. Linda, who is a member of  The Pyrex Collective, informed me that Pyrex has named this color flamingo. The Collective provides great Pyrex info.

Did you know that next year is the 100th anniversary of Pyrex? Someone from the Corning Museum (Corning Incorporated makes Pyrex) contacted me to talk about the big celebration they are planning in 2015. Sounds like fun. I’ll keep you all updated as their plans progress.