Barn Sale Bounty

A few weeks ago, I went to the moving sale of a woman who used to have frequent antique sales on her property near Media, PA. As soon as I walked into her barn, I couldn't stop smiling. If I had a bigger SUV, I would have bought it all. Everything was just my style, and the prices just couldn't be beat. I am just sorry that she is leaving the business, or else I would continue to buy from her!

These were the first two things I fell in love with (and the only large pieces that would fit in my car) -  a waist-high wooden cubby shelf thingy and a tall flower display cart.

Can't you picture it on a street corner overflowing with colorful flowers? (I assume it was made for flowers or plants. If anyone has any other ideas, let me know.)

It has wooden wheels and six shelves, each smaller than the next. It is sitting on my front porch right now, but I plan to sell it at our next sale (which is yet to be determined).

I might add a beadboard back to the shabby aqua cubbies.

This sale didn't stop at the barn. Her garage and the first floor of her home were filled with the kind of vintage goodness that you typically read about on my blog. But cheaper and better than any yard sale I've ever been to.

This pink & white bedspread was three bucks. I found the piece of fabric at the bottom of a box of aprons that I bought. The colors are a little reminiscent of Cath Kidston, no?

I have enough antique lace and vintage trim to circle the globe twice.

Here's a box of colorful vintage embroidered trim. Three bucks.

... and a box of 130 assorted rhinestone buttons. Five bucks.

...and a box of 26 vintage aprons. Three bucks.

There were a few Christmas aprons in the mix:

And a few embroidered ones:

I couldn't resist buying a box of vintage baby clothes for two dollars. I am like a meth addict. I need to be on Celebrity Junk Rehab with Dr. Drew, where I talk about my tragic yard-sale-filled childhood and why I hoard  antiques in an effort to guarantee love and affection from my mother because she had five kids in five years and it is the only way to get her attention.

Or something like that. Anyway, here are some totally cute baby dresses and knitted sweaters:

All told, I paid about one hundred dollars for everything in this post, the bulk of which obviously went towards the big pieces.

BUT - finding all of this fabulous vintage stuff wasn't even the best part of the sale. I know....what the hell could possibly have been better than finding all of this cool stuff?

Well, when one of the lovely girls who was working there noticed that I was buying so much stuff, she asked me what I was going to do with it. I told her that I am a dealer, and I also write about my junk on my blog. I handed her my card.

She looked at it and said, "I think I've read your blog. Didn't you write about...". And then she pointed to her nether region. I knew immediately that she was referring to our most beloved family heirloom: my grandfather-in-law's Peter Heater. 

"Yes! That's me!"

I am officially famous now, and I have a crocheted cock sock to thank for it.

Comments

[MARGI LAIPPLY]

Wow, you did hit the mother load....I am so jealous. I guess I need to get out of Ohio to find cool stuff. Around here all they seem to sell are used tires, and clothes for your concrete goose. Nuff said. I have been a fan for a while, how did I miss the crocheted cock sock? I must go read about it.

[Tami B.]

Oh my word...those rhinestone buttons and crochet trims are soooooo great!

[Lisa Johnson]

Okay Colleen,

That was one awesome sale. I absolutely love everything you got,and would have bought it all, but am having heart palpatations over that $5.00 box of rhinestone buttons. Great score!

Lisa

[Darlene Franchi]

i am sooo jealous of your fantastic finds! It sounds like just my kind of endorphin releasing event!!

[Rachel Carlson]

GULP. that is one HUGE load you scored - cheers to you colleen - such yummy vintage goodness you found. WHAT ON EARTH will you do with that pink/white bedspread??!! i had one just like that when i was younger and i've been on the search for one for nostalgic reasons. not that i can AFFORD to take it off your hands as we are both unemployed and barely getting by. just to dream a little dream at least. have fun with all your goodies! hugs, rachel

[Johanna]

ahahahaha that is a most fantastic thing to be famous for :) I am soo jealous of your score!

[Jennifer (Savor)]

Hey lady: I am envious of those aprons and um, can you sell cock socks at the next conference?

[Sue]

You, my dear, are clearly the luckiest grrrl alive (or not blogging about the lame-ass sales we all attend. I cannot believe you didn't make me drive to PA. Wait, I now know why. Bully for you! XOXOX

[Lauren]

What lovely new treasures! The white shelves do look like a potting bench to me. But I think they'd also make a unique book shelf.

[geminisc]

omg... i'm so jealous and drooling over all those trims for jusst $3!!! GGIMMEEE!!!

[julie]

Of all the finds I've seen posted on my favorite blogs, this is BY FAR the best single-sale-haul ever. Wow!

[Kim]

Wow, you really know that you've made it when people know you by your Peter Heater story :)

I am practically drooling over everything, but that flower stand is my absolute favorite.

[Mary]

Well spotted! Loving those vintage buttons, and the flower stand!

[amyjk]

great finds! can you please tell me how/what resources you use to find out about these sales? i live in SE PA and i'm not sure how to go about finding the best places to visit. i seem to only hear about yard sales (mostly cheap junk) or antique stores (better quality but pricey). THANKS!

[ohgoodie]

Oh my goodness, you got some truly wonderful things, and I loooove the white flower shelf, and would love to have it at my home to display my watering can collection on. It is just fabulous, please let me know when you decide to sell it.
Smiles,

Carol
jcdas@msn.com

[murrayadams.blogspot.com]

you seriously scored! while i'm happy kris' treasures found their way to someone who will truly love them, i'm even happier she's my friend and i got first dibs ;) i really should take some pictures of what i came home with-better yet, pictures of her new home complete with the treasures she didn't let go of (she has seriously good taste).

just so you know, she has some stuff left and slashed prices even more! she'd be happy to have you over by appointment if you want to take another look.

lovely meeting you!

[Sue Pagels]

Awesome finds! I'll line up for the aqua chippy thing-a-ma-jig. Indiana has occasionally cool stuff, but PA has got us beat!

[annie]

Ah! I LOVE that red and white striped apron, will that be on Ebay?

[Lyzzie]

Wow, you really made out well. I'm so jealous of that vintage trim and rhinestone buttons!

[Bean]

omg, let us know if any of this ends up on ebay... :)

[Amy]

You must have some serious barn sale karma. Your loot makes me want to cry. With joy, I mean. -amy

[Esther]

Be still my beating heart. I can't believe all that goodness was under one roof and for that price. Love the aprons and the flower stand. Now off to find the story about the cock sock.

[Elsie]

The aqua cubbie is my fave :) It's not a nest box, is it? I couldn't quite get an idea how deep the shelves are. Regardless, very neat.

[vintagesue]

i feel physically sick....yes...from jealousy!!!! SCORE. who gets a box of aprons for $3 and all those bling buttons? amazing. thanks for the eye candy. you did well. yum.....
cheers.
sue

[arcticmum.blogspot.com]

This post made me happy, great fun to read about your finds! Am a small scale vintage lover myself, but the potential is not so big in my small town. However, recently I got hold of a vintage porcelain breakfast set. That was great!

[bogglemama.com]

Hey, young lady, you should be thanking your sainted mother for taking you out every Saturday morning, when you were little, to browse the yard sales. The experience has given you a discerning "eye". You are very lucky!!
Love, Mom

[Mitzi Curi]

Sometimes I really wonder where people come up with these prices. In this case, you lucked out, but I'll bet that seller could have quadrupled her prices and you still would have purchased those things. Just in contrast, I often check Craig's List and just shake my head at the crazy high prices people are asking for their stuff.

[sweet cottage dreams]

You seriously scored! ;)
You have a safe addiction - love the story!

Drooling over all that vintage drim and rhinestones......

becky

[sweet cottage dreams]

...I meant to say TRIM!!!!!
drooling makes me mumble....ha.

[MagiaMia]

Colleen, don't take this wrong way, but..... I Hate You :)

As for that cart, it would look all kinds of awesome with lots and lots of old books, staggered with vintage vessels like vases, planters, trophies, etc.....

[Kimberly]

I am SO coming to your coast to shop... What fabulous treasures you have in these past two posts!

Bon weekend,
xx

[brandeye]

you must pray to the yard sale gods every night to find this stuff!
i can't miss your next sale so that i can buy the sewing items!

[stephanie]

can you hear me gasping for breath over here?? each thing better than the one before...you are a genius! what great finds! sign me "envious in memphis"...

[~KellyAnn~]

All I can say is WOW!
I probably would have had a panic attack walking up to that sale and seeing all the goodies and fabulous prices.
Lucky you!
I love the rhinestone buttons and embroidered trims.
And I adore Carol's idea about displaying her watering cans on the white shelf. I have a collection of old watering cans that go down my front steps in the warmer months, but that shelf rocks!!

[Ariella]

score on the trims! Love them!~

[Reyna]

Oh my goodness!!! When I was looking at all of the wonderful things that you found...and at such wonderful prices...I sooo wish I was there!!

[Riley Fars]

Are you willing to part with the plant stand and/or cubbies? I am IN LOVE!

[joyce]

what an awesome meth fix to discover your blog! I am drooling and pointing and oohing and ahhhing.. and my kids are like... "mom. You already have all that stuff". to which I say- "Yeah! but I want hers too!!)