Elkhorn Flea Market

Today was the long awaited opening day of the Elkhorn Flea Market at the Fair Grounds in Elkhorn Wisconsin.  The admission is $5 per person with kids under 12 admitted for free.  Ethan is older than 12, but the girl at the gate didn't make us pay for him.  The weather was beautiful!  Usually we are wearing heavy coats and it's raining.  Today, no coats and the sun was shining.  The place was packed, but that was to be expected.  We found so many fun things.  I hope I can remember them all.  I found a musical piano at the booth that my friend Chris has.  It was $5.  I usually give the kids 1 every year at their piano recital.  So, I'm always on the lookout for them.  It was a nice gold metal one.  I bought 2-1950's silk scarves of Chicago for $3 each, one green and one red, a kids hankie with a squirrel on it for $2, a great sterling ring with gems designed as a flower for $20, a concrete gnome riding on a swan for my garden for $15 (all other gnomes I saw were priced from $30-$45), 4 new knitting needles for 25 cents, an African wood sculpture for $1, a Star Wars toy for $5, a vintage Wolverine telephone in the original box for $5, 4 doilies for 50 cents each, a sword for $4, Pokemon fabric for $2, and the best deal of the day was a rabbit fur coat for $5.  I saw the rack of vintage clothes with the sign:  All Clothes $5.  How could I resist?  I tried on the coat and it was love at first sight.  The lining was in great condition, so I was sold. 

We always end up buying lots of food to keep us going.  We arrived at 7am and left by 11:30am.  Nothing like having a pickle on a stick for $1 at 7:30 in the morning.  I saw a really nice vintage Coach purse in powder blue for $50.  She was willing to give it to me for $42, but my wallet didn't fit into it.  I liked it a lot, but it was a lot smaller then I like my purses to be.  Someone else got a great deal today.  It was in like new condition.  The dealers were willing to make lots of deals today.  It was a great day to be there.

Next Sunday is the flea market in Cedarburg Wisconsin.  I have never been to that one.  Our favorite dealer of toys/Pokemon toys is doing that show now.  We are going to try to get there.

Book Sale Plus More

The Cary Library book sale was a good sale again.  I was only a little disappointed that I didn't find more knitting books.  I think I bought them out at the last sale.  We did find a lot of Pokemon books and comic books.  The kids were happy.  Kids books were only 25 cents each so they bought whatever they wanted.  I did manage to find a few gardening books.  The library was packed with bargain hunters.

I managed to go to an estate sale in Cary after I took the kids to Pokemon.  I found an aluminum tray with a pinecone pattern on it from Everlast.  It was $5.  The tray was in very good condition.  After I picked them up from Pokemon, we stopped at a yard sale that was a few blocks down the street.  Ethan has been looking for the Men in Black 2 DVD and guess what?  We found it there for $1.  We also found the Incredible Hulk movies (with Bill Bixby) and a few other DVD's for $1 each.  We also found a Luke Skywalker large action figure for 50 cents.  It happened to be a good sale.  You never know what you will find unless you stop.  I always tell the kids that if there is something that you want to buy, just to be patient and we will find it sooner or later at a sale for much less.  Just like with the Men in Black 2 DVD.

Yesterday, I bought some Xbox 360 video games for $1 each.  I knew that we had the one, but for $1, I couldn't resist.  So today, we went to Gamestop to preorder a video game coming out on Tuesday, and they gave us $21 for that game to be used towards the one that we are preordering.  Ethan was so excited.  Not bad for $1.  Those kinds of finds make my day. 

I am really looking forward to the Elkhorn Flea Market tomorrow.  Hope you can make it there also.  You will have a really good time and will leave with a full trunk.  Happy treasure hunting!

Fun Treasures!

Another fun, fun day.  I stopped at the Christian Fellowship church rummage sale on Walkup in Crystal Lake today.  They had a lot of stuff inside and out.  I found 2 books for $1, 3 Halloween costumes for a total of $3.50 even with the ball and chain, a Nerflike gun for $1, a silver cuff bracelet for $3, a Christmas doily for 50 cents, 2 purses for $1 each so I can use the handles for my felted purses, and quite a few action figures for $1.50.  See, no matter what time I go to a rummage sale, I always find something.  I was a half hour late after opening at this one.  After that, I went to the Caring Transitions estate sale in Lakewood and found 2 old Nintendo video games for the kids.  They were $5 each which is a good price for vintage games.  I didn't find anything at the Caring Transitions estate sale in McHenry.  I stopped at a garage sale in McHenry and found a neat pair of red leather gloves with fur trim for $2.  There was also a neighborhood sale in Martin Woods in McHenry where I found Xbox and Xbox 360 games for $1 each so I bought the ones that I hope my kids don't have.  How can you go wrong for $1 each.   If they already have the games, we will trade them in for credit at Gamestop or sell them at our next garage sale.

One thing that I love about going around to garage/rummage sales, is the people that you meet.  I saw some friends at the rummage sale today.  One is a new friend that I met when she was having her garage sale 2 weeks ago.  I didn't know her before her sale, but since her sale, I have been running into her at so many other sales.  We may start garage saleing together.  It was neat to find out that she was originally from Philadelphia.  She said that she was spending time at the Jersey shore this summer.  How cool is that.  Since I was born and raised in New Jersey, I thought that was so wonderful.

I put the seashell collection that I bought yesterday on my fireplace mantle.  It looks so nice and summery there.

The St Mary's/Montini church rummage sale in McHenry will start on June 21.  This is one that I look forward to all year.  There is always so much stuff well priced.  Last year, we made 3 trips to the car to unload.  Hope this year is as much fun.

Remember, tomorrow is the Cary Library book sale and on Sunday is the Elkhorn Wisconsin flea market in Elkhorn at the fair grounds.  Enjoy the weather and find some treasures!

Fun Day of Treasure Hunting

Today was so much fun.  There were quite a few garage sales in McHenry, Crystal Lake and Woodstock that I stopped at.  I found 3 great concrete planters and a black wrought iron beverage cart for a total of $30.  I was so excited since I have been wanting a beverage cart for a long time now.  It is a nice one and I already have many uses for it in mind.  I also went to the neighborhood sale in Crystal Lake by the lake.  I found some great vintage/some not vintage jewelry pieces at 2 different sales.  They were priced from $2-$5.  I just love finding jewelry.  It made my day!   I also found a concrete frog planter ($3) for the garden.

The kids and I stopped at the Grace Lutheran church rummage sale in Woodstock an hour after the sale started.  They were pretty cleaned out, but we managed to find a few things.  I found 3 vintage linen/doily pieces (the smaller pieces were 10 cents each and the larger one was $1),  a wonderful large seashell filled with unique shells for $2, 2 books, a Pokemon stuffed animal and in the FREE box, a troll doll.  Another addition to my mother's collection.  I just couldn't pass up a FREE item.  So, even though you may get to a rummage sale a little late, you can always find a treasure.  I seem to. 

Tomorrow I will be getting to the Christian Fellowship sale a little late, but I'm not worried.  I'm sure I will find a treasure.  Caring Traditions is having 2 estate sales tomorrow.  One is in McHenry and the other is in Lakewood.  Not to mention that there are a lot of garage sales and neighborhood sales.  Happy hunting!

Gardening

I spent a good part of yesterday planting my tomato and pepper plants.  The kohlrabi and swiss chard are starting to take off and I harvested all of the lettuce.  We used the lettuce in our tacos at dinner.  Once again, I rearranged some of my garden art.  I'm sure I will do that numerous times this summer.

We saw twin fawns this morning in the woods.  They had to have been born in the early part of the morning since they were still "wet" and couldn't really stand.  Momma doe was close by, but she was resting.   It was so beautiful to see up close.  We see twins about every other year.  I can't wait to see them when they are playing and jumping in my yard.  It is a really magical experience to see them up close.

Garbage Picking

The town of McHenry started their curbside garbage throw out days.  I don't know how long it goes on for.  But, I was riding around today, as were others, looking for stuff.  I found 3 windows in good condition.  I am saving them for when I finally build my garden shed.  I also found a framed cork board bulletin board. It is in great condition with brown paper on the back and the hangers.  I have been wanting to make one, but now I don't have to.  I can't wait to see what else I will find this week.  The best part is that it is FREE!

I stopped at the Goodwill in McHenry and found 3 Tazmanian Devil drinking glasses for 99 cents each and a made in Japan bowl for $1.99.  I will be giving the glasses to my father who collects Tazmanian Devil things.

Friday is the Christian Fellowship Church rummage sale on Walkup in Crystal Lake.  It starts at 8am.  On Saturday is the Cary Library Book sale at 9am.  This is a really good book sale. 

Happy garbage picking!

 

My New Chair

The new chair looks so nice in its new home.  The stains cleaned up nicely and I added a throw pillow that I made a few years ago.  Of course with vintage fabric and trim.  I'm happy with the results and I don't plan on having it reupholstered any time soon. 

Here is a good Ebay store to check out:  JunkenTreasures
My brother runs it and he has found so many cool/unique items.  Right now he has about 800 plus items up for auction.  Take a look for that item you never knew you really needed.

I'm looking forward to a fun filled treasure hunting week.  Here's to hoping you do too!

Back to the Estate Sale

I just had to go back to the one estate sale that I was at yesterday.  There were 2 lady planters that I wanted.  I didn't get back until after 1pm and there were a lot of people still there.  The house was still pretty full of things.  The 2 planters were still there, so I bought them.  Almost everything today was half price.  Everything I bought was half price.  I also bought a milk glass piece on a pedestal and a green handled dish.  All of that for $15.  I got an even better price than half off.  I was glad that I went back.  I put the lady planters with my other ones.  It seems that I have started a collection without meaning to.  I found 2 at a rummage sale and fell in love with them.  Now whenever I find them at the right price, I have to buy them.  I have 7 of them now.  Most of my collections begin that way.  I find one piece and then need to know more about it and it goes from there. 

On our way to Pokemon today, we stopped at a sale at a daycare in Crystal Lake.  I found a garden statue for $1 of a child pushing a wheelbarrow with a dog in it.  I have it on a flower stand in front of my garage.  It looks nice there.

I washed some spots on the chair that I bought yesterday.  I used Goop hand cleaner (the one in the tub) and it took out the stains.  I also washed the arm guards and vaccumed the chair.  It looks great!

I'm looking forward to next Sunday, May 20th.  It is the opening day of the Elkhorn Flea Market in Elkhorn Wisconsin.  My favorite flea market.  It opens at 7am and we will be there before 7am ready to go.  I can't wait! 

Another Fun Day

I had a great day today!  I started out by going to 2 estate sales in McHenry.  I was actually 6th on line to the first one.  I haven't been that early in a long time.  It was such a beautiful day that I didn't mind waiting for the sale.  I sat on the front porch in the sun.  This house was packed with stuff.  I found a really nice milk glass piece for $4, 2 really cool 50's drinking glasses with house items on it for $2 each, 3 graters/zesters for $1 each (I have been looking for these for awhile, but didn't want to spend about $10 for each at the store) and a tiny crochet piece for $1.  At the 2nd estate sale, I found an enamel pitcher for $5, a Christmas tree pin for $2 and 2 pairs of earrings for $1 each. 

I stopped at 2 neighborhood sales in McHenry and didn't find anything.  It was kind of disappointing.  There were mostly kids clothes/baby toys.  Nothing that I was interested in except 1 Nintendo DS game for the boys that was $5. 

I decided to go back to the Service League sale at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake.  Today was half price and $1 a bag for clothes.  As soon as I walked in, I saw these crystal candlesticks that I wanted yesterday, but didn't want to pay $6 for.  So, since they were $3 today, I bought them.  I also found a really nice wing back chair with blue fabric that was half price at $10.  It had a Mueller Interiors label under the cushion so I know that the chair was costly at one time.  I couldn't refuse it.  I needed a chair in my living room.  It is in pretty good condition, but I will clean it up a little and add a pillow to it.  I may have it reupholstered at a later date, but for now, I will keep it as is.  The ladies even carried it down the stairs for me and loaded it in my van.  I was very excited about this purchase.  I bought 2 nice things yesterday and today for my house and it only cost me $25 for a mirror and chair.  Now that is the way to decorate.  I love not having to spend a lot of money for quality items.  Sometimes it just takes time to find the right piece.  I did find some brand new pants for me and for Austin for school and with the bag sale, I only paid 25 cents each.  Not to mention that the pants were designer names like Ann Taylor for me.  The best part is that I tried them on at home and they fit!

My final stop of the day was at the Covered Bridge neighborhood sale in Crystal Lake.  I go to this sale every year.  I even ran into my neighbor and a new friend that I met at her garage sale who I keep seeing at other sales since then.  How fun!  Anyway, I found a few books for the kids and a pile of doilies for me that were priced from 25 cents to $2.  They were the ladies grandmothers.  I love the stories behind them and love using them even more.  They were in great condition.  I was happy to find them.

I may try to go back to the estate sales tomorrow for half price day.  I hope I find the time.  There are still some things I wouldn't mind buying if they are still there.

I even had time to cut the lawn today with the help of everyone.  There was so much to do.  I hung up the iron bird cage that I bought yesterday at the Carriage House.  I hung it on the trellis in the backyard and moved an iron bench that I have to under it also.  It really looks nice.  You can't see the bench that well from my picture.  I harvested a lot of the lettuce for a salad that we ate at dinner.  I still have a lot left.  I need to plant my tomatoes this week since the weather is starting to get warmer and nicer.  Everything is ready to be planted. 

Fun Fun Fun Today

Quite a few fun sales today.  The season has definitely begun.  I went to the Service League rummage sale at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake today.  They always have really nice stuff.  Today their prices were pretty good.  (Sometimes they are too high.)  I found quite a few costume jewelry pieces for $1 each, a green wicker basket for $1.50, a few books for $1 each, a great goldtone jewelry box with roses on top for $1, a vintage clutch purse for $3, a nice Japanese made dish for $2, a beautiful vintage hankie for $1, and the best of all, which I almost walked past for $1, was a Wendell August Forge aluminum dish.  I love hammered aluminum and have probably about 200 pieces of it.  I sold over 100 pieces in the last few years to make room and try now to only buy really unique pieces.  It was a nice find and only $1.  I also found a really nice goldtone mirror that I hung in my bedroom where my closets are.  I have been looking for a nice mirror for that spot and it was only $15.  It matches the overhead light fixtures.  Perfect!

I went to a few garage sales and found some fabric for $1 each, an iron piece for $5 that will be used at my parents house and some really nice costume jewerly pins for 25 cents each.  She also had a ring for $1 and a nice vase for 25 cents.  This was a great costume jewelry day.  I love finding costume jewelry.  It really makes my day.

The Carriage House in Crystal Lake had their Open House today and will go until Saturday.  All garden items were 10% off.  I found a tower, a black iron bird cage and a white iron cage.  I'm going to work some on the lawn/backyard this weekend (I hope) and will find a spot for those items.  I have a few ideas.

Tomorrow there will be a lot of neighborhood sales in Crystal Lake and McHenry.  I hope I have time to go to them all.  There are also 2 estate sales in McHenry that look promising.  Happy hunting!

Only a Few Sales

I went to the church rummage sale in Ridgefield today.  As usual,  I saw all of my rummage sale friends and a few others.  There was a lot for sale, but the vintage items were priced very high.  They had a good selection of furniture that I thought were priced well.  Tomorrow is half price.  I did find a few things:  a metal stand for $2 that I am using in the garden to hold the 25 cent metal face that I bought yesterday, a frog pottery mug for 50 cents, and a book and dvd.  I spent a total of $4.50.  I did stop at a few sales in a neighborhood in McHenry.  I found for 10 cents each (yes 10 cents each) a 50's vintage tablecloth with 4 napkins and a needlepoint runner.  He just wanted to get rid of them.  Last year I bought a vintage tub from him for 50 cents and use it as a planter.  He even already had the holes drilled in it.  I was excited about these linens.  Twice this season I have found needlepoint/vintage pieces for unbelievable deals. 

The kids had a half day of school today, so I took them to the garage sale that I stopped at yesterday in Crystal Lake.  They bought a lot of video games for between $8-$10.  We also bought 2 new Monopoly games, one was a Chocolate monopoly game for $2 and one was a create you own Monopoly game for $3.  Austin got another nutcracker for $2.  This time it was a cowboy.  I had to find room in his bedroom for it. 

I spent a good part of today weeding again.  I think I finally have a handle on the weeds.  (right!)  I put the metal face and stand in the garden and I found a spot for the frog that I bought yesterday.  I hope you can see both in the pictures I posted.  I love my garden! 

Tomorrow is free comic book day.  We will be going to Al and Ann's in McHenry to get free comic books.  The kids love it.  He usually has a big selection and you can take 1 of each if you want them.  It's amazing to see that noone gets gready and only takes the ones that they will really read.  It's a nice thing to see.

Thursday Sales

I love Thursdays!  It starts my garage sale weekend.  I live for Thursdays.  Except that today didn't have many sales.  I stopped at a few sales in McHenry and only found a metal stand for $3 and a rhinestone bracelet for $1 at one of the sales.  I use the metal stands in my bathrooms for storage.  The bathrooms have pedestal sinks and have nowhere to hide toilet paper etc.  So, I use the stands for storage.  I spray paint them white to blend in.  I really like the stands.  This stand I may use in the garden though.  I have a few of them in the garden where metal bugs are on them.

I went to a sale in Lakewood that was supposed to be a neighborhood sale and only 1 house had opened today.  I found a garden metal face for 25 cents.  At least my drive was not for nothing.  On the way home, I stopped in Ridgefield where the stores were having their garden sale weekend.  I saw my friend Chris who sells at the store. I bought a frog ornament for the garden for $6.  It is really cute.  Tomorrow I have to weed the area where I want to put it.  I stopped at a garage sale in Crystal Lake and found the kids Simpson comic books for 50 cents each and a few older Gameboy games for $2 each.  All good buys that they really liked.  She also had a really cute baby vintage flea market book for $1.  The authors were Jersey girls like me now living in IL.  Pretty ironic.

Everyone is talking about the church sale in Ridgefield tomorrow.  I'm really excited about it. 

Busy Day

I have not been to Interiors Anew in Woodstock for a few weeks now.  I usually like to visit the store once a week.  So, today was my day to go.  I found 2 sterling silver bracelets.  The cuff bracelet with purple stone was $10 and the other bracelet is chunky with brown stones on it.  It was $2.  When I got it home, I saw that it was marked Made in Mexico and Sterling on the clasp.  What a good find!  I knew that it was marked, but without my glasses I couldn't read it.  It was exciting to find out later that it was silver for only $2.  See, you never know what you will find.  Later in the afternoon, I went to the Sparrows Nest in McHenry and found a brand new pair of Liz Clairborne blue/ivory patent leather sandals for $8.  Never worn!  Another good deal of the day.

I spent a few hours yesterday and today working outside cutting the lawn and starting to plant my planters.  I moved some things around and the yard is looking cuter and cuter.  I put the green wrought iron telephone stand under one of the trees in my back yard with a flower container in the seat.  It looks great there.  I also found a spot for the $2 gazing ball on a stand.  I used the free concrete block to plant some hen and chicks that my cousin Barb gave to me.  I also started to bring out some houseplants and stands to dress up the driveway hill.  I still have more work to do on the area (like lots of weeding), but it's coming along really nicely.  I especially like to see the turtles and frogs peaking out from the grass or flower areas.  I really like looking outside now.  Garden art really helps to make the garden more unique and pretty.  I'm always on the lookout for items to use in the garden.  I also brought out a vintage soda fountain chair and put a flower container on it. The chair is white and the container is blue and it really looks great in my front yard.  I have it on top of the opening for the water well so that you just don't look at a concrete slab.  I started harvesting the lettuce yesterday.  It made for a tasty salad.  I always love the first harvest of the season. 

Friday is a church rummage sale in Ridgefield at 9am.  I haven't been to a sale there before.  I'm really looking foward to that one.

Pillow Time

I actually did have some time to sew while Austin's friends were here for his birthday get together.  They were outside having a nerf gun war while I was making a pillow with the needlepoint piece I bought last week at an estate sale for $4.  I used a really nice pink rose floral fabric for the back.  I got the fabric at a  sale.  I thought that I didn't have a natural colored zipper, but after looking through my sewing stuff, I found one.  No need to go to Joanne Fabrics.  So, I finished another pillow with vintage/garage sale finds.  I put it on the rose covered bench that I bought for $3.  It looks really nice and adds a little to my hallway. 

Look What I Found

I actually went garage saleing this morning.  Usually I'm busy taking the kids to Pokemon on Saturday mornings and not able to go to sales.  I went to a more vintage sale in Woodstock and found a really nice green petaled bowl for $4, an aluminum ladle for $1, a vintage metal can for $1 and a vintage Shawnee horse planter for $3. 

On the way to a Pokemon event this afternoon, we stopped at a 15 vendor sale at the Stratford Banquet hall in Harvard.  I found a milk glass shell like candle holder for $5.  I don't have anything like it in my milk glass collection.  It is in very good condition. 

I soaked my vintage linen buys today in Oxyclean and they came out really clean and bright.  I also washed all of the fabric and now have to put them away.  (Ugh!)  I hope to make a pillow soon with some linens that I purchased last week.  We'll see how tomorrow goes since Austin will be celebrating his birthday with some friends at our house.  I probably won't get anything done.

A Few Sales Today

I went to the Church rummage sale in Ringwood and Johnsburg today.  Both didn't have much at all.  The one in Ringwood appologized for not having that much this year.  I did get a stack of fabric there though for $1.  Now that I finished Austin's quilt, I need to start on a new project.  At the Mount Hope Rummage sale, I picked up a James train for 25 cents for my Aunt's grandchild.  Can't beat that price!

I stopped at a neighborhood garage sale in McHenry, but didn't find anything.  Maxine's was having a warehouse sale and I found 2 vintage figure planters for $2 each.  One was a rabbit and one was a women.  Both are for my collection.  I also found a doily for $1.  On to a garage sale in Crystal Lake, but I didn't find anything.  At a garage/estate sale in Woodstock, I found 2 Coro chunky bracelets for 50 cents each.  Love them! and the price.

Tomorrow I may stop at the Stratford Banquet hall in Harvard for an indoor garage sale.  I have never been to one there before.

Austin's quilt looks great on his bed.  I am so proud that I finished it in about 1 month.  It looks really nice in his room.  I hope he thinks so too. I made the quilt with fabric that I found at garage sales.  I didn't pay a lot for the fabric.  You can always find nice fabric at the sales.  Like I did today. 

First Presbyterian Church Rummage Sale

The kids and I arrived 45 minutes after the sale had started.  There were still alot of items left.  I found 2 vintage aprons for $1 each, a Wade porcelain turtle that was thrown into the price of everything (so FREE), a cute wall hanging for $1 and a Gameboy Color (older version of the Nintendo DS handheld game system) with 2 games for $1.  Not bad for a total of $4.  I always manage to find something no matter what time I get to the sale.  I also saw Karen who is a fellow Master Gardener and my past neighbor Sue.   It was nice to chat with them for a few minutes. 

Austin has been home sick with Strep throat for 2 days and I managed to finish his quilt.  Since I wasn't garage saleing, I could spend time quilting.  I can't wait to put it on his bed tomorrow.

First Congregational Rummage Sale

I went to the First Congregational Church rummage sale on Pierson Street in Crystal Lake today.  I only had to stand in the rain for about 20 minutes.  Not so bad.  I had people to talk to.  There were no items outside today.  No gardening items like usual.  At least it was better inside.  There were a lot of people though.  I found some nice fabric for $1.50 each bag, 5 doilies for $1, a heart pin for $1.50, all kinds of greeting cards/2 packs for 75 cents, a tin of Pokemon cards for $2, Tech Deck skateboard toys for $3, a Spongebob DVD 3 pack for $2, a Captain American huge comic book for 50 cents, a bag with a Bionicle and Bakugan toys for $1, a ceramic turtle 25 cents and a Japanese fan for 25 cents.  It was a lot of fun today.  This is another good sale to go to.

I then stopped at Savers in Crystal Lake because they were having a buy 1 get 1 free sale.  Limit 1 and you had to spend at least $10.  I bought some patriotic flag pins 4 for $3.98, an artist made bead bracelet for $1.99 and a cool white stone/gold tone ring for $2.99. The pin is marked Vogue and my jewerly book said that Vogue changed its name in 1963.  Pretty good buy.  I will definitely wear this ring.

Friday morning is the church rummage sale in Ringwood.  This is a hit or miss sale, but I'll be going anyway.  Happy hunting!

A Few Sales

I went to the McHenry Library sale today and only spent $3.50.  I didn't find any manga books or video games.  Kind of disappointing.  I did find a quilting book and a few other books.  If you were looking for kids books, they were 25 cents each.  Paperbacks were 50 cents and hardcovers were $1.  The prices were good.  I just wish they had more books that I was looking for.

I stopped at 2 estate sales in Cary.  At the first one, I bought a vintage goldtone pin for $2.  I knew that it had a name on it, but didn't really look until I got home.  It was Kramer.  I didn't know the name so I looked it up in my jewelry book.  Kramer made pins until the 1970's and the ones shown in the book were with rhinestones or other stones.  So, it's a good name.  I'll hang on to it and wear it.  The second sale was a Caring Transitions sale.  The house was FULL.  I only found a needlepoint with roses for $4.  It is the perfect size to make a pillow.  I think that was the original purpose of the piece.   I am going to make a pillow from it after I finish Austin's quilt.  Which, by the way, is almost done.  I only have the binding to finish.  I'll post a picture when I finish it.

Thursday April 26th at 3pm is the First Presbyterian Church rummage sale on Route 47.  I haven't been to a sale at the church since they were located in downtown Woodstock.  They moved to this location a while ago.

Lots of Garage Sales

I spent a good part of today going to garage sales.  I stopped in one in McHenry that was to open at 8am and at 9am they were just setting up.  Now I realize that it was only 42 degrees and drizzling, but when you have a time printed in the paper, you open at that time no matter what.  You are missing out on a lot of sales from the true garage salers coming to your sale.  I just left and wouldn't return because I had others to visit.

I went to quite a few garage and estate sales in Woodstock.  I found a vintage handled tin for $2 at one.  At an estate sale I found the boys a book of Yugioh cards for $5.  I love going to estate sales to see the inside of others homes.  This Victorian home was so dark inside, not just from needing lots of lamp light, but not enough sunlight getting in.  I couldn't really appreciate the inside because I couldn't see it.  At another estate sale I found about 9 embroidered doilies/pillowcases for 20 cents each.  Yes, I said 20 cents each.  I couldn't believe it.  They were her moms and they were in perfect starched condition.  I was thrilled.  I also found 3 pins for $1, and a tiny vase for 25 cents.  The doilies were my deal of the week.  I stopped at a 30 home subdivision sale in Cary and didn't find a thing.  Some lady was selling doilies for $5 each.  Kind of hard to buy that since I just got them for 20 cents each.  I did stop at one sale in the subdivision where the garden was unbelievable.  I asked her if her backyard was just as beautiful and she told me it was and that I could go and walk around it.  Which I did!  It was magnificient.  Just the right amount of garden art.  I gave her info to the Master Gardeners in charge of our Gardenwalks to check her out.  It was the highlight of my day on a cold dreary day. 

There are some estate sales tomorrow in Cary that I am planning on going to after the McHenry Library book sale.  It should be fun.

Rummage Sale Heaven!

3 rummage sales in one day.  What more could I ask for?  Some garage sales were also thrown in along the way.

I garage saled in the morning and stopped at a garage sale in Crystal Lake that I had gone to before.  They are moving to Florida so they had even more to get rid of.  I followed the one lady from her truck where she was carrying a garden orb for the sale.  She wanted $2 for it.  (It's mine now).  I also found a lot of costume jewelry for 50 cents to $1 each.  I got the boys playstation video games for 50 cents each.  After I paid and was walking out, I saw a garden copper bug ($1) and an orb fish (50 cents) that I grabbed and went back to pay for.  Some really good finds at this garage sale. 

Then, off to the church rummage sale in Huntley.  We had so much fun talking and laughing while waiting on line.  I met a lady from Marengo whose daughter is named Austin.  She was so nice and I enjoyed her company.  She came up to me during the sale to show me the pyrex covered dish she found.  That is her new collection and she was thrilled to find her first lidded piece.  It's so nice to meet someone so excited by her finds.  I found some bags of Pokemon stuff for 50 cents to $1, a bag of Bionicles for $1, doilies for 50 cents each, fabric for $1.50 and some paperback books for 50 cents each.  There was not as much at the sale which seems to be the trend so far at the Church rummage sales.

I garage saled some more after the rummage sale, but didn't find anything to buy.  I went to a 40 home subdivision sale in Cary and didn't find a thing.  After picking the kids up from school, we headed over to the Methodist Church rummage sale in Woodstock.  It had started at 3pm and we didn't get there until 3:50 so things were pretty picked over.  I did find a tin bucket with wood lid and handle with a cow painted on it.  I'm going to use it to hold toys in the basement.  We did make it to the Methodist Church rummage sale in Crystal Lake at about 7pm.  The sale had started at 5pm.  We did find some DVD's for $1 each and some books for 25-50 cents each.  I also found a retro white bracelet for $1. 

Any day that has that many rummage sales in it is a good day for me.  I had so much fun!  Wednesday April 25th at 9am is the First Congregational Church rummage sale in Crystal Lake.  Tomorrow is the McHenry Library book sale.

More Treasures

On the way to taking the kids to school on Thursday, we left early and stopped at the Zion Lutheran Church Rummage sale in McHenry.  We got there as everyone was going in.  It is usually a smaller sale, but we always manage to find something.  I found a great seashell covered cup for $1, a pin for 50 cents, a nutcracker for Austin for $1, a DVD for $1, some kids books for 25-50 cents each, 3 small animal figurines for 25 cents each, and as we were about to pay, I spotted a parrot cookie jar for $3.  Someone must have put it back since it wasn't there when I walked by originally.  That is why it is always a good idea to go around the sale a few times because people put things back.  The kids got to school with lots of time to spare even after stopping at the rummage sale.  Not bad!  It gives us a mission and a goal.

I also stopped at about 6 garage sales, and only found something at 1 of them.  You never know.  There are good days and bad days.  I found a vintage milk glass plate that was handpainted with a poinsetta on it for $1, a doily for 25 cents and a book for $2.  I was happy with these few things.  I even saw some rummage sale friends.

I noticed that the Methodist Church on South Street in Woodstock will be having their rummage sale on Thursday April 19.  The First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake will be having their sale on Wednesday April 25.

Today, I went to an estate sale in Crystal Lake held by Caring Transitions.  They had a list of all of their sales in the next 2 months on the door of the sale.  Should be fun.  This house was full of stuff and alot of it were things that I collect.  They had aluminum items so it took me a while to look at it.  I had most of it, but found a nice grape pattern bowl with a unique handle made by Hammercraft.  I didn't have anything like it and it was only $4.  I found 1 piece of fabric, 4 pins (a turtle, vintage flower, and 2 Christmas pins).  I got a deal on the pins, but they were $4-$8 each.  Still a good price, especially for the Christmas pins.  I also found a sewing book with patterns for $3, and a Sonic Genesis video game for $2.  It was fun to look through this house.  It is always fun to go to estate sales to see what others are selling, how much things are going for and what the inside of these houses look like.  I love it!

Yard Work

I love when Springs arrives, but that also means it's time to cut the grass.  The kids and I worked on that this morning.  It always looks so nice when it is freshly cut, and I usually feel good after working outside for awhile.  I found the perfect spot for the small concrete bird bath that I bought last week.  It is in my shade garden behind my 2 vintage blue chairs.  I repainted those chairs with a spa blue last year, and I love how they turned out.  I use a metal white flower stand with an aluminum lazy susan as the top for a small table between the 2 chairs.  On the concrete bird bath I put a small concrete fairy that I found for $2 at the Elkhorn Flea Market last year.  That was one of my favorite finds from last season.  Also in the shade garden is a concrete dragon that I got years ago at a garage sale for $2, and a concrete gnome that I paid $3 for.  There are 2 angel statues that were $1 each, and a metal bird bath.  The hostas are starting to come up and will fill in beautifully.  The white bleeding hearts have bloomed and look wonderful.  They are my favorite color bleeding heart.  I am still looking for a spot for the free concrete square planter that I got last week.  I just have to walk around the yard a few more times to find the perfect spot.

Garage Saleing

I saw a garage sale on Main Street in Cary on the way to taking the kids to their Saturday Pokemon league.  So, I dropped them off, and off I went.  They had a lot of vintage/antique items, but the prices were pretty high.  I found Christmas fabric for $2, a blue flower, made in Japan, pedestal plate for $2 and a cute boy/girl on a seasaw for the garden for $1.  Then, I went to the Sparrows Nest and found a cute straw bag with seashells on it for $2.  2 of the shells had fallen off, but since I have a huge collection of shells, I was able to find 2 and hot glued them on.  It looks really nice.  The bag will be cute to carry books or stuff around when the summer hits. 

I placed the cute boy/girl on a seasaw in a planter in my driveway.  Really cute!

I'm looking forward to 2 rummage sales coming up.  Thursday April 12 is at the Zion Lutheran Church in McHenry at 8am and the other is at the 1st Methodist Church in Crystal Lake on April 19 at 5pm.  More should be coming up soon.

Out and About

Boy! What a busy day.  We started out by going to a garage sale around the corner from our house and didn't find a thing.  I only had a dog jump all over me to play.  We were making a trip to the Burlington Coat Factory at the Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee to buy Ethan a suit.  (They really do have the best selection of suits at great prices.)  He was accepted into the Junior National Honor Society and he needed a suit for the ceremony.  We found him (after over 1 hour of trying on almost every suit) a Ralph Lauren suit that was originally $475 marked down to $149.  It was still a little pricey, but it fit him perfectly.  He didn't care about the designer.   He didn't even have a clue who it was until I told him about Ralph Lauren. 

We then made our way to Half Price Books in Highland Park to get rid of 3 boxes of books left over from our garage sale.  We got $25 for them and spent $26 on other books.  We even had a 15% off coupon that we used.  It's a good thing that we only had to pay $1 out of my pocket.  It really is the place to get rid of books etc., and to get paid for them.

So, of course, on the way home we stopped at the Goodwill in Lake Zurich.  I found a really cool bracelet for $3.99, a vintage coin glass pedestal bowl for $3.99, a milk glass vase for $3.99, and Austin found a Sonic GameGear game for $2.99. 

We were so exhausted after being out for over 7 hours.  I had a schedule to keep, and I'm so proud that we only went to the places that were on our list.  I was tempted to shop at Gurnee Mills, but, I'll save that for another day.  When I'm alone!

Garden Stuff Garage Sale

Every year there is a garden stuff garage sale in McHenry.  Well, it was today because I found out that she is moving to South Carolina.  She always has such neat stuff with really good prices.  I found 2 wire rakes for $2 each.  We needed new ones since one fell apart this Spring.  Now the kids can't fight over who gets the better rake.  I also found a concrete small bird bath/planter that was $5.  She took it right out of her garden for me.  I found a Shabby Chic book by Rachel Ashwell for $3 and she gave me, for FREE, a concrete square planter that she used as a pedestal for her pots.  I'll find a place for it.  I'm always looking for "things" to put in my garden.  The other 2 garage sales that I stopped at didn't have anything that I wanted.