In which a person of limited willpower is revealed

When I wrote in my last post the sentence,"I don't think you could force me to go to an estate sale at this point," I meant it sincerely. I knew I would want to go to a sale at some point in the future, but not right away. I expected my resolve to last perhaps a month. At least a couple of weeks. Certainly more than what proved to be the case, which was about 12 hours.

For the very next morning there appeared an advertisement which seemed as if it were written only for me. Yards and yards of fabric. Quilt tops. Linens. Christmas galore. And it was about five minutes from home. The sale was Saturday morning, and I got there so early, I was #2 on the list.

Clearly since this 1970s vintage sewing box is the first thing I'm showing you, the sale did not quite live up to my expectations. All of the items advertised were there, but they weren't my style. More 1980s than 1950s.

I bought the sewing box only because I wanted the nice collection of bone crochet hooks inside. I've had good luck selling these. There were the usual other interesting bits inside the sewing box - a few wooden spools, and buttons to be covered, and whatnot - although I did discover something new, which you'll see in a minute.

Possibly my favorite thing from the sale was this covered pie plate. The only problem with it is that it is beseeching me to fill it with something pie-related. The pie plate goes nicely with a tablecloth I bought, but it's currently being washed, so let your imagination run wild. (It's a nice old white cotton tablecloth with big red and blue berry clusters.) I also bought a few newish craft things to resell, so the sale wasn't a total wash.

The new thing I discovered in the sewing box is how the plastic trays that come in it are perfect sewing-drawer organizers. I don't know why I never thought of this before, since over the years I've purchased quite a few of those sewing boxes for their contents. Because the boxes are hard plastic, they're often chipped or cracked (not to mention hideously ugly) and usually aren't even worth donating. Taking the trays out never occurred to me, though.

And since the sewing box at Saturday's sale had two trays in it, I am now the proud owner of an extremely well organized sewing drawer.

 

Comments

[Maria (Magia Mia)]

The nice thing about free will is that we can break our own rules anytime we want to......as long as it isn't hazardous....:)

[Into Vintage]

I looked through the estate sale addiction handbook and it says you're doing everything right. Your purchases were either functional, unique or for re-sale. I saw no miscellaneous accumulation in there.

Well, except for the vintage tablecloth but everyone knows those don't count.

[laurie mapgie ethel]

12 hours and then you were sucked in again huh..such a tremendous pull those sales have for us bitten by the estate sale bug. Great repurposing of the plastic tray...I would have never thought of that and there is nothing better than a well organized drawer!

[Renee]

I have done this for so long it is sad to say. I now moved on to handing them down to my kids. Younger son uses them to store his fly fishing equipment and spools. Who ever invented plastic....oh man! Love all your cleaning and organizing. It is such an inspiration...smiles...Renee

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

As someone who says on a regular basis that I don't want any more junk, rest assured that I didn't believe that statement for a second!

I don't think I've ever seen a covered pie plate before. And knowing that there's a matching tablecloth.....you've just made me insanely impatient for flea market season to start!

[Elizabeth]

I have the same sewing box, but mine is avocado green. It is pretty hideous, and it's chipped and taped, but it was my great-grandmother's box and because it has sentimental value, I use it and I'm fond of it. :) It does have very good interior organizers! Mine still has some of my great-grandmother's notions, tools and ribbons inside.