I am not a fan of community/streetwide/neighborhood/highway yard sales. I believe I've stated before that they only encourage people who should not have sales to have them. Nonetheless, I put aside my objections this morning because I happened across a sale last year that I liked a lot, and the man running it said he usually participated in the townwide sale. Which began today.
Using the patented apron rating system, let's review the negatives of the community yard sale tradition:
They attract crowds.
The merchandise consists largely of toys and baby clothes.
Generally a lot of driving for little return.
Did I mention how many strollers, Little Tikes play sets and piles of tiny clothes I saw today?
On the positive side, however, you can find a set of very sturdy maple chairs to paint white over the winter, and they'll cost almost nothing.
And at the same sale you can find a nice pair of matching corner shelves.
(which cost even less than the chairs.)
Not to mention old, deeply indented Christmas ornaments.
(for loose change.)
And even though you can't find the sale you originally wanted to go to, you find another sale which doesn't look like much, except it has nice vintage glassware for 10 cents.
And you rediscover the thrill of the 10-cent Swanky Swig.
(Two aprons. There were two 10-cent Swanky Swigs.)
Eventually you face facts and realize you're not going to find the sale you originally set out to find, and you stop back at the sale with the chairs, because you'd arranged to pick them up later. And you mention the sale you were looking for, and miraculously, the people think they know who you're talking about, because it is, after all, a community yard sale. And even though you already drove down that road and didn't see it, you figure you might as well look again because it's on your way home. And miraculously, there's a big flag by the side of the road that says "open," and you stop, and it turns out they opened about one minute before you arrived, and that's why you didn't see it before.
(an apron for serendipity.)
And the reason you liked the sale last year was because they had quirky stuff.
Like old real estate signs.
There are more, but you get the idea.
Which, in the final analysis, leaves us with 7 aprons, minus 4 negative aprons, for a total of three aprons.
Which, as community yard sales go, is a pretty good morning.
There are more signs? Because the ones you showed us are pretty darn great. And quirky.
I am about up to my eyeballs in sales packed with nothing but kids clothes. Apparently the children in these parts have enough clothing to wear a different outfit every day of the year.
Posted by: Into Vintage | August 26, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Oh, so jealous! I have yet to find the elusive 10 cent juice glass or swanky swig in my area, not for lack of trying. And I would have had to own those real estate signs- too fun! They would be fun to stick in windows to mess with the neighbors, but in the college town I live in, they would be taken seriously, unfortunately....
Posted by: Jenny G. | August 26, 2011 at 05:15 PM
You are dead right about all of the negatives, but as you see, when you find something good it is usually cheap! I cannot wait for the highway sale next week.
Posted by: Sarah | August 26, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Lovely...can you beat 10 cent swanky swigs? Great day and good story...I give it an extra apron.
Posted by: Renee | August 26, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Sounds like a decent morning and glad you finally found the quirky sale. Distaste for baby clothes, tupperware and VHS tapes are why I stay away from these types of sales as well - but every once in awhile you get lucky...MS. TEN CENT SWANKY SWIG!
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | August 26, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Thanks for taking me on this little junking journey. The orange juice glasses deserve a couple of aprons on their own. Please show us the maple chairs after they are purified in white paint. Thanks too for the kind words about my new venture...We are so PLUCKY!
xo
Pam
Posted by: One Gal's Trash | August 27, 2011 at 12:56 AM
Great finds, even with enduring all the toys and baby clothes "drive bys". The minute I see that stuff I just figure they aren't old enough to have anything I want - LOL!
Posted by: Kathy | August 27, 2011 at 01:28 AM
I love the old christmas tree ornaments that you found.
Posted by: Charlotte | August 27, 2011 at 10:54 AM
I'm jealous. You seem to find all the good stuff. For once, yesterday, there were yard sales all down the road on the way home, and I have a husband who hates to stop! I was furious. Hardly any baby clothes and toys. Even saw a vintage small Coke cooler! EEeeeee!
You have a knack, lady! Love your blog!!!
Posted by: Kat | August 27, 2011 at 06:43 PM
I'm surprised you aren't a community yard sale kind of gal, I love going to these as it seems you can sniff out a good sale while others are stumbling through yard after yard plastic junk toys.
Anyhow it looks like you did just fine, I love those chairs!
PS I recently saw your comment on my blog about Mt Monadnock, I live 9 miles from the entrance to the park.
Posted by: freckled hen | August 27, 2011 at 09:16 PM
You found some great stuff! When I see a pile of "kidplastic", I keep driving....
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | August 28, 2011 at 06:25 AM
I have combed etsy and I cannot find an oodles and oodles shop. I would hate to miss one of your amazing finds. Could you please let me know what your shop is? Amazing and beautiful eye for vintage that you have. Thank you dear...smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | August 29, 2011 at 09:08 AM