For the second week in a row, the lack of decent estate sales and auctions has forced me to take desperate measures. Yes, I have been going to yard sales. I once loved yard sales. Now I think of them as a last resort. A last resort that sometimes has Pyrex, however.
Cake tin + matching enameled flower pin, from two different sales.
A tiny bit of Christmas. A Gurley Santa, and two I've never seen before. I like 'em.
Would you like to know why I haven't posted for awhile? Because we had a terrible thunderstorm. The thunderstorm did not knock out my computer. I unplugged the computer and disconnected what was apparently a very important cable so they would not be zapped by lightning, and when the storm passed, I reconnected them. Incorrectly. It's taken more than a week for me to admit defeat, call my ever-patient computer guy, and explain the problem. He solved it over the phone in about 10 seconds. He really is a genius.
Back to yard sale finds: an extremely rare anthropomorphic mushroom candleholder. By extremely rare, I mean I've never seen one before, and did not know they existed.
My treasure for the day was this redwork quilt. I bought it to resell, but I'm wavering. Wavering as in maybe I'll hang onto it for 10 years and see how I feel then.
My favorite square might be the chick and the butterfly.
But my favorite thing overall is just how completely random it is. No theme whatsoever. Yes, there are some cute kids.
But also odd bits, like a carefully identified bird (but no other birds) and a seasonal scene (but only for winter, and no other season).
Not to mention the occasional wild animal next to the winsome child. Completely random. Kind of like my yard sale finds.
HeHe! I sold a huge lot of random, incomplete, hot iron transfers the other day. Maybe that is what your quilter was doing - using up leftovers. Neat how doing them all in red just pulled it all together so it looks great. A clever crafter!
Posted by: kathy | June 07, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Oh, I love that cake tin!! So pretty and I don't see to many black ones!! I will have to keep my eye out! The redwork quilt is gorgeous!! I wonder what thread they used so it did run. I used some red thread and it sadly left a reddish hint around. Anyways, great finds and wishing you a happy weekend!! xo Heather
Posted by: Heather | June 07, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Your cake tin is fantastic. What a sweet quilt. I'm a sucker for gurley candles anyday. Glad you are back up and running with the computer.
Posted by: Musings from Kim K. | June 08, 2013 at 08:29 AM
Barb, We are so much alike (but you probably already knew that). I think of yard sales as a last resort, too. Finding a good one can be like a needle in a haystack.
And, I have done the same thing with my computer. Pulled out all the cables to reboot the internet and it took days for me to figure out what slots to plug them back into. Couldn't they number them or something?
Posted by: Beth Leintz | June 08, 2013 at 08:45 AM
Yeah, I'm not much of a yard saler either. I typically spend a lot of time driving and wasting gas with very little reward. I only stop at them if I have time and drive past it now.
You got lucky this time though! Love the cake tin and pin. And the quilt...oh my gosh that quilt is fabulous! Your wavering is understandable!
Posted by: Melissa | June 08, 2013 at 09:14 AM
Three cheers for those computer guys! Oh how I'd love to have their expertise.
Once again you have found some wonderful things. That quilt is a treasure and the cake tin is gorgeous! Will you be wearing the pin whilst whipping up a cake to place i the tin? :)
Posted by: Kim | June 08, 2013 at 09:36 AM
You have to keep the quilt! It's beautiful. And so whimsical with its randomness.
Posted by: Joy | June 08, 2013 at 10:16 AM
For yard sales you did pretty darn well. Love that quilt...I mean red and white and random cuteness..a keeper for sure.
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | June 08, 2013 at 10:46 AM
I rarely find Pyrex at yard sales but when I do, I am giddy for quite a while. That mushroom is great. I actually found two for my sister in a grab bag at Goodwill during the holidays last year. They are the same mushroom, minus the cute anthropomorphic face. Are yours marked Made in Sweden?
Erica
Posted by: Erica | June 08, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Glad the yard sales yielded some treasures...that is my last resort as well. Usually when I hit them, I am reminded why I hate them so since the pickings are so slim. Candleholder...love!
At least you had the sense to unplug all the computer stuff, but truthfully why the heck are so many cords involved for one machine? It is rocket science to reconnect - I think they should color code where the go.
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | June 08, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Not bad for "slumming it".
The red and white quilt is charming.
Posted by: Sharrieboberry | June 08, 2013 at 04:45 PM
I am in love with that mushroom. I love mushrooms with faces, and snag them whenever I can. Lucky you!
Posted by: Jenny G. | June 10, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Well , you would not find that stuff at my local sales . They are so bad ! I think that you did very well ....truly Great quilt !
Posted by: Lisa W. | June 12, 2013 at 12:07 AM
The randomness of yard sale finds....it's funny to see what you end up with! I love that little mushroom! What a cute face....
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | June 13, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Great finds! I love the cake carrier and the little mushroom. And red work is always a favorite. I say KEEP IT. (but I'm a bad influence when it comes to hoarding vintage treasures.)
Posted by: Rebecca | June 14, 2013 at 03:01 PM
I am glad you weathered the storms unscathed. Your computer hiccup sounds like one of my stories! As for the quilt, I think you have the right idea. You can always sell it. Hold onto it until you find something better.
Posted by: Shelley Germann | June 16, 2013 at 11:44 AM