Saturday, April 10, 2010

I went shopping and "picking"...at my own house!

Okay, when you read this post, you're going to think I'm crazy or spoiled or blessed or extremely absent-minded with possibly early onset dementia.  So, I need to explain before you see the pictures I'm posting today.  As I mentioned here,  my mom and my aunt were some pioneering "junkers" from way back.  When my mom passed away in late 2000, we had to pack up her house.  It was hard to decide what to keep, what to give away to family and friends and what to sell.  To be honest, it was a task I dreaded and wanted to finish as quickly as I could.  So, for every item I touched, I made a quick decision "keep", "give" or "sell".  If I couldn't decide quickly, then it was keeper for me to decide later just so I could get through the process. 

When we moved into our new house in December, 2001, all of that stuff came with us plus all of the stuff we already had.  A lot of it filled the garage and some closets.  So, fast forward to today.  I love looking on all your blogs and shops to get ideas and my pal, Jennie and I, love going to shops and flea markets to find new things for our homes.  Jennie laughs at me because as we look at all the stuff, I frequently say "I think I have one of those" or "I think my mom had that."  As I look at your blogs, I find myself saying the same thing. 

So, today I decided to go shopping...at my own house.  When you see some of the pictures, I think "picking" may be a better word since I had to look through quite a bit of stuff to find some possible treasures.  I have to admit, I'm a little excited about what I found.  We are redoing several rooms in our house and need some stuff.  Apparently, I've got plenty of stuff I didn't know I had...and it's all free.  

So, here you go.  Here's what I got today shopping at my own house.  Please don't look to closely at some of the background.  Stay focused on the item (because the background will be a mess and a bit embarrassing.)
This little green mirror is too cute.  I like the wire above it. It's from my mother's house.

I think I bought this heart many years ago.  I have no idea where I got it and completely forgot about it.  Why did I do that?
This was my mother's.  I think she had it in a bedroom.  Why have I not had this in a special place?
A pale yellow chippy little vase.  I could use a pale yellow chippy little vase.
That vase is cute and the price is right!
Okay, these storage drawers were in my Dad's shop.  He was a manufacturing jeweler in Dallas.  My mom talked him in to bringing these home and they sat in our garage.  She wanted to clean them up and put them in our house (this was back in the 80's!  She was a visionary for sure).  My Dad couldn't see them as anything other than storage for his nails, small tools and jewelry supplies so they stayed in the garage.  Guess where they are at my house?  In the garage.  Jennie spied them and told me I had to do something with them.  I guess they could be my next big project.
They do have potential!
what fun it could be to make cute little vintage labels for the drawers!
Not to mention, the storage would come in handy.  I'm pretty sure my Dad's stuff is still in those drawers. 
I was looking at this post on the Shabby Nest and saw her makeover an old fan.  It was so cool.  You know what, I think I have one of those.  Yep, there it is in the corner of the garage covered in dust and yuckiness.  I've got to clean that up and bring it in. 
Oh my gosh, look at that thing...right next to the Gretzky cut out that my husband hung in the garage.  (That's his idea of decor.)  It's an old pulley and some weights.  What can I do with those?  All ideas are appreciated! 
This stuff is high up on a storage shelf in the garage.  I'm not sure what all they are but I think I see an old vintage paper cutter..or at least the handle on the top left.  That could be handy and cool in a craft room...now that my son is old enough to leave it alone or at least not cut off a limb or whatever  if he uses it.
Yes, folks, this is my garage.  Your going to have to look close here to see treasures.  In the middle, under the bicycle tube are two old desks, a brown one and an upside down white one on top of it.  The red and white striped awning thing is the top of an old Gym Dandy surrey.  Yep, we have a surrey, complete with fringe on top (for you older folks who have seen the movie "Oklahoma.")    
Here's a close up.  Can you see the desks?  A Very Blessed Nest did a great post on a cute idea with an old school desk and it got me thinking.  I was pretty sure I had one and here it is. 
Here's the white one that's upside down on top of the other one.
What's that cute little bucket?  It's a little too cute to be holding whatever that is in there.
Here's a cute little miniature trunk.  My mother had it in her bedroom and I always liked it. 
Ooooh, these have potential.  I like the little rusted tin vase on the right.  I'm not sure about the fakey rusty birdcage thing. 
It might have potential. Oh, wait a minute....
a little spray paint...
That's better.  Now I just need to find a place for it.

I definitely found some great bargains today.  I'll have to shop this place again!  Take a second look around your house, closets and garage and see what you have that you've forgotten about it.  If you find something good, let me know!  I need the reassurance that I'm not the only absent-minded one plus you might have something that might spark another memory and I just might have it too!

47 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness you lucky girl! LOVE your picking! Those drawers are to die for. LOVE the urn, and the pitcher too. So many possibilities! I'm a daughter of a picker, who now has two barns loaded with goodies. Fun times when we go for a visit! :)

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  2. Hi my new friend. Love your shopping trip, I'm glad I got to go on it with you. Can't wait to see the finished projects.

    come visit
    cindy@stitches

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  3. I know how you feel! I go shopping in my basement and garden shed regularly for some Pyrex! I have a lot of boxes of the stuff. :)

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  4. How fun! I find things like that often in my attic that belonged to my grandmother. I got so much of her neat glassware and its been packed away in boxes. It's so fun to go through them and find what I might want to use now.

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  5. You found some great treasures! I love that old little trunk-looking thing, and that old fan is just too cool. You'll have to post pictures of what becomes of all that stuff.

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  6. Is that your Dad's handwriting on the labels on that chest? If so, I would keep those on there. I keep some of my dad's handwriting on the garage wall, and it will forever stay there.

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  7. Oh you did find such a wonderful assortment of treasures. I love them all. I can't wait to see them all in place. Hugs, Marty

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  8. *sigh* Can I shop at your house too??

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  9. Wow-wuh! Can I go shopping at your place? So great. The white pitcher is awesome- the old trunks are awesome, everything has so much awesome potential! I can't wait to see what you do with them all. Smokin' hot finds. Your mom truly was a visionary.

    P.S. I'm sorry you lost her. She sounds like one awesome woman.

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  10. Oh wow! That drawered piece is to die for! I love it! I would so put that in my house! You have all kinds of treasures to pick from! Lucky girl!

    Polly

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  11. ...oh i have just made a cup o'tea & found somehow whilst just whiling away an hour after a huge lunch & walk with the kids...& i loved this post...can i come over to yours & fo shopping...this is seriously too much fun in one garage!!
    happy sunday
    melissa

    http://misssewandso.blogspot.com

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  12. Lucky girl. It must be nice to know what to do with some of your mother's things now.

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  13. Can I go shopping in your garage?...great finds and lots to work with. Your parents remind me a lot of my in laws. They had lots of cool vintage stuff hidden in their home. MY MIL decorated this way before it was even considered decorating! Her home was always so welcoming and interesting.

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  14. WOW, what a complete TREASURE TROVE YOU HAVE! I love the black urn, the little trunk, the green MIRROR! ...so many great finds!

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  15. My goodness, you sure uncovered a lot of neat stuff! Now aren't you glad your parents were junkers? My favorite is the green mirror with a handle...so cute!

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  16. Hey I just wanted to say to stop back over at the blog and comment 3 more time, I am drawing the winner from comments, and you have 3 more chances!

    Hope to see ya soon!
    Cassity

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  17. Wow, looks like you need to open a booth! Love the mirror with wire.

    Allison

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  18. You garage is my dream come true. ;) I can't believe all the amazing things you have going on in there! The storage piece from your dad is my fave. That will be FABULOUS!! I'm visiting from Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures party. :)

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  19. You have great things ! Love those drawers the most !
    Kammy

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  20. that jewelry cabinet is fabulous!! it will be soooo awesome!!!!!

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  21. Love it all and you are not alone, just last week I started going through stuff that has been packed up in storage from when we moved 5 years ago! Got through the first 15 or 20 boxes and was give out! Will try to get more done this week. But the treasures I forgot I had and memories have been wonderful. Thanks for sharing yours. Blessings, Vicky

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  22. Let me just say this.....I WANT TO GO SHOPPING AT YOUR PLACE!!!
    Toni

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  23. Now that is the best thrifty shopping spree at home EVER!

    Hugs, Lana

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  24. OK, I am jealous! Can I come to your house? lol! All that stuff is great. I would definitely do something with that piece that was your dads! I am a sucker for old fans, and that mirror is great. My hubby would love that pulley!

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  25. Well that's not fair, there's nothing fun in my garage. Just a drum set and power tools (ok, maybe I should have said there's nothing fun for ME in my garage...)

    Great post!

    -Lori

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  26. Oh my goodness!! I so need that pitcher!! And those drawers!!! Great finds!!

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  27. Oh and if you ever want to guest post over at my place on "What Would You Do With It Wednesday" I think you could find an item (or two)!! You are more than welcome!!

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  28. WOWZA! Can I come "pick" in your garage?!

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  29. What an incredible group of things to pick from. You are right to go shopping in your own house!

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  30. You are blessed to have a garage full of such wonderful goodies! I wish you lived close I would love to go through it with you and give you ideas as to what you could do with some of those treasures! Hugs. cindy S

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  31. I need to come by and shop at your house...thanks for sharing all of it with us at NTT!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  32. OMG, I am so incredibly jealous. You have some amazing things here! You should totally antique that old card catalogue. We have one that houses all of our CDs and DVDs. I say, paint it black and then hit it with an orbital sander and apply some stain. Check out what my friends did with their furniture on my recent "weekend inspiration" post. The black furniture . . .

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  33. You are a breath of fresh air. Remind me of my daughters. And that is a wonderful thing. They come by and go shopping/thrifting in my basement and shop. I have trained them to keep an eye out for a treasure and they are getting really good at it. Your mother should be proud! I am.

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  34. The cabinet with the pullout drawers is fabulous. It has oodles of potential! I can't believe you "found" all that in your parent's and your house. Awesome!

    Jeanine

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  35. All great stuff! I am the same way - hard to decide what to keep/let go.

    It sounds alot like what I had going on.
    My mom passed away two years ago and I had to go to her house and go through everything.

    I flew out to her place and took three months to sort. 50 years of collections! My husband flew out after I returned home and rented a 20 foot truck to bring it all back.

    This was after dividing it between 3 siblings, 18 grandkids and having a huge estate sale. She had huge garage and outbuilding.

    I store it in a storage unit until I can get to it as well but some was too valuable, both monetarily and emotionally to let go. I still regret some things that I let go of...but it was just too much to keep.

    Sorry for the long post!
    Laura

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  36. I love the drawers. What a great place for craft equipment and you found them in your house. Looks like there are alot of goodies in there!

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  37. Oh, my, gosh! I love the drawers. They would be great in a craft room... they could hold all kinds of things!

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  38. Lucky you to have all of those treasures. It will be nice to have good memories of your mom and dad and aunt around you.

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  39. That looks so pretty painted white! Thanks so much for posting on Favorite Things Friday!

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  40. I'm envious! I've seen pretty plants hung from pulleys using a hook on the lip of the pot to keep it stable and lower it for watering. I know I'm not giving you the best description but I have faith you'll figure it out if you are interested, lol.

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  41. Ummm... can I come over?!?!? That's all great stuff and how fun it must be to re-discover it all with a fresh mind and ideas!!

    Tania

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  42. I LOVE that cabinet! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! You have some cool junk.

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  43. Hilarous. :) My junk isn't as cool as your junk though. I'd rather go shopping at your place. Trade?!? :)

    Thanks for sharing on SNS! Happy decorating! Oh yeah... get decorating!

    FJ Donna

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  44. I absolutely love the feeling of "shopping at home" and putting together the goodies in a new way. Ya, use what you've got, because you have some really great stuff.

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  45. I just love "shopping at home" and finding stuff you have forgotten about. It is such a great feeling to use your goodies and put them together in a new way, and you really have some gems. I would love to come and play at your house.

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  46. Oh I would so want to shop in your home!! I absolutely love the drawers, you have to do something with them at once!
    I have alot around my home too, and I always worry that I wont have time to see how everything looks, before I leave this planet...so you must act now, you have such wonderful treasures.

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