One of my best friends is, surprise surprise, an avid thrifter.

The best part is, we have totally different tastes and interests, so there is never competition. My “thing” is seeking out all sorts of vintage goodies, especially costume jewelry, old books, craft items, salt and pepper shakers, fabric, quilts and “smalls.” She prefers more modern items, especially useful kitchenware, household items, Christmas ornaments and decor. The one thing we both agreed on last weekend was that we had better high tail it to one of our favorite rummage sales early before all of the good stuff got scomped up!

Right when we arrived I found some bright, jaunty fabric. Love this one! And it was only a quarter for a little over a yard.

This was 25 cents, too.

So was this!

Then I found a 1940′s knitting booklet.

And another one for DIY mittens and gloves.

The jewelry table proved fruitful as well. My first find was this enamel flower pin.

A trident broach.

And my favorite find of the day, a deco bracelet in excellent condition for just $1.

This ring is marked 18k gold! And those just might be diamond chips on the sides. But here’s the clincher….it looks like someone crudely glued poor quality faux beads into the two large settings. What the heck, who does that?! I should probably thank them though, since this was just tossed into the dollar bin with a bunch of costume jewelery.

When I finished jewelry shopping it was off to the housewares section, which was really was pretty impressive. There were four filled to the brim rows of tables. This old screw top mason jar spoke to me for some reason.

So did this candy dish, marked “Royal USA.”

This Napcoware dog was calling my name for 50 cents. It’s already housing my new lipstick plant.

Another planter.

This is actually a vintage cookie jar that I turned into a planter since the top was amongst the missing.

And that, web chums, is what I found. My friend had a fruitful morning as well. Not only did she get a lovely glass syrup dispenser and some Christmas decorations, but she also bought two watches. Later on she found out that one of them retails for fifty bucks and she only paid two dollars. Best of all, the battery still worked!

Fast forward to this Saturday. I got up early and rolled to an estate sale in my town.

They had mostly pottery and dishes, though there was also some sort of nice but overpriced small furniture, artwork and knick knacks.

The jewelery section was small but well laid out, and I knew I’d find something.

Like these nice clip earrings, which I often use as shoe clips to temporarily decorate my piggie covers.

Another pair.

And one more.

A sparkly, mid-century ring.

A very long string of real pearls. They’re hand knotted and quite fetching, especially the clasp. The seller told me that they belonged to his Mother in Law, who always wore pearls every single day, “even before Barbara Bush made it popular.” Heh.

Cute little doggie pins.

An unusual necklace, that I suspect is probably from the 1970s.

And last but not least, a beautiful pair of mod, wooden bracelets.

PS – I’ve joined the swell link parties at Southern Hospitality and Apron Thrift Girl.

So.

I haven’t updated since Memorial day weekend, and don’t you know, it’s already Labor day. I’ve neglected my veggie garden terribly, haven’t done a craft project in who knows how long and I seem to have missed the peak of tag sale season entirely.

Of course, there is a very good reason for all the slacking.

There’s a new man in my life!

He’s got dark blond hair, beautiful blue eyes and I was smitten with him for quite some time before he was placed in my arms at the hospital.

Yup, I had a baby this summer!

We named him Brett, in honor of my maternal Grandfather and a Great Uncle on my husbands side. He and I spent the whole summer getting to know each other, and so far I can tell you that he rather enjoys smiling, wearing ridiculous animal themed hats and staring at ceiling fans. My tot also loves warm baths, staying up all night and being toted about town in his Ergo carrier. I love how his own farties startle him and that his gummy, toothless grins melt my heart every time. Brett looks just like me, too, which is funny, since my daughter is a “mini me” of my husband.

Two year old sister Leah has taken his arrival in stride. No jealousy or drama whatsoever. In fact, she ignores him completely other than to pretend to feed him a bottle, count his toes or to kiss him goodnight. But I think that once he’s old enough to sit up and be more interactive she’ll appreciate him a little more, and hopefully they’ll be best friends someday.

But anyway.

In other, non life altering news, I did manage to sneak in three tag sales this summer. It felt really good to get out of the house for a little bit, and to enjoy some fresh air. It felt even better to be snapping up some fun little treasures.

The first sale was at a house I’d been to before. A couple who sells antiques and collectibles liquidates their remaining inventory at the end of the summer so they can bring in new goodies in the fall. Nothing is ever marked, you just bring whatever you find up to the front and they give you a price for everything. They’re willing to negotiate, though I’ve never bothered to since I think their prices are quite fair to begin with.

The first thing I grabbed up was this awesome, oversized, mid-century deer salt shaker. The pepper was nowhere to be found, but at 7 inches tall he’s super cute on his own as a display piece.

Still more decorative deer.

And a spotty, unmarked lamb planter.

Some Eff and Tee salt and pepper shakers.

And last but not least, a Stangl creamer.

The second sale proved fruitful as well. This swell little vintage table was only $5! It needs a little TLC, but I think a fresh coat of paint and a different knob will breathe some new life into it.

My last stop was at an estate sale that had tons and tons of incredible antiques. While most of the items weren’t really my taste and were way out of my price range to begin with, I couldn’t help but marvel at how absolutely beautiful and well cared for everything was. Just as I was about to leave I happened upon a dusty, old, ornate leather bound book with a floral motif.

To my surprise and delight, it turned out to be a large, Victorian era scrapbook!

I carefully flipped through the brittle pages and was amazed to see an array of brilliantly colorful advertising and trade cards, magazine cutouts, prints and calling cards. A few had dates on them, the oldest of which was from the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial.

There was no price on the album, so I asked the fellow at the front how much it was. He shrugged his shoulders and said “How about $10?”

Seriously? Less than the cost of a movie ticket?

I don’t think that I have ever whipped out my wallet so fast.

Score!!!

This is the cover….

And a close up of the center design.

A full page of colorful goodness.

And some closeups of my favorite images….

The Congregationalist magazine, Boston, MA, marked 1883. Their slogan says “give attendance to reading.”

Day and Night Prints. Love these. Am considering making a copy and framing them.

A card from the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876.

A “Tomb of Grace Darling” print.

The Lighthouse at Marblehead, marked 1883. There is a quote on it that reads “He hath made everything beautiful in his time.”

Allison Brothers Soaps, Middletown, CT.

Alpaugh and Hooper “Dry and fancy goods”, marked Willimantic, CT.

Willimantic Thread.

More Thread. It’s very cool that so many of the things in this scrapbook were local businesses in my state.

Flower Company Ad, Ascough and White Florists, Salem, OH.

Another flower company card.

And a Valentine.

Hoyt’s German Cologne.

More Hoyt’s Colonge, marked Lowell, Mass.

And for the Victorian era medicine cabinet, may I present you with a card advertising whisker dye…

Vegetable pain killer….

And best of all, Carter’s Little Nerve Pills.

PS – I’ve joined the swell link parties at Southern Hospitality, Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl.