My Salvaged Treasures: August 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

Niles Annual Antique Fair Finds

Sunday, I was up early and out of the house at 5:30am for the 46th Annual Antique Fair and Flea Market in the Historical Niles District in Fremont. In addition to the antique show, blocks and blocks of surrounding homes participate in the city wide yard sale. Most of the yard sales seem to start a little later, so I hit the main street first.

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed with the mixture of booths on the main street. It's a flea market in addition to an antique show, but I really don't like having to walk by booths of sunglasses, t-shirts, hats, plastic food storage, etc., just to get to one of the too few antique booths. OK, no more complaining. I did get some fun stuff, but I really had to work for it.

This store wasn't open when I walked by, but it was interesting to look at the old bike parts through the window.

Do you think Mike and Frank (American Pickers) would be drooling over this?

I love the green paint on this rusty old Nemco garbage can, and one can never have too much silver.

This avocado green sewing basket was in perfect condition and a real bargain. It was even a better bargain when I opened it and discovered it came with bunches of goodies. I see more repurposed jewelry here.

I love this page from a 1950 house accounts ledger.

xxx Valley Brook Drive, Falls Church, Va.

Get a load of that house payment and balance!!! Another page lists the taxes....1950 yearly taxes were $106.86 and in 1959 they jumped way up to $318.00. Oooooh. I know, that was a lot of money back then.

I also bought some really cool 28" long Borden's wire milk baskets, a huge heavy wire stocking form, a tin type photo, and a few more smaller wire baskets. I forgot to get them out of the back of my truck when I took these pictures.

I was a little frustrated with not being able to find a good bling pile until I spotted this when I was leaving.....

I probably spent 30 minutes sifting through it all, and this is what I ended up with....

Now I need to get busy repurposing.

I'm linking up with:

Diane at 2nd Time Around Tuesday,

Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays, and

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures.

Stop by to see what wonderful treasures we've found.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Yard Sale and Antique Store Finds

I just returned from another adventure up in Ashland, Oregon. This time it was only for a few days, but I enjoyed every minute.....quality, not quantity. Friday was spent cruising through the adorable little shops downtown, lunch at an outdoor cafe overlooking the creek, and then wine tasting for dinner. Who needs food when you have good wine.

Saturday was spent at yard sales, a thrift shop, and antique stores. Most of the sales on Saturday didn't start until 9am or later. Heck, I'm usually on my 5th or 6th sale by then. I don't even mind 7am for those "years of accumulation" sales...I'd be there at 3am if they'd let us early birds in.

I bought 10 of these little chippy paint and moss covered post finials. I think I'll transform a few of them and then sell the rest just the way they are. The large piece of bark cloth and several smaller pieces were only $2.00. The pink and clear glass globe was even a better deal, and the large window with 6 panes (in the background) was hard to pass up for free. I found the flatware here and there - such a bargain.

The little pine box just made my day. It was a bit grungy, but a good cleaning with Howard Feed-N-Wax spruced it right up. I love that stuff! Not sure what possessed me to buy the old metal cars, but I thought they were cute. I'll use the metal dish rack for displaying my silver trays. Got a great deal on the entrance and exit signs, 1952 typewriter book and the old diner menu. I'm not sure what that iron metal spiral thingy is that's standing next to the cars. It's about 6" high, real heavy, and in need of a transformation. I also bought a few dozen black and white photos....always love those.

This isn't the best photo, but I thought it was pretty funny. You can see the little training seat on top. This poor child is barely able to sit up and a potty training attempt is being made at 5 months. I guess I'd be pushing the issue too if I didn't have those good ol' disposables:)

I found some more old photos with frames for displaying my necklaces, a book of black and white photos, vintage rhinestone earrings, lots of buttons for jewelry making, a few skeleton keys, silver necklace, and a few more odds and ends.

Now I need to get busy transforming some of these treasures.

This week I'm linking up with:

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Friday, August 20, 2010

Chippy Molding + Rake + Rhinestones =

While organizing one of my garage cabinets, I discovered two long lost pieces of chippy white molding. Oh joy! It's just what my little rusty rake has been waiting for. But, one more piece was needed to surround the hole that the rake will sit in. I went to my trusted old lamp parts box and found a piece from a dismantled chandelier.

rusty rake + chippy molding + lamp part = picture holder

I've used larger rakes and bases in the past, but I especially like this one because the rake is so small.

OK, I'm out of little rakes, but I had to do something with the other piece of molding so that it wouldn't get sent back to the cabinet never to be seen again. I went digging through my rhinestone stash and found bits and pieces that would be perfect.....

chippy molding + rhinestones = "keep out" sign

A vintage butterfly pin and chain from a broken necklace finish it off.

This week I'm linking up with

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Yardstick Makeover and Yard Sale Finds

Yard Sale Land was a little disappointing this weekend. I only went to a few with buzz words like: antiques, the estate of, accumulation, and barn. Since the barn was several miles out in the country, I think I spent more money on gas than on treasures.

I did manage to find a few more yardsticks, some chain for necklaces, rusty sconces with a yummy shade of green, 2 vintage hanging racks, a framed print, and the money bag.

I thought about transforming this money bag into a purse......hmm, maybe not such a good idea unless you're asking to be mugged. I think a pillow would be a much safer alternative.

I didn't have to spend much time cleaning up my yard sale finds, so.....time to move on to my yardstick repurposing project. I've accumulated enough of these to finally put some more hanging racks together.

I always have my radar on for these. A few times I've had to cut them so

they'd be short enough to fit into my suitcase.

You can never have too many rusty and chippy hooks.

Just put the yardsticks and hooks together........

I used to make dozens of these. I've recently had people asking for

them again, so I made 4 long boards and 3 singles.

The guys love'm.

Just too much fun for the garage.

I'm linking up with all the creative and talented people at:

Metamorphosis Monday at Naps on the Porch

Upcycled Awesome at The T-Shirt Diaries

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage

Stop by for a visit - lots of good stuff:)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Repurposed Jewelry

I wanted to share some of the jewelry I created from a few of my recent estate sale, salvage yard, and flea market bargains. Just about anything can be transformed.....

I love using bits and pieces from old broken rosaries.

The necklace in the middle is a tin type photo surrounded by

a brass frame that I think might have been part of a buckle.

I love the light green paint on this key escutcheon.

The sterling silver salt shaker can be opened up to store little treasures.

Antique brass steel cut button earrings

Old snaps and shoe buttons make cute little earrings.

I like the look of antique gold and silver together.

The little pearls are from a rosary (same as in the necklace below)

and the center rhinestones are from a broken necklace.

The necklace on top is also a mixture of gold and silver. I used a rosary for the chain, vintage earrings on the sides, and the center is from a mother of pearl and rhinestone pin. The silver filigree surrounding it is reproduction.

The pendant on the black and silver necklace is made from an old coat button and

a rhinestone earring. The antiqued silver piece surrounding it was rescued from

another piece of jewelry

I was able to make several bracelets and necklaces

from these adorable little hinges

This week I'm linking up with the talented and creative people at

Finding Fabulous - Frugalicious Friday

Sachiko's - Tea Rose Home

The T-Shirt Diaries - Upcycled Awesome

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Family Jewels

Some of my best childhood memories were spent visiting my grandmother's cozy home. Nana, as we always called her, was an artist whose home was full of her charming oil paintings and antiques. Long before I was born, she and her brother owned an antique store in Palo Alto, Ca. and over the years she continued to collect. When she passed away in 1975, we split up her belongings between family members. I still use her bedroom furniture that she bought when she was married in 1920.

This 1964 painting of her house in Palo Alto is my favorite. I used to spend weekends there baking, working on craft projects, shopping, and making a few pathetic attempts at oil painting. Although I didn't inherit her talent as a painter, I truly believe that she gave me my love and appreciation for treasures of the past.

The house is still there, but the cottage charm disappeared after a new

owner remodeled. Bigger isn't always better.

This is me in my little hoodie standing on her front porch.

I keep this in a frame just below where the painting hangs.

OK, so I had this idea recently. Why not check out that little box of extra matching drawer pulls from Nana's bedroom set? Why not repurpose a few of them into something that I'd actually use?

She wrapped these up long ago and they've been stored away

in a little box for over 35 years; doing nothing; until.......

I had to pry off the ring part of the drawer pull and then I added

vintage glass rosary beads and 2 antique buttons. I kept it

about 16" long because it hangs better that way.

Then I went digging through a box of jewelry that belonged to my aunt.

These screw on amethyst earrings were just too uncomfortable to wear

and the broken brooch was calling out for a remodel.

I don't know who the mystery woman is. I don't think she's a long lost relative, but I'll let her stay until I find another picture. I attached the brooch to an old filigree and then glued the earring in an antiqued brass setting. Now I can wear my family jewels:-) I'm still not sure what I'll do with the other earring.....maybe a brooch or a ring.

Today I'm joining Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Please visit Cindy and all the other talented participants.

I'm also linking up with The Shabby Chic Cottage

So many fabulous ideas!