This weekend was our little town's community garage sale weekend. What I like about these types of community sales is that they seem to entice a lot of the elderly homeowners in town to participate in the sale. And elderly people just want to get stuff out of their house, so there is the possibility of some great vintage finds and at great prices.
So on Friday I spent a lot of time stopping by garage sales to find that diamond in the rough.
Meet my diamonds.
I found this silver bowl which is about 5" tall and 10" wide. I'm always a sucker for silver pieces so I bought it on the spot since it was only $1.00.
When I was taking pictures of it I realized that it was engraved - it says "20 Years Service Farm Bureau - 1963". Now I have yet to figure out when there is a date in the engraving if that means that is the year it is being presented (like he worked there from 1943-1963) or the year he started working there (like he worked from 1963-1983 and thus it is being presented in 1983).
And you would think the Farm Bureau would give the employees an engraved shovel or engraved tractor or something, because I can't see a farmer being thrilled with a silver bowl. "Gee thanks, I'll put my pipe tobacco in it".
I also bought 2 of these blue Ball jars. The woman actually had about ten of them, but I am practicing trying to leave treasures for other people to find since I don't really need 10 Ball jars. They were 50 cents a piece.
I also bought this enamelware pot for 25 cents. No idea why other than I have a few enamelware pieces and it was dirt cheap.
I purchased 4 feed sacks, but just took photos of two of them. I am planning on making some pillows out of them. From what I can figure out, egg elements may be some sort of feed for egg laying chickens. 25 cents each!!!!!!
Wheat maybe? Flour?
And this is what I was so excited about. I bought this from a little old lady who lives in the cutest little cottage-ish house down the road from me. She was so sweet and so excited that I was so excited about the lamp.
I don't think this is original to the lamp since it is bright white and you would think it would match the marble on the base more, so I may look at the local antique store to find a replacement glass shade.
And this is the weird part. The bottom lights up also (I know the bottom looks like the sun is shining on it, but that is the light). $10.00.
So not a bad day.
On Saturday we had our own garage sale which is a whole other story. I have to decompress before I can retell that story.
La
Hi Pam! It looks like you did alright for yourself. I love that flour sack. It will be a great pillow.
On another note....why can I not find the Browns on my TV? I am stock with Cincinnati's game... That is just not right. :o(
Have a great week! La
Okie Chic
Great finds I love the flour sacks. I would be all over that!! lol
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
Oh you did find some treasures. I love them all. The silver bowl is wonderful and the jars are always neat. I really like enamel ware too. Your sacks are a fabulous find. Love the lamp. I so need a floor lamp, and this one is a real treasure. Great finds. Hugs, Marty
Erin@likegrandmas
Man you did get dirt cheap prices. I love all of your finds, but ironically, I bought my first piece of enamelware at my neighbor's yard sale, and it was $1, not nearly as good as a quarter!!
* French Farmhouse 425 *
~*~* Great finds!!!~*~*
NanaDiana
Hi Pam- Those are great finds....love them all. The feed sacks (I believe) used to hold chicken "mash"...ground corn with some additives that they used to feed the chickens. My mother always bought it from the feed mill.....and the lamp. I have one that belonged to MyHero's grandmother. That piece probably is original. However, it is missing the shade. The shade just slipped over top of that white "bowl" and rested on top of it. It was probably a silk shade. The top would not have set flat because the sides tapered in and kept it from sinking all the way down....not sure if that makes any sense or not...but that is the little I know about THAT! Hugs- Diana
NanaDiana
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Shanarun
What a fantastic lamp! And hooray for you at excercising your retraint over the beautiful aqua Ball jars!! Not sure I could have just walked away with 2..... Great post.
Tammy ~ A Primitive Place
Wonderful new finds!!
And that lamp is amazing.
Tam
Jeanette
LOVE that lamp and the way it lights up on the bottom is too cool! Maybe for a night light?
Laura
I like the lamp, too. And your feed sacks - they would make nice towels!
dogsmom
Great finds and some things are just too cheap to leave behind where they are not appreciated.
The date on a trophy bowl is generally the date given out. Often there are two dates. If only one, it is the year presented. Highly collectible so should sell well if that's the way you choose to go.
This week I just saw someone turn a ball jar into a soap dispenser. A project I know I'll be doing.
Feed sacks also make great aprons.
Amanda @ Tall Glass of Water
Love that lamp! I have one almost, but not quite like it. I had to search high and low for a glass shade to go with it. It was quite a search. Good luck in finding yours!
Country Dreaming
Super finds! The lamp is quite interesting,
you'll have to show us where you place it.
Melinda
Mimi
Great finds, Pam. Pillows will be cute out the feed sacks.
Any engraved pieces I have received from my working days had the date I started, not the date they were presented.
Kathleen
Loved your comments on the bowl from the farm bureau! 🙂
I taught school for 33 yrs and they gave me a plaque. I guess I can use it to rest my coffee mug!
chatterbox
I just found your blog through the Nifty Thrifty Tuesday thingy. Love it!