House of Hawthornes

Vintage. Thrifting. Gardening.

Craigslist or Bust

By 35 Comments

Normally I go through Craigslist every Wednesday to scout out garage sales happening in my town, plus a few towns east or west of me. For the most part, that’s how I find my garage sales.

Sure, there’s Garage Sale Finder, but they really are just taking garage sales listed on Craigslist or in the local papers and putting it on their site. Plus I find it a little hard to navigate through their jumble of sales.

I basically disregard the garage sales that advertise lots of kids stuff or the garage sales in newer neighborhoods. Not to discriminate against people with small kids or people in fancy brand new houses, but those people rarely have the vintage items I am looking for.

It’s a good day when I see people on Craigslist mention those magic words “antiques and collectibles” in their ad. Those are my kind of people.

Now sometimes you get to said “antiques and collectibles” garage sales and they are a bust. The antiques they have are of the Mayor McCheese collector glasses type. Or their antiques are totally overpriced even for the most exclusive antique store.

But this weekend I hit a sale that lived up to the ad. And to top it off it was run by the nicest mother-daughter team that were into much of the same kind of decor that you currently see in blogland right now. They could have set up a booth at the local antique mall with all their stuff.

I liked the garage sale so much that I went once on Friday and went back for a second look on Saturday.

On Friday I bought this stuff.


A great basic wooden chair.


Now you all know that I don’t need another chair in my house. Have about 20 too many, but I really have a hard time remembering that little fact while I’m out shopping.

It’s not until I’m pulling into my garage and see the 6 chairs hanging on the wall and the 2 sitting directly in front of my van, that I remember my over abundance of seating options. Sort of smacks me in the face.


I’ve been looking for a cool tool box for a while, so I got all excited when I saw this galvanized one.


I’ll show you at the end of the post what I did with this little guy.


I also purchased this wooden hanger


that Clara Mae had written her name on. I think it’s adorable that a little girl claimed this hanger as her own.


On Friday it was lightly raining when I was at their garage sale and they were still in the process of putting things out. I could see a lot of stuff in their garage, but didn’t want to be rude and start rifling through everything.

So I went back on Saturday to check out what things I had missed the day before and bought these items.


I think this is a expandable file folder holder for the top of your desk. At least that is what I’m going to use it for.


And this hooked seat cover caught my eye. I love the bright colors of it.

I just might be able to find a chair to put it on!


There were probably about ten other really cool things at their garage sale that I would have bought, but I am trying to curb my garage sale finds to just items that I truly can use. I know, strange concept to wrap my head around.

I guess I could have used the tool box in my office to hold stuff (you wouldn’t actually use it as a tool box, would you?), but I sort of had my heart set on making it into a flower box. So I went to Wally World and bought some clearance impatiens.


And went with my original plan to make a tool box flower holder.


So, do you only buy things you need at garage sales? Or do you just buy cool things, no matter if you need them or not?

And what is the phone number for chair buyers anonymous?

Joining Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures and Susan at Between Naps On The Porch‘s Metamorphosis Monday.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Well Pam- You know I buy things just because I love them and yeah, I know it’s an illness! LOL
    You got some good stuff here. Like how you used the tool box as a planter- kinda cool to use things for different purposes, isn’t it? My plants are doing well in my coal grate, btw. Think the brown thumb is leaning more towards green these days. See ya on Saturday- we should have a good time shopping and eating! 🙂
    ~ Sue

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  2. Love that chair, especially in the garden! Flowers look great in the box, too!
    Stop over for a last chance to enter a vintage linen giveaway!

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  3. I like the chair too – I am a chairaholic as well! The expandable desk thingie is too cool – great finds!
    Dropping by from Met Monday. I’ll hope you’ll come see the nursery I helped create for my first grandchild.

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  4. You are such a talented shopper. You always find unique pieces. I love thrift stores, but I rarely find much at garage sales.

    Hope you are enjoying your summer. La

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  5. I have a table obsession – and the occassional wooden chair walks its way into the van.
    The last few weeks sales have been slim. I am hoping a church decides to get a sale in soon.
    I may have to resort to organized estate sales!
    Our thrift stores will not haggle on prices at all. That’s half the fun, well maybe a quarter.
    Your file folder intrigues me. I’ll have to come back and see if someone identifies its original purpose. Towel rack does not seem right. I am thinking clothing or barn.

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  6. Pam- I have made myself swear off garage sales for a while until I do something with all the stuff I already have piled in the garage. MyHero is threatening a bonfire! Huh? These precious items?

    You found some neat things. Love the old toolbox and I totally would have bought that chair..see…that is why I am NOT going! xo Diana

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  9. I know what you mean when you finally find that yard sale that has just the type of things you love (and not the Mayor McCheese glasses). It is like yard sale nirvana!

    You found some truly wonderful items. I am trying to reign in my purchases, too, and be a bit more selective.

    The toolbox is lovely as a planter. I love your idea to use the expanding rack for file folders, too.

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  17. Fun stuff.Since I am unable to stick to the rule of buying only what I can use I sell!This way I have an excuse to buy as I tell myself, “I’ll take it to a show.”Now it might take a year or so to get it there…I always say I need a twelve step program for junk buying but then I remember that I DO NOT WANT TO BE CURED!!!!!!!Enjoy.

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  19. I find chairs irresistable too! Love all your finds, especially the expandable file.

    I never go to garage sales. I probably should, but where I live no one sells vintage. I usually go shopping in my grandmother’s barn! 🙂

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  21. If you find the number let me know. My husband would appreciate it too. 🙂
    Do love the new chair though and all the other goodies are great too.
    The flower box idea turned out wonderful.
    I’m trying to stay away from sales right now (very hard) because I need to so something with the things I have bought already this summer.
    Working on redoing a couple of things right now.

    Let me know about THAT number.

    Melinda

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  22. Cool finds!!! I’m getting picker about my personal finds. Now, if I think I can make some money on something I but it! Can you believe I’ve only went out twice this year for yard sales! Now, I still go to the flea market at least once a week!

    Hey, if you come across any of those vintage knee huger elves and want to sell them to me please pick them up for me! That’s if you don’t collect them! wink wink!! haha!

    Anything you need me to look out for you?!

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  23. Pam, I love the look of chairs hanging up all in a row! It’s a collection. The toolbox is very cool and the flowers look wonderful in it. I buy tons of stuff I do not need at garage sales but I am placing some of it on consignment and it is selling (thankfully). I am trying to behave but it is difficult to walk away from a great bowl for a dollar for instance. I hardly buy anything new anymore at all and that includes clothing. ♥O

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  24. Hi Pam, I just found your blog and I have spent a goodly amount of time today reading some of your older posts. Love your taste in found objects, your humor and your pictures…oh, and love your cute animals. I am trying to clean and organize my house for my daughter’s visit. Unfortunately, I have collected many things with the intention of selling them but haven’t done any selling yet. Oh, it is so much fun to hunt and buy, I have to become better about my treasures AFTER they come home. If anyone has any advice, I’m all ears.

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  25. I love your finds, I have had a thing for tool boxes lately myself, and when you find the number for chair buyers anonymous please pass it along.

    Thanks so much for stopping by A Full Cottage, I hope you will stop by again soon. I love your blog and seeing how you put togehter your vintage finds.
    🙂 Michelle

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  28. I love that tool box…I have one without a top that I use as a coffee caddy. I once met a worse chair addict than you in Cortona, Italy. We rented a house from her for a week. She showed us around her main home, a beautiful villa and guess what her garage was full of? ALL SORTS OF COOL CHAIRS. I wanted to explore them…but she didn’t offer. Oh well. Is your garage full of chairs? 🙂

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  32. The tool box is a really great item Pam! Especially with the flowers in it. Now really, how could you every pass up a chair? I appreciate the Craig’s List tips as I usually find it confusing.

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  33. The tool box is a really great item Pam! Especially with the flowers in it. Now really, how could you every pass up a chair? I appreciate the Craig’s List tips as I usually find it confusing.

    Reply

  35. I love what you did with the tool box. I am on vacation right now, but when I get home, I am going to do something similar with an old wood tool box I have hanging around. Fun finds!

    Reply

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