It’s no secret that I love junk, estate sales, yard sales, flea markets, old rusty crusty beautiful shabby tattered items from the past, You know the saying, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side”?
For me, the grass must have been greener in another era.
The Victorian era… the 1920s, 1950s, 60s or 70s these all seem to be magical decades but not the 1980’s, I was there, in high school, and it was cheesy I know this for fact. Forget about the 80’s except of course for Madonna rolling around on the floor, covered in lace and an arm full of bracelets, that was awesome!
Here’s a picture of me in the 1980’s, one of those glamour shots, from the mall.
What’s with the feather boa? I had a battle with the photographer, she wanted to tease my hair, wrap me in gold lame and use massive amounts of of hairspray but I wasn’t having it. I remember she said, “how is this going to be a glamour shot if you won’t let us put a lot of make up on…or do anything to your hair??? This is going to be just a regular photograph!”
I have always sort of existed in another world, it took me a long time to appreciate the present moment, to this day I have to wake myself up from daydreaming on a regular basis.
I started going to garage sales with my mom as a kid and I have been hooked ever since.
When I find something totally amazing at a sale, it’s hard not to buy it, even if I don’t need it, that’s a big reason why I opened my store so that I can justify the all the vintage hoarding.
if you think you might have issues with hoarding I created a quick little quiz that will help you self diagnose.
1. Are you recognized by others when out shopping at yard sales or estate sales?
2. Have you ever purchased something, sold it, and bought the exact item again, not realizing that you have previously owned it?
3. When planning a vacation would you much rather take a road trip across country collecting junk, than head to Vegas or a tropical island?
4. Have you ever gotten in a fight with another shopper over an item at an estate sale?
5. Do you secretly check craigslist when it’s totally inappropriate to do so, like in the middle of a work meeting or at a memorial service?
6. Are you tripping over estate sale items in your home? Is there a constant overflow of stuff in your car? Can you still park your car in the garage?
7. When you find something so totally fabulous and you really don’t want to sell it, do price it so high that no one in their right mind would buy it because you just can’t let it go?
8. Do you have piles of things that you forgot you even purchased?
9. Have you declined invitations to family functions or gatherings with friends, because you didn’t want to miss an upcoming estate sale or a Saturday morning yard sale?
10. Do you donate back to the thrift store items you bought there in the first place?
11. Do you find yourself buying things you have no need for because it’s just such a great deal or you can’t stand to see it thrown away?
12. When discussing what you have found at the latest sale with friends, do you recount every detail, and do you listen to what your friends have found great interest hanging on their every word like it was some kind phone sex conversation?
If you answered yes to three or more of the questions above I encourage you to let go of the shame, step out of the hoarder’s closet,
(just be careful not to trip over anything on your way out ) and hit the next estate sale as soon as possible. To quote Lady GaGa, You were born this way.
Last week I found a pile of vintage yardsticks at a garage sale the price was two dollars for all of them! Vintage yardsticks are not easy to find, I usually have to gather them slowly, one at a time and pay $2-$4 each so I was super excited to get a whole pile!!!….
I quickly set to work on a new project and a new video!
Here’s my latest video using CeCe Caldwell paint, glaze, endurance finish and the yardsticks hope you enjoy it!
Leave me a comment and and tell me about the best thing you have ever found and how you found it, seriously I want to know, leave as much detail as possible, I live vicariously through the junking escapades of others!
linking up here, Miss Mustard Seed Feature Furniture Friday
Redoux Interiors Fabulous Features
Sincerely,
Debi
And don’t forget #13. Do you decline to meet someone on Saturday mornings to sell something, because you’ll be out buying stuff?
yep done that too! thats should be #! 🙂
I have collected, reused, upcycled for 30 years I am 67 and still love to gsale flea Mkt what ever.I have been known to stop at a house that has their trash set out. In fact its time to go Gsaleing this am . love your posts
thanks Beverly! I have dug through many a trash pile too! Keep sailing!
I missed a huge estate sale in my hometown up in Kansas. I learned one man bought all the yardsticks with my dad’s car dealer advertising on them. I looked this man up and asked if I could have one or two. He said “no.” He was matching them by year to the cars he restores. Needless to say I am still pouting.
I would be pouting too, can’t believe he would sell you at least one 🙁
I said “yes” to almost everything. My best find was a wooden framed print of a house on a dirt lane. I bought it for $2 because I like the frame. When I took the backing off, I found an old metal cigar advertising piece hidden in the back. What a thrill !!!! Yes, I have bought back things I’d donated weeks before and didn’t realize it til later. I’m bad!!!!
wow that s a very cool find. You sound like a true Junk hoarder, you have my utmost respect 🙂
Hi Debi from your Grand Junction Colorado CeCe Paint Sister, Lets start a group called Hourders Anonymous, we have addictions!