Rummage Sale Christmas Finds

In my area we don't have Estate Sales or Tag Sales. We get your basic Yard Sales and Garage Sales. But my very most favorite sale is the Church Rummage Sale!

I have this theory that lots of older people attend church so, when they donate their "rummage" for the sale, it's good OLD stuff! Plus, with that many people to draw from there's bound to be a great variety of stuff!

One of the best Church Sales in our area is at Faith Church once a year. Their ENTIRE gymnasium is COVERED with goodies! I look forward to this sale all year. I was there bright and early yesterday, and although I didn't score as big as I did last year, it was still a great sale.

This sweet lady, Margaret, helps keep this sale running smoothly!

Here are some of my treasures:

I got a kitschy old Santa tree skirt, some vintage toys and books, a nice wire basket...


Cute little Napco girlies for Christmas crafts ($1 each)...

YARDS AND YARDS of old mercury glass garland for $2!

I also bought an old twin bed frame and some wrought iron garden chairs that will be a project to share with you later.

On the way home I had to stop at the Salvation Army just for grins.

I found this unusual little trinket box for a buck. It's got a big rhinestone drawer-pull and the whole thing opens up like so:

Neat, huh?

Well I have to share another "trash" story with you. I know some of you are really put-off with finding things in the trash but please understand that I do not go digging around in it. There is some kind of "Whimsey" that follows me around and places things within my plain view for me to just FIND! Case in point:

DH and I are driving through our neighborhood on our way out of town. At 30mph, I see a glint of flashy sparkle out of the corner of my eye and instinctively say, "ORNAMENTS! Back UP!" DH is used to these sudden outbursts so he dutifully stops and kicks it into reverse. There, on the grass, were two boxes of Christmas sparkle ready to go out with trash.

Oh. Did I mention they were Shiny Brites, including 5 INDENTS????

Yep, it's true. One man's trash is one lucky woman's treasure!

God Bless Rachel Ashwell!

Sometimes LIFE happens and you have to step out of the Blogosphere for awhile! Well, things here have calmed down a bit and I am back in the saddle. The kid's performance, "Around the World in 80 Days," consumed my life for just about that long, then Mom came for a visit, then sister came for a visit, and NOW.....aaahhhh....back to my blogging friends! I've missed you!

I've finally had some time to catch up on reading some of your blogs and I am inspired by you! You've had some great garage sale finds and are doing some fun travelling!

While my sister was here visiting from San Diego last week, we hit every thrift store within a 50 mile radius. It turned out to be a KILLER Shabby Chic Week for me!

I got these 2 SC books and 1 Mary Englebreit book for .25 cents each!

Do you see the bedspread beneath the books??? We just switched from a Queen size to a King and I have been wanting a Rachel Ashwell spread but didn't have the $100 asking price at Target.

Well looky-looky what I found at the Thrift Store. Simply Shabby Chic spread, in a KING size, even! (Hold on to your hats, girls...) $10.00! I was in dreamland!

Getting home from our travels that day, my sister found my new Romantic Homes magazine in the mailbox. Thumbing through it, she said, "Hey, Banana (that's what she calls me....) Here's your new bed spread on page 10." Style-validation is just sooo sweet.

Ever since we got our new King bed, I've been looking for a headboard. I'd love a nice white 4-poster but our room is small, even tinier since we shoved the King in there. So I needed something that wouldn't take-up alot of space. I asked the lady at one Thrift Store if she had any King headboards. "Ya, in the back we've got one." She led me to a boring 1970's wooden model, but in the opposite corner of the warehouse was a great tufted one! "Hey, what about that one?" but was it a King???? YES! Oh, lucky day!

My sister may be the "Line Jinx" (do NOT get in line behind her at the check-out!) but she sure was my thrift store CHARM last week! The headboard was short enought to fit under the window and just the perfect length. There are two buttons missing but for $20 (I left the frame behind) I can live with a couple of replacements.

(Sorry my pics are so dark! )

Here is a picture of my new spread with the Ralph Lauren dust ruffle I got last month at Marshall's for $5. They are a great match.

Another day we were at Salvation Army and I happend upon a bagful of red velvet strawberries, like the kind that hang off of a pin cushion. I bought them all for a buck fifty. That night while reading one of my Ashwell books, there it was, more affirmation....

I've always loved vintage style but it was never really defined until Ms. Ashwell brought it to light. I am so thankful for Rachel Ashwell and the beauty she brings to so many of us.

God Bless Rachel Ashwell!