Rummage Sale!

This weekend was the 80th annual Thursday Club Rummage Sale in Balboa Park.
My mom and I got there about an hour early to find a looong line. No worries, we brought camp chairs and coffee and just talked to the people.

*note to self: do not again mention how excited you are about going to scope out the fabric first.
The lady in line in front of me turned around and said, "oh, they have fabric here?" (cue Marge Simpson's growl...)

*note to other sale goers: do not arrive right as the doors open and expect to snake in line. It doesn't work that way, and even your asking if you can hang with us isn't polite)

My favorite find of the day was the metal shore bird (sandpiper?) ornament I got for 25 cents. Most of the ornaments were in Ziploc bags and I just grabbed and hoped for the best. I was pleased with the contents of all.

Price for several bags and total of items above: $1

The little lime green tree is an ornament that is like a bell--the base swings free. The tree itself is embellished with magic-wand wielding fairies. I love it.

I got 26 cardboard ornaments (or package toppers). I just love the designs on these. In addition to ones shown here are carousel animals and Victorian children.


I found a few patterns and some fun fabrics, though the selection of crafty items wasn't as large as last year.

Two yards of Alexander Henry "egg study" (perfect timing, right before Easter)--price $1 per yard.
a small piece of trout fabric by Robert Kaufman, and an upholstery swatch with dogs (or is it coyotes?) that I love. That one will go into making a small bag.
I think the small pieces were either 25 or 50 cents.
I also picked up several neckties, a few of which I posted to
my crafty blog.

They've got tables and tables of vintage linens.

I will make a wristlet from the tea towel (mint condition)
The potholder is identical to a blue one I purchased on ebay for a hefty penny from the UK (aarrggghhh)
Rummage sale price: $1 each.

I found several vintage cookbooks. I didn't even take the time to cruise the vast piles of novels, etc, and I forgot to check for magazines.

This booklet was printed by the Dairy council of California. I love the magic wand (the magic of sour cream). There is no date listed.

I wasn't in the mood to go through all the clothing either. There are so many areas to go through, it's just too much to do them all. I skipped the electronics, the tools, the baskets, and the jewelry.
My mom always heads to the plants area first. Local nurseries donate some great items.

An adorable kid's cookbook filled with pen and ink illustrations and recipes for spooky-type twists on food, especially appropriate for Halloween.


Booklet of party games from the 1950's.


This event is a huge hall with everything from furniture and bicycles to clothing and trinkets.
I didn't get any 'wow' items this year, but I still got a big bag full of goodies and emptied my wallet of $30 toward a good cause.
Most of all though, it's just fun!

Yay, finally a day to thrift again!

Today was bonus check day, so I thought I'd treat myself to a stop in at a little row of thrift shops in Poway. One store was giving half off everything, and two of them accepted my debit card as payment (always a bonus).
I didn't have much time before closing, so I just concentrated on the sewing area. Well, and ties of course.

I found some weird neckties (love the turkey!)


A couple of patterns. Too small, but for a nickel each, I figure they are good for styling ideas.


A couple of fabrics--the green strawberry print is actually an apron in a hospital gown-style. Stained, but I can save the best bits of fabric for the strawberry quilt I'm planning to make. Cost: $1
The red is a flocked heavy upholstery type that I thought would make a great carpet bag. Maybe Amy Butler's 'Madison'. Cost for a large piece: $4 (more than I usually spend, but I really liked it).


And a big plastic recipe box filled with recipe cards.
The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library. Cost: $1
I am having so much fun looking through these

Found Objects are the best objects

Amanda of Soule Mama once posted about being at a rummage sale, looking under the table, and finding a handmade quilt. The price? Uh, one dollar. It was a hold-your-breath moment--she just wanted to hand over the cash, tuck that thing under her arm and escape before anyone figured out what they had. You can read her post here.

Well, I had a similar moment yesterday.

I had to go to the library to re-do my resume and type a cover letter (my brother forgot to add Word to the computer). I opened the door and started the trek to my car, as usual walking past boxes of freebie books that they leave against the wall there. I did a quick glance...
Is that a vintage cookbook? Wait a minute...is that another one?

The ENTIRE BOX was filled with old cooking booklets.

We're talking Found Objects. Free. For the Taking.
Okay, I was almost hyperventilating.
I mean, I'm the type of person who will take one item and leave the rest for other people. But but but...it was vintage booklets people!

My temptation was to grab the entire box and make a mad dash to my car.

Instead, I grabbed the box (uh, one has to call dibs) and calmly (seemingly) walked over the the brick wall to sit with it, and started browsing.

I had to have more than one.

Is that bad?
I mean, someone didn't want them...and I really wanted them...
Hopefully I haven't developed bad cookbook karma.

Anyway, I politely chose 17 booklets and left the rest (a still-full box) where it was.
I can't tell you how many times I thought about driving back over there last night.
Sigh.

Here are just a few pics to whet the palette:

Knox Gelatine...copyright Nineteen friggin' twenty nine!
As Amanda would say, "Oh My".


The New Art, by the General Electric Kitchen Institute, 1936
(click on any of these pics and it will take you to my Flickr page, where you can see additional images)


Carnation Milk booklet for teens, 1967


This ad is from a holiday booklet for a local liquor store, December 1967.

So many more images to post, I'll continue this later this week...
But incredible find, huh?