Halloween costumes, anyone?

Money spent: $25.25
Time spent: 9 a.m. to about 12 noon
Dutch connection: yes-- we found a fake Delft Blue canister that we didn't buy.
Best buy: the two-tiered server (is that what those are called?)
DVD's: 2
Books: 0
The laughs we had: priceless.


Not all garage sales are created equal. Last week's were pretty good; today's were pretty disappointing. But that didn't put a damper on the fun we had. Maureen, her friend Tony and I went to nine garage sales, starting out in a big old musty barn in the countryside. Then driving back into our neighborhood and coming across all sorts of stuff we didn't need: a Wurlitzer organ, pewter goblets, lots of stuffed animals, kids' clothing, toys and 12 beautiful Lenox, five-piece place settings, still-in-the boxes that would make a great wedding gift, but at $50 a box they were over our budget. Maureen's best buy was a carry-on suitcase, and Toni made her first ever garage sale purchase: 50 cents sunglasses. We stopped at some guy's sale who sold tools and what looked to be boxes and boxes of new Halloween costumes. The brand of those costumes, however, was Forplay and upon closer inspection we discovered that they weren't really suitable for your average trick-or-treater. Then we discovered that none of them came in our size, so we left... I have not laughed so hard in a looooong time. Here's a picture of what I DID buy:

Could not resist the "0nehundredcatsandonemouse" framed poster. What looks like a hub cap actually is a tray that holds communion wine glasses. Since I work at a church, I thought I'd buy that for future use. You never know-- maybe at camp? The DVD's were Annie Hall and Shaun of the Dead.

Garage sale treasures Friday, June 22, 2012

Grand total: $41.50
Hours shopped: 9 a.m. until about noon

Best buy: the Johnson Brothers dishes

Number of books: 0
DVDs: 0
CDS: 1

Dutch Connection: zero
 

My partner in crime today was Maureen. We've been friends since our firstborns were in Kindergarten, and it's a friendship that's very dear to me. I should have photographed her loot as well since she bought a very pretty French looking table cloth, and some nice kitchen gadgets.

I have a soft spot for dishes, obviously. And blue and white dishes especially. This Johnson Brothers dinner/coffee set for 8 was priced at $25 and I got it for $20. And it included 10 plates and 7 cups and saucers from a different manufacturer, but blue and white also.

The yellow teapot was a bargain at $2: It's Fiestaware, and the original price sticker of $36 is still on the bottom of the pot. http://colorfuldishes.com/product_info.php/cPath/251_255_326/products_id/5001

Jean O', the Vera Bradley bag cost seventy-five cents.  http://www.handbagconsignmentshop.com/bags/totes/vera-bradley-villager-tote/

All in all a great morning spent with a great friend! Now to find a place for it all!

Garage sale loot June 16, 2012

June 16, 2012

Grand total: $65

Hours shopped: 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

Best buy: the Ikea chair and ottoman

Number of books: 9
DVDs: 1

Dutch Connection: big time!

Boerenbont

These mugs practically scream HOLLAND. The design is known as Boerenbont. It is a traditional pattern used on pottery from the Netherlands. Translated from Dutch, "Boer" means farmer and "bont" refers to a mixture of colors. These are made in Belgium. They were 25 cents each and the chipped one was free. When I paid for them, I asked about the Dutch connection. Turned out the woman lived in Zwaagwesteinde (province of Friesland) and Zeist (province of Utrecht) for a year working for the Doopsgezinde Gemeente-- Baptist Church (?). When she found out I was Dutch, she threw in the poffertjespan for free. 

poffertjespan

 













Then she invited me in to look at her 12-piece Delfts Blue coffee service. She was getting ready to retire in Mexico and didn't want to take it with her, but she also didn't want to put it out in the sale either-- cause it was too nice. She sold it to me for $20 and I added $10 for the three tiles, the miniature windmill and the kissing couple. She looked at me with big eyes and said, "really??!!" She was very happy that her Dutch treasures had ended up in a Dutch home, and I promised her we would speak Dutch only over coffee when using this service. She answered in flawless Dutch: "dat is een hartstikke goed idee!" Or, "that's an utterly good idea." We both got a kick out of the transaction. 

Garage sale loot June 9, 2012

June 9, 2012

Grand total: $31.50

Hours shopped: 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Best buys: the "vintage" teapot-- I have been using it daily.

Dutch connection: Not quite but almost: I scored 10 beer glasses, made in Germany, with the New Belgium brewery logo which happens to be a red bike.