Friday, May 15, 2009

Yard Sale Treasures & Old Friends

The world is full of a number of things. Yard sales supply many of those needs, but for me, they offer much more.

Things that make life easier. Things that make life prettier. Things that bring back our childhoods by the dimes and quarters.

vintage fold away food covers (25-cents), extra icing spatulas to prevent cupcake sibling rivalry

How many times do I examine an item, only to have a memory tug at my mind?

above, apple centerpiece ($4) similar to my mother's italian lemons, long lost

I think I used to sleep on sheets of this pattern. Now this $1 set can cover Elise's birthday table.

block print notecards (25-cents) used for delicate invitations

When I noticed this 25-cent version of A Child's Garden of Verses, my heart skipped.

The clear colors, these handmade textures--they imprinted themselves before I could read.

Doubt the power of a child's environment? Get discouraged by the mess of family life?
Go to a yard sale or two. Discover the beauty that someone else forgot.

30 comments:

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

What a sweet post! You really do seem to luck out on your yard sale finds! I love those apples.

Meredith said...

Thanks Anne Marie! I had the best morning today without even leaving my neighborhood. Sometimes garage sales are not that fun, but today was a real treat.

KrisB said...

OMG, I've been thinking about that book for a long time, but couldn't remember what it was called. I loved the artwork in it as a child too. Thank you for bringing part of my childhood back; I'll have to buy it too! (and the other items are great finds, as well).

Empty Nest Full Life said...

I love all of your yard sale treasures! They are fantastic! Jackie

Leila said...

I too get a thrill at a yard sale...challenging myself to find a little treasure...challenging myself not to import other people's junk :)

The old things are the best!

Sue said...

What treasures! A Child's Garden of Verses is among my favorites- still have my own copy that is now more than 50 years old!

Dianna said...

I recognize those notecards! They come from a designer who lives near where some of my family grew up. I love going to that shop: it's so rustic and unique, and best of all, it's in the middle of nowhere. I hope you enjoy them!

Tiffany said...

I hit a few sales this afternoon. Yard sales are the best!

Jane said...

I too had that same version of A Child's Garden of Verses. I would probably appreciate the stitched illustrations even more today. Nice finds!

Nancy said...

You found treasures today. I am especially fond of the spreaders. Something I have many of thanks to my grandmother who was a school cook and always believed one must have a spreader for everything from butter to frosting.

The apple centerpiece makes me think I should ask my mother for one of lemons that my aunt made for her in the 70's....wonder if it is still around.

Laryssa Herbert said...

What did your mother's lemon centerpiece look like? I have one that I inherited from my grandmother.

Elizabeth said...

You rock! Thank you so much for sharing with us, day after day. I frequent your blog every single day, and am always grinning afterward.

Thank you again.
Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I love your attitude about this whole concept. I often sell (because I buy loads - mostly vintage and second hand) stuff I just love, but I no longer need or can't use at a tag sale I hold a couple of times a year. I love meeting women (and men, too) who have new and creative ideas for what I'm parting with, and knowing that someone who's been looking for something for a long time, waiting, saving, has found a bargain. I enjoy the sale at least as much as I enjoyed the purchase! When I buy frugally, I can sell inexpensively without guilt.

Such a sweet post, your spirit shines through! Thank you.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Ah - these words are a balm unto my soul...you know I just adore yard sales. :)

Anonymous said...

i love thrift stores and yard sales. but in the midst of this current move i am aghast at all of the "treasures" i have accumulated over the years....i say that, but i did just go to one today. however, i had a purpose and it was fulfilled! thank GOD for yardsales!!! :)

Jendi said...

"The world is so full of a number of things. It seems we should all be as happy as kings." said by Donald O'Conner in Singing in the Rain. :)

Planning a yard sale trip tomorrow!

Roxie700 said...

I am always so surprised at the wonderful things you find at tag sales and thrift stores. You have such a talent for knowing what has value and what does not. I wish I had such a talent. I do not know my lables at all. I love that you show us what you find. That you so much. Roxie

An Adventurer in the World said...

imagine finding the same sheets your treasured as a child ... this was a very sweet and tender post.

deb meyers

Stephanie said...

Yard sale season hasn't quite begun here yet, usually after Memorial Day! You are getting me anxious with all your great finds!

Jackie said...

You find the sweetest things on your treasure hunts. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.

God bless.

Jennifer said...

Oh! I still have my copy of that book. I need to dig it out this weekend and read it with my kids! (We have a couple of other versions of ACGoV, but the artwork in that one *is* amazing!)

Great finds!

Birdy said...

ACK! I had that very RLS book when I was a child! It's probably still around here...somewhere...

Shell in your Pocket said...

What stuff!!! Oh..do I remember those nets...my grandmother used them all the time..enjoy~
sandy toe

I am Mom said...

That book is a treasure of a find - what a blessing!

Renee said...

I am so enjoying your blogging lately Merideth. It's such a balm in a crazy day to come visit with you, love it. Your new blog design is lovely, easy to navigate and so fresh and springy looking. Well done, congrats. It was something I had to do recently also, and will switch out my photos in the header seasonally. So fun! Thanks for making my day...always! <3

pilgrimama said...

Well,I learned something! Now I know what icing spatulas are!

gclyne said...

I had that nostalgia experience at ThriftSmart one day. I found a scratch n sniff book that I had once owned as a child. Before I even opened it, I swear I could smell all those yummy scents - orange, carnation, toothpaste, peanut butter. Good thing too, because this copy had lost its scent long, long ago. I bought it anyway... For 50 cents, I was happy to share that little bit of my childhood with my daughter, even if it inspired one less of her five senses.

Mama Squirrel said...

I have several other old editions of A Child's Garden of Verses, but had forgotten about that one...I remember it from way back, but I'm not sure if it was our copy or someone else's. I remember other things from around then too with that same style of photographed embroidery--birthday cards, maybe.

Thanks for the memory jog!

Tubo Family said...

And it's probably nice for the seller to see her things wanted and needed. I too love the sentimental aspect of yard saling & thrifting. I have become a collector of the 60's-70's vintage housewares that I saw at friends' houses growing up even more so than the 30's thru 50's hand-me-downs that inhabited our house.

Anonymous said...

i still have that copy of a child's garden of verses too!!! thanks for the memories and all the pics!