Yard sales around these parts lately have left much to be desired a lot of the time. In fact, I haven't bought a single thing at any of the ones I've visited so far year and that's saying a great deal right there. Granted, I'm on the prowl for mid-century (and early) vintage and antiques first and foremost, but for the right price, I'll buy newer items, if I need them, too. Nothing has swayed me to dip into my pocket of jangling coins quite yet though and this is definitely the furthest into the season that this has happened before.
Chances are, I will find a few vintage goodies on the yard sale (and flea market) front before the season wraps up in early autumn, but for now, as it so often has been for me over the years, the web is my #1 source of vintage items - not that I'm complaining there, I'm certainly not. It's really, really handy to have such a vast marketplace at our fingertips 24/7!
Sometimes when the yard sales gods are forgetting to smile on me, I turn to my favourite Etsy shops that house a wide range of old school products at reasonable prices. I love shops like this - they're a bit like a mini flea market - or certainly a very well stocked yard sale - in one handy-dandy spot and can be a great place to unearth a treasure (or ten) that you didn't know you needed, but suddenly can't imagine leaving behind.
This month I had the great pleasure of welcoming the charmingly named Etsy shop Buy R Vintage Junk as a brand new blog sponsor and goodness, does their delightful array of offerings fall into the fabulously yard sale-esque camp in terms of the diversity that they stock.
Helmed by a lovely third generation treasure hunter named Denise, who is located in Indiana, Buy R Vintage Junk, is chalk-a-block with - to quote the shop's welcome message itself - "Primitive farm finds, burlap feed sacks, vintage lingerie, rusty & salvaged metal, creepy dolls, vintage jewelry, cottage decor, retro kitchen items, old tools and more". Tell me that doesn't sound enthralling!
As a way of introducing all of you to Buy R Vintage Junk, I thought it would be fun to shine the spotlight on ten of their current offerings that really caught my eye. These are the kinds of items that I would always gravitate towards, online or off, and which I hope you'll really enjoy as well.
This gorgeous Victorian silk and straw drawstring handbag is truly gorgeous and still in very decent shape for its age. I could see this looking stunning with all kinds of 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s outfits alike and can't help but think how sensational it would be for the annual Jazz Age Lawn Party in New York state.
There is something about old flour and feedbags that speaks to my inner farm girl (I've never lived on a farm, but I have an inner country lass all the same) so very much, and this great old early 20th century Purina Steers Chow bag is no exception. It would make for such a cool pillow or framed piece of wall art.
I will never fully get why galoshes, by and large, went the way of the dinosaur (save for amongst some of us vintage wearers). They're beyond practical and they look seriously cute, too. Though this pair, at a petit size 5.5, is much too small for my feet, these are just the sort of fit-over-a-pair-of-heels vintage rain galoshes that I would love to add to my wardrobe one day.
If you ask me, most bed linens these days are far too lackluster or run of the mill. I miss the days when each piece was imbued with handmade charm, and love that we can still get that either from creating our own pieces or turning to vintage offerings, such as these splendidly pretty mid-century vintage embroidered pillow cases, both of which feature peach and green butterflies and flowers. So darling!
This vintage kitty cat coin bank is too cute for words!!! Who wouldn't want to stash their pennies away in something this smile inducingly fun? I know that I certainly would!
Perfect for use as a display piece in your vintage kitchen or dining room, this charming mid-century PY-O-MY vintage metal pie pan is sure to be a bit hit with all the vintage and pie fans in your life alike!
Look closely at this immensely lovely circa 1950s cream straw hat, for there on the band, what do you see but a row of matching coloured buttons. How fabulously fun, creative, and cute is that?
Whether you start an instant collection, or bolster your existing one with them, your winter decor will be enhanced by this selection of five elegant, timelessly pretty sparkly vintage rose shaped Christmas ornaments.
Perhaps its my family ties to gold mining, maybe it's because I adore camping, or it could just be because they're so timelessly beautiful looking, but I have always felt drawn to classic vintage metal lanterns like this age worn charmer that was used by the Chicago Bureau of Sanitation.
Long before the widespread vintage crafting scene as we know it today came into being, various books and magazines were produced that celebrated and shared old school patterns with those who were already looking to the pas for creative inspiration, including this wonderful edition of Olde Time Needlework Patterns and Designs magazine from 1973. I can just imagine that awesome designs it must house!
(All images via Buy R Vintage Junk. Please click on the photo of an item of the link in the text below it to find out more it, including that piece's price.)
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Which of these delightful vintage finds appeals to you most of us? I'm especially smitten with the Victorian hat, kitty cat coin bank, and beautiful straw hat myself.
Buy R Vintage Junk is a relatively newcomer to Etsy, having opened their online doors in August 2014. Their inventory continues to expand and you just never know what yesteryear gem you might discover amongst their digital shelves. If you haven't done so already, be sure to heart/favourite them on Etsy so that you can stay abreast of all the great new (old!) items that Denise continues to stock in her shop.
Though I'm not calling this year's yard sale season a total wash yet, whether things pick up on that front or not, as I've done for nearly twelve years now, I will turn to the web and shops like Buy R Vintage Junk not only during the spring and summer, but all season long.
It's so important that we support small business owners online and as I'm one myself on Etsy as well, I can't help but have an especially soft spot in my heart for my fellow sellers and their awesome vintage wears there.
And on that note, Buy R Vintage Junk has very kindly created an exclusive coupon code just for CV's readers. Between today and July 31, 2015, you can save 20% off on everything in their shop when you use the coupon code VGT20 at the checkout. Sweet!!!
The linen is remarkably pretty and I also like the lamp. We have an old railway lamp which sits atop a cabinet here which I often take time to admire.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a yard sale, they aren't commonplace in the UK, our equivalent would be the car boot sale and I'm not over fond of the early starts to frequent those!
I hope you had a lovely weekend xxx
So true! I know from the two years that I spent in Ireland that they're virtually unheard of on the other side of the pond. Interestingly, (at least in the two parts of the country where we resided) boot sales weren't all that common either and the small number I did make it to were almost completely devoid of vintage items. They're definitely a bigger UK main stay and something I think it would be really cool if we had more of here in Canada. Our closest comparison, aside from yard sales, would be flea markets, which are certainly quite universal.
DeleteThank you for your great comment, my dear. I did have a nice weekend (thanks!) and hope that your's was peachy, too. Hard to believe it was the last one of year and that we're a day away from being halfway finished with the year. How time flies!
Big hugs,
♥ Jessica
What cute objects! I adore old stuff but have little luck at garage sales, most of which are merely crap. I don't know why people think we'd want to be buy old, soiled crap. I guess one needs to go to a store or Etsy shop like this to get curated goods.
ReplyDeleteThough I know that there are pockets across the continent where vintage can still be found quite often and affordably at yard sales, it really does seem like the vintage treasure scene is drying up at such far and wide (or already did so years ago, as is the case around these parts).
DeleteSo true, the quality even of modern merchandise at yard sales has slid down hill all the more lately and I wonder if that's because people sell (or try to sell) all the good pieces online or through the classifieds and just put the bottom of the barrel items that should either be turfed or donated to charity out on the lawn.
Thank you very much for your comment, Ally. Have a fantastic week!
♥ Jessica
What great junk you found! I love the linens and couldn't agree with you more...and I think a LOT of things lack these days!
ReplyDelete-Krystle! 1930slife.blogspot.com
Oh, the things you find, they are amazing! I loved to know about Buy R Vintage Junk, it looks amazing - all the stuff you showed here! I would love that magazine that could be a great picture, if framed, and the Victoria bag - I love nearly everything that is Victorian! Lanterns are also sweet, but as I said, that bag is my cup of tea! Simply loved it - and with a coupon, even better! Hope you are fine and having a nice start of the week!
ReplyDeleteDenisesPlanet.com
Thank you very much, dear Denise. Their offerings really are fantastic and well worth checking out on a regular basis. Be sure to avail of the 20% off coupon at the end of post if you purchase anything from them in the coming month.
DeleteBig hugs & joyful end of June/start of July wishes!
♥ Jessica
I think its amazing on some of the things we can find on line and in yard sales.
ReplyDeleteI a way, even though I might not buy items, just to see them and learn about them, its a learning experience which I am grateful for. Sometimes I want to take things home but then I begin to think what I will do with them or where will I place them...
I couldn't agree more! I do a fair bit of online window shopping/browsing just for fun each week and also to help me learn more about (usually) vintage fashion. Time and time again, I'll learn about an item and then have a similar or even identical one cross my path shortly thereafter and I'm able to write about it so much more knowledgeably because of that previous encounter. Life is an ongoing classroom and we should never stop learning from it.
DeleteBig hugs & many thanks for your great comment,
♥ Jessica
Such lovely items, all of them!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, sweet dear. Denise really has some great, diverse old school offerings in her shop.
DeleteBig hugs,
♥ Jessica
I have yet to find a yard sale gem myself as well, it has also been raining every Saturday I have off from work so pickings have been slim! Thanks for showing me another great etsy shop to ogle through.
ReplyDeleteHaven't they been though? I know one person (not a blogger) in Ontario who has had a little luck this yard sale season, but over all it sounds like the vintage pickings have been slim for most Canadians again this year on that front. Fingers crossed that they pick up at least a little for both of us before Old Man Winter comes calling again all too quickly in the fall.
DeleteBig hugs & tons of happy Canada Day week wishes!
♥ Jessica
That's how I usually feel about sales too, but this place sounds great.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the bed linen - I completely agree that a lot of today's options are lacklustre. I've also got sets that are falling apart after minimal use. You have such an eye for this stuff, Jessica - you could sell ice to the Eskimos! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastically nice compliment - I swear, you made my checks blush, sweet dear. Thank you very, very much!
DeleteSoooo smiling right now! :)
Tons of hugs,
♥ Jessica
Just short message, I have to hurry over to their shop. ;)
ReplyDeleteHello my lovely friend. I hope that you have as much fun pursuing their fabulous offerings as I did.
DeleteJoyful start of summer wishes!!!
♥ Jessica
Thank you so much Jessica for writing about our Etsy shop! You are a treasure. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're wholeheartedly welcome, Denise. Huge thanks again for your awesome blog sponsorship and for giving me the opportunity to introduce your great shop to my readers. It's a pleasure to collaborate with you.
DeleteHave a beautiful week,
♥ Jessica
Really cool stuff I love every day vintage stuff
ReplyDeleteRetro rover
I love 'junk shops' or yard sale etsy shops. You literally never know what you're going to find. Usually not vintage clothing, but a ring or a lamp, maybe even a set 'em around for the house. A lot of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteVery much so! I'm all for artistically, painstakingly currated shops and appreciate the work and time that goes into creating a collection, so to speak, with what one sells, but there really is a lot to be said for "this and that" sort of stores, too (which, of course can involve a ton of work, too!). They really appeal to my eclectic nature.
DeleteHave a beautiful week, honey!
♥ Jessica