Guess what appears after spring?
the summer
A wonderful, glorious, wonderful summer.
Bringing in lazy days and sunshine and ocean breezes and good books and Sonic Lemon Berry Slush.
And all those things are great.
indeed.
But the one summer joy that makes my heart race and my eyelashes flutter and my hope spring forever?
Multi-family yard sale sign.
(Totally aside: Yard sale signs are awesome. But when more than one family is hoarding their treasures? I’m in.)
If you’re like me and you break for yard sales, I thought it might be fun to share what I’m up to. Searching for all my projects When I shop.
Here are my go-tos.
Here are the things that make my eyes light up, and my toes dance.
Here is my summer yard sale watch list.
Summer Yard Sale Watch List
Architectural remains
It’s a super fancy way of saying parts of things that used to be something else.
you know
Like some kind of antique or random pieces of molding or the top of a chair or part of a hutch.
You can usually find them through the trash or free section. When you see them sitting there, don’t get excited. not I repeat, do not under any circumstances tell your yard sale friends what you are going to do with their waste.
If you are going to decorate your kitchen or your living room or your bathroom or your back porch with your invention.
Do not mention.
Because here’s a yard sale truth: Ideas make trash worth more.
Take the budget waste and run.
basket
One of the most underrated and overlooked items at yard sales is a basket with wired ribbon hot-glued inside with dusty faux flower arrangements.
Most of the time, you can get it for $1.00.
Take it home and do all the Hollywood makeovers on it.
Ribbon shade.
Shed the flower arrangement.
Paint the basket a completely different color or make a liner out of dropcloth or Spray paint numbers on it.
The world is your basket of oysters.
Mason Jar
These are a dime a dozen at yard sales.
Literally.
decorate Your mantle with them.
Add them to your back porch.
Fill them with flowers at your next summer party.
Simple. cheap utilitarian.
I’ve never met a mason jar I didn’t like.
shutter
If you are looking for some inexpensive wall art, let me introduce you to my friend, the low shutter.
The superpower of shutters is that they fill a visual space or a blank wall, and then you can hang anything in front of them.
like a garland.
or a chalkboard.
or plates.
or a calendar.
And if that’s not enough, you can convert them An architectural element covering the entire wall with them.
stool
If you see a stool at a yard sale.
don’t think
Don’t be surprised.
Don’t pontificate. Just buy it.
The stool doesn’t need your help. They have a way to make it yourself at home. If you see an empty space in a corner and wonder what to put there, I guarantee you will have a stool tapping you on the shoulder.
Stack them up. Place books or baskets on top of them. Use it on the foot of the bed. Place them between chairs for extra seating/side tables.
Let your stool move.
Whiteware
Oh, whiteware, how I love you, Let me count the ways.
I almost didn’t put this on the list because it’s so captain obvious.
If you’ve read my blog for more than 10 minutes, you know how I feel about white plates.
And yet?
I never seem to have enough.
Maybe I need an intervention.
Vintage silverplate
I saved this list item for last because I go a little hot and cold on this one.
I buy a bunch of silverplate and make projects like that Door handles And Napkin rings And Cutting board. I hang vintage silver on my Christmas tree and platters on my wall and put them in my mantels.
And then?
Sometimes all that silver gets on my nerves a little, and I pack it all away and decide I’m in love with brass.
I am an equal opportunity metal supporter.
Here are some more things I’m looking for:
- Vintage books
- China
- the trunk
- Typewriter keys
- Vintage pennants
- Paint by numbers
- Maps
- Vintage Mirrors (for CD)
- box
- License plates
and so on.
Can I tell you how much I enjoyed writing this post?
Summer and yard sale season are almost here, and I have waited so long. And when I finally see my first yard sale sign? You want to cover your ears.
I’m going to honk from here to home and back. 🙂
PS I did too Lots of fun yard sale projects pinned here.
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