August 28, 2007

Garage Sale Mojo

For the last month I just seem to have it. I'm not sure how I managed to get it or how long I will maintain it, but for now I'm just going to ride the wave and enjoy it. The mojo. Finding just what I want for a great price. May it last for many years to come. I'm usually in awe of the things other people find and I can't imagine how they get so lucky, so I have been over the moon about my recent finds. Now I'm wondering if any of you can tell me how to get that old smell out of things that can't be washed, like books and delicate fabrics.


A gallon size bag of mostly vintage costume jewelery and buttons $1. Many of the pieces aren't pictured here as these are the only pieces Emma would let me have. Well, she didn't really let me have them, she made me win them from her by playing Connect Four.

Vintage ledger book .25/ roll of tickets for $2.

Various ribbons and trims $2/box of lace and trim .25/bag of thread .10/


Box of vintage buttons $1/hand embroiedered towels $2



Wood brackets for laundry room shelves $1. I expect this one dollar investment to get me motivated to do this project this fall.


Cherry pie plate $1/ tart pan .75/cherry plates $4. Okay, here's the funny thing. I've fallen in love with cherrry things. I don't like cherries. At all.

Mini bundt molds $1. I've already used these and I have to say that mini bundt cakes just taste better than regular sized bundt cakes. Plus they don't have any calories. True story.

43 comments:

  1. Can I get a cup of that MOJO? Is it contagious! Great finds!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What fun stuff! Doesn't it just make you wonderfully happy when you can spend 25 cents and get something terrific?!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OH! How wonderful to get the MOJO! Hehe, jepp i have caught some of it lately i think :)
    I love all the old linen, laces, buttons and also the all the beautiful pieces of jewelrys. Everything is so beautiful! And i have to say, very cheep also!! You lucky girl :) Oh i really love all the little treasures you can find at flea-markets. For me the value is more than weight in gold. If you know what i mean?
    You are also VERY organized! Yes i saw the pictures from your studio. I can see that you are painting?
    Fun, i love it too!Well, i wish you happy days and good luck with more of those pretty finds!
    Aina (",)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, you have found some lovely treasure.

    What kind of fabric/linen things do you have that you are afraid to wash?

    It helps to see a picture and to know what you think the stink/dirt might be.

    You can shoot me an email so we can discuss laundry off the blogs if you want. lol.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's not nice to be as jealous as I am. Top finds missus!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hope your mojo continues for a very long time! Incredibly great finds!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great stuff, and, I could have told you about the no calorie mini bundt cakes!LOL! I have been having some fabulous luck at the sales this summer too! May it last forever!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great finds there, Jen! I love those cherry plates, so cute!

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  9. Seriously NO CALORIES...well, I'm off to find a dozen or so mini bundts...so my bundt can reduce in size!! lol

    Ok, not sure on the smell thing...but I've had good luck with charcoal on wood items...such as an old trunk and such...just placed charcoal in it...closed it up for a while...and the smell was absorbed by the charcoal...I have also heard moth balls work...but then you have a moth ball smell...I think the books could easily be put in a sealed bag or rubbermaid box...then add the charcoal maybe in cheesecloth to protect the books...and newspaper absorbs odor, too...so that may work in a sealed container...

    Good luck...I'm sure you will get a lot of smell rememdies...isn't blogging great!

    blessings...
    "T"

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats on all of your treasures!! I have found that if I place a dryer sheet(s) in with the item and then seal them in a plastic ziplock bag seems to work wonderfully. Good luck! keri

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jen,

    Excellent finds!! I'm hoping to be able to hit a few sales this Fall since I have Friday mornings alone!

    A really good way to remove smells is baking soda. Seal the books up in an airtight container with some baking soda and newspapers and they should become less musty. I'm not sure about the linens...I usually soak things in Oxy to get smells out, but that might be too harsh for older things.

    marianna

    ReplyDelete
  12. great finds! tis the week for thrifting!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I had the mojo this weekend I found a handful of things for 60 bucks. Check out my loot I found at www.cottagebytheriver.typepad.com
    I am going to a barn sale this weekend. Yippee!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! I need to find some of that mojo at the next local sale! heehee

    ReplyDelete
  15. A stunning stash. My suggestion to get the old smell out of things might depend on what it is. I would put old books outside in a paper back with an open box of baking soda. Leave it out in a cool dry place (or maybe the basement) for a week or so or until the smell comes out completely. The smell is caused by dampness. If you can get the items as dry as possible, that should help.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am like the anti-mojo!! Today, while visiting my favourite thrift shop, I was determined to treat myself to some good, cheap finds to brighten my day. Lo and behold, the very first thing my eyes landed upon was vintage Sindy doll furniture (of which I have some)...all the pieces I still need!! The price tag: $195.00 !!! Sure, "why not", I said, as I retreated sadly to my car with my tail between my legs!!
    Cheap thrift finds just don't happen in my little town... :(

    Iam happy for you though!!

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  17. Getting smells out:

    A bar of Coast soap works to remove odors in musty old suitcases, so I'm sure it would work with books and unwashable fabrics. Enclose the item in a box (or suitcase!!) and let them sit for a few days. It should work.

    Cool finds...I never find anything magical at yardsales.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a lot of great finds! I love the little cherry plates and the mini bundt pans. Thanks for stopping by over at my blog. Those alphabet balls in the Ballard Design catalog are very pricey...I'm trying to think of a cute (a.k.a. cheap) alternative that I could use instead to display in a glass jar. Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your finds. I want some of those no calorie bundt pans!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes you do have the MOJO! You lucky thing! Gosh! You got WAY better stuff then me...Hmmm. Next time I have to dig deeper! LOL! Great finds!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jen - I want some of your shopping MOJO! Wonderful items made even more so with the cost.
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  22. You scored some GREAT finds! Isn't it a wonderful feeling when you find goodies that you love? It's addicting! :) I think I have to go thrifting today, LOL!
    Kristi

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow,
    I need to go with you.
    Love all. You got some wonderful deals. I didn't know that about bundt cakes. Maybe I can eat some.
    Have fun with your treasures.
    Rosemary

    ReplyDelete
  24. Talk about hitting the jack-pot! so, so happy for you and may the mojo never end!

    ReplyDelete
  25. In exchange for a little of your thrifting mojo, here's another suggestion for treating old items like books and fabrics: the sun does wonders for drying out smells and detoxifying old musty items, even bleaching out spots if you dampen them first. Repeat as often as necessary, but doesn't cost anything. For slightly more aggressive results, make a baking soda paste to put on spots or in a container enclosed next to a musty item; as the paste dries, it absorbs whatever it can.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Isn't it great when you seem to be on a thrift finding roll!!
    Wonderful finds ...

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have found some great treasures; I just love yard sales and such!
    As for the odors, I've tried putting small items (like vintage cards) in a ziplock baggie with some baby powder, and it really did the trick! Baking soda would probably work too.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. hahaha...so funny about the mini bunt cakes! I love your blog, and your pretty g-sale finds are very inspiring!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog - it was great to hear from you!

    Wish I had your Mo-Jo!
    Tiffany

    ReplyDelete
  29. great finds! can i come with you next time?!?!?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ahh I think I should have those cherry plates yes sir rofl! Nooo they look tooo cute the way you have them displayed. So glad you got some mojo girlie! Love all your finds. Come visit me sometime jeese. xoxo, cherry

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well my friend, you certainly did hit the jackpot. I love it all...especially the ledger, buttons and tickets.

    Can you send some of that MOJO my way Baby!!??!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fabulous finds - I have a French friends who would kill for the cherry plates!!

    The ledger and tickets will be great for mixed media/altered art projects.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I DO need to visit your part of Indy if thats the kind of finds that are up there!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. You do have the mojo!! I sure love those cherry plates and all the goodies you found!

    allie
    www.mycozyhome.typepad.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Where do you go for such great finds?

    I dont have any of your mojo. Anytime I go to a yard sale or thrift store, I never find a thing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Usually when books smell musty it is from being stored in a humid place and the smell is actually mold spores. Unless you are going to spray the entire book page by page with Lysol and letting it dry before you continue..there is little that I have found that helps.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wonderful finds. I'm not too lucky at trift stores and garage sales, but we did get a good price on some pictues this spring. They inspired me to redo a bedroom. I'm posting pictures of them tomorrow for show and tell.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I usually set "smelly stuff" outside in my shed for a couple of days...open up the books and hang the fabric in the sun of where there is a breeze...sometime I handwash textiles....my mojo is low!

    ReplyDelete
  39. very fine finds! love the cherry stuff- xoC

    ReplyDelete
  40. Cool stuff! You are a great treasure hunter! You got your MOJO on, girl!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wonderful finds!!!
    Those cherry plates are too cute.

    For smells you can bury books and paper items in a container of kitty litter w/charcoal.

    For fragile fabrics and linens: air them on the line outside for as long as possible.

    Kimberly :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Goodness...you got some great and cheap stuff!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave me a note. It's always so appreciated.