Thoughts on Summer Garage Sales
Finding something exciting at a garage sale is like finding a needle in a haystack.
That's why spotting one in the neighbourhood always makes me drop everything and take a look.
I’m motivated by the potential, the chance of finding something extraordinary that's crying out to be loved again.
Truth be told, most of what we see is junk. But--once in a blue moon--we find something special. When that happens, it makes us feel like we won the lottery.
Finding an object of particular interest brings out my creativity, since I gives me the opportunity to visualize and create a space for it, and a context around it.
Let me share with you some of the "lottery winnings" I've collected over the years.
I started my antique, vintage scale collection after finding one at a garage sale... It inspired me to build a vintage kitchen around it, and has starred in my kitchen ever since.
Then there's the tin toy I found at a garage sale in New York City for $10, thinking it was an original from the 1950s, and that I was the luckiest person in Manhattan. Turns out, it was not quite so rare or old; I later found others like it on a few websites and in stores around town.
Even so, this little toy was the beginning of another collection of mine: an assortment of vintage-looking and super cool tin toys (some of which are on sale in my store, because they add such colour and fun to decor).
Last, but not least: what sparked this blog post--my two new finds.
The first is an antique oval frame with embroidery, which could seem like it belongs in your grandmother's living room, but--going back to the idea of finding the chique in old, discarded items--I found the perfect wall space for it. The frame breaks the symmetry of the wall, and just looks great. (It also might be the beginning of a new collection...)
The other item is a vintage suitcase I've been on the lookout for, to complete a stack of suitcases I visualized for the top my bedroom armoire.
So, friends, next time you're at a garage sale, open your eyes! Think outside the box, use your imagination, and you might just find that special piece you can show off to your friends: "Oh, this? I just bought this one at a garage sale right next door; it cost me pennies, and might one day be a family heirloom."
