I’ve got a sort of obsession with vintage tablecloths–the cotton ones with flowers or fruits printed on them. Any size, just about any shape as long as I can use them on a table, or even make pillows from them. Around here, I pay up to $8 or so for a decent one. On ebay or at auction, I’ll go higher, if it’s a really catchy print.
So, if anyone wants to keep an eye open for tablecloths for me, I’ll keep an eye open for…whatever your fancy is. LuRay dishes? Old buttons? Doggie figurines? It always gives me a kick to find something that I know someone else would love.
Gee, if we formed a sort of yard sale network, it would be lovely. Just THINK of all the Abba tee shirts and Russ bears and straw handbags that will be on the garage sale market this summer!
Now that I’ve read your thread, I’m sure I won’t be able to stop looking for your vintage tablecloths. I’m a yard sale freak and in fact, I’ve already been to a few this year. If I see any bargains that look nice I’ll grab them for you.
I can’t really think of anything specific that I’ll be looking for right now though.
My mom likes to go to garage/yard/tag sales. Sometimes she drags me along in the name of bonding.
I will forever be looking for vintage table clothes, just for fun.
Sounds like an interesting idea, but only for a second. Then the real "what if"s roll in.
I like to buy Beta VCRs. How would you know what a worthwhile model is or not? Could you tell if a HiFi ready model had the HiFi module or not? How to quick test it for basic operations without it being plugged into a TV? Some are not worth $10 and others are worth $300.
Similarly for antique radios. I look thru the back to tell if it’s reasonably “complete” or not. Where “complete” depends on the era. Missing tubes from the 40s and 50s is okay, but earlier, not so good. Would you be able to tell what era it’s from? And I know to never, ever turn it on to test it.
Going the other way, I’m only glancing around for electronics and such. I’m in and out of most garage sales in 20 seconds. The faster I’m back in the car, the more sales I can hit. So I’m not going to wander around looking for tablecloths.
I do have to warn you that once you start picking up old tablecloths, you may be addicted and not be able to get rid of them. Worry not–I’ll understand.
**ftg[/]b, don’t sweat it. I’m not asking you, personally, to give up your Saturdays in search of tablecloths to feed my habit. I just know there are other folks like me who are yard-sale browsers, who can’t go to a yardsale without remembering someone who collects particular items, be it lighthouses or doorstops of whatever. If, however, we’re considering electronics or other more complicated items, then of course I’d be clueless.
Tablecloths and old lamps and Monopoly items, though…it ain’t exactly rocket science. THAT I can manage.
Tanookie, what sort of Monopoly items? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything Monopoly except for the games themselves. Are they nifty collectible items out there?
There is a lot out there and I am constantly amazed!
My website has pictures of my collection but hasn’t been updated since before Christmas of 2002. I need to get my act together!
I have an array of Monopoly drinking glasses and mugs, candles, Christmas ornaments, diecast cars and planes, books, stickers, old games, themed games, software games, porcelain houses, clothing…
I’ve been looking for an old playmaster and the stock exchange add on. I am in search of anything really though.
We recently redid our bathroom in Monopoly. The shower curtain is a game board and the hooks have tokens on them. My cup is a thimble, my toothbrushes sit in a show, a wheelbarrow holds my bar soap and my liquid soap pump is a bag of money and I have a scottie dog that holds nothing but I wanted the set dangit! Also my towels are all Monopoly.
I have a few one of a kind items too that were props from toy fairs gone by. One is a 5 foot high Rich Uncle Pennybags silouette I have hanging in my hallway. Another is a Monopoly logo sign that is about 6 feet wide.
I so need a life Now if I find a vintage monopoly table cloth - well I’m keeping that!
Good point, Shirley Ujest , max price is a good thing to know.
I’ll set mine at 10. I just wanna fix em up anyway so, no point in spending more than that on a broken lamp, hey
<ot (sorta)>
I was on the bus on the way to work today and someone was throwing out an old kids scooter. Now that would have been perfect to turn into a lamp for a kids room. Just HAD to be stuck on the bus.
</ot>
So if ya see something neat, that could conceivably be a lamp, and is 10 or less, lemme know!
Oh Goody! I’m looking forward to the beginning of yard sale season. I am looking for a spice rack for my SIL. She either wants a little shelf with barriers (so the jars won’t fall off) or a little cupboard type thing to hang on the wall with the jars in it. I’m willing to pay up to $10 for it plus shipping.
This is a great idea! I’ll keep my eyes open for others’ requests. My pockets are pretty shallow but I’ll see what I can do.
Once again, one of my post’s here is completely misunderstood.
The value of items at yard sales can be highly variable. Good stuff for practically nothing to (usually) crap that should be thrown out rather than sold. You have to be something of an expert in an area to tell the difference.
I gave my example as just a “for instance” since I know that area. I don’t know tablecloths or Monopoly pieces so I couldn’t give “for instances” of them. Is that tablecloth worth 50 cents or a thousand dollars?
If you want to organize you have to get several people who are quite expert in a given area. Cross area stuff just won’t work.
ftg, I completely understand your point. Not knowing anything about vintage electronics, of course I wouldn’t be much help to you in your quest for decent stuff that you can refurbish.
My point, if I may, is that not everyone has to be that selective, because not all items take expert knowledge to find. Some stuff that people collect is just…stuff. I don’t expect I’ll ever get my hands on a tablecloth that’s worth more than a few bucks, but I still love them.
Another for instance: I collect LuRay dishes. If a fellow yard-sale browser finds a cute pink bowl, turns it over, reads “LuRay” on the bottom, and finds that it’s less than $2.00, I’d be happy to buy it from her/him. If I find some nifty Monopoly salt shakers for a couple bucks, I bet tanookie will be interested, and I’m willing to spring for them in the interest of helping her add to her collection. It’ll be fun.
It’s no big deal, really. No need for hurt feelings on anyone’s side. I’m sending many good-stuff finding vibes your way.
I’m hitting my first rummage sale of the season tomorrow morning! And now I can look for tablecloths, monopoly stuff, spice racks and lamps. How exciting.
If anyone sees any old Fisher Price toys–especially the Little People and their playsets from early eighties or before–I’d be all over 'em—maximum price around $10 but if the playsets had all the men and pieces I’d pay more. I also like old crates and wooden boxes–like the kind used for milk bottles or packing but I won’t pay more than $5 for those.
Oh, cool. I love those old Fisher Price things too, and occasionally I run across them. I’ll keep my eyes open.
TellMeI’mNotCrazy, do you like vintage lamps too? I’m always running across those, it seems, and I love them too–they have such character. Unfortunately, I tend to buy them and stick them in a closet somewhere. Now that I know someone who might like them, though…[rubs hands gleefully]
Shirley, keep us posted on your must-haves. There’s gotta be something you need more of!
Garage sales are just starting here. Yippee! One nice thing about delivering papers is that I’m out there at 7 a.m., so I can get an early start!
I love vintage lamps, well, I love all lamps but vintage stuff is just so much fun. So definitely… I can’t wait until it starts here… Should be another week or so, if it ever stops friggin snowing. I can’t even tell you how excited I am :D.
Notebook! I need an official Yard Saling notebook now!
If I see any bargains that look nice I’ll grab them for you.
