Lessons, Tips and my own crazy theories

I have a gift.  Yes, a gift.  My idea of yard sale-ing maybe different than most.  My husband still doesn't quite understand it.  If the hubs and I venture out to yard sales it means that we are most likely doing 'drive-bys'.  Nine times out of ten we don't even stop.  I have to spot a worthy piece from the car or we just move on.  Now I may miss a lot of good stuff, but my house is full of chotskes and I don't have room for much more with a 1060 square feet.  If I had a retail shop to fill, I would get out and scour for glassware and other items.  Since I don't, I am all about the furniture or maybe a good lamp I could makeover to use. 

We went to hit the yard sales this past Saturday.  Drove by the first one since it was dominantly kids stuff.  We stopped at the second one when I saw a lovely steamer trunk.  They wanted too much for it, but it was pretty.  They also had a neat old scrub board, but like I said, I have too much "stuff" as it is.  The third and last one was a few doors down from the second.  I spied two dressers and a bedside table at it.  We took a look at the dressers.  One was newer and cheaply made.  The second was old and beautiful, but very rickety and would require dis assembly and a lot of glue.  Then I took a better look at the small bedside table.  The chest was solid, with dovetail construction.  Didn't identify the wood, but knew it was a nice piece.  It was marked $15, but they took the $10 we offered.  Yippee!


Why I buy what  I buy:

I have only just started with furniture rehab, but my two prerequisites are that the drawers are dovetailed and the piece must be stable and not require a lot of  re-assembly.  I purchased a chair from Craigs List for $10.  I had my niece pick it up for me since (along with my sister - NEVER PICK UP SOMETHING FROM CRAIGS LIST ON YOUR OWN!!)  she lived near the person who was selling it .  I figured that if it wasn't as good as I had hoped, I was only out $10.  It was a newer piece that looked French in shape and style, but had a bit of English style with some barley twists to her.  When we got it to the shop, we found that a part of the arm was broken off.  My husband thought he could fix it with a dowel.  Cool.  Then he pointed out how out of balance it was and he thought he was going to have to take it apart and re-glue the whole thing.  He did and it is pretty tight now.  He added a couple of screws to it, as well.  Now I have to get all of the fabric off and look at the guts.  I hope it is ok on the inside, but if the outside is any sign of what the inside will look like, I am nervous.  My husband said that it looks like the fabric was glued down in places, not stapled.  Who does that??  By looking at this chair, I think the previous owners probably paid over $150 for it, so buying a chair with glued down fabric at that price is a sin.  It just confirms my theory now, that older is almost always better.  I do not ever plan to buy another new piece of furniture with the exception of sofas and mattresses.  Everything else I will just buy on CL or at thrift stores and have recovered or refinish it myself.  Besides, it's greener and we could all use to be a little more of that.

Well, I hope some of you can learn from my mistakes, lessons, etc. that I have learned already in this new journey I am on. Spend your money (even if it isn't a lot) on quality, because every dollar you have is hard-earned!

Here is the little $10 chest we bought yesterday.  I have since determined that it is mahogany.  MAHOGANY, people!  I may not keep it, but it sure is pretty, even before I have begun to make her over.

Some water stains on top and lots of dust from working on a nearby dresser.

I am linking up to:

http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-merrier-monday-22.html

http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/07/glitter-link-party-20.html

http://www.cherishedbliss.com/2011/08/craft-and-tell-no-16.html

http://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/2011/08/anything-goes-random-linky.html

http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/08/pink-hippo-party-40.html

http://imtopsyturvy.com/topsy-turvy-tuesdays-52/

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/07/l-ets-see-what-youve-been-up-to-if-youd.html

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2011/07/just-something-i-whipped-up-and-new_31.html

http://www.rookno17.com/2011/08/back-to-school-week-little-birdie-told.html

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2011/08/how-to-make-big-fat-flower-pillow.html

http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2011/08/thrifty-thursday-125-plus-tablescape.html

http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2011/08/show-off-your-stuff-party-86.html

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/08/show-and-tell-friday.html

http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/2011/08/fridays-unfolded-28.html

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2011/08/frugal-friday.html

http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/2011/08/frugalicious-friday.html

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2011/08/all-things-furniture-features-and-link-party-7.html

http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/08/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link.html

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/08/feathered-nest-friday.html

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2011/08/all-things-furniture-features-and-link-party-7.html

http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2011/08/welcome-to-inspiration-friday-no-26.html
http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-scentsy.html

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/08/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link.html