Monday, May 14, 2012

Free-style pickin' in rural Ohio

I love this time of year in Ohio. The trees are green. The wildflowers are still blooming. The temperatures are moderate. And everybody is doing spring cleaning and piling up their leftover junk outside on their driveways, lawns, in garages or at their local churches to sell to garage sale pickers like me. Woohoo!

After a few weeks apprenticing with the garage sale experts, the boyfriend and I are now feeling confident enough to venture out on our own and do some free-style pickin' in rural Ohio.

We picked a route that would take us to a small state park where we could do a 2 mile hike with the dog and then end in Waldo, Ohio for the famous fried bologna sandwich.

The boyfriend spotted the first sale. It was at a well-kept old farmhouse with a medium-sized barn and another small outbuilding. Only a few things were in the driveway, but as soon as I pulled in, I spotted something I needed a closer look at.

An old knee-hole desk was sitting in the driveway. I glanced at it but not for too long so as not to appear too interested, and then headed into the outbuilding to see what else she had. The woman of the house said it was half off everything today. They had started the sale last week and were ready to get rid of everything else. Just the deal-making attitude we're looking for. I told her I might be interested in the desk.

I went back to the desk, looked it over real good: nice dovetail work, nice details, a little scratched but nothing major, lovely curved front drawers, just a smidgen of veneer missing off the front of one drawer and replacement hardware. I started picturing what I could do with this desk immediately. I offered her $20, she took $25. Next thing I know, boyfriend and I are puttin' it in the back of my Jeep.

First stop and I scored a great piece! Now I was totally psyched.

One church rummage sale and several garage sales later, we stumbled upon a flea market/junk shop. It didn't look like much at first, didn't have a sign, just a few kids' toys and a couple old bikes outside of it. But once we got inside we discovered it was a long building with room after room of junk. Some of it looked like dealer space in a flea market. I started hunting and pickin' my way through it til I came to a room with mostly china and glass in it.

Turns out this flea market is being run by three siblings, all under 16, who started selling stuff from their own collections and are now buying and selling from garage sales, auctions, flea markets, and craigslist. Their dad was on hand to supervise at the shop and he told me this was all his kids' idea and he carts them around, driving from sale to sale to pick things up. But he made sure I understood that the kids do all the haggling, buying, pricing, selling, and organizing.

I was so impressed that these three kids are creative, ambitious, and driven enough to run their own flea market. They rent out space and take things on consignment, as well as stock the place with stuff they purchase themselves.

Here's a picture of one of the daughters (there are two daughters and a son) who was working the cash register. Absolutely adorable! They call the place All Stuff Flea Market & Trading Post. They have a Facebook page. I LIKE it! Hope you will too!

And check out the other great finds I bought there and elsewhere on our Saturday free-style pickin' outing.




I'm gonna link up and do some partyin' now:

32 comments:

  1. I love the desk! Great deal too. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

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    1. Thanks, Amy! And thanks for stopping by. Love your blog.

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  2. Hi Peggy: The desk is really pretty. I like the lines of it and those plates are outstanding. Looks like you had a good trip..Happy Tuesday..Judy

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  3. Those dishes are gorgeous Peggy as is that desk. Great scores. Thanks for sharing with the newbie party.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Debbie! I love your party. I'm getting to know some other newbies and it's been really great. It really was a fabulous idea.

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  4. You got a great deal on the desk! I love it! The dishes are beautiful. I'd say you did an excellent job on your first solo run!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Gina! Really glad I found your blog.

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  5. Saw your posts at Beez and the Newbie Party. Great finds -especially that desk. the plates are beautiful.

    Distressed Donna Down Home

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    1. Donna, thanks so much for stopping by. I just got back from your blog. You do lovely work!

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  6. It looks like you found some good pickin's!

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    1. Thank you so much for joining me and for your kind words, Carlene. I can't wait to get started on the desk, but I have so many other projects ahead of it. Maybe it's time to sit down and prioritize my projects. Love your blog too!

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  7. Wow, you got a great deal on that gorgeous desk! I'm your newest follower!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! I love your Tiki Time tablescape. You are so clever. Thanks for following me!

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  8. What a fun day. Love that gorgeous desk!!! :)

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    1. Tanya, thanks so much for visiting and for your kind words. I just got back from your blog and I absolutely love your mother's day tablescape. I'm your latest follower!

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  9. I love days like this. We're headed on a 100 mile yard sale next weekend. Can hardly wait. . .You got some really nice buys. I'm your newest follower!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for following me. I love your blog, particularly the post with pics of old farm kitchens. Have fun on your pickin adventure this weekend! Can't wait to see what you find.

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  10. Hi Miss Peggy this is RaNae from Ewe Creek Cottage thanks for commenting on the Southern fried chicken and stoppin by the blog and becomming my follower I will follow u too cause girl u gots it goin on with the thriftin thing and I wanna see what u do with beautiful desk u scored and those plates are to die for.
    I love Ohio so beautiful been through there many times u r lucky to live there.
    Happy weekend RaNae

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    1. Thanks for becoming a follower, RaNae, and for leaving me some comment love. Have a great weekend!

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  11. Amazing plates. And that little flea market is amazing! Kids are going to go to good colleges and get great jobs with that kind of drive.

    ~Trudy http://thriftscore42.blogspot.com/

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    1. Trudy, thanks for visiting and leaving me a comment. I just got back from your blog and I'm your latest follower. I'm gonna enjoy keeping up on your thriftin' life. I'm headed to Rhode Island tomorrow to visit friends and hit some flea markets. Wish me luck!

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  12. Okay, Peggy, I must admit I was a bit envious of the desk find; especially when you stated the price - $25!!! An those plates are gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing at Frugal Treasures party again. : )

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    1. Thank you, Barbe, for featuring my fabulous find! If it wasn't for all the linky parties, I don't know where we'd all be.

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  13. LOVE that desk! Thanx for sharing your adventure with us at THT!

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    1. Thanks for doing what you do, Pamela! And thanks for visiting and posting a comment. I so appreciate it!

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  14. That looks like such a fun day! You got some great stuff, and you have blue suede cowgirl boots. Woo Hoo!!!!

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    1. Every girl needs a pair, right? Thanks for visiting, Susan!

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  15. Wow! Those KIDS! What an amazing place. They deserve their own show. Just reading about them made me feel good. Wouldn't you have loved to play shop for real when you were a child? Thank you so much for sharing this. The plates are just wonderful! All they need is some scones (and cream and jam) and a nice pot of tea.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Rhissanna. I just got back from your blog Steam Tea Travels. Very interesting stuff. I haven't ventured into steam punk design, but I like it. And I am way into teapots. There's a teapot post a brewin' in my soul. Just haven't written it yet. I'm your latest follower!

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    2. Oooh! Thank you for the follow! I'm not sure how much longer Steam Tea travels is running. It's run with another blogger and she's going to be away for some time. Come over to my dollmaking blog and join the giveaway! There's vintage lace...

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