Antique Makeup Tins, Tobacco Tins, and Vintage Buttons Galore!

So…right after my last post, we got a call back from the casting people from American Pickers!!! They wanted more pictures so we got down and dirty in June’s barn and came up with these…

LOL…we had so much fun! It’s been a couple of weeks now and we haven’t heard anything more…hopefully we are still in the running to be the next amateur American Pickers! Of course I’ll keep ya posted if we hear anything!!!

In the mean time, the PICKIN continues! I went to the auction last Monday and wasn’t really feeling it…all the stuff I wanted was at the end of the 400+ item catalog so I decided to go home and leave some absentee bids. I honestly didn’t think I would win because I low-balled it with the prices, but lo and behold I WON 2 of the 3 lots! I got this awesome lot of old bottles (no pics yet) and also a lot of AWESOME antique advertising tins. The tins were quite dusty and dirty….

But after cleaning them up a bit, I think I have some real treasures here!!! I am in LOVE with the graphics and old-fashioned fonts they used….and boy do the colors POP now that the dust and dirt is gone!

Most of these face powder tins still had the face powder in them…ummm…GROSS! I emptied the ones with loose caps but some were screwed on so tight and rusted together that I left the powder in there!

This one is a bit more beat up than the rest, but it’s also a LOCAL product! You can see “Rochester, NY” on the bottom! How cool…I love local pieces!

This next one is a cigarette tin and the rest were tobacco tins. Again, I loooove the colors and graphics!

Woooohoooo! I can’t wait to get them over to The Carriage Place! I also did a quick estate sale on Saturday and picked up a  little tidbits, most of which I didn’t get around to taking pictures of…do’h! I did score this giant tin of vintage buttons though, which was sooooo cheap….and if you know anything about vintage buttons, or buttons in general, they usually cost a fortune!

I have a strange fascination with buttons. There were so many unique and unusual buttons in this tin. I laid out the ones I found most interesting. What to do with so many cool buttons!

I immediately wanted to display them. Remember this cute little jar from the Amvet?

I put some in there and tied on a little homespun tie. Not the most original idea, but it’s my favorite way to show off buttons.

Threw it up on the shelf. Do you see it?

I’ll probably do the same for the rest of the buttons and bring ‘em to the shop.

Well that’s all for now. I’m heading over to The Carriage Place Wednesday to bring some of those tins and other items over. I love getting in there and just fussing around. It’s like therapy for me!

What types of craft projects do you have going on? Do you find you get into a rut this time of year? I know I do!!! Anyway, if you have anything cool in the works, send me pics…I need some crafty motivation!!! Have a great week my fellow crafters and junkers!

“Amateur Pickers”, Thrift Store Scores and Updated Booth Photos!

Well, it’s been a busy couple weeks getting everything from the auction organized, priced and into the booth. I LOVED the auction and am going to another on next Monday and can hardly wait to see what kind of treasures I will find there!!!

In the meantime, my friend June and I entered the “amateur pickers” contest that is being held by THE American Pickers on the History Channel! They are doing a show consisting of multiple two-person teams who will be sent on picking ventures, and will be eliminated throughout the show, and the last pickers standing will win $10,000! It’s a long shot, but wish us luck!!! Here’s one of our pics we sent in… !

So I recently made a trip to the thrift stores and scored a few neat items that I thought I’d share. I haven’t been “thrifting” in a while, so it was fun to get out treasure hunting again. I found this vintage steamer pot which immediately caught my eye because of the cool americana blue color with the white eagle design. I also got a little glass candy jar with a big wooden top. I plan on painting the top and maybe jazzing it up by adding a star applique or maybe stamping it. I will be sure to post an “after” pic!

The steamer pot even had some New England inspired recipes on the back!

Love this heavy, cast iron duck bell, and boy does it ring LOUD! Also got this ornate little frame…so cute!

I found some cute country themed items that I just had to scoop up, including a cute lady bug themed basket, a faux enamelware soap dish, and an adorable ceramic pitcher.

The highlight of the night was finding this vintage hurricane lamp with a very cool honeycomb glass pattern! It’s in mint condition, and I know that once I clean it up, I will likely make quadruple what I paid for it. That’s what you call a junker’s high!!!

And because it’s been so long since I have taken some new pix of my booth, I thought I’d share some updated photos! Note all the cool new auction pieces….!

Well, hope ya’ll have a great night and I will be back soon! I hope to have lots of cool new stuff from the auction to show you next week!!! Can’t wait to get my YUUUUUUUP on!!!

Scoring Big at my First Auction!

Happy 2012! Hope everyone had a great night. I celebrated by watching the annual Twilight Zone marathon and dozing off by 10…yup, a regular party ANIMAL! So…isn’t the world supposed to end this year? Guess we better make it a good one!

Today I spent the day at my first real auction, and it was everything I hoped it would be! The auctioneer in his big cowboy hat, going a mile a minute while people nodded their heads and occasionally yelled out YEEEEEEEEEPPPPP just like Dave from Storage Wars! LOL! It was amazing. I went with a bunch of fellow vendors from my co-op, and I came home with a truck full of primitive kitchen gadgets, crocks, jugs, and a few other treasures. I had to share!!!

First of all, I got this leather antique baby carriage. It’s a little bit “Addams Family”…exactly the reason I bought it! Creepy COOL!

Some old cast iron muffin pans…

and stoneware crocks and jugs galore!

One of the best scores of the day was probably this antique butter churn…I got it for an incredible price. To keep, or not to keep…that is the question!

A (copper?) bed warmer

I also got a huge lot of primitive tin kitchen tools and gadgets. Boy do I have some homework to do. I am familiar with some of these items, but not all…but that’s the fun part!

And one of my favorites of the day: a small, very cool shaker box.

More kitchen gadgets…

And even MORE! I LOVE them ALL!!!!

I thought this piece was particularly interesting. Upon some research I have discovered it is a 19th century gun shot & powder measure. Freakin SWEET!

I am so excited to get some new, quality items in my booth. It was starting to get bare and I need a break from the crafts, after the whirlwind of Christmas crafting. I am bringing some of this stuff over to the co-op on Wednesday, so I’ll be sure to get some new booth pics!

Til then, have a great week!