Well you know what, that's fine by me! You could never call me high-maintenance, and I'm never happier than when I'm rummaging around looking for a bargain.
This Saturday, may well have been one of the most perfect days.
Meeting up with my lovely like-minded friend, we joined the frozen throng of saddos queueing for the jumble sale. This particular jumble sale is usually very well attended and has a reputation for having some high quality toot. The snow kept quite a few away so it was relatively calm inside.
I grabbed quite a few clothing items, for their fabric upcycling potential and a fistful of silk(ish) scarves - more on them another time as they are currently whirring around in the washing machine.
I did get these two great shopping bags - I won't get lost in the supermarket with these right? The larger one is from Ikea and I love the size/shape of it. I have loads of 50s barkcloth curtains stashed away and I think I'll use the bag as a pattern and knock up some vintage beach bags.
The doors opened on the general jumblie at 2pm, but then they open up the separate bric-a-brac- section at 2.45. We ummed and ahhed about whether to stay, but decided what we had planned may just prove more fruitful.
So, here's where it got really exciting. My friend regularly goes to a tip and buys stuff that people have dumped. She comes back with all kinds of amazing things and has been promising to take me on a hot date to the dump for ages.
Course, my family and other friends are horrified by this - lucky I don't give a toss what people think of me right?
I can't tell you how much this appeals to me. If ever there was a more obvious way of saving something from landfill. It's literally rescuing things from the jaws of the crusher.
We arrived and it was a little disappointing as man-with-a-van had beaten us to it and brought pretty much everything (obviously, I don't know exactly how 'above board' this kind of activity is!), but I did have a look in the section he'd deemed 'too pricey'. See - I'm a bit posh.
I spotted these gorgeous vintage enamel items in mint green. A square pail/mop bucket and a kitchen colander.
I know how expensive even repro items like this are, so I was happy to pay a fiver for the two and save them from the crusher.
Initially I was thinking I'd make the colander up into a hanging basket and plant up the pail too, but they are in such lovely condition now I'm not so sure. Maybe I could stencil on some lettering to the side of the bucket and turn it into my cleaning caddy (the idea that I would use a cleaning caddy had my Old Man rolling about in hysterics by the way).
What do you think? What shall I do with them? Would you scavenge something from the dump or have I gone too far this time?
Have you saved anything from landfill lately. What did you rescue that was too good to be chucked?
I rescued a croquet set from the dumpster.......and sold it for $30 in my antique booth!
ReplyDeleteWow that's not a bad little return!
DeleteOh my I definately would have been over the moon to rescue that colander! It would have been a tragedy if it had been crushed; I would use it for its intended purpose. I have several matching items, roasting tins, pans etc and am always on the look out for more. I love vintage enamel!
ReplyDeleteI have thought about using it, but I've got 3 colanders already! Err...
DeleteAh I have been looking for a bucket just like that!!
ReplyDeleteOh how funny Lucy. What did you want yours for?
DeleteOh i love your dump buys I had no idea you could do this. You are like a superhero frugalissta dashing in to save the day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky! I don't think it's strictly 'legit'. Well, it might be but I got the distinct impression my cash was going straight in his back pocket.
DeleteI would totally have scavenged these! Love that colander especially, I've been after one like that - mine's plastic and horrible.
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It's lovely isn't it? I'm a happy bunny!
DeleteThe colander is just like the one from my childhood. Like the smaller bag and its vibrant colours. Good to be back to Magpie Monday
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back Kate.
DeleteI'm pretty happy with my Hula-Hula bag too. x
I would absolutely scavenge stuff from the dump! Sounds like a great idea, not only for good deals but also for keeping things out of the trash. I'm sometimes amazed at what people throw away... don't they realize you can donate that stuff?
ReplyDeleteI know Julia, I often wonder why people chuck stuff out when it's clearly still useful/beautiful. It can't just be laziness, I mean they've driven it to the tip, why not drive it to the charity shop?
DeleteLove the colander! Mint green is one of my favorites. I'm glad you were able to rescue it from destruction.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a tragedy :0( x
DeleteLovely vintage things! Didn't know you could buy stuff from the dump - will have to find out if it happens here. Noticed a shed packed full of interesting looking bits at our local tip recently. Always thought they were out of bounds, but then again I've never asked!
ReplyDeleteI heard of one household recycling centre where they set up an adjacent charity warehouse and they literally channeled the traffic into different lanes. The good stuff went straight to the warehouse to be sold for charity. Sounds like a perfect idea to me.
DeleteI'm not entirely sure how legit this one was though! Still, I'm happy it was rescued from landfill.
I didn't even know you could buy from the rubbish tip! Next time I'll volunteer to tip our rubbish - just don't tell the Mr What Im up to ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love reusable bags!!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time linking up - thanks for hosting!
I try to take things from the tip if i can but it has to be done in a sneeky way as its not really allowed - which seems really silly to me.
ReplyDeleteI managed to get some old dolls once which i sold on ebay, and recently, a few weeks ago i got a very Spring-ish daffodil painting, keep forgetting to add it to my magpie monday posts!
Aqeela xx
ooo I have that colander! I must join in next week - I must!
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ReplyDeleteHello I am the newest Magpie Monday recruit! Just need to work out where to put this code and who Mr Linky is??!!! Still new to this new world of blogging!
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