What I Bought at The Longest Yard Sale

 As I mentioned in yesterday’s post recap of our Longest Yard Sale trip, we shopped our way from Kentucky to Alabama. 

 Before I left home, I created a list of items I hoped to find and am glad to say that most of the items got checked off my list. 

 My Shopping list included:

 

VINTAGE TYPEWRITER–I’ve wanted one of these for a few years.

MIRRORS–I found one that I really like.  I plan to paint the frame black or white.

VINTAGE SCALE–Another item that I have wanted for a while.  I seen lots at the markets I attend but most are priced above what I want to pay.  The one I found on our trip was $15.00!

VINTAGE RUBBER STAMPS–Found a few to add to my rubber stamp collection, now over 1100!

VINTAGE JEWELRY–I was looking for jewelry that I could repurpose into the jewelry I make and sell on my Etsy Shop.  I found some really cool hardware pieces and some great rhinestone pieces too!

VINTAGE LINENS—Didn’t find much that I wanted to buy expect a few vintage hankies!

OWLS–I’m on an Owl kick lately but didn’t find anything that floated my boat.

LETTERS and TYPOGRAPHY–I purchased some cool metal letters and an ampersand sign–Great buy for $4.00!

CLOCKS–Funny but I didn’t see much in this category.

 

And, here are photos of a few items I purchased…

 

Love this vintage gold necklace I bought!

 

I found lots of rhinestone pieces with nothing over $1.50 a pair.

 

Beautiful vintage crystal knobs.

 

A classic wood bench for $8.00.  I have plans to reupholster and paint this guy.

 

These are only a few of the pieces I picked up at the Everything $1.00 vendor.

 

Some old rubber stamps.

 

E and S for Eugene and Shelly!

I didn’t buy this art for the images but for the chunky bold frames–$8.00 for the pair!  WhooHoo!

A pretty ornate frame that will look great with some paint.

 

This chunky wood frame was purchased in the rain for only $8.00.  Another stellar find! 

Vintage yarn spools and a ceramic glove mold which I see a lot but not for $9.00 which is what I paid for it.

My vintage typewriter!  It is in excellent condition and it puts a smile on my face.

 

 Love my vintage scale!  I bargained for this and won!

 I found lots of cool vintage hardware pieces I’ll create jewelry with.

 A beautiful silver plate serving piece.  I’m thinking of using the bottom as a planter and will repurpose the top into something else.

 

Tiara Black Diamond Cocktail Set–Ice Bucket and six DOF’s

 

 Vintage Salt Cellars!

 And, beautiful vintage hankies!

Now that you’ve seen some of the items I purchased, I want to share a few tips on shopping the sale with you.  This was the second year I attended the sale and between the two years I’ve learned a lot.

1.  Plan your route early and make hotel reservations!  Most of the hotels along the route sell out several months in advance and many raise their rates beyond your wildest dreams.  Yes, Super 8 was charging $250 for a room over the weekend.    I found a great room at the Crossville, TN Best Western for $90.  Not only was the hotel nice, offering a free hot breakfast but it was located right off interstate 40 so there were lots of stores, gas stations and restaurants in the area.  This will definitely be a stop for next year.

The other towns I’d look to stay in is Danville, KY or Albany, KY.

2.  Kentucky has the best selection and some of the best prices.  Last year we drove from Alabama up north to Chattanooga and although I found some good deals I heard from many people that Kentucky was the place to shop.  I also read the blog post from Eddie Ross on the items he found last year during the sale shopping between Kentucky and Chattanooga.  Based on this info. we decided this year to drive to Kentucky and come south. 

All along the route you’ll find large pockets of vendors set up to sell items.  Kentucky had more of these than Tennessee or Georgia.  In some places over 500 vendors were set up.  Frankfort, Danville and Liberty, KY all had major shopping areas.  Crossville, TN was also one of the spot we heard that HGTV films at.

In my opinion stopping at these larger shopping spots paid off more than stopping more often at smaller venues.    

3.  If you love it, buy it!  Don’t pass up something you love because I promise you’ll be thinking about it for the rest of the trip.  The Longest Yard Sale is not a place you want to muddle over your purchase.  If it fits your budget and you love it, go for it because there are lots of people looking over your shoulder.  My friend Tina snagged a $15 chair from under two women because she didn’t stop to think about it. 

4.  Negotiate the price!  All of the vendors selling along the route are willing and expect to bargain on their prices.  I always ask “is this the best price you can do?’ and they always come down on the price.  I even had some vendors come down by 1/2 or more. 

5.  Bring sufficient cash and small bills!  There are not a lot of banks or stores along the route so having cash on hand is a good deal.  Some vendors take credit cards but using a my credit card in some field in the  middle of Tennessee was not something I wanted to do.

6.  Bring lots of water and food.  Last year we only had two bottles of water when we started the trip and no food.  We thought we’d pass places to stop and eat but really didn’t.  While there are some small towns with restaurants along the way there are major areas where there is nothing at all.  If you don’t want to spend the weekend eating fair food, pack snacks and sandwiches in a cooler.  Subway made this trip easy for us.

7.  Dress comfortably and wear a hat.  It is hot as the dickens here in the south in August and being in the sun all day can wear you out.  Make it easy on yourself and don’t try to be cute….go for comfort!

And finally, take the time to enjoy the scenery and the people.  We met lots of super nice people along the route, some of the vendors I shop with at Scott Antique were even there.  You can definitely create some great memories during the Longest Yard Sale so have fun and take time to enjoy it all!

 As for The Longest Yard Sale 2013….

I’ve already started thinking about the trip.  I’ll definitely be spending more time shopping Kentucky and am working on a partnership with either Dodge or Ford to secure cargo vans to take along.  I’d love to have a caravan of bloggers and friends so if you are interested let me know in the comments and I’ll keep you posted on all the plans. 

That’s just about it for this years Longest Yard Sale. 

For more info on the Longest Yard Sale and tips on shopping the sales, check out theses Southern Living videos here and here by Eddie Ross.

Linking to:

 

 Hugs!

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We Drove, We Shopped and We Survived (barley)!

Well, the adventures of the 2012 Longest Yard Sale are over.  It was a fantastic trip, one that I’m already planning on for next year.  Although I didn’t take as many pictures as I had planned or hoped to (cause I was busy looking and shopping), I did manage enough photos to give you a pretty good summary of our trip.  Sit back and enjoy the tour of my Longest Yard Sale Adventure.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Longest Yard Sale, it is one massive and long outdoor yard sale/flea market event that takes place the first weekend in August each year.  The sale route runs across the country from Gadsden, Alabama north to Addison, Michigan, a total of 690 miles!  The yard sale celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year and celebrations were found all along the route. 

I don’t know if or how anyone could fully shop the entire route during the 4 day sale, but I’m sure there are people out there that have tried.  Donna from Funky Junk Interiors traveled from Canada and met up with a group of bloggers to travel as part of a GMC sponsored event.  They started in Michigan on Thursday and made it all the way to Gadsden by Saturday evening (whoo!) but I don’t know how often they were able to stop and shop along the route.  You can read all about Jenna’s yard sale trip and here experience being in the south for the first time here.

The hubs and I started our trip on Thursday by driving to Louisville, KY and staying the night with my brother.  The trip also gave me the opportunity to see my cute-as-pie nephew Derek before he heads off to his first year of college to play football  and STUDY LOTS!!

 On Friday morning we made our way to Frankfort, KY and picked up the yard sale route there.  We were only on the route about 10 minutes before we made our first stop!  It was non-stop driving and shopping from there on out so without further a due, here are the pics of our trip with bits of commentary.

 There are really no fancy yard sale set-ups along the route, just lots of tented stalls, umbrellas and plastic tables.

 Just about every open area of countryside had a yard sale set-up.

 This is a view from the road of an area in Kentucky that was set up for the sale.  Many of the farmers rented out their proptery to sellers…a quick and easy way to make some cash!

See that white van in the front…that’s my goal for next year! 

And, many of the vendor spots were free! 

 There was lots of painted wood pieces for sale.  I suspect this seller makes these pieces themselves, especially since the heart theme was on just about every piece they had.

 

I loved this painted chest.  I was channeling Miss Mustard Seed when I saw it and imagined what she could do with this it.

 Not my style but there were lots of incredible handpainted pieces of art for sale at great prices.  This Mexican building scene was only $5.00 and would look great as part of an eclectic gallery wall.

These portraits were pretty cool and only $3.50 each. 

 If buttons are your thing, there were lots to choose from..most in vintage mason jars. 

 There were tons of metal road signs for sale. 

 This signed stopped me in my tracks!  Tons of stuff (mostly good stuff)  for $1.00 each.  Needless to say this spot was hopping with shoppers.

 A staple in the vintage product arena, these soda crates were a great find at 2 or more for $8.00 each.  After seeing these the cheapest I saw crates was $15.00 a piece.

And, check out all those wood chairs in the background…all under $25 a piece! If you are into furniture refinishing this area was liking walking into heaven.

 I adore old vintage trunks and there were lots at good prices.  Well worn of course!

 Great bar cart or storage options for cheap! 

 If I had room, I would definitely have purchased an old vintage bike.  Some even had cute wire baskets on the front.

 This booth selling beautiful purple glassware was inside a building with over 400 vendors.  I scored some good finds here.

 Vintage Corning bowls were everywhere!  This set was priced at $75.00, really overpriced in my book.

 Lots of retro vintage signs for $18 or less.  A collection of these in a basement game area would be so cool.

 I saw lots of furniture repurposing going on.  Soda crates were used to create this very unique drawer unit with a checker board top. 

 This area was in Danville, Ky and was massive.  There was also a full fairgrounds barn to the left that was filled with vendors.

 I saw lots of these vintage oil bottles and most, like this one ($400) had a hefty price tag. Must be highly collectible.

 This was another fairground area in Liberty, KY that had over a 100 vendors.  Just so happened we were inside when a major rain shower hit. 

 There were beautiful pieces of antique furniture at just about every stop.  Luckily this piece was inside a building and did not get exposed to the rain like so many pieces along the route.  It was so sad to see rain soaked wood chairs and tables!

 In between stops there was beautiful countryside and mountain views to take in.  Kentucky has such lush green pastures.

Day one we made our way from Kentucky to Crossville, TN were we bunked at a local hotel and rested up for another day of fun.

 

After leaving Crossville Saturday morning, we made our way through several shopping spots and ran into lots of traffic.

A view from the car of all the cars parked along the side of the road.  It was definitely slow going in some areas as cars were darting in an out.

We ran into some major rain showers along the route.  Some people took shelter and others just took it all in stride.  Being from the Seattle area and use to a lot of rain, the hubs and I really didn’t use our umbrellas a lot. {That’s why you aren’t seeing any pictures of me ’cause I looked like a drowned rat most of the trip.}

 

 One area we stopped at in Tennessee had some old wood buildings on the property.

  I spotted this antique gold leaf wall hanging for several hundred dollars.  I immediately called my mom who owns the exact same piece to see how much she paid for hers.  She bought the piece about 30 years ago in Washington State and thinks she paid around $30 for it. 

All along the route even the country fire stations got in on the act!

 This tour bus was from Georgia carrying a load of shoppers.  We saw them along the route and the driver stopped at just about every major shopping area.  I know he must have been tired at the end of the day.

 Bathroom stops were few and far between and most were of the portable kind! 

 Right outside Chattanooga we ran into several HGTV film crews filming the Longest Yard Sale special that will air in October.  The two women on the right were one of teams selected to be apart of the show and participate in the shopping challenges. 

I never let y’all in on it, but a couple of months ago I was asked by the HGTV production company to submit a video for consideration for the show special but unfortunately was not selected! Maybe next year.

 I saw lots of items that reminded me of my childhood.  These cast iron cornbread pans were hot property and selling for between $25 and $40 each.

There were also lots of cast iron skillets for sale at a premium.  I saw one priced at $165.00! 

 

 This was a regular scene…trucks loaded with furniture finds.  This tuck was driven by two women who obviously were on a mission. 

 

  Just about anything you can image could be found at the sale.  This lovely metal pig BBQ grill was handcrafted and for sale for $475.00.  Something for everyone!

 I loved the large metal typography letters…rusted and antiqued.  $22 for the small and $40 for the large.

 Lots of seasonal items including these pumpkins.

And, a cool vintage Coca-Cola sign!

 In addition to lots of awesome vintage and antique items there were loads of food stalls selling your typical fair foods like funnel cake, corn on the cob, shaved ice and kettle corn.  It all made for a really festive atmosphere.

During our three-day trip we saw cars from all over the US including Texas, New York, Ohio, Mississippi, Michigan, Oklahoma and even Washington.   

Because any and everyone could participate in the yard sale, there was also lots of authentic JUNK to be had.  Many people along the route just pulled stuff out of the garage and attic, laid down a tarp and had a sale. Not totally unexpected because after all the event is called The Longest Yard Sale!

After reaching Alabama late Saturday evening we made the decision to head on home and not go all the way to Gadsden.  We arrived home tired but filled with joy from our experience and lots of memories. The heat almost got the best of us but we survived!

  I’ve already starting thinking about next years trip and am planning a bigger and better event.

Come back tomorrow to see what I bought at the sale, tips I have for shopping the sale & the plans I have for the 2013 Longest Yard Sale.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

For more yard sale trip highlights, head over to my friend Tina’s blog, Encore Creations to read about her trip from Alabama to Tennessee!

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Country Charm

As you read this, I’m on my way to the Longest Yard Sale heading into the countryside of Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. 

My shopping list for the yard sale is quite varied but I do hope to score some eclectic vintage country inspired china, antique linens, a vintage scale and maybe a piece or two of vintage furniture. 

While my personal style is not country, I can’t help but love some of the elements that help to create a Country Charm style.  From weathered woods and painted furniture, to rustic details and eclectic accessories, Country Charm is one of comfort, relaxation and at home ease. 

As I shop, these images will help me remember all the things I like about Country Style and I hope to bring a bit of this charm back home to the city with me.

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I love mixing weathered furniture finishes with more refined details to give a space a sense of character.

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Repeating patterns is a sure sign of country charm and provides such a personal touch to a space.

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There’s nothing like vintage country inspired accessories to make a space feel special.

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Country Charm can be incorporated into your decor with the simple addition of wood and painted pieces.  I love this mirror and farm table combined with more classic pieces.

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The mix of soft linen fabrics, painted pottery and rustic metal furniture work so well together!

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Rustic finished with refined details.

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A mix of country and vintage patterns + antique furniture=Country Charm

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And, nothing says Country Charm like white weathered finishes with a bit of bling thrown into the mix!

 Four days of shopping southern countryside should be a great experience. I’ll be tweeting @confettistyle and  sharing some of my purchases and images of my adventure on Instagram @confettistyle, so follow me and join in on the fun!

I have a great Room of The Week post coming tomorrow and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Bye, y’all!

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A Road Trip + My Bucket List

I love it when I can fill my weekend with a new adventure.

On Friday, the hubby and I decided to do something unexpected, something that has been on my bucket list for years and something that would involve a bit of adventure.  We decided to hit the road and attend the World’s Longest Yard Sale. 

If you’ve never heard of it before, the World’s Longest Yard Sale event is a 4 day event, every August,  that spans from Gadsden, Alabama all the way up to Michigan, 657 miles in total.  Running along Route 127 (two lane back roads), the yard sale is just as it sounds. 

As you drive along, you’ll encounter house after house with “stuff” in their yard for sale.  And, between the houses, you run into open fields and lots where multiple vendors, 20 to 50,  set up tables with more  ”stuff” for sale. It’ really is one long yard sale.

Now, when I use the word “stuff” to describe the  items for sell, it’s a pretty broad description.  You’ll find true antiques, old guns, vintage furniture, hand-made items, locally produced food items, jewelry, and then “stuff” (ok, junk) that people have pulled from their attics and garages.

Prices vary, some good, some great and some over-priced, but you’re bound to find just about anything that might be on your list.

You’ll need lots of patience to experience the World’s Longest Yard Sale.  The car traffic is like being in a big city, but on two lane country roads.  The weather is hot, there is lots of dust and people move at a snail’s pace.  But, with a little patience, you can have a wonderful experience and find some great deals.

For me personally, the experience was a bit overwhelming for my first time, putting me in a bit of a buying coma, but I did pick up a few treasures.

I found some old letters and envelopes dating back to the 1913′s.  These gems were only .50 cents and I plan to use them in some collage art I’ll be making.

I also scored some vintage jewelry, again .50 cents each.  I plan to rework these into my jewelry designs.  The leaf pins will be used as gift wrap adornment.

I’m always on the lookout for old keys to use in a variety of jewelry and craft projects.  These skeleton keys and the old motel key were .50 cents and $1.00.

And finally, I scored big when I found this cut crystal and brass lamp with a marble base.  The lamp needs to be cleaned up, re-wired and a shade added, but since I only paid .50 cents (yes, just 2 quarters)  for it, the work I’ll put into it will be well worth it.  I’m envisioning a black oval shade.  What do you think?

Along with treasure hunting, we go to see some beautiful countryside…

Cornfields and Cows…

And, every now and then along the country road a beautiful house would appear out of nowhere.

 

So, all in all my weekend road trip was fabulous. We made our way to Gadsden, Alabama and traveled all the way to Chattanooga, TN, before heading home.  It was a long day, but loads of fun.  So much fun that I’ve already started to plan my route for next years World’s Longest Yard Sale adventure.

Who wants to join me?

 

Hope your weekend was packed with new adventures!

 

all images–ConfettiStyle

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