Thrift: Norman Rockwell

I went thrifting a couple of years ago and found this framed Norman Rockwell artwork titled School's Out. It was a print of course, one of many, but Rockwell's work has always resonated with me and I knew right away that I would take it home. 

This print (framed with glass) was $5. It sat in a closet for over a year, as I wasn't sure where I was going to put it, but it ended up in our guest bedroom (more on that decor later) hanging off center from a rocking chair in the corner. If ever my husband and I have a disagreement, I beeline straight for the garage, grab a hammer and nail and look for something to hang in the house. This was product of one of those instances.

School's Out, 1959  - Norman Rockwell 

No more than a week after hanging School's Out, did I find Missing Tooth. It too was framed and even had young school girls that would have likely been running in the initial school themed image I'd already commandeered. I paid $15 for it (more than my usual thrifting threshold), but after a quick Google search while shopping, found that both of these pieces together would be worth more than I paid. Consider it an investment... :)

Here they are in all of their mismatched frame glory. I love that they are alike and different and how they work together in the room. 

Which is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock! Do come back :)

Cara

Budget: Christmas Decor

Getting Christmas décor on the cheap is a specialty of mine. Sure, everyone flees to the big box stores after the holidays to grab next years wreaths and lights, maybe even wrapping paper, but there are better places to find those one of a kind décor items. You know…antique stores.

A couple of years ago I was in French Lick, Ind. and found myself sauntering around the small town looking for something I couldn’t live without. For more on that trip click here. Anyway, vintage Christmas decorations are my second weakness (first being Brownie Cameras). While browsing, I stumbled upon a glorious box of ornaments that were unmatched in detail, color, size and shape to anything I had ever seen. 

They’re stunning, right? They were marked for $6 each ($30 for all) but when I approached the counter I did one better than to haggle. One thing you’ll learn about owners of antique stores is that they’re just as interesting as most of the items within the walls. Smile, greet the owner and LISTEN. They’ll talk and talk (make sure you have time for this) about the ‘old days’ and how ‘things aren’t made like they used to be.’ They’ll tell you about their kids, the town and probably a little history about what you’re buying. After you’ve learned more than all of your history classes combined from grade school to college, see what they’ll do on the price. I walked out with these beauties for $20. 

Now, off of my vintage soapbox, here are some items that are from a box store (sorry, there are some vintage pieces too) and how I’ve used them to decorate. I’ve approximated the cost and location of the purpose for your post-Christmas thrifting game plan!

Finally, to top off my holiday pieces, by request, here is the tree skirt and stockings that my grandma made for me. They were inspired by Pinterest and are probably my most cherished Christmas items. 

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock! Do come back :)

Cara

Host: Yard Sale

To this day my mother refuses to have another garage sale. Partly because it was so much work and it took up an entire Saturday to conduct. But I enjoy a good purge and jump on the opportunity to unload useless items with the hope of a slight financial return. 95% of the year I donate my unused items to friends, Goodwill, and repurpose via crafting. But this weekend, we had our very first garage sale in our new home. Here are my 2¢ on having one of your very own.

The Prep

I spent a cumulative 5-8 hours organizing my sale. I had friends and family bring over their contributions as well - so I had to take time to unload, organize and price their stuff too. Allocate an evening or two to get all of your items corralled and priced.

Do. Not. Skimp. On. The. Marketing.

People need to know about your sale. Make yard signs and put them out one full week in advance. We live in an area with high church and school traffic so you'd better believe we want every mom in a 10 mile radius to know of our sale and put it on their calendars. Additionally, repetition is key. The more they see the sign the more likely they'll be to remember it.

Here is my Craigslist ad

Then, get your neighbors on board and gain hyperlocal support. The more the merrier! Besides, more sales in your area means more interest. Once you have a band of supporters, divvy up the advertising tasks. Put an ad in your local newspaper, drop an ad on Craigslist(repost it a few times), put a blurb out on the most relevant Facebook group for your area (county garage sale sites) and pass out flyers to other neighborhood mailboxes.

Know How to Haggle

I covered this in How To Haggle a few months ago, but seriously, negotiate. Before your sale even starts there will likely be men who show up early looking to snatch up good tools. Know how to speak their language and make a deal. For instance, when you're receptive to their offer come down another $5-$10. When you're not ready to come down you can move just $1-$2 or stay firm on your asking price.

Don't Be Afraid to Bundle

If someone is picking up lots of items to buy you can bundle their items and give them a better deal. For instance, if someone came up during my sale with $20 worth of Christmas items and $30 worth of clothing I may say: "I can do everything for $40." That way, they feel like they're getting a deal and I'm still making money.

Organize!

Gather Best Practices

Before my sale I grilled my friends on their garage sale experiences. The best advice I received was the coding for a multi-person sale. Instead of trying to remember what items belonged to who, the price tags were color coded for easy identification. Additionally, we pulled tags off as items sold and put them onto a giant notepad to tally up later. Talk about easy!

Market

One of my favorite product marketers is Target. That company could sell a box of toothpicks for $10 because of the way they present the product. Be sure that your sale is organized well and things look neat, clean, and are easy to find. For instance, I had sections for Christmas decor, tools, clothing, furniture, games, kitchen items, and formal wear. When someone approaches your sale and sees organization, they know that you know what you have. They also know that they better be prepared to haggle hard because you probably know what it's worth too.

Remember: market! 

Answer Only What You're Asked

NEVER tell the seller why you're getting rid of an item. We had some rocking chairs at our sale. The selling party told the interested buyer that the vintage rockers weren't conducive to over weight guests and they didn't rock well on a porch with wooden boards. Do you think the buyer left with the chairs? She certainly didn't. When you wait all day for the perfect person to show interest in an item so specific, you don't want to let them get away!

The End Result

This year we was the most profitable yet and I hardly have anything left to take to Goodwill. One of our shoppers also told us about a phenomenal group at our local high school that collects dresses for students with disabilities. Did I forget to mention it's a great way to get to know those in your community, have unique conversations, and learn what buyers are looking for? Invaluable information for the next sale!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

How to Haggle

In my January 2014 post, Vintage Finds, I alluded to haggling and bundling to get items at antique stores for less than tag price. I wanted to dedicate this post to understanding the art of haggling.

Here are the basics:

• When a price tag does not say 'firm' then you know that you have some negotiating room. If in an antique store booth, look around for any hanging signage to validate your inkling.
• If a price tag does say 'firm' you know that the seller is offering their bottom dollar on the item. Don't negotiate. If it's too pricey for your taste, just walk away.
• When an item is old it's probably got some wear and tear. Understand the condition of the item before you negotiate. The pricing could reflect that item in fair, good, or excellent condition. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's worth anything.
• If you really love it, don't walk away. Items in these places go fast. Don't hope that it'll be around the next time you're in the area.

I collect vintage Brownie Cameras from the 1920's - 1960's. When I find one that I would like to add to my collection I need to have a thorough understanding of the condition, age, and overall value. Some sellers don't know what they have and just slap a price on an item because "it looks old and must be worth some money." Not the case - if you're starting a collection get up to speed on the average values and conditions before you get ripped off. Don't fret about learning it over night, some things are learned over time.

Now that many buyers have the ability to use their phones to quickly reference selling prices of vintage items, there is less likelihood of geting taken on a deal. Exhaust all resources before you buy.

When you are preparing to haggle:

• Consider this: most of the objects in an antique store have been sitting around awhile and are hard to sell. If a seller sees you're interested they are more likely to deal with your offer because it's hard telling how long it will take for another buyer to walk through the door. This is specifically true for random items and not collectibles or trendy pieces. 
• The more you show interest in an item, the more leverage the seller has. If you want to 'feel out' the seller before negotiating on an item you really want, grab another item from their booth and use it as a 'tester'. Say I want this stunning Brownie Camera. I may grab another camera from the same booth and take both to the check-out counter. I'd start with the second camera and see how far the seller would be willing to budge before proceeding to the Brownie. If they have unrealistic prices I know that the deal isn't worth it for me.
• Sometimes you can walk away. If you have seen half the store and have an item you like, try haggling before looking through the rest of the store. That way, if you can't come to terms, the seller will have some time to mull over your offer. This is a great tool for big-ticket items such as furniture.
• In antique shops especially, there are many booths. If you want to haggle you usually do it over the phone since the booth owner isn't on-site. Don't expect the person at the register to be the one that you haggle with every time.
• Bundling is a sure-fire way to get a great deal on multiple items from the same seller. Did you find five camera's at one booth that you want to buy? Get the seller on the phone and make a deal for all of them at once. In this situation, I'd weigh the total value of all camera's combined and subtract the value of one full camera. Sort of like a buy one, get one scenario.

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back! 

Cara

Deal or No Deal

Sometimes our wallets need a break. If we paid full price for everything we couldn't sustain livelihood; or maybe we could, we'd just be in lots and lots of debt. Debt becomes more terrifying than the monster under your bed ever was, and you quickly find that looking for deals and scraping around for bargains is as important for survival as hunting buffalo was for settlers of the United States.

I like to think that the deals I find aren't by coincidence - they're instinctual. Knowing what days are best for sales and staying out of stores on those other days is critical. NEVER have I EVER paid full price for anything and today you're going to find that you won't have to either. Let's start with my favorite bargain spots and what I get there.

• Kohl's carries home decor and an array of clothing and accessory options. I love the LC Lauren Conrad line as well as Vera Wang, but sometimes the prices are a bit steep. Of course you can spend $50 and get $10 in Kohl's cash, but there are BETTER ways to save, people. Swallow your pride and hit the 60-80% off rack. Start there and you won't get into as much trouble. Now, once you've fallen in love with a few things, open the Coupon Sherpa app [referenced below] and find a coupon. I know Kohl's pitches these credit cards in store and I vowed never to succumb to getting one. Instead, I signed up for the Kohl's rewards program and get lots of great coupons through email.
• Dollar Tree [Yes, that place where all kinds of poor people go to get whatever poor people get]. Get over yourself - the Dollar Tree has lots of good finds for a fraction of the price of wholesale giants AND you can shop online. My favorite items include: holiday decorations, cards, wrapping + gift bags [their selection is awesome!], basic cleaning products [sponges, rags, knock-off Swiffer wipes], cheap cups/plates/bowls for everyday use, scented closet hangers and water beads, and of course craft supplies! Be aware however that since everything is $1 you get charged sales tax on that dollar. If the item is less than $1 at another store, don't get it here.
• Thrift Shops - Seriously, these hole-in-the-wall places often have vintage articles, neat decorating pieces, and unique items. It's also my go-to place for Halloween costume materials since I make all of mine. Wise up, Goodwill isn't as cheap as you'd think. Look for the Salvation Army and small Mom & Pop shops to get the good stuff for garage sale prices.

This costume came together from Goodwill, garage sales, and with the help of a little elbow grease.

I thrifted for these costume pieces and made the Bubba Gump Shrimp hat .

• Garage Sales -  Not only have I found a 1980 Schwinn bicycle for $20, but I've also picked-up new riding boots, Christmas decorations, furniture, and plenty of good books. On the flip side, I enjoy having garage sales and using my earnings to find new pieces for my closet and decor.

Going at the end of the day to garage sales is wise. This bike was priced at $50 earlier in the day!

Before going into a store to purchase a groceries, gifts, or goods I do three things:

1. I open the Coupon Sherpa app on my iPhone to see if there are any deals at stores I'll be visiting.

2. Get online and print coupons for big ticket items

3. Collect any coupons I have handy from the newspaper to use at the grocery. 

I'm not a "super couponer" but the small savings of 10%-20% help too. 

Other ways to save cash?

• AAA discounts save you 10% off of regular priced items at lots of places; including Target and Shoe Carnival!
• Carry your college ID - some places love giving alumni or students a break.
• Know days you can save - Goodwill for instance has different 'color' deals every day on their product tags.
• Understand markdowns and final sale. Final sale items cannot be returned, but often times you can negotiate the price even lower if it's damaged. I bought a $50 collar necklace that was marked to $10 but talked it down to $2 since it was broken in two places. I came home and used a pair of pliers to tighten the loosened links and fixed it good as new!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back! 

Cara

Finding DIY Inspiration

How do I do it; you ask? How do I know what will go with the rest of my decor? Truth be told, sometimes I don't. If I fall in love with a piece and have to have it but it doesn't go with anything else I have, then I may use it for a gift or start a new space. Here are some images I've snapped over time and the vintage finds they have later inspired. Mind you, these were phases and not violet womanly mood swings that I endured over a weekend [not that you were thinking that...].

Over the summer there was a little festival on the Monument downtown Indianapolis. I snapped this inspiring shot one afternoon and later stumbled across a quaint tin a week or two later. I was obsessed with the Ferris wheel and the symmetry that the monument created behind it. Pretty strange how my subconscious was also drawn to this [now] hair-tie holder, right?

This tin was a $5 find at the Southport Antique Mall.

On my way to a photo shoot one morning I stopped in a small town outside of Terre Haute, IN and caught a frame of this stunning door. A few weeks later I picked up another trending item, the old wooden framed window. I printed some photos on 8.5x11 photo paper and taped them on for the time being. Once I tire of that look I'll add some wall decals that also work on a trillion other things [I'll have another post about that at some point]. I found this window for $15 but talked the antique store down to $10 as I bundled items together at the check out. Bundling is a 'picker trick' that requires negotiating. If I buy a big item and some smaller items for instance, I can haggle the price down a bit since I'm buying more. If the store is comprised of lots of vendors they may not do this, but in my instance the owner of the window happened to be the cashier and cut me a deal. Similar windows sell for an arm and a leg as Pinterest users well know.

Wooden barn window from Peru, IN for $10.

While walking to the post office one afternoon I snapped this cozy shot of one of the coolest buildings in Indianapolis; The Blacherne. I love the sleek black lines mixed with the floral landscaping and the brick. That led me to pop the glass and backing out of an old frame and use just the frame to string some jute [baler twine works great too]. I then added some of my favorite Instagram shots by hole punching the printed photo and hanging with a safety pin. A pretty easy craft [no really].

Recycled frame + photos that cost nothing.

Now this may be the most far-fetched yet! This photo was captured in French Lick, IN on my drive home. I loved the color of the bricks against the sky, and beyond that the shapes of the window frames. I harnessed that shape into this potpourri holder [turned tooth brush holder] and put it into my bathroom. I love the crackled glass look and the imperial look of the holder's top. Such an easy find and it can always go back to holding potpourri. I bought this gem at an antique store that's no longer in business. It wasn't an antique [it was a reproduction] but it still satiated my itch.

Potpourri holder turned toothbrush holder for $5.

This isn't how I find every piece, but it's a great way to find what inspires. Once an item looses it's pizzaz I pass it on. Hoarding is one of my biggest fears so I don't keep things forever. Once I've gotten my joy out of them I help them find another home.

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

Vintage Finds

Welcome to the HumbleHammock! To begin, this blog will be categorized as: craft focused and home-project directed with a family and inspirational influence. In an effort to challenge myself I've opted to expose some of my crafty talents and grow in the process. With that, let's get started!

'Thrifting' recently picked up some steam in 2013 with the hit by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop. But for those who grew up in a home with a single parent or who understood the idea of stretching a dollar, thrifting is a way of life. I began scouring the local goodwill for name brand items that would help me blend in with my so called 'friends' in middle school. I quickly learned that it was easier to find one-of-a-kind items there instead and repurposed my efforts to finding those by high school. By college I frequented antique stores and began making my apartment and wardrobe something my mother referred to as 'early attic.'

Ingredient tins from Village Market in French Lick, IN. I paid $20 for this mixed set.

Above is one of my favorite finds. After I bought these these ingredient tins they had to be cleaned. Aluminum circa 1950 looks nothing short of grungy but it wasn't anything Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser couldn't handle. Beyond that, they're durable. So much of what you buy today looks like it was made in Jakk's Creepy Crawler Oven and breaks after a few uses. If this stuff's been around since 1950 I'm putting my money on it.

Birdcage found in a small shop in Peru, IN. Paid $10.

Birdcages got pretty hot a year or two ago. Personally, I'm not into birds, but I was drawn to this cage and knew if I hated it I'd have no trouble flipping it in a garage sale. Keeping it handy to collect cards or decorating for parties didn't sound half bad and it went pretty well with my vintage decor. Similar cages are pricey to come by and they are reproductions [which means they don't have nearly the history]. I liked having to put a little elbow grease into reviving this old piece. Initially I thought I'd repaint it but the imperfections grew on me.

1 of 2 vintage bedside lamps. Paid $15 for the pair . Added new shades and wiring.

One of my first projects before college was rewiring these handsome lamps. I found these while thrifting at a local [now nonexistent] shop near my hometown. The set was pretty filthy, but I pulled out the wiring, submerged them in some Dawn and hot water and started scrubbing. At a flea market in Evansville I picked up these fitting shades [by guessing the size] and paid the vendor $5 each for them. The wiring and shade caps came from a local hardware and the final product came together in about half an hour [wiring wasn't hard, but I was a first-timer]. My step-dad is an electric-guru and shed some knowledge for this one, but here's a tutorial on DIY rewiring. All in all I put close to $30 in the pair, but they look like they were made for my 1940's bedroom suite.

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around. Comment below with any questions on the above projects and do come back!

Cara