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

DIY Edition: Home Decor

Home décor has really taken a fancy to big, bold letters and phrases. Trends have encouraged us to decorate our dwellings with large vintage metal letters, monograms, and artistic photo montages spelling out our last names. My caveat with this trend is the repetitiveness of certain phrases and words, such as ‘live, laugh, love’ and ‘home sweet home.’ Understand that this is entirely my personal preference and by no means do I detest those who display said inspiration in their homes. As the Brits would say, "It's not my cup of tea, dearie."

I had all but removed myself from this trend when my roommate gave me a letter ‘H’ that she had randomly acquired. Being that my last name begins with an ‘H’ I accepted her gift and pondered what I’d do with it. Doing a monogram seemed a bit cheesy and truth be told, my last name is about to change. How silly would an obsolete monogram be at that? So I decided I’d hop on the bandwagon and create a 3-d word montage and display it as home décor.

Here are the materials I used and the approximate price of each:

• Leftover craft paint + brushes = $0
• Three 8" paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby = $3.99
• White floating wall shelf = gift [follow the link below to buy your own]
• Ceramic birds = $5.00 at a craft fair
• TOTAL COST: $8.99

With that, I challenge you to do it for less by using odds and ends from your house!

After swinging by the local Hobby Lobby and grabbing three more letters of 8" paper mache for $1.33 each after coupons and specials, I jetted home to paint them. [Remember to use the App from the post Deal or No Deal called Coupon Sherpa.] Although Pinterest would likely have provided a quick design idea for this endeavor, I forced myself to come up with a design independently. Stripes have been catching my eye lately and it just so happens that the letter ‘E’ is a perfect letter for three big stripes. With that, I free handed the stripes on two of the letters.

After glazing the letter 'M' with some dull golden paint, I knew that my décor was complete. I threw the letters up on a shelf that I received for Christmas from Wayfair and added some little ceramic birds from a local craft fair and ‘VIOLA!,’ a completed 3-d word montage was born. By the way, the shelf referenced above is hands down, the best floating shelf I've come across. SUPER easy to hang, very sturdy, and matches the molding throughout our house. I'm smitten with it :)

And here you have it, the finished product. 

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

Cara

Decorate: Kitchen Whisks Worth Taking

Kitchens serve, in my opinion, as the most versatile room of the house. In our kitchen, friends gather with glasses of wine to chat, celebratory sweets are baked, breakfasts are made, and dinners are both hastily and leisurely crafted. When we bought our first home I knew that the kitchen had to be nothing short of functional and balanced. I spent time mulling over how I would make it even more organized and functional. Also, being a half-link [or something near that] I knew that my tall cabinets were potentially going to be my biggest enemy, more so than the ceiling fan cord. 

While planning a wedding, one of my friends shared that there should be one item that you splurge on and feel guiltless for adding to the big day. For this project I kept the same thing in mind and splurged. I’ll delve, but also give some budget friendly alternatives. So with that, here are my kitchen modifications. 

Let's get the elephant out of the room and address my splurge item, the pantry closet. Before the makeover, the closet wasn't BAD but it really wasn't functional. Did I mention that after setting a box of cereal down one day that the entire shelf came out of the wall? That aside, we visited The Container Store and invested in a custom Elfa configuration for our space. It was EASY. Like A,B,C & 1,2,3; seriously. We measured our space, took the numbers with us to the store and had a designer help us built a closet. If you consider this, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT or you may have wait around a couple of inconvenient hours like we did. I mentioned that this was my splurge, but Elfa has a huge sale at the beginning of the year for 30% off. Naturally we took advantage.. I won't bore you to death with the awesomeness of Elfa, but just know that if you take time to learn about a closet system that is designed to hang on your wall rather than pulling out of it when weight is added, you'll love it too. As far as pantry prep, I bought some basic drywall putty from Home Depot and patched the walls. I repainted them because the putty had to be concealed. For this, I found some ‘oops paint’ as Home Depot calls it. It was a neutral so I was safe using it in such close proximity to our tan kitchen walls. Since, I've found the variation in color is actually quite nice. It took about ¾ of a 1 qt. can to cover the walls of this pantry. All in all, this patch and paint project cost me about $8.

Before

After

Next up, the floor. My honey, sweet as he is, was a little careless when putting in our waterline and managed to use the refrigerator much like a Ditch Witch and dug a trench in our beautiful hardwood floor. To help cover up his mistake and create a little color interest, I went searching for some rugs that had a hint of vintage appeal. I landed at Garden Ridge and paid $5 per rug. Here's a HUGE explanation of the store's offering by Thrifty Decor Chick. Now with rugs, you get what you pay for. I washed one of these little gems and threw it in the dryer after spilling some dinner remnants. It shrank by nearly one-third! I managed to snag one more before the store sold out and replaced the boo-boo. I’ll resort to washing and hang-drying in the future. Here they are preventing more blemishes during the next home project...

Following the rugs were my salt & pepper shakers. I've seen LOTS of pairs floating around antique and thrift stores. My first set was a Bass fish cut in half with a tail for salt and a head for pepper. I then got some quaint little birds from a reward program but they were really meant to be on the table and not for serious seasoning. Recently, my grandparents were cleaning out their breezeway and gifted me a whole box of vintage alcohol in travel sized bottles. Ironically these two glass Cohodas Vineyards old glass dogs once held alcohol, but they’re serving their purpose far better on my stove top. Last weekend I saw the same pair in an antique store for $11 each. Not a bad find and they certainly have a resale value! 

 Last up is this vintage-inspired key holder. Our kitchen, being right next to our garage, not only has lots of cooking utensils and food, but shoes, keys, mail and whatever else is unloaded from the cars. I ended up getting this cake stand from my Grandma last fall but it didn't have a dome lid. So, I use it as a key drop. It’s practical, fancy, accessible, and matches my decor. Be warned that it isn't shatter-proof so if you have a key lanyard, be sure that you don’t move the cake stand with the keys! The cake stand and dome at an antique store or yard sale can be expensive. I've noticed the milky white patterns or clear-colored glass also being more pricey, especially if they’re a reputable brand. If you’re searching you should be able to find one for $10 or less, especially if it doesn't have a lid or a fancy collectible name. For a list of names to avoid [or pursue if you want this to be your splurge item] check out the cake stands on  Ruby Lane.

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

DIY Edition Off the Wall

In my last post, Finding DIY Inspiration, I blogged about other uses for "wall decals that also work on a trillion other things." Here are some odds and ends that I have used wall decals to decorate.

FURNITURE
Slapping those wordy wall decals on a piece of furniture is a great way to spice up a boring piece. I haven't done this one yet, but I came across a great example. The wall decal is just layered latex paint that you mush onto a surface. By placing the decal and scratching with a flat object (I use a pan scraping tool, myself) it'll be stuck on in a few seconds.

DOORS
Here's one I did at my house. I bought a simple "Welcome" sign and put it right on my front door. It's visible from the road and matches the trim on the outside of our house. I love the little bit of coziness that it brings to our curb appeal.

WALLS [of course]
Obviously these decals were designed for walls and they do well there. I have found that they can leave a residue upon removal, but it's nothing that the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can't handle. [I promise I don't get sponsor money for talking about Mr. Clean all the time...] I had this Clint Eastwood decal in my first apartment for a couple of years. I was sad when I moved out to not take it with me, but I could have put it on a glass frame and done just that.

GLASS
This is one of my favorite uses for the wall decals. Here's my rendition of sticking the decal on glass. The glass is still washable and the decal can be removed with heat. If washing in hot water do not attempt to dry by hand. Do NOT put these items in the dishwasher. Here is an example of how I would use these decals on glass.

What kind of post would you like to see next? Comment below to see your request featured!


Thanks for stopping by the HumbleHammock 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