The Shop. A Behind the Scenes Peek at How I Spent $100.
I love a bargain!
I have had a retail business for nine years–my own shop for five years, and then I moved my retail into a collective occasional market.
Currently, the retail aspect of my business, which focuses on vintage and re-claimed home decor, is very small, and that is a conscious choice. The constant coming and going of goods can be a tiring addition to an already dense life.
But, no matter how small my retail presence, or even if I eliminate it completely, I will likely never lose the thrill of the chase–the feeling of excavating a treasure from the piles of junk.
I thrive on reclaiming a cohesive look from the masses of discarded randoms.
One of my favorite sales in Minnesota is the Linden Hills Neighborhood garage sale. Linden Hills is a quaint, little Minneapolis neighborhood with beautiful houses, owned by people with good taste. I say this, of course, based on what I can find at their garage sales. I would estimate that there are more than 100 sales at this event, and I try to hit most of them.
I pride myself at being not only a discerning shopper, choosing what I feel will create a unified look in the shop, but I insist on a good deal.
How good?
Well, just for fun, I decided to show you what I can accomplish for $100.
I focused on two different “looks” while shopping these sales–A French Country look and a Shabby Chic look.
French Country
1: Coat rack. $5. Though I have this sitting upright, it is actually a horizontal coat rack made from a reclaimed dresser drawer.
2: Vintage wallpaper brushes. $0.40 for all. Fun to display in a collection, or you can put these to use!
3: Vintage metal colander. $3. Great for planting!
4: Old wood crate. $2
5: Vintage washboard. $4
6: Old enamel canning pot. $1.50. This would also be very cute with plants in the garden.
7: Green tinted Ball jars. $1. Great for storing my bulk dry goods.
8: Metal tart pans. $2.50. These also make good soap molds.
9: Fabulous Rooster print. $3
10: Vintage glass bowl set. $3.50. Made in France.
11: Outdoor sconces. $5
Shabby Chic
1: Shabby green wall pocket. $1
2: Antique framed prints. $4 for all 3
3: Rococo style picture frame. $5
4: Garden trellis. $5
5: Carved head. $3
6: Yarn wrapped bottle vase. $0.50
7: Metal vases with green patina. $3 each
8: Metal photo frame. $2
9: Vintage tin. $0.50
More Shabby Chic
1: Silver tray. $3
2: Antique perfume bottles. $1
3: Vintage candy dish. $1
4: Painted jam jars. $0.50
5: Paper flowers. $0.25
6: Jewel candle rings. $2
Furniture
I snatched up a pair of these French Provincial tables for $25.
This poor chair received a dated paint job, at some point. So, I will freshen it up with new paint. $10.