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.

Posted in Blog, Space

Susan Shehata

Susan Shehata, also known as The Space Guru™, is a Mentor, Guide and Performing Artist, who specializes in helping people release hidden obstacles. She does that through Space Consultations, Holistic Wellness Services and through Music & Theatre. Though her offerings are varied, the goal of her work is the same: to clear the deep patterns of resistance in people's lives. Susan has been a professional performer for twenty years and a certified wellness professional, focusing on transformational healing and space work, for fifteen years. Her life’s mission is to use her voice as a performer, speaker, writer, healer and mentor to assist in global evolution.