Debbie's Bargain Basement

BIG BARN BONANZA MAY 11th - 12th, 2012 PHOTO BOOTH

2012-05-03T16:40:00.003-05:00

First, I want to apologize for being away for so long. Life has been hectic here lately. My mother-in-law has been in the hospital since April 8th, I've been readying for the Big Barn Bonanza (Barn Sale) my friend and I are holding the weekend of May 11th and 12th and I've been trying to get our house in order to put it on the market this month. I've squeezed a little shopping in here or there but I just haven't had near the time I would like, to sit down and blog about my bargain hunting adventures. Don't worry though, I've been taking photos and keeping track and I'll get back to sharing with you after the barn sale.

For now, I do have more photos to share of the treasures you'll find at our upcoming Barn Sale! Mark your calendars, the sale is Friday, May 11th from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 12th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hope to see you there!

GREAT Adirondack Stool!

Beringer Wine Holder - Fun for your wine room or cellar!

We have a variety of fun, vintage case pieces including election buttons, jewelry, coins, ephermera and more!

A DeWalt Truck bed tool box, in great condition, hardly used.

In beautiful condition - a vintage metal bedframe with rails.

Old metal merchandise stand with planters, great for your porch or deck.

OMG, the old metal hardware and other "stuff" we have!

Beautiful all wood rolltop desk

Singer Serger for the seamstress, in great working condition

Nice old tavern type wooden table and a couple antique/vintage odd chairs, one cane seat.

Nice old chippy wood bench, old fan, cherubs for the garden and turkish drink holder.

You can't say we don't have a little of everything. Milk can, old stove (great as a plant/fern stand), galvanized tubs, barbed wire, AB wood crate, metal watering can, old clothes ringer and MORE!

Vintage metal kitchen cart with drop leaves on each side!

Car top carrier for when all your treasures won't fit in your car!!! LOL!

Overview photo looking in to the center of the barn.

Good condition foosball table.

Bad picture of a great selection of glass knobs for drawers and cabinets!

Just some of the jewelry we will be selling. Nice selection of vintage costume jewelry.

We're rolling with a wide selection of WHEELS!

Check her out! What an unusual piece. Pin-up girl cutout in a vintage shelf!

Another shot of the pin-up girl shelf. I LOVE this!

A couple vintage baby quilts

A vintage raffle tumbler, fun straw tote with felt strawberries and a vintage Mt. Rushmore plate!

Old saws in leather sheaths, I forget what kind he said these are, but they are very cool, that much I know!

Antique secretary, small buffet/credenza and other fun finds, like the large wood tray!

Old Selectric typewriter, gotta love the color.

A tabletop display that includes a selection of amber glass, Diner china, marble based lamps, vintage suitcase and radio.

Table of smalls including knick knacks, collectibles, bottles, jewerly, jewelry boxes and more!

Great mirror, painted china and linens.

Antique cane seat walnut (I think) chairs, in pretty darn nice condition.

Wicker plant stand, religious print, magazine rack

Yes, those wheels are so old that they are wooden and we've got porcelain ones too!

Heavy metal (lol) 3 tiered vintage plant stand

Blue & white display with china and ironstone and more!

More smalls including bottles and marbles

Apothecary coffee table with glass top and antique brass accent hardware (not old, but nice), a torchiere glass lamp shade and wicker bed tray.

You can also look for more updates on the barn sale on my facebook page, Debbie's Bargain Basement at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbies-Bargain-Basement/266607570028663

TRASH OR TREASURE

2012-04-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

No introductions needed. You know the drill - Is it TRASH OR TREASURE?

SPRING BIG BARN BONANZA

2012-04-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars now for the Spring BIG BARN BONANZA! If you hadn't seen my facebook posts yet, the sale is set for Friday, May 11th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 12th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. So, what is a Big Barn Bonanza? Well, its part (big part) antique and vintage occasional sale, part estate sale (mom and mother-in-law are now in a nursing home), part moving sale (friend moved to new house with huge barn) with a little bit of yard sale thrown in for good measure (and great buys)! What will you find at our tag sale? Antique and vintage furniture, home decor, toys, tools and more; a variety of collectibles; garden and outdoor items including camping gear; sewing items; sporting goods; furniture (home and office); electrics, electronics and appliances; and much, much, MUCH MORE! We've been working in the barn on set up! Below are some photos I've been taking during set up.

Watch for updates and additional photos on my facebook page: Debbie's Bargain Basement.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to change our minds and decide we cannot part with any given item. But regardless, there will be a LOT of treasures to pick from. And I'm really trying not to post photos of items that we might change our minds about.

TRASH OR TREASURE

2012-04-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

Oops! With Easter weekend and all that it held, I forgot to post a trash or treasure last weekend! We'll just make that a rule maybe, that I don't post them on holiday weekends, yeah, that's it, that's why I didn't. Anyway, its this weekend and I have one to post today. So, let me ask, is it TRASH or TREASURE?

Just to be clear, the trash or treasure item is in the center of the photo and has two legs and two . . .

COME SALE AWAY, COME SALE AWAY WITH ME

2012-04-09T18:21:00.002-05:00

Sale, sale, everywhere's a sale! Tis the season! Yard, garage, barn, estate, tag, rummage, they're all in full swing. I did a little yard "saling" this past Saturday in Southern Illinois. I've posted some photos below of my finds! The best find was a chipped blue paint bench I scored, thanks to my friend Stephanie who asked me if I saw the bench . . . and I hadn't somehow . . . it was covered with a sheet of plywood and had yard sale goods all over it. So I inquired and was told she didn't think it was for sale but then that gal asked her friend (who's bench it was) and she said she would sell it! BINGO!

But this post is more about upcoming SALE opportunities and sharing the ones I know about, so here goes:

This Saturday is the Columbia (IL) After Prom Committee Rummage Sale from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Also this weekend, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Midas Touch Estate Sales is holding a sale in Columbia. The sale starts Friday at 10 a.m. The address of the sale will be released at 9 a.m. on Thursday on their website at http://www.midastouchestatesale.com/Upcoming-Sales.

Side note, to keep track of upcoming estate sales in this area and others check out the website EstateSales.net and sign up to get notifications!

The following Friday and Saturday, April 20th and 21st Columbia (IL) has their city-wide yard sale event.

The last weekend of the month, on Saturday, April 28th there's a flea market on the parking lot of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Then the first week of May there's an explosion of sales: Citywide Yard Sales in Millstadt (IL) and down in Southern Illinois in Cobden on Saturday, May 5th. Cornbread from WIL92 holds his World's Largest Garage Sale at the Family Arena in St. Charles (MO), also on the 5th. I believe there is also a flea market sale at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo (IL) that day, followed by the Fruehlingfest in Maeystown on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The next Friday and Saturday, May 10th and 11th is the Big Barn Bonanza in rural Millstadt (IL). That's the barn sale my friend and I do a couple of times a year. Mark your calendars and plan to attend, the sale is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. I'll be posting photos and more details in the coming weeks!

If you know of any great sales in the area, please share them in the comments below! If I come across any others of note I'll post them in the comments and on my Debbie's Bargain Basement facebook page, so keep an eye out!

And SALE away!

The blue bench with all my finds on it, along with some plants I got at the nursery. On the far left, back are 4 fun, retro small tv trays.

This was just too funny to pass up! It's a chopper hopper. What's that you ask? I didn't know either but then I noticed he's holding a tube of toothpaste in one hand and a toothbrush in the other, and it occurred to me - HE'S A DENTURE HOLDER for your FALSE TEETH!

A great turquoise green vintage pyrex casserole and a large baking powder tin. You'll also catch a glimpse in the front right corner of a white plate. But that's just not any old white plate, that's an antique Meakin Ironstone plate! Ad those tv trays are peeking out at the back of the photo.

Hard to tell from the photo, but that's a tall beautiful purple glass bottle/vase in the back, along with a vintage 6-sided Swan's Down Cake Flour pan and an Arts and Crafts hand-painted plate from France.

A better photo of the Arts and Crafts plate. I bought it for my friend Stephanie, its the least I could do after she pointed out the vintage chipped paint bench to me!

THE ONES I THREW BACK

2012-04-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Just as in fishing, sometimes in shopping, there are those you have to throw back in. As you probably already know from my earlier blog post today and the post from yesterday, I went second-hand shopping yesterday with stops at Goodwill on the east end of Belleville and at Unique Resale, also in Belleville. In addition to the killer wedding dress I found (but didn't buy), I also found all the items below at Goodwill yesterday. I must have timed my visit just right because I have never seen so many great items in one visit there before. Unfortunately, none of these items were on my "shopping list".

Homer Laughlin "Diner" China. Buck a piece.

Vintage look Cocktail Pitcher from Pier 1 Imports, just $3.

Just a few of the large assortment of wedding cake "toppers" in stock! Too fun!

BEST find at Goodwill that day: Beautiful Antique Chest of Drawers in great condition and only $80!

Ok, don't know what this is for but its made of coconuts and it made me smile!

Trestle table, 4 chairs and a neat bench, all a set. A little rough but could be painted up so cute!

Metal twin bed head and foot board, not old, but has that look.

Retro-riffic vintage desk in great shape and I think it was only $25!!!

Vintage pottery vase in great condition and only $3!

Old metal cabinet for $20 makes for great sturdy storage!

WEDDING BELLE

2012-04-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

I need a Wedding Belle, a bride-to-be, to buy this dress! If only I were younger, oh and single and much skinnier, I would have bought this dress. Heck, even if I didn't have a groom, I'd buy me this dress and then find me a groom to go with it (not that its not equally as hard to find a good groom as it is to find a good dress). I saw it at the Goodwill on the east end of Belleville yesterday. Truly the most beautiful vintage wedding dress I've ever seen whether it was in a thrift store or an expensive vintage shop. My guess is its from the 50's but I'm no expert. Take a look at the photos and judge for yourself. If I were also to guess size I imagine its around a size 6 in the waist but for a girl that has some of a bosom (cup C or D), again, no expert. I SO wanted to buy this dress, it was only $30!!!!!! But just didn't know what I'd do with it (yes, could resell it for much more but then I have to work to find a buyer) so I resisted temptation yet again. Do you know of anyone?

This is the bust. It has a pleated straight across front underneath and then the appliqued lace sits out in front on top of that, just like a lot of the dresses you see on the red carpet these days. Just gorgeous detail and so in style!

Front of dress, of course my photo isn't doing it justice!

Upclose of bust on hanger, again my photography skills leave something to be desired.

This is a better photo of the upclose detail of the front of the dress.

Full front view of dress.

Will you just look at all that luscious tulle and wonderful applique, its uber beautiful!

Oh yes, you're reading that right, just $30!!! I need to google "Will Steinman" and see what I learn, just so curious!

BIRTHDAY SHOPPING SCORES!

2012-04-03T20:37:00.002-05:00

As a birthday present to myself I visited one of my favorite resale shops in Belleville (IL) today. That was after my sister treated me to pizza at Papa Vito's on Washington Street in Belleville. My favorite pizza and then my favorite shop, it was adding up to a great day! And it got better from there! Green Diamond Emporium Unique Resale Shop at 732 South Illinois Street, in the old train depot, had just gotten in a load of new "stuff" that morning. All from one donor - and there were some amazing finds! As much as I wanted to, I couldn't take them all home so below are the two killer pieces I brought home and then all the other items I took a pass on. But you might want to rush out tomorrow and try to snatch some of them for yourselves!

If you need more information such as prices or if one of these items is still available, give them a call at 618-235-8431. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Another bonus is that you receive $5 off a purchase after you've gotten 10 punches, 1 punch for every $10 spent! Their website is www.greendiamondemporium.org.

I scored this vintage concrete base, metal top sundial for just $20! (It came with its own bird poop! LOL!)

I LOVE this park bench! And I have been looking for one (check that, CHEAP one) for awhile. I got it home and my husband said well I guess we can paint it - ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? That's one of the great things I loved about it - THE PATINA! I LOVE the "chippy" red finish! And I scored this beauty for just $18!!! (Oh, and the fun quilt behind the bench was only $25 but I resisted the temptation . . . for now, tomorrow's another day)

Sweet vintage buffet/sideboard. I think it was $40 or $50.

Fruit-topped ceramic canister set for $12. I have a hard time resisting things with fruit!

Roseville Pottery Vase - said "as is" but for $40 (and knowing they usually go closer to $100 or more) it seemed like a great buy, but I'm not an expert on these. I do admire Roseville pieces though.

Fun and funky vintage stereo console. I don't remember how much this was but sooooo retro!

Vintage chifferobe. Bad photo but cool piece.

Concrete birdbath. That's a squirrel "climbing" up the base. Loved this too but it was a little too steep of price for me ($80) and the condition of the bath itself wasn't great. Maybe, if it goes to half price.

More creamware pottery but since I have around 60 pieces I decided I could resist. But now if they go half price they may become harder to resist!

Vintage dining table painted gray with one leaf.

Nice old rocking chair with the rush (?) seat and back in very good condition. I think it was $40 or $50.

Ok, I don't know exactly what this is but I thought it was a fun and interesting contraption. And just $8.

A pretty in pink hand sewn quilt for $50 (If I remember right). Again, hard to resist but I have more quilts that I can use right now and I don't want to have to just store them away where they can't be appreciated.

Oh yes, I managed to get the sundial and the bench in the back seat of my convertible and off I drove. That back seat holds a lot more than you think. You just have to put the top down to get it in!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

2012-04-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Normally, I wouldn't bring up my own birthday, especially my 51st one (it is better than THE other alternative though) but I HAVE to share the CUTEST, "FUN"est (ok, that's not a word, I know) birthday card I think I've ever gotten. It's from one of my oldest friends (I mean longest, sorry gal), Kathy, my cohort in antique shopping crimes (well, they should be crimes, the things we find and the prices we get them for)! Oh, she knows me, all TOO well. And I love it! And her birthday card! AND her! Thanks, Kath!

Here I am, taking yet another load to the SUV at Brimfield, Massachusetts in May of 2010.

That's me in the back of Kathy's Element in Springfield, Ohio at the Antique Show at the Fairgrounds on our way home from the show in Brimfield, Massachusetts. A trip of a lifetime! By the way, there's a claw foot tub and a 5 foot church pew somewhere in the back of that SUV. We know how to pack!

TRASH OR TREASURE

2012-04-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

The weekend almost got away from me before I posted another installment of is it "TRASH OR TREASURE"? So here it is. Let me know what you think!

ANOTHER FABULOUS FRIDAY (I HOPE)

2012-03-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

You haven't heard much from me this week. I haven't done much shopping this week and when I have, I haven't had much luck. I must of used it all up with my buys last weekend! Well, I hope that luck comes back for tomorrow. I'm headed with my antiquing friend back up to the O'Fallon, Illinois area to shop the shops there and then head over to Mascoutah to check out Popsy's Trading Post for the first time. We went to The Painted Horse a couple weeks ago, but it was just before they opened their carriage house for the spring, so we're headed back to check it out! I'm hoping we find a yard sale or two along the way too! Oooh, or maybe a rummage sale! I've got to get on craigslist and do some checking. I also have an app for my phone, Garage Sale Rover, you should check out. The Belleville News Democrat also has an app for garage sales. I'm like a girl scout, prepared!

Front Window of The Painted Horse a couple weeks ago

I did make it to ZUMBA three times this week! And that's two weeks in a row that I've made it to three classes, but who's keeping track (I am actually). I LOVE getting my dance on! I spent a lot of time in dance spots in my early 20's, maybe some of you from the area remember Mr. A's and The Elevator in Belleville. Anyway, what fun getting my exercise and reliving my disco days, both at the same time! And actually, I think my zumba deal is quite the bargain! I go to Curves for Zumba class, but I am not a member. They have this great deal where non-members can purchase a punch card for $20 and take 6 classes with it. I like this pay-as-you-go option. My life is anything but routine where I know I can go to a class at a specific time week after week or that I will even make it to class every week. And I hate when I'm paying for something that I'm not using. Ugh, the guilt. So I think its a great buy that I only pay when I go, and if I don't go, I don't pay.

For instance, I usually go on Monday and Friday mornings at 9 a.m. (and on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m.) but I can't go tomorrow morning (hellooo, I'm shopping!) so I went at noon today instead. So, off shopping I go tomorrow with no guilt, I got my 3 days in baby! Classes are held at a variety of times with a variety of instructors. I was worried about catching on to the songs and dance moves and yet, also afraid of getting bored by the repetition of songs and steps. But they do a great job of repeating enough of the steps and songs as for it not to be hard to learn but they mix it up and change the tunes often enough that you don't become bored either. Hey, I've found out that "I'm Sexy and I Know It" (the song, not me, really) It's been a LONG time since I've done any exercise on this regular of a basis. Get this, I actually look forward to it! Ok, not quite as much as I look forward to shopping but its a close second!

TAG, I'M IT!!!

2012-03-25T18:35:00.000-05:00

Tag sales. LOVE'M! We were driving down to the cabin Friday, late afternoon and saw signs for one in Murphysboro - whoa, DETOUR! But it had already closed for the day. You need not worry, we got up Saturday morning and headed there, it was only about a 20 minute drive from the cabin. We picked up a few fun things, take a look below. Then, on our way out of town today, we decided to drop back in for the 50% off clearance (which most dealers do the last day of their sales). And we picked up one more great buy! Check it all out!

Antique Cast Aluminum (?) Urn Planter for $35 (Splurge for me but my birthday's next week so I told my husband he's done shopping for me!). I LOVE it!

Vintage Concrete Planter - are you ready for this? 4 Freakin' Dollars! Wait for it, wait for it . . . SCORE!!!!

Vintage 100% Wool Crewel (?) work pillow for $1

I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT OVER THIS ONE!!! Antique (or vintage at least) cast metal lion's head fountain priced at the already low price of $25 on Saturday, was unbelievably still there on Sunday and half price! Yes, that's right, just $12.50! Now, in full disclosure I have to say it has a chip out of the lip of the urn on one side (you can kind of see it on the left in the photo) but I'm just going to embellish (aka cover) that with moss I think!

A rug with a definite cabin/lodge look to it for $4, now at our bedside.

Vintage kitchen towel for $1

TRASH OR TREASURE

2012-03-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

It's time for your weekly: is it "TRASH OR TREASURE"??? Here for your consideration is an old (vintage? antique?) Cyclone Trademark Seed Sower, made in Urbana, Indiana. So, what could you do with one of these? Well, if its trash I guess throw it away, but, if its treasure, well then there are some possibilities. What would you do with it?

Back side and bottom of seed sower

Close up look at logo on front of seed sower bag

BIG BARN BONANZA (#2) - ITS COMING, ITS COMING!!

2012-03-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

This past weekend John and I rented a 14 foot U-Haul and loaded her down with "stuff" that is no longer needed at our house and we dropped it at "the barn"! That's right! Its almost time for another BIG BARN BONANZA! I spent the afternoon yesterday at the barn, starting the set up for the sale. The tentative date for the sale is the first weekend of May (5th and 6th). And you just better block out the WHOLE weekend because its Millstadt's city-wide yard sales day on Saturday, it's Freuhlingfest in Maeystown on Sunday and I heard a rumor that there's going to be a flea market at the Waterloo Fairgrounds that weekend (maybe just Saturday, not sure)! I'll be bringing you preview photos of items in the sale over the next month to whet your appetite! Here's your first teaser!

I spy a pair of car ramps, a milk can, Christmas tree, bowling ball, golf clubs, dog crate, commercial steamer, store clothing rack, a wine stand, hamper, tv and 12 feet more of good STUFF (including antiques)!

THOROUGHLY MODERN VINTAGE

2012-03-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

Who's stuck in the 50's? And I mean in a good way! With a love of mid-century furniture design, memories from your childhood or the fun of the kitsch finds from that time. If I've described you, then you'll want to check out Modern Vintage Decor on Gravois in South County (St. Louis, MO). It is retro-riffic! They just recently opened. I shopped there a few weeks ago and went back last week to consign some of our vintage belongings. I hated to part with them, but we're downsizing and selling the house so we had to say our farewells and hope that they will find a good home that will treasure them as much or more than we did. So below are some of the finds from my first shopping visit and some of the items I consigned there last week.

I brought home this piece of marked McCoy creamware pottery to add to my collection of over 50 pieces!

Another drop leaf table - you know I LOVE these!

COOL old projector - what a conversation piece!

NEATO camera! 8mm?

FUN vintage chair! Can't tell from the photo (its better in person) but it has a metallic thread running through it!

One of our consignments. We used it as a credenza in our office but could be used as a media center or bar. Or how about made into a bathroom vanity?

Another piece we consigned. From Lammert's Furniture Store. We used it as a dresser but I think it would make a great tv stand/media center.

A blonde wood desk chair we consigned. Its in great condition, so sturdy and heavy. And stylin'!

On the left is a blonde wood with black legs file holder/magazine rack. On the right is a beautiful wood and leather magazine rack. Both were unusual finds that I haven't seen again anywhere but they're just not needed in the downsizing. Sad to part with them though.

While some (or all) of these finds may be sold by now (I sure hope some of my items have sold) other new treasures have taken their place. When I went in to consign this past week she had doubled her inventory since my first shopping visit. For instance, last week she had gotten in a Heywood Wakefield Dog-bone dining set in wheat with table, 6 chairs and china hutch.

If you're interested in consigning, its very easy. Take your items in, she'll inventory them and have you sign a contract and you're done. You get 50% of whatever it sells for and she keeps 50%, a standard consignment agreement. If you have further questions visit their website at www.modernvintagedecor.com and become a follower on facebook or twitter to be the first to hear about sales and promotions.

RUMMAGE FOR RUMMAGE!

2012-03-20T16:47:00.001-05:00

Do you have stuff collecting dust and taking up space around your house? I know I do! I've been clearing things out around here, lightening my load. And it feels really good! The less "stuff" in your house the less "stuff" you have to clean and take care of, which gives you more time to go out . . . and look for new "stuff"? (Is there something wrong with my thought process there? Nah!)

So with all that in mind, if you need a easy way to dispose of all that "stuff," that also benefits a great local cause, think about donating it to the Columbia High School After Prom Committee Rummage Sale slated for Saturday, April 14th! They will accept donations Friday, April 13th from 3 to 9 p.m. at the high school. If you can't get it there then or you have other questions please give Kim a call at (618)281-6328 or email her at kstumpf@htc.net.

And don't worry, once you have all that cleaning out done, I'll give you a heads up to shop the sale a couple days beforehand! You wouldn't want to miss it!

RUMMAGE RUMBA!

2012-03-19T17:07:00.001-05:00

We had a busy weekend but I'm never too busy for a good rummage sale. And I found one Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Columbia, IL. I got there just over an hour after it started but I still made some good finds. And I only spent $6.85!!!

Box of beakers and pharmacy bottles as found for $5!!!

My box of booty organized on the counter! Just $5! Yes, I'm pumped about this find!

KITSCH ALERT!!! Got this for a future white elephant gift exchange. Yes, that's right - 10 cents!

That's a Fostoria Americana creamer and sugar bowl (25 cents each), whiskey glass (50 cents), a retro ice cream dish (25 cents) and 2 bird cage feeders (25 cents for the two and I needed one for my birdcage).

Double Oil Lamp Bracket for just 50 cents! I may use it for candles or plants inside or outside, not sure yet!

Close up detail of the lamp bracket. So cute!!!

Up next? This Friday there's an estate sale at 2141 Lebanon Avenue in Belleville (headed towards Shiloh). The sale is being held by Keil's Estate Sales, find out more about the sale at http://www.keilsestatesales.com/. They have great photos of most of the items in the sale. I'm eyeing some concrete deer! My husband won't be happy 'bout this!

SATURDAY'S TRASH OR TREASURE?

2012-03-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is the first in a series of posts. Once a week on Saturday (but don't hold me to it) I'm going to post a photo of an item and ask the question of readers, "is this trash or treasure". I see things when I'm shopping all the time that I ask myself that question. A lot of times I'm shopping with a friend that I've antiqued/junked with since we got out of college (yes, many, many moons ago) and I've found sometimes something that I think is a treasure, she thinks is junk (and visa versa). As the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." So, without further adieu, let's see what you think!

TRASH OR TREASURE?

I'll let you know what I think later, I don't want to influence your vote! If you don't want to go through signing up here to vote please go over to my facebook page and place your vote there. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbies-Bargain-Basement/266607570028663. Just find the facebook post that links to my blog post "Trash or Treasure" and vote under comments!

VISIT TO THE DISTILLERY (BUILDING)

2012-03-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

LOVE the antler floor lamp!

I ditched the housework Tuesday and hit the town for a little shopping at two of my favorite local shops. The weather was exceptional so I had to make it an exceptional day! The Distillery Building on Main Street in Columbia houses two exceptional shops - Elements Off Main and Agnes Ross. Owner, Erika Gregory Baum, keeps the store merchandised so fresh and fun to shop. She has an excellent mix of consigned furniture and home decor along with jewelry bought at market and crafted by local artisans, a line of candles, handbags, women's and children's clothing, other local artists' work and more. Check out the photos of a few of the finds at Elements.

60% select jewelry pieces!

Beautiful dining room set and tabletop items.

Think Spring! with these tabletop items.

A pair of fun, funky and fabulous lamps!

I guess I had lamps on the mind because I found an antler lamp that I would have loved to have and I thought the two white globe lamps were just so fun and funky, I only wish I had a home for them too! Maybe one of you can give them a good home! Visit Element's website or find them on facebook for more information.

Agnes Ross is down a couple doors in the same building. What a beautiful store, they just recently went through a remodel. Lauren Nobbe, the owner, has exquisite taste and carries many lines of fine items from gourmet food to wine, Caldrea, K. Hall Designs and more. Check out the photos from my visit there.

75% off items at Agnes Ross

Yummy gourmet food items.

The interior of the shop

K. Hall Designs and more

Oooohhhhhh, WINE!

I picked up a couple of bottles of wine on my visit (and enjoyed one of them last night) and an arts and crafts period reproduction copper light switch plate (whew, that's a long description!) that was 75% off! Visit Agnes Ross' website or you can also find them on facebook. I suggest "liking" both stores on facebook so you can follow their new arrivals, sales and promotions.

PART DEUX

2012-03-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

More from my shopping adventures in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago. The Green Shag Market informed us that there was another shop a block down, around the corner. So we braved the cold and wind and blew down the street to Quintessential Antique and Furniture Company. And were we glad we did!

What a wonderful shop. Truly, the wonders. So many unusual items, we found a very well curated selection.

They had the most fantastic selection of corbels that I've ever seen, some beautiful wall hangings from needlework pieces to oil paintings. Two of my personal favorites that I wish I could have found a home for in my home were a armillary sphere lamp for under $50 ( thought that was an unbelievable price for such a statement piece) and a large wall pocket, for lack of knowing exactly what its original use was. I wondered if it had at one time been a wall mounted refuse can but in this incarnation I could see it filled with forsythia branches in the spring and red twig dogwood branches and evergreens in the winter, on a porch or entry of a house.

They also had a large selection of beautiful architectual pieces and furniture. Here's the catch, they are only open the first 7 days of the month from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. That's easy enough to remember, though, 7 days, 7 to 7! They are located at 5707 Manchester. Find them on the web at www.antiquesstlouis.com or on facebook search for Quintessential Antique and Furniture Company. Call them at 314-531-9701.

Next up was the furniture and home decor consignment shop Consign and Design Galleries, located at 10036 Manchester Road (one mile east of Lindbergh Rd.) They had such an eclectic selection of items from new to vintage to antique. Fun painted furniture pieces, repurposed items, like a sweet silver tray chalkboard, even jewelry.

Owner Nancy Cullen has done a beautiful job merchandising and organizing the store. And there is so much to take in. You really have to look up, down and all around to take it all in. Why you'll see chairs hanging from the ceiling, just too cute!

With spring coming they had some wonderful wicker pieces to brighten any sunroom or porch and great accessories to go with them! Find them on facebook and take a look at all the photos of their inventory. You can check them out on their facebook page Consign And Design Galleries. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and even Sunday (I LOVE stores that are open on Sunday) from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Their phone number is 314-394-2222.

Next up (later this week or next week) I'll give you the 411 on Modern Vintage Decor. I also visited there on my trip but I'm going back this week to consign some items so I'll fill you in on both sides (buying and selling) of the shop in another post! In the meantime, get out there and shop! And tell them you heard about them from Debbie's Bargain Basement!

QUICK STOP

2012-03-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

I made a couple quick stops in resale shops this week and scored in a matter of minutes! First up, I stopped at The Shelter Shop in Belleville at the corner of West Main and the North Belt West. There I found two men's vintage Pendleton wool shirts, for just $2.50 each. I bought them with making pillows for the bed at the cabin in mind. But the red one is my size and pretty cute so I may keep it for wearing hiking at the cabin and make the other into a pillow. Well, I won't actually make it into a pillow, oh no, I don't sew. But I know people who do, so I'll barter, beg or buy their services.

I also stopped at Variety on a budget on Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights and scored two jackets. I don't usually buy secondhand clothes (except for projects such as the pillows) but every once in awhile something catches my eye while I'm looking at other things. I'm hard to please when it comes to clothes as far as their condition and fit and I'm really pretty good at finding clothes cheap firsthand. But I made an exception this day. I found a yellow jacket that had a vintage look to it and I just loved the sunny color.

Plus I've bought a few new navy shirts for spring and it will look so nice over them. Then I found a coral jacket, a favorite color of mine and I love wearing the color with my turquoise jewelry. The jackets happened to be on sale for a $1 off that day so I paid $2 for one and $3 for the other, what a splurge!

Can't wait to see what's in store (haha, get it) this weekend! Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

"GREEN"ER PASTURES

2012-03-07T17:16:00.000-06:00

The Green Goose Resale and Consignment

Go Green! I'm talking The Green Goose Resale and Consignment and The Green Shag Market, two shops I visited last week. And I mean it, GO visit them both! The Green Goose, located at 5611 Hampton in St. Louis is open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I spotted some wonderful finds there: A wonderful dropleaf table, a sweet antique sideboard, whimsical art and beautiful sparkling glass. Robin, the owner and her crew of employees (family and friends) were so friendly and as helpful as you wanted. They let you browse at your leisure without interruption but were there to answer your questions and visit if you wanted. I enjoy visiting with shop owners, in part I suppose, because I admire their ambition and hard work to make a dream come true. For more info on the shop find them on facebook or at www.GreenGooseResale.com.

Wild, wonderful, whimsical ART!

I LOVE blue glass!

Another love - drop leaf tables!

Entrance of The Green Shag Market

A short 4 miles or so away is The Green Shag Market Reclaim and Exchange at 5733 Manchester between Macklind and Hampton. They are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are made up of a variety of booths and also except consignment items. You'll find a little bit of everything from antiques to vintage items, some repurposed, which I am all about. I like to buy things that have a story and can be used one way and then when you're tired of that you can repurpose and use it in another way. This kind of shop is great for shopping for "things" and for ideas on how to use "things", whether you buy them there or already have them at home but just hadn't had that idea yourself. The coke cooler for instance, yes, of course you can fill it with ice and put bottles of beer, wine and soda in it for a party but how about putting some sort of top on it (wood, marble, glass?) and using it as a bar or table, or how about storing toys or blankets in it, or using it as part of a potting table/shed and that's just off the top of my head! Oh, my mind wandered off and rambled on, now back to The Green Shag Market, you'll also find them on Facebook and on the web at www.TheGreenShagMarket.com.

Look at that beauteous wood - GORGEOUS!

FUN, FUN, FUN!! The things I could do with this!

Yes, another drop leaf table. I told you I love these!

Too cool for school. Old light fixture made into a floor lamp! Ridiculously novel!

Another love? Yes, anything turquoise and pottery!!

I suggest you "like" these shops on facebook. Then you'll see them post new arrivals and you can easily communicate with them if you are keeping an eye out for something in particular. And of course, they'll tell you when they're having a sale, but then, I'll do that too, if you "like" my facebook page or follow my blog (another shameless plug)! So go GREEN and let your mind wander! See what you come up with and let me know!

FREAKIN' (GREAT SHOPPING) FRIDAY

2012-03-05T17:13:00.000-06:00

Explore St. Louis! Resale shops, consignment shops, thrift shops and antique shops . . . My friend Kathy and I did just that on Friday! Like Dr. Seuss says, "Oh, the places you'll go"! We found some killer destinations! Today I'm going to fill you in on our shopping itinerary that day and what I found. In the near future I'll post photos of the shops and information on each of the ones we visited.

We started the morning off at Green Goose Resale and Consignment. The shop is located at 5611 Hampton Avenue. They can be reached at 314-352-5000 or by emailing them at Robin@GreenGooseResale.com. You'll also find them at www.GreenGooseResale.com and on Facebook. They had a great selection of items from smalls to furniture. We fell in love with the vintage menus they had from a variety of restaurants throughout the United States.

We rifled through them, hoping to find one from a place we had visited. I got lucky, and found one from Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood near Portland, Oregon. It's from 1965, back when you could get filet mignon for $5!

We've visited there and ate lunch so I grabbed that one. They were each $5, which I thought was a great price for a piece that I'm going to turn into artwork for a wall at our cabin. It fits right in with my rustic cabin theme. Its amazing how something so small and inexpensive can make my day, I knew we were off to a GREAT start!

Next up was The Green Shag Market, Reclaim and Exchange. I love this concept. Its an antique mall but they are putting an emphasis on repurposing, reusing and reclaiming antique and vintage items. They are located at 5733 Manchester Avenue (between Macklind and Hampton). They can be reached at 314-646-8687 (I hope I've got that right, the writing is kind of tiny for these old eyes). Their website is www.TheGreenShagMarket.com and they're also on Facebook. I had to show a great amount of restraint here. So many things calling my name - but I picked one item that was a great buy and something I actually needed: A vintage silverware set for 8, silverplated, a sweet pattern by Wm. Rogers/International Silver. And just $30 for the entire set. Really, you can't pick up a "cheap" silverware set at any "MART" for that, can you?

As I was checking out we were told there was another shop just down the block, Quintessential Antique and Furniture Company. We visited that wonderful shop, plus the beautiful boutique The White Rabbit and Consign and Design Galleries (both on Manchester), a shop just busting at the seams with fabulous finds! But, I'll write more about them in upcoming blog posts, I don't want to be too long winded here. After those three amazing shops, we found two more, on Gravois near Sappington. At Modern Vintage Decor I found a piece of creamware McCoy pottery. I collect creamware and while I really didn't NEED another piece (I have over 50 pieces), I WANTED this piece. My collection includes both marked and unmarked pieces but I really like McCoy pottery and it is usually more expensive, but this one was just $12.99, so that was in my budget.

There was lots of eye candy here, a really cool old projector, lots of vintage cameras, fun furniture and more. The shop is located at 11433 Gravois Road. They can be reached at 314-842-5555 or email modernvintagedecor@gmail.com. You'll find them on the web at www.modernvintagedecor.com and on facebook.

Next door to Modern Vintage is the Exchange, a consignment resale furniture store that carries a great selection of jewelry too. They can be reached at 314-842-7300 or email theexchange.shop@yahoo.com. Their website is http://theexchangestl.com/ and you'll also find them on facebook.

I hope I've got you drooling, now go explore St. Louis resale yourself!

PICK OF THE LITTER

2012-03-01T03:30:00.000-06:00

Our dog, Lucie, checking out our finds.

I'm not talking choosing a puppy! We got back from the cabin yesterday and were summoned to a friend's house. They're getting ready to sell their house and the wife is "assisting" her husband in cleaning out his barn/shed. That "assisting" is inviting friends over to (please) take things from his shed. So, generous as I am, I obliged. From what I understand, otherwise, it was going in to the garbage or the burn pile.

We're hoping to remodel/renovate our cabin in the (here's the hopeful) NEAR future. I would like to do that renovation with recycled materials as much as possible. That's partly to appease the bargain shopper in me, partly to be "green" and partly for the creative challenge it presents. I have to say, I felt like a full fledged "picker" in there. And when my friend said the barn was stuffed, she wasn't kidding. I'd say we just made it through the FIRST layer.

Here's what I scored: 3 nice pieces of marble - 2 white, 1 rose. One of the white pieces and one rose piece are good sizes for shelves and I'll use one of them in the bathroom remodel as a shelf or a backsplash. The larger white piece of marble I hope to incorporate into an inlay for our kitchen counter top and it'll be my pastry center (am I big in to pastry? No but it sounds so cool!).

We grabbed some beautiful wood beadboard. I'd like to come up with enough beadboard to use it on the ceiling of the kitchen and as wainscotting in the bathroom, but we'll see. We claimed 4 enameled porcelain hoosier or table tops. I've not got a clear idea yet of how I'm going to use them but I do have thoughts: I might be able to incorporate them into my kitchen countertops, use one as a potting table in the shed, use one as a table or island top and maybe even use some of them as kitchen counter backsplash. We'll see where that goes.

My oh so patient husband, John

He's still smiling!!!

I also nabbed a small box full of decorative wood pieces. I'll find places for them - above doorways or mirrors or added to cabinetry in the kitchen.

Also ours, are some metal pipes that were legs to banquet tables but we (or should I say John) is going to transform them into a base for a bathroom sink set on another piece of marble we already had and 4 rusty metal grates that John took. I have no idea what his intent was but I'm thinking they could be made into a neat hanging pot rack.

Needless to say, we're going to be taking our friends out to dinner to thank them! And hopefully we'll be invited back to go through the second, third and fourth layer of stuff!

LEAPING FOR BUYS!

2012-02-29T19:56:00.000-06:00

So, my sister and I went out shopping this morning to see what kind of deals we could find on leap day. While we didn't find any once in four years kind of deals I did find some great buys on tops to start my spring wardrobe. Our first stop was Macy's and my first find was this great Style & Co. red anorak, perfect for spring. The original price was $79, with half off to $39.50 and then with a $10 off coupon, I paid just $29.50 for it!

Next this Charter Club navy print tunic caught my eye (I love blue), regular price was 21.99, marked down to $16.99 and then with an additional 20% off it came to $13.59.

Next up was this gorgeous Charter Club coral (trendy color for this spring) tunic top with wonderful gold embellishment around the v-neck. It was originally marked $44, marked down to $15.40 and then with an additional 20% off it cost me just $12.32.

I love ruffles and thankfully they're in style and so there's lots of ruffles to be found. I bought this INC (International Concepts) red top with elastic waist and 3/4 sleeve for a steal. Originally priced at $49.50, marked down to $17.32 with an additional 20% off it came to just $13.86.

Tunics and flowy sleeves are also a big trend that continues this spring. I love the flowy sleeves and print of this INC tunic. I can't see paying $59.50 for it but when its marked down to $20.82 and then an additional 20% off brings it to $16.66, well then I'm in!

I'm not usually big on horizontal stripes because, well, I think they usually make me look bigger. But this looked just so cute under the red anorak and with its cut and neckline I thought those would help to distract from my bigness. So I broke one of my own rules and bought it. It was regular priced at $46, then half off that took it to $23 and then an additional 20% off made it my most expensive top at $18.40 (a real splurge for me!).

From Macy's we moved on to the new JCP (JC Penneys if you're not in the know). I got the coral sweater, St. John's Bay, for $12, their new original price (supposedly 40% lower than retail) was $16. I have always loved this color and it looks so good with my turquoise jewelry. Also its versatile because it looks nice with khakis, black, navy, gray, just about anything.

Off of the clearance rack at JCP I found these St. John's Bay lightweight khakis for $5. They'll be great going into spring and are even light enough in weight to wear in the summer, and believe me, any more, I don't think my legs are anything anyone wants to see too much of! If you're not in the know about the new JCP, they clearance items on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. That means that they will offer items marked down for the first time and that those $5 pants may be just $2 or $3 on Friday, but I'm busy Friday and didn't want to take chances on them being gone in my size. What doesn't sell (at least in Misses and Petities) will eventually go down to $2 to $5 if they haven't sold at their higher price. Definitely worth checking out! I heard they clearanced their coats out at $20 a few weeks ago.

I should mention that the additional 20% I talked about at Macy's was from one of their coupons. I, personally, like coupons! But I'll take a bargain anyway I can get one!