Remember when I was late?

Remember when I was speaking at the Pinner’s Conference and I ran in late with my hair flying and my sandals flopping and my red lipstick blurry?

Remember when I told you I was running out of time to talk about 25 DIY projects to get your home ready for the holidays?

All that lateness.

All that running.

All that apologizing and hand waving and rushing and general awkwardness.

All because of a yard sale.

Was it worth it?

I’ll let you determine that.

Because when I stopped for a minute (just a minute) at the yard sale that made me late….

….I found this….

This incredible, amazing, one-of-a-kind, vintage basket.

Can you see that patina?

I didn’t paint it.

I didn’t have to do anything to it.

IT CAME JUST LIKE THAT.

I took it and placed it in front of the fireplace mantel that used to be in my bedroom.

It was the easiest fall decorating on the planet.

All I had to do was add pumpkins.

I feel like at one time it might have been on the Mayflower.

As in pilgrims.

And the Nina and the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

Someone there filled it with corn husks and brought it to the Thanksgiving table.

And somehow, someway it made it from there to a yard sale down the street from me.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.

Like an old friend just waiting to come over for apple cider and vintage country music.

It’s about 24 inches tall and the color is somewhere between oatmeal and bisque.

All it needed were a few cream pumpkins.

And a fireplace.

I finished out the decorating with a few vintage books.

And another white pumpkin.

And some wheat wrapped with raffia.

So was it worth it?

Was it worth the flying hair and the flopping sandals and the lipstick in dire need of reapplication?

At the risk of stating the obvious.

Ummm….yes.

Yes friends.

Yes it was.

PS  Please make me feel better and tell me you would have been late, too.

PPS  Just between us, I know this basket didn’t come over on the Mayflower.  I know someone probably just used it for apples.

But the basket and I can dream. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Image for Lynn Lynn

    It is a tomato hamper. Used for field tomatoes when humans used to pick them. Wish I had held on to mine! Great find.

    1. Image for MO MO

      Humans still pick tomatoes! They are now placed in cardboard boxes in the fields instead of these fabulous baskets. I so remember the day when we would never have had one of these baskets in our homes. LOL! Love how this one looks by the fireplace.

    2. Image for Shelly Shelly

      Here in Indiana, these are called splint baskets and that size/type is for picking peaches. We call them peach baskets. The shape and size indicates its use. The more round version around here is called a bushel basket because it holds a bushel of produce, usually apples. I think I will paint one of mine white! So cute!

  2. Image for Lind Lind

    Let those among us who have never been late cast the first, flying-off-the feet, house slipper. Reminds me of the bumper sticker, “I brake for yard sales.”

  3. Image for Brenda Brenda

    I have a basket just like this (not painted). I also bought mine at a yard sale for a....$1.00! Mine holds pinecones...lots and lots of pinecones! All year long. Sometimes you just can't deny the call of the yard sale! ;)

  4. Image for Terri Terri

    ok... so now that we know.... "The rest of the story...YES... I absolutely would have stopped .... Love that gorgeous find !!!! Perfect

  5. Image for Rachel Rachel

    I am often a TINY bit late because I stopped at a a thrift shop or yard sale that was on the way. But that is my secret....no need to explain.

  6. Image for Michelle Michelle

    Thx for the inspiration. I have a bushel basket I keep tossing aside because I don't like the color of it. Why haven't I painted it before? I paint everything I get my hands on!! I'm going to go find my white pumpkins today and paint my basket! Thx for the simple, yet wonderful idea! I can see why you were so anxious to bring your treasure home!

  7. Image for Jan Jan

    Just imagine what you will be able to do with this basket down the road-WOW! It could hold pine cones for winter/Christmas or evergreen boughs, what a great find, I'd love to have one and yes it was totally worth being late.

  8. Image for susan 0sborne susan 0sborne

    Don't you love those moments? When you spot the absolutely "perfect" item in an unexpected, often unplanned place? Like the day, in a break from college, I stopped at a yard sale at a farm, and ended up with a Corvair Convertible in mint condition, for $20!! Yes, am interesting story behind that one, lol. You still made it to the conference, and maybe if you had been on time or early, you might have had time to develop a case of nerves?

  9. Image for Tracy Tracy

    Now tell us you paid .25¢ for it so I can weep excessively into my coffee Ü I loooove a good find at a garage sale. Those memories are just passing the decorating baton, aren't they ♥ Love your mantle. It looks great!

  10. Image for Carol Carol

    Love your fabulous find and it was so worth being a tad late, my friend! I also love this sign. I first saw it on IG a while back and took a photo of it because I loved the phrase. It’s going to end up in our house one way or another!

  11. Image for Laura Harrie Laura Harrie

    KariAnne, you get all the great finds! You certainly have built radar when it comes to locating these wonderful yardsale items! Keep on stopping we are all anxiously awaiting your next great find!

  12. Image for Dianne Miley Dianne Miley

    You are TOO CUTE! Love it. 😊 Saw your interview with Andrew at Jeffrey Court. Great job, great insight! Enjoy your day, friend! 💕

  13. Image for Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown

    Oh I love this and that basket!! You know I am basket lady of Webster County! Usually fill w books but not that one!! Great job like always.

  14. Image for Deedra Deedra

    Yes!! I'm sure I saw that on the Mayflower on the way over!!! But I have to say, it looks better by your fireplace. And I would have been late too!😄

  15. Image for Jennifer Jennifer

    I love your white basket! My neighbor put two unpainted ones out to the curb... .Can you imagine?, I couldn’t get them in my truck fast enough! 😂

  16. Image for Lisa Conforto Lisa Conforto

    Don't Blame you at all...…….what a nice find I don't care where I have to be I will stop for yard sales if I see them , its that excited feeling that only scanning sales brings out in us Love the basket!

  17. Image for Kathleen Kathleen

    I “brake for yard sales” and ... for side of the road goodies! In fact, I’m so dedicated a “shopper” that I once nearly caused a wreck. Fortunately the driver behind me anticipated my quick stop (without warning of course) to grab someone’s discarded goodies, and he braked, too, rather than plowing into me! So yes, I’d have been late ~ this treasure hunting is a world in and of itself ~ most anything can wait! And that great basket is just the kind of find we all hope awaits us at every turn! Love it!

  18. Image for Colleen Colleen

    You have such an eye for things! I can’t think on the fly like that and likely would’ve just walked past it because it wouldn’t occur to me what I could use it for. It looks great. Could you come to my house and help me with colour schemes ?

  19. Image for Sandi Sandi

    Yes! I definitely would have turned around! Actually I have an unpainted one in my shed that I think I'll try and duplicate the Mayflower paint job! Cheers!

  20. Image for Dee Turk Dee Turk

    It would have been impossible to leave it, and your are absolutely worth waiting for, plus what a great entrance, and a fun story to tell when you got there!😄

  21. Image for Ann C Ann C

    So cute and so multi functional throughout the seasons! And you can tip it over and put a tray on it if you need a little place to put your hot cider! Did you get any other great finds? Hard to imagine you only finding one basket!

  22. Image for Cynde Cynde

    Totally Worth It!!!!!!!!! Such a great find!!!!! I'm always running late for some reason or another, but the basket is definetly a good reason!!!

  23. Image for Diane Diane

    I have bought 4 copies of your new book to give to friends this weekend. I have been glancing through them... love everything you write. I am sure they will too. I also think the basket was a true find And worthy of being late!

  24. Image for Rosanna Rosanna

    It was absolutely,positively,worth it!!! Feel free to dream with that beauty;and please,next time,if you find such an amazing item,snatch it up!!!!!!!!!Such finds don’t happen that often;and us folks with flapping flip flops,(or whatever,that I wouldn’t admit to have “flapping”),need to just screech to a halt...and....NAB IT!!!!!!!!😁⭐️❤️

  25. Image for Theresa Theresa

    Sometimes you just know immediately when you see IT! Great find 😊 I love it too. Enjoy each blessing as they come! 🌺

  26. Image for Kim @Serving Up Southern Kim @Serving Up Southern

    Karianne, I just love this treasure of yours! I would be willing to show up late just about anywhere for that find. I might be late, but I would have a big smile on my face! And how perfect that it's already perfectly white - no painting required. I've chosen you as one of my features this evening on Share Your Style. I hope we see you tonight.

  27. Image for Judy Howell Judy Howell

    Love the basket and was definitely worth being late for! But I also love the plaque over your mantle. Did you make it or buy it? If you bought it, would you please share where? If you made it, would you please give instructions?

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