Have you ever seen someone so happy in their entire life?
I can’t help it.
I live in the best yard sale shopping town I’ve ever met and those yard sale signs are everywhere right now.
My two favorite times of the year? When Santa comes down the chimney and multi-family neon-colored yard sale signs show up on the street corner. And along the way I have found the BEST stuff. Amazing things. One-of-a-kind things. Things that I can’t even believe someone would put out on their curb for $21.45.
Truly.
So today I thought it might be fun to go all Casey Kasem and rank them in order.
You know.
Starting with number 10 (which I love) all the way to number one (which I still can’t even believe).
And just like Flock of Seagull bangs?
Yard sale finds never disappoint.
Here’s what I found (and even better) what I did with them.
Let’s GO.
10. 40 pane window
Technically, I didn’t find this at a yard sale. I found it in the trash.
But I’m counting it because in Kentucky? Sometimes the trash is waaaaay better than a yard sale.
This was a broken and torn up forty pane window.
The story of how it came home with me made my very first book.
It was cleaned up and brushed off and then turned into this project that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens.
From the side of the road to newstands everywhere. It’s the luckiest broken window ever.
9. This seed packet dispenser
I found this under a stack of Tupperware at a yard sale.
The metal edge was sticking out and I didn’t know what it was.
But I knew it was perfect no matter what it was.
I brought it home and used it to organize my gift wrap tags.
Read its story and more gift wrap organizing tips here.
8. This flower basket
Sometimes when you go shopping you don’t find anything.
Truth? Sometimes it’s lame.
Sometimes all those hand-lettered poster board signs lead to nowhere.
Shhhh.
Don’t focus on that.
But sometimes on a Saturday when the sun is shining and you discover a treasure trove of giant $1 baskets and stacks of vintage books and the cutest herb planters and something so amazing and incredible that it makes you want to pull out dance moves from a Go-go’s song.
And then you find a flower basket and turn it into this.
7. This flower farm sign
I can’t even remember where I got this, it’s been so long.
I found it all those years ago in Kentucky (which has AMAZING yard sales) and I’ve never seen a sign like it since.
Some long-ago flower farm made a sign for strawberry and flower pickers and I’m so thankful that they did.
Now it hangs on the wall near the entrance to the laundry room.
6. This vintage dresser
This is a beautiful dresser.
But that’s not why it made the top 10 list.
It’s not how it looks now, but where it started and more importantly? What I found inside the drawers when I bought it.
Which just proves that behind every yard sale find is a really good story.
5. This vintage crate
This yard sale crate made the top 10 list for two reasons.
I’ve never found a coffee crate this size ever again.
But more importantly?
I love what we turned it into all those years ago.
You can see the entire coffee crate project here.
4. this farmhouse table
This vintage table made the yard sale all-time best list because of the story behind it.
I’ve told this story to more people than I can count.
It still makes me laugh when I think about it.
Here’s the tale of the perfect negotiation.
3. this yard sale hutch
This used to be my favorite yard sale find of all time.
Yep.
Number one.
But that was five years ago, and like all good top ten songs, it got replaced.
Here’s the story behind the hutch and all the colors it’s been painted.
2. This yard sale find
Sometimes when I go yard sale shopping, something shows up that I never expected. If I had made a zillion lists on a zillion pieces of paper, I would never have written this item down.
Something so wonderful and amazing that it makes me toss all those lists out the window.
Something like this.
Can you guess what it is?
If you guessed this—you’d be right.
1. What I discovered inside this dresser
This dresser looks like number one.
It could be.
It’s an amazing pine dresser I found at a yard sale for only $25. When I found it, I was so excited and I handed over my money and we were about to load it into the car when I opened the top drawer.
Wait a minute.
That sounded a little lame.
It wasn’t dramatic enough.
Let me recreate it for you.
Here’s the drawer.
Picture me slowly opening it to lift it into the car.
And then?
Inside?
THE NUMBER ONE FAVORITE YARD SALE FIND OF ALL TIME HERE.
Proving once and for all.
There’s no find like a yard sale find.
Happy shopping. 🙂
How did the street blue print end up displayed? Please close the loop.
Hi Karianne, I have a question about mattresses. Have you ever done a blog on your favorite mattress? I would love to know your thoughts if there is one you like best. Thanks, sara
This was almost like talking to a friend after a day at yard, sales hunting treasures. I love old stuff and the stories behind them. If there isn't one I just imagine it.Thank you for the trip and I like the dresser the best.
That balloon mold is still my favorite!
Yard sales are how I furnished my home. Interesting items and all. Limited income made it a must!!!
So many wonderful finds, but my favorite is the surprise finding of the plat of your neighborhood. I use to live in Fairview and McKinney and had 4 booths at the Antique Company Mall in downtown McKinney, so I'm familiar with the beautiful, historical homes on Waddill Street. Love, love that area. Plus, my maiden name is Wood. Maybe your hubbie is a distant cousin. 😊
I am all about trash windows, I have such a huge pile for projects. So many fun finds :) Thank you for sharing <3
So many terrific finds, so many fun projects, and so many wonderful stories. And they all are such a terrific find in your house, so much fun in your days and a wonderful story in your life story. Thank you for sharing and taking us down memory lane. BTW I too am a happy person almost all the time.
What a great way to start my week! Knowing someone else who is a yard sale junkie ... You always amaze me!! Have a wonderful week and enjoy the search. 😉⚘
You have some great finds, I love to go and explore all the yard sales.
Some of my fav stories ever. But yeup - #1 most definitely is first place for an amazing reason. Best. Story. EVER. It is kismet cosmic karma serendipity to the nth degree, KA!! .
KariAnne, I absolutely loved your post today! Thanks for taking us down your "memory lane garage/yard sales" and, once again, showing us all your fabulous antique finds along with their story! Have a great week! I love garage/yard sales too -- and especially when I find an antique!
KariAnne!! I love you!! I love your way with words! I love your sense of humor! I love your creativity! I love that you truly believe anyone can copy your projects (some might, most like me can't😆)! I love that you make me smile! You make me laugh out loud! I love reading your posts! I wish you were my next door neighbor! Thanks for bringing this gal "the happies"!!
That really IS the number ONE yard sale find of ALL time!! xoxo
What a wonderful find inside that drawer. Wow. I also want to know how you have displayed it. Also, you look adorable in that dress.