I love a yard sale story with a happy ending.
Especially when there’s more to the story.
You know.
Like the one where the guy buys a painting and he takes it home and he takes it out to throw it away because he’s just going to use the frame and then he notices a small crack at the corner of the artwork and he peels it back and reveals a masterpiece painted by someone in the 16th century? Or the show where the lady buys an old box of buttons and she’s sorting through and finds a diamond engagement ring? Or the one where the yard sale shopper buys a poster from the 1970’s and they take it home and hang it up on the wall and it falls down and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence falls out from behind it.
Yep.
Those stories.
This story I’m about to tell is just like that.
Except maybe even better.
I’ve been on the lookout for a pine dresser for the upstairs bedroom makeover I’m in the middle of.
I wanted it a little unfinished. A dresser that was a little rough around the edges with curvy legs and a worn patina and original knobs and I wanted to pay almost nothing for it.
Well, my friends.
This is yard sale season in Texas.
Ask and ye shall find.
This Saturday morning bright and early after the royal wedding was finished, I was driving down the street when I saw this.
This pine dresser waving at me from a yard sale by the side of the road.
I walked up to the sale and asked how much the dresser was.
Twenty five dollars.
Ummmm.
Yes, please.
Especially since I had been looking at dressers that were way more expensive than that and not even as cute.
I paid 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?
THERE WAS THIS.
Can you even?
It’s a copy of the original 1896 plats of my street where I live.
SERIOUSLY?
What are the chances that I would buy a dresser at a yard sale with a plat in the drawer that was MY STREET FROM THE 1800’s?
It’s called Waddill’s Addition.
I live on Waddill Street.
It was drawn in December 1896.
It shows all the plats marked off and even shows some of the people’s names who had bought the plats.
The entire road is there north to south.
Drawn painstakingly by hand. Back before shopping malls and fast food restaurants and drive-through sweet teas and the internet and Targets that are five miles away.
Someone had made a copy of it and tucked it away in the drawer for me to find.
All those years.
All that time.
All that waiting.
And now?
That plat?
It’s finally coming home.
PS I could NOT make up my life if I tried.
PPS Don’t worry. I’m not painting it.
PPPS So many of you asked to see the finished artwork after I wrote the how to’s on this post.
I changed my mind about the barn doors and went a little brighter with the flowers.
And here it is.
To Reader’s Digest it. I took a photo of the flowers, uploaded it to Waterlogue, downloaded it to my computer and wrote the post and sent it off to Canvas Pop.
(total disclosure: Canvas Pop contacted me after the post and offered to send me the canvas for a review).
Truth?
I LOVE IT.
It’s my own photo, but SO MUCH CUTER.
My very own piece of art that I created hanging right by my front door.
I can’t wait for it to meet my new plat. 🙂
I bet you're going to find a unique way to display that neighborhood blueprint! Love finding old things in an attic or yard sale! You really honor the person whose item was left behind for your family to enjoy! I'd get a glam frame and frame the heirloom! And the bureau, what a find, too!
What a sweet surprise...unexpected and usable!
There are times when that gentle tap on the shoulder reveals who is the real messenger....we know who turned your head at the right moment to see that dresser 'waving' at you. May blessings continue to abound this yard sale season!!! :) And, isn't Waterlogue the BEST??? Now I'll add Canvas Pop to that favorites list! Happy day to you, my Rockstar friend!!!
It was just waiting for you dear heart. What a find.
Oh. My. God. I got tears in my eyes when I read this. What an amazing find!
Wow! That dresser and plat was meant to be found by YOU!
That is so totally cool and amazing! God does the coolest things!!
Ummm...and it's the blue in your living room. I mean COME ON!!
Oh my gosh!! That is so exciting!! I love finding things like this... a bit of history in unexpected places 😀 My daughter and I have been renovating a 133 yr old home for the last 9 mos and I did some digging on its history. Finding a photo of the man who built the house on ancestry.com was such a thrill for me along with finding some details about his children who grew up in the house. Bringing this old beauty back to life has been such an adventure! I love reading your blog ❤️ (And my kids gave me your book for Christmas and I devoured it!) I look forward to reading each time I see your post 😀
What LUCK!!! Guess it was meant for you to have it... You'll do it justice I'm sure. I can see it in an old frame and hanging in a a prominent place in your house. You have such luck at at yard sales!! We don't have good sales here in the St. Louis area. I'm envouis of your shopping opportunities :) You go girl!
Maybe confirmation that you made the right move?
Divine providence! Just sayin’.
The thrill of the hunt! It's what drives me to drag myself out on Saturday mornings! Your find is amazing-just like you!
Oh.my.word. That is yard sale Heaven!!! My dream come true!!! It almost came true. Once. I found a drop leaf wooden tea cart at a yard sale that had been on my list of treasures for a long time. I was able to talk the lady down to $25 (a steal since they’re usually around $100!) I was almost giddy with excitement, and as I was loading it into my car, I heard a rattling in the drawer. Could it be that all my yard sale dreams had come true??? Well, she saw me open the drawer and ran over and proceeded to empty it before I could squeal away. There were tiny antique trinkets and old coins and who know what else because she whisked it away from me before I could see it all. But she did let me keep a little pineapple encrusted matchbox case. So I guess I can’t complain too much.
Some things are just meant to be and this was one of them. I hope you frame it and hang it in the house.
I Can't Even........................... My mouth is hanging open.............. don't try to explain it... JUST ROLL WITH IT??? lolololol !!!! Chest is amazing .. canvas is amazing ... so r you !!
Love me a good yard sale treasure!! Are you working on the guest bedroom? Can't wait for the reveal!! P.S. I wish I had a bigger car to haul yard sale furniture in. My husband loves that my car is to small to bring to many large treasures (junk) home. haha
Oh my word, you really do lead a charmed life. I am thrilled for you with such a great find, both the dresser and the plat.
That story, that story, that story...one for the books, or one of your books!! [wink] xoxoxo
That is just the Coolest thing ever!! I don't usually share my Blog obsession with my sweet husband But this one I did! He was impressed to.. Go figure.
Love the dresser!!!! And the artwork!!! I just went back to your post about how you created the canvas- not sure how I missed that post- although I was away on a dream vacation with my cousin to Ireland to meet family!!! :) I took some photos of an old abbey from the 1100's where my mom used to play when she was little-that I am definitely going to turn into artwork!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the information!!!
Well, this be a little opposite story. Twenty-five years ago I purchased a little organ which was carried in covered wagons. The William Henry Harrison home in Vincennes, Indiana was having a sale and getting rid of some things. I so loved this little organ and used it in my living room since then. We are downsizing and decided to let it go. A wonderful lady who loves vintage and old things purchased it. Well, she gets to examining this sweet little organ and finds someones name with the date of 1825. Would I have kept it if I had seen this date? Probably not, but I so wish I had seen this. She is over the moon with her purchase and I am so glad she is the new owner!!
That plat was most definitely waiting for you. For it knew that only you would know how to honor and cherish it. It hid quietly in a dresser. A dresser that the plat knew you were searching for. The plat knows and thanks you. :)
That is even better! I love this story. God works in mysterious ways and perhaps he was just reaffirming to you that you made the best and right choice.
No you really couldn't make it up, I mean what are the chances...simply meant to be, well done...love the picture too, beautiful..x
I was a garage sale once and happened to pick up a plat map of proposed electricity and it was for my grandfather and his entire family. I was about 200 miles from were my grandfather had lived. Paid .10, had all there names in German. The lady had no idea where it came from. Dated late 1800's, best find ever.
And it’s blue. Or so it looks blue on my screen. I am sure you will find a place for this special piece.
I was so excited for you!!! What a fantastic find, and that dresser, pretty cute too!
A couple of years ago I was looking for a smallish dresser to fit in an alcove at the top of our stairs - I found one in an antique shop - I did pay more for it than $25, but it was a perfect fit . When we got it home, inside one of the drawers was a handwritten note from the 1800's by the father that made the dresser for his daughter's wedding gift. How awesome. It made this piece even more beautiful.
Followed you for years Karianne and have never commented once (wanted to many times!). Today's the day. Great story. Happy you were the recipient of that, it's in good hands. Have to say though I thought you had a wee typo there, as "plat" is not a term we use in Canada. I thought-- plan? Plot?! But looking it up I realized I had jumped to conclusions. In the same vein, my daughter's lovely MIL-to-be was at our home for a champagne breakfast for that little Royal Wedding thing 😉 (wasn't it amazing?) and upon returning from the WC said, "I had the exact same mirror as you!" (We have a wall in our hall full of vintage and "crafted" mirrors). Long story short, she had taken her English grandmother's mirror to a charity thrift shop not long ago as glueing it had not worked out well--and my husband and me bought it and then fixed it (after a fashion, WE had to paint part of it.) She was thrilled and it just served to entwine our two families further. All the very best on our Victoria Day to the only blogger I follow.
what a sweet story!
Karianne it could only happened to you! Your amazing life!
There is no such thing as a coincidence. God's hand is on you. Enjoy!
Amen! Coincidence, is when God chooses to remain anonymous!
Wow! Such a great find! That dresser was meant for you!!! :-)
Definitely a God moment. It was meant for you, someone it would mean something too and who would cherish for many years to come.
Score! Your new platt would look fabulous framed in your new blue living room! It was meant to be!
Karianne~ Don't you just love the "God hugs" in life? Think about it. Finding THAT dresser at THAT yard sale, at THAT exact moment I am sure our sweet Heavenly Father was watching it all and smiling really big Love it! ((Hugs)) Deb :-).
You are blessed.
I can hardly believe it. AMAZING.
And it's BLUE!! Are you going to incorporate it into your fancy new blue living room?
Serendipity? No...freaking amazing!! Could someone ha e possibly thought it was just some sort of reproduction drawer liner? Gulp! You always make me wish I wasn't so lazy and would just go out and score some of the treasures you do!!! Jane x
Nope... only the Lord could write your life! I was just telling that to my daughter the other day!
Lovely story! Thanks for sharing your amazing find!!! The flip side story: my mother had a garage sale while my sister and I were away at summer camp. Sold an old mirror not realizing my sister had hidden her silver dollars in the back brown paper lining. Who knows if the new owner found them or not! :-)
I have sold yard sale items always thinking, "Is that an heirloom or priceless antique that I am getting a quarter for?" Lol I do sometimes wonder if my purchase has a priceless masterpiece underneath that photo or picture in the frame, but alas, nothing to date! We all keep hunting, but you, you have made us hope!!!
That is totally awesome! What a cool find. And a cute dresser to boot. My BIL used to live in McKinney.
Oh, my goodness!!! That plat is the BEST yard sale find ever!! My heart leapt and I may have squealed and sighed just a bit when I got to the photo!! Can’t wait to see where it will live in your home!!
KariAnne, that Yard Sale was just waiting for you to arrive! That pine dresser is so cute -- and then to open the drawer and find that plat! This is just so amazing! I, too, believe this was a God send especially for you! I know that plat will find a very special place in your home -- maybe framed in an antique frame in your office where you are enjoying your Dad's lovely desk! Whatever you do with it will be absolutely amazing -- just like the special gal that you are! Bless you, KariAnne! So happy for you and your great finds!
That plat is serendipity. It's good kharma coming back to a very awesome loving lady. I think this is the best thing I have heard in a very very VERY long time. Congrats, KA - that is a truly miraculous find. NO ONE ELSE could appreciate it more than you. Going to frame it?
How fortunate that this dresser and its contents fell into your hands...a magical story!
What a treasure you are!!! WOW!
Karianne, Not to be all strange and stuff, but sometimes, things are just meant to be. It seems you're on a very special journey. Enjoy the ride! Thank you for sharing!
JACKPOT!!!! Love your great fortune. Really nice piece. Glad you’re not painting this perfect piece. Enjoy!
I love that pine dresser. When my daughter was starting her first home we were always seeking old pine or pale oak dressers. She still uses them in her condo living room to carry the tv on top etc. and linens, candles etc. in the drawers. Three lined up---two that match. Smashing!!!
It came out just beautiful! I truly know now you are connected to the big guy in the sky! What a fortunate thing to find! Of all the things fantastic!!!
A God-Wink for sure.
It's a God thing!
Did you contact the owners of the chest? Perhaps they would love to have it returned for their family.
That, my dear, is a godwink!! 😇
Karie, Love this. Aren't garage sales wonderful? Also, All of a sudden, I'm not getting any new posts. I signed up again for the newsletter but I don't' think that;s the same as following your blog. I've checked my spam folder but there's nothing. What should I do?
That's just plain amazing!
fun story... please show us how you end up displaying it!
Hey KariAnne, I just came back to your blog and some of the shots looked familiar...then I read this and realized you live in my city! My husband and I love to ride our bikes down your street...so now when you see a couple slowly peddling down looking at houses....it might be us...we aren't stalkers or anything, just lovers of homes with character. Not sure how long you've been here, but welcome! Suzi