Recent studies show that 36 percent of Americans re-purpose. From broken furniture and old tablecloths to discarded windows and rusted wheelbarrows, it would appear that to those with a vivid imagination, “nothing” is without a second (or third) purpose.
Take a walk through any of the area’s lawn and garden shops and you will be shocked at the cost of a flower pot. I absolutely cannot go into warm weather without my porch and patio covered with annuals . . . but $30-$50 for flower pots? I wouldn’t have any cash left to buy the flowers! Old crates, trash cans, galvanized tubs, iron cauldrons and kettles . . . the possibilities are endless. Ever come upon a beautiful jardiniere at a yard sale and get a sudden buzz from the $3 price tag, only to find out it had been dropped and someone glued it back together? It may not sell on eBay, but placed “good side out” it will enhance your porch or flowerbed and no one will ever know the difference.
Industrial carts, wire baskets, work benches and shelving are selling at astronomical prices at the designer shops and auctions. My advice? Head to the country! I have found the mentality in rural areas to be “junk is still junk.” This theory may not hold for much longer, but on a recent jaunt through the countryside, I found two roll-around carts and a stack or wire baskets for $20 for the group. By contrast, I watched the same pieces sell at an area auction last month for over $300!
Vintage fabric sites abound online, but why go for a knock-off, at $15-$30 per yard, when you can have the real thing? Fabric for throws, pillows, curtains, and even reupholstering is an easy find for pennies on the dollar at outdoor markets and sales. Think outside the box on this one. While some unused yardage does surface, don’t overlook the re-purposing possibilities of tablecloths, drapes, and bed covers that can easily be found in the $1-$5 range. And grab those stacks of napkins! Two large size dinner napkins make a wonderful slip cover for your worn pillows!
I seldom visit a yard sale without finding a pile of old chippy plates and cups. While junk to many of us, they are a beauty to behold to the crafters who use broken china to create mosaic table tops, stepping stones and bird baths. Junk jewelry is another great craft find and you can buy it by the bag full at yard sales! Not a crafter? Check out what miscellaneous jewelry groups are selling for online and think again. Careful buying and resale can finance your garage sale outings for the rest of the spring.
Furniture is my passion. Give me a three-legged table and a bench with ratty fabric and I am one happy gal! Fine furniture has become rather pricey at flea markets and yard sales so I go for the not-so-desirable pieces. Last week I pulled a short chest that was missing one drawer, out of the garage and had a go at it. When I finished I had six nice antique drawer pulls, three drawers ready to mount on the wall to use as shelving and when I replaced the drawer slots with baskets, the broken chest was transformed into a cute little storage cubbie! My initial investment of $15 resulted in slightly over $200 in resale items.
It’s good for the environment, good for your budget and just plain good fun. So what are you waiting for? Springtime is the time to re-purpose. Until next time . . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com