562 replies to this topic

[Rachel Perlow]

Today I found these items all at the first sale I hit at around 9:30 this morning. I stopped there via road signs on my way to a couple of sales advertised in the paper. These were the best, and only, buys of the day (all polished up for your pleasure, they were quite tarnished):


WM A Rogers, silver plate chip & dip tray, about 12" diameter ($6)


FB Rogers Silver Co., plate, small tray, about 9" long ($2). It feels heavy for its size, I wonder if it's quadruple plated or sterling (doubt it)?


Some sort of mold, holds about 4 cups. Anybody know what this is for? There was no tarnish so I'm sure it's not copper or brass. But I picked it up for a dollar, so we're using it as a Jello mold tonight!

[bleudauvergne]

[Toliver]

   
Some sort of mold, holds about 4 cups. Anybody know what this is for? There was no tarnish so I'm sure it's not copper or brass. But I picked it up for a dollar, so we're using it as a Jello mold tonight!

Rachel,
My mom has the same one. She uses it as a Jello mold. She puts marischino (sp?) cherries in the round "bumps". Very '50's!

Lucy,
That picnic basket is a treasure. What a great find! I hope you got a good deal on it, too.

[Carolyn Tillie]

That is FABULOUS! Will I get to use it, when I move in?!?!?

[KatieLoeb]

Rachel:

Another excellent place to get nice silver for a song is to hit the thrift stores and hospital/Junior League/Etc. thrift shops in the higher rent districts. I go to a couple of thrift stores out on the Main Line west of Philly (home of mansions and setting for The Philadelphia Story) and have made out like a bandit on silver pieces, gorgeous vintage barware and even a couple of vintage watches! The key is to go where the rich folks put their stuff out to pasture in the name of "charity".

[Rachel Perlow]

Here's the Jello I made in that mold...



Top to bottom: Watermelon, Lemon/Lime with then without yogurt. I wouldn't use watermelon as the red layer in any future Jello mold, way too orange. It is sitting on a glass cake plate (in case you thought it was directy on my countertop!)

I like the idea of putting cherries in the bumps. Next time.

[Tydel]

Y'Irish Rachel?

[Rachel Perlow]

No, it was watermelon themed. Watermelon jello (which isn't red enough), creamy lime jello for the white rind, clear lime jello for the outer rind.

[enrevanche]

Biggest yard sale score for me: an ancient but fully-functional hand-crank pasta machine with a full complement of cutting attachments, $5. I like it especially because it's constructed of heavy-gauge steel; the newer ones seem to be much lighter in construction. I've pressed miles of fresh pasta with this thing.

[Sam Iam]

Today, Sara Moulton on FoodTV was talking about how she brakes for garage sales. She buys various molds.

She made Lemon Madelines with lemon vodka syrup, and Burnt Orange Panna Cotta in garage sale molds.

Sadly, no watermellon Jello.

[Taboni]

Brand new never used Weber smoker $20....Actually used once....by me 2 weeks ago....first brisket...mmmmmmmmmmm

[chezlamere]

A car boot sale is essentially a multi-family yard sale that's someplace else (like a nearby parking lot).  Per husband, "people don't sell stuff out of their yards - they take it to a car boot sale."  Apparently it can sometimes be stuff that's fallen off the back of a truck, but it's not a given.

The ones I've seen are mostly held in open fields. They are called car boot sales because the items are transported in - and sold from - the boot of one's car, i.e. what we in this country call the trunk.

we call that a flee market. Used to go to one years ago in an old drive-in theatre
another at a k-mart parking lot on sundays. It's like they swept up the garage or basement into a couple boxes at brought it all down to the flee market.
I heard they have a really good one in paris called La Pouce. Someday..........
When My daughter was in high school her best friend went on a Field Trip for Paris (of all places, can you believe it) and I begged and pleaded with her to go to La Pouce, but she spent her free time in a bar, apparently no age requirement. Thought it was a really dorky think to do, go to a Flee market, when there are all these bars to go to for heavens sake.

[chezlamere]

My favorite find came from a flea market...a big box of old Gourmet Magazines from the 40s and 50s for $5.00. My set is almost complete to the present, stored in library magazine holders in a tall book shelf custom made to hold them.
Or they would be, if I had my stuff out of storage.

Sigh.

My instructor from school gave me a huge box of gourmet and bon appetite from the 60 - 90's. Can;t seem to throw them out, but don't find them too relivant.

[bleudauvergne]

No, it was watermelon themed. Watermelon jello (which isn't red enough), creamy lime jello for the white rind, clear lime jello for the outer rind.

Rachel, that jello looks downright amazing. If you put something dark in the holes, they'd be the seeds. Like black cherries.

Edited by bleudauvergne, 30 April 2004 - 10:19 AM.

[Rachel Perlow]

I'm always surprised that people hold garage sales on Fridays. You'd think most of the customers would be at work. But I passed a sign and followed it, which let me to buying a never been used, new in box, Pampered Chef Stoneware Loaf Pan. I paid $5 which was probably too much, but it was early in the day and the sellers don't seem to want to haggle until they've been sitting outside in the sun for a few hours. Anyway it retails for ~$20, and it would make a nice shower present for someone if I don't get around to using it.

[herbacidal]

WM A Rogers, silver plate chip & dip tray, about 12" diameter ($6)

Wow, I'm pretty sure I used these when I was catering. I think it was the shrimp cocktail tray.

[Papaya]

Rachel, what kind of yoghurt did you mix with the lime Jello? Plain? Vanilla?

[Rachel Perlow]

Stoneyfield Key Lime. Usually I use plain or vanilla yogurt or sour cream, but matching the flavor works well too.

Today's finds include a Pampered Chef Pizza Lovers Gift Set ($49) for $5 as well as a heart shaped jello mold. Same people had that same bumpy mold I pictured above.

[binkyboots]

ooh... cookware finds, how I love them! some of my (recent) best, from carboots and charity shops...

kenwood stand mixer, 1970's brown/orange version, about $35
sunbeam mixmaster stand mixer (with mincer, juicer and a bunch of other stuff) $7
lots of brown bag cookie art/pampered chef cookie molds, including a lovely square shortbread mold with flowers/fruit around $4 each
a mixed bag of silver plated cutlery inc two sets of shell spoons and servers $4
a canteen of cutlery (various mismatched bits) $3
a really cool old spoon with embossed fruits on the bowl and twirly cake tester $.75
silver plated biscuit server with twirly handle $.40
3d mickie mouse cake tin, like the lamb cake tins (which I'm desperately searching for, anyone know a source in the uk?) lol, not sure about this, it may be a good thing or just more trouble than it's worth for a 3d mouse! $.90

I have a serious thing for old cutlery.... just love sitting polishing it, no, you're right, I don't get out a lot, lol

[oraklet]

most of my cooking gear is second hand. not so much from garages, though, as from flea markets, small thrift shops (is that correct english?), salvation army etc.

includes lots of cast iron (raw as well as enameled), copper, ss pots, knives, gadgets.

[Anna N]

There hasn't been any activity on this thread for more than a month. Does that mean everyone has stopped bargain hunting or that everyone has stopped bragging about their finds?

In the last few weeks, I claim bragging rights to the following:

(All prices in Cdn $)

1 KitchenAid 350 W Professional stand mixer in mint condition ($80)

1 FoodSaver 420 also in mint condition ($10) - gave this to my daughter as I already have one.

Set of 8 BBQ skewers in stainless steel with wondrous brass "knobs". They look to be of Indian origin as the designs in the brass show Indian themes. So much more interesting and elegant than the plain ones I owned. ($5)

Yogurt maker in its original packaging with instruction book - not the kind that makes a bunch of tiny jars of yogurt but one with a serious container that will hold at least a quart of yogurt. ($3)

Various Tupperware containers for 50c to $1.00 each.

I'll stop there, at least until next Saturday

[Rachel Perlow]

I haven't been GS shopping for the past few weeks, but I did pick up a box of FoodSaver bags for $1 (US) at a church rummage sale, run in conjunction with a Greek Food Festival.

[memesuze]

Yesterday I scored the following from several garage sales:

an Osterizer blender with a glass jar for $2

a wooden spoon and a wooden scraper for 50 cents each

two small bowls, two ceramic soup spoons, and a small platter decorated with the ubiquitous fish ala oriental groceries for $3

a 500 ml French-style jelly glass for 50 cents

[balmagowry]

There hasn't been any activity on this thread for more than a month. Does that mean everyone has stopped bargain hunting or that everyone has stopped bragging about their finds?

In the last few weeks, I claim bragging rights to the following:

(All prices in Cdn $)

1 KitchenAid 350 W Professional stand mixer in mint condition ($80)

1 FoodSaver 420 also in mint condition ($10) - gave this to my daughter as I already have one.

Set of 8 BBQ skewers in stainless steel with wondrous brass "knobs". They look to be of Indian origin as the designs in the brass show Indian themes. So much more interesting and elegant than the plain ones I owned. ($5)

Yogurt maker in its original packaging with instruction book - not the kind that makes a bunch of tiny jars of yogurt but one with a serious container that will hold at least a quart of yogurt. ($3)

Various Tupperware containers for 50c to $1.00 each.

I'll stop there, at least until next Saturday

Oh wow. Anna, can I come and garage-sale in YOUR neighborhood?

[tsquare]

I don't like garage sales.
Stopped at one yesterday - they had boxes of Ikea sets of wrapping paper/ribbon/bow/gift cards - $1.00 per set. I bought one (I think all the neighbors did - it would be hilarious to have Christmas on display this year.)
Also 4 clear champagne flutes - 40 cents a piece - and a large straight sided pressed glass bowl from France for $3.00. Perfect for fruit salad or tiramisu.

[Anna N]

Oh wow. Anna, can I come and garage-sale in YOUR neighborhood?

You'd be very welcome but I have to warn you - some weeks it's just a bust - nada, nada, nada.

[balmagowry]

It's like that everywhere, isn't it - especially after you've been going at it for a couple of years. Kind of frustrating to run across a great repeat "find" and realize there's no excuse for buying it because you already have two (one for use, another for parts) and have already given one to the only friend who would want it, all courtesy of previous sales. And yet the urge to buy it is still strong! (If it's Magnalite or something comparable I'll buy it anyway, secure in the certainty that SOMEDAY I'll want to give it to someone.)

Mysterious circumstance: Some years ago I went to a really promising garage sale (often you can tell by the house and locale) and sure enough found many marvelous things including a KitchenAid mixer - an old one, very solid - for 10 bucks. TEN? Yes, ten, because the cord was frayed and it didn't always work. At that price, I figured it was worth rewiring. And it was, even after we discovered that it was so intricately put together we actually couldn't rewire it ourselves (possibly the only thing I've EVER seen that I couldn't). Took it to a Little Man who did a fine job and ended up with the KA for a total of 50 bucks. Good deal, no? it had all its parts and original manual, from the 50s I think it was. My mother had always coveted a KitchenAid, so this made a great present for her. She was delighted, but her kitchen was set up in such a way that she really didn't have a spot where she could conveniently leave it set up and ready for use, so... you guessed it, I don't think she ever did use it.

After she died I thought, well, it's just sitting there, so I might as well take it back - no one in that house is going to have a use for it. I don't have the counter space either, but I'll manage somehow. Searched the house high and searched it low, sought sideways and upside-down, looked in places both probable and improbable - and nary a sign of that mixer did I ever see. Do KitchenAid mixers evanesce if they're not used frequently enough? Do they melt away because their owners are unworthy? Do they sacrifice themselves on their owners' funeral pyres? Perhaps I just imagined this one? Or perhaps its ghostly spirit is still hiding somewhere in the house?

We may never know.

[Marlene]

Oh wow. Anna, can I come and garage-sale in YOUR neighborhood?

You'd be very welcome but I have to warn you - some weeks it's just a bust - nada, nada, nada.

Garage sales in Glen Abbey on the other hand are usually full of stuff people bought, used once or never (usually high end stuff) and put out for sale A recent scan of garage sales in our neighbourhood revealed the following: (I did not buy any of it though):

4 qt all clad sauce pan still in box
Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer (apparently used twice)
2 Oscar de la Renta original evening gowns (size 10)
1 weber portable BBQ

[jess mebane]

Today, Sara Moulton on FoodTV was talking about how she brakes for garage sales. She buys various molds.

She made Lemon Madelines with lemon vodka syrup, and Burnt Orange Panna Cotta in garage sale molds.

Sadly, no watermellon Jello.

KatieLoeb, I believe someone's taken your Limoncello receipt and found yet another astounding practical application.

Me, I get magnalite. The pittier the better--kidding. My fave find is this glass cheese keeper, with an instructional lid and raised feet on the insided, the whole being a depth of four dessert plates. It was in mom's garage and came with a sewing machine...

[foodgeek]

A couple of weeks ago i found a nice sake set (in the original box, and made in japan) with (i think) a persimmon design at a yard sale in Arlington for $3. I don't even want to know how much it would be in stores.

We went to an indoor yard sale yesterday, and they had a lot of kitchen stuff, but I didn't get anything. too pricey for yard sale.