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our shed is a thrift shop

April 12, 2013

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Hey hey!! How goes it today?

One of the most fun things I’ve been able to do since closing on this house is sift through all kinds of goodness that was left in our back yard shed. You know, our big back yard.

vintage finds from an old shed - it's like our shed is a thrift shop

Admittedly it took me much longer to get to where we are today than it would have, say Joel. As may have been pointed out to me a time or two. πŸ˜‰

But I like old junk and sifting through it all made me think that our shed is a thrift shop. And who doesn’t like to shop for things they’ve already paid for? πŸ˜‰

There’s a cool pair of shoe forms.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

There’s a bread tin, an old Key West calendar and a couple old springs.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

There are three perfectly not matching green ceramic things.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shopAnd these brass things.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

And these glass things.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

And these old, rusty things.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

There’s this bin.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

And this tin.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

And these cool old pins.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

And then there’s this.

vintage finds in an old shed - feels like shopping in a thrift shop

Pretty cool, right?!?! Any idea what that last thing is? I think the rusty tools are cobbler’s tools, maybe?!? To go with the shoe forms? Whatever they are, they are sure to find themselves moved from shelf to shelf and made right at home around here in their old home.

« real simple garden tool storage
my man is making a yardscape »

Comments

  1. Kara says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Is it a port hole cover?

    • Karah says

      April 12, 2013 at

      it has that kind of look about it, but it’s just so small (less than 4 inches in diameter) … how neat would a big one be?!?!

  2. Jade says

    April 12, 2013 at

    I thought maybe a porthole cover for a boat?

    • Karah says

      April 12, 2013 at

      that’s pretty cool!

  3. Mimi says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Yes, it is a port hole from a yacht or small ship.

    • Karah says

      April 12, 2013 at

      wow, but it’s so small, less than 4 inches in diameter including the metal ring … but that’s cool

  4. Kelly @ Corner of Main says

    April 12, 2013 at

    What cool finds! I wish our house came with random things!

  5. Nancy Carr says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Looks like a window maybe a port hole.

  6. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    April 12, 2013 at

    WOW! Those are actually seriously awesome. Even better because you can say you salvaged them from your own house. Reading these posts makes me get the house-shopping itch!

  7. cassie says

    April 12, 2013 at

    ha ha! that looks like my kind of fun! πŸ™‚

  8. Kristy Rohm says

    April 12, 2013 at

    I think its a port hole cover…..what are you doing with all that stuff???? Would love to buy the smalls from you for my jewelry making!!!! Seems you are having a blast!!

  9. karen@somewhatquirky says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Ok. I think it looks like some sort of light cover for outdoor or marine lighting. Those shoe things are for keeping shoes in shape. We use them for golf shoes because they may have dampness from grass, and they tend to get tossed around. I LOVE those safety pins! I’ve seen other people find them thrifting etc, but I have never found any myself. Plant some succulents in those amazing vintage planters.

  10. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Knowing you Karah you are going to come up with some really amazing things to do with most of that stuff! You are the most creative person I know!

  11. Ann Drake says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Oh what treasures! Love those shoe thingies!

  12. Gail says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Portal window for a boat?

  13. Susan @ Uniquely Yours or Mine says

    April 12, 2013 at

    I’m not sure what that round glass window piece is, but it reminds me of a pin I saw where someone installed something like that in a hole the cut in the fence so there dog can see out πŸ™‚ cool finds!

    • Karah says

      April 13, 2013 at

      I love the idea of cutting a hole and adding it to the fence. Fun!!

  14. Paige says

    April 12, 2013 at

    This is what I was thinking. It looks like a cover for a light.

    • Karah says

      April 13, 2013 at

      Hmmmm, that would be neat!

  15. Betsy says

    April 12, 2013 at

    I want all of that stuff! haha.

  16. craftythriftydecoratingwifemom says

    April 12, 2013 at

    Who’dathunk you’d find treasure in your own back yard!! Glad you didn’t let Joel do it. One (of many) good thing about my hubs, he’s a junker; more than me!
    Janet

  17. Kim says

    April 13, 2013 at

    My first thought on the mystery item is that it’s part of the housing for a marine compass. It may also be a cover for a light or a gauge. You could try taking some of that stuff to the East Martello Museum to see if they can identify it. The folks there are pretty knowledgeable about local lore.

    • Karah says

      April 13, 2013 at

      I don’t know of the East Martello Museum … I need to find it. Thank you so much for the suggestion.

  18. Donna says

    April 13, 2013 at

    the larger pins look like horse blanket pins…do i need to bring an empty suitcase on my next visit to key west???

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      You don’t think I’m parting with any of this do you?!?! πŸ™‚

  19. Dorothy Mooney says

    April 13, 2013 at

    I don’t know about the glass “porthole”, but I think on of the green ceramic planters looks like a McCoy, could also be USA. Not really valuable, but people do collect them.

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      I’ll have to look into McCoy!

  20. Gina says

    April 13, 2013 at

    That is some neat stuff! The last thing looks like a porthole but I believe it is a cover to an outside uplight. Many times they are along sidewalks or built into retaining walls.

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      I think you might be right!!

  21. Erin says

    April 13, 2013 at

    You could have a really cool wall with that old Key West calendar. Get some frames and make a gallery wall. Very jealous.
    Erin

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      I love that idea!!

  22. Debbie says

    April 13, 2013 at

    How lucky to find all these treasures! I can’t wait to see what you do with them all.

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      hahaha, they’ll definitely show up in random pictures in every room as things progress.

  23. Cheryl b says

    April 13, 2013 at

    It is a swimming pool underwater light cover.

    • Lynn L in Florida says

      April 14, 2013 at

      I agree with Cheryl b. I’ve had these in my pool, decades ago. They are much more “finished” looking now. No visible screws. What you have is old, but I think the only value they have is the pleasure they give you!

      • Karah says

        April 15, 2013 at

        Hahaha, and that is value enough for me. πŸ™‚

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      Ohhhh, THAT’S a fun idea!

  24. Linda Nortje (@WithABlast) says

    April 15, 2013 at

    Due to it being old, it can not be what my first thought was, but I’ll tell you what it reminded me of, one can buy these little round glass thingies {looks almost exactly like yours!} to install into your fencing – it is for your dogs to look through! Crazy but true !

    • Karah says

      April 15, 2013 at

      I need to look into this fence look out thing, what a fun idea for the pups!

  25. Jacqueline says

    April 15, 2013 at

    I also go to thrift shops to hunt for good stuff that I can use but it is nice that you find these things from your own house. This can be a good DIY project. It is my hobby to create new decors using old items.

  26. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says

    April 16, 2013 at

    I want every single thing a ma bob – including that amazing porthole!!
    Kelly

    • Karah says

      April 17, 2013 at

      I also found a vintage cutter thingy in the kitchen that made me think of you, I’ll have to take a picture of it for you. It’s a holder for tin foil, plastic wrap, etc and has built in ‘blades’. I’m definitely going to try to use it for something. πŸ™‚

  27. Key says

    April 17, 2013 at

    Karen have you thought of maybe taking a metal detector to your backyard or around your house. lol. Just think what you might find a bit under the dirt. Can’t wait to see what your treasures become. McCoy sounds right for your vintage planters or maybe USA. There are a few unmarked McCoys out there, but more USA’s

    • Karah says

      April 17, 2013 at

      Hahaha about the metal detector … we did dig up an old metal shoe form, seems to fit with some of the other cobbler related items … I was a bit worried it a foot skeleton at first … but now we have it displayed on one of the rocks, it adds an eclectic element to the yardscape. πŸ™‚

  28. maryann says

    October 16, 2014 at

    looks like a part off a out skidder my dad had…some thing to do with the fuel levels

    • Karah says

      October 20, 2014 at

      Hmmm, that sounds interesting.

Trackbacks

  1. upcycling ideas {8 ways to use regular things around your house in unique ways} - the space between says:
    April 19, 2013 at

    […] term, until we get to our kitchen remodel, but now it’s more of a thrift store (just like our shed). Β And instead of finishing organizing the shed, I’m grabbing random things and using them […]

  2. diy wooden mailbox the space between says:
    October 4, 2013 at

    […] find was this rusty, iron knob that was hanging out in our shed … you know the one that is a thrift shop. […]

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