Quilts

I have a passion for quilts. I love quilts! And I especially love really, really old quilts. The ones that have been worn, loved and faded with age. I love them.

Well yesterday, out junkin', I stopped at a garage sale full of vintage stuff. I knew I was bound to find something, as I walked up and spotted four little old ladies sitting there knitting! But these ladies were smart. Their prices proved it. (I don't like when they're smart!) I'm too frugal. I like the sales when they're selling their stuff to get rid of it and the prices prove it.

I can wait.

I am a very patient person when it comes to my junk. If I see something - even something I really like, I will walk right past it without batting an eye if it's a smart price. I wait for the priced-to-walk-out-the-door price.

I've found many a-thing this way. Now, if you know me, you know I'm not a very patient person all the time, but with junk it's different. Patience pays off. I've got a story - in a minute. But first, yesterday's sale. I saw an old faded pale colored quilt covering some stuff in the garage. Stuff that presumably wasn't for sale. As I was checking out with my other treasures, I asked if it was for sale and got a "no". I was disappointed.

I had to ask! You never know unless you ask. I've gotten some of the best junk this way.

Now, my story about patience and how waiting pays off - I found my cream colored high chair this way. I had wanted a white wooden high chair since I was pregnant for Nikayda. I looked at every sale that had one. I walked right by them all - for a couple of years. (In the meantime, I settled for a "temporary" Graco highchair a neighbor had given me.)

Aapo was a baby when I finally found IT. It is my current high chair.

All of those other highchairs I'd seen were priced by smart people. They were anywhere from 20-30 bucks and higher. Depending on their age. They were all vintage. Some sturdy, many not. All were a dark brown stain. I didn't want dark brown stain. I knew I could paint them but I waited. And being a frugal person, I was not going to spend that much because I knew deep down inside I'd find something more inexpensive if I just waited. And I did.

And it cost me 7 bucks! Seven bucks! And I love it.

When I drove up the driveway of this particular sale, I saw a large pole-barn filled with junk. (Much of it real junk). But I dug around anyway. I didn't find much. I was on my way out when I spotted the highchair and made a beeline to it. After a full inspection and noticed the footrest was missing. Paint job was in mint condition. A new paint job. The chair was vintage. Didn't mind that it was new paint. (Less likely to have lead in it). So, I walked up to the lady by the cash.

Me(pointing to the chair): Do you have the footrest for that highchair?
Lady: Umm...no...I don't think we do...
Me: What do you want for it?
Lady: Um. Let me see. 10 dollars?
Me (I can't help myself. I was expecting her to say $20.): Are you serious?!

(I'm all excited ready to say "sold!"...)

Lady: Wait a sec. Let me just call my friend. It's her chair.
Me (a little confused but I wait.)

Phone conversation from *this* end.

Lady: I have a lady here who is interested in your highchair but it's missing the footrest. I told her 10 but I think it might be a little high... (At this point, I'm incredulous - she's going to come down?!) Ummm.... Okay.... Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

She gets off the phone, turns to me and says, "How about seven?"

So I got a highchair that I love, for seven dollars.

Patience pays off.