Great Finds

I am always on the hunt for great deals. I have a hard time passing a thrift shop or consignment store. 

When I go to antique malls it breaks my heart to see once beautiful stained glass pieces in disrepair. I end up giving them a business card in hopes they desire to get it repaired, but sad to say in 15 years no antique mall has ever called me back. I will keep trying.

I love bulk garbage days in large communities. Always wonderful and useful items on the curb. My kids think I am a hoarder, which I am not, they would be proud of me for walking away from stuff I really do not need or can't use. Hope someone else grabbed it!

Great pieces and finds I have found are:

Craft Show garbage- side panels to a 10 x 10 tent

Garbage Day or Side of Road- 4 x 4 for base of workbench, old window frames, oak plywood for project boards, sideboard, wine rack, old oak kitchen cabinet frames for earring display

Facebook Glass Group- glass, supplies, brass stencils

Craigslist- file cabinets, kitchen island for studio, jewelry work bench, mahogany dining table, faceter  for lapidary work, 40 pounds of solder

Ikea- bins for glass globs, "As is" Room- Billy bookshelf, Expedit Shelves, bar stool

Going out of Business Sale- project cabinet, glass, file cabinets, night light display, jewelry display cases

Yard Sales- glass,old plates, file cabinets, wicker chair for studio sitting area, dresser for storage, picture frames for jewelry display, old luggage for transporting craft stock to shows

Thrift Shops- bed risers for tables at craft fairs, cart for kilns,lamp bases, antique lamps

Construction Sites (with permission)- copper wire, lumber, cinder blocks, insulation for my studio, bucket of nails

Frame Shops- clear glass for students to practice cutting glass and for pendant making

Friends- new canopy for show tent, rug for studio, glass storage on wheels, clear glass, plexi glass, kitchen cabinet and bathroom cabinets (for workbench base)

Community Forklift- kitchen cabinets for under my workbenches, cabinets for big glass storage, lamp bases, bar stools, tile for under kilns. Community Forklift is one of my favorite haunts.

I do love a good hunt. What have you found or had giving to you that was a great find? Leave a comment if you found something wonderful or if you are looking for something, who knows maybe we can find it for you!