What great lengths have you gone to for a new purchase? I know there are some woman out there that have to hide their purchases from their husbands and sneak them into the house. Lucky for me I don’t hide anything whether it be clothes or furniture. To be honest my husband would probably walk past a new piece of furniture ten times before he realised it was new. I guess thats because I have so many pieces come and go that maybe they all tend to look the same.
I was driving around the Coast one day and saw this old guy pull up beside me in a rusty old ute. On the back all tied up was the most gorgeous wrought iron setting. I couldn’t take my eyes off it so I pulled in behind him and started the chase. I could not believe that I was doing this but I just had to get a closer look at it. Right now your probably all thinking I am crazy but I bet there are many of you bloggers out there that have done similiar. Anyway I knew the tip was on the road we were travelling and all I could imagine was that this guy was going to dump it. So upon the entry to the tip I got out of my car and asked the man if he had intentions of dumping that setting. Well you know where it ended up don’t you – in my 4WD. What a lovely man he was and I saved him paying the tip fees. This brings me to ask you what lenghts have you gone to for a new purchase or thrift find.
A good friend on mine scored a wardrobe off the side of the road, after many trips back & forth late in the night she finally found it. What an effort she went to to get it home and what a story she had to tell.
fairmaiden
Will you have pics of it soon?! I'd love to see your find. I have never done anything like that..and I have never found anything valuable on the side of the road, but my best friend has.
brismod
You're hard-core Sandy! I probably would've done the same if it was a set of retro Butterfly Chair frames!!
Alison
Well I am sure it was worth the chase. Maybe it would be a good idea to sit in the car on the 'tip road' and catch them before they drive in. LOL 🙂
Looking forward to seeing it
Alison
Kristine at The Painted Hive
I must admit I do always have my eyes peeled for stuff like that too! I'm always doubling back, driving slowly past junk on the side of the road or yelling "STOP" to my husband when he's driving! I'm pretty lucky cause I have a relative who's supervisor at a tip transfer station so I do get some cool junk sometimes. I've probably got a few stories about going to great lengths for furniture though one that comes to mind is running up and down the very steep hill I live on carrying rattan chairs that were thrown out for hard rubbish collection back to my house! I couldn’t fit them in my car so it was the only way. I must have looked a sight to anyone who saw me though I just had to have those chairs!
Kristine
xx
Kerri
Ha, I've done exactly the same thing Sandy – I've even knocked on someone's door to see if their lovely old cedar chaise longue was for sale – and walked away with it for $20! You never know if you don't ask, do you? LOVE that daybed – divine! K xx
gretchen
at a gas station, i asked the driver of a pick-up if i could buy the bow-tie quilt she was using to cover a chair she was moving…I got it for $20. we were both happy, i got the quilt, she paid for her gas (it was a LONG time ago).
we have a once a year leave your big stuff out on the curb day…it's like trick or treat for all us crazy ladies!
Paper Tree Design
I'm lucky I don't have to hide anything from my husband either. I must admit I have taken things from the side of the road but never followed anyone for a sale … altho' now I will be looking out. I once saw a gorgeous room divider/screen from the car window as we travelled past a lovely homeware store at Lennox Head on holiday (can't remember its name). I made my husband turn around – we ordered one to be sent to Brisbane that same day and it now sits in our entryway. Puts a whole new spin on 'window shopping'. Michelle
Jenny
Hi Sandy, that was a fabulous find, well done! I can't wait to see it restored and some beautiful fabric on it. It would go very nicely on your new deck? I once grabbed an old school desk on the side of the road for $20! What a bargain! You do get such a buzz don't you…
theoldboathouse
You don't want to know sandy! I am a stalker when it comes to getting stuff but if you don't go for it you will never know. And I am a big believer in " there is no harm in asking". So glad you saved the setting from the dump! Cheers katherine
Crystal Rose Cottage
Sandy….I can see why you chased him! That is great looking and will look really wonderful when you work your magic on it!~Hugs, Patti
Vintage Sassy
I would have chased him down too! I cannot believe he was dumping this…seriously!! I am on the hunt for a vintage daybed for my front porch, sure wish I could find one in the back of a truck.
xo
LeAnn
Ticking and Toile
ok that is unbelievable! what great instinct you have! 🙂
great score!
Jeanine Burkhardt
That piece is 2-die-4!*!*! You are soooooo lucky… Loving YOUR Blog… Jeanine, ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! Cedarburg Wisconsin USA
So Shabby Pink
Oh, it is priceless along with the story of how you found it! Love it.
My craziest one is seeing a big old white door on the road for the trashman. Talked my husband into stopping the SUV and loading it in the back. I don't think it was so crazy though. He thinks I am crazy though! He made a bench with it combined with the footboard of an old bed. NOW, he finally sees the light!
My husband is one that rolls his eyes sometimes. I am working a negotiation with him. I'll repaint our dining room and TV room a color HE likes if I can paint his mom's old dresser and a desk WHITE. We'll see….
I love your blog and come here quite often.
Sherrie
Oh Sandy I would have done exactly the same as you did. That wrought iron setting is just devine. I want one just like it been trying to find a picture in a magazine so I can put it on my vision board. will have to print your picture out ..I need to get out more and see what i can find. I love the kerb side rubbish pickups. I have picked up a few chairs and a few bits and pieces.I'm in the process of making an out side clock from a big rusty flat pan type thing I found which I will post on my blog when completed.
Sherrie
Beatrice O'Connell
Wow, lucky you, that wrought iron daybed is a fantastic find, I could tell you some crazy stories, rooting around in skips and once hitchiking in Chicago with some salvation army mattresses when we were students, we got a lift in a van and arrived in one piece luckily enough, the van driver was just laughing his head off. Thanks for sharing!