Thrill of the Garage Sale Chase

Katie Brown
Calgary Sun
Saturday, August 05, 2006

Read from the Source

Last Saturday morning I woke up in the wee hours, put my daughter in her car seat and sped off to meet up with my friends Martha and Eric so we could play my very favourite full-contact sport: Hitting the garage sales.

If there's anything more thrilling than a hand-written "Yard Sale!" sign, then I certainly can't think of it. Before I can even stop the car, my heart's already pounding at the sight of a lawn full of my fellow shoppers pawing at what could be my greatest find!

It's all I can do not to yell "FIRE!" and send everyone running so I can crawl, commando-style, straight to the best loot.

If you don't see the appeal of a yard full of stuff somebody else doesn't want, let me share with you a little secret, won over many hours of sleuthing: Everything is not as it appears.

Take an old garden gate - with a little love, it can be a wall hanging, a rack for potholders or a headboard.

A dining table can be cut down to make a wonderful coffee table. A jar collection will make a beautiful table runner when it's lined up and filled with candles, and a bunch of mismatched silverware can look like one set when the pieces are decorated with bits of old beaded costume jewelry.

If you keep that secret in mind, not only will your home be filled with whimsy, you will beat out your fellow shoppers every time, because you'll be the only one who sees what's really there. Happy hunting!

SUNRISE AND SPARKLES

Large clear beads
Thin silver wire
Wire cutters

To give old silverware a new life, all you need to get started is a set of silverware, clear crystal-like beads, thin silver wire and wire cutters.

First cut a 12-in. piece of wire for each piece of silverware. Fill the wire about three-quarters of the way full with the beads (for a more eclectic flea-market look, use all different shapes and sizes), and wrap the end of the wire around the neck of the utensil.

Line the beads up along the surface of the handle, and wrap the other end of the wire around the end of the handle.

(And make sure to hand-wash your new treasures instead of putting them in the dishwasher.)

Just like that - something old is new again!