Feature Friday: A Hoot and a Half

Good afternoon there pickers! I'm writing to you today from my living room with my windows open, the crisp fall breeze blowing, and the lovely sounds of construction workers ripping off the roof and chucking it in my back yard. Ah, fall. Now that it's officially fall, (Mother Nature was unsure for a while there,) it is candle season. I guess you can argue that its always candle season, but in my professional opinion, more people use candles in the fall and winter months. Who doesn't love the scent of a pumpkin scented candle burning? Or warm apple pie? Cinnamon and vanilla? Fresh baked cookies? I mean, candles can practically be a food group. The way the light flickers and dances on the walls and ceiling. Eating a romantic dinner by candle light. Know what makes the dinner romantic? Not the fact that you are at a swanky restaurant, sitting at a too-small-for-two-people-table, eating off the finest china, and staring into your lovers eyes. No, its the candles.  What's the point of me rambling on about candles? Well, its this weeks: 

FEATUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!! 

This week I am featuring Jenny. Jenny and her daughter stopped by the Peddler a few weeks ago and had their eyes on a tea light candle holder. This isn't just any candle holder though, its an adorable owl! 

Can I get a Hoot Hoot?! 

But wait... there's more! {{insert infomercial music here}}

Its a bat! Or a cat! Or a mouse! 

The other side is another animal! (You can decide for yourself.) The wine and sweet countertop were not included. I was debating on keeping the owl-cat-bat-mouse for myself, but I'm glad that Jenny got it for her home. It looks like it fits perfectly!! 

I'll be selling at the Peddler again tomorrow. I think it might be the last one of the season! Gasp! I can't believe how fast the summer has gone by. I am investigating other avenues and places to sell. Depending on how many people send me features, the Friday special might have to be put on hold until further notice. But don't you cry, it will be back in no time! 

Smell ya later!

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe pick a pumpkin.

Feature Friday: Dance Party!!!

I have to admit, its not Friday. Its not even Saturday. Its Sunday (yikes!). I am two days late and always a few bucks short. But hey, thats life, right? So anyway, now that I am finally sitting down for longer than 20 minutes, let me tell you about this weeks: 

FEATUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!! 

This Fri.. erhm Sunday, I bring you Serife! Lets time warp back to August to a hot summers night, hanging out at Silo City for the City of Night Festival, eating food truck deliciousness, walking amongst abandoned grain elevators full of art, and sweating the sweet summer sweat. Ok, we are there. So, like any normal human being I am enjoying the festivities when nature called! If there is one thing I hate in this world, (and hate is a strong word,) its port-a-potties. Why can't I just pee in a bush? I mean, you are telling me that it is more sanitary to get in a 3 ft-by-3 ft traveling poop bucket with little to no ventilation than to find a nice hidden spot in the trees? Well, I unfortunately follow the rules so I get in line for the poop buckets and boy oh boy did I have to pee. Have you ever been driving home when the urge hits you to pee and you're like, "no worries, I'll be home in five minutes." Then you get home and you drop your keys at the door, pick them up in a hurry, can't find your house key but you swore it was on there, then you find it and it gets stuck in the lock and all of a sudden you are about to pee your pants. Come on door! Don't you know I am about to be standing in a puddle?! Ok, so thats how I was feeling so I started doing the pee dance. Every one has one. It can be subtle or it can be a full blown "get the cardboard out cause I'm about to bust a move" dance. I chose the latter. Guess who was also on line for the portable poop bucket? Serife and her friend Denise! We had a mini pee dance circle until we could relieve ourselves. Fortunately for us, there was a DJ laying down some beats so we didn't look too crazy. After our first dance party ended with no accidents, I noticed that Serife and Denise were still dancing by the DJ so I joined them and a lovely little dancing friendship blossomed. 

Fast forward to September: I am selling at the Peddler when I see Serife eyeing up a suitcase of mine. As if you couldn't figure it out, she bought it! And this is what she did with it:

Suitcase perfection.

I was really happy to see that the suitcase was put to good use. I mean, your records can't go in just anything. I saw Serife again this past weekend and she invited Jordan and myself to her houewarming party! I can't wait to dance, boogie and jive some more!

Smell ya later, 

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe chew some gum.

Feature Friday: Kittens! Inspired by, KITTENS!

Aloha friends! I must admit, I was feeling a little down today. I went to work without eating or drinking any coffee. I had a headache that would bring a lesser woman to her knees. So you know what I did? Took a nap. Anyway, Jordan brought me some Kangan water and made me coffee and I feel like a new person! 

So without further ado, here is this weeks: 

FEATUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!

I had the privilege of meeting and selling to Therese, the owner of a local shop, Thin Ice, in Buffalo! She has a super cool shop with a super cool concept. Everything is handmade by local artisans and super cool. (Yes, I use that phrase a lot.) If they aren't local, they are in the states and she talks and interacts with each and every one of them. I stopped in the other day to get my best friend a birthday present (Happy Birthday Chrissy!) and to check out what she bought! 

What a nice display!

So she bought this super cool red "cooling rack" and is using it as a display in the shop. Right now its at the register showcasing some handmade leather wallets. BUT, when she bought the rack from me at Silo City, she said she might put some kittens on there too. UM, YES PLEASE. Kittens make anything better. Yes, anything. So prepare to shout: 

KITTENS! 

Seeing this picture reminded me of this video:

You're welcome.

So there you have it folks, Feature Friday featuring: KITTENS!  I'm so glad Therese was able to put that rack to use. If you want to see it in action, or any of the super-awesome-crazy-cool-handmade-I-want-to-buy-everything-in-the-store-items, go to Thin Ice on Elmwood or check out the website! 

www.thiniceonline.com

Side story: Remember that cider we pressed at the beginning of the week? Well, we had 15 gallons of it sitting in a fridge at Ashkers. So, we concocted a little wagon, heated it up, and slung cider on the sidewalk. Jordan did it on Wednesday night and we both did it last night. We were actually pretty profitable and we will be doing it on a regular basis! We are super excidered! 

Its all about the pour.

Now that I am not working 9-5, I have found more time to dedicate to the things I love. I might have never known that I love making cider unless we crashed that date, found that guys garage, and stayed up smooshing apples. Life works in mysterious ways, and I think that we should and could take a step back from the things we think are important in life, and find out what actually is important. Let it marinate. On that note, adios amigos! 

Smell ya later,

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe drink some cider.

Hump Day Cider!

I'm starting hump day off right with a cup of coffee and a good old cry because of this video:

We could all learn a little something about giving. 

I am also starting the day off with poop because I drank my weight in home made apple cider yesterday. I mean, everyday usually starts off the same because thats what coffee is for, right? But today is a cider-poop! How did we make home made apple cider, you ask? ((cue twilight zone dance))

Let me take you back to Sunday, when Jordan and I crashed our friends picnic date at Zoar Valley. I offered to drive because I am that nice, and because you never know what hidden gems you are going to find. So we start our trek and get about 3/4 of the way there when we hit a detour. Not to worry, detours just take you off your route, down some crazy back country roads with no signs, then spit you back out somewhere where you think you want to be. Its a detour. Well, on this detour, and on one of those crazy back country roads, there was a spray painted 'SALE' sign leaning against a tree. I slammed on the brakes and turned right on in. This very nice older fella, (we later learned his name was Pat,) came walking across the street to greet us. I'm pretty sure he was in his glory because he was spitting out stories and prices and all he was hearing was Sold!, cartoon noises of cha-ching cha-ching, and he had $$ for eyes. Just kidding, kind of. So Jordan spotted the press behind all the tables and Pat said "Oh, thats old. I gotta have at least twenty bucks for it."  TWENTY BUCKS! You know what Jordan said? "SOLD!" Super predicable, I know. We eventually made it to Zoar Valley and had a nice little afternoon trek. 

Nature, its pretty neat.

That light.

Typical tourist shot.

Now we are back in Buffalo. ((cue twilight zone music)) and our friends, (and my bosses) at Ashkers were super interested in this press so they let us use it in their basement. Jordan got 12 crates of apples. 12 CRATES OF APPLES. So we got to work. We are lucky enough to have friends that let us use their basement for the space, but even luckier that its a restaurant, and luckier still that we can use some of the equipment. If it wasn't for the machine thingy that was grinding up the apples and spitting them out like spaghetti, we wouldn't have been able to make so much. So I was in charge of making apple spaghetti, Jordan was doing his thing on the press and Tyler was in charge of the cider run-off.  We managed to make somewhere around 15 gallons of mouth watering, lip licking, chomp chompin, apple cider. (There were talks about Poor Girl Cider, more on that later. Maybe.)

What's the difference between cider and juice? Well, Carson Carey cleared that up for us: "If its sweet and yellow, you're drinking juice there fellow. If its delicious and brown, you're in cider town!" (I think he said it was from the Simpsons, but I'll let him take the credit.) Enough talking, we want pictures!!

Pressin, pressin, pressin, keep those apples pressin.

Nothin but pure, sweet nectar.

There were a few blips along the way, but thats what makes it fun and memorable. I mean, how many people can say they have seen or heard a cider press spit apple guts at them? Exactly. So, it wasn't perfect, but we got a system down, and we will be making more cider, for sure. 

So thats the story of the three little pigs. Hiking, picking, and cidering.

Oh, and this happened.

Don't ask.

Smell ya later!

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe eat 

Feature Friday: Burt Reynolds

Holy Guacamole! Its Friday already! I had pictures to upload and stories to post! I guess this will be a Feature Friday and a quick update from last weeks adventures! So to start, let me begin with this weeks 

FEATUUUUURE FRIDAAAAY!

This week I bring you the creative genius of Jordan!! (No, not Burt Reynolds, keep your pants on.) I remember he bought this wooden crate from me and said he was going to plant flowers in it. I immediately told him about the blog idea, but I didn't have business cards or any contact info yet. (I know, seems like decades ago.) Luckily for me, Jordan is a man of his word and he stopped by the flea again a few weeks ago. 

Look at the natural light! Oh, and the crate.

Jordan also had me keeping an eye out for some old barn wood to make a bar. Well, I can't take credit for the wood, because I didn't come across any, but look at that bar!! I am looking forward to seeing what else he creates!! I have my eyes open for some other things, so heres hoping I can find em for him! 

Now for your (seemingly) weekly update! I promise I am going to get better at this whole blogging thing, I promise!

So, Saturday was the Peddler, and peddle I did! I sold some things to people from Chicago and Boston, Mike stopped by, someone gave me a George Foreman grill, some people with paper mache heads strolled through, and I got a mean sunglass tan.

Tiny chair for a tiny tush.

We obvi had to test the durability.

HEY! HEY you! These here chairs are FER SALE!

Getting crafty and creative for displays.

Marissa modeling the briefcase she bought!

And then this happened.

That may or may not be a man.

I was telling everyone and their mom about the Silo City Flea happening the next day! (Sunday) We had a super awesome turn out! I have to admit my stand was looking less than stellar, but I had a bunch of new stuff! (and a bunch of fun!) 

No tent, extra sun please.

Burt Motherloving Reynolds in all his Playboy glory.

There are some more adventures in the works for Ithaca again, even though I haven't even posted from the first trip, and maybe some building of tables, chairs and what not. I also started my new job at Ashkers this week. Let me tell you, I forgot what its like to be on your feet all day! Enough of my sob story though. Check back next week for another feature! Have a great weekend everyone! 

Smell ya later!
-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe eat some tootsie rolls.

Le Feature, Le Friday!

Holy smokes!! I may or may not be the worst blogger ever! Its been like two weeks since Ithaca! I was supposed to give you Breaking News about my life and blah blah blah. Well, I have no excuses other than- I'm busy! So before I bring you this weeks super awesome feature, I'll give you a super quick synopsis: I quit my job, (last day was Wednesday,) I got two new jobs, I was seriously thinking about buying a 91 Accord wagon (I'm still dreaming of it,) I saw Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and had my face melted, and I have been seriously doubting myself, my decisions, and the path my life is going. Hopefully, I will have some down time this week and I can actually give a little depth to most of that. (I think the face melt is self explanatory though.) 

So, without further interruptions, here is this weeks FEATUUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!! 

This week I am bringing you one of my best friends, Mike. Not because he is my friend and fellow flea marketeer, (and not because I haven't gotten any other submissions,) BUT I think his work needs to be recognized for its amazingly awesomeness! He is a seriously talented artist, welder, electrician, sculptor, carrier of heavy things, and carton voice-over. I am really hoping to learn a lot from him this winter. He is a fountain of knowledge. Dare I say renaissance man? Ok, that might be a streeeeeeetch, but come on, I mean, look at it. Just look at it, would ya?!

drooling over here. 

gimmedat.

You need this table. Yes, you. 

Sweet Mother of lamps. 

Just for the record, he had no idea I did this. I just thought his work needed to be put out on the interwebs for others to drool over too. Sadly, he will not be at the flea this weekend because he is also a very busy man. Now that I think about it, I haven't even seen his face in like a week or two. Mike, if you are reading this, call a sista! 

Side note about the Accord wagon: not getting it. I talked to a bunch of people about it. 81% were all about it, 16% told me they were all about it because they didn't want to upset me and the other 3% were just flat out against it. That 3% was my mechanic, Jonah. I am going to call him tomorrow and tell him he was right. The conversation went like this:

Me: "I'm going to look at a 91' Honda Accord wagon tomorrow! Its the tits! I'm excited!"

Jonah: "Oh sweet!"

Me: "Right?!?!"

Jonah: "No."

Needless to say, I woke up today and drove almost two hours to Williamson, NY to look at the dang car. I test drove it and well, it felt like a 91. Oh well, ya win some and ya loose some. To not waste the drive, I googled a thrift store in the area and there was one on the way back to the highway. Well, on my way to the thrift, I saw a sign on a corner for a barn sale at a historical society. I hooked a U and drove down some little bumpkin road thinking I was hitting some picking jackpot. A historical society/museum?!?! I'm going to be waist deep in historical things for sale! I went about 2 miles and I was about to call it a loss when I saw it! The Ontario, NY Barn sale! (cue angels singing)

This must be heaven.

Since I was the only person under the age of 55, I took my sweet time going through every table and stand. I mean, I wouldn't have to wrestle an item from another customer, right? Anyway, the people were super nice and gave me some hot deals! They have their barn sale twice a year so I will be back in May for the next one! 

1992 called. That's it, they just called.

The Goodwill was another story. I got some new pants, cardigans, mugs, mason jars and other knick-knack-paddy-whacks that you will only ever find at a thrift store. I was super hyped on my finds today. I mean, look at this sweatshirt, you would be hyped too. 

Head of the wolf baby.

Well, tomorrow is the Peddler. I haven't sold in 2 weekends so I have a bunch of goodies. Stop out if you are in the area and check out all the vendors!! Sunday is the Silo City flea market which I am very very excited for!! (92 Childs street, off of Ohio.) A flea market at some abandoned grain elevators? Yes, please! If you'll excuse me now, I have to go howl at the moon.

Smell ya later,

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have a peanut butter cookie.

 

Feature Friday Numero Dos!

Thats right guys, its time for my second ever:

FEATUUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!

Today I am bringing you the creativity of Katie! She came by the flea market and almost instantly fell in love with a suit/briefcase that I had. Obviously she bought it and after a few awesomely funny jokes about being a boss with a breifcase, I told her about my feature friday segment. She said she was going to be using it to store some of her smaller belongings under a shelving unit that she made. Yes, you read that right, she made! Check it out for yershelves! (see what I did there?)
 

I like yo shelves, girl.

 

She then saw an old projector screen that I had, and was wondering if it was a map. Sadly, it was not. BUT,  I knew Mike had a map that he was maybe thinking about selling. So, I sent her over to pester him. She didn't end up with the map, (he didnt have it at the flea and is emotionally attached to it in some weird, map loving way.) She did, however, pick up this super awesome welding hat. Now she matches her dog!

 

Now THAT is a Christmas card.

 

Now, as a side note: Katie has her Masters in Social work and is TOTALLY HIREABLE! Woohoo! She can also build shelves, match her dog, and is a very good life-coach. (I would know.) Holla at her!

 

I will be updating you all later on my trip out to Ithaca last weekend. It was a doozie! I can't wait to go back. More on that later! In case anyone was wondering, today is my last Friday ever working a 9-5 job. It's quite the story that I will update on next week on my last actual day ever, but for today, its my last Friday! YES!! #Livin the dream.

 

Smell ya later!

-Stephanie

 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have a latte.

 

 







First EVER Feature Friday!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for! --(ahem)--

FEATUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAAAY!

 

I am very pleased to share with you the story of Amie! She came to the flea market a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love with a coffee table and mini ottoman I had for sale. They were both in pretty rough condition. Well, the table was just a weird green/vomit color. (It was Miranda's and it was in our living room for a few months before we replaced it with a kick-a surfboard shaped table.) Amie said she was going to be re-finishing them and I immediately told her about my blog and feature idea. She was so excited and promised she would send me pictures. She delivered and thats why she is the:

 

FIRST EVER FEATURE FRIDAY!

 

 B-E-A-UTIFUL!!

I'm drooling over here.

 

You know what I just thought of? Wouldn't it be nice to have before and after pictures? YES, YES IT WOULD. Hindsight is always 20/20. I will do my best to take before and after pics! But didn't she do a great job!? She took some dusty, worn out, vomit colored pieces and transformed them into little sparkling gems! Thanks again Amie!

 

This business and blog are ideas that have been marinating in my brain since May. I am beyond thrilled that it is actually taking off! Slowly but surely more people have been showing interest and I can't wait for what the future has to bring! It's people like Amie that are helping me realize my dreams, and I can't find the words to show my gratitude.

 

I have some more big news to divulge but I will be taking the weekend to clear my mind and just have some fun! I will be camping in the Ithaca area with my boyfriend, Jordan, my best friend, Taylor and her boyfriend Shawn. My roommate Miranda and her boyfriend, Tyler might be meeting us too. I guess you could call it a couples weekend! (vomit) I know I say I want to relax but you better bet your bottom dollar that I will be picking, scoping and bringing some things home with me. Heres hoping it fits in the car or else Jordan might have to hitch hike back to Buffalo!

 

Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend friends! Smell ya later!

-Stephanie

 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have a carrot.

 



Catching up with the Flea Marketeers!

Hello and welcome back to this weeks episode of crazy! I'll be catching you up, quickly, on all things PGP that happened in the past few weeks. So, Mike and I are self proclaimed "flea marketeers." What does that mean exactly? Who knows, but we like it! So, a few weekends ago we set up shop at The Peddler on Elmwood and gave it our best! I was a National School Bus Safety Award Winner and Mike looked like the redneck/Canadian/90's chewed him up and spit him out. You can see/judge for yourself.

CHICKACHICKABOOMBOOM.

 

Mike took my car to grab some more items because well, lets face it, theres only so much room in a Ford Focus. Unfortunately for Mike, he wasn't paying too much attention when he parked because well, the Buffalo Police got the best of him.

 

→This looks like a GREAT spot←

 

It turned out to be one heck of a sale! We were able to move some bigger items and clear room in my basement to stock up on some more!! Speaking of my basement, this is where everything is stored. My awesome landlord let me have a room for storage but its down the creepiest hallway ever.
 

{Insert creepy Frankenstein music}

 

I took the next week off because my family was in town from Jersey. Mike also got a job working with a friend of ours that has a welding/metal business. So he was working on some new stuff, which you will find out about if you just keep reading! Gosh, so impatient! My family and I had one heck of a week full of fun, sun, the color run, the falls, the (lake) beach, farts, food, roller coasters and lots of laughing. It was a trip, for sure. Jersey knows how to vacation.

 

Since I took the previous week off, I was more than ready to sell this past weekend! I pulled out all the stops and had a $1 BUCK BONANZA BLOWOUT! Sometimes you just have to clear out your inventory. I am slowly figuring this whole "flea market thing" out and some items that I have will sell the first day I put them out and some items will sit there and sit there and sit there. So those items go to the back of my storage and when they finally see the light again, they are a $1 BUCK BONANZA BLOWOUT! item. Conveniently enough, it was also the Elmwood Arts Festival, so the crowds were outstanding!!

 The Peddler!

Notice I dont have a tent? Go me!

 

Elmwood Art Fest!

Get Artsy people.

 

I ran into a few friends and passed out a few cards to new customers! I already have a few responses for my "Feature Friday!" segment, which will debut this Friday! Be on the look out!! My friend Sarah was passing through and she found some "my size" chairs for her patio.

If I had a dollar for every time some one said "aww!"

 

This also happened:

I wish I could remember his name.

 

All-in-all, it was a great success! As I said earlier, Mike has been welding and making tables, lamps and sculptures. He did phenomonal at the flea! He sold out! It was so gratifying to see his hard work pay off. Want to see some frontal male nudity? Feast your eyes below!

HA! Made you look! You dirty little scoundrels!

 

Here is a more reserved picture.

Insanity, it its finest.

 

Well, looks like we are all caught up! Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Poor Girl Picker! Be on the look out for more updates on picks, sales, and don't miss our first ever Feature Friday!

 

Smell ya later!

-Stephanie

Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have a banana sundae!