Fall into this weeks Feature Friday! (get it?!)

Well folks, I don't know if you've noticed, but it is no longer summer. Holy smokes, that happened fast. I feel like I was just wearing shorts and flip flops! Now I have to put socks on?! Socks?! I might have to resort to the infamous "socks and crocs." Did you cringe? Cause I cringed typing it. 

Anyway, with summer being gone in my neck of the woods, I figured I would bring a little pop of color, thoughts of sunshine, humidity, and barbecues, with this weeks: 

FEATUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAAY!  

This weeks feature is one of my best friends, Marissa! She is one of my best friends from high school! She purchased a super cool vintage Stanley Thermos from my Etsy shop. Now I know what you're thinking, 'A thermos. She must be using it for coffee, hot chocolate, soup and other hot, delicious liquids that every one drinks in the fall.' Well, you are wrong, my friends. She turned it into a beautiful vase! She was also my very first Etsy customer! Lets give her a round of applause! 

 Feel the cool summer breeze? Peeling your sunburned shoulders? Chasing down lightning bugs?  

Vintage thermos vase and mason jar candles = summer perfection.

Marissa has an awesome backyard/patio and she hosts one heck of a party! (Trust me, I know!) Hopefully I'll be able to visit soon so I can see this lovely vase in person! Thank you Marissa for supporting my dreams and purchasing from PGP! You rule!

You can all go back to putting your socks and crocs on now. Oh, thats just me? Talk about party poopers!

Smell ya later!

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from me! Turn it into something new! Send me 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, or any other space filled with stuff that needs to be picked over? Get atcha girl!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe eat some bbq chicken!

***Check out my Etsy page to see what kinds of cool things I have in store for ya! PGP Etsy Shop & you can like my page on FB, PGP Facebook for more updates, features, and giveaways! 

You Can't Rain on this Feature Friday!

Rain, Rain, go away...

...come again when I don't have a flea market.

It's Saturday! Woohoo, the weekend! That means I'm supposed to be at a the Peddler, peddlin my super awesome vintage stuff! Nope. Mother Nature has other plans. Maybe the plants and trees are really thirsty or the sun needed to sleep in. Whatever the case may be, I am here with the pups, not peddlin my stuff. Wait a second. It's Saturday. That means yesterday was Friday, which means there was supposed to be a feature, and I don't remember posting one.... OH FARTS! I done did it again! So, excuse my tardiness, but please allow me to introduce you to this weeks: 

FEATUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY! 

Carly came to the Peddler a few weeks ago and was interested in some vintage Pyrex test tubes I had out. She told me that she had just bought this wooden pipe rack from a thrift store and her creative juices were a flowin'. The test tubes would fit perfectly in the rack, so she bought a handful and off she went to craft her little heart out! Little did I know crafting is something that comes naturally to her! 

Carly got in touch with me recently and sent me the pictures of her test tube creation. I found out that she has an Instagram account and an Etsy shop too! So I did what every normal person does and I scoped it out. Her stuff is super cool and original. I wish that I had a crafty bone in my body, and sometimes I like to pretend it's there. But then I don't measure correctly, the hot glue gun hates me, and there are two animals -make that three (sorry Jordan,) - that shed so much that I need an army of brooms and vacuums. So my "crafts" turn into "well, at least I tried, right?"  In addition to Carly's Feature Friday, I threw in some pictures of her other crafts so you can get an idea of just how awesome they are! 

Before...

After! Gosh dangit it's so cute! 

Um, yes! Re-purposed belts turned cuffs?!

Can I get one that says "picker" & I'll just walk around with my finger in my nose?

IN LOVE.

Cool lamp, check. Mint paint, check. Awesomeness, check. 

So whatdya think? I wasn't lying! This girl can craft! She was thinking silk flowers for the tubes, and I suggested candy, cause I mean, who doesn't want a shooter of peanut butter M&M's? If you have any suggestions, please feel free! A lot of her items are made from vintage and re-purposed goods, which is exactly what I strive for with PGP and Feature Fridays. To give these items another purpose and new life so that another person can love it is what it's all about! We don't always have to have the next best or newest thing. Sometimes its already in your house, yard, garage or waiting to be found at a flea market. It just takes a little time, creativity, and elbow grease to make it yours. 

You can find Carly's Sweet Creations (appropriately named) for sale at her Etsy shop here: Carly's Sweet Creations and be sure to follow her on Instagram @Carlysweetjones. She also has some pieces up for sale with the proceeds going to charity! One of the many reasons why I love doing what I do is it gives me the opportunity to meet awesome people and spread a little vintage love! Carly is definitely one of those people, and unfortunately she doesn't live in Buffalo, but maybe the universe will have our paths cross again in the future. 

Whether it's raining or shining by you, make today great! Maybe you've been inspired to dig around your basement and give new life to an old piece. In that case, email me and let me know! And check back at the Poor Girl Picker Etsy shop, as I have been adding, and will continue to add, new things daily! 

Smell Ya Later!

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from me! Turn it into something new! Send me 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, or any other space filled with stuff that needs to be picked over? Get atcha girl!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe mow down on some gummy bears!

***Check out my Etsy page to see what kinds of cool things I have in store for ya! PGP Etsy Shop

Now Featuring this Friday: HOLLYWOOD HANK

Now Featuring this Friday:
The Adventures of HOLLYWOOD HANK 

If you are lucky, at some point in your life you will meet someone that has been around the block. Not just any block though. THE block. The same block that you are starting to circle. When you do, you should take advantage of it and learn everything you can from them. I just so happened to meet Hank a few weeks ago when he bought some doll heads from me at the Silo City Flea. He was going to make a sculpture with them. (Which is exactly what I imagined someone would do.) So I gave his friend, Frank, the low-down on my blog and he said he would be sure to send me a picture when he was done. 

I ran in to Frank again at The Peddler last Saturday and I had some more doll heads out. He let Hank know and he was interested in them so I made a trip up to his store. It turns out Hank has been around the block a few times. I had no idea what I was in for. (drum roll) 

"When you get here you're gonna wanna park then walk in the double doors, go left, up the stairs, make a right and a right, then a left and my office will be on the right." "Okay, I'm sure I'll find it." Fortunately, Hanks wife met me at the front doors and walked me left, up, right, right and left to his office. The whole entire time my jaw was dropped,  my eyes were darting from floor to ceiling and I was stumbling. "Holy shit, I think I just found heaven." 

Stairway to the second floor of Heaven.

Come and get me in 7 hours. 

So there I was, standing with a cardboard box full of plastic doll heads, talking to a man who amassed enough cool stuff to fill a 20,000 square foot warehouse with things I thought I could only dream about. After our "haggle" Hank gave me a tour of the place. Let me tell you something, IT WAS AWESOME. As if the walk up to his office wasn't cool enough, I got to see his work space, his sculptures (which are awesome and placed all over the warehouse,) his "cabin" and all the other neat stuff that was hidden in every nook and cranny. I really was overwhelmed. I wasn't even registering what I was seeing anymore. My mind was on cool crap overload. I mean, I just rented a one car garage. This man has 20,000 square feet! 

I had planned another meeting on the other side of town just 45 minutes after meeting with Hank, and I was already running late. So I unfortunately had to leave with out seeing everything. I left with the promise of coming back, and let me tell you something, that's a promise I am definitely going to keep. Cause I don't know if you heard but that place was AWESOME. 

Oh, right, Hank is also known as Hollywood Hank. He isn't just a collector either. This warehouse is his shop. Just about everything is for sale. He has one of a kind sculptures in there too. That's why he is the week, and summers, first: 

FEATUUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY 

Pimpin.

That's one way to use a bunch of vintage doll heads! Pimp em out to Santa. (If you didn't notice the top of the sculpture is Santa.) Hank, awesome. His warehouse, awesome. The 45 minutes I spent there, awesome. If you haven't gotten it by now, it was AWESOME. You can rest assured that my butt will be back there soon enough. Until then, I'll leave you with some pictures of his jaw dropping, heart palpitating, butt clenching warehouse! 

Well excuse me, Marilyn! 

Lemme get that!

That too. 

You can keep those. 

This whole wall will be mine someday. 

Tomorrow I'll be set up at the Peddler at the corner of W. Ferry and Elmwood. Come on down and see what cool new stuff I got! You should also buy something and re-purpose it so that you too can be featured here! It will be the highlight of your life! (or day.) 

Catch ya on the flip side!

-Stephanie 

(the word "Awesome" was used seven times in the writing of this blog. Eight if you count that one.)

*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, or any other space filled with stuff that needs to be picked over? Get atcha girl!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have a gluten free pizza.

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: 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.