There are some vintage finds I bring home that I know exactly what I’ll do with, and others that have me completely stumped. I’ve had this old mop bucket ringer so long, I can’t even remember where I got it, and it’s practically become a fixture in my workshop. I’ve gotten so used to seeing it in there, I almost stopped noticing I even had it.
Then a few days ago, I went out to get a piece of wood from my shop, and suddenly I thought, “towel bar holder”! I wasn’t even trying to think of an idea for it – it just popped into my head. I don’t know if this repurpose will appeal to anyone else, but I listed it in my shop (here), so we’ll see. If no one buys it, I’ll use it, because it’ll fit in perfectly in my farmhouse style kitchen.
On the other hand, I brought this vintage doll cradle home several weeks ago, from a yard sale my mom and I went to, and I have no idea what to do it with it. I kept trying to walk away from it, because I have on need for a doll cradle, and no great ideas were popping into my head, but I just kept coming back to it. I decided I would offer a lower price than was marked on it, and if the owner agreed, I’d buy it, and if she didn’t, I’d leave it behind.
She quickly agreed to my lower price offer, and I brought it home, and I still have no idea what to do with it. The funny thing is, as soon as my daughter’s cat walked in and saw it, he jumped in and made himself comfortable, and I had the old Harry Chapin song stuck in my head the rest of the day. Our cat does not need a cradle, and as much as I like that song, I don’t want it popping into my head every time I walk by it, so I’ll probably just list it in my shop as-is, but I keep thinking there ought to be something really creative I can do with it, so I haven’t yet. If you have any great ideas, please tell me!
At the same yard sale, I found a lampshade that I liked the shape of, and happily noticed it had a large stain on it, so I wouldn’t need to feel guilty about tearing the fabric off, because I love bare metal lamp shades. It’s available in my shop here.
I brought home several more vintage fryer baskets from a shop when we went to an apple festival, and they are now listed in my shop here and here.
I also found this old enamelware drawer. It’s available here.
We leaving in the wee hours of the morning, to go visit my middle son at college for his 20th birthday, so I’m hoping to find a few new goodies while we’re there.
Thank you Angie for making me feel ‘normal’ … I too will find something that I’m just sure is wonderful, and then time goes by with it setting in a corner. And just as you described …suddenly an epiphany, an aha moment strikes and I know exactly what I will make with it! And yes Harry Chapin’s songs can be ‘head-catchy’ …will never forget getting a kiss from that balladeer back in ’79 at an Ames, IA campas concert … oh, the 70’s.
What cool treasures you find! And you have the imagination to bring them to life.
When I first saw the cradle, before I read further, I thought “That would make some cat a nice bed!”
And in your next picture, it is! Cats know this stuff……personally, I’d keep it for the cat to sleep in. At least for a while, cats move on to other places eventually, don’t they?
I have seen photos where people used doll beds for display at the foot of the bed or in other rooms. One I saw at an antique mall yesterday, had a small Christmas tree and a couple of tiny gifts wrapped sitting in it an old pieced quilt block. I think you could stand books in it for book storage or put some hay on the bottom and add a nativity scene in it for Christmas.
You truly have a vision for repurposing! It is fantastic! Depending on the height of the cradle a piece of glass on the railing woul make a sweet table. I’m thinking too short,though.
Yes, that’s the problem – it’s pretty short, so it has me stumped!
Angie, I also buy doll furniture. Chairs, cradles, I guess I just like the mini versions. Depending on the size, I think it would make a cute book or magazine rack. Or even on a large table filled with pumpkins this time of year! Or on the porch with flowers ! Great finds, every one.
Love the wringer as a towel bar! I have several of those – yay for me!
I couldn’t think of a lot of ways to use a mop wringer, so I was thrilled to come up with even ONE idea, Karen!
I still have my doll cradle from when I was little. It is about 50 years old…does that make it Vintage or Antique? LOL Did the liner for your cradle come with it? Mine is long gone, so just the dowels remain. I do like the idea of using it at Christmas with a Nativity scene set up in it. Wondering what you ended up paying for yours.