Pearls Poppies PICKERS.

Traveling the backroads of America looking for rusty gold is quite possibly one of my dream jobs. I love the show American Pickers with Mike and Frank, and getting to pick myself when the opportunity comes along is something I never pass up. It happens very few and far between seeing as though I've typically lived in a big city, or near a big city, with slim to none in the "backroads of America" category. And typically the times I happen upon a junk yard of treasure, it is very unplanned. Hence, this Saturday. I tagged along with the men {Matt and our neighbor} for a bit of offroading and to scout out some great camping spots. After a day of bumpy roads, driving through rivers, and Yankee Doodle Lake, we stopped for some food which was right next to a plethora of rusty gold in this little indoor/outdoor shop. I did not buy a single thing, but I LOVED and savored the experience of rummaging through this mercantile junk yard antique shop. And I will definitely go back to this spot. I thought you might enjoy perusing and picking too ("window picking" we'll call it), and gathering up a few tips for braving the rusty venture of a bargain hunting pick...

Wouldn't this chair be great on a big porch or deck, painted navy with mustard yellow striped cushions? It was only $15, which I would have been all over if I had the place or space for it! And note the orange chair in the left photo. It was so darling as well!

Here are a fewTips that I have picked up from Mike and Frank, the American Pickers themselves, which I love to lean on at all picks/ garage sales/ bargain hunts {You don't just have to be on the backroads to do this! Try it out at your next neighborhood garage sale!}: 

• Break the ice with the vender/junk owner by paying the suggested price for the first item. Get the ball rolling and prove that you are serious about buying and know a gem when you see one!
• Save negotiating for the item that is just so-so. If you find an item that is a decent price, and you just love it, buckle down and pay the marked price.
• Bundle items. Find two or three items that you want and offer a single price for the group. When you bundle you often end up paying a lot less and the seller typically loves this because you are buying more of their treasures!

• Look high, look low. Sometimes you won't even realize it until you look up that chairs, photographs, frames, baskets, and light fixtures are right above your head when on a pick. And don't be afraid to look under chairs and in trunks and boxes. Often, antiques and junk are being literally stacked up as the collector or seller is getting more and more in their space, so things are everywhere!

• Venture outside and don't be overwhelmed by junk. Often, there is something so wonderful hidden in there that is hard to see from just scanning the outdoor area. Things kept outside get rusty and peely from weather, but be optimistic about a fresh coat of paint or some tuning up! These are the deals that are the best finds, because outside junk is big, bulky, and often overlooked by the average passer by. 

• Have a pickin' buddy. There's nothing better than having a partner in crime to sift through junk with. A second set of eyes can find things you might pass up, offer good advice, and help you break the ice, bundle, and negotiate. The roads traveled can be long and windy, and having a friend there along with the stories to tell is vital. What would picking be without this essential piece?

Do you have any pickin' adventures to share? Any tips you've learned to rely on?