One should never argue with the word "free". As the couponers of this world say, "If it's free, it's for me!" Lately, I've taken to exploring the world of Craigslist, mostly via the antiques, garage sales, and free section. You would be amazed at what people give away for free on this site. Yes, taker beware: there have been instances when people list items for free, to have it be an address of a neighbor's house giving away their front yard bird bath or some other hoax. Some people list food for free, boxes of cereal or bad meat. Yes, bad meat - listed as perfect for feeding wildlife... um... no thanks. Occasionally, I have come across some free items that I wish I could take. Old tables/hutches that just need a little elbow grease to look beautiful once again, antique chairs that need new upholstery, and collections of vintage holiday ceramics/decorations that people just don't want anymore. Unfortunately, I like to look at Craigslist free ads for everywhere in the US, not just local. I've missed out on many good things!
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While perusing the free ads on Craigslist this past Sunday, I came across a local ad for garage sale leftovers. There was the usual tv with the vhs player in it that no one ever wants, a kids' slide, a plastic hamper, and other uninteresting items. But, there was one item that did catch my eye. I quickly sent an email to the Craigslist poster, asking if the item was still available. The next day, I received a reply email that the item was indeed still there, waiting by the mailbox for someone to pick it up. Having read the email 4 hours after it was sent, I quickly got into my car and made my way over to the listed address, hoping that it was still there.
As I drove down the road, looking at the different mailboxes, I saw it. No one had picked it up! This beauty was now all mine - and for FREE!
Meet Hattie. Hattie the mannequin torso. I somewhat regret leaving the legs there, but they were broken, no standing rod, and I don't think they were a match anyway (they were missing the connector). Plus, I will have to figure out where to put a torso... I can't picture where I would put a whole mannequin.
Mannequins have been around for quite some time. They didn't become prevalent in store displays until the late 1800s, when store window panes and street lighting became popular. An array of materials was used for initial production, from wood, sawdust, paper-mache, and then eventually changing to fiberglass and plastic. The mannequin itself changed as the times changed, moving with the whims of society and what was fashionable at the time. For a quick history of mannequins, check out http://www.displayarama.com/mannequin.htm.
Hattie appears to be a vintage mannequin. She is a wooden form base, with plaster applied followed by paint. She has flat metal attached to her limb area, along with a hollowed out circular cut to fit her arms. The bottom of her torso also had the cut-out to fit her legs. She also has earring holes - exciting!
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I've been interested in acquiring a vintage sewing dress form for some time, but most are out of my price range. When I saw the mannequin - for FREE - I knew I had the next best thing. She has a few paint chips, a scruff here & there, and needs a cleaning. Pair some tlc with a wig, shirt, and accessories and she is as good as new.
~ Flea Fact~
Take a peek at Craigslist. You would be surprised at some of the finds you can acquire. Often people are moving, have inherited a home full of stuff, or just have an abundance of items left over from a yard sale that they want to get rid of. There are times when people do not know the value of the item they are selling for $10 or $20. Be on the look-out! And while many of the Free items can more or less be destined for the trash can, occasionally there are some treasures amidst the trash.
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