Let’s start the year out right – giant antique card catalog.
I like my New Year’s resolutions to avoid any whiff of self-evaluation. I am already the best at what I do: irritable, controlling, whimsical, hoarding, weird grammatical choices… there is no room for improvement.
As validation that I am doing life extra right, the universe has sent me yet another giant piece of furniture that I do not need… practically for free.
Thanks, universe!
Paul and I were both home… We had an out-of-town event and were planning to leave around noon.
By 11 o’clock, I still hadn’t taken a shower. Or packed. Or generally done any of the things I needed to; but because there is never a time when procrastination is not appropriate, I decided I should look on craigslist.
And? This is why you always, always, always, always check craigslist.
No. Matter. What.
I already said this in the Victorian Wardrobe post but it bears repeating:
When there is something on Craigslist that you really want, and it is listed for a ridiculously low price, you must contact them correctly.
To stand out from the 400 emails the seller is going to get, you must be the one person who requires nothing. You must be a beacon of simplicity and straightforwardness:
Hi,
I want that.
I can come anytime.
I can move it myself.
I don’t need your help.
Here is my phone number.
My social security number.
My bank account number.
Then I went and said to Paul– small detour ahead.
Paul said – you know, we need to leave pretty soon.
And I was like – yes. I know. THIS IS WHY I NEED A CREW.
He looked at the pictures and said – I thought you didn’t like oak?
I said – true. I do not like oak. However? For $50? I REALLY LIKE OAK.
It was not even 10 minutes away— in the loading dock of an office park.
It’s not in perfect shape, but for $50? It’s in FANTASTIC condition.
In the craigslist photos, I could kind of see that something was off about the stacking… if you look above, you can see that there is a thin, chipped board sticking out; but it turned out to be no big deal– at some point they had split up the sections and made a makeshift top.
It’s missing two strips of the decorative molding… one of which we found in a drawer. We’ll hold off on reattaching it until we figure out what side needs to be the “good” side.

**random transition**
This post has been sitting, (unfinished) for over a month now…
I have tried to end it a couple of ways: speculating on what I might use a 55 drawer card catalog for. Gibberish about repurposing it for the kitchen. Trying to think of new and ridiculous ways to stage it.
But what does it really matter? I’ve acquired it, it is awesome, eventually its purpose will be revealed.
The End.
OR
It will serve no purpose, and it will just take up a giant chunk of space and become yet another unusable area of the house.
Based on my research conducted over the last weeks, this is the likely outcome.
I’ve moved it from room to room to room to room to room… stood back and thought – that does not look right… then after a few days, I start stacking other unused furniture bits on top.
If I reach the ceiling, I win some kind of disorganized/hoarding prize.
see all my favorite Craigslist finds
January 6, 2015 @ 10:21 am
OoooooH – this could be start of your own beginning as Mrs. Basil E. Frankweileresque.
Or am I the only one who wanted to grow up to be Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?
January 6, 2015 @ 11:54 am
No, I wanted to be the kids hiding in the museum. 🙂
January 6, 2015 @ 7:42 pm
Wow. Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler… I confess I took that book to church, hid it in a hymnal–thusly thereafter noted for unusual devoutness in a child so young.
December 31, 2016 @ 12:59 pm
I also love the book “From the files of Mrs.. Basil E. Frankweller” !! My third graders did too as I read I thought to them ……..
January 6, 2015 @ 10:23 am
It’s a GIANT JEWELRY BOX! I would love it with my whole heart.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:23 am
OMG. Best. Junk. Drawer. EVER!!! Just imagine all the things you could lose in there!! Old screws, rubber bands, post-it notes, paperclips, twisties….the possibilities are endless!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:30 am
Looks like Pauls new tool chest. It will hold all of his thingies!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:30 am
Fantastic find! I have something similar that I got when my children were young to hold all the gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, etc. in our foyer. It worked great then, and it works great now.
January 8, 2015 @ 10:24 am
Great find!!! Hey- I was wondering, did you go back to the auction and bid on any of the 1 million fancy frames they were selling?? What a bonanza! My husband and I met you and Paul there a few weeks ago. Also, random question, what is the room color in the photo above? We’ve been looking for a creamy yellow for quite some time.
January 10, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Hey – I did end up going back, although not for the frames… I HAD to have this unusual enamel bin-thingy (that will probably just end up in a pile of clutter).
The paint is eggnog by Behr – Home Depot. I looked at about 900,000 shades, so I can definitely endorse this one. We used it in every single room. (Although, I would tell you to get a sample first because it looks different depending on how much light/size of room.)
January 6, 2015 @ 10:30 am
That looks like the PERFECT craft supply station for all of your other crafty wonders. Well the small ones anyway. Surely the hubs can’t argue being more organized with your projects!!
And I’m terribly jealous. What a beautiful piece. You are brilliant.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:33 am
I am so sad… The universe sent my card catalog to you!!! Grrrrr!!! I am so jealous, I have been looking for one of these for years and never found one big enough or cheap enough! I must keep looking!!!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:33 am
Awesome-sauce! Time answers all questions – it was meant to be yours so it’s purpose will be revealed!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Maybe it used to be Joan River’s. She was shown filing her jokes in one just this big. Love it.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:36 am
Well, if you put it in the kitchen it could store all kinds of wonderful kitcheny stuff, like recipe cards (it is a card catalog after all), coffee, spices, silverware, kitchen gadgets, small canned goods, napkin rings, measuring cups/spoons. The list is endless….Or it would work really great for craft/paint supplies. I wish I had one, my art room is a disaster. I’m looking forward to finding out what purpose you find for it!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:37 am
Haven’t you always wanted a cabinet of curiosities? That’s what I would use it for. Or, 55 junk drawers. With labels! Wish it were mine! Happy New Year!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:39 am
You are a woman after my own heart 🙂
January 6, 2015 @ 10:40 am
Question – is this the kind of card catalog where the drawers have a huge slot in the bottom? So each drawer needs some sort of cardboard (or nicer replacement) insert?
I ask these questions so that I can say “Oh, so it’s not THAT great.” Even though it is GORGEOUS and fabulous and just the perfect thing ever.
– sighed the once (and hopefully future) librarian….
January 6, 2015 @ 10:42 am
My mother has a giant card catalog and I’ve been coveting it for years! She alphabetically labeled all of the drawers and store EVERYTHING in that beast. There’s a drawer for tape measures, glitter, glue, buttons, thread, scissors…everything! I. AM. SO. JEALOUS.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:42 am
I have two card catalogues (’60s era so not nearly as cool as these) that I picked up for $10 each at a school system auction. I use one for beading supplies, the other for fly-tying supplies and work surface for my husband.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:45 am
LOVE IT!!!
Wait a minute, can’t you use it to hold (because organize would be ludicrous) all your glitter, buttons, small shiny things…. there is tons of potential here. Stand on your head to see the view from a new perspective. 😉
January 6, 2015 @ 10:45 am
I bought myself a 60 drawer card catalog from Craig’s List a few years ago for my birthday (as part of my gift, my husband refinished it). It is 6 rows of 12 drawers across. I have heard it is good for wine storage, but I am not a wine drinker. A small portion is used to hold placemats and table runners (the fit pretty well, when rolled up). The rest is a parking garage for my son’s hot wheel collection (he’s 5….he thinks it is more awesome than maybe I do).
January 6, 2015 @ 10:46 am
What a terrific find! Being an “art supply junkie”, I could fill every one of those drawers in a heartbeat!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:53 am
LOVE IT! Great find!!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:57 am
Ooooh, it looks so nice! I would put craft supplies in it. My quilling paper would be separated out by color and stickers and other add-ons would each have their own drawer – a masterpiece!