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 @ 1:59 pm
For that price I would have bought it too. I’m not sure what I would do with it but I love all those drawers. It sounds like you have some ideas to mull over from your readers. I kind of think it could be cute in the kitchen, not for recipe cards but just because its so darn cute.
Karen
January 6, 2015 @ 2:08 pm
I am in awe. I go to Craig’s list and find only Naugahyde recliners.
January 6, 2015 @ 2:09 pm
That’s the best opening sentence ever!!! No whiff of self evaluation…LOL!!!!
January 6, 2015 @ 2:09 pm
I just died of envy too!
January 6, 2015 @ 2:23 pm
Victoria, the Universe talks to you in the best whispers. You are my idol in so many ways: that you find such spectacular items, that Paul lugs them home for you, that you WILL said items to look fabulous no matter where you set them in your lovely home. It is almost as if physics does not apply to you: I believe your rooms magically expand to accommodate the new item being brought in.
I love the card catalog, I am jealous. I had acquired a newer card catalog, split it with a friend, and used it to keep tools in. Card catalogs do not like being kept in unheated garages, the drawers swell to the point they will not open. It’s ok, they open in the Spring, LOL.
I vote to make it the best.winerack.ever.
Keep up the amazing finds!
January 6, 2015 @ 2:25 pm
That is to die for, perfect for my artist studio !! If you get tired of it, call me!
January 6, 2015 @ 2:29 pm
Does it come apart? Could you stack it side by side, give it a new top and make it a buffet? or console table… would look great on the back side of a couch…
January 6, 2015 @ 2:31 pm
Victoria, you always make me smile
January 6, 2015 @ 2:55 pm
Lovely! I have worked in many libraries and even went to library school, so I love card catalogs. Only one poster has mentioned the teeny, tiny drawback to your cabinet of curiosities, and a solution. The drawers have a rod running from front to back along the bottom to hold the cards. This can be a challenge when storing small things. I think you need another crew (and one of Paul’s many nifty cutting tools?) to crank out the 55 pieces of mat board to fit the bottom of each drawer. Then you can fill it with lots of little things.
January 6, 2015 @ 3:01 pm
You are the best Craislist finder of great things ever! I thought of you as I went to look at a Craigslist item today for the first time. I thought “well, Victoria doesn’t get killed going to look at Craiglist stuff…I probably won’t either”. It wasn’t the right size when I got there but at least I “broke the ice” and came back alive too.
January 6, 2015 @ 3:17 pm
Could you put them in three pieces with a cushion on top as an end of the bed bench?
Or I like the idea of using it as a jewelry box, each box could store some of those AMAZING earrings you posted about of few months ago with a bedazzled label with its contents.
January 6, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Victoria!
Teach us. What are the keyword you search for to find your most amazing loot! I too procrastinate on Craigslist and I need a tip from a Pro.
January 6, 2015 @ 3:58 pm
Spectacular piece of junk that looks AMAZING! I’ve always thought that those card catalogs were a genius piece of invention for absolutely nothing but look pretty. I love it! Yes, finally something that many of us love to look at because its got so much character but useless. I say if you’ve got the space then you need a card catalog. What a great find.
January 6, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
I shared this blog with a group (Artist Supply Junkies Unite) on my FB page and have been getting all kinds of responses. I posted a link to my posting on your FB page. Thought you’d enjoy seeing the responses of these drooling-with-envy junkies. Always look forward to seeing your blogs. They never disappoint. 🙂
January 6, 2015 @ 4:28 pm
Trust me, if you take out the metal thingy in the drawers, each drawer will hold a bottle of wine!!!
January 6, 2015 @ 4:44 pm
it looks just perfect for shoes…. stilettos of course
January 6, 2015 @ 5:01 pm
I couldn’t have passed it up, lol. It’s gorgeous in it’s slighly imperfect state, let alone restored with it’s purpose found. VIVA LE HOARDERS!!
January 6, 2015 @ 5:11 pm
Of course you need this giant, 55-drawer oak card catalog. Now that you have a fairly good start on collecting giant, fancy things, you will need a place to store the small, fancy things you should start collecting immediately!
January 6, 2015 @ 5:15 pm
I am also the proud owner of a Craigslist card catalog – and I looooove it. I store art supplies (pens and pencils and brushes) and and flashlights and stationary and pocket knives and light bulbs (different kinds in different drawers) and old checkbooks and reading glasses and extra headphones and camera accessories and photo prints and oh so many things all in their own little drawer. No labels on the drawers, I just open every single one of them whenever I am looking for something.
January 6, 2015 @ 5:24 pm
Who cares if you can do something useful with it? It’s a FREAKING GIANT CARD CATALOG! I might have been a touch excited there, but still. It doesn’t NEED to be useful (although giant wine respository might be quite nice), it’s just FREAKING AWESOM and I’m a tiny bit envious along with being overexceited.
I’m on a shopping diet. No buying anything that isn’t food or kitty litter.