Welcome, friends, to another fun-filled Thrill of the Hunt post where I share my latest thrifty (and usually) vintage finds with you. 

My hope is that by sharing my thrifty finds I can motivate and inspire you to explore your own local thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets and barn sales and make your own fabulous finds for yourself. So let's get started.

For me, fall is the absolute best time of year for thrifting, vintage hunting and just plain junkin', for a whole host of reasons. So far, early fall has been good to me. And I'm especially excited to share a few of my latest thrifty vintage and vintage-inspired finds with you all today. 

Get ready for a HUGE vintage-inspired farmhouse sign (on clearance no less!), vintage-inspired cow and bull head cameos (another great buy) and a vintage galvanized chicken feeder. I've been waiting for a chicken feeder for a few years and I finally found one in my price range. Time to celebrate.

Two of my finds are showcased together here on the hearth in our family room. I purchased the HUGE handpainted, vintage-inspired Farmhouse sign at Vintage 71 Shops in Yorkville, IL. 

I found the vintage chicken feeder at the twice-yearly Pecatonica, IL flea market (otherwise known as "The Pec Thing" to its loyal vendors and attendees, myself included). I had always wanted a feeder so that I could use it for seasonal vignettes. And fall is the perfect time to try it out!


The sign is 5 feet long, 14" high and 2" deep. I found it only after trekking up Vintage 71 Shop's  dubious and creaky stairs to the "attic" where they keep their clearance items. 

I paid $35.00 for it, which is a lot for me to pay for thrifted, or even vintage-inspired, decor. But I knew I would probably never DIY a sign of this size, and it was originally $78.00. So I feel like I did get a good deal. PLUS I totally love it! 

The chippy, aqua paint just happens to go perfectly with the color scheme in the family room. And honestly, when I get sick of seeing the word Farmhouse and want a change in color -- THEN I will DIY myself a new sign!


The chicken feeder was found early on in The Pec Thing visit. It also came with a long wooden handle that runs the entire length of the feeder which I took off for decorating purposes. But the patina is priceless. 

I got it for $24.00, which I thought was a fair price. I talked the seller down from $30.00. The small velvet pumpkins came from Target's Dollar Spot -- the lovely deep colored ones are from last year and the white and green ones are from this year.




I got this much larger velvet pumpkin from T.J. Maxx, and the real Baby Boo pumpkin in the aged terra cotta pot is from the grocery store.


I added in some dried hydrangea cuttings from the garden. I use them year-round in so many decorative ways. The feeder will be moved to our farmhouse kitchen table as a centerpiece.


As you can see here, the chicken feeder isn't the only thing with a wonderful patina. This sign really does look like it's many years old and really beat-up (in a good way). Dents, dings, chippy paint and fading letters. Need I say more?


 Here's my thrifted galvanized French flower bucket that I stenciled with my own DIY stencils. It's filled with my DIY faux farmhouse cotton stems that add a nice fall touch.


Here's the cow. He's 5 1/2" by 4 1/2". Not too big, and not too small. I'm thinking of finding a place for them in the kitchen. 


The patina really gives them a vintage look. I'm thinking of naming them. Perhaps Bessie and Bob? Barb and Bill? I'm open to suggestions! 

Don’t miss another thrifty,

 DIY home décor post!