American Junk: How to Hunt for, Haggle over, Rescue, and Transform America's Forgotten Treasures (from Five Dollar Chairs to Five Cent Swizzle Sticks) from Flea Markets, Tag Sales, Book

For anyone who reads the local Pennysaver or swap sheet, for anyone who can't drive by a yard sale without turning in, for anyone on lookout for treasures in Grandma's attic, or for anyone who just likes to collect - welcome to American Junk, the bible for a new generation of foragers." Author Mary Randolph Carter, herself a passionate "junker," takes us on a tour of tag sales, auctions, and flea markets around the country, where she and other devotees of the sport have discovered unique and remarkable items that they then transform from bargains to prized booty. She introduces us to and takes us into the homes of these unusually creative people, who share her belief that thrift, economy, and ingenuity translate into high style indeed. There are before-and-after pictures, tips on repair and storage hints on how to bargain, ideas for themed collections and even a list of what to bring on junking expeditions. The author reveals the price of almost every one of the hundreds and hundreds of items pictured, and best of all provides a directory to more than two "junking sites" nationwide. American Junk is a one-of-a-kind book for those who appreciate the rare, the idiosyncratic, and the unexpected - those who realize that there are as many kinds of junk as there are individuals.

The author of American Family Style turns her impeccable eye and exquisitely honed sense of style to junk, showcasing her own prized booty and that of a cross-section of fellow collectors. Includes outstanding examples of the genre in glass, metal, Western style--even Junk Masters (paintings that just might pass for the real thing).