DIY Del Ray: Put Your 'Junque' to Good Use

The Mount Vernon Big Flea is a huge fundraiser that benefits the PTA located here in Del Ray. It's also a great way to declutter or snatch up some great bargains.

The Big Flea takes place in May, but every Saturday this month the PTA is holding Shop 'n Drops where you can purchase items already donated or drop off household items for sale.

Leslie and I have kids at the school, so we've both volunteered at the Shop 'n Drops. Yes, we're helping out a good cause, but we also love a good bargain and jumped at the opportunity to get first dibs on some of the loot.

We've written two posts about the interesting things we're found (Part I and Part II). Here's a little taste:

• Japanese sushi and tea set: It’s missing a couple of tea cups, which is a shame, but the set is worth buying if only for the teapot. You can use the miso bowls, chopstick holders and plates as intended, and then repurpose the tea cups as dainty storage containers on your desk—for, say, paperclips, found buttons or pennies.
• Corner desk: Great color, great shape and perfect for small spaces, this corner desk belongs in a child’s room. I’d take it if I didn’t have a closet-to-office reno in the works. I could see it in a different color in a main living area to serve as a bill-paying desk, too. My guess is that it will be snatched up right quick at the next Shop 'n Drop if not the actual sale.
• CD shelf: Whoever purchases this will also get a piece of Alexandria history—it’s a CD shelf from the old Olsson’s Books and Records store in Old Town. One of our fellow volunteers used to work at Olsson’s and acquired it when they went out of business. Its narrow shelves are great for CDs, DVDs, paperbacks and kids’ board boards. And if you have a spot in your basement, use it to store canned goods, spice jars or other dried kitchen staples. Look closely and you’ll see the metal label brackets still intact.
• Paint sample canvases: Painted canvasses were one of several items donated by the former store in Del Ray. In the store, they showcased Bungalow’s paint colors, but anyone could take them, paint over or wrap in decorative fabric for inexpensive wall decor. Leslie and I stared at them for quite a while and finally came to the agreement one of us just had to get them. Leslie ended up buying them for her daughters. I can’t wait to see what they do with them.

For more information about the Big Flea including upcoming Shop 'n Drop dates and times and their donation policies, vist http://www.mvbigflea.com.

For ideas about how to turn trash into treasure (as well as other home improvement and design ideas) visit http://www.diydelray.com.