I went to an estate sale Friday afternoon -- spied these three blue suitcases piled up in a hallway and ran to grab them! The sale was supposed to start at 2PM and when I got there at 1:56PM everyone was already inside, so I got lucky.
Also got a bunch of books -- here's a World Atlas from Collier's -- filled with some cool maps.
"Your Puppy" has some great illustrations.
This was sitting by the register so I couldn't leave it. It was published in 1934.
February is not the best time for junking here on the East Coast, but there was a small estate sale listed last weekend. Mr. VJIMT was not into it, and I had to practically drag him over there. The line was long, the temps were freezing, and there was a lot of grousing.
All that was forgotten when he found this painting.
Those of you who follow my Facebook page know I've been mildly obsessed with Mad Men. I'm late to that particular party, but have watched 52 episodes (4 seasons) in 22 days.
So everytime I walk by this painting I think it's Betty Draper's mother.
Most of the stuff inside was pretty pricey but I found a few items in the garage that made me happy.
Fun tree skirt emblazoned with Santas popping out of the chimneys surrounded by reindeer and stars.
A small tool carrier.
A silver tray to chalkboard, a tiny box of Christmas ornaments, and vintage drinking cups.
I actually bought these with Magpie Ethel in mind to use for her whimsical creations. Although I'm sure she has her own collection of them!
Not a whole lot, but enough to keep us going until spring yard sale time!
I love estate sales that start on Fridays. It's a little taste of the yard sales to come.
Unfortunately, this is all I got last Friday.
Some Dresden foils and small Christmas-y items.
All of which screamed Magpie Ethel to me. I'm sure she could make something cute(r) out of these spun angel heads.
Or these glittered bird clips.
Ok, I'm kind of crushing on the bird clips now.
I've been going through my stash and listing like crazy. On both Etsy AND the dreaded ebay. I have some things I think may do well in an auction-type environment, so I'm taking the plunge.
Here are a couple of things I was holding off listing until it got closer to Easter. Yeah, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
This oh-so-sweet carrying case was my lone purchase at an estate sale.
The edges are worn and shabby, and the latch doesn't stay shut…
…but the graphics are adorable!
Inside was this… this… thing. At first I thought it was a hand-painted bib, but that baby's head would have to be teeny-tiny to fit through the 3-inch opening!
Then I realized there was no opening at all on the bottom, so no, it's not a bib.
front
It's in excellent condition, no holes or tears, and I'm guessing from the design that it's from the 1930s. But WHAT is it? Do you know?
I even called in an expert for her opinion. I'll let you know what Oodles and Oodles thinks it is after you all weigh in.
back
This piggy baby rattle was also inside. I don't know about you, but this thing would give me nightmares. Bacon-themed nightmares, but nightmares nonetheless.
It may have been an extremely warm winter around here, but there has been little junking opportunity for me lately. Which makes for one very dull junking blog.
Fortunately, I have some miscellanea from a few rogue sales that I may have neglected to show you.
One estate sale yielded some fun stuff --
I loved this Wonder Bread tray that was used to haul the bread out of the trucks. I thought it was metal when I first saw it but it's just a hard plastic. It was a little too pricey for me the first day, so I went back on the half-off day and it was still there! Mine!
Another creepy doll. I should collect these, since they seem to seek me out. Instead, they're in my Etsy shop.
Here's a nice carnival chalkware dog that sold almost instantly after I listed it.
Shoebox full of crafty bling for jewelry-making endeavors.
There were lots of little bottles of beads; I just kept the sparkly ones and these lengths of rhinestones and trims.
Got this great hat box for FREE at another estate sale. Love the red and that it's from Wanamaker's, a beloved local-to-Philadelphia establishment. I already have Gimbel's, so am now on the hunt for Strawbridge & Clothier -- let me know if you see one!
I actually worked in the grand Wanamaker building after it was converted into business offices -- coincidentally, Mr. VJIMT also worked in the building many years prior when it was still the original department store -- and we both have many fond memories of the traditional Christmas Light Show held there (this postcard features the building; I bought it on Etsy last year).
I thought this cup was interesting and unusual. It features a King on one side and a Queen on the other, along with playing card icons across the bottom.
Finally, Mr. VJIMT spied this one day while he was out. It's a metal Empire salesman sample stove and oven. Salesman's samples were miniature versions of products made perfectly to scale that the salesman would take to potential clients to show the product's features.
See some more great examples of salesman's samples in this post from Mitzi's Miscellany. And more vintage miscellanea from me soon!
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It helps to have friends in neighboring states who enjoy going to estate sales. Friends who then text you when they see something you may like. Friends who then pay for and carry the heavy rusty dirty thing for you, all the while looking cute and put together.
Maybe she needs to be my personal stylist too?
Thanks Karen!
Way back in mid-December there was an advertised estate sale about ninety minutes away. It sounded fantastic -- old barn, 60+ years of collecting, treasures galore! -- but unfortunately, I had some conflicts and wouldn't be able to make it to the Friday sale.
Or the Saturday sale.
Sunday, however, was a possibility, especially since we had a Saturday overnight event that was about 15 minutes away. But would it be worth it? What would be left by Sunday?
excuse the blurry
Not only did we get there on Sunday, the last day of the sale, but we got there with only 30 MINUTES left to the sale!
Mr. VJIMT is looking a little too longingly at that ladder
There were only bits and pieces left by then. I can only imagine what I had missed.
{I actually don't want to think about what I missed.}
But I probably wouldn't have gotten the FABULOUS just-take-it-away prices if I had gotten there any earlier.
Two great vintage mirrors…
… and an embroidered frame, which I am dating to the late-Victorian era.
Wonderful silk (?) needlework on a linen background, framed in Philadelphia.
And all these made-in-England porcelain platters and plates!
The guy running the sale just wanted this stuff gone, especially the girlie dishes. That small stack of little floral plates were priced at $10. I got ALL the china for $10!
So if you are hesitant about going to an end-of-day estate sale, or even an end-of-weekend estate sale -- do it! You just may come home with a treasure or two.
Much like this blog post, it's never too late!
“Shivers. Only shopper at creepy estate sale. Glad my body wasn't found in pieces in the basement. More importantly, I bought something.”
I held my iphone in my hand as I hastily searched for treasures. I even told the guy running it that I was meeting “a friend” there and was waiting for her call. I stuck my head down the basement steps but decided the risk wasn't worth it. Plus there wasn't anything down there.
But, as I tweeted, I did buy something.
Two pieces of Little Red Riding Hood pottery manufactured by Hull from 1943 to 1957. Each in perfect condition, with no chips or cracks.
They were $2 each.
After a couple of failed ebay attempts, they sold Sunday night for over $50 each! Glad I risked life and limb!
For more thrilling ebay flips, check out The Ebay Thrifter and Late Night Coffee.
The only thing I can say is that you all must have been fervently wishing for me to find some ornaments with which to decorate my kitschy aluminum Christmas tree… ‘cause I found all these TODAY at an estate sale I very nearly missed. The universe is listening!
Although Mr. VJIMT uses another not so nice “B” word to describe them, I humbly bow before the vintage Shiny Brite gods and thank them for their bounty.
And this is not even everything I got this morning -- more photos to come after I catch my breath!
Ok, I'm like ten days behind but I'm going to try to catch you all up this week.
We are still in the midst of back-to-school functions, but on that very first day of school a like-minded pal let me know there was an estate sale THAT DAY. Which had just been advertised the night before, but had failed to come up in my email notifications.
After she told me, we hightailed it out of the traditional first-day breakfast and raced to see what we could score.
Wow -- this box of Shiny Brites and other ornamental pleasures awaited me!
As did this typewriter lurking in the basement. I spotted it, elbowed my way hurtled back upstairs, and put in my claim. When I could catch my breath. All that hurtling, you know.
I also found this adorable vintage wind-up tin bear toy!
He raises, lowers, and wipes his giant Jerry Lewis glasses -- so cute! He goes by Bruno the Spectacle Bear, made in Japan.
Great scores on short notice -- good thing my friends are paying attention! Thanks J!
Unabashed trash picker, flea market aficionado, thrift store hunter, and yard sale junkie; mom to an irrepressible little princess and a scholarly teenaged wizard; independent graphic designer.
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