My very first Official Estate Sale!

This morning I dared to venture out and attempt to combat the fierce competitive game that is the "estate sale". Well...maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but I was intimidated. I don't know proper estate sale etiquette and was fearful of offending someone or perhaps not being swift enough to capture the vintage prizes I was after.

Well...it wasn't so hard after all, although it's still a bit intimidating! When you go, they hand out numbers (first come first serve) and let you in based on your number once the sale starts. This is to avoid a crazed mob entering and practically looting the house. Piles of people gather at the door anxiously awaiting and complaining how it wasn't fair that they didn't get a lower number. I arrived plenty early because I really wasn't sure what to expect. I was number 3 so I got in right away (yippee!), although I think everyone got in right away. I made a bee line to basement where they had advertised Christmas ornaments, praying they were vintage and good quality. It didn't take me long to spot them...and they were vintage! I sifted through three big boxes and quickly filled the bag I had with me. A man came over and started looking through the box too. I felt my animal instincts kick in. I was afraid he would grab some amazing thing that was right at my finger tips. I wanted to snarl and bite his arm...but I refrained. Luckily the lot didn't interest him and he left. So silly I know...but it's part of the fun of the hunt I guess!

I have to say that I was inspired to go to a REAL estate sale (not the second day ones on Saturday that are basically a picked over indoor garage sale) by Laurie from Magpie Ethel. She is the estate sale queen and she displays all of her fabulous finds on her blog. Thanks Laurie for the encouragement! :)

Well...to the good part. Here's what I found:

Vintage dolls all dressed up, an old steiff looking spotted lion, an aque blue alarm clock and matching hand vase (with broken and poorly glued back on finger), little butter pats with pond lily transfers, a vintage flower sifter, tiny birds nest with chicks and mom, scarf, two neat belts, a leather camel with rider, a pretty handmade pot holder, funky double ended bud vase, several rhinestone brooches and a stack of little towels that match my logo!


The Christmas items where fabulous too! TONS of blue bead garlands, old wax head angels, tiny flocked deer, elves galore, a good supply of long skinny blue glass ornaments, and more!

I paid a little more than I wanted...and this was after I talked down the price, but it was well worth the time, effort and moola! :)