Thursday 22 March 2012

VINTAGE: Our First Visit to an Estate Sale

On Saturday we were driving back from the H & R block people [yeap here in America people have to sort out their own taxes - British folk cherish your national insurance and tax numbers that the government does all that for you]. Seriously it's all confusing. On the way there we noticed a sign for an estate sale, the drive back was a follow the sign mission until we found ourselves with many others parked outside a sweet little home. Everything was for sale with a huge range of things - radio tube testers, old cameras, crochet goodies, two singer sewing machines and loads, and I mean loads of dolls. We've been looking for some new shelves for my compact collection, we wanted something thrift and ideally vintage but we stumbled upon this god awful pink [the photograph doesn't show just how awful the pink was] painted shelf fixture. Everything was half price so we grabbed it for $5. 


One good adventure with some sandpaper, two days and two coats of Purple Orchid paint later and it's a lot better. Totally not a vintage colour but I'm a purple girl at heart and something dark will make the gold and silver of the compacts stand out much more.


From the top to the bottom - red Lin Bren compact, Rex lovebird compact, Marhill white flowers, Marhill butterflies, unmarked wooden compact, Yardley compact. 

We're slightly running out of wall space in the main parts of our apartment so it's hanging above the computer. Surprisingly it looks rather good there and they catch the light coming in from the window opposite. A quick gathering of some compacts, spreading them out across the levels and if I say so myself they look rather good. Now just on a mission to fill the top shelf after I find out where to buy some more mini plate stands. We've signed up with the company running the estate sale for news emails for upcoming sales, hopefully this might be the start of another fun vintage adventure!

Have you found any good vintage goodies lately? 

36 comments:

  1. I am so jealous! I want to go to an estate sale so badly. Also, I really would have loved to dig through those dolls. Anywho, the shelf looks great in the purple color. It really makes the compacts pop :]

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    1. The whole room was just full of dolls of all sizes all with really pretty ringlet hair! There was even stuffing and toys bodies to make them in what must have been the sewing room too. Was so fun having a look, although a little odd at the same time knowing it was once someone's home!

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  2. i love vintage stuff!

    www.aroundlucia.com
    www.aroundlucia.com

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  3. Would you believe it I've never actually been to an estate sale that wasn't a farm-based one for agricultural equipment?! (My Grandad was always after a small tractor). I'd be intrigued to see more of your estate sale adventures as you swiped a bargain there, totally agree that the deep, rich purple really brings out the twinkly-prettiness of the compacts.

    Jem xXx

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    1. I have three quarters of the tin of paint left and constantly looking for anything I can paint with it now lol. Hopefully get to some more estate sales soon.

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  4. they look great, good colour choice.

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    1. Thanks! Took ages to pick a colour, i'm so indecisive!

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  5. Now that's an estate sale find!! Wow that looks so good w/ the purple!! Good for you dear! I am so excited that its going to be estate sale & tag sale time again! YEAH!! =)

    Lemanie's Randomness Blog

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    1. Thanks! They really do seem a good way to spend the odd hour or two!

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  6. In most of the estate sales around Kansas City the household goods are sold by public auction. It is fun to bid on things...that is until you are outbid on something you really want:(
    I love your new shelf fixture and the new color.
    Good Luck with your future estate sales.
    xoxo

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  7. What a great find! That purple colour shows off the compacts to perfection, it works beautifully with the gold. Well done! x

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    1. Cheers Vix - and I can sit back from the sofa [which is opposite] and admire them all!

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  8. I read an article about estate sales recently and it did sound great for finding quirky, one off type stuff :-)

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    1. Yeah plus knowing it came from a home, even that just gives it a little bit of a back history and i'm all for that!

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  9. Nice job! I love estate sales. My favorite thing is to poke into the closets looking for vintage sheets and blankets. There are some great finds in there sometimes. Oh, and vintage sewing notions.
    Anna

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    1. Yeah there was loads of old linen, blankets, crocheted things there. Would be a great way to get some goodies on the cheap!

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  10. Sometimes you can find such amazing things at estate sales. Items with such character.

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    1. There was so much you wouldn't find anywhere else, like old geological magazines about Michigan, old maps and photographs.

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  11. people are always suggesting estate sales to me - it's hard because i don't like to collect a lot of things but i still think it would be super interesting. sounds like you had fun and made a good find :)

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  12. Wow they are gorgeous, very impressed, two of my favourite colours also.

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  13. the pink doesn't look awful, but I do love the retouching!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights

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    1. The pink was a bit of a shabby paint job.

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  14. Oh Yay your first estate sale!!! They are the best fun!!!
    The compacts look amazing on your fabulous find! Well done.
    Love v

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  15. That shelf is lovely, and something I would have definitely bought myself, I love how you've transformed it and I'm sure it will be a perfect home for your compact display. Very envious of estate and garage sales in the US xxx

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    1. I know, you don't hear about things like this in the UK which is a shame, I guess we Brits just throw things out too eays.

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  16. I've never heard of estate sales before, sound quite cool. I love the shelf it's really cute and the purple looks great, I think it just makes it pop :)

    Charlee
    xxx

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    1. It's certainly a very American thing, or at least a non British thing to do with your stuff!

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  17. It was such a good find! You've done a great job of it, it looks great now :)

    Love, Elizabeth xx

    http://butterflyboo.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you! Pretty impressed with it myself, was never good at painting!

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  18. That's an awesome find! :) I have a compact collection too (but it's a lot smaller than yours!) x

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  19. Great find - perfect for your compacts. And the purple is great. I haven't been to an estate sale in ages - I'm on the list for some in this area, but haven't been in a while. May have to change that!

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