Another Friday, another adventure. @magicsummervintage and I are back on the dusty trail, hunting down vintage treasures at an estate sale and a church sale.
I really do think the allusion of Vintage hunting being like actual hunting is apt. You know, except for the guns and killing bits. Clothing: Hunters have camouflage and orange stuff so they don't fire on each other. We have comfortable, sensible clothing and footwear, for long hours on the hunt - stalking our prey. You don't want to accidentally expose four inches of ass crack while you are swooping some treasure under a table. Because we all know that in that case, the swoop wins. Ass crack be damned. Gear: Hunters have guns and calls and animal pee. We have baskets and bags for hauling, phones for photos and information, and credit cards to see the "kill" is processed. I mean, it's basically the same exact thing. But without blood and guts.
You can read about Ann's version of events here.
Today I wasn't on the trail of anything super specific. I looked at the photos beforehand and it seemed like there were enough things to make it interesting, but nothing stood out.
Today I wasn't on the trail of anything super specific. I looked at the photos beforehand and it seemed like there were enough things to make it interesting, but nothing stood out.
I snagged a few treasures at the jewelry table but passed on this geode / crystal belt buckle. Lots of people are all hot and bothered about geodes and crystals these days. Bet someone would have loved this hunk of rock.
There was also a Winchester belt. Maybe we should go down the pub and wait for this whole thing to blow over.
Next I headed to the porch, where I had seen vintage plush toys in the photos. There were a few left, so I put them in my basket. The porch was pretty packed.
I had to do a double take at the wallpaper in one of the bedrooms. Whoa. I can't imagine sleeping with all that going on.
I found this sweet lilac velvet ring box that matched a larger version I bought a few years ago to hold other jewelry. So beautiful!
In the basement they had this awesome bar setup. It's hard for me to imagine having enough time and energy and booze to warrant a specific room to drink in. But so many old houses have a built in bar area in the basement.
Behind the bar, on the wall I found this set. Yep. #gunlawsnow
When we were done with the estate sale, I had a full bag of fun...
...while Ann bought a huge box full of paper products in order to get the vintage paper Genesee Beer cups therein.
After the estate sale we went to a church sale. We'd gone the previous year and I fondly recall the mountains of holiday that I was able to dig through. We walked through the doors and it looked like a huge amount of stuff, just like last year!
...while Ann bought a huge box full of paper products in order to get the vintage paper Genesee Beer cups therein.
After the estate sale we went to a church sale. We'd gone the previous year and I fondly recall the mountains of holiday that I was able to dig through. We walked through the doors and it looked like a huge amount of stuff, just like last year!
Except not holiday. Sad, sad times. I only snagged one bag full of ornaments.
Next I went to the jewelry table, because it looked pretty loaded, and I do love a jewel. I found a few things to buy...
...and then set about rifling through the plastic bangles for Bakelite. Instagram has been lighting up with people finding Bakelite bracelets at thrift stores and estate sales for next to nothing. I kept telling Ann that we were living in a moment, and that our time would come sooner or later. We'd find it in the wild. For cheap.
I narrowed the pile down to one weird grayish carved piece, and an orange bangle. When Ann arrived she said she didn't care what the gray one was made of, it was ugly and she wouldn't wear it. Fair enough. On to the orange. It was more thin than other pieces I'd seen. Not as heavy or as chunky. Ann felt it. She tapped it. We looked at each other and shrugged..."maaaayyybbeee???" Out came the testing kit: A plastic sandwich bag with a paper towel inside, dampened with 409 cleaner. The 409 reacts to the formaldehyde in the Bakelite. The paper towel will come away with a yellow spot because of the reaction, if what you have is Bakelite. The plastic will be unharmed - just a tinch more clean perhaps.
(Photo taken after the sale, in the car. Where one can be more free to express one's emotions about plastic jewelry.)
I let Ann test it. Instant yellow. All she said was, "Dude" in a very hushed, poker face voice as she showed me the spot. We had found it! In the wild! For cheap! One dollar to be exact! Now it can go live with her growing stack of happiness.
I passed on these adorable plates.
...and then I saw....THIS.
...😱...
I really thought about asking them to buy it for a minute. But it's obviously part of their school signage and proooooobbbbably not for sale. But whoa. I couldn't close my mouth for a minute.
After we decided there was no way for me to end up going home with the Animal sign, it was to check out.
Our goodies, safely stored, our Bakelite appropriately gloated over, we set about finding a place for lunch. At about 10:30am. Because we sale early. And rather quickly, really. This is not our first time at the rodeo. We know that if we wait, all the good stuff will be gone!
We found a lovely cafe on Park Ave, open and willing to serve lunch. YUM!
It was the best kind of day. One that felt super summery, was fun, and delicious, and was shared with a pal.
For more photos of our finds and dogs, check us out on Instagram at:
Or if you'd like some vintage treasures of your own, without getting up at an unholy hour or waiting in any lines - visit our shops:
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