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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Vintage Avon: The Food Of The Gods

There aren't any neighborhood sales yet.  That's because it's still "spring" here in upstate NY and that means that it could be blazing hot one moment and nearly literally the next moment it could be snowing.  Not many neighborhoods can commit to that kind of insanity for a sale.

There are however, a good number of estate sales.  Last weekend we went to two.  My friend Kara is moving to a new apartment very soon and at the top of her list was a vintage kitchen table.  The kind with the formica top and the chrome edge and legs.  Guess what we found at the first sale sitting in the back yard, all lonesome like?


BAM! $26.  It didn't come with chairs.  But that's not a problem.  We've got the whole season stretching out in front of us like a golden promise of unforetold treasure.

These sales are great, because Saturday is generally at least the second day of the sale, the third day in some cases and almost always the last day.  Which means, items are priced to move!  Half price, fill a bag, you name it.  There are deals to be had!

In between the estate sales we found a yard sale and stopped.  It was tiny but I did manage to find a few things. A fun turquoise scarf for $2 and an amazing blue velvet vintage hat for $1.  What are these kinds of hats called?  They just sort of sit on top of the crown of your head, looking ridiculously cute and being purely for fashion, because they aren't covering jack.  Hat...let?  Hat...ling?  They must have a name. This one has so much awesome going on I can hardly stand it.  Bow, interlocking velvet squares and bright blue plumage.  This here hat has it all.


The second sale had some real doozies.  Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm mad that I didn't take pictures of the more...eccentric pieces.  I pledge to do better at that.  Next time I'm all in on pictures of the crazy stuff.  There was a huuuuge slice of tree trunk that had been shellacked within an inch of it's life and turned into a coffee table.  But not before, what I'm assuming could only be fake jewels, were stored in the nooks and crannies.  It was a sight to behold.  It was situated under a huge, probably plastic, gold frieze of some cherubs and various swirly pieces.  Next to that was a hanging stained glass light which housed some faux floral arrangement that had to have been from the 70's.  I'm telling you.  This place had some stuff.

Hidden among the stuff there were some twinkles of joy.  These vintage Christmas candle lights, for instance.  I'd seen them online while I was looking over what the sale had to offer and was sure they'd be gone by the time I got there.  Not so!  They'd been moved to a grubby corner of the basement which I think people were a little scared to venture into, I'm not going to lie.  But, I had Kara with me and girl is tough.  Or at least I imagine her to be a lot more tough than I am.  So I felt safe.

$2 for the pair (Hear that?!  ONE DOLLAR each!!)  They're about a foot tall.  They came in the original boxes and have cords to plug them in.  I probably never will on account of the fact that the cords look like something that will straight up burn your house down.  These look like they didn't get much use.  I love the fact that they look like they were made from huge toilet paper rolls covered in shiny red paper.  The fake flame light bulbs, the plastic drippy "wax" and all the plastic there at the bottom really do it for me.  I can't even begin to think about winter right now, but I know that when it comes I'll be glad to have these little beauties to help get my through.


I saved the best for last.  Vintage Avon.  You know how I feel about that.  Kara plucked the plush strawberry magnet from the fridge and shoved it in my face.  She got the reaction she was looking for: Delighted joy.  Maybe even a squeal.  I grabbed it and said, "IsthisAvon? ThishastobeAvon."  And the tag confirmed what I already knew in my heart: Avon.  Then we rounded the other side of the fridge and I spotted Strawberry's friends Pineapple and Orange.  Dear, The 80's.  You were an amazing time.  Plush neon fruit people magnets wearing sunglasses.  In the 80's almost everything wore sunglasses. 25 cents each.


And if that weren't enough, the paper wreath filled with vintage Avon Christmas earrings.  The wreath backer it's self is amazing.  I already have the snowman earrings from my childhood and I have never, ever seen them at yard sale nor thrift store until now.  I can't even handle it.  I'm barley keeping it together.  My Vintage Avon cup runneth over!

So, In Summary:
Stick With Me Kids, My Saleing Mojo Will Rub Off On You
(That sounds gross.  I don't mean it to be gross.  Sorry.)
Screw Real Candles.  Those Wax Dummies Don't Know What It Means To Be Fabulous
Vintage Avon Calling

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