Estate Sale Adventures: Oddly Familiar

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I visited two estate sales in my town of Falls Church this morning. I brought a new tool with me to make these posts come alive a little more for you. I recently purchased a very compact Canon camera, one that is quite small and fits in my pocket. I thought a few stealthy photos might enhance these posts, or not, you decide.

That in mind I couldn't get any stealthy interior shots at the first house I visited as one of the ladies running the sale seemed to pop up in every room I wandered in to. This woman spent most of her energy announcing to everyone in the basement (did I tell you I always visit the basement first?) that "anything you find without a price you MUST bring it to me for pricing." Got it. I found a few things without prices including a big stack of padded envelopes (I love buying mailing supplies at estate sales, much cheaper than on-line or office supply stores).

Everything I picked up, with the exception of the envelopes, this woman oohed and aahed saying "these are OLD and COLLECTIBLE." WTF? It is an estate sale after all! It is a major pet peeve of mine when folks running an estate sale declare that something is collectible and old using an air of misguided reverence more appropriately reserved when admiring a Faberge egg or Van Gogh painting, NOT the pile of tattered school books from the 60's nestled in the bottom of my bag. Of course this woman's exclamations were followed by declaring that they were worth $7 each--for used torn workbooks???? I politely declined. However, I did score a nice array of Christmas goodies for use in future projects which she didn't seem to think were worth much and gave me a good price. When I paid for the envelopes and Christmas, the lady taking money asked: "You're not done shopping are you?" I really wanted to say "Hell yeah, I am because that fool in the basement is charging stupid prices for most things" But I did not, instead I thanked her and left.

I did manage to get you a photo of the house, a lovely rambler on a sweet side street:

The next sale held a few treasures and not many people in the house. Here is the house:

The lady running the sale is one of my favorite people to shop from and even if her sale that day didn't hold too much I wanted, I stil try to buy something from her because I like her so much.

Since the house was quite empty of shoppers I managed to get a couple of stalthy shots for you.

This was on the second floor. I adore the dormer window which gives a sweet nook on the interior. I found nothing I wanted in thsi room, I just thought it was nice and thought you may like a peek.

I love love love the green and black tile in this bathroom. The pots and pans for sale in there was a new one. I'd never seen pots and pans for sale in a bathroom before.

As I mentioned before there weren't any people in the house. I found out that they were on the carport.

There was lots of goods on the carport and as I wandered around the tables some of the goods looked oddly familiar. They had come from previous estate sales this company had hosted. Whatever. I found a few things and visted with the lady running the sale for a little while before heading home.

I do like my wee camera and hopefully I can get more stealthy photos for you at futire sales. And hopefully I won't be using the word "stealthy" too much. Take care, my friends!~~~XXOO, Beth

Comments

[Diane]

That bathroom is pretty nifty, but pots and pans in there? Kind of unappealing salesmanship, isn't it??

[Jewels]

Too funny E. Maybe you need a pair of those camera "glasses" you can wear - that really would be stealthy LOL. My stamps arrived today, having fun sorting through them! Thanks. J

[Cindy Is Crafty]

Beth, that is my pet peeve, too. The sellers that think they are selling the holy grail! I try to gravitate to the helpers that seem more price friendly. Like when I go to the Goodwill register with an item not priced. I know which to go to get it for a song and the ones to avoid. I like that most of what I go for, like what you do, they think is crap and price it pretty cheap. I am OKAY with that!

[tammyCA]

Love the vintage bathroom tile...it looks like aqua and black on my screen, which is very pretty.

[Melody]

Hi Beth! Oh Such Fun. Love the pics, but I just take the camera with...no one says anything. If they do I tell them I blog and folks just love to see the vintage stuff so they can reminisce,
oh I give them a business card too and then ask if it's ok. Nobody minds.Sometimes they even suggest things to take pics of ;)

[Elizabeth]

Beth, I am still trying to get over the pots and pans in the fabulous green bathroom! I love your stealthy photographs. Today I opened my pincushion and am absolutely in love with every detail. You make vintage magical!!!! Elizabeth

[paula lynn]

thanks for sharing,a good reminder that you can still find some cute stuff.thanks for sharing.