Estate Sale, Pt. 2

Just singing my shoulda coulda woulda's.
If there were adequate space in my room, this sewing machine would now be mine.


Plus, were I not a cheapskate, this up-to-date informative reading material would also be in my possession. Because who really understands the elusive Hippie? Who couldn't use this book?

Estate Sale

I went to my first estate sale this month.
It was pretty much everything I expected it to be. Odd and bizarre. But sad too. They have a different vibe than thrift or antique stores. The people there seem more respectful due to the fact that they're in a recently deceased person's home.
So besides the obvious downer...
Being an extremely nosy person, I loved being able to see how other people lived and then be able to take away with me a little piece of their lives to incorporate into my own.
Observe:

Place: Estate sale in Concord
Hosted: by Hospice of the East Bay
(You can sign up to get email notifications of local estate sales there^)
Bought: Impressionist book and 2 dress patterns for $1.50



I also bought 5 more pattern sets at ARF for $.25 a pop.
You're thinking, "What's the deal with all the outdated dress patterns?"
And I'm answering, "Wallpaper. Lots of wallpaper on the window wall of my bedroom."



Once I collect enough patterns, I'm going to be doing a wallpaper/decoupage hybrid with all of them. Hopefully, the paper will hold up and not tear. I'll post the process of that once I get to it.

On a side note, I'm planning on using the Impressionist pictures as decor as well. And I got to see that painting on the right in person at the de Young Museum! If you get the chance, you should really go.

Trunk Minus the Junk (Guest Blog 2)

Bought: Trunk
Price: $5
Place: ARF Thrift Store
By Whom: My mom

I love this trunk.
It's obviously traveled.
Yet is still viable.
Maybe not for traveling, what with the handle being broken. But it can definitely still be used for magic acts.
Or better yet for a table, which I think is what my mom will end up using it for.

On a side note, the song "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie kept playing in my head while I was taking these pictures. I had this one horrifying moment when I couldn't remember if it was from Oliver or Annie. You really can't blame me though. Orphans. High-pitched children singing. Not my fault.
Now it can be stuck in your head.
You're welcome.

Field Trip #1

Place: Antiques & Things

This is what an antique store should look like. Don't be deceived by its modest demeanor. It has over 10 rooms (maybe even 15?). Like a labyrinth (minus the Minotaur).

Which reminds me, one of my favorite parts about this store is that the people who work there don't glare at me the entire time. Most antique stores look at me as if I'm about to start running around screaming like a child. Sure, I look like I'm 15, but come on! Good job though, Antiques & Things, for being normal considerate human beings.

My favorite room by far is this one. I can't remember ever having bought anything out of this room, but who cares! It's a converted sun room! Or conservatory, for those of you who speak British. Or play Clue.

I wish I could have come up with a reason to buy this. I would have felt like vintage Barbie.




This is the real reason I go thrifting. Every single item has had a life before it ends up there. I love imagining the individual journeys they've all taken and whose lives they may have crossed. It makes me sad to think that most people either don't write letters or don't save the ones they receive. I'll just have to collect the ones from other people who are no longer able to cherish them as much as they once did. Call me maudlin, but I find magic in old letters. Sometimes more than I was expecting. You'll just have to open one up and find out for yourself.

Bibliophile on the Brink of Bibliomania

Bought: 8 Reader's Digest books
Price: 50 cents a piece, equaling $4
Place: Concord Library

I have a real problem.
I can't control myself when it comes to buying books. Especially ones for decorative purposes, since there's no long-term commitment there.
My favorite part of Beauty and the Beast is when Belle gets full reign of the library and the curtains fly open revealing millions of books on perfectly constructed swirly staircases and bookshelves.

I am...a bibliophile.


I can't help it! They're just so unique! And they smell good! And they're CHEAP! It's really a disease...


Oh and I got this one because it has Jaws 2. I'm going to cut out the pictures of men scuba diving for the shark to use in some way in my room.


Here's an example of how I like to use my books (I'm thinking about shelves for this next batch?):

Creepy mask not included.

Sisterhood of the Thrift Store Pants

Bought: Lucky Jeans
Price: Hand-me-down from sister (a.k.a. free for me)
Place: Some thrift store (see above)

Bought: Lucky Jeans
Price: $7 (Brand spanking new. Originally over $150)
Place: Goodwill, Concord

Bought: Billabong/H&M Jeans
Price: Doesn't matter because...
Place: ...the store I got them from closed.

Aside from the fact that clotheslines make your clothes feel and smell about 6 billion times better than the dryer, buying ridiculously expensive pants for a minutia of the original price feels just amazing.
Given, the vast majority of jeans at thrift stores are the dreaded mom jean (which, by the way, are supposedly making a comeback. I will kill myself before I'm caught wearing those). But hidden in the racks are these little gems.
Maybe someone outgrew them?
Lost some weight?
Grew a third leg?
Who knows why someone would get rid of these. But thank goodness for me, they did.
I get major gloating power out of wearing these, which is really the reason you go thrifting, right?

Oh and I have yet to work any kind of magical power out of these pants. Sure, they were cheap, but come on. I'm still waiting to have Kostos express mailed to my doorstep. Let's get on that, Pants.

Guest Blog #1 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Bought: Umbrella
Price: I can't tell you because it was a gift
Place: Anna's Attic
Model: Dana
Photographer: Stephanie Horvilleur, whom I've never met but whose site is here
Question: I wonder how many of these one-liners I can include before it becomes obsolete and irritating.
Answer: 7

So I'm kind of cheating with this post. Technically, I still bought that umbrella for Dana as a present, but it's no longer mine so I'm going to include this as GUEST BLOG # 1!!!!!!!!!! This is so exciting. If you want to be guest blogged, send me your picture and all your info and I'll post it.

I feel like I need to say something (and no, it's not why I've wasted a month's time not posting. Leave me alone). Thrift stores make awesome places to gift shop.

A. People don't need to know things are used (*wink*).
B. You find quirky things there (e.g. pictures, statues, canes, etc...).
C. You find gross things there (this isn't so much for friend-gifting, as for enemy-gifting).
D. VINTAGE. That's where I got this bumbrella. Anna's Attic has the absolute best vintage sales. But if you start going there and buying up everything I want to buy, well...see point C.






Seriously. Email me your pictures/stories with where you got it and for how much @ kaymay88@gmail.com. Or write it yourself (and I'll just supplement)! Or if we're Facebook friendsies, there too!