There is a special kind of joy in coming home from a morning of estate sales with your arms full and your wallet barely lighter. Collector @haleyreidtay says she was truly blessed by the estate sale gods this particular morning. She visited two sales, filled up on seasonal decor, dishes, books and a quilt, and figures she paid fifty seven dollars for everything. Here is what she brought home.
@haleyreidtay
The First Sale: Lori Mitchell and More
At the first house, the seller had a lot of Lori Mitchell, the well known line of collectible figurines and seasonal decor. The creator chose a little guy she is obsessed with, along with a pumpkin carriage she calls so cute. She also found an angel for Christmas with little lights at the base and picked three pieces from a large Valentine’s Day collection. She says two of those are her favorites. She rounded out the seasons with a little lamb for spring. Every one of them was two dollars.
She also bought two pretty dishes. She thinks she might put a candle in one of them, and she is not sure yet what to do with the other. A friend of hers took the rest of the set, which she says was just as cute.
Then came a Spode Christmas cookie jar. She paid four dollars and says she has a budding Spode collection, so it was the perfect addition. It is going on the shelves in her kitchen for the holidays. A stunning pedestal bowl cost around three or four dollars, and she plans to set it on the dining table in the spring and summer.
Vintage Books
She also came home with a small stack of vintage books. One is a Better Homes and Gardens title called the Country Home Collection. Another is a second Better Homes and Gardens book on country style that she says she almost bought online before finding it at the sale for a couple of dollars. A third is a Susan Branch Christmas book filled with stories and recipes. She loves the illustrations, and she thinks her four and a half year old will, too.
The Second Sale: Quilts, Fabric and Ornaments
From the second sale she brought home a pretty quilt that she plans to frame in her girls’ room. She has been looking for a small quilt for that purpose and thought this one was perfect. It does have a few really small stains, so she asked for ideas on getting stains out of older quilts. She also picked up a bundle of scrap fabric for finishing her needlepoint projects. She needed backing material, and the sale had a nice selection. She says the seller had so much needlepoint, yarn and other fiber art supplies that it was crazy.
There were two little Christmas ornaments as well, including a Paddington one for her daughter, who loves that bear. She also found a quilted table runner, which she thinks will be cute for Thanksgiving. One side has quite a few stains, but the other side is more her style anyway, so she bought it to show off the better side.
The Surprise at the Register
The last items were two framed Pinocchio pictures. She planned to swap out the photos and use the frames in the girls’ room, since she liked the light blue color and the nice beading on the sides. They were five dollars. But as she was paying, the man at the register told her he thought the Pinocchio pictures might be worth something and might even be originals. She says she is going to look into it.
Tips for Bringing Home More for Less
Her morning shows how much a little planning and curiosity can pay off at estate sales. If you want to try the same approach, these ideas may help.
- Plan a route. Visiting two sales in one morning takes some mapping. Look at the listings the night before and choose sales that are close to each other.
- Collect by theme. She is building a Spode collection and buys seasonal pieces she can rotate through the year. A theme helps you pass over things you do not need.
- Buy for the season. Holiday decor often shows up cheaply at estate sales. Pieces for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, spring and Thanksgiving were all part of her haul.
- Look at the frames. She planned to reuse the frames, but the cashier’s comment shows why it pays to look at what is in them first. Check the back for labels, signatures or gallery marks before you toss the picture.
- Be honest about condition. She noted the stains on the quilts and was clear about her plans for them. Small flaws are fine when the price is low and the use is decorative.
- Ask the seller. People who work estate sales often know a lot about the contents. A quick question can lead to useful information, as it did at her register.
A Word on Older Quilts
Since she asked for stain advice, it is worth a brief note. Older quilts can be delicate, and harsh scrubbing or hot water can damage the fabric or cause dyes to run. Many people begin with a gentle approach, such as a soak in cool water with a mild detergent made for delicate textiles, and test a hidden corner first. If the quilt is valuable or especially old, a textile conservator or a professional cleaner with experience in quilts is a safer choice. Framing a quilt as wall art, as she plans to do, also helps protect it from handling and wear.
The best part of her story might be the total. A whole cart of seasonal decor, dishes, books and textiles for fifty seven dollars is the kind of result that keeps people coming back to estate sales every weekend. It is also a reminder that you do not have to chase the biggest names or the highest prices to have a good time. Sometimes the best finds are the ones that fit your home, your family and the seasons you love to celebrate.
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