our day

A Saturday together with no obligations or work commitments is rare, but when we do get to spend time together we make the most of it.

As I have mentioned in previous posts.... we love estate sales!

The cover page in an old book we found... 

I wanted the book just so I could tear this page out and frame it.

 Some pilot gadget... love the color and lines

 Plenty of china! 

Instead of buying everything they had... 

I took pictures of all the patterns I liked and I will translate them into art. 

That post will be later this week:)

 This cream and gold stripe hat box provided inspiration for another project

 Alan figuring it out

Love the blue on the camera instruction manual.

Summary of our treasures:

One brand new turkey fryer (which will be used for home brew), One sweet necklace (shown above), a pearl clutch, an older Betty Crocker cookbook with vintage illustrations, and a few other odds and ends.

Our Home Part II

Our bathroom

Women's Burberry Original and Men's Burberry London

Some of our current favorite novels

Mannequin to drape my jewelry on and a vintage
 humpback trunk we store our extra blankets in.

Alan's beloved boots...he just can't get enough

Glass door knobs... a favorite detail of mine

Our tiny bedroom closet

Our bed with a white down comforter (Target)
and a cedar chest to hold lingerie (ooh-la-la)

Most of our home decor is purchased at estate sales or given to us by friends and family.

I love the idea of hiding scripture all over your home and I think that will be the next project.

Actually I should probably take Paula's advice on two ellie and organize our home first...

And maybe purge a few things...maybe:)

treasures

An old steamer trunk

300 page book of original local Birmingham architect's sketches

Portable working old singer...it's very heavy



A few of the architects tools- free



Mini buisness man books

5 Architect forum magazines from the 50's

More vintage sheet music for projects!

As promised...pictures of our adventure this morning.

We had planned to go to 5 different estate sales

but we spent all our time at this week's Bryant Estate sale!

We purchased everything for a more than reasonable price.

Afterwards we drove ourselves along with our loot over to meet our good friends

 Chadwick and Erika at Mr. Chen's in Hoover!

Who could resist an old trunk and then a bubble tea?

Our Home Part I

My Aunt Amy Moore painted this for Alan and I on an old window.

This is our beloved Duncan Phyfe Sofa (Estate sale find)



Coat rack- free



One of our MANY places for books- $15 Estate Sale Find

Perfect Condition working typewriter- Estate Sale Find $10

Alan's beloved record player- $10 Estate Sale Find

Normon the Gnome- A Dirty Santa Prize!

As you can see almost everything in our living room are estate sale treasures!

We are going to estate sales on Saturday. I'll post any special finds.

Bryant Estate Sales are our favorite reoccuring estate sale hosts. Check it out.

This also can be a money making thing! Alan and I are going to start hosting yard/estate sales beginning in April.

Anyone else found some great deals at yard/garage/estate sales?

A Proper Estate Sale

Alan and I went to estate sales this past Saturday..

I would just like to take a minute to inform the general public on estate sale etiquette when having or attending such an event.

 

When having an estate sale:


1. Proper signage is important- Brightly colored and well written (no ghetto cardboard box/duct tape thing please) I would even venture to say balloons would be a nice touch.


2. Try to have a price on as many items as possible. (The whole- "Just ask about the price" thing gets very old and half the time people will not ask because its an uneccessary hassle)


3. On number 2 though, almost always mark up a little because bargaining is fun!


4. Be nice...Bake cookies, or something to that degree


5. If you have but a few items...just donate them don't bother having a sale...


6. Um...also going the half-priced route for the second day is really nice


7. For best success have your sale fall not during football or holidays...


8. Etsy.com is a wonderful tool for crafters everywhere but you could put some of your handiwork in your estate sale (if it is good)


9. Have plenty of change. We recommend only taking cash...If taking checks be sure and get a phone number and drivers liscense # if your worried about fraud. (It is nice to have 2 $20's, 3 $10's, $100 worth of fives, and $30 in ones. = $200.00 total)


10. Finally enjoy it! Its a wonderful thing to take that weird heavy "buy something" pressure off people and have some good non-offensive music playing in the background. Hearing a pin drop in this circumstance is not ideal.