Interesting Estate Sale last weekend

I find the majority of my things at estate sales.  The first one I went to about 9 years ago took me by surprise.  I had no idea that after a person dies, someone comes into the house, goes through everything and prices it.  Then, strangers come into the house and buy that persons lifetime accumulation.   Usually, the name of the person is not mentioned, so it isn’t so personal.  But, I went to one last weekend that really affected me.  I overhead one of the workers telling someone about the owner.  He took his dog to go fishing one day and never returned home because he drowned trying to save his dog.  He was an eBay and auction buyer and had enormous collections of militaria, pinbacks, tobacciana, ephemera and other guy stuff and started selling on eBay.  In an instant, his life ended and strangers were left to liquidate his estate.  Hundreds of people went through the house and his things were scattered all over Northern Colorado to many collectors, dealers and others.

I started thinking about my house, it’s contents and what would someone think about coming into my house if I died suddenly.  I better get my affairs in order because you just don’t know what will happen tomorrow.

I found a few things to sell and will be listing them this week.  My favorite is a notebook full of cigar box labels in mint condition and some Victorian trade cards.  The illustrations are so interesting and how these paper items survived intact all these years amazes me.

Rare German Bisque Black Americana baby in egg trinket box

I thought this was adorable, so bought it at a Denver estate sale last Friday.  I can’t find out any information about it in the books I have or on the internet, but I think it is quite old and rare.  It’s a trinket box in the form of a Black Baby coming out of an egg.  I have it on eBay now – auction number 310068847783.

Found 2 glamorous Vintage Evening dresses at Estate Sale

My sister and nephew were visiting last week, so I took them to Denver to show them what an Estate Sale is all about.  After we got into the house, I went left, they went right.  They found 2 beautiful vintage evening dresses in the room they went into first.  Knowing I love to find and sell old vintage clothing, they told me about them.   I bought them and listed them on eBay a few days ago.   The first one is from the 1940s and has shoulder pads like all dresses from that era.  It reminds me of what was worn by the 1940s Hollywood stars on the red carpet and in their movies.  It is auction number 310068041717. The second one is a chiffon strapless dress with a little bolero jacket.   If you watch Mad Men on AMC, dresses like these are worn in the show.  It is auction number 310068041726.

Just returned from Portland, OR Antique Show

I spent the last 2 days in Portland, Oregon at the Palmer-Wirfs Antique Show.  Not only were there 100s of dealers inside 3 large buildings, many more were outside under tents in the parking lot.  The weather was beautiful, sunny and very warm.  I walked what seemed like miles on Friday and Saturday looking for things my buyers collect.  I found a couple old bisque Kewpie figurines, Victorian fairings – one an adorable German Pink Pig figurine, a nice glass eyed figural cat napkin ring and lots of California pottery figurines from the 1940s.  I am listing them on eBay this week, so keep checking back.

Early Hagen Renaker miniature Saddle Horse figurine

One of my favorite things to find in my saleing adventures are Hagen Renaker figurines from the early 1950s. Since they are not marked, I have studied the collectors book and memorized the pictures of these early figurines to recognize them when I see them. My best find was a few years ago at an antique mall outside of Portland, OR. It was the Gingham Dog from the late 1940s. Of course, serious collectors recognized it and bid accordingly. Other fun figurines I have found are from the black bisque line, but not many of these are around. I went to the antique malls and flea markets along College Ave last Sunday and found a miniature Saddle Horse. It was issued from 1952-1953, so probably is hard to find in such good condition. It is my auction number 310064949590.

Flying Colors Ceramic Christmas Light Bulb Necklace

I used to sell Flying Colors whimsical ceramic necklaces in my clothing store in the early 1980s…I wore this adorable Christmas light bulb one almost every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. After I closed my store, I packed it away and forgot about it. I found it a few months ago while cleaning out my old jewelry. This made me curious about the company. Flying Colors was started by employees of Parrot Pearls in San Fransisco. I was surprised to find how much some of the necklaces sell for now and how collectible they are. My necklace isn’t as cutsey as some and a little more tailored looking. I decided that a collector of these necklaces would enjoy it more than I do now, so I am selling it. It is auction number 230267994917.

Beautiful Authentic Victorian Wedding Dress

I found this beautiful Victorian Wedding dress at an estate sale in Denver last week. For some reason, it has 2 different blouses. One is the style with the high collar, the other has a lower neckline. Both attach to the skirt with hooks and eyes. It even has the hoop petticoat. All pieces are wearable and there must be some bride-to-be out there who wants to wear an authentic Victorian wedding dress. It’s my auction number 310063769904.

Rare Tivoli Beer Special issue Christmas bottle and cap from 1930s

I found this nice beer bottle at a Denver estate sale last week. After listing it on eBay, a collector sent me some valuable information about the rarity of the bottle, not to mention the cap. He wrote “Your bottle might have been for a Christmas party for all the Tivoli big wigs, that would make your bottle probably unique. If that’s the case, if so there’s a lot of people that would die to get your bottle. A normal bottle like yours in that condition is about 2.00, but that is not a normal bottle, I believe yours is very special and I know for a fact everyone’s drooling over the cap, it is absolutely gorgeous. It could be the only one in the world…” It is my eBay auction number 310062482652.

My first blog

My first blog. After attending the 2008 eBay Live conference in Chicago, I came home with the realization that I must enter the blogosphere. I enjoyed and learned so much at the first blog seminar, that I went back to the second blog seminar for Power Sellers and brought my two friends / traveling buddies and fellow eBay sellers: Catalinamermaid and pmgdavis. In the entrance to the Solutions Center was a carpet with names of random eBay sellers. Out of the millions of registered users, my friend Kathy aka Catalinamermaid, was in one of the stars!

Click on the About Me tab to learn about me. I will add more later….