By happy coincidence, I was thumbing through our pretty boring local weekly newspaper late last night when I happened across an ad for an estate sale. A Thursday estate sale! Just 15 minutes away! With stuff that sounded good! And the fact that the first estate sale of the season coincided with the first day of baseball season could only mean that it would be terrific! Can you tell it's been a long winter without estate sales because I'm using lots of exclamation points?!?!?
Well, it was a great sale. Some of what I found: Christmas ornaments, stacks of pretty crochet, a cute flowered hat, a wooden trug (it's a little cut off in the back), a bread box and one of the best things I've ever found at a sale.
I know I would have loved the lady who lived here because she had such cheerful things, many of which she made herself.
And because she owned this bread box, and I've been wanting more bread boxes, especially in this pattern.
Super-cute dish towel.
Since it's the first day of the sale season for me, I'd like to introduce a new feature this year: the sale rating system. Various points will be awarded in various categories, and deductions also will be made, and at the end of the post, we'll tally up the points and decide whether I'll continue to go to sales or not. It sounds confusing, but it won't be, because I'm using a simple graphic system, in much the same way that movie reviews have stars.
Except I'll be using aprons. No particular reason, except they're cute, and I find them a lot.
Anyway, this sale earns an apron for Drama that Did Not Involve Me, and In Fact Worked to My Advantage.
This was one of those sales where you go, sign up and stay there until the person running the sale hands out the numbers, and then you can leave. Well, the #1 and #2 people on the list left, and the people right behind them on the list complained, and #1 and #2 lost their places. (Which is as it should be. They knew better and the rules were clear.) They were really, really unhappy. It would have been slightly ugly and uncomfortable except I wasn't involved. Also, I moved from #15 to #13.
I don't think I've ever bought granny squares before, but these are made out of a lovely, silky thread (not yarn) and have gorgeous colors.
One apron for generally wonderful merchandise.
I found a pile of yo-yos.
Lovely, lovely fabrics.
The garage opened half an hour before the sale began. That earns one apron.
I could see through the windows in the garage door that there was a lot of Christmas stuff in the corner, but there were 12 people ahead of me and I figured I wouldn't get it. Minus one apron for pre-sale anxiety.
But nobody wanted the Christmas and I got to it first! Lack of direct competition! That's another apron!
I was grabbing stuff pretty quick because I was afraid somebody would come to their senses. I thought I knew what was inside this box, and even if I was wrong, it was only $1.
One apron for very good prices at this sale.
I bought so much stuff in the garage I had to scurry down to my car and put my finds in the trunk before the house opened. I had just a minute, so I opened up that dollar box.
Yes, yes, yes!!! It was even better than I thought! A complete set of pinecone elves, minty fresh!!!
One apron for finding something that makes me gasp out loud!
The elves are eager to know the final tally.
I need to add a few more aprons. One, the sale was close to home.
And the people running the sale were neat, organized and nice as can be.
That's a total of 8 aprons, minus one for pre-sale anxiety, which means:
A seven-apron sale. I'm going to more sales!
OMG, look at all that fabulous xmas stuff you found. I'm sick with envy. I'm overdue for a good xmas score. sniff.
Posted by: georgiapeachez | March 31, 2011 at 02:22 PM
O.
M.
G.
Those elves!!! I am dumbfounded.
And pea green with envy, as Scarlett would say.
Posted by: HeidiAnn | March 31, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Okay, hold, on, let me get my apron calculator...
You are so funny! That is an historic first sale of the season...lucky you! Lucky elves!
Posted by: freckled hen | March 31, 2011 at 02:39 PM
Love the rating very fun! Congratulations on being the one to grab that sweet little $1 Box, and wow the treasures inside very very cool and yes deserving of a very high apron rating! oxox, Diane
Posted by: Diane | March 31, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Sales are never that crafty fun and full of good Christmas here- so jealous! Very nice haul of stuff! And I am in love with your new hat.
Posted by: Jenny G. | March 31, 2011 at 03:24 PM
I lost count of the aprons at one point, but I already knew you would be going to more sales! How could you not, after a season opener like this? You definitely hit a home run today!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | March 31, 2011 at 03:45 PM
Oh my gosh, you are going to put me into cardiac arrest! I thought those were pink shiny brites I saw in the corner in addition to all the other cool stuff you got! Not, but still pretty awesome. Great score on the pinecone elves and the crochet. Baseball and yard sale weekend is truly my favorite time of year; now if only the temps would get the heck out of the 40s! (I guess I should be grateful we're not getting the snow that's headed this way...)
Posted by: Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk | March 31, 2011 at 04:19 PM
Oh, and love the scoring system too! Definitely a 7-apron day!
Posted by: Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk | March 31, 2011 at 04:20 PM
I will hereby begin the hatred of you for the remainder of the garage sale season because of those yo yo's. if you tell me it's a gosh darned yo yo quilt I WILL DIE. I swear I will. Don't test me. :-)
Posted by: Sarah | March 31, 2011 at 04:34 PM
Amazing. I want you to know that everytime I head to your blog I get the same vibe of you being such a cheerful person! I have truly valued it over the years :)
Posted by: Gail | March 31, 2011 at 04:48 PM
This sounds like an almost perfect sale! I would have loved some of that stuff myself!
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | March 31, 2011 at 05:23 PM
I have Bread box envy. I don't understand this number system...at estate sales around here we have to stand in line and wait in the cold. Lovely stuff. Too cute those elves.
Posted by: My Vintage Mending | March 31, 2011 at 06:13 PM
I'm thoroughly enjoying your enjoyment and the thrills you've given your readers today! Glad you can carry on to the next sale, but after seeing that first pic, I knew you'd make it!
Posted by: Tina | March 31, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Oh boy! That was a wonderful sale. I think I would have liked that lady too, just like, I like you!
Posted by: Lena | March 31, 2011 at 06:51 PM
I do thing your gingerbread man is packing ha that is pretty funny. Love all of your great finds.
and 7 aprons is pretty good keep going.
cathy
Posted by: acorn hollow | March 31, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I need a hankie to wipe up the drool from your estate sale. I covet your pinecone elves. They are divine!! By the way, I made an apron banner with my collection of half aprons in my craft room. You can't have enough!
http://kenward.blogspot.com/2011/03/apron-banner.html
What a lovely estate sale!
Posted by: Kim K. | March 31, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Love the apron system...Laughing still....but what is a "trug"???
Posted by: Marilyn Podoll | April 01, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Love those little pine cone elves! But I think you need to build in some more rules, like you have to have 5 back to back sales with negative aprons and then you will re-evaluate the rating system because you can't just GIVE UP! Even when the pickings are slim we all know the next one is the big score.....8+)
Posted by: Kathy | April 01, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Fabulous finds. Lucky you!
Posted by: Susan | April 04, 2011 at 05:50 PM