I'm curious. I think that is one of the driving forces behind me loving treasure hunting so much. I love the hunt because you never know what you will find. I've been thinking of some questions that I'd love to find out what your answers are, so I'll start with the questions , give my answers, then wait to see what your answers are. You can post your answers in the comment section, or email them to me if you'd rather they be kept private.
1. What is the strangest thing you've ever picked up at a sale?
A. A free box full of deer antlers at a garage sale last summer. I ended up giving most of them to my dad (he wants to make drawer and cabinet pulls from them. I also gave some to my son's friend, he turns them into pens.
2. What is the most prized thing you have picked up at a sale?
A. My very first Fiesta relish tray-in mint condition. I almost hyper-ventilated racing to my car after I paid for it, then I giggled all the way home!
3. What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen, but not purchased at a sale?
A. A rainbow stripe painted casket. I walked right past it the first time because there was so much painted furniture in the yard. I had to do a double-take to be sure I was actually seeing a rainbow striped casket!
4. What is the farthest you've ever driven to go to a sale?
A. In 2008, we went on the World's Longest Yard Sale-it wasn't just one sale though. We drove down to Crossville, Tennessee and then worked our way back to Michigan. I'd like to try to go again this year.
5. How many sales to you typically go to in a day when you are out treasure hunting?
A. I like to bundle sales to get more bang for my buck. Very rarely will I only go to just one sale in a day. I try to hit 5 or more if possible.
6. What is the most sales you've been to in one day/trip?
A. Not counting WLYS, I've been to 18 sales in one day (not sub sales either) driving from house to house in different neighborhoods.
7. What is something you never or almost never buy at sales?
A. Clothes. When my boys were little, I loved buying jeans for them at garage sales because it seemed like every week they were ripping through the knees of every pair of pants they owned! I'm not opposed to buying clothes at sales, I just usually can't seem to find anything.
8. What is the biggest thing you have ever bought on the spot and hauled home without coming back for it later?
A. I once got a china cabinet and a buffet cabinet in my car, both from the same sale for $15 each!
9. What is something you regret selling?
A. Pyrex Gooseberry refrigerator dishes-because I had to search and search to make a set once I decided I couldn't live without them, and an old metal double-decker red and white bread box with a flower decal on the front. I got it for $5, and was thrilled with how much I sold it for, but now I wish I still had it!
10. What is something you will walk past most of the time without a second glance?
A. Tools.
11. What is the least you've ever brought home (besides nothing)?
A. I have driven an hour and a half to go to an antiques festival and the only thing I bought was a bag of kettle corn. I had a great time though!
12. What are some projects you'd like to try?
A. Lady bug bowling balls, broken clear dishes glued to a window. and yard art butterfly from ceiling fan blades.
13. What are you hoping to find in 2014?
A. vintage Fiesta carafes, vintage Valentines, Victorian hat pins, red & white chenille bedspread, Federal retro daisy mixing bowls, and something I've never seen before.
14. What is your favorite thing to find?
A. something I've never seen before.
15. Do you resell the things you buy, or do you keep them?
A. Both.
16. What is something you've tried and tried to sell but can't seem to ever sell?
A. A vintage green and turquoise camping lantern, I had it in the booth for over 3 years! I'm sure it didn't help that the guy across from me had about 20 of them hanging in his booth at all times. I finally did sell it-when I had my 50% off sale though.
17. What is the first thing(s) you started collecting?
A. Clear depression glass, and clear vintage glassware.
18. What are you collecting now?
A. Vintage Fiesta, vintage Pyrex, quilts, aprons, tablecloths, hankies and vintage kitchenware.
19. What is a collection that you've seen, that you can't believe people collect?
A. Bones, embalming things, and taxidermy things.
20. If you knew you could never fail, what would you like to do?
A. I'd like to open and run an antique and collectibles mall, or write a novel. I've started a few novels, but never finished them.
O.K., now it's your turn. Post your answers below in the comment section, post them on your own blog, send me an email or post them on my facebook page! I'd love to see your answers!!!
Lots of good questions, I don't think I can answer them all but I can answer a few. I love to go to sales to find stuff for my own collections and to sell. I think the first thing I started collecting was green pottery (and I have a lot of it now). If I could do anything without fear of failure I would do what the American Pickers do, ride around the country and do what I love best - dig through other peoples junk!
ReplyDeleteFUN and interesting questions! It was also fun to read your answers.
ReplyDeleteI down-sized one booth last week. If sales don't improve there, I'll leave that shop. The other shop is doing GREAT! Just never know!!!
warmly,
deb
1. What is the strangest thing you've ever picked up at a sale?
ReplyDeleteI bought a ceramic bowl with fake ramen noodles in it - broth and everything. It was weird but cool!
2. What is the most prized thing you have picked up at a sale?
I have so many! My PINK Evergleam Aluminum Christmas tree, the old wooden rolling pin I use almost daily, the big Tigger cup I bought my son when he was three and he still drinks milk out of, all my Mercury Glass garland, a Rushton bunny........
3. What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen, but not purchased at a sale?
A sex swing. I swear!
4. What is the farthest you've ever driven to go to a sale?
I never drive far - only usually no more than ten miles. I like to stick close to home!
5. How many sales to you typically go to in a day when you are out treasure hunting?
As many as I can find! hopefully at least 3-4, more if I can find them!
6. What is the most sales you've been to in one day/trip?
There is a neighborhood sale where I can hit about thirty sales in one day. It is awesome!
7. What is something you never or almost never buy at sales?
Shoes. Ick.
8. What is the biggest thing you have ever bought on the spot and hauled home without coming back for it later?
I bought an old kitchen cabinet and managed to squeeze it in my vehicle then went on to about nine more sales where I continued to buy more!
9. What is something you regret selling?
I left my husband in charge of the yard sale for ten minutes and he sold the Raggedy Ann and Andy plaques I had in my room when I was little. I'm still looking for some more. (They were in a box under a table covered up with a blanket, but a lady snooped around and dug them out.)
10. What is something you will walk past most of the time without a second glance?
Shoes and clothes.
11. What is the least you've ever brought home (besides nothing)?
a magazine from the FREE box.
12. What are some projects you'd like to try?
Soldering, small woodcutting projects.
13. What are you hoping to find in 2014?
I have been looking for a vintage spinning rack for my jewelry and it is HIGH on my list this year. But, I found TWO yesterday! Woot!
14. What is your favorite thing to find?
Vintage tablecloths and vintage Christmas. But, oddly, not vintage Christmas tablecloths. :)
15. Do you resell the things you buy, or do you keep them?
Both.
16. What is something you've tried and tried to sell but can't seem to ever sell?
Pottery. I love it, I collect it, but I cannot sell the stuff.
17. What is the first thing(s) you started collecting?
Miniatures, bunnies, and (THE HORRORS) clowns. This was in High School.
18. What are you collecting now?
Vintage tablecloths, pottery, picnic baskets, holiday items and thousands more.
19. What is a collection that you've seen, that you can't believe people collect?
dental teeth and eyeballs.
20. If you knew you could never fail, what would you like to do?
Write. Junk. Live.