Estate Sale Plunder and the "Truth" about Wanda

Estate Sale Plunder

I have been waiting for inspiration to tell the tale of Wanda and my Estate Sale Adventures from last Friday. Her post that I just read was inspiration enough. First of all, let me say, Wanda and I have been "junkin" together for 10 years. We have a system. If I drive she pays for food and snacks, and if she drives the reverse is true. She has a 4 door sedan with a GPS and a back seat that lets down and I have an SUV with only one rear door that opens due to a wreck. What vehicle we take seems to depend on how much money we have and if we hope to find "big" stuff. (Mine's for big). Whoever drives puts their drink in the first drink holder, passenger in the second. This is an important part of our system as one of us is "funny" about drinking after someone else. We both carry estate sale "bags" which are large totes so we can load up fast. We both tend to go to the basement first, but always go in opposite directions. We do not follow one another around. We enter the premises at the same time. I have long legs and am a fast looker. Wanda has short legs and takes her time. After a few initial misunderstandings I have learned not to push her down and rush in first.

Now you know how we operate let me tell you how my friend, Wise Wonderful Wanda really operates. Now I've read in her blog about how she was shy as a child etc., but when she is on the trail of vintage plunder a whole new side of her character is revealed. She can toss that strawberry blonde hair and cut those cat green eyes to charm many a male seller into letting her into "that old shed in the back"... or bringing down "the things from the attic that were going to be dealt with another day".

I, on the other hand have short, kinky dirty blonde hair and am 7 years older. Her 4'11" height is much cuter than my 5'5" fluffy physique. So who did I send to ask the "hot" young policeman directions for this estate sale that had eluded us, why Wanda of course!. She claims not to have noticed what a cutie he was , but as you can see fron the picture she sure was smiling about something!!! Maybe she liked his pistol.OOps, Trashy Lena coming out.



Wise Wonderful Wanda and the Policeman

We did find the sale from the map Birmingham's finest had drawn for her, and I scored some good junk. The sale was being held by two middle aged brothers who were trying to pay off their deceased Mother's QVC bill and the expense of her cremation. They were making a fortune, they said, on Ebay, selling Jadeite Restaurantware to the Japanese. I distracted Wanda by getting her to help them with their use of Auctiva, while I gathered up all the good stuff.(Don't tell her my trick.) I got them down to half price on the English "biscuit" tin (cookies to us Americans)which is for me to keep. Wanda had done really well at the first sale and grabbed a planter right out of my hands. I hand my revenge!



Biscuit Tin, Celluloid Clock,Vintage Books and Chippy Aqua HLC Bowl

At the first sale I got some vintage books on banking, law and accounting. Nice for someone's library. I also got an autobiography of Warren Buffet autographed by the author. There was a wonderful box of love letters written to a young lady during WW 2.I asked the woman conducting the sale how much she wanted for the entire box, thinking $3-5 would be a price worth paying. She very laboriously counted each letter and then said 103. I said 103 what? She said letters and dollars. They are one dollar a piece. I thought to myself that there was an easier way to have done this, but being Southern born and Southern bred, I said no thank you sweetly and bought other more realistically priced junk.

The highlight of the day was the lunch break we took at Savage's Bakery in Homewood, Alabama. The Reuben sandwich was tasty as was the hot tea. We had a pastry or two from the delicious selection and we were fortified to continue our quest for treasures. I love the thrill of the hunt but I love the comraderie of a good junkin' buddy just as much.


Savage's Bakery - What a selection!


The sales in my booth are going gangbusters and I can make my rent for next month!! I am so encouraged. Well, that's all for now. Check back again soon. Tomorrow is Estate Sale Friday and I've got some money to spend.
Cheers, Lena

A Neat Shabby Green Lamp (Soon to become a Candle Holder)


I made a "shabby" chenile shade for this vintage lamp.
(Soon to be on Sale at White Cat Antiques)

A Peek at my Shop

Shabby, Vintage and Interesting

I am showing off some pictures of my shop, White Cats and Roses, located in the Chelsea Antique and Decorating Mall, on I 280 in Chelsea, Alabama, about 10 miles south of Birmingham.
I have been sharing the booth with a friend but she has moved on to start her own shop in our town of Sylacauga. I like the freedom of the mall and the camaraderie of the other vendors. I am working on filling up the whole space myself and have been very pleased with the sales.

A Primitive Cupboard and Vintage Chic Gown
(Note the Plaster White Cat, NFS, but my Mascot)



Red Milk Painted Primitive Cupboard

I am restocking the booth from my surplus at home as the weather is too cold and wet for yard sales. I can't wait for the spring when the hunt for that special treasure will begin again.I hope you can tell from the pictures that I have a curious mixture of primitive, old and quirky. Most of my merchandise is old and one of a kind. I hope that you will stop by when you are out this way. Tell Trish or Mark you read this blog and they will give you a 20% discount. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers, Lena

Snow!!!!!

Snow in the Deep South

It is impossible to surpass the glory of God's natural world. This blanket of snow has made all things bright and beautiful. Buddy, the yard dog, and Panda, the house cat,were amazed at what they saw!!! We do love our snow!!! It is a rare and welcome treat y'all. Enjoy! Lena

Junkin' in Alabama

A Favorite Junk Store Hello, blog friends. I have really been hibernating lately. Let the temp drop below 40 and I build a fire, stay in my jammies and warm robe and watch old movies all day. I am truly bearlike in the way I cope with winter. It was a little warmer last Saturday (45 degrees and I coaxed my dearly beloved into going "junkin" with me. He doesn't love it passionately as I do ,but he loves me, so off we went. We went to some of my favorite spots in neighboring town and found a few things. I got a wonderful peach colored satin and lace gown from the 40's, a sock egg, (used for darning), a glass train candy container and a vintage silvery mirror sans frame, a rose decorated pitcher and a tiny bird on a log planter. All of these are for resale. I have a booth at a local mall and in January took over the whole booth as my partner, Wise Wonderful Wanda, pulled out to open a store here in our town. My sales need to double to cover the rent and show a small profit, so keep your fingers crossed.Other news in '08.......Our nest is now empty of human kids,(although 15 furkids remain) The last baby bird, Kate, has graduated from college and is starting a career with a very trendy cosmetics line. This is a dream come true for her.... Can't wait to get a make-over. I do have hair right now (I've been fighting cancer for the last 5 years and winning!) and it is about two inches long and very curly. So easy to fix. Wet, scrunch and go...Maybe some pink and gold highlights!!!I am wrestling with the winter blues and need to get back to selling on Ebay to supplement the slow times at the booth, but I just want to vegetate.(Money is a good mood elevator)So instead of listing and selling, I eat! My new favorite snack? Why hot chocolate and chips and dip, of course. BBC's "You Are What You Eat" is a great source of  inspiration for me. After watchingthat, I will steam my cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and carrots and then have my chip/dip snack as a treat for eating well. Don't you agree that I am doing 1/2 right? (I know the "crisps" would not pass the holistic dieticians's scrutiny. Don't you just love the way she says, "Poo". I'm a sucker for an English accent.)The big news for today is that we are having snow in our part of central Alabama and it is Gorgeous. Hope all of you are surviving the winter warmly. I talked to a friend in Nebraska and she laughed at me when I told her we were having temps in the 30's. Everthing is relative. Best wishes toall of you out in the blogosphere. May God be close to you as you face the challenges of the New Year. Lena 

"Sammy"  safe from the snow!

Merry Christmas to All

Hi y'all. I have been very blogging lazy lately as I prepare for all my famly to descend over the holidays. We've even called the painters in after 16 years of hunter and neon green bedroom walls. Say "Relaxed khaki" and shabby chic "antique white". Looks great. So fresh. When you only straighten up once or twice a year you know I have been very busy.

I did want to send warm wishes to all of you and look forward to a happy, healthy and love filled New Year. God bless you everyone. Lena

A New Holiday Tradition

A Fun Christmas Craft
Greetings blog friends. I have been a lazy blogger lately but I have enjoyed reading your blogs. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love to decorate, bake and make crafts. I have pictured above a little crafty Christmas ornament that I adapted from a magazine.
Card Stock Ornament
1) Cut tags from card stock. (1 1/2" x 2 1/2 ")( Note picture. These will look like little houses with a steep roof)
2) Punch a hole in the tip of the tag
3) Soak the tag in coffee or tea. (Have a cup yourself!)
4) When the tags take on an aged look remove and dry on a cookie cooling rack
5) Using a fine tip permanent black Sharpie, write your chosen letter to spell whatever word you select.( Also,make little marks like stitches around the perimeter of tag) Suggestions: a person's name, a pet's name, a word- Celebrate, Joy, Peace,Love,Jesus, Santa, Snow, 2007, etc., etc.
6) Tear strips (1/2" W by the length of your fabric) from gingham or another country looking fabric and age in coffee or tea. Dry.
7) Cut 5" pieces of this fabric and thread through your punched hole in each lettered tag. Don't tie a knot yet.
8) Tear strips long enough to accommodate the letters of your word leaving space between the letters. Allow about 6" of fabric before the first and last letters.
9) Starting at about 6 " along your strip, tie the letters of your word spacing as you like.You want it readable when hung.
10) I like to tie a knot in the supporting strip about three inches in at the beginning and end to give the little paper and cloth ornament a "gripper" when hanging on a tree, wreath or around a pot of Christmas flowers.

These are easy to make and fun to do with your little ones who are learning to read, write and spell. Date them and let the child do the writing.

Well, there's more to this story. When we were gathered around the Thanksgiving table with my oldest son's in laws, I, being a former grade school teacher and counselor, had a little "bonding" activity for our clan. I had made an ornament as described above for each family member. After the food was gobbled down and our dear patriarch Rex, age 93, had shared some memories from the 1930's, I brought out this little project. Everyone, ranging in age from 19 to 93, was asked to write on the back of each letter in their name one blessing for which they were grateful to God. This was met with varying, but predictable, degrees of enthusiasm, but in the end everyone did it!!!

I plan to hang these on my Christmas tree along with the hearts made from a raggedy vintage quilt of my Nannie's. I hope that this will become a family tradition as our family adds new husbands and wives and children. Our family "love" tree.
************************************************************************************* "I hope that I will always see God's gifts upon my Christmas tree."
************************************************************************************* Now folks, I don't want to give a false impression about my brood. The Thanksgiving of '06 was a different kettle of fish altogether. The "feast" ended with some family members having words and leaving the table. This neccesitated another member doing some counseling while still another cooled off with a walk in the woods. Now you Mom's can identify with me when I say, I was pretty traumatized because a "special" family time had resulted in hurt feelings. However, by Christmas holidays, things had simmered down and we all agreed that this little plaque my daughter gave me summed it all up. Real family life is just like this. Is that your experience, too?


Happy holidays and blessings to you and yours with all our warts, moles and other imperfections. Lena

Happy Thanksgiving Y'All and A "Rug Feast" for the Eyes

Hi there. It is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I woke up with the desire to clean, clean, clean. This for me is quite uncommon. I guess it is because company is coming and I want a clean, neat, orderly house before I start my Christmas decorating. We will have a quiet Thanksgiving , but Christmas will be an extravaganza. I started polishing the silver yesterday evening. I love to polish silver. Quick results are just my style.

This will be a quick post as I am anxious to get to cleaning.

Friday Wise Wonderful Wanda and I went to an estate sale in a neighboring town. I got a number of small items but my big "score" was these fabulous hooked rugs for $10.00 each. I am showing the "wrong" side in these pictures. They have a few problems. The binding needs repair and the "right side" is quite soiled. The former owner was a 92 year old woman and her daughter-in-law said the estate was three generations of heirlooms. (The family took away three trucks full!) I have no idea about the age of these beauties. To me they are remarkable enough to hang on my wall. The designs are gorgeous. I can imagine a woman sitting by an open hearth in the 1800's hooking these for the wide planked floor of her homestead. This is a romanticized idea, but its mine and I am sticking to it. I think the three designs are super. I will have a hard time selling these beauties. (So for now, I won't.)

I have my booth in the mall and sell on eBay so I can justify my buying, selling and mainly keeping. Keeping is the best part.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Thanks for stopping by. Lena