So, this last weekend I spent Saturday with my husband and some friends cruising through West Seattle neighborhoods stopping at garage sales. Apparently, this is an annual event where the city encourages people to participate and then they print maps to all the homes having garage sales. This year there was 206 participating homes! It was Heaven!! It was a beautiful sunny day, not a cloud in the sky and a warm, vaguely salty breeze coming off of Alki Beach.
I was well rested and equipped with all the necessary items! Snacks, water bottle, jeweler's loupe, chapstick, comfortable walking shoes and poker face (Never look too eager! You managed to live without that thing up til now so, don't sweat it). My pockets were loaded with small bills. (A must, when haggling! You don't want to haggle someone down on price and then ask them to break a $20. Yikes! Bad form!) We surveyed the map and decided to hit the areas were the sales were closely packed together. It was a pleasant surprise to find that in most of these areas we could walk from one home to another. In fact, most sales were actually within a visible distance of one another. With the event starting at 9am and continuing throughout the day until 5 pm we had an entire day to explore the area for bargains.
I've found that whether you are at an estate sale, garage sale, or even just a thrift store it's always best to bring a friend. Not because you're in any eminent danger but, rather they provide a second set of eyes. In this case my friend Barb was acting as my vintage scout. Thank goodness too because, she hit the motherload of vintage linens! An old suitcase overflowing with stunning hand towels, handkerchiefs, crocheted dollies, finger towels and oh so many other dainty and lovely things! The women running this garage sale was a pretty shrewd bargainer. (I love haggling!) However, I managed to walk away with about 12 things at a reasonable price. Some things for me and some haggled things for Barb and we were on our way to the next sale.
One of the most important lessons anyone can learn when it comes to bargaining for a better deal is this.....Be prepared to walk away and don't become emotionally invested in said item. As I've already said..... You didn't have this thing yesterday. Is it a big deal if you don't own it tomorrow? No. For example, Barb does alot of embroidery and found a women selling used floss containers for $1.50. Since Barb had no change she asked if the women would sell one to her for $1.00. No was her reply and so, we moved on. Not a big deal.
Eventually, even I was tired and ready for lunch. With my bag full of treasures we left the lovely West Seattle neighborhoods and found food. The best part of vintage hunting is returning home and sorting out, washing, and displaying my treasures. I added a beautiful chocolate colored hat to my collection. It's embellished with beads and what I believe to be horse hair but, feels like tickly kitten whiskers. I love it! I also get to spruce up my utilitarian, canvas messenger bag/purse with a delightful vintage sewing kit. Embossed gold vinyl, with a pretty kisslock clasp. Just adorable!
Many of these things I purchased will need to be rejuvenated and will be available for sale on my Etsy site in the next couple of days. (http://www.etsy.com/people/RejuvenatedVintage) So, if you love vintage as much as I do........check back frequently for updates, new merchandise and fun!
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