it ain’t over til it’s over.

Published on by Quandie

Here I was thinking that garage sale season was over.

We’ve had snow and everything.

What kind of crazy people are still having garage sales in this sort of weather?

Well, apparently the Minnesota kind.  We’re a hearty bunch.

Besides, last Thursday and Friday were sunny and in the low 60’s.  Perfect weather for a sale.  Never mind that we had flurries again by Saturday.  We seem to be on a weather roller-coaster.

Nonetheless, I made hay while the sun was shining.  In the last week I brought home five pieces of furniture.

First, another bed frame that Ken can turn into a bench.

Then a pair of dressers from an estate sale.  There were literally only 20 minutes left before the sale closed when my friend Sue (a.k.a. my picker) and I showed up and the sellers were definitely in the mood to slash prices.  I got these for 75% off the originally listed price.

Also, I have to mention here that sometimes the staff at estate sales are not the most helpful.  I had to send Mr. Q back to pick these up and none of the staff would help him load them.  He literally had to get these down a flight of stairs, out of the house and into the van by himself.  All the while the staff just stood around watching.  Earlier in the day when I paid for them and said I would have my husband come back later to pick them up, I wish they would have mentioned something along the lines of “oh, by the way, we don’t help load so he may want to bring a friend,” but no, they didn’t.

Had I not already paid for them, and taken a drawer from each piece as security, Mr. Q would have walked away from the whole deal.

I purchased the next two pieces at the thrift store (where they were more than happy to help us load them).  A week ago Sunday both Meggan (a.k.a. the thrift doctor) and Sue (a.k.a. my picker) texted me to say that I should head over there to look at a piece of furniture.

I figure if two of your best spotters tell you to head to the same thrift store within an hour of each other, it’s time to throw a coat over your painting clothes and get over there.

Sue gave me a heads up on this dresser …

And Meggan gave me a heads up on a sewing desk.  I didn’t actually buy the sewing desk, but purchased this waterfall desk that was sitting right next to it.

I’d actually seen this desk that last time I thrifted with Meggan, but I passed on it then.  But there is just something about those fab old cup pulls that kept drawing me in, so when I saw it again this time I bought it.  I’m planning a simple makeover for this one, something that will allow those handles to be the center of attention.

And while I’m doing this sort of ‘show and tell’ post, I thought I’d also share this amazing pair of kid sized vintage folding chairs that Sue found for me.

They are so adorable.  It’s a little hard to tell the scale from that photo but they are only about 22″ tall.

I’m not yet sure what I want to do with them.  Do I paint them?  Or leave them in their kinda fab original patina?  Do I keep them, or sell them?

I haven’t made up my mind, but in the meantime you’re going to see them again on Friday when I share the makeover of this dresser …

and there’s going to be a giveaway along with that post, so be sure to stay tuned!

25 thoughts on “it ain’t over til it’s over.”

  1. Oh wow, you are loaded up with projects! It’s hard to say which piece I like the best, but those folding kids chairs definitely made my heart happy. I love the way the front legs go forward! And yes, estate sale people are not ‘loaders’ almost every one I go to has that sign on the door. I bet by the time your husband showed up they were over the estate sale and just wanted to go home! Glad he figured out a way to get them out himself, those are fine pieces. Can’t wait to see your makeovers.

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    1. Lesson learned! I’ll know better next time. And when I told my handyman/neighbor Ken about the loading situation he said that Mr. Q can always count on him to come along and help load. Wasn’t that nice of him?

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    1. LOL, I wish I had a huge storage area! In fact, this time of year I line the pieces up along two walls in my carriage house/garage so that we can still get the cars in there. Sometimes I can stack them two pieces high too. Luckily my car is small (it’s a VW bug).

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  7. Wow what great stuff! Just makes my mouth water!!!! There are just too many “quandifiers” in LA and the price on these kinds of old beautiful things is sky high! These are BEAUTIFUL!

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  8. Sweet pickins you’ve got there!! Looking forward to seeing the afters. You’ll have to treat your husband to a nice dinner for his procurement help. I’ll never understand meanness or laziness, but I guess that’s a good thing. Have a lovely day!

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  9. Fantastic haul! I am envious. The dressers from the estate sale are going to be gorgeous by the time you’re done with them. I don’t understand the people not wanting to help load them up – unless they are elderly or infirm – especially if it was the end of the day and they were wanting to get home. Seriously, without the help Mr. Q could have just walked away and they would’ve lost any commission they might have earned. Make your customers happy! I’m guessing it’s part of liability/insurance rules and people are so scared of a lawsuit. It’s made our society afraid to be helpful just in case… Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to seeing what incredible things your creative mind comes up with. Happy painting!

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    1. I can’t help but think that they were more in danger of a lawsuit from Mr. Q falling down the stairs while trying to carry a dresser all by himself than they would have been from helping him. I am hearing from others that it’s typical for estate sales to not offer any assistance with loading. But I’m with you, I always offer to help. Mr. Q and I always help load pieces of furniture that we sell. I wouldn’t even dream of just standing there and saying ‘well, good luck getting that into your vehicle!” Can you imagine?

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      1. It is a sad commentary on our society. I think people use a fear of litigation as an excuse, too. I recently broke down on the side of the highway. After about 100 cars drove past me, a very kind man stopped to help, drove me to the station & bought me some gas – even though I had the money to pay for it, stayed roadside with me until he was sure my car would start. He went way out of his way to come to my aid. Last weekend my 23 year old daughter-in-law. who weighs all of 100 pounds, ran out of gas on a country road while with her 18 month old son. She carried him 1/2 mile to the nearest house where an older man answered the door with a shotgun, listened to her story of being out of gas, looked at my grandson and said “I reckon you should get on out of here fast before I shoot you both.” WTH? She ended up sleeping in her truck with her 18 month old in his car seat overnight during the first freeze of the year. My heart remembers every small act of kindness I’ve received over the years and I do my best to pay it forward. My heart weeps when I hear of these little things, when someone could easily help another but chooses to let that moment pass by with a word of anger. What happened to manners? Simply saying “I can’t help because…” The day I broke down I met an angel but I don’t know what to call the man who turned away a young woman with a baby. Those little acts of kindness are huge and can truly alter the receiving persons day or outlook on life. We all learned in kindergarten to do unto other as you would have done unto you. Live by the golden rule and our world could change. And, dang – help a man carry out huge pieces of furniture if you’re the one who sold it to him! That small thing can determine whether you have a repeat customer spreading a good word about you or a dissatisfied customer telling others how rude you are. It takes 100 positive reviews to negate one negative one. Sorry, I’m done with my rant and I shouldn’t use your wonderful blog to vent but I have a hard time remaining silent about this. I just feel strongly that doing the little things to help others adds up to big changes in society in general, and definitely makes a positive change in 2 people’s lives-the giver and the receiver.

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  11. Can’t wait to see the “after” photo for the estate sale dresser. When I see furniture with the wood grain and inlay details I always wonder, To Paint or Not To Paint! You may surprise us, however, so I will tune in tomorrow to see!

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