Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Dancing Queens

One of the things you might have noticed about me over the last few years is that I don't attend as many auctions as I use to.  There are a number of reasons for this....
  1. I've really been trying to free myself of "stuff".  Having a shop has really helped me with the freeing part and I force myself to ask the question, "do I need this or do I want this?"  I allow myself to have some wants every now and again, but it's not like it use to be! 
  2. When I relocated I left my teaching job, so I don't have a lot of extra play money any more.  It's funny because I don't really feel deprived by this at all.  I'm not in any way living in poverty.  I have savings in the bank, a roof over my head, and food in my belly.  I've just become really picky about parting with my money.   Don't get me wrong, I've always been thrifty with my money, but now I've moved up a notch and I'm even more tight fisted! 
  3. Auctions where I moved to are hard to find.  Yup, it's tough out here.  When you do find them, the bidding can be intense and back stabbing!  Give me a good ol' Amish country auction any day over some of these uptight, rude, "I'm gonna sell this to a New Yorker and make a killing" dealers.  Okay, they don't really say this, but it's what I think they could be saying as they stare me down over a farmhouse fresh bench we both are bidding on.  
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One of the cool things about not attending as many auctions as I use to is, when I do get to one now, it's always like having a birthday!  It thrills me to no end!  The colors are brighter, the sun is sunnier, and the birds are always singing.  Sometimes I even see rainbows and unicorns!  Oh My!  Can you feel the love here people?!

One of the bad things about going to auctions now...the debate I have with myself about whether to put a newly acquired item in the shop or allow myself to keep it.  Ooooo, I hate having to make that decision.  Before I just kept everything...mine, mine, all mine.  Can't make money that way!  Boo!

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The recent items I am debating about are these amazingly, awesome set of large (16x20) 1950's paint by number ballerinas!  I don't think I've ever seen a set of paint by numbers look so elegant.  It's the fab frames from Belgium that does it for these well done ballerinas.  Someone obviously took great pride in their handy work of staying in the lines!  Such elegant kitsch!

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I really can't see myself being able to part with them.  So, since I'll be keeping these lovely ladies for myself, I'll tell you the auction price I paid for them....$12 or $6 a piece.  I hope this helps explain why I see rainbows and unicorns when I go to auction!

Happy Spring Y'all!

~MaryDeluxe

11 comments:

  1. These are lovely! I know exactly how you feel. I love it when I go thrifting and find an awesome piece for a killer price.

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  2. they are great!!!! keep them, keep them!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. Wow! What a deal! I would keep them too. I think you're brave for attending auctions. I don't think I could do it. I would get caught up in it all and bid way more than I wanted to pay. I have to stop myself from doing this on ebay.

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    1. hahaha oh that happens to me every now and than...I try to stay out of bidding wars and just bid to what I want to spend but sometimes I get caught up!

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  4. How fabulous!

    I do know exactly what you mean, I used to spend spend spend but have had a tough few years financially and now I'm totally different, I ask those exact questions, do I really want it, do I need it! The problem with vintage stuff is you can't just walk away and come back the next day cos it might not be there. However I still rarely pay much for stuff, I just wait til I can get something within my budget. It's hard sometimes but I've learnt it pays off! I think when my finances finally improve I'll probably take this way of living with me anyway, why pay more than you really have to eh?

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  5. Wow! Such a neat find and such a great price!

    What's neat about having a shop is that you can always live with something for a little while, enjoy it, and then pass it on. The best of both worlds?

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  6. I agree, they are very elegant for PBN! I know where you are coming from on the "tighter fist" i've tried to cut down on buying smalls to save for big things like DRYWALL and Tile -Woo! (detect the sarcasam?!) hahaha

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