I love estate sales!!

I find estate sales fascinating.  Seeing all the things a person accumulates and what it tell you about that person.  I stopped in at an estate sale which started today (which I thought was unusual since they are mostly on Saturday, or maybe the odd Friday). 

When I went in, I was greeted by a few very nice ladies.  They asked if I was looking for anything specific.  When I mentioned that I like crafting supplies, they said that most of it had been given away but there was some sewing supplies downstairs that they could show me after I looked around.  As I wandered around the livingroom and dining room, I didn't spot any Pyrex.  Since the ladies with chatting with me casually, I decided to ask if they had any colourful Pyrex bowls or dishes.  They said they only remember seeing the clear Pyrex items but led me into a kitchen to take a peak.  They opened a large drawer, and right behind a stack of clear Pyrex baking dishes were a set of butterprint cinderella bowls!  They asked if that was what I was looking for and I quickly answered "yes"!  I asked how much and my jaw almost dropped when they said $10!  SOLD!!

I also asked if they had any glass teapots.  After showing a few non-Pyrex ones, the lady lead me to a box near the front door and pulled out a Pyrex caraf and announced that this was the free box so it was all mine if I wanted it.  Of course I did!  I later found a smaller Pyrex caraf in a box of stuff that was being sold as a lot for $2.  When she saw me pull it out of the box, she said that she would just give it to me since it matched the other free one...can you believe it? 

I went downstairs with the lady to see the sewing supplies.  There were boxes full of stuff.  At first she quoted me $30 for everything but I really didn't want all of it so I said I would pick out some of the stuff.  She ended charging me $12 for a large vintage sewing box, a box full of zippers, a huge bag of thread, and other random sewing stuff.

I also found these pretty earrings in a box of costume jewelery near the sewing table and she charged me only $1.  They're like clip on earrings excepts the backs screw on.

My favourite find of the day though were these amazing dolls.

There was a row of them on one of the couches.  I found out that the lady made all of them and used to sell them for about $100 each.  Her work is just exquisite!  Look at all the details:

 I just adore that little bumble bee!

 This is the bow on the back of her sun hat.

 Little buttons on the ankle straps of her shoes.

 Little mushrooms and a lady bug in her basket.

 

There were even little pom poms on the top of the baby's hat and both ends of his scarf.  I love the rainbow colours on the girl's dress.

Look at the wheels on the baby's buggy!

I just totally fell in love with this lady's work and I would have taken them all home if I could.  In the end I picked the two I loved the most, though it was super hard to decide.  I will be giving them to my mom as part of her mother's day present.  My mom is a super crafter too...sewing, knitting, beading - you name it she does it.  I think she'll just love them.

So this is what I got for $50:

As I was leaving, I was encouraged to take more stuff from the free boxes so I did.

I love these crocheted hangers.  Cute and also very practical for dresses and blouses that slip off of most hangers. There were tons of these and I would have taken them all but I didn't want to be too greedy so I only took about a dozen.  Imagine all the work and they were giving them away. 

I also took 2 corningware cradles, a thermos and a putter game/ashtray.

It took two trips to the car, even with some help, to load all my goodies.  What a satisfying hour of thrifting!!