Treasure Hunting

Last month I went to only my fourth Estate Sale ever - even though I’ve been actively thrifting for well over a decade and a collector all my life! Our family loves nothing more than planning an antiquing excursion with a great dinner - with my sister, brother-in-law and our son! Liam was in a baby carrier his first time! We love to travel into Pennsylvania, down to Princeton and so many places in-between. We never fail to look for treasures wherever we are - skiing in VT or at the beach. Today I want to share a few friends who are also big fans of thrifting and two of these ladies are vintage shop owners! I asked them to share why they love thrifting and if they have a favorite piece. Enjoy!

First up is Jen Dulac an Interior Designer - married mom of two from Marblehead MA. Her website: www.jendulac.com coming soon!

If I really think about it, I have been collecting old things since I was about 10. The very first old thing I bought was a cookbook my grandmother was selling at a yard sale. It was 25 cents. To this day, the “Wonderful Apple Pie” recipe from it is the one I always make at Thanksgiving. In high school, I loved to thrift shop. One of my favorite memories is taking the LIRR into Manhattan with my friends, going straight to Canal Jean Co. to scour the shelves of vintage Levis. Even now, I buy vintage Levis on Etsy. They’re just made better than any new jeans I’ve owned.

When I lived overseas, I’d shop for vintage furniture and rugs at the Dempsey Road warehouses in Singapore, the Ghost Market in Beijing, and shrine sales in Tokyo. I was introduced to estate sales when I moved to Marblehead. My good friend, her sister and dad had always gone to them - maybe because of a little bit of good ‘ole Yankee frugality?! - and I learned a lot of the ins and outs of navigating those sales from her. Our favorite way to spend a Friday morning these days is to hit the local estate sale train, shopping bags and packing blankets ready to go!

Sure, some of the allure of these sales stems from wanting to find a good deal, and from the love of the hunt. But there’s another part of me that’s a little more sentimental about the pieces I find from estate sales. I have always thought of estate sales as a bit like the movie Toy Story 3. At the end of the movie the main character Andy heads off to college, and the toys he grew up with and loved are given to a little girl Bonnie, where they’ll live a whole new life. It might sound a little corny, but I kind of feel that way about the estate sale pieces I bring into my home. They’re getting a whole new lease on life. Instead of landing in the dumpster or collecting dust in an attic, they’re adding a ton of character to my home. I love that my house marches to the beat of its own drum because of the eclectic pieces I’ve brought into it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I use www.EstateSales.net to find most of the sales I go to. The best piece I’ve ever scored? That’s a tough one! Really, if I’m using something I got at a sale or just enjoying looking at it, I’ll think, “Wow, that was a great find.”

JD at the Ghost Market in Beijing, circa 2001.JPG

Maura Jane is a wife, decorator and owner of Maura Jane Interiors outside of Chicago IL.

I love vintage and antiques for a lot of reasons but, probably mostly because I often think they bring on a feel ~ almost a little stir in your soul kinda thing! I equally love spaces that bring on a feeling ... when you walk in a room and you feel ~ that’s what I’m always after. If that makes sense! It all started by being “dragged” along on the many antique hunts - shows, shop or even trips into the Chicago Merchandise Mart! My Mom and her sister came from a long line of family Antique collectors and were forever on their own hunts. I used to act like I was being dragged along but quietly at a young age I started developing an eye and sense for eras, styles, lines - all of it! The two of them had plans in the works to open a shop of their own - however sadly, those plans didn’t make it into fruition but, their love of antiques and interiors never ceased!

As I grew older, if I wasn’t out antiquing with them, I would be reading every design magazine my mom had (she had them all back then and still does today, at age 92!) Victoria is her favorite. When I started my IG shop it occurred to me - that in some way I was kinda finishing the unfinished business that the two of them had started many decades ago; they even had a shop name - maybe they just needed a 3rd partner! I love finding these pieces and styling them in my home before releasing them into the hands of my wonderful customers, I really find that thrilling!

Recently, I found myself with an opportunity to open a small brick and mortar space for Maura Jane Interiors inside an incredible shop called Warehouse 55 !! A shop that I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of, talk about walking in and having that soul stirring feeling - there is so much talent all around! And I have to say this is a team effort, my hubby is a full partner in all this and I’m so lucky to have him. As for Mom she loves to hear on a daily basis the latest I’ve found in my own hunts, and what sold, and how I’ve got things set up and displayed in the shop. I know my Aunt would get such a kick out of this too!

Additionally, this has also been a great platform for creating opportunities to connect with both new and old clients for interior decorating projects as well! I feel fortunate to have discovered my passion early in life and by starting on IG I really figured out a way to carve my own unique path to do what it is that I love!

Jessica Rhodes is a wife and mom of two boys in addition to being a blogger, decorator, renovator and major thrifter.

I started buying vintage and antiques when I was in high school. I would go to the antique store in town with my friends and we bought costume jewelry to wear over our colorful cardigans with jeans. It was a way to express ourselves with pieces that no one else had on a very small budget.

As a homeowner a lot of my vintage shopping now revolves around furnishing and decorating my home, although I still look for unique clothing and jewelry.

The majority of my belongings are vintage or antique and there are a few reasons. I love finding quality pieces that have stood the test of time at a price that’s lower than what I would pay for new furniture. Collecting vintage allows me to create a unique mix of furnishings and decor that’s different than anyone else’s home - it’s important to me that our home expresses who we are and feels interesting and exciting. ]It’s also so much better for the environment to reuse antique or vintage pieces rather than buying new - especially since so many new pieces are almost disposable these days.

My favorite places for vintage shopping are Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, antique stores and thrift stores. Furniture mostly comes from Marketplace and estate sales, home decor from estate sales and in-person stores. I’ve also had great luck with eBay lately when I’m looking for something specific.

I try to keep a list in my phone of certain pieces I’m looking for - for my home with measurements. I also have collections - blue and white ceramics, Blue Willow, Wedgwood Jasperware and Queensware, cabbageware, Chinese cork dioramas, jadeite, Kutani ware, vintage tablecloths, design books - and I’m always on the lookout for additions to those. Besides that - I usually go into a store or sale with a totally open mind. If I see something I’m in love with at a fair price, that’s the best thrill, and I bring it home.

I have a lot of favorite vintage finds. My number one is definitely a pair of matching pagoda bamboo-look etageres I found exactly a year apart from each other. I have them on either side of the diningroom fireplace and someday when I renovate that room, I’ll paint them in a lacquer to compliment whatever wallpaper I choose.

My second favorite find is an old Chinese daybed I found via a Facebook Marketplace estate sale. It’s not an antique, but it was used outside for years and has this gorgeous gray patina that gives it so much character. I’m going to use it in our living room across from the television. I love that it will make such a statement in the room but also be the most comfortable place ever to watch a movie once it has a cushion and tons of pillows - who needs a sectional?

“Treasure hunting is the physical search for treasure.”

— Wikipedia

Diahann Daniel is a Brit living in MA. She’s a wife, mom to one darling girl, thrifter and shop owner of Vintage Flicker on top of her Monday-Friday gig as a data scientist.

My love of vintage really started in my Mum's closet. The first thing that got me interested was her Louis Vuitton bag which she'd gotten at an estate sale. I was 12 and I still have that bag. I was too young to know what LV was but, I knew I loved it. Later, as I traveled and explored the world more I always found that I was drawn to older, classic, vintage items. Having spent most of my life in England, I would definitely say that's had a huge influence on my style. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse was a big part of my normal everyday life and something I very much hope I’m instilling in my 12 yr old daughter.

From my own collection my favorite pieces are definitely my Jadeite Jane Ray service for 8 for which I only paid $20! It was advertised on Facebook Marketplace as "green glass". I had to drive an hour. I was nervous, but all was fine. At the end of the drive was a lovely lady who wanted to pass on her grandma's dishes. She said there was lots of interest but I won her over with my warmth when I said I want them for my collection. There were many pieces including serving ware. It was a very lucky score indeed.

My business Vintage Flicker began simply - I wasn't ready to return to full time work in the US and I had a pretty good gig consulting summers in the UK. but, I wanted to make my own money. So I turned my passion for vintage into a small business. There was so much to learn and I'm still learning. I'm working full time again, but I love the shop so I continue to run it with the same spirit and enthusiasm as when I started and I hope that comes through to my clientele. I have a lot of fun on my IG page. Sharing behind the scenes of my home filled with new vintage finds. Some of which I keep but, often end up in the shop. I also really love the vintage community I’m a part of!

Anna Weaver is hands down the queen of Estate Sales. The married mom of three daughters has been extolling her knowledge through her IG page.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s going to a large Atlanta flea market every month. The flea market was held at an old fairground and occupied 4 to 6 large warehouses. My mom bought most of her furniture there and I had fun looking for old movie posters and art deco jewelry. All my babysitting money went to the flea market.

Fast forward 30 years, when I began furnishing my own house and flea markets have shrunk to one warehouse and now have very little furniture - so I started hitting the big box stores, but never found anything I fell in love with. While I scoured thrift stores, finding furniture proved to be difficult. Somehow I discovered www.EstateSales.net about 8 years ago and went to my first sale that same weekend with my two daughters in tow. I found a mid-century sunburst clock, which began my love affair with estate sales. Not only are estate sales a goldmine for quality furniture at an affordable price but, they also provide a time capsule that is so fun to explore. It has become a privilege to give these pieces a second life and treasure them as much as their previous owner.

I have found everything from a signed and numbered Leroy Neiman lithograph, to a Tom Greene Brutalist Chandelier and many many art deco Chinese rugs!! There's something for everyone at an estate sale!

One day I hope flea markets become the robust vintage furniture market they once were, but until then I'll be estate sales best customer!

Til next time friends I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting these thrifting loving ladies. Please pop over pay them a visit on their sites and IG and give them a follow.

Stay safe and happy hunting!