We have been hunting for a bed for Miss K this summer and the auctions have been seriously lacking! Something happened since the time I used to go to auctions more often and they would sell bedroom SETS for $25 and now where it seems all the family KEEPS the beds! So… I was happy that the listing for the Monday auction listed “beds”.
No doubt! There were at least 6 full-size beds for me to chose from and several twin sets. Yahoo!! (The auction was from several people/estates so not the local orphanage. 😉 )
First, we had to sell through at least 10 hay racks of stuff. Wowsers!! On one hand, this team goes fast. On the other hand, they go fast! The lowest bid they took 95% of the time was $2.50. I prefer $1. 🙂
I got a few things off the racks… a rug for K … It looks brand-new, doesn’t smell, and nothing drops out of it — $5. It is 4′ wide so maybe 6′ long.
and a marble cheese tray/plate with glass dome for my SIL
and some cross-stitched pillowcases for a linen quilt ala Cindy Needham
and 2 old quilts
This is just a top; it isn’t quilted. Dresden Plate pattern in (what I’d guess) are 30’s prints. Hand stitched together and machine stitched to see-through muslin squares. The centers don’t have their traditional appliqué circle… neither are they very alike in size and shape. The blocks are about 14″ and there are 6 blocks x 5 blocks.
I would like to remove the “plates” from the muslin and put them on better fabric and add the centers. Then quilt it.
This box also had a piece of either very coarse muslin or light canvas squares sewn together. I washed it today and am considering using it for a canvas mixed media book. It frayed a TON in the washer!!
The other quilt in the box is this Bow Tie quilt.
The blocks are 5″ and all hand pieced. The border is added by machine and the quilt is tied with awful orange yarn. The border wraps around for binding to the back.
I found this tag pinned on.
It seems like info about the amount of fabric for border & backing but not sure. Bummer the tag wasn’t her name and the year she made this….
What era are these fabrics?
I love the fabric prints and this is in good condition. I also wonder if the border was a later addition as it isn’t as nice of fabric as the blocks. I’d like to untie this, give it new batting, and quilt it.
The fun part was that my MIL (Queen of Auctions) was there and we kept tabs on each other. She alerted me that they had started a second “ring” on the furniture while I was busy waiting for the quilt box to be up for bids. She offered to watch the pile I had already bought in front of me. I begged her to bid on the quilt box and she did! They only did a bit of the furniture where I needed to watch and then moved to office furniture so I returned to check. She was there at an empty hay rack with my box of quilts! I was so excited to see it with her and gingerly asked how much it cost me. $50. I was pleased!! So much had gone really high that day and I know quilts usually bring a good price. Course, maybe you think that is high. I don’t and Phil was fine with it too. 🙂 MIL claimed some misc china pieces out of a box as her “pay” for “watching” my stuff. 🙂 I hope she didn’t miss something as she stood guard… ohmygoodness… I’d be in DEEP trouble if she did. 🙂
Finally they came back to furniture but started at the opposite end of the large shed from where I was. I hustled through the crowd (playground skills return once again, Mom) and got to the bidding area just 3 items before a bed.
I got that bed… headboard, footboard, and rails… plus a laundry drying rack and an ironing board. $15 Score!!
Phil set up the beds (only using 3 sides) last night in the garage so I could get pix for K. Not sure about those spots that appeared in the picture. I'll clean these all tomorrow.
Around the corner to the outside wall… I lost some bids but that was OK… finally to the bed I really liked. Mine! $20. I love this one!
These 2 will SING with some cleaning and a good ol’ wipe of Old English furniture polish. 🙂 K will chose one and I think I’ll put the other one in her/the guest room.
I was mostly done at this point but then ended up taking a dresser, 2 large mirrors, 3 UGLY table lamps all for $1 and a set of metal bed rails for $2.50. Just in case these wood ones don’t go plus we have a queen set w/o rails also in the garage. I also got two huge bookcases. Time to clean and organize the sewing room!! Ack!
The dresser is non-too-lovely but functional and well made. I think some dashing white or light cream paint and some new knobs would be lovely! Do you?
Other dressers at this sale went for $60 – $80 and they weren’t nice or antique either. ??? I’ll take the $1 one.
As I walked away to call Phil, he appeared behind me. I had texted him that I’d need his help but wasn’t done about 1/2 hr earlier. I showed him all the furniture and he got the beds in my truck and put the mirrors in my back seat. I had already filled the back seat with “stuff”. The dresser and 2 bookcases fit in his truck. MIL took the lamps in her car. She is considering them since they were headed the dumpster otherwise. At least they had really nice shades that she can use.
As we finished loading, a man asked if I wanted the bed still there that he pointed out. Phil agreed it could go to the ministry he volunteers at that delivers furniture to needy families so we took it for that. A third set: headboard, footboard, and rails. I have more to clean.
All in all… I was pleased with my shopping. Hope you liked the tour of my loot. 🙂
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