Bid is 15. Do I hear 20?

I am a huge fan of garage sales and thrift stores. Something that I picked up from my mom, although I acquire a lot less stuff. Anywho....I hit my first auction this weekend with Rayna and Kelly. Paddy, Marc's mom, came along too.

I browsed the preview online the day before. I eyed a few things and Marc was curious about a vintage pinball machine. He said it could be his birthday gift if it was the right price. I set myself a little budget and off I went.

We signed in and obtained our numbers. I was 386. The auction had already begun as we started to make our way around the warehouse. There was so much more there than was on the website and I was immediately overwhelmed. I spotted a small bathroom stand with a drawer and made my first mark on my list. Paddy and I wandered off to look at all the stuff. When I turned around, they were holding up this small bathroom stand. I threw my hand up in the air. Did I hear 10? Then he started saying 20. I think. I started shaking. I had been outbid but was too afraid to bid again since I was not sure how much we were exactly at. I kept my hand down and the stand sold for $7.50!?!?

I made my way back to my pack. I felt safer there and was sure that I could get the hang of it with Kelly and Rayna next to me. We made our way to our seats. The green velvet chaise lounger was coming up soon. I set a price in my head. The bidding started and my hand just went up. We started low at 10. It went up. With no hesitation, my hand flew up. After a few more flings of my hand, I now owned the chaise lounger for $30. Oh, success. It was an amazing feeling. I was so excited. I had just won my first bidding war. This rules. So much better than ebay with it's shipping charges and week long bidding.

Rayna and I checked out the jewelry and I found the ring that I had seen the day before. I liked it in person as much as I did online. It was to be mine. Oh, and I passed some cute star-shaped plates on the way back to our seats. I thought they would be perfect for Lola. I saw the pinball machine and found a beautiful retro art deco armoire right next to it. We went and sat back down and waited for these items to come up for bidding. Rayna won a necklace and earring set, a very intricate, beautiful beaded purse and a mink hat. My ring came up and after a little war, it was mine. By now I am hot. The star plates came up and since no one bid, they became mine with a wave of 386!

Before the pinball machine, I bid on a piece of art that I won. Then the armoire came up. The bidding started so low, I couldn't keep my hand down. This piece was meant to be mine. I won it at an amazing price of $45. It was commented by many as to how great of a deal that I got. I was almost too excited to bid on the pinball machine which was next. I did bid on it and warred with someone behind me. I went as high as $175. I knew it was worth much more after Marc had done some research, but at that price, I wasn't sure. He got a great deal at $200. I also picked up a mirror, a curio cabinet and a great 6 gallon crock and then had to pay and leave. It was too much fun and I was out of control. We even had great fun with the auctioneers.

Here are some pictures of my successful bidding:

Lola on the new chaise

My new piece of art - I really like it more now than I did then!

My new crock (Marc think I shouldn't even bother to post a picture, but you wanted to see it, huh?)

My new ring. Just needs to be resized.

Lola's new plates.



And the new armoire. It was VERY heavy. Marc was not very happy with all of my purchases. Even more so when he saw how heavy this was and that we had nowhere to put it....yet.  I think more of my lack of control. I am not allowed to buy anything bigger than a microwave without discussing it.

Future auctions are not out of the picture. It will just have to be more controlled. As Rayna said, I have to be less of an enabler. I can't wait!!! Just writing this blog is making me excited. I wonder what my next bidding number will be?