Auctions. are. Awesome.

It’s a darn good thing…

Molding on Carved Oak Sideboard

that I’m not in Georgia anymore…

Sideboard Carving

Because, if I were, I’d be so poor from going to the Furniture Auction in Bainbridge…

Original Hardware on Carved Oak Sideboard

Biting my nails and bidding on amazing pieces which I’d have to turn into something useful…

Fabric skirt on Sideboard

And I’m for sure that I’d run out of room…

Carved Oak Sideboard

But, golly…

I’d have some amazing pieces… for practically nothing.

Notice, I said “practically”…

Emotions can run wild when you’re at the auction.  I have a broken German set of ceramic kitchenware upstairs in the attic to prove it.

So, if there are furniture auctions up here in Virginia, don’t you dare tell me down in the comments below.

Just send me a private email so Morgan won’t find out…



And so the BOLD ones say...

  1. 1

    OMG we need to take a road trip- that is AWESOME!
    cassie recently posted..Special Guest: Erin from His & HersMy Profile

    • 2

      It was, indeed!!! But, I always spend WAY too much money! But, the deals were always so good, and because I was usually competing against retailers, I could get what I really wanted. I didn’t have to think about the profit margin issue. The only thing I wish I had bought was an ENTIRE set of my silver pattern. I can’t believe I didn’t go for that one…
      Gwen recently posted..Auctions. are. Awesome.My Profile

  2. 4

    I haven’t been to an auction yet! You should go with me so you can teach me the ropes for my business. See there’s your excuse to go to the auction! You’re welcome! ;)
    Sarah recently posted..A More Inviting Front EntranceMy Profile

    • 5

      I’m not sure I’m the right person to be teaching auction tips! I always spent way too much, got way too excited and came home with stuff I probably didn’t need…

      Having said that.. it’s so much fun! And the stuff generally is in good condition. Well, except for the Germanic Ceramics. Ugh!
      Gwen recently posted..Auctions. are. Awesome.My Profile

  3. 6

    oh, the detail on that piece! I would be so scared to go hog-wild at an auction; never been and I don’t know of any round here (probably a good thing!)
    Jill recently posted..Thrifty Shelf StylingsMy Profile

  4. 8

    I would so love to go to an auction! I think I’d be a little nervous about speaking up though and then I’d be mad at myself for missing out. Love your little quilt on a ladder set up there! I tried to pull that off, but it just wasn’t working. You just have the magic touch!
    Courtenay recently posted..Paper Fall Silhouettes on a StickMy Profile

    • 9

      It gets easier and easier! Umm… too easy, sometimes…

      Thanks, Courtenay! I’m not sure it’s working for me either… I really wanted an old wooden ladder, but Morgan just could’t wrap his head around it, so that one was cheaper. I keep meaning to paint it, but that is at the bottom of the list, apparently!
      Gwen recently posted..Auctions. are. Awesome.My Profile

      • 10
        kitblu says:

        Not that I have been to many auctions, and those all in Canada, but I got a card or a paddle or something with a number on it when I registered. I just held up the number when I wanted to bid. As Gwen mentioned, it is important to go early to check out the merchandise before you bid. And give yourself a maximum amount to spend either per item or overall.
        Have fun, enjoy the energy but don’t get trapped in it!

  5. 11

    Ha!! Love auctions!! So much fun! Bring some snacks and make a day of it!
    Janel@nelliebellie recently posted..10 steps to a cleaner house for you and your familyMy Profile

  6. 13

    WOW those pieces are amazingly gorgeous! Smokers- somebody put the fire out- they are HOT!
    Jen @ Four Marrs & One Venus recently posted..Feature Time ~ GYCO Peanut ButterMy Profile

  7. 15

    I had no idea they even did auctions like that. My hubby would NOT want me there! I get a bit caught up in the auction thing (even on eBay!)
    Melissa-TheHappierHomemaker recently posted..Autumn Porch DecorMy Profile

  8. 17

    ummm…so Virginia is not that far from PA and PA is the KING of auction states, so I think you should just wiggle your bum up here and join me at my favorite auctions. They are a tiny slice of bliss for me and there is NO WHERE I’d rather go on date night (my poor husband). Auctions. are. Awesome. Yes! AGREE!
    Amy Renea recently posted..The Money Shots for Square LayoutsMy Profile

  9. 19

    I’m ascared of auctions – always think I’ll do that swat a fly and end up spending a thousand dollars for a painting of two giraffes necking.
    Dear Helen Hartman recently posted..A Day Without Internet is a Day Without Helen!My Profile

  10. 21

    I want to go to an auction!!!!!! They look like so much fun where you can find some amazing, cheap, rusty, crusty, vintage junk!!! Oh, and nice furniture too! That’s always a plus! :)
    Melissa recently posted..Roadkill Rescue FeatureMy Profile

  11. 23

    What a great piece. Hmmmmm….just what I need for the downstairs…
    Adventuresindinner recently posted..I had a yen…My Profile

  12. 25

    Wow, what a beautiful piece – you did good girl!
    Inspire Me Heather recently posted..project: media solutionsMy Profile

  13. 27

    haha! I also use the term “practically nothing”. I also might stretch the truth a bit with my hubby.
    You got a great piece, though!
    Sorry to hear about your broken goodies.
    xxx, T.
    Tina recently posted..Bet’s BottlesMy Profile

    • 28

      Oh… unfortunately, he was with me… and grimacing the entire time!

      But then, those ceramics came up.. and, suddenly, he liked it… UGH!
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  14. 29

    I have actually never been to an auction but I bet I would LOVE it!!!!

  15. 31

    I love your antique piece Gwen – score!!! Auctions are so fun! You get great stuff too the later you stay and people clear out and they pratically give the stuff for free to get rid of it. Here’s a funny story…we went to an auction in VA (yeah I am not telling you that!) and a guy was buying all kinds of guns, ammo and coins and told the auctioneer he was a Colonel in the Army….right…so the night goes on and after an hour (while he has almost boughten every single thing) he comes up to my hubs…who IS in the Army and says ‘Hey – you want some of this ammo I just bought…I bought too much and I will give you some” My hubs smelling something bad said, “No thanks” and the guy said – “Ok, I thought maybe you were a cop, you look like a cop, so I thought you might want some ammo”???????????? ANyways 2 weeks later the auctioneer said that he bounced the cheque he wrote for all of it and used someone else’s name and the auctioneer and the sherriff tore all over VA to hunt the guy down….found him and the auctioneer did a ‘Citizen’s arrest’ and they locked him up. I guess he was stealing stuff like that all over VA and wasn’t in the Army at all – it was all an alias! Good thing my hubs turned down his ‘free’ ammo offer right? A crazy auction story……..you never know what will happen on an auction night :)
    Heather recently posted..A Time-Saving Tip To Make Trail Mix Banana BreadMy Profile

  16. 33

    Someone didn’t break your winning item? Really? That’s a crazy person to do that.

    ~Bliss~
    Blliss recently posted..Operation: Fall ChoresMy Profile

    • 34

      Oh, no! It was partly broken to begin with! It was the one item we hadn’t seen prior to bidding, and let me tell you, I will never do that again, no matter how big and cute Morgan’s eyes get!!!
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  17. 35

    Auction is not bad but I prefer to go for giveaways, I have many of my bloggers friends do giveaways for their vintage home furniture.
    Ira Morse recently posted..Anime Ghost Style Dining Chair (Set of 2)My Profile

  18. 37

    Dude major score!

    I wonder if there any auctions around here…that would be so fun!
    Bella (@weheartDIY) recently posted..Freebie: September 2012 Printable CalendarMy Profile

    • 38

      Thanks, Bella!!

      You should check into it! I haven’t looked up here, yet, but just thinking about it makes me want to…

      I just spend WAY too much…
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  19. 39

    Auctions ARE the best!!! We used to be regulars at our small town auction house … furnished 2 rental houses on the cheap … and found a few treasures for ourselves. Hard not to get wrapped up in all of that fast auctioneering. :)
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog recently posted..my 3 ingredient hummus (humus)My Profile

    • 40

      It IS SO HARD not to get wrapped up in it, isn’t it???? Especially if you’ve got a great auction nearby! I really miss this one, but maybe, if I can keep to my budget, I should scout one out!

      Thanks, Karah!
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  20. 41

    YES. I have a garage full of boxes from *one* auction we attended a couple weeks ago. But I live in Georgia and this miracle in Bainbridge? Never been! GOING. Totally going.
    Kelly @ View Along the Way recently posted..My Least Favorite Things about FallMy Profile

    • 42

      Are you close to Bainbridge? We lived in Donalsonville, which is about 20 min west of Bainbridge!

      Just when we were about to move, the auctioneer opened his own place, so I don’t know what happened to it! He was really good, though, and they always had amazing furniture… though now that I have been blogging, I might would not pay the prices! I’ve gotten MUCH thriftier!
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  21. 43

    That’s a great piece and it makes a perfect tv console. I haven’t been to an auction in a while but I do enjoy them.
    Paula recently posted..Vintage Football Man Visits the Antique Road ShowMy Profile

    • 44

      Thanks so much, Sweet Paula!

      It’s been a while for me, too. I haven’t taken the gumption to look for one up here, yet! Do you know of any good thrift places around? I’ve been to Estate Specialists and some other places downtown, but they seem pricey to me…
      Gwen recently posted..Friday’s lettersMy Profile

  22. 45

    They are hiring at our local auction house…I’d not ever bring home a paycheck!
    Holly Lefevre recently posted..Tickled Pink No. 117My Profile

  23. 46

    I’m running out of room myself – so need to steer clear of auctions. Don’t want Hoarders to come knocking!
    Kelly
    Kelly @ Eclectically vintage recently posted..Pumpkins, Pumpkins EverywhereMy Profile

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