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53 Comments

  1. Garden, Home and Party
    July 15, 2014 @ 3:32 pm

    I love the sofa and I even like the “blue” sofa you didn’t win…in the picture it definitely looks green, not blue. I knew Elvis was a girl, but her pearls really make the white in her fur stand out.

    Karen

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  2. Dot Gillis
    July 15, 2014 @ 3:56 pm

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  3. Christina in Cleveland
    July 15, 2014 @ 3:58 pm

    Oh Elvis… girlfriend you look tres chic in those pearls!!!!!! Tell mama you need your OWN velvet chaise. šŸ™‚

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  4. Teresa
    July 15, 2014 @ 4:43 pm

    Oh, how I love the sofa and your blog! Auctions can be fun, exhausting, will mess with your nerves faster than anything & possibly turn you into a werewolf in the first 30 minutes of arrival. I remember my first auction. I absolutely had to have this beautiful mahogany chest, but someone else thought THEY were supposed to have it!!!??? I decided the chest would have a much happier life in my home, so I put on my “back down now, you’ll never out-bid me” face & the chest came home w/ me. (You must assess between “I’m aloof & care nothing for this piece” or “Pitbull bidder & there is no way someone else is walking off with this item” faces- You must master both of these looks, they will come in handy). Elvis is precious, and looks very fancy on her/your velvet sofa! My kitty, Ashes, sends her very best & has now decided she needs a velvet sofa, but will not wear pearls. Have fun at the beach! Who knows, you may even find an auction while on vacay!

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  5. Laurie
    July 15, 2014 @ 5:53 pm

    I love how the auction industry has been able to convince people that they “win” auctions. You just agree to pay the most. It isn’t winning.

    Am I just raining on people’s parades?

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    • Linda
      July 16, 2014 @ 9:27 am

      Ah, a reality check. My husband was good at those. Valuable. May keep you from a big mistake.

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  6. ann madara
    July 15, 2014 @ 6:29 pm

    Be careful of shill bidders who drive up prices and also bidding against the original owner often in attendance at SJersey and Dutch, forcing you to pay more.

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  7. Laura
    July 15, 2014 @ 7:19 pm

    I love your formula for figuring out what is a “good price” for you. I myself have a complicated algorithm for comparing prices and assessing need on every purchase new and used, full price, sale price, and garage sale/thrift store price. (No auctions or Craigslist for me. I’m an in-person shopper.) Some sample thoughts that go through my head, “This is used, quality, and in good condition. Could I find anything comparable new?” “I need this. Am I willing to wait for it to go on sale?” “25% off the last marked price? I’ll take my chance and wait for 40% off the l.m.p.” “Look! It’s a glass milk jug like the ones from my childhood! It’s unmarked. I’ll offer them $5.00.” And for used clothing, “No. I have enough stained t-shirts at home.”

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  8. Gayle
    July 15, 2014 @ 7:27 pm

    We went to auctions when we were newly weds in the 1980’s and got some wonderful dearly still treasured treasures! We would stay till the last moment because folks would run out of money and there would still be stuff left for those who were patient (and could still be awake at 1:00 AM). Always celebrated our little wins by stopping at Waffle (Awful) House. We gave it up about 15 years ago because the auctions were overrun with bidding dealers and decorators who had high budget bank accounts. Still, We have a beautiful 1890 mahogany bachelor’s chifferobe that we snagged for $99…and more goodies.

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  9. Sandra Mosolgo
    July 16, 2014 @ 8:01 am

    Great couch

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  10. Elizabeth
    July 16, 2014 @ 9:17 am

    I went to my first ever auction in May. A clearing auction. Junk and nostalgia mostly. People went crazy, bidding on stuff you could get cheaper at a charity shop. Like polyester work pants and white shirts. It took me about 400 lots before I spent $30 on a small cupboard. Still, it was a fun day out.

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  11. Libby
    July 16, 2014 @ 10:22 am

    Your experienced readers suggest you bought the mirror but it may be attached to the vanity so I’m putting forth the suggestion you bought home the half drank drink container or the man in the blue t-shirt (he might be handy at something, like moving furniture or kitty litter detail).

    Elvis is a “practically purrfect” name for her, and the pearls are a delightful touch.

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  12. Life on Hill Street
    July 16, 2014 @ 4:44 pm

    Eeeek I’m super excited to see the couch once you get it home and styled. And thanks, by the way, I’m now googling auctions in my area and apparently there are TONS! My husband is going to hate my new hobby!

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  13. shana
    July 17, 2014 @ 12:59 pm

    You should not tell the world that you are going out of town. But you did. Make sure your neighbor keeps a close eye on your house.

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  14. the misfit
    July 17, 2014 @ 6:46 pm

    Love that everyone is choosing the triptych mirror that’s attached to the art deco vanity. (Come on, guys. You don’t spend enough time on craigslist if you can’t identify antiques in impossible photos. If I pass myself off as well-informed, does that make me sound less obsessive?) I was going to say it was the gray table the guy has his Gatorade bottle on so you could make it into a kitchen island, but that’s a me move, not a you move.

    And then I realized this is like taking exams – think like the professor. Why is the person aiming the video camera there? Because she – you – is trying to capture the guys moving her large heavy item. Except that the item is totally hidden by the items around it. All you can see is the men moving it, and a little bit of ornamentation (mahogany?) at the very top. It would qualify as a hint if it were hard to sort out from the other items in the picture, but I think you’re cheating if it’s actually invisible. I’m just saying :).

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    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 18, 2014 @ 8:05 am

      You win! (I am totally a cheater, you cannot see any of it… although the audio is the real hint.) I thought saying the vanity wasn’t it would make that clear… but now I realize it’s sort of hard to sort out anything if you don’t know what you’re looking at. (And that vanity is so not my style.)

      Reply

  15. Jolene
    July 19, 2014 @ 1:05 am

    Elvis is a lady. That just makes me laugh.

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  16. Lori
    July 19, 2014 @ 8:45 am

    You are such an entertaining writer, and I love reading your blog! Great job on the sofa, and good luck with the dents. I trust Elvis is going “down the shore” too?

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  17. judy
    July 25, 2014 @ 10:28 am

    Can you check for scam coming from your blog-I received 11 comments — seem to be selling something– and when I tried to post about them I got a pop up that I’m posting too soon? I put them in my scam thingy and could forward them to you if you tell me what address to use, thanks

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    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 25, 2014 @ 10:48 am

      UGH. Sorry… thank you for letting me know. I am getting a huge amount of spam, but not sure if it’s a glitch in the blog or in the spam filter.

      I have NO idea how you are getting any of it, but if you will send me what you’re getting: victoriabarnes@hotmail.com I will be able to get help from tech support. THANK you!!

      Reply

  18. DB
    July 26, 2014 @ 11:17 pm

    What’s up girl? Haven’t heard from you in too long. -DB

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  19. Patricia
    July 29, 2014 @ 1:40 pm

    Have fun with the auctions. I have a great weekly auction that specializes in home clean outs. Everything from tag sale to Tiffany. Before I started buying/bidding I went to watch and learn. The hardest part is not buying “projects”. I stick to what I really need and will use.
    Occasionally there will be a nice antique that goes for nothing. If I have the extra $$ I will buy it.

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  20. Maria
    October 15, 2014 @ 10:09 pm

    My first auction was at an antique dealer’s warehouse. He had died and his heirs didn’t want any of it (clearly, they were NOT related to me). The warehouse was a former car dealership and had stuff everywhere you looked. So, I look inside this office-type room and I see these cute garden whirly-gigs. And there were about a dozen so I thought, “Christmas Gifts!” The bidding had already started and no one was bidding…no bidding…the opening bid got down to $1. Yesss! Up shot my hand. SOLD to meeeeee for one. whole. dollar. Doing my Happy Dance, I see the auction assistant putting my bidder number on THE DOOR to this room. “Excuse me, did I just buy this whole room? With that cool, turquoise 1950s refrig complete with original glass storage containers and that fainting couch with the 1920s bouillon fringe?” “Yes, Ma’am, you did.” FOR ONE DOLLAR. Even though my husband took one look at it all and started humming a little “this can’t be happening to me” tune, I got it all home, and I’ve been going to auctions ever since.

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