Just Call Me Auction Queen

Our table of goodies at the Braxton Auction.

As I've mentioned before, my husband and I have recently gotten aboard the auction train. Inspired by the shows Auction Kings and American Pickers, we've got a small rotation of auctions that we visit frequently.

Last Friday night, we experienced our first table auction as sellers at Braxton's Auction. We've attended one table auction before, but this time we hosted a table with our own goodies to sell.

It was so much fun! At a table auction, whoever gets the highest bid has the option of purchasing anything on the table. For that price, you can get as many items you want. Bids usually start around $20. Once nobody will bid at least $5, the auctioneer groups together items until someone is willing to go $5 or more.

Since we were newbies, we had our table packed with items -- not being sure of what would sell. We had so many things on our table that the auctioneer took some items off and we covered two tables. We actually made a profit that night and ended up with some spending money for me to buy my own goodies.




These are the glass items that I really wanted to win -- especially the
honey box in the front.

 

I had my eye on a black/deep purple honey box made by Tiara. They were a company that sold glassware at home parties from 1970 to 1998. Most of the items were reproductions of Depression glass from the 1920s. I love Depression glass because I have some pieces from my grandmother. Most of those pieces are translucent pink.

Unfortunately, I was outbid on my honey box. No worries, there's still the auction next month!

Auction Fever Continues

After an auction-free week, RJ and I made our way to Gallery 63 this weekend for some more treasure hunting. On Saturday, we went with CJ to preview the items up for auction. We weren't expecting the TV crew for "Auction Kings" to be there. To our surprise, they were filming on the preview day.

I tried my best to keep out of the view of the cameras. However, the gallery is really packed with items and somewhat hard to maneuver. It was difficult to keep out of camera range. When RJ and CJ went to look at a display filled with baseball cards, the camerman wanted to capture them together. RJ, not realizing that he was being filmed, asked me to join them. I reluctantly agreed (thankful that I had put on makeup that morning) and bent down beside them.

Thinking I had gotten through that easily, I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to the back of the store. A couple of minutes later, one of the crew members asked if shecould ask us a couple of questions. The three of us stood together with a camera less than 5 feet away. I felt a perspiration mustache forming on my face. I tried to wipe it off nonchalantly as I thought about how the camera adds 10 pounds -- not something that I need.

The interviewer asked us about our auction experience. What we were looking for at the preview, she asked. I hope that we gave her something she can use. It's terrifying to try to sound intelligent in a sound bite.

On Sunday, we left CJ with the grandparents and headed to Gallery 63 an hour before the auction start time. Cars already packed the parking lot when we arrived. We staked out our seats on the bleachers and waited. It was standing room only when the auction started.

We mentally picked out a few items that we were interested in buying, if the price was low enough. Unfortunately, only one item we wanted came up for bid during our three hour stay. We threw out an opening bid, but didn't win. The auction runs until around 7 p.m, but after four hours on the bleachers, I called it quits. I can't wait until month for the next auction. I'm determined to get an auction treasure, no matter how long I have to wait.