miriam haskell

So, this is it. Living in Wisconsin has its pluses, wonderful springs, warm summers, lots to do in the cities and tons of auctions and yard sales. But at this time of year, I realize it is (almost) the end of another season of searching for treasures. It was a good year for the “hunt” and both hubby and I felt it was successful. One of my favorite sales was an unexpected one. Just driving down the road and there was a sign in bright pink! Hard to read, as too many are, just an arrow and then you follow it, hoping this was not left-over from a few weekends ago. At first glance it did not look to have much to offer. A garage with a long table inside but not much on it. Some newer figurines, a few kitchen items, candles and kids’ clothes. I was ready to get back in the car and off to the grocery store. But then one of the ladies asked “did you check out back? We have a porch that is just filled.”

Well, I had not, but I did an about-face and there was another full room of offerings. I found some beautiful jewelry! Two pieces of Miriam Haskell and an unmarked bracelet in rhinestones that just dazzles. Prices were not cheap, but I recognized the possibilities and (breaking my own rule), did not even quibble over price. I then spotted a whole group magazines, most of them from the 1920s and 30s. They were only 50 cents each and I grabbed them up. Half the fun of buying is the potential – I was able to sell the Haskell pieces with a nice profit and able to keep the rhinestone bracelet for myself! The magazines will be read through for ideas and the better ones put on ebay. Those with missing pages and such will be given to the grandkids who love to cut and paste. 

Another sale that turned out to be a surprise was at the house of an older woman who lives right down the road. About 4 years back she had a sale and I found some incredible breweriana items. Signs, some nice trays and a display piece. I was excited when I saw her putting up the sign. This time, no beer items, but lots of Disney pieces. She had been collecting them for a long time and decided they were too much work to dust (bless her heart.) I purchased ALL of them! This has become my credo. If I think one or two have potential, I will buy the lot, usually getting a better price. And if you have ‘faith’ that these items are worthwhile, why buy just a few and then regret that you passed on the others. It almost always works. But of course, price is the tie-breaker. I was able to add a character to my personal collection from Lady and the Tramp. Trusty, the Bloodhound, now graces my curio, along with Lady, Tramp and Jacques. The rest will be listed or placed in my antique booth since they make perfect Christmas presents!

I only had a few run-ins with my “arch rival – Newman” and I think I we split victories. I’ll discuss her win first. We were waiting in line at an estate sale. She was friendly as usual, but had her track shoes on and beat me out when the door opened. There were numerous vases and pieces of pottery, much of it rather unimaginative, but one toward the back caught my eye. Unfortunately, she saw it too and scooped it up. Pretty sure it was a Hull vase in one of their better colorations. I got to see it again when I ran into her at her booth at a flea market. She picked it up and said “hey, did you see the prize I got last week?” I smiled and pretended that I did not know what she was talking about. I admired it but also saw she had it priced pretty darn high. She’ll be toting that one around for a while. 

So, I was even with her and relished our next encounter so I could mention it. And it was only a few days later. Once again, waiting in line for a garage door to go up. She asked how I was doing and if I had found any treasures lately. At first I demurred, then said “Oh, yeah! There was a bunch of old watch fobs I discovered – oh, I remember, that was at the sale you had been to right before me.” Her face drooped a bit. (For those of you who think I am a meany-pants, that is not the case. My earlier tales of this woman will enlighten you and you’ll agree that she deserves anything she gets.)

There are a few sales this weekend, but as the frost is on the pumpkin, they are harder to find and less fun to go to. For those of you ‘on the hunt’, you can join me at estate sales, auctions and in antique malls. Still lots of treasures out there to find.

 Ahh, spring in Wisconsin and time to enjoy all those lovely colors! Yellow, purple, gold, pink, a beautiful sight for sure. Oh, no, I don’t mean the daffodils, tulips and violets, although they are wonderful as well. I mean Yard Sale Signs.

We wait all winter for these signs and the chance to ‘hunt’ for our antiques and collectibles. It is exciting, even though some folks do not know the basics. First and foremost, the sign must be large enough to view when you are going 35 miles per hour, perhaps rushing to get the last minute groceries for lunch or drop a kid at school. You need to make a mental note of exactly where the sale is in case you don’t have the time to make a quick U-turn. For example, some people use a deep pink construction paper and then light pink writing, absolutely impossible to decipher.

Or they put the word “RUMMAGE” in large lettering and the location in teeny-tiny writing! And it really helps to put an arrow in the correct direction so you actually know where to turn. But I digress.

Ever since my sister, Vicki, was 9 or 10 years old, she wanted to stop at every sale she saw or heard about. She liked Barbie dolls, Beatles records, and horse figures. But her real ‘addiction’ was rhinestones – pins, necklaces, bracelets, anything that twinkled.

I must say a lot of my desire to be the “Sparkly Grandma” came from her. She rarely paid more than 50 cents for any item (admittedly this was many years back), and even at a tender age was not afraid to negotiate. I was several years older than her but would stand back and watch her go! She was never aggressive, just a little girl explaining she had limited funds, her allowance to be exact and an occasional $5 gift for a birthday.

The sellers understood her situation and would do the best they could. She was definitely not one of those ‘darn old dealers’ and they knew she would treasure the item, so they often knocked the price in half and I do recall a few times that they would just give it to her and say “Enjoy!” She’d smile sweetly and thank them and then give me a little look that said “see, I can do it better than you.”

This continued on through her teen years, while I was starting my family and would not be able to go as often as she could. She’d call excitedly and say “you’ll never believe what I found today, you’ve got to stop over.” And I’d make the trip and view her gorgeous Weiss rhinestone pin or a Miriam Haskell necklace. I was buying Gerber baby food and Zweibach cookies and diapers and there was not much expendable income. I never begrudged her the thrill of the hunt, well, maybe a little. Of course, the tables turned later when she was having her kids and I was back in the work-force.

At one point in her too-short life, they ran a successful business. She would go to antique stores, high-priced auctions, estate sales and the like and bring back fantastic items to decorate her home. It was a virtual showcase! Antique carousel horse in the corner of her living room, German dolls in 1890s baby beds, vintage draperies, curios filled with elegant glassware. And, of course, The Jewelry Room! She actually had a small room, probably once a sewing room, filled with cabinets, display cases and even framed pieces of ‘bling.’ Guests would just stare in awe of the incredible pieces she had.

I was with her on numerous occasions when she would approach a lady in a store, or restaurant and rave about their pin or necklace. She’d comment that she had noticed its loveliness, even across the room. They would always smile and say they appreciated her comments, often telling a little story about its origin. Some were purchased, others a gift from a loved one, or a piece passed on through the family. Both Vicki and the ‘adorned’ would leave with a smile. I learned from her and often compliment people on their jewelry!

They ended up selling the business, and with it many of the treasures she had gathered through the years. Then they moved out of the area. Sadly, we’d only see each other once every 8 weeks or so. We’d be so glad to get together, that is until the flea market gates opened, or the estate sale started. Then we’d go our separate ways, meeting back to compare notes in an hour or two. But it was our bond and one we shared until she became too sick from cancer to participate. She would often call and ask what was new and I knew she was wondering what had I found at recent sales. I would go to see her and she would become very animated when I displayed a piece of jewelry I found or told her of a cottage print I had added to my collection. She never begrudged me my treasure-hunting and actually enjoyed hearing about it, even though she knew she could not participate.

One of my favorite memories of her was a trip we took to Florida, about a year before she died. Her energy level was low, she’d lost all of her hair, but she would wear a large Eisenberg pin on her turban, a necklace just filled with charms, and earrings that would dangle to her shoulders. Now it was her turn to receive compliments. We’d stop in a restaurant or store and people would ‘levitate’ toward her, often commenting on her jewels. She’d smile and tell them a little story about finding it when she was only 10 years old and even remembering the paltry amount she’d paid for it. She’d been adding to the ‘charm necklace’, which had over 150 pieces, for 20 years and it was quite a sight. Somehow she would recall the origin of each one! She could not have been happier, it just made her day!

Vicki passed away but memories of her shopping expertise and desire to shine, even in a dark time, have stayed with me and always will. While to many, costume jewelry is just ‘foo-foo’ and not necessary, it was part of her very being and I carry on the tradition to this day. She was a ’shining example’ of a true collector who let nothing stand in her way of the hunt! So go forth and sparkle!