Do I hear 30....

Sold! To the couple on the back row who has no clue what they are doing! Ok, so recently we were finally able to go to this antique auction near our house that we have been wanting to attend since we moved here. There was some stained glass windows being auctioned off at this particular sale and we had our eye out for a piece for one of our windows. However, once arriving, there was sooo much more! I went early to scout out what we might want to bid on and picked out the piece of glass I wanted and a couple other things -- one of which was this adorable piece of furniture that would fit perfectly in our half bath downstairs. After the scouting, I called Jarrod immediately to tell him we had to go to the auction that night. So we both finished up most of our errands and met back up at the auction at 7pm. What an experience it was! It was more than just shopping -- it was entertainment! People watching was great! Jarrod loved the fact that the couple sitting next to us opened their picnic basket to an array of cheeses and a bottle of wine! Hilarious! But, definitely fitting as we found out as the night progressed -- no lack of entertainment. So back to the buying -- well that adorable table I just had to have was auctioned off 5th so I had not had a chance to learn how to do this yet and I let it get away. I should have had a price in my head of how much I was going to bid, but it all just happened so fast!

Auction Lesson #1: write down max price for all items wanted.

After my table got auctioned away, I was so sad and just couldn't forget about it so we sat back and watched for a while, and a while longer and longer....they were not bringing out the piece of stained glass I wanted. 2 hours later they still hadn't and our stomachs were growling.

Auction Lesson #2: Bring snacks! The popcorn at the concession doesn't do it!

We bid on this painting that came up that retailed originally for $1000 & we won it for $85 + tax & 15% auction charge. We thought it might work in our entry (and it did! but is so high up that we can't hang it just yet until we get a taller ladder.)
Finally about 10 o'clock, the auctioneer had lost lots of buyers and bidding was getting scarce so he asked us to go pick out the things remaining that we wanted to bid on. Finally! I could bring my stained glass up! He began auctioning some of the items and a very cute old lady sitting toward the front was trying to bid on something she really wanted, but was not very confident about her bid so the auctioneer didn't see her hand and sold it to someone else. Wow! Was she mad! I hate to admit it, but old ladies are so cute when they are mad.

Auction Lesson #3: Be confident about your bid and stand up to get his attention if you are being ignored.

So my stained glass was finally up there and the bidding began. Luckily there were not many bidders left and since quite a few other pieces had gone earlier in the night, I didn't have to put up much of a fight and got it for $30! If you have looked at stained glass windows at antique stores before as I have, you know they are not necessarily cheap! Especially for one in good condition. I'm guessing the piece we got would retail for at least double what we paid, but some larger pieces can get up into the 100's. Anyway, we were quite proud of our purchases and the stain glass window fits perfectly in the bathroom window where we wanted to put it.