D.C. ROADSHOW

Karen is doing 'The Antiques Roadshow' this weekend in our nation's Capitol. I hope she'll be seeing great stuff! When she does, we do! I love watching her on camera sharing all that amazing knowledge with us. Its very cool, huh?  GOOD LUCK!!!

WAY TO GO!

Now this is how to do vintage! Of course the shoes don't really need to be as expensive as a mortgage payment, but you get the idea. You think, yeah, but I'm not Drew, so how do I pull this off?  Ve r y simple. You find the era you can relate to best, look at yourself in the mirror and see if your body can too, ( don't be too critical, but be realistic, if you don't have Miss Scarlett's waist, don't choose her style ) then go to the Sturbridge auction and find just what you're looking for. This look can be achieved in reverse too you know. If you want to look like Marilyn, but the birthday party dress has already been sold, get a new dress and buy the vintage 60's Marilyn style shoes at the auction! There, see how easily this can be done? I'll see you on the 8th.   Just be sure to come early, so can can preview everything. You won't want to miss out on the best buy of the day because you never knew it was there.  Ciao Bella!

GEARING UP FOR SEPTEMBER 8 SALE

1800'S MORNING DRESS

1860-80'S CHILDREN'S DRESSES

1920'S OPERA COAT

In just a very few weeks August Auctions will be having their Sturbridge sale during Brimfield week. As usual its going to be fantastic, with amazing things from amazing collections, which gives us another chance to add to our own amazing collections.( I'll be bidding on the coat, I've already been seen in all my others, but you can bid on the morning dress, I'm not that fancy in the A.M.) This sale will be run just like the last one, no left bids, no phone bids and no internet bidding. If you're not there, you won't get to buy. SOOOO, I'll see you there! September 8, 2010, Sturbridge, MA.   And as the sayings go...let's not be L7, be there or be square.

NEWS!!

August Auctions site has a brand new look! Check it out. Now you can use Augusta Auctions for it fabulous new feature, searching their database of all past auctions for photos and prices realized. It also translates the text into over 100 languages. And of course most importantly, you can keep abreast of all upcoming auctions. Exciting isn't it?

DEAR LITTLE WOMEN

Remember these little sweeties? Maybe they are 1850 designer kids, at the price they went down for at auction anyway. Two lots of these little dresses sold for $1200.00, each lot. So, do the math and each little calico dress sold for $200.00. Good thing their mother's didn't have to pay such a dear price to cloth her little dear! I guess the secret is, if its well made, taken good care of and Never thrown away, even our clothes are an investment for the future. Good way to justify  shopping, hmmm?

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Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

CHINESE ROBES AND SKIRTS RETURN HOME

Something quite lovely is happening in the Asian textile world. The Chinese garments and textiles once sold to Americans in China and brought home to the U.S.A., are now being purchased back by the Chinese and taken home to China. This has dramatically increased the prices these items are now being sold for at auction. The garments pictured here were sold at Augusta Auction's Sturbridge, MA. sale in May. The 19th C. blue Kesi Jifu tapestry weave man's robe in the center sold for $2700.00. ( a few years ago, it would have been more like $500.00) The gold Kesi robe and a similar one ( not shown here) went down at $1440.00 and the two 19th C. silk embroidered skirts sold for $480.00.  So I guess Confucius might have said it would be wise to auction your Chinese textiles now, or collect them and see their value grow!

IT WAS A GREAT SALE!

The big event took place on Wed. and it was a fantastic auction. I will post some pictures and details soon, so please visit again!

BELLE EPOQUE VIDEO

LITTLE WOMEN

Precious, aren't they? Some mother long ago put much time, effort and love into making sure her little girl looked pretty in one of these dresses. No designer kids then! Nor was there a closet full of more just like these. Even now there aren't many to be found just like them, which is what makes this sale so unique, because you'll be finding several to choose from, all in one place. So if just looking at this picture is pulling on your heart strings a bit and bringing thoughts of reading Louisa May Alcott again, go ahead!  Have a good read, a good cry, a warmed heart and I know you'll be in the mind set to enjoy a good sale.

ROLL OUT OUR RED CARPETS

All of these beautiful oriental rugs are from a museum collection, new to us, but genuinely antique carpets that once decorated the floors of some very important people. This of course, is just a small example of what will be available at our sale next week for your shopping pleasure. So whether these lovelies are for your personal collection, or for your future customers' collection, they will be a bargain at any price! And we will just keep rolling out the red carpets for you until every last one of them are sold, because there are no reserves at this sale and everything shown will be sold that night. How's that for the red carpet treatment?

THE BELLE EPOQUE' OR GOLDEN AGE

Ah, would that I lived in the Golden Age, from money of course! Edith Wharton, the Asters, the Bellamys, my family, back up, my family?,  (they were there, only they were the downstairs). But I'm here now and all that is here of them is the unbelievable clothing! Lucky me/us! And if I actually had the body to fit in it sans all the binding, I would be prancing around just like a Vanderbilt! So maybe I'm not built like Consuelo, but I totally appreciate her taste and would own one of these in a Newport minute! I won't presume to try to define the Belle Epoque', Karen is going to delight you with this, but I'll be at the sale with my hand up, fair warning! So shall we go aboard the yacht ' Good Ship Lollypop' now? Jeeves, please make certain the guests are quite comfortably seated for the voyage to Sturbridge.

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Love shoes? (I know, silly question) this is just a little teaser, but as you can see, the selection is endless, no matter which era you prefer. Actually, even if you like every era your in luck! ( I mean Love every era..oops) Why are you in luck? Because there are hundreds and hundreds of pairs of 20's and 30's and 40's and... "get the picture?, yes we see"   SHOES!    So I say 'hey momma, take a walk on the wild side'. Just be a little more careful than the two chicks in the very front of the line were. 

HOW ABOUT SOME KICKS?

LOOKIN FOR KICKS? PEOPLE USED TO REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET THEM, BUT HEY, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED, JUST CUZ "KICKS JUST SEEM TO GET HARDER TO FIND,.......IT AIN'T TOO LATE!!!'. HERE'S THE WAY TO FIND SOME,  THERE WILL BE AN UNBELIEVABLE INVENTORY OF THINGS FROM PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNEW HOW TO GET KICKS, AT KAREN'S  MAY AUCTION IN STURBRIDGE, MA. IT WILL BE A KICK TO BE THERE, IT WILL BE A LOAD OF KICKS TO BID ON ALL THE FABULOUS STUFF, YOU'LL HAVE KICKS BRINGING ALL OF YOUR PURCHASES HOME WITH YOU AND THEN YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO HAVE REAL KICKS!!!

ONE OF MY FAVES

I absolutely love this blouse! And the early hot weather makes me long for it even more. Its light airiness and fun frills will be perfect for the summer weather. I have my outfit all planned around this one. Black linen  pants and a little camisole, some great jewelry.....or maybe white ones, or a white skirt, a white petticoat? there are going to be beautiful petticoats at the sale, I think I need one of those as well...  hmmmm.  Well, I have time to figure out the details, because the auction isn't for a week yet.    But I need this Blouse! (and a petticoat and a camisole)  Don't worry, there is going to be plenty for you to choose from too. Just remember its May 12th, 4:00 sharp.

ELIZABETH HAWES VIDEO AND DEBUTANTE CLOTHING

WOW!! Thank you Debutante Clothing for featuring Karen Augusta doing our video about the American designer Elizabeth Hawes, produced by Gilly Moon. We are so proud to be seen on your Blog!

ELIZABETH HAWES

Remember this great gown and jacket? It was a feature for us in our video and one of the great finds at our last NYC auction. If you missed out on being there, I thought I'd fill you in on how it did, which was absolutely fabulous!!!!! It brought $720.00!!! So if you have one of these very special American beauties in your closet and want to cash in, you know now where to go. If you want one of these very special beauties in your closet, you know where to go to find one!! Please view the video Karen did, again, in case you want a little refresher now that you've seen how truly grand Elizabeth Hawes' work was. Take another look.

THE AMAZING TEXTILES

FOR THOSE OF US WHO JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH WE LOVE TEXTILES, CAN WE BELIEVE HOW MUCH WE COVET THESE??? I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A MERE GLIMPS HERE, (SORRY) BUT OUR MINDS ARE WORKING OVER TIME JUST THINKING WHAT'S TO COME HMM? SEVERAL PAISLEYS INCLUDING A FABULOUS ONE THAT HAS AN INCREDIBLY UNIQUE HUGE CENTER DESIGN. TERRIFIC QUILTS WITH GORGEOUS PATTERNS. MY MOTHER WAS A QUILTER, SO SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SKILL, TENACITY, ART AND LOVE THAT EACH QUILTER PUTS INTO HER MASTERFUL WORK, NOT TO MENTION THE BEAUTY, WARMTH AND COMFORT THEY GIVE US!  THERE WILL BE ASIAN PIECES, EARLY AMERICAN PIECES, 17TH CENTURY THINGS, EARLIER, LATER, DECORATIVE, ETHNIC,,,, SHALL I KEEP GOING?  THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A BORING READ, BUT!!!!  I PROMISE YOU ALL THE ETC.'S ARE GOING TO MAKE ONE UNBELIEVABLE EVENING AT AUCTION. SO, DON'T FORGET TO COME, ( WHICH IS THE  MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ON THE FLOOR BIDDING THIS TIME! ) DON'T FORGET TO DO A THOROUGH PREVIEWING, DON'T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR LIST OF FAVS SO YOU REMEMBER WHAT TO BID ON, DON'T FORGET YOUR MONEY, ( BRING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AFFORD, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ) AND D O N' T FORGET TO BID BID BID....ITS ONCE IN A LIFE TIME, AND BECAUSE THIS LIFETIME IS YOURS!!!!!  SEE YOU THERE!

SURPRISES

Have you ever noticed what you don't see always seems more exciting than what you do? As Carly Simon sang 'ANTICIPATION'. Well I can't really tell you all that's inside these boxes, but I will tell you that there are these and more that will be in the discovery part of Karen's auction. How the discovery works is like this, a box is opened up and everyone gets to look through to find some items they like best. If you choose a piece, you will be expected to start the bid at $20.00. The crowd has the opportunity to bid as well, but many times you can walk away with your find for the $20.00. Then, when everyone has finished picking out their favs, the whole rest of the box is auctioned off for one money. Cool, huh? That's why you need to plan to stay for whole auction, I would hate to have you miss out on some of the best buys of the night! Its too thrilling.

WHAT'S UNDER IT ALL

Here's a small portion of what will be coming in May, and these unmentionables are more than worth mentioning! If you're like most of us and have a fetish for pretty things, this group is going to really get you going. There are silks and satins, ribbons and lace, pinks and blues and just too much to 'mention' here. But we can accommodate everyones own special desire with all this lovely lingerie and unlike the original owners of long ago, you can wear them outside! Oh how pretty!