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Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

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Home / The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture

What I bought at the big Pittsfield estate sale

pam kueber - Updated: February 5, 2017

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

I went late-ish: I arrived at 8:30. The doors opened at 9 a.m. I was #34. I still was able to get all the vintage Christmas ornaments. And then some. It was quite the time. I saw all the regulars. My peeps.

I came home and organized, intent on getting the goods packed away before DH got home. I was successful. Sally came over. We began organizing some stuff kinda coming together in my Mahalo Lounge. (Big DIY idea comin’ yer way.) Then, I needed a seriously serious cocktail. So now… it’s lucky fer you that I got these photos processed. In any case, the pictures are worth a couple of thousand words, right?

Tip to view photos: On a desktop computer, click any photo and it should double in size on screen. Click ESC or off the photo to return to story.

Update, since questions are coming in: These are the “ends” of the enamel top of a vintage kitchen cabinet table. Someone removed them, added some wood structure underneath, and I think, used them as shelves. I am going to use them as shelves. $1 each.
Questions came in on this one too: It’s a small table for children. It has fold-down legs underneath the top. and it has a GLITTER LAMINATE top! Now… I just need the grandchildren to go with. I’m not rushing weebit, though – she’s only 22!
Velvet to use as backing for a broken jewelry Christmas trees. There were a TON of frames at the sale. I need to go back and pick up a few for the trees. I am going for the very ornate classic style tree.
These clear plastic thingies are for standing up photos in frames.
Broken rhinestone jewelry and such for my broken jewelry Christmas tree project.

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The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture

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48 comments

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  1. Erika Tugas says

    February 2, 2017 at 10:29 am

    That frame is fabulous! What a haul!

  2. vegebrarian says

    February 2, 2017 at 10:21 am

    Love, love that frame at the end.

    And so excited to see the little glitter table – as a child, there was a similar lil’ table with 2 matching glitter chairs that my cousin and I used at our Nanna’s house. It eventually went to my brother’s family, but I was so excited when the gave it to me last year! Can’t wait to have my little one sit there – I also inherited a tiny sized arm chair from the 50s with rose upholstery for her.

    • Molly says

      February 2, 2017 at 12:39 pm

      I had that glitter table as a child, with two little matching chairs with puffy seats. Wish I still had them! You are lucky!!

  3. Kim says

    February 2, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Wowzer!!! I love all the little figurines – especially the yellow Kewpie. Fantastic finds.

    • pam kueber says

      February 2, 2017 at 10:31 am

      I am a real sucker these days for miniature ceramics. I can usually get them for a dollar or less each. I work them into my wreaths, and I have more ideas to do assemblages in the future. In my spare time. << that's a joke right there

  4. Lynne says

    February 2, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Amazing. How many trips did you have to make back and forth to get all those treasures into your car??!!

    I would like to see a picture of the kabuki smock unfolded.

    I think the idea of the red velvet as the background for your jewelry trees is unique. It’s usually black velvet or satin, the red will be gorgeous. Remember to iron that velvet from the back and use a press cloth! If its old its probably cotton and can take a little more heat, but if its a synthetic it’ll melt!

    • pam kueber says

      February 2, 2017 at 10:32 am

      I’ll work on the smock photo. There’s also a tropical velvet 70s coat – think Twiggy — that I need to show!

      I am also excited about using the pink/coral for background on a tree.

  5. Amy in Sacramento says

    February 2, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Wow! That frame at the end! What a great “finale”! 😉 Love your haul; I wish I still have the patience/stamina to go to estate sales — they tend to stress me too much (and my house feels full!)

    • pam kueber says

      February 2, 2017 at 10:34 am

      Yes – that frame! With Kate now gone, I am inspired to do more crafty DIYs. She so inspired me with her mad skillz! I think I will need to figure out how to replicate this. We have a new power miter saw now – which I think will work for me to make my own picture frames including this one! I love it! Affiliate link:

  6. MARTHA says

    February 2, 2017 at 8:53 am

    The little table reminds me of card tables we had as a child! Those ornaments are fab, and the little knick-knacks are great. I have a little black and white dog (packed away,of course!) like that one on the Old Maid cars, mine has a couple of puppies with it. I have another set, diff breed. They both belonged to my Mom, and I suspect they were a Mother’s Day gift..Momma and babies,lol.

  7. Jay says

    February 2, 2017 at 8:52 am

    Ok Pam, what’s it going to take to keep from spilling the beans to your husband? Maybe one box of those beautiful vintage ornaments? Amazing, who would think lightning would strike twice. I think you may have some pre-war ornaments in this haul. You sound like Lucy and Ethel trying to keep something from Ricky. You’ll have some ‘splaining to do.
    Nice piece of glitter laminate table top w/steel banding. Hope it cleans up nicely, it needs some hairpin legs.
    I see a future for that frame in your Tiki Lounge!
    GREAT HAUL!

  8. Janet in ME says

    February 2, 2017 at 8:30 am

    What a haul – love it all! That bird’s nest ornament looks like one of those kitchen scrubbles – you could add birds and tiny ornaments and such and make your own! I too am wondering about the board and the formica top, the latter of which looks like a table out of a travel trailer. I don’t get to estate sales but I sure need to go to some now!

  9. Carolyn says

    February 2, 2017 at 7:26 am

    Quite an eclectic mix o’ stuff ya got goin’ there. Love that black ornament turned into a Sputnik. Do you know how difficult it is to find new velvet nowadays? I’m confused about the board and square thing.
    The box with the bird in the nest – that thread ornament – OMG! What a craft – I’ve got directions to do that but not sure I have the patience to do it right. Except I do have some cheap-o foam balls that could use some sprucing…
    Funny how you get stuff in the house before DH gets home – and then post for all the world to see! But, we do what we have to do – my stuff sort of drifts in and out of the decor without fanfare so, while I may have a bounteous stash, it seems I’ve only got a few things.
    I’m taking my daughter to a sale, mostly to see the house and show her the landscape panels you showcased in 2016 – can someone give me the technical term? Oddly, I can’t seem to find the correct reference to bring me to RR.

    • Kelly Wittenauer says

      February 2, 2017 at 10:50 am

      Maybe “wallpaper murals”?

  10. Uncle Atom says

    February 2, 2017 at 5:55 am

    Quite a haul – I’m loving that picture/mirror frame at the end.

    • pam kueber says

      February 2, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Yes, the picture frame is fabulous — two dimensional, $2 !

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