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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lucille.b, post: 2041681, member: 51&quot;]I was a born collector. Example: Trick-or-Treating for Halloween candy (age 10) once home, I categorized the candy and SAVED it, not eating it.&nbsp; These were the 1960s suburban Chicago-- and Halloween candy collecting was celebrated TWO days, the 30th and 31st.&nbsp; I used to get several garbage bags of candy.&nbsp; (I think my mom threw it out after 6 months.)</p><p><br /></p><p>At age 15 began my interest in garage sales.&nbsp; It was popular at my circle at high school to show up in vintage clothing, so we were always scouring garage sales for 40&#039;s dresses, old costume jewelry. This trend had taken off massively in neighboring Chicago, but in my suburb not so much, so things did turn up at sales.&nbsp; (We interrupt this description...if only I knew THEN what I know NOW about older jewelry!)</p><p><br /></p><p>The love of garage sales eventually became a full blown obsession.</p><p><br /></p><p>At first it was just stuff for myself, as a struggling university student getting a toaster or a winter (or vintage) jacket for a $1 was a windfall.&nbsp; At some point a vintage clothing/jewelry store opened, mid 1980s, and I started picking up items to consign and make a bit of money and learned what to look for.</p><p><br /></p><p>A decade later I met a friend who taught me the ropes. She both sold on Ebay (opening year) and had a booth at an antique mall.&nbsp; She really took me under her wing which was pretty generous because in a way I would be her competition in town of course.&nbsp; It was kind.</p><p><br /></p><p>I think the final education came out of the antique boards, originally on Ebay, then here.&nbsp; Just being able to ask questions, not only for my own stuff, but what others posted too.&nbsp; Also Ebay helped immensely on the research end, and eventually the selling end.&nbsp; I was never going to be someone to open a store, but to be able sell from my living room was the ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I think it also helps that I seem to have sort of a keen memory for anything &quot;garage sale&quot;.&nbsp; I&#039;d fail a 5th grade history exam, but I can tell you what garage sale I got a rhinestone brooch at in 1988.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>So several decades in the making.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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