Featured Rain cannot stop me!

Went to a little indoor car boot sale Saturday, then another little one closes by. The three costume brooches were sold to me by a delightful ten year old, who was taller than I am. Everything she had was a pound, all going to a holiday fund.

I actually got to the last field car boot on Sunday, so I could have my CHIPS. And sausage!

One bracelet is Liz Claiborne, the other might be silver, the rose gold is vermeil and destined to be a Christmas gift. The enamel silver brooch is just fabulous: that came from the indoor sale.

 

My mom had a goldstone bow pin the same or very similar. I think it might be around here somewhere.

 

Nice! The silver brooch is nice. Is the turquoise bracelet with the toggle clasp marked?
I’m having car boot withdrawal symptoms, I haven’t been able to get to one for weeks.

 

Strangely enough-In 50 years of antiquing in the U.S.,I have never experienced (or seen),a 'Car Boot Sale-indoors or out.Maybe they happen in the Midwest,South or East Coast.Sure wish the local amateurs would start selling some of their treasures-PAC NW is a 'dead zone' in the winter.Don't think anyone in my area is feeling overly 'flush' right now,can't figure why they aint' selling (maybe it's all gone online ?)....nobody out and about but pickers.

 

It's dead here in New England too. Cold weather kills tag sales. We do still get estate sales this time of year. There are two church sales that I know of still coming. I'm going to at least one of them - expecting nothing, because that's generally what I get. The other is a lot further out. There's a third where I used to score BIG, but it hasn't happened since the Pandemic.

 

We don't get that New England snow but first Winter we were here it rained close to 45 days straight.I like to hit charity,church benefit sales,but they're getting rare round here.
The thrift stores are doing more research and I'm seeing internet prices on their donations.
Lots of locals folks barely look for collectibles or antiques-they walk out with 2 carts of clothing and list 100-200 garments a week. 150 items a week is like a real 9-5 job (sans health insurance). People are selling low/medium buck items in bulk.It's a cash-flow issue,they can't afford to wait for Atocha emeralds.
I've always enjoyed picking things that excite my aesthetic sense,hate to have turn collecting into a wage machine.

 

Bracelet isn't marked but it does feel and smell silver. I really like the sixties German brooch, it's super colours. The silver and enamel one is in such good condition, hardly any wear. It's big, too.

Car boots here do go through the winter, but my favourite field one is off till March now. You get some hardstanding ones:schools and car parks. And indoor ones in church halls.

 

Love that floral enamel brooch!
You take fabulous photos... any advice you can share? Equipment, etc?

 

I'd love to spend some time in the UK picking-Boot sales,what an adventure whatever weather. In Oregon we've become immune to the rain.It was 85 degrees in London when we were there-yuk.
PS-Excellent photos.

 

Gawd, there's me thinking the colour balance was a bit off because the backing looked slightly blueish!

Thanks for the compliments! I use a Real Camera. A Panasonic Lumix with a Leica lens, TZ 100. I used to use a physically larger Lumix, but it was a pain to schlep on holiday, so I got this one. Super little thing, with an excellent macro and macro zoom on it. All I then do is tweak a bit with Windows Photo Editor. Other half used to do it with Photoshop, but honestly, this does fine.

 

Thanks for the info!
I hadn't noticed the blue-ish background, I was too busy admiring the fine detail achieved with in close-ups.
Do you use any specific lighting set-up?

 

I've a cheap fold up studio thing, simply to get a neutral background. Natural daylight usually. Lumix cameras use really good lenses, and the macro works very well.

 

Lumix with Leica glass-excellent.

 

Someone said Leica ... Never a bad thing.

 

How often does a member ask for a better close-up of a hallmark,gem,etc ? This type of camera can do it.My cheap android phone is like calling London on a tin can telephone when it comes to micro shots.
Thankfully I haven't found much treasure to photograph in the last 10 years (...whew-dodged a bullet,wait-what am i saying !).

 

I use a regular camera, but keep an old rug/stamp magnifier handy. 10x glass lens and it and my lens like each other.