My Wonderful Vintage Finds: Where Is the Best Place to Look for Treasures?

Last week I shared with you my tremendous love affair with McCoy Pottery! I have received a lot of questions and comments about that post. It stirred up loads of excitement! Some of you were wondering how to start your own collection and where to look. And some of you were wondering if my items were for sale. So this week I wanted to step back and share with you how I go about locating all my wonderful vintage finds and where to search.

Although McCoy is my favorite, there is still plenty of room in my heart for other vintage pottery and special items as well! As some of you might know, I am a collector. I collect for myself. I love to use vintage in my decor. It puts such character and personality in my home…I couldn’t live without it! I also collect for resale…I have an online eBay store. And lastly, I collect for others. I LOVE to give vintage finds as gifts to family and friends. So, when I go out hunting I always seem to be on a mission of some sort or other.

First things first

The first thing I do is make a list. I carry a continual list with me. Some of these antique malls are huge with tons to look at, so if I have my trusty list it keeps me on track and focused. The second thing I do is to allot a certain amount of time per week for scavenging. Normally I go out once a week to visit one to two stores. And lastly, I like to rotate shops. I have a number of special places I like to peruse on a regular basis…places I enjoy and have had success at.

Where to search

Now for the most important part…where to search! I have narrowed it down to my five favorite places: antique malls, auctions, flea markets, thrift stores, and eBay.

Antique malls

I LOVE them! They are amazing! Hundreds of dealers under one roof. There are a variety of items as well as price points. I have been pleasantly surprised at the deals I can find there but you do have to rummage. I limit myself to a few hours per visit because it can be a lot of walking. *This small 3-inch vase was calling my name at my local antique mall. How I found that tiny little thing in that giant store I’ll never know!

Auctions

The best part about an auction is that you can buy a group of items in one lot. Then the price per item is way cheaper. This comes in handy for resale. I really enjoy online auctions because they are convenient and have a wide assortment of treasures. *This vintage ceramic vase made by Robinson Ransbottom Pottery company, was part of a bundle of goodies; it came with 10 other ceramic pieces including some McCoy pieces… and I saved money!

flea markets

You’ve heard me say it before…there is nothing better on a sunny Saturday than to go foraging through a flea market. It’s a fun-filled event with many dealers, many items, and many bargains!! It can be an all-day affair but worth every minute! *Many vendors sell unique items including this cute cat planter by the Shawnee Pottery Company.

Thrift stores

Well, to be honest, I have had mixed emotions about thrift stores. Sometimes I go in and leave empty handed and sometimes I hit the jackpot! BUT, you cannot beat the prices! WOW! Recently I have found a GREAT shop that has quality items and also gives back to the community in a big way!! Now that makes my heart happy! *This beautiful milk glass pedestal bowl from the 1950s was just sitting on the thrift store shelf waiting for me to take it home.

ebay

Talk about convenience…it’s fabulous to sit on my couch and surf the net for amazing vintage finds right in my own living room! When I’m in a spot and looking for a one-of-a-kind item that I can’t find anywhere else they always seem to have it…AMAZING! A plethora of sellers and fast shipping too. *Vintage beach bags are almost impossible to find in my local shops BUT I found this colorful tote on eBay!

So as you can tell my love for old ceramic pottery is still going strong…as well as my love for all things vintage! I really enjoy collecting, selling, and also gifting. BUT my wonderful vintage finds are not always easy to locate. Not all places are created equal. You have to know where to look and spend some time doing it. So I encourage you to do some research and check out some new places to explore in your area! Treasure hunting can be so much FUN and when you find that perfect item it is simply THRILLING! Trust me, It’s worth ALL the time and effort!

• If you enjoyed this article, see my previous post “McCoy Pottery, So Cheerful and So Special: I Love It!”
• Almost all of the items from this post are available to purchase on my Home Blue Heron eBay Store.
• A recent win for us was finding the Heart of America Antique Center, billed as the Biggest and Best Antique Center with over 800 vendors, and over 122,000 square feet of space. Definitely worth the drive. WowWhee!!