Trawling for Treasure..

Today was the Reston Association Fall Community Yard Sale as well as a Sidewalk Sale at the Bargain Loft.

These two photos are of all the $1 bargains outside the Loft - as I completely forgot to take photos of the Yard Sale.  

The Yard Sale was rather like a Car Boot Sale without the cars - 85 families selling from tables and mats, an array of clothing, books, toys, household items and of course trinkets and jewellery.

There are always one or two unexpected items and such sales and hence we brought home this piece of $4 treasure - endorsed by the Audubon Society of America, this clock not only features a different American bird at each hour but it SINGS!!  A different bird song every hour..  No matter that we nearly jumped out of our skin when we heard the goose - it takes a bit of getting used to..

This is my haul of jewellery bits and pieces from the Yard Sale - picked from endless heaps of stuff while David waited patiently - looking for the patches of sunlight on what was a very chilly morning.  Most items were just a dollar or two and rather grubby and some of the silver was black.  

One or two items stood out from the rest - this Mexico silver cat pin is signed and quite heavy.

My real hopes are pinned (pardon the pun) on this brooch which appears to have a 16KT gold hallmark and hence may have tiny sapphires set into it.  I will know more when I have access to the gold testing kit at the Loft.

These two micro-mosaic brooches from Italy are interesting. These have been produced as tourist souvenirs for many years - the quality varies.  The one on the right is older, brass backed, stamped Made in Italy and much finer work.  The larger green one is much less detailed, set in plated base metal and unmarked so although no doubt bought in Italy, could have been made elsewhere.

Finally, this Sterling silver and enamel bangle features scenes from Thailand and a flower decoration.  It was black - the colour hardly showing through.  It has a couple of dings to the enamel but otherwise the colour is bright and the bangle undented.

A good day!  Worth saving up all our $1 bills and change for!