AN x Houseonfawn.vintage: What's in a Vintage Collector's Treasure Box?

Dawn Thompson, an Administrative Services Manager for the Marion County District Attorney is also a stager, decorator, and collector -  all rolled into one. She has been using her Instagram @houseonfawn.vintage to document her vintage collections as well as to give color/pattern matching decor ideas to the vintage community. 

Dawn has been interested in vintage for as long as she can remember. From her mom saving things from her childhood, her teen years in the 50s & 60s, being a 1962 bride and her family really never getting rid of anything that “was still good”.  

Her grandmother had the ultimate cookie cutter ranch house that shaped her childhood in the 70s and 80s. Filled with the avocado green, harvest gold and the browns that defined an era. At the time, of course, it was all normal – now it’s all very cool!

“I’ve found I am actually “rebuying” my childhood memories – in so many forms. It’s comforting – it’s nostalgic and meaningful to me since I’ve lost my mother and grandmother – it makes me feel close to them in some way. That and they were diehard garage sale warriors – so I come by that bug genetically!” - Dawn shared with us.

What are the one or two things that you always find yourself bidding on/looking for when shopping secondhand?

I have several things I gravitate to on auction sites or looking for online – as well as I am a weekend estate sale junkie with some thrift and garage sales thrown in if that is where my car takes me. 

I am a vintage Pyrex collector first – I am always looking for those needles in a haystack, rare pieces or the misfit undecorated pieces which I have quite a collection of. 

I also collect the original Pyrex boxes and have a very large collection of them. I have recently found a quirky interest in vintage thermoses – I love the colors and patterns. I also have a large gathering of vintage rotary phones and I will never walk away from a Night Before Christmas book. 

At estates, I am the one on the floor going through the boxes of vintage wrapping paper, holiday décor and I have a talented radar to find old coloring books and paper goods which I use as fillers in my photos – I am saving all of those fun books to share with my grandson, Tucker. 

Sheets – that’s a whole collection worthy of a separate paragraph. I have a very large collection of vintage sheets. I love the bold patterns, designs, fabric and the happiness they bring. They are so soft – so nostalgic and I can have creative freedom while making bedscapes. 

I always seek those out on auction sites, internet selling sites, garage sales, thrifts, and estates.  Bring me the bold, flower power, bright fun patterns, stripes, shapes and the more color the better. 

I use these and other vintage fabric as backdrops in my photos and find projects that allow them to live on in all their incredible glory. 

What's your absolute favorite item ever purchased at an estate sale or online auction?

My one holy grail purchase from a garage/estate would be my 1970s original Queen concert t-shirt. I am a diehard Queen fan – and while going through a rack of clothing, my husband held up this gem and I almost broke out in song right then and there. 

The original owner of this treasure was there and explained how she bought it at a concert. It was $2 – and it fits me. I couldn’t pay her fast enough – this is one of those pieces that will go to the next life with me. I later screamed out loud like an 8 year old at Christmas when I got in the car. 

Any tips or advice for online auction or estate sale newbies?

My tips/tricks for auctions or estates would be to really look at the item – you can find things that are super rare by just blowing up pictures and knowing details of what you collect. 

For example – Pyrex – know your dishes and mass produced patterns – there are misfits out there – the ones that made it out of the factory with an alternate pattern or color you may just walk by. If something doesn’t look quite right – take a deeper look!  

At estates – don’t be in a hurry – open those cabinets (that aren’t taped shut) and drawers. I have found some of my best things in cabinets and drawers. Open the boxes – go through them – usually they are layers of years and the good stuff is at the bottom. 

Also, buddy up – 2 sets of eyes are way better than one! 

Things produced nowadays are disposable and not made to last like things from years past – it’s important to reuse, upcycle and appreciate items from the past – I encourage all to have fun with the hobby, really look at the artwork, advertising, quirky designs and the colors/patterns – reach in the way back machine and enjoy the vintage ride!

Dawn’s AuctionNinja Picks:

1. Set of 20 Vintage Sheet Music from Popular Show Tunes & Records (Old Red Barn Auction)

2. Pyrex Turquoise Snowflake Oval Dishes with Covers (Trading Post Estate Sales)

3. Group Lot of Assorted Vintage Pyrex Bakeware - Amish Butterprint and BOLD Colors on Varied Forms (Brownstone Liquidators)

4. Vintage and Antique Child's Letter Blocks (Clearing House Estate Sales)

5. Vintage Little Golden Books Lot 2 (2 Sisters Trading Post)

6. Large Vintage Wood Toy Truck (NorthEast Finds)

7. Vintage Fabric Lot (Provenance Auctions)

8. Lot of Mid CenturyVintage Children's Books (Metafair)

More about Dawn:

Dawn Thompson originally from Lawrence, Kansas is currently living in Salem, Oregon. She has a very her patient, tolerant, enabling husband of 25 years and 5 children that will eventually inherit her vintage “museum”. "LUCKY THEM" - Dawn told us.

Her Instagram is @houseonfawn.vintage – it is not a selling page, but just more to share her love for color, bright and beautiful, and her passion for all things way back. 

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Written by:

AuctionNinja Staff

December 30, 2022     Updated 01:06 PM

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