Amber Ostrich Estate Sales

Don’t get me wrong. Our upcoming sale this weekend is as classy as they come. However, there are a handful of items that just scream ‘White Elephant.’

Perhaps your family is like mine, and you have the fun family tradition of passing the White Elephant gift exchange.

Why give the mundane when you can give the gift of silliness?

I think big brother would love this "tacky but cute" tissue holder?

Even a family of teetotalers can enjoy a nice shot of Christmas liqueur!

Some of the gifts might even come in handy.

Hey, it gets windy in Texas. Here's a package of VINTAGE windproof playing cards.

In keeping with the weather theme, you know someone in your family will just LOVE these!

We’ve got tons of great stuff at this sale. These are just a few great items that we had to share. The whole sale is great. For more photos, check them out on Smug Mug. And don’t forget to check out our Pinterest boards too.

Upcoming right on the heels of our last classy Onion Creek estate sale, Amber Ostrich is exhibiting an estate from a family who traveled overseas in the 1960s-1970s with Amoco Oil in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and South America, bringing back gems and saving them all these years.

Just a tidbit of the unique and fascinating items from this sale, we’ve got a brass hibachi.

Brass hibachi

And a nice collection of other unique finds:

The lady of the house had excellent taste in just about everything. We’ve got some vintage clothing and all of it is unique and sassy.

Vintage golfing skirt and jacket, with matching bag. Pictures don't do it justice!

Our estate sale owners knew how to relax in style folks. These teak, leather lounge chairs are a must have.

Teak, leather bound chairs

With Christmas right around the corner, don’t miss the opportunity to pick up some amazing vintage ornaments and decorations for the holiday spirit.

This sale starts next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. We’ll announce the address next week. But in the meantime, check out more photos right here.

Just in time for Christmas shopping, we’ve got the perfect estate sale coming up for that hard-to-buy-for family member.

This estate sale is going to be hard to not find anything good!

Located along the scenic golf course of Onion Creek.

The owner of this estate kept collectibles from a relative who lived on the East Coast, and shopped Flea Markets for years, so we’ve got a great out the wazoo!

First off we’ve got a ton of great vintage sports memorabilia. Not the usual Longhorn stuff we see here in Texas, but stuff from East Coast teams, like the Atlanta Braves etc.

Next up we’ve got a ton of political swag and comics. These days, the two seem to go together, am I right?

Vintage Dennis the Menace

And ohhhh, the art! This estate boasts over 100 framed antique pieces, lithographs, mezzotints, prints and original artwork.

Woman with puppy.

To be honest, there is just too much to write about.

Check out more items on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest (check out the Upcoming Sales board) and ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THIS SALE ON Smug Mug.

And FYI, there are two estate sales going on in Onion Creek this weekend. Make sure you follow the Amber Ostrich  signs for our sale. Remember to head SOUTH on Pinehurst Dr, (the main drag within the neighborhood) Best to map it before you come.

The address is: 11140 Pinehurst Dr. Austin TX 78747.

Dates/Times: Friday November 16th, from 11-5 (*note later start time, we stay open later too!)

Saturday, November 17th, from  10-2.

Cash and Carry. No Checks Pls.

Keep in mind that Formula One is this weekend. Hence the later start and close times. But this estate sale is down South in Onion Creek so you should be fine getting here. Here’s a list of events and road closings so you can map your route: http://austintexas.gov/department/event-routes-road-closures

Given that it’s Election Day this week, I would be remiss not to mention all the super cool political swag we’ve got coming up at the next estate sale.

By the time our next sale comes up, we’ll know our next president, but it will still be fresh enough to remind us that our convictions about who might be the right person for president will often change with history.

Hindsight is 20/20, right?

Hang on to those current political buttons y’all. You just never know.

LBJ for president.

The political seasons change, but it’s the same old story.

The political wheels just keep spinning.

Yep, we’ll have all this swag and so much more at our next sale coming up the weekend of Nov. 16.

Check out more photos on our Smug Mug Gallery. And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and see what’s getting pinned over on Pinterest, my newest favorite hangout!

If you’ve ever traveled around the country looking at various flea markets and estate sales, you’ve probably noticed a difference in the variety of “finds” you see in differing parts of the country.

Different furniture, different memorabilia, different historical items, all signify a time in history in certain places.

At our next estate sale coming up in a few weeks, you’ll feel like you’re shopping in style with our items up for grabs.

Our client kept her aunt’s flea market finds from the North East. So not only do you have pickings from dueling parts of the country, you’ve got two generations to pick through. It’s estate sale shopper heaven!

For once, it’s not UT and Cowboys sports memorabilia!

Atlanta Braves!

Bob Feller

Braves, Tigers and Astros!

Do you know who this guy is?

Big Boy restaurants are headquartered in Michigan.

Imported beer swag. Cool!

Canadian Grizzly Beer Company will go great with your imported beer collection.

Baseball, beer and now ice cream? Makes me miss summer just a little bit.

Sure Good Ice Cream bars were made in Milwaukee. Brrrrrr

Perhaps we should rename this sale, baseball, burgers and beer. Mmmm

To add a touch of class, we’ve got loads of lovely china and glass.

Perfect for a New Englander vanity.

Great for holding bits of jewelry.

Tea or crumpets anyone?

This sale is more than just finds from the North. It’s jam packed with a nice variety. Tons of great collectibles for Christmas presents. We’ve also got lots of great artwork, costume jewelry, hats, furniture and holiday decorations. You will be sure to find something on your Santa list at this sale!

It’s rare that I walk into a house and immediately know the exact value of all the new items. Sometimes we find treasures that upon first glance seem better than we thought, but even more often, we find unique or even rare items,  and we can’t wait to showcase them to our buyers!  Just as  in this sale, we are fortunate to have all these great vintage finds, what good luck for our shoppers.

As we prep for our next estate sale, coming up in November, I thought I’d share with y’all a couple of treasures that we came across just a couple of days ago, the very first day in.

Frazier vs Ali "The Fight of the Century" poster

When I first unearthed this poster, I was not sure of the value or the authenticity. It is the REAL deal, one of those exciting finds. I can’t wait to find more!

Atlanta Braves poster. We've got tons of baseball memorabilia!

This particular sale, while held along a backdrop of the luxurious Onion Creek area, has items you might be surprised to find. This estate holds a large number of East coast flea market finds,  our client collected over many years. Super cool stuff!

There is a TON of political swag!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We haven’t even begun to unearth all the tantalizing treasures of this sale. Mark your calendars! Weekend of Nov. 16-17.

Here at AO Estate Sales, we sell old, and sometimes very valuable items from estates. And in our talks with customers, and my ramblings here on the blog, the subject of vintage vs antique comes up.

What’s the difference between antiques and vintage items?

First and foremost, there is no specific checklist to determine items. It’s not like there’s a registry somewhere. But after a while, you just know it when you see it.

Often the terms, antique and vintage are used interchangeably. And in some cases, it might depend on who you’re talking to, whether something is distinguished as vintage or antique.

But the general rule of thumb is that antiques are usually older. Some professionals dictate that an antique must be at least 100 years old. While vintage must only be at least 30 years old.

An antique is generally more of a relic, something that is not even used anymore, or the version of it is so outdated that no one would consider using it, imagine an outhouse vs a toilet; or an 18th century nightdress vs a vintage 1960s peignoir.

Antique

Vintage

Antique

vs

Vintage

Antiques are typically rarer than vintage items, thus, pricier.

Imho, vintage can be way more fun, because many vintage items can still be useful. There’s nothing more interesting than having a nice set of vintage dishes or cookware in your kitchen; or perhaps a nice pair of vintage shoes or vintage dress in your closet.

This speaks to the idea that vintage is often something that is considered relevant. For instance, a horse and buggy is definitely an antique, but a 1950s Chevrolet Bel Air is vintage because it still fits in with today’s transportation options. Even if the car lives on for 100 years, in today’s terms, it would still be considered vintage because of its relevance.

Along with these two terms comes the sub-terms: classic and retro.

A classic is typically a delineation inside the vintage term, denoting its timely status. And retro is something that looks vintage, but is not actually old enough to be considered a true vintage piece.

So there ya go. My take on the difference between vintage and antique. Hope you enjoyed my ramblings! Until the next sale…

Which by the way, will include BOTH antique and vintage. This is the estate we have named, Flea Market Finds in the OC. (Onion Creek Neighborhood, South Austin)

Antiques and Vintage

This weekend, Oct. 12 and 13, we’ll host our Nice ‘n’ Easy, Cool ‘n’ Classy Estate Sale in Onion Creek. We’re even going to have special hours on this one! (Hint: check the bottom of the post.)

Nice 'n' Easy Onion Creek Estate Sale

This traditional estate marvels in classic treasures from a cook’s kitchen to a pack of relaxation.

Knick knacks that will measure up next to the refined mid-century modern teak dining table that seats six to eight, with charming black and teak-framed matching chairs.

Kitchenaid!

Inside our cooks kitchen we’ve got vintage chartreuse Pyrex, a classic Kitchenaid mixer, and beautiful gold-rimmed dishes.

Next up, holiday decorations!

With Christmas right around the corner, this estate sale is perfect for picking up some much needed decorations to add to the festive holiday season.

We’ve got vintage Christmas cards, a creche, manger scene, wreaths, reindeer, and even a stuffed turkey. Gobble gobble!!

Prada!

Designer purses are a must for your new fall wardrobe. We have over 30 bags with all names you know: LV, Prada, Kate Spade, Coach, and more!

For the crafty crowd, there is a nice selection of vintage knitting patterns. Who couldn’t use a cute new poncho for the upcoming shivery weather? So cute.

Vintage poncho pattern.

And if you’re just waiting breathlessly for summer to roll back around, get started on next year’s plans early with this sweet patio furniture. Hey, it’s Texas, it won’t be long before you can use it again.

Summer breeze.....

If you want to see more photos, please click here.

And don’t forget to call ahead of time if you want to test drive the luxury Lexus. It won’t be at the sale. But we are taking phone calls ahead of time on this one item: (512) 569-3560 or (512) 771-8743.

Hours and Address:

This estate sale is going to have different hours this time around. Like I said, it’s Nice ‘n’ Easy!

Friday Oct. 12: 11-5

Saturday Oct. 13: 10-2

Address: 2212 Baltusrol

Our next sale, upcoming on the heels of our last MCM sale in Tarrytown is in lovely South Austin, Onion Creek.

Before I tell you all about our offerings, I had to share one of the beautiful pieces of this sale.

Lexus LS 460. 23,000 miles. $38,900.

A luxury sport Lexus LS 460 is up for sale. This car is the ultimate spoiler, with a 4.6 liter engine that will take you from zero to sixty in just six seconds. It is loaded with a leather interior, sunroof, and high tech sound system. This is a 2007 model with a sleek body design. It’s been well-maintained, with books and records, car fax, and it’s clean from a non-smoking driver. With only one owner, this gorgeous silver Lexus only has 23,000 miles on it!

It books for over $43,000 and we are just asking $38,900.

This car will not be at the sale, as we will have to stay focused on the contents of home sale. However we are taking appointments to test drive all this week and next. Please call (512) 569-3560 or (512) 771-8743.

You can view our Auto Trader ad here.

Call today to get into your new ride!