Source: Etta’s Etceteras, a 2018 painting of my dog, Shelby (2008-2020).
Source: Etta’s Etceteras, “Donated in memory of Shelby” stickers/ bookplates from Evermine.
Source: Etta’s Etceteras, pet items ready to be donated in memory of Shelby to Wags to Wiggles Thrift Store, Gatlinburg, TN. Sales support Smoky Mountain Humane Society.
NOTE: Sellers/ businesses/ nonprofits mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
Source: http://www.SMHumane.org, Carrie (52 pound female mixed breed; intake date 8-19-25) still available for adoption as of 12-4-25 from Smoky Mountain Humane Society, Newport, TN.
Source: http://www.SMHumane.org, exterior of Wags to Wiggles Thrift Store in Gatlinburg, TN. Sales from the store support Smoky Mountain Humane Society.
Source: Ebay/ friendsknoxcountylibrary
NOTE: Sellers/ businesses mentioned here are chosen by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
Source: HiBid/ Vail International Incorporated (Pasco, WA)
NOTE: Sellers/ businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
NOTE: Sellers/ businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
NOTE: Sellers/ businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
If I had better sewing skills, I’d buy those groovy deer curtains to make a vest for my dog. More about that in a moment.
Today’s Auction of the Week is hosted by Light in the Attic Estates (Hendersonville, NC). I stumbled across this a few days ago while researching vintage airline collectibles (Nov. 24 post, “Decoupaging D. B. Cooper”).
Simultaneously classy and quirky. That’s how I’d describe these 426 lots.
All photos are from HiBid/ Light in the Attic Estates (Hendersonville, NC). Auction begins closing Dec. 3 at 6:00 pm, and the broker premium is 15%.
Most lots are from “a lifelong collector with an eye for the unique” per the auctioneer.
Lot #2 Uranium green glass plates (2)
Vintage uranium kitchenware is a thing, trust me. High bid on these two plates at press time was $35.
Lot #28 Bakelite art deco (by Taylor) 3-in-1 weather gauge (thermometer, barometer and humidity)
Bakelite is a thing, too, and I’m a fan. Such a cool device! Same as the plates, high bid at press time was $35.
Lot #64 Group of 3 vintage paper fans/ advertising
Lot #64 Closeup of one fan front
Lot #64 Closeup of one fan back
Ah, the days when one shop could sell you a piano, washing machine and/or water heater. I’m also a fan of these advertising fans. High bid for the three? $15.
Lot #359 Assorted vintage men’s clip-on ties, plus tie hangers
Are clip-on ties still a thing? Apparently so. I found many on Etsy in single or small quantities. This batch up for auction was going for $20 at press time.
Lot #335 Vintage airline playing card decks (62) and Pan Am carry-on bag
This alluring lot is how I found the classy-quirky auction. What a collection! I admire the person who collected and cared for these. The lot includes 62 decks and that oh-so hip Pan Am carry-on bag. Consider me smitten! Other folks are, too. High bid at press time was $40.
Lot #353 Deer pillow shams (2) and lined curtains (2)
Don’t laugh, but I think my dog would look uniquely hip in a vest made from these curtains. According to the auctioneer’s description, the curtains are lined (see photos on HiBid). I’m guessing the entire set was handmade – just a guess, of course. I’d love to know what the winning bidder ends up doing with these. At press time, the high bid was a mere $5.
Check out this classy-quirky auction and good luck bidding.
NOTE: Sellers/businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
Papoo made his living selling gee-haw whimmy diddles to the tourists.
Source: http://www.TheWoodWhittlers.com, Shirl Compton, founder of The Wood Whittlers (which dates to 1944) in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The small business is still in operation.
Source: Etsy/ CreativeCrafthouseFL
Source: Ebay/ Vintage Paper Ads (15487)
Source: Etta’s Etceteras
Source: Etta’s Etceteras
Source: Etsy/ OpenDoorTeaCT
Source: Etsy/ umakebuttons
Source: Etsy/ FoundInJanetsAttic
Source: Etsy/FoundInJanetsAttic
NOTE: Sellers/businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
My Aunt May could go to the bargain basement at Watson’s, scrounge around the heaping piles of clothes and come home with outfits that made her look like a model.
That’s one of my fondest department store memories.
The flagship of the Watson’s Department Store regional chain was located on Market Square in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. They operated from 1907 until about 1992, when they filed for bankruptcy. It was their basement that Aunt May – and thousands of others – prowled.
Hell, now there’s even a restaurant/bar in Market Square named Not Watson’s. The owner recalls his mom frequently shopping in that same basement. As she loaded him and his siblings into the car, they’d laugh “Not Watson’s” when asked to guess where they were going. The restaurant has been open since 2014. The Not Watson’s name: brilliant way to honor a place’s history and family memories.
I grew up in the ’70s, when department stores were still a thing, still a fancy place. Downtown Knoxville was about an hour away from our Gatlinburg home, so a trip with Mom and/or Aunt May was always a big deal, complete with lunch.
In a word, magical.
Forresellers and makers, there are lots of opportunities based on vintage – usually defunct – department stores.
You can resell an actual item, even an empty gift box. The boxes themselves were often elaborately designed. Pieces of art, if you will. Makers/crafters could use images for decoupage, posters, greeting cards and the like.
Department stores are on my mind this Black Friday, as I’ve seen news headlines suggesting the “death” of Black Friday.
Source: Library of Congress, department store window handkerchiefs, unmarked photo circa 1910-1926, National Photo Company Collection.
I beg to differ.
There’s a Tanger Outlet about 12 miles from me, and the Black Friday traffic is just as awful as in years past.
WBIR, my local NBC affiliate, aired a story this morning that showed a long line of folks outside Knoxville’s West Town Mall. What struck me was that Gen Z made up most of the front of the line. One young man interviewed said he’d been in line since 5:00 last night, waiting for the mall to open.
Specifically, he was headed to 96’Kickz, a shoe store I’d never heard of. Turns out, they sell new and used sneakers/athletic shoes.
So, yeah, purely anecdotal….but Black Friday seems robust to me.
Now for some defunct department store finds:
Lot# 122 from Danny Ayers Realty & Auction (Lancaster, KY) has some cool vintage marketing merch. There’s that “By Secret Agreement” Santa envelope, a pen, pencil and calendars. I’d be especially interested to see if anything is written in the one from November 1963.
This auction closes at 7:30 pm on Dec. 3. At press time, the high bid was $1. Broker premium is 18.5%.
Source: HiBid/ Danny Ayers Realty & Auction (Lancaster, KY)
SleeperLot
I’m fascinated with Lot# 850 from Grube Auctioneering LLC (Fort Recovery, OH).
The box from Goldstein’s Department Store features an exquisitely detailed drawing. Ooh la la! Inside, there’s an 80″×102″ tablecloth.
Auction closes at 10:00 am on Dec. 6. There were no bids at press time. Whaaat? Minimum opening bid is $5, and broker premium is 15%.
On Etsy, I found quite a few vintage items from defunct department stores.
This 1946 comic (coloring?) book from Newberry’s Department Store is offered by MemoriesfromLife for $44.99 (25% off $59.99) with free shipping. Love the retro art and colors!
Source: Etsy/ MemoriesfromLife
And, finally, we circle back to department store handkerchiefs.
Source: Etsy/ FiddleDeeDooDah
This handkerchief box offered by FiddleDeeDooDah is a lovely example of the elegance that could be found in department stores. The box is unmarked, but likely from the 1930s according to FiddleDeeDooDah.
It’s easy for me to imagine the days when you might be surprised with a handkerchief presented in a fine box…or surprised walking by a finely staged window display of department store handkerchiefs.
NOTE: Sellers/businesses mentioned here are selected by me. They have something that interests me and, hopefully, interests my readers. Etta’s Etceteras does not accept requests to be featured and does not accept revenue from advertising, affiliate links, etc.
NOTE: The text of most posts dated Sept. 22, 2024-Nov. 26, 2025 has been archived for editing.
Source: Library of Congress, Bands on Parade poster, Nov. 9, 1940, Work Projects Administration (WPA) Poster Collection.
Source: Etsy/ CarolinaVintageCo
Source: Etsy/ CarolinaVintageCo
Source: Etsy/ BanditBooks
Source: HiBid/ Off Main LLC (Bethel, OH)
Source: HiBid/ Air Capital Marketplace (Andale, KS)
Source: http://www.HistoricImages.com, Florida A&M University band member Miciotto Johnson jumps during a 1985 performance; from Associated Press photo with editing notes.
Etta's Etceteras 