Second Hand Awesome-Ness: This is a post. But not like the ones you use to make fences with. That was a badly written sentence.

So, I have this tiny addiction. I love everything resale. Yardsales, Antique shops, Auctions, Estate Sales, Thrift Stores, Consignment Shops, Dumpster Diving, Swaps, you name it! This addiction has been a lifelong one - starting back in my childhood when my family would take me to yard sales in Mississippi. My first job was at Designer Consigner, a small consignment shop in Northern Virginia. Heck, one of my projects in grad school, the VCU Brandcenter was making a yard sale museum - later on after graduating I worked at a thrift store - The Brown Elephant. Addicted!

My day job is probably one of the best ones out there - I work at Howard Brown Health Center as a graphic designer. While I love graphic design, I know that I must do something again in the realm of resale. So join me on my journey as I figure out what that something is, won't you?

I actually have this super cool idea that involves fundraising and yard sales...but I need to talk to a few folks first to see if it's a good idea. In the mean time, starting this past summer, I've been "researching" all things resale:

Spoke with the Amazing Bryan about future "career goals" in resale. Good guy, great motivational writer.

Went with Ebay and Toy Guru Alex to Wolff's Flea Market at the butt-crack of dawn - 4:30 am.

Logan and I went to many many many yard sales and estates sales and Wolff's Flea Market.

Went to see my mom graduate from grad school on a Friday (She's now on her way to getting her doctorate, very proud!) - came back early that Sunday morning to go to one of the best yard sales in Chicago - the Ravenswood yard sale.

Saw my first auction with Lena and David in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I was introduced to Flea Market Style Magazine...and yes I asked about freelance job opportunities.

Took a trip with Brandy and her dad, Randy, to Shipshuwanna Indiana to one of the biggest auctions I've ever seen...or my 2nd auction.

I was introduced to a Really Really Free Market in the south side of Chicago - I will be doing one of my own in December. (Find me on facebook for more details - Candice Lee Conner).

Went to Vintage Garage a few times with my favorite thrifting couple Michael and Brian. Also went with them to the 2nd best yardsale in Chicago - the Andersonville Yard Sale. Bought way too much...

Stopped off at Karen's Yardsale for a couple of her clients. Karen is the founder of Organize Me. A great business that helps you..well..organize!

And did my usual volunteering at the Brown Elephant - Howard Brown Health Center's Resale Shop.

Along the way I learned of amazing designers who share the same love. One of which is Aaron Draplin - my current inspiration for keeping print design alive. Got to thank Rob Theiman for this little find.

I hopefully will be taking on an internshipish thing this winter with YaYa's Antiques. Paul and Miguel are just the nicest folks ever and their prices are really great!

In Spring 2014, I'll try my hand vending at Wolff's Flea Market. Already have some stuff ready to sell.

Alright, I've named and place dropped enough - Let's just say it was good summer. A great summer actually. One filled with all of this, plus awesome photo opportunities with Oomphotography, shows and plays!

Since this is my first post, I figured I'd show my favorite finds from the history of my finds - this came out to 33 pictures. Enjoy and welcome the crazy, eclectic second hand mind of Candice.

PS - no, I didn't kill a button blog. In fact, I might be selling my buttons soon. Fingers crossed! But yes...I need to post again.

Are you still reading. Cool! I call this photo set - pictures of things that I found in my house that I really am happy that I found. No set up, in fact I really didn't even move the objects from their place. But I did experiment with the Canon 7D and my Yungueo Flash.

Ravenswood Yardsale...rolled that thing for 3 blocks...

That purple thing is an owl hat.

Rolodex from Nathan's Sale at the Andersonville Yardsale.

Buddha from the Brown Elephant.

Jeffrey's Clock: from another Nathan Sale. Nathan likes sales too.

Jeffrey I miss you!

AWSMRadio Couch: From the Brown Elephant.

Painting made of tree bark from the 1950s: The Brown Elephant.

Bubblegum Necklace: Wolff's Flea Market

My very last purchase from Diversity Thrift while in living in Richmond, VA.

Owls. Top from a junk shop in Michigan City.

Bottom from...some junk job in VA...I'm not sure why he's named Hancock.

Amazing: Wolff's Flea Market.

Poster: From Michael M's going away yardsale.

Yep. From the Brown Elephant.

Somehow this light was still there in the last hour of an Estate Sale.

Repro from Lou's Antiques in Amherst, VA. Whatever, I love it.

I didn't know what these were at first.

They are old film canisters! From the Brown Elephant.

Bon Bon. Ok, so Bon Bon is one of the reasons that I know I'm destined for 2nd hand. I've had guinea pigs in the past, but NEVER have I had someone call me to let me know that a guinea pig had been abandoned in the alley way on the Loyola campus. Almost three years later, here's Bon Bon - the second hand piggy. The colorful thing in the back is from the Brown Elephant.

Bee Box turned into DVD box. From the Giant Auction in Shipshouwanna Indiana. ...When I bought the bee boxes, I thought I was getting ripped off because they lifted the boxes and there were no bottom to any of the boxes! The more you know!

My first Richmond purchase! Orange guy.

From an antique shop in Richmond.

Giant Magnadoodle: The Brown Elephant.

Clock from 1981. Not a repro. The Brown Elephant.

Crab thermometer and phone sign. Crab from the Brown Elephant.

Sign from a nice lady at the Ravenswood Yard Sale. I'm pretty proud to say that I liked signs before signs got big. Got this for 2 bucks. Saw it at Vintage Garage for $69.