Last weekend was a busy one for collectors and junkers. Thursday night there was an estate auction at Mary Ann Duffey's space on Market Street in Hillyard. Friday through Sunday brought Custer's Spring Antique and Collectors Sale to the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

I told my family I was completely sacrificing my weekend to my work, and I spent time at both.

The auction was fascinating because it was the first of two big sales from the estate of a very eclectic collector. He had an amazing assortment of interesting things collected over a lifetime in Spokane. There were tables filled with old Fire Department memorabilia, advertising ephemera, railroad lanterns and other collectibles, and several tables full of books.

There were around 100 bidders and some had deep pockets. The railroad memorabilia collectors, clustered at the back of the room, were serious bidders. One mid-20th century lantern with a rare cobalt blue globe sold for more than $500. Other items, like the badges from conductor's caps, brought high prices as well.

An early Spokane Fire Department helmet sold for more than $300. An 1850s compass in its original case sold for more than $1,000. Vintage travel posters sold for hundreds of dollars, one for around $1,000.

I bid on a set of five bound Spokesman-Review “Progress Editions” from 1939 through 1950 and was thrilled to get them all for $5 each.

My “what was I thinking?” auction moment came when I bid on, and won, a large enamel sign advertising “registered Guernsey” cows. I don't know what came over me, but I had to have that sign. My children weren't impressed, but I love it. I have a weakness for vintage signs. This one, with a pair of sweet Guernsey faces looking over a fence, was in mint condition. It's also double sided so that makes it an even better deal.

Duffey's next auction is scheduled for early June. She says that's when the real treasures will come on the block. She's going to have a couple of rare printing presses and truckloads of other great items for sale.

I made several trips to the fairgrounds (OK, I went all three days) to check out the Antique and Collectors Sale. All three buildings were packed with dealers from around the Northwest and there were a lot of people shopping and browsing.

I always enjoy watching the crowd as much as I love looking at the antiques. It's interesting to see what people are buying, what things are selling for, and what is losing its luster with collectors.

I had a great time talking to so many of the other treasure hunters around town. I wore my new (old) charm bracelet and had to laugh whenever someone called my name and jingled their bracelet from across a table.

Some of you told me about your treasured vintage photographs and asked about the portrait I described in last week's column, so I posted a copy of it on my online blog at www.spokesmanreview.com.

We debated whether the shabby chic craze is on its way out (I think it might be fading a bit in other parts of the country, but it's still going strong around here) and what the next collecting craze is going to be. One woman said she was betting that anything from the 1950s was going to be “the next big thing” and she may be right. It's a very distinctive and fun look, and it's already popular in other parts of the country. I attended a meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., several years ago, and anything that was 1950s and '60s “modern” was very hot and the prices were sky high.

I even had a couple of volunteers for my wild idea of putting together a “junk sisters” camper caravan to hit all the wonderful West Coast flea markets. I might have a little trouble convincing my family it is strictly an all-work-and-no-play business trip, but I'm willing to try.

All in all, it was a great weekend for junking. Antique show finds are a little “spendier” than my usual thrift store and flea market bargains. But the beauty of it is that sometimes it's nice to let someone else do the work. These items have already been found, cleaned up, and in some cases refurbished. That's certainly worth something.

I look forward to the shows and big sales because it's a way to connect with other people who love old things as much as I do. I get to chat with my favorite dealers when they come to town, and catch up with other junking friends while I look for a hidden treasure or two. How could you not love that?