Last spring, my mother-in-law mentioned how her friend Maeve always gets great consignment finds at Turn Style near Southdale. On a day off, I decided I would go check out the world of consignment shopping — all the cute clothes the art teacher wears always come from thrift shops. "The Southdale location is supposed to have the best items," Maeve had said.

Looking through rows of shirts grouped by size and color, I came across Maeve herself! We took a selfie together and then she decided to buy the T-shirt she'd been considering. I stayed and bought a few new (old) shirts.

On the way out, I looked at the group of people huddled in back. So that's where you take your clothes to sell them, I noted.

One week in summer, Little L was going to a camp in South Minneapolis, and it occurred to me that after I dropped her off, I too could try my hand at consignment selling. I had some items gathered, and I decided to give it a go.

I arrived, parked, and walked up to the door, only to notice the sign that said "Consignment sales please use the back door." After driving around for a few minutes, I saw said back door, where there was a sign instructing me to leave my items in the car while I came inside.

I did as told, only to find out that Tuesdays are an "appointment only" day.

Another time, I decided to try the Turn Style in Roseville. As I was walking in the front door (apparently door preference differs with location), I noticed a sign indicating that all consignment items should be brought in on hangers. Hangers? I definitely didn't have any of those lying around in my trunk.

I decided to wait in line anyway, and after getting up to the friendly and efficient woman in the flowery top, I asked, "can I still bring my clothes in if I don't have hangers?"

"Not on a day like today." Apparently it was a busy day in the clothes reselling world. "You can call on Thursday and make an appointment for two Thursdays from now," she said, and flicked her silver bangled wrist for the next customer to try their luck at the counter.

On Thursday I called. The following Thursday was all booked, so they offered me two weeks out. However, I would be out of town that day. "Can you put me down for three Thursdays from now?" I asked.

"You'll have to call back next Thursday," they told me.

I was close to giving up. But I had a bag of clothes I'd been carrying around, and my mom had given me some extra hangers to help the cause. I decided to make my fourth attempt.

I was seventh in line. It was the same woman at the counter, this time in a flowy black and white top with pearl earrings and wire-rim glasses.

"Hi, Mary Jackson," she said to the person at the front of the line. "Have you consigned here before?"

I didn't hear what Mary Jackson replied, but the woman in charge told her, "Remember next time to leave all your items in the car, because if we don't have any spots you're stuck holding everything." So maybe Mary Jackson was a newbie too. "You can go to Rack Number Four," she informed Mary, who walked towards an empty silver clothes rack.

The woman in charge dropped her voice and said to her sidekick, "I also put a note in the account for next time that we told her to leave the items in the car. If it happens a second time we put an asterisk by their name and then they..." But I can't hear the rest! What? What happens?" Just so that it's fair to everyone," she explained.

The next person got through to Rack 2 pretty quickly. "You're amazing!" she said to the woman in charge. "Tell my son!" the woman replied through a smile. I imagine a teenager not interested in the art of thrifting.

The person ahead of me hadn't been here for awhile. "For the last 7 years you've had $10.80 in your account!" the woman in charge informed her. "So I can give you a check if you want." After being assigned to Rack 6, the customer started walking away. "Wait! Come back!" the woman in charge called. "I'm giving you your check," she said, waiting for the printer.

"Why? Because the money is too old?" the customer asked.

Laughing, the woman in charge handed her a check. "Yup, here's your very old money," she said.

Finally, it's my turn. It's the right day, the right time, no appointment needed. I've left my items in the car, and I have hangers to hang them on when Rack 8 finally becomes available. I fill out my paperwork. "What do you do? Your writing is so nice. Are you a teacher?" the woman in charge asks.

Wow, she's good! "Yeah, I teach elementary!" I tell her.

"The kids these days — you can't read their writing. My kid even!" she says. I can't help feeling a bit guilty about the current lack of emphasis on penmanship in elementary schools, but there's no time to wallow. I go out to my car, get my clothes, put them on hangers, and bring them in to put on my rack. I shop while I wait.

When they finally call "Rack 8," I go back to find about a third of my garments still hanging there. "Is this your first time?" they ask me. I nod.

"Then I'll explain to you," says the very stylish clothes scout. "These won't work because they're the wrong season." They point to some short-sleeved tops, similar to the one I'm wearing. "We buy for the next season. So we won't be buying for spring and summer again until mid-September."

I make another note in my mental file. One of these days, I'm definitely going to get it.

And I do. Since then, I've had another successful consignment attempt. I used the credits I earned from the first batch to help pay for my new (old) clothes. I didn't want my money to get too old.

On this last visit, I ran into Little L's friend's grandma. She asked for my input on a leather jacket she was trying on while waiting for her items to be checked. She was clearly a pro.

For my part, I felt amazed that anything at all had been accepted. And not only that, but many of the items actually sold!

If you're considering trying your hand at Turn Style or elsewhere, don't forget what I learned.

Consignment Game Rules

1) Check which days appointments are needed

2) Check which door to use

3) Leave your clothes in the car until its your turn

4) When it's your turn, bring them in on hangers (you get to take them with you when you leave)

5) Check with the store about their seasonal timelines