Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Kane County Flea Market Preview #2

 This Saturday & Sunday we'll be in Expo East, Space 24 
at the Kane County Flea Market in St Charles, Illinois.
We've found some fun stuff and will be 
bringing multiples of some items,
like the doorknobs above.
We have a gazillion great feed, flour & sugar sacks,
most are big -  100 lb or 2 1/2 bushel size,
...flower show ribbons

...cigar bands.  
And SO much more!
See you there?


Monday, April 26, 2010

Kane County Flea Market - The Garden Department


Just a few days to go until the
Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, Illinois. 
Here's a sampling of items that we'll bring for the garden.
Hope to see you there!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Start Humming 'God Bless America' and Come Meet Uncle Sam


Uncle Sam.  Here he is; one of my favorite old men.  Vintage patriotic items have been on my radar for years and I love the red, white and blue. My heart immediately began to race when I spotted him in the garage at an estate sale. Over 85 people had been admitted to the sale before I arrived to shop the multi-building sale. After forty-five minutes of shopping the first building I strolled into the garage and saw him.  
 With a sinking heart I figured that he'd been sold
and was just waiting for pickup.
No!  He was available and waiting for me.
He's a tall, thin fellow and stands just a skosh under seven feet.
His pants, head & hat are of solid wood while his 
hat brim, bow tie, coat & arms are made of plywood.
He was made to be a flag holder and likely used
outside to call attention to a store.
He originally would have held a full-size flag.
I don't have one of the proper age so loaned him
a few of my smaller flags for the photos.
His right side is more worn & faded indicating that he
encountered more sun on that side.
There are traces of old varnish in some areas.
I love every detail including his handsome face...

...the stars on his hat...
...his striped pants...
...and the epaulets on his shoulders.
His actual age & history is a mystery.  It's evident that a few 
repairs were made over the years. The estate he came from
was that of someone who had collected
with hopes of opening an antiques store.
 Uncle Sam will be making his first public appearance 
in September.  He'll be the official greeter
at our booth at Junk Bonanza.
Save the date and come see us there!
- God Bless America -

Thursday, April 22, 2010

A Good Day - Estate Sale Finds

Today was a good day; a very good day,
here are some of the goodies.
...the shabbiest light fixture,
...chippy Staffordshire and a Meissen platter repaired with staples,
glass head with molded hair
...primitives
...a concrete birdbath that 2 sweet guys loaded for me.
I somehow got it out of the van 
and under the crabapple tree 
where it shall stay. Forever.
 And, one of my best finds in years.
I'll tell you all about it next time. 
:)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Vintage Children's Hats

There's something about an old straw hat in a small size that charms me.  
A few of them are hanging in the sunroom.
Last summer my granddaughters borrowed two of them for a bit...
...to keep the sun off while walking Gracie.
The favorite of my small collection is this one.
I call it the "coming & going hat", as it has a brim front & back.
 It's tattered and worn...
 ...and has a little surprise inside.
Sweet!


Sunday, April 18, 2010

Shabby Edwardian Wedding Menu - 1907

Here's a pretty bit of Edwardian era ephemera to inspire anyone planning a spring or summer wedding. The die cut menu features three lovely lasses accessorized with rosebuds and straw hats.  Printed in Dutch, it translates "Menu to Celebrate the marriage of Miss Sientje Lermer and Mr Jacob Liepe, on Wednesday, 31 July, 1907."

The guests dined on
Vegetable Soup
Chicken Soup
Peas
Garden Beans with Croquet
Roast Beef with Potatoes
Compote
Almond Biscuit and Cake
Various Acids (Cheese?)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Grayslake II - Great Little Finds

 
First stop was for ribbon & millinery flowers from Georgette

Joan's account of the photos she found recently was fascinating; I had to have a few of them.  Why are those girls painting the fence in their unmentionables?

Key tags and numbers are two of my favorite things. Key tags with numbers...perfect!  Made a stop on the way home and found the old brass watch case.

Vintage price tag's from McCabe's.  Anyone know where McCabe's was/is?

 Chippy sap bucket from Iowa Junk Gypsies in Christmas colors

Transfers from Rhubarb Reign; can't wait to test drive them on a project

Vintage seam binding from Joan in the most delicious colors.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Grayslake Flea Market

Shopping and chatting with vendors was so much fun today that I did a really bad job of getting good photos. After a gloomy week it was nice to have sunshine; I'm sure the outside vendors appreciated it too.

Frederick Klass, Jr brought one of the best things I saw today. 
Alas, it was too big...for my home and for my budget.
Diane Passi had a dreamy booth.
I'd been wanting to meet the Iowa Junk Gypsies, and had fun chatting with Anita.  Their displays are inspiring.
It was great to meet Joan of Anything Goes Here and Joe and Sandy from Rhubarb Reign and see Candy & Jill from Altered Ever After. There were wonderful finds in their booths and sadly, I didn't get any great photos.  Of course I brought home a few things - we'll have show & tell soon!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Kane County - 3 Weeks to Go - Sneak Peek

Gracie's Cottage will be selling at the Kane County Flea Market  for the first time on May 1st and 2nd. For the past fourteen years I've enjoyed seeking out treasures and sharing them with friends like you. Since leaving my day job late in 2008, (thank you Mr. Bad Economy),  it's been a pleasure to expand and try new venues.  My dear friend Kathy will be sharing space with me at Elkhorn and Junk Bonanza but I'll be flying solo this time.

Candy from Altered Ever After shared with me how much she's enjoyed selling at Kane County.  The Iowa Junk Gypsies, (whom I have yet to meet but have worshipped from afar), sell there as well.  I've started gathering things to take; here's a sneak peek:

Some of you know that we love letters and numbers and always try to have a nice selection to offer. The original calligraphy alphabets on waxy linen vellum are 'to die for'; you've got to see them in person to appreciate them.
We have a couple of terrific chippy garden urns, lots of galvanized goodies and these wonderful old fishing floats in unusual colors.
We'll bring dozens of great old feed, flour and sugar sacks, (both shabby & pristine), hardware and ephemera.  Hope to meet you there!