Friday, July 30, 2010

Kane County Flea Market This Weekend

The van is loaded for the Kane County Flea Market, Saturday 12-5, Sunday 7-3, St Charles, Illinois. We're bringing our usual eclectic assortment of old treasures including this great typing table,

lots of flour sacks like these
and so much more.  We'll be in the Dairy Cattle shed, space 9.  Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Storage, Display, Personality..3 Functional Finds

Things really do come in threes, don't they?  My July finds are all different but have storage & display possibilities in common.

...with apologies for the down 'n dirty garage snapshots...
1.  Just in, this country cupboard.  When I saw a photo of it I knew that it would be the perfect display unit for our "creepy corner" at Junk Bonanza. Since getting it home yesterday I've removed the solid doors and hit it with the sandpaper to expose a bit of the white paint underneath.  Soon I'll cover the toile wallpaper with something more suitable for our use. 

This piece comes with an interesting bit of trivia for the Packer fans among us.  The gal I bought it from is the granddaughter of Lisle Blackbourn, coach of Green Bay Packers from 1954-1957.  He drafted Bart Starr, Paul Hornung and Jerry Kramer, among others.  This cabinet was from the farmhouse that Lisle grew up in.


2. Two nights ago, this great cubby unit called for me to come and get it. 

The brass tags are original and I love the years of use that are visible in each section.


3. This old survivor.  The lower section is really rough and the back has been reinforced with chipboard. I'm pondering just cutting the lower part off so that the drawers can be used on a table; would that be dumb?  
Tomorrow, I'm off on a little road trip and will return just in time for the Kane County Flea Market this weekend. See you there?

Monday, July 26, 2010

Baraboo Antique Flea Market - Part II

I almost didn't go to Baraboo on Saturday;  it's a two-hour drive and we had been having heavy thunderstorms all night. There were dire flash flood warnings for all areas.  At 3:00 a.m. I checked the hour-by-hour forecast for Baraboo and it looked encouraging so I headed out into a downpour at 4:00.  By the time I got there, the skies were clearing and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
 This was just the second or third year for this event so my expectations were low.  It was a great surprise to have sales that were equivalent to a very good day at any of the larger markets where I sell.  Baraboo Old Fashioned Day was a winner and I hope to return next year.
In addition to the flea market on the courthouse lawn, there was a classic car show with vehicles lined up around the square. Live music had everyone tapping their toes and the merchants around the square had sidewalk sales. There was a steady crowd of shoppers all day. Later in the day local businesses competed in "water wars" set up by the fire department.  This was small town charm personified. 
 Lu, from Sadie 'n Stella came by and we had a nice chat.  Lu has space in the Pardeeville Antique Mall. I also met Pardeeville dealers J & L antiques and Jan, (below) who was set up nearby. Her space was filled with great primitives at very reasonable prices.  The Pardeeville mall has loads of quality dealers.
After the show I popped into Oak Street Antiques for a quick peek.  Jen's shop is always filled with interesting finds and her windows are alluring.
Baraboo was the winter home and headquarters of the Ringling Circus.  The locals have done a wonderful job of preserving the historical buildings.  Quaint shops & eateries surround the town square.  It's you are ever nearby, don't miss Baraboo. I can't wait to return!

Baraboo Antique Flea Market - The Shoppers


On Saturday I sold at the Baraboo Antique Flea Market on the square. My space had a good view of the courthouse clock.  The best part of any show is watching the shoppers that come through.  There are always a few, like Louie here, who seem skeptical about everything you tell them.

 Others refuse to make eye contact, no matter how hard you try.

Lizzy was one of those, but eventually she acknowledged my presence.

Then there are the uptown girls, like Tasha, who have the "I'm all that and I know it" attitude. They're just out to show off their cute new outfits & accessories.

The elderly always have interesting stories to share. Dottie was as sweet as my grandma.

Peaches was the kind of gal I'd love to have for a neighbor - friendly, sweet, mellow...

...and last, but not least, the kids. Dragged along, they're just trying to be good long enough for the folks to buy them a treat.  I thought Baby's mom did a great job with her hair - those pigtails were adorable!


 I'd like to extend a special thanks to all of the doggy "parents" that let their pooches pose for me...there was a plethora of cute pets at this show!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Out of "Sorts"? - Not Me! and Today's Vintage

I started on "the big sort" a couple of days ago.  I'm forever buying bags of tiny things, bringing them home and tossing them into storage tubs.  Does anyone else do that?  I rarely pull them out for shows because it seems that when I do, no one looks at them anyway.  With CREATE and Junk Bonanza on the horizon, I figured that it's time to see what's here that would be useful for assemblage and altered art. 

A peek through the door reveals a
The tactile qualities of little objects are appealing to me so I didn't want to put them into zip bags. Instead, I made little square "boxes" out of pretty paper and started sorting.
It was fun to discover a small portion of what's been in storage all this time...
...tiny charms & pins...
 ...keys, small toys, gents items...
 ...paper dolls, specs, seed packets...
...watch & clock parts - I have loads more somewhere, labels & silks...

...and I've just begun.  Over the next month or so I'll be going through all of my storage tubs and pulling things out. Then I'll start on the ephemera - that will be overwhelming!  Once that's all done I'll have to decide what I can part with and what must stay before packing for the shows.  

On another note, I ran across this free newsletter today called Today's Vintage.  I think there's some great info for those of us in the Midwest about what's going on out West in the vintage world.  I found it through a link on a blog that Sassytrash wrote about - The Mermaid's Mercantile. (She was right...it's FUN blog and looks like a "must see" shop if you're ever out that way.)  I learn the best things from reading everyone else's blogs. Check out my list on the right; yes, I really do read and enjoy each one!

Keep on junkin'!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

White Wednesday

...hosted by Faded Charm.  Get on over there and check out all participants.  I've spent the past few hours gathering tiny foundlings for CREATE.  Here are some of the whites currently on the sorting table.
I love this button; it's a keeper.

Mother of Pearl

Carved buttons

Handsome and useful. I love the texture of this string.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday.

Two Shows Just Added - Baraboo and CREATE


BARABOO
 This Saturday, we'll be at the Antique Flea Market in the charming town of Baraboo, Wisconsin.  Fifty dealers will be set up in the shade on the courthouse lawn.  Saturday is the Baraboo Old Fashioned Festival and in addition to the Flea Market, there are sidewalk sales, live music, a car show, a horse show and more.  Jen Blau, owner of the fabulous Oak Street Antiques is sponsoring the show.  I met Jen last year and blogged about her shop; read it here if you missed it.

CREATE
My friend, the talented Candyce of Altered Ever After, recently blogged about CREATE in Chicago, August 25-29. It's a wonderful creative event sponsored by Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Check out the schedule of workshops; I've signed up for "Etched Mystery Window Pendants" and am really looking forward to it. On Friday, Sept 27 from 6-9 p.m., there is an Artists' Faire where artists & suppliers will display and sell their items. With encouragement and assistance from Candyce, Gracie's Cottage has been accepted as a vendor.  My display will be loaded with vintage ephemera, findings, hardware and other elements that can be incorporated into mixed media projects.

Fresh Merchandise In the Door - Weekend Finds

As promised, some of my recent finds...
Vintage garden markers from Amazing Grace Antiques, copper letters from Grannie's Attic and a bowl from another shop in Marshall.  

I love the fan & shell detail on the outside of the bowl

The silhouette of this old store display won me over. I found it at Grannie's Attic.

Old porcelain letters from Grannie's Attic

Plastic charms & beads

Enameled European house numbers

Steel letters from Amazing Grace Antiques

Funny little angels on slalom skis, made in Italy

Tea strainer from "Jane's Furniture"

The gals on this cabinet card look a little mysterious

 
I love this big ol' shabby clock from Grannie's Attic 

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Weekend Shopping - Turkeyville & Marshall, Michigan

For the past week we had the joy of having two of our granddaughters with us. Yesterday, I took them home to Michigan, meeting their Mom partway.  I knew there would be time to shop, so checked around for events in the area. When I found a listing for an "Antique Show & Flea Market" at Turkeyville, it sounded like fun.  Turns out that the only turkey in Turkeyville was ME, for driving 90 minutes out of my way to get there.
Has this ever happened to you? This was pretty much "it".

Fortunately, the town of Marshall was nearby.  There were 4 antique shops and two of them were especially fun.  Amazing Grace Antiques was loaded with treasures on four levels.
I knew I was going to love this shop.
Vintage prom dresses were hung near the ceiling...
 
 ...there were fun vignettes at every turn...
...colors of the sea...
...and girly delights.

Down the street was Grannie's Attic, another large shop loaded with treasures.
There was a huge variety for home & garden.
I saw chippy delights...
 ...cabinets overflowing with china & Ironstone
...all reasonably priced...
 ...and this faboo fireplace mantel.

I'd love to return to these two shops one day, but I definitely won't be stopping at Turkeyville next time!  Next post...recent finds.