Gracie's Cottage

Vintage Valentines

2012-01-30T10:50:00.000-06:00

I've been collecting old Valentines for years. There's no rhyme or reason to my collection; the only criteria is 'vintage' and they span the years from the 1800's forward. Perhaps I collect them because I grew up in the age of 'cruelty', when at school parties everyone stuffed the boxes of the popular kids, and those of us who weren't didn't get many Valentines. Anyone else remember that? (Don't worry, I'm over it!)

Today I opened the smallest case.

It contains a random assortment, from the 1920s forward. The little candy box is German, and one of the earliest I've ever found.

Common little cards charm me most. I love the graphics and the sweet sentiments inside.

This one is early 1930s.

I adore her sailor dress.

Rosy cheeks rule!

The sweetest of all are the home-made cards.

I'll show you some of the more special cards

if we ever get a sunny day more suitable for photos.

In the meantime, have a wonderful Monday!

(I'm off to check out a location to sell my treasures...more about that another time.)

2012-01-26T18:03:00.000-06:00

'I never knew...'

Snow White Heart Post Stud E... TaylorsEclecti... $27.00	White Heart Short Vase, Cera... artlauren $18.00
LOVE: Tiny Pearly White Hear... AcuteDesigns $9.25	Hammered Silver Heart Charm ... RedGiraffeDesi... $18.00
White Heart Eco Felt Ornamen... SweetPB $12.50	Little Paper Hearts allthingswhite $4.00
White heart stained glass sq... BelloGlass $12.00	White Hearts - Paper Confett... FortheHome $12.00
White Heart Earrings, Simple... WildWomanJewel... $21.00	Personalized White Hearts - ... sarahandbendri... $190.00
White Hearts - Happy Valenti... eknuff $25.00	White Heart Appliques MyMothersMothe... $4.00
Valentines day Silver Heart ... DistortedEarth $9.00	Sterling Silver Hearts Earri... toolisjewelry $40.00
Silver Heart Necklace - Pear... LRichardsDesig... $38.00	Red Heart Die Cuts - Valenti... PaperNPeace $2.75

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Do you enjoy making etsy treasuries? I do, but rarely take the time to do it. I found easy directions for adding a treasury to blogger here: Try it!

My Heart Belongs to You - Naturally

2012-01-25T08:55:00.000-06:00

Cleaning my storage, taxes, babysitting, photographing, shipping, crafting, listing...sometimes days go by and I've missed reading your blogs, and posting. It's not because I don't think of you. I could spend the whole day hopping from blog to bog and then jumping over to Pinterest to see what's going on in the world. You all inspire me and when I miss a day, I miss a lot!

So now that the "have-to-do-list" is almost taken care of, I'm trying to follow up more often on all the inspiration floating around out there. Valentine's Day is 'everywhere' and I decided to combine my love for natural materials with a heart shape and this is the result.

'My Heart Belongs to You - Naturally' hearts will be available soon in my etsy shop. I'm just waiting for a sunny day to get some decent photos. In the meantime, I'm off to catch up on some blogs, and link up to White Wednesday over at Faded Charm. Follow me over there!

The Joy of Books

2012-01-17T11:04:00.001-06:00

My love affair with books started in my childhood; I blogged about it, (click here), a couple of years ago. Two summers ago I found this old sign at a flea market, for the princely sum of $2.

Yep, two dollars. It resides on one of those awkward plant niches, 9 feet up, in my living room. Hence the extra-awful photos. (I risked life and limb standing on a bench to try to capture it on this dreary day.) It's one of the few things in my home that will never be for sale. I love it.

It's made of plywood; the flaking paint is 'accented' by the random flowers.

It works well with some of my old leather-bound books. Contrary to what everyone says, I think you can judge a book by it's cover. If it looks good, I love it and could care less what's inside! (Wow, that sounds a little shallow doesn't it? Just so you know, metaphorically speaking, I do subscribe to the "can't judge..." adage when it comes to people!)

I'm linking up with Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday...check it out!

...and if you adore books as much as I do, I know that you will love watching this amazing video.

What's Missing in This Photo?

2012-01-15T15:35:00.001-06:00

After sleeping late on Saturday morning I got up and announced to CG that I wasn't going to leave the house all day. I grabbed a cuppa and my iPad and leisurely started browsing the internet. At 9:20, to my complete and utter horror, I learned that there was an auction, starting at 10:30 a.m., in a neighboring state. The contents of a closed sign business were being sold. AAAAAAAAAAAAwwwwwwwwwwwww - why didn't I know about that? I ran for the shower and was dressed and out the door by 9:40.

I walked into the building just before 11:00 and a quick scan showed boxes and boxes of sign letters, not as old as I'd hoped, but lots of them. By now I'm sure you all know how I feel about letters.

There were also some great old signs, but since I no longer have my van, I really have to consider every purchase that I make, and whether I can easily get it home. I particularly loved this one:

Aside from being big, however, those glass tubes make me very nervous - they break easily, so I wasn't too tempted to bid. I did however manage to load my vehicle to the brim with letters, as well as some great little parts trays. (To the concession guy who confidently stated "you'll never get all that in a Pilot", I'd like to say "yes I did" and didn't even have to use the front seat. Organization is the key!) I dropped most of them at my storage unit on the way home, but will be gradually getting them out and into my etsy store.

So did you figure out what's missing in the photo?

Women! When I go to an industrial-type auction I know that any women in attendance are usually there because they like the same types of things that I do. Now I love my gal pals as much as anyone, but when I'm buying, I'd just as soon not be competing with a whole roomful of like-minded peeps. There were a handful of other ladies in attendance, including the very talented Mary of Urban Farmgirl. I've followed her blog for ages, but don't ever remember officially meeting. It was great to get acquainted a bit.

All in all, I'm glad that my Saturday took an unplanned turn, but wish that I'd done my homework so I'd known what was cominig up! Has this ever happened to you?

White Wednesday - If Rachel Ashwell Met Tim Burton

2012-01-11T08:58:00.001-06:00

Quirky, offbeat, strange things always grab me and I found a doozie at an estate sale on Monday. Kathy was with me and quickly dubbed it "the Tim Burton church". I think she's right, but with a little Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic thrown in!

The sale was in an old Milwaukee home. The lady had been a cake decorator and I suppose that this had been created as part of a beautiful Christmas display at some point.

Trees made of netting with garlands of icing...

..."frosted" branches backed by angel hair...

...caroling angels...it's all there.

It had been stored in the decrepit attic. There are bits of shingles, nails, plastic, and lots of dust on it.

I'm still debating whether to clean it up or leave it and use it in a Halloween display. What would you do?

It makes me smile, and for now it's a keeper.

Have you found anything lately that brings a smile?

I'm linking up with Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday... go check it out!
Laura from B&B's Nest featured our Grayslake booth on her blog today. You can see it here. Thanks Laura - it's always fun to see you!

Grayslake Antique Flea Market

2012-01-07T21:29:00.000-06:00

Day one is over, and it was a fantastic day, thanks to so many of you who came out and shopped on this beautiful day! Don't worry, though, if you didn't get there today; the show goes on from 8-3 on tomorrow, (Sunday).

Look who I caught sharing the joy of junk! It's Diane Passi and Jeanine (ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!). Both have beautiful spaces this weekend, as usual.

There was a most unfortunate incident when I unloaded for the show last night. I opened the back of my vehicle and five beautifully aged clay pots jumped out.

Did you know that clay pots don't have a clue about "stop, drop & roll". They got the "drop" part right, followed immediately by "shatter". Instead of being lovely containers for a bit of greenery, they became 'filler' for a planter box. Ya saw it here first, folks. I suspect that before you know it, Pottery Barn will be showcasing "shattered pots" in the catalog. If they do, do not, I repeat, do not purchase them. Give me a holler and I'll set up a little tutorial so you can make your own. On that happy note, I'm dragging my sleep-deprived self to bed.

Come on out to Grayslake...we'd love to see you!

Grayslake Antique Flea Market This Weekend! Half Price Admission.

2012-01-06T11:25:00.003-06:00

We couldn't ask for a better weather forecast for the Grayslake Antique Market this weekend in Grayslake, Illinois. 40's in January? Never happens! It's a perfect weekend to get out and have some fun. Thanks to Zurko Promotions you'll get half price admission during regular hours if you print out this post and bring it along.

Here's a little peek at some of the things you'll find in our booth.

This old square "bucket" has the most marvelous "make-do" repair. Giant light bulbs make great offbeat gifts for the one who lights up your life.

You'll see Valentines by the gazillions.

Trophies from Monaco, France, St. Moritz....

Brushes

A table filled with ephemera for your projects.

...and, of course, our signature "Fixin's Bar" filled with schnibbles and bits to inspire the artist in you.

We probably won't get another blog post up, but we'll try to post updates on our Facebook page - click here.

Other purveyors of marvelous things will be at Grayslake including Altered Ever After, Diane Passi, Rhubarb Reign, and ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! We'd all love to see you so print this post off and be sure to say "hi" when you come thru!

Behind Closed Doors

2012-01-04T07:45:00.000-06:00

When I spotted this little cabinet I was attracted to original finish, beautifully 'alligatored'.

Of course I couldn't wait to open the doors. I was expecting to find shelves, but it was better than that.

An old lab kit! The top tray holds old microscope instructions.

Next up, a tray fitted for bottles, ....and dust. (I never want to disturb authentic layers of age. You don't find dust like that on "made in China" goods!)

There are four slide trays on the bottom; aren't they cool?

I'll confess that I didn't know much, (anything), about ostracods. I now know that "a feature that distinguishes an ostracod from other crustaceans is the carapace that encloses the body". Awesome!

It would appear that the best pine cells come from Germany...

...but the best household pest specimens can be found right there in Chicago. Who knew?
Bring your microscope and come on out to Grayslake this weekend to see for yourself!

I Adore My New Drawers

2012-01-01T22:37:00.000-06:00

Just look!

A small vintage industrial flat file, perfect for storing ephemera.

Perfectly worn, chippy, shabby...

...in a soft aqua

This dreamy file was a gift from my junksista, Kathy.

I love it!

(The old paper mache store display torso is a recent find

I think she looks pretty happy perched on the drawers. Kathy suggested that
she could use a 'foundation garmet', perhaps made of shells - do you agree?)

Did you get a gift that you adore?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T17:11:00.000-06:00

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth

-Martin Luther-

Happy New Year to you, dear friends!

White Christmas...Not Much!

2011-12-22T12:14:00.003-06:00

Growing up in California, I always dreamed of having a white Christmas. After decades of Wisconsin Christmases, I still love snow in December. After that - not.so.much.! It appears that this year we will have a Christmas of gray skies and sorta-green grass. Maybe that's why I've had a hard time getting into the groove this year.

I didn't get my entire snowman collection out, but did manage to pop a couple of the little guys into the antique apothecary jars in my kitchen, along with some tiny brush trees. (In a fit of craftiness that shocked me, CJ took the little trees out and made card-stock bases for them so they would stand up better in the jars. Will wonders never cease?!!!)

...and speaking of California, my dear sister-in-law, Jan, helped my 87 year old Mom put up her tree last week, and texted pics to me all during the process. Mom wasn't going to put a tree up this year either; "it's too much work". I'm blessed to have such a caring s-i-l who is always there for her when I can't be. Here's Mom with her tree:

By the way, our 25%-off-everything-in-our-shop-sale continues through today! Use the code 25off at checkout to receive your discount!

I'm linking up with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday. Follow me over there. You are going to love it!

Shopping Columbus & Pardeeville...and a Big Sale!

2011-12-17T08:58:00.000-06:00

First of all, the big sale! 25% off everything at Gracie's Cottage on etsy. Simply enter the coupon code 25off at checkout to save on everything in the shop. This includes our huge numbers and letters section, ephemera, antiques, fun finds..everything!

Now for the shopping report!

This week I had a chance to go on a fun excursion with my friend Pamm from Fresh Eggs Antiques. Check out Pamm's etsy shop - I love her style. And while you're at it follow her blog. (Pamm needs to blog about her home; she's transformed a suburban home into a wonderful "cottage". Show us some pictures, Pamm!)

We spent several hours exploring the Columbus Antique Mall in Columbus, Wisconsin. As their site says, it's

Wisconsin's Largest Antique Mall "Where dealers shop for their merchandise."
Over 82,000 square feet of antiques displayed and sold by 222 of Wisconsin's finest dealers in 444 booths in 18 rooms.
Open Everyday 8:15 am - 4 pm

Don't you love those hours?
The majority of dealers at Columbus don't stage their booths; merchandise is packed on shelves. There are some that do a great job of showing off their goods, like the owners of the booths pictured above. Prices at Columbus tend to be very reasonable; a reward for the fact that you have to do some digging to unearth the treasures.

After a quick lunch, Pamm drove us over to the Pardeeville Antique Mall , where we immediately fell in love with the greeter. Meet "Sully".

Look at those eyes; they look straight into your soul and grab your heart.

Pardeeville is about 10,000 sf of pure shopping bliss.

Each dealer stages their room-like booth in their particular style.

There are no messy shelves, no rummage sale lefttovers...it's all 'good'!

This shopping cart was a bit beyond my budget, but oh I loved it!

And what little cowpoke wouldn't look adorable in this shirt?

At the risk of dating myself, I remember watching Roy Rogers!

If you need a "shopping day" like I did, head on over to Pardeeville or Columbus. You are going to have a swell time - I promise!

Repurposed Artist Palette Chalkboard Tutorial

2011-12-10T10:01:00.000-06:00

This project couldn't be any simpler, (I'm almost embarrassed to call it a "tutorial"!)

I took a used vintage palette,

Coated one side with chalk paint and lightly distressed the edges.

It couldn't be any simpler!

This would be a great gift for your favorite artist.

(This palette is currently available in my etsy shop.)

Speaking of etsy, everything is 15% off this weekend when you use the code

tistheseason

at checkout!

And...we'll be listing great new things this weekend.

We'll announce the new stuff on our Facebook page first.

Click here.

I'm linking up to Get Schooled Saturday - check it out!

The Best Christmas Tree Ever

2011-12-08T00:32:00.001-06:00

A couple of my friends have decided not to put up a Christmas tree this year. Having worked in retail for many years, I totally understand. Fifteen years of dealing with customers and deadlines and shipping and 60 hour work weeks turned me into a Christmas-hating Scrooge each December. But while my boys were growing up, I tried to put on a happy face at home and put a tree up. Here's why:

I was in 4th grade. Christmas was approaching and Mom had declared that we weren't going to have a tree. I don't know why. She's always been kind of a no-nonsense mother. Looking back, I imagine that she was just plain tired. (Mom was a nurse. She worked full time because she had to. Dad didn't earn enough to pay all the bills.)

On Christmas Eve, while the folks were at work, my brother and I got out the Christmas lights and began stringing them down the lamp pole.

We put the gifts we'd made at school at the base of the lamp and plugged in the lights. It wasn't as good as a real tree, but we were rather proud of it. We couldn't wait to show Mom!

When she saw our "tree", it must have touched her heart, for she decided that we'd go right down to Halsey's tree lot and get a real Christmas tree.

I couldn't wait to choose the perfect tree.

It didn't occur to my young self that at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, there might not be much of a selection. We pulled up to find an empty lot. Empty. No rows of perfect trees. No trees at all. I'm sure we looked pitiful, because Mr. Halsey pulled a half tree off his scrap pile. Not half as in "short". Half as in "branches on one side only..."

We hauled the pitiful tree home and put it up in the corner. By the time it was lit and decorated, why, you couldn't even tell that it was barely half a tree. It was marvelous.

I have no idea what presents I unwrapped that night, but I'll never forget the most beautiful tree ever.

***(Sadly, I don't have any photos from that Christmas...please excuse me and the Penultimate app for a feeble attempt at illustrating this post.)

A Love Token for Christmas...-and, anyone near Schaumburg?

2011-12-06T00:55:00.003-06:00

Remember the love token collection I posted about earlier this year? (Click here to read the original post.)
I hadn't found any of these romantic coins until last week when one very special token appeared.

Love tokens typically have one side that was filed down so that they could be embellished with initials.
This one had both sides filed down...

...so that the occasion could be noted. "Xmas '90". That would be 1890. While I'm not a fan of "Xmas", I can certainly understand how it would be difficult to include "Christmas" on the surface of a dime!

(Sad isn't it, that the only Christmas photo I can show you is this beautiful old token. There is nothing else in my home yet to indicate that the season is here! Pathetic! The past two weekends included out of state trips for family events and my weekdays are just flying by. Tomorrow has been designated for a long awaited trip to Ikea. I'm up after midnight because the refrigerator is howling like a banshee and I've just transferred everything that matters down to my little freezer...just in case it gives up the ghost tonight. I suppose Christmas will come whether my home is looking lovely or not; it wouldn't be the first time!)
:)

I'm linking up with Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday because, my goodness, there isn't much that's thriftier than was the 19th Century gent that turned a humble dime into a beautiful token of love.

(Remaining love tokens are available in my etsy shop.

The Fleabags Are Back

2011-12-01T23:17:00.000-06:00

Just in time for the holidays, we've re-stocked our etsy shop with The Great American Fleabag.

Made in Wisconsin from vintage American grain sacks, fleabags make terrific gifts.

The last ones we made sold out quickly, so shop now for the best selection.

Click here to be taken directly to Gracie's Cottage on etsy!

A Little Road Trip

2011-11-29T09:58:00.006-06:00

I hope that each of you enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving. Ours was a bit unusual. We left at 5 a.m. on Thursday and drove 10 hours to Knoxville. (CG's Dad lives there and had just been moved from a hospital to a nursing home.) Not knowing what we'd find open along the way, I'd made sandwiches; turkey and cranberry sauce on cranberry-walnut bread. Delicious.

The weather was just beautiful. Rather than fighting crowds and spending ourselves silly on Black Friday, we spent the afternoon touring the historic Mabry-Hazen house with CG's brother and his wife.

The home was occupied by the same family from 1858-1987 and nearly all of the furnishings are original to the home. Since we were the only ones there, we enjoyed a private tour from the museum director.

The Mabry Hazen house served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate forces at times during the Civil War.

Flash photography is not allowed, but my little Canon soldiered on as I tried to capture the beautiful details of this home.

This day was a gift; a tranquil afternoon in the midst of uncertain happenings. Sixty-seven degrees of sunshine hugs, (over twice today's temp here), to be remembered during the long cold days ahead.

The rest of the photos of this glorious home are posted on my Facebook page.

I'm linking up with Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. Follow me there to see all the fun posts!

Countdown Is Over - Cyber Monday Sale Has Started!

2011-11-27T18:06:00.000-06:00

3-2-1

Countdown is over and our Cyber Monday Sale has started.

Simply enter the code

cyber20

at checkout to receive 20% off everything in our

our etsy shop.

Sorry - does not apply to prior purchases.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T18:31:00.000-06:00

I wish each of you a joyful day of Thanksgiving!

Thankful...

For my hubster

my Mom

my two sons and their wives, (my "daughters")

five grandkids

good health

wonderful friends

those who serve to keep us safe

for those who write the blogs that inspire me

and for those who read my musings

my customers

my dealer buddies

and most of all

thankful to be

...FORGIVEN

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Annie SloanThing Has Gone Waaaaaay Too Far

2011-11-20T19:34:00.001-06:00

I know it covers everything, but it's really time to put the brushes down and leave the deer alone!

(Photo from jsonline and this article gives all the details - click here)

Is Four Years Too Long to Wait for Annie Sloan?

2011-11-17T20:00:00.003-06:00

Well, if I'm being honest, I'd never heard of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, (ASCP), four years ago when I bought this little wicker desk. Ive been meaning to cover the horrid avocado paint ever since. The desk was just the right size for my tiny sunroom/studio/office and has provided a hospitable home to my laptop. But really, this room needs to be pulled together. Someday I'll show you the before & after of the entire room, as soon as there is an "after". The walls are a soft green and my vision has always been to have this room furnished in a mix of the calming greens & blues of the sea.

Enter ASCP in Duck Egg

I carried the desk into the kitchen and started painting it this morning.

This paint thickens up quickly once opened. I found it helpful to have two brushes handy. One in use and a second one "on deck" for when the first one started to stiffen up a bit. I also found that covering most of the open can with Glad Press'nSeal really slowed down the thickening process. I left an opening just large enough to slip the brush in easily.

Painting the wicker was interesting; I soon learned that a circular motion with the brush worked best. If I was doing it again I might pull out a stencil brush to use. Here's the desk after the first coat.

The second coat is on and looking good, but it's too dark for pics at the moment. I've got ASCP wax on order and can't wait to finish it up..stay tuned, or check our Facebook page for updates!

Linking:
Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday

French Country Cottage Feather Your Nest Friday

At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

Estate Sale Finds

2011-11-17T08:21:00.000-06:00

Last Friday I was up at 4:00 to attend an estate sale here...

Getting up early isn't my favorite thing to do, but I knew that this sale would be worth it. As Time Goes By Estate Sales is owned by my friends Pam & John. Pam's son Cody and my pal Margaret are among their very knowledgeable staff. These guys spent weeks at this home, cleaning, sorting, organizing and pricing the multitudes of merchandise. There was high-end silver, early furniture, fine glassware, homespun fabrics, ephemera of every kind, tables full of old hardware....

I'm still sorting through my finds; here are a few of my favorites:

If it's got letters & numbers you know I love it. This box is divided inside for holding type.

An almanac...nearly 200 years old

Blanks...lots of possibilities for these!

Pages & pages of calligraphy and pen work samples

Unusual keys

1860's checks

Great advertising piece

Putz stable, complete with horses

...and more

To see more from this sale & elsewhere, check out the album "November Finds" on my Facebook page.

First Chalk Paint Project

2011-11-09T08:45:00.000-06:00

It's as solid as a rock and was obviously built by a skilled craftsman. I found this great old spice box at a barn sale as I was on the way to Carter's Cottage on Saturday. The original finish was a mess. It looked like someone had started to sand it down for refinishing.

I've been looking for a piece like this; a handy place to keep all of my phone, iPad and camera chargers. I dove right into my ASCP Old White and got it going.

It didn't look that great after the first coat...

By the time the second coat had dried, it was looking much better.

No, it's not purple-y. (We are in the midst of charcoal-grey days...this photo and the next were nearly impossible to get at all.) The one big mistake I made was painting the inside of the cabinet and all of the outside edges of the drawers. I should have known better; the drawers would not fit back in. Thank heavens for my mouse sander. I can testify to the fact that if you ever need to remove ASCP, it can be done with a sander. I went through three sanding pads, but finally got the paint off and the drawers to fit back in place.

I'm not entirely happy with my distressing and may ultimately put on another coat of paint and try again. For now there's one more little thing to finish. I'm going to drill holes in the back of the frame and in the back of the third drawer so that I can thread my charger cords through and plug them into the wall. My little 'charging station' is nearly complete. It's true what I've been hearing; no prep before painting and easy cleanup. I used a standard paste wax to coat this project but am looking forward to trying the ASCP waxes when they are back in stock. I'm ready to tackle the next project!

Now let's all go over to Faded Charm for the 125th edition White Wednesday; (Congrats Kathleen on a great linky party!) I for one am looking for some happy whiteness to brighten this gloomy day!

Saturday Road Trip - Carter's Cottage & The Primitive Chic

2011-11-07T23:14:00.000-06:00

Before going to the Kane County Flea Market on Saturday, I traveled two hours to get to Carter's Cottage in Dekalb, Illinois. I was on a mission to pick up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Many of you have been on the ASCP bandwagon for months; I haven't had a moment to try it out until now. No one in Wisconsin sells the magical paint, hence my road trip.

Carter's Cottage is a delightful little shop featuring beautiful vignettes, many including pieces that have been painted with ASCP. It was wonderful to see all the colors in person.

Pam was working on Saturday and was so helpful and informative. Old White and Duck Egg Blue are the colors I chose to try first. (The waxes are currently out of stock so I wasn't able to pick those up.) Today I started my first little "test drive" of the paint. You can watch my progress on my Facebook page.

After leaving Carter's Cottage I stepped into a shop next door, The Primitive Chic. True to it's name, it was filled with honest old prims.

It's a multi-dealer shop and loaded with a nice variety.

In one room, my attention was captured by a sweet old prairie dress. The dealer that it belongs to, Jane M., happened to be working on Saturday. As we were discussing the dress, it dawned on me that it was displayed on an early dress form. Jane was sweet enough to dismantle the display so that I could see "her".

You've probably already guessed that I was captivated by it's charm. Jane quoted me a very special price and I was able to bring her home. (Thanks Jane!)

She's got the cutest shape, and is a nice complement to my other old gal.

Looks like they will be BFFs!

If you ever get to Dekalb, don't miss an opportunity to visit Carter's Cottage and The Primitive Chic

I'm linking up with Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. Let's all go see what other great finds surfaced this weekend!

Shopping the Kane County Flea Market

2011-11-06T22:10:00.000-06:00

A beautiful, warm, sunny day in November is a bonus, never to be taken for granted. I decided Saturday morning that there was no reason to stay home, so pointed South and ended the day at the Kane County Flea Market. I didn't purchase much, but had a great time visiting with friends that were selling. It was a who's who of my favorite creative people. I saw Jill, Altered Ever After, with her fabulous jewelry. (Her talented Mom wasn't with her...missed you Candyce!). Mark, (Room 363) and Traci, (Whimsy) lit up the Sheep Barn with Christmas inspiration. Janice had a fabulous display there, too.

The Robinson building was loaded with fantastic finds from the likes of Joe & Sandy, (Rhubarb Reign), Diane Landry, Judy & Anita, (Iowa Junk Gypsies), Rosemary, (Villa Barnes), Michelle O, and Diane Passi. (I thought I was being sneaky getting loads of pictures of Diane's booth when she'd stepped away; sadly only one turned out.)

Enjoy the photos - (you can click to enlarge), and see my Facebook page for some random shots of the market.

My Glamorous Life

2011-11-01T23:14:00.004-05:00

I love leaving the house in the morning and finding the most delicious vintage items.

Why, it's practically effortless! Wherever I'm going, I walk right in...

...pick up the best stuff and head home.

I wish. It's not quite that simple. Surprised? Sometimes you dig through piles of c-r-a-p-o-l-a, hoping that a rat isn't going to scurry by, haggle with someone that wants to charge you high-end shop prices for the dirtiest little treasures and head home, praying all the way that you haven't been exposed to some deadly virus in the dirty air.

I had just such an experience last week. Most of the estate sale companies in our area are reputable. They clean the homes, organize the merchandise and charge reasonable prices. There is one that doesn't. I usually avoid their sales like the plague, but Kathy called and said it might be worth digging. I unearthed a few things.

A bunch of vintage Daisy BBs

Boxing gloves

Cool old pie pans

Nice early funnels

Tole till tray

Primitive cutting board

A friendly pig

Letter sweater J

Awesome parts drawers

A pile of interesting industrial signs

Sweet little books

..and my favorite, a tiny Victorian powder box

It's less than 2" long; I'm not sure if it was a sample or for a fancy doll...(what do you think?) Sometimes it's worth digging!

I'm linking up with Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, because, well, it's still Tuesday in some parts! :) And you should head over there and check out all the gals that have linked up this week...fun!

Road Trip - Upper Mississippi

2011-10-29T21:51:00.001-05:00

With a beautiful October Saturday on deck, CG and I made a last-minute decision to take a little road trip to the upper Mississippi river, and headed out last night. We spent today touring the little towns on both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides of the river. Peak color is past, but there were still spots of brilliance here and there.


We arrived at one of the locks just as a barge was going through.


The Nelson Creamery was our lunch stop. This former cheese factory now serves the best sandwiches...and ice cream!


You can also buy hundreds of varieties of our delicious Wisconsin cheese.


The sense of history in the old towns is palpable.


You can borrow a bike in Stockholm...


We stopped at a few antiques shops; honestly, none were very exciting...but you never know!


We're spending the night above a storefront on the river...tomorrow we head home.

Did you do something fun this weekend?

Down the Rabbit Hole - A Visit to Simply Iowa

2011-10-26T23:13:00.001-05:00

I left early on Saturday for Cedar Rapids so that I could make a stop at Barb's place, (Simply Iowa). Barb's shop, known as "The Rabbit Hole" did not disappoint. Barb has a heart that is bigger than the vast acres of Iowa cornfields. She feels the history of each old piece that comes to her, and finds a place for each one. The cozy shop is packed tightly from floor to ceiling, with little trails leading from section to section.

There are honest old survivors at every turn. I was awed by the soulful collections, and in looking at the photos now I'm noticing things that I don't even recall seeing! Enjoy the tour, and don't forget to click on the pics to enlarge them!

A big thanks to Barb for taking the time to visit with me on a busy day. (Barb's dear friend Peg is struggling with some health issues right now and many are praying for Peg. Watch Barb's blog for updates.)

Collector's Eye - Iowa

2011-10-24T04:59:00.002-05:00

Collector's Eye and the Midwest Antique & Art Show occur together twice a year in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Midwest Antique Show showcases high-end dealers with museum quality primitives, art, advertising and furniture. My favorite sightings included some amazing trade signs. Wish I'd had a chance to get some photos.

The Collector's Eye is a more casual show, featuring a nice variety of mostly traditional antiques and collectibles. Mid-Century and Industrial items were spotted here and there but not in large quantities.

Things were hopping as the show opened, and slowed down in the afternoon. It was 70 degrees and sunny; I imagine that contributed to the quiet afternoon in a big way. Ginger and Garth stopped by and it was great to see them. (We met when I did the Mount Vernon show last year and they saved my bacon several times that weekend!)

Following are random unedited pics from our booth. Kathy and I are still in Iowa and looking forward to shopping our way home today...watch for a report later in the week. (Next post I'll tell you about my visit to the fascinating "Rabbit Hole" at Simply Iowa.)

Thanks to everyone that visited us at Collector's Eye!

Everything From Kitsch to Americana - Collector's Eye Show - Preview Part 2

2011-10-21T10:43:00.001-05:00

"Sam" will be the official greeter in our booth at the Collector's Eye Show in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday. He's seven feet tall and a wonderful example of vintage Americana. (I think I shared the story previously of my three year old granddaughter walking in and seeing him, "Jesus!" she said. We told her he was "Uncle Sam" and for the rest of her visit she referred to him as "Sam", "Jesus" or "Sam-Jesus". On her most recent visit she had his name right "Sam", "not Jesus...cause Jesus is God".

Sam's message this weekend: "buy American"....or better yet, "buy VINTAGE American goods".

Of course it wouldn't be right to have only serious merchandise in our booth...that's not how the sun shines in our world. There's gotta be room for a little silly fun. How about this mid-century doll sofa? It's got a little secret!

It's a hide-a-bed, suitable for a mid-size doll. (Or five friendly couples.) Is that not fun? We think so, and so it's headed to Iowa as well.

Serious antiques, kitschy fun and everything in between...come see us in BOOTH #18!

Collector's Eye Show - Preview Part 1: Ephemera

2011-10-20T07:22:00.001-05:00

Sunday: Collector's Eye Show in Cedar Rapids Iowa. I've heard great things about this show but have never attended as a buyer or a seller. I'm bringing a wide range of fun stuff including goodies from my huge stash of ephemera. Here's a small sampling:

Luggage labels

Never opened 1960s flashcards

Early instructional books and 1860s hand-colored prints

Menus, Victorian trade cards, photos

1860s copperplate maps

Foreign books

Sewing cards

French ephemera, 1850's - 1960's

Beatuiful paper from every era.

Will we see YOU at Collector's Eye? Hope so!

P.S. One of the things I'm looking forward to is shopping on the way home on Monday - if you have any great suggestions for me in a generally E/SE direction from Cedar Rapids, please sing out!

Debra at Common Ground hosts Vintage Inspiration Friday....we're linked - now let's all go check out all the participants, shall we?
:)

All Keyed Up

2011-10-19T11:11:00.000-05:00

Can you pass up a pile of keys?

I can't....I've got boxes of the little gippers. Car keys, lock keys, luggage keys, skeleton keys...

If I find them at a reasonable price I'll buy 'em.

It's not like I have plans for them.

Out of the hundreds of keys I've had over the years, maybe 10 have actually been used in projects. I think I just like to dig through them and admire the shapes. In a bit of an un-hoarding effort, I've listed some in my etsy shop.

Is there something you keep buying, even though you don't need one more?

I'm linking up with Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday, cause hey, some of my keys are "white metal"! :) You really need to go check out all of the posts featuring wonderful whiteness - follow me, I'm headed there now!

Mini Vacation...Mini Notebooks

2011-10-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

We recently spent several days enjoying this view in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin.

I think this is why God has never given me a home with a view like this; He knows I'd spend way too much time gazing out the window! I spent hours soaking it in, hiding the colors away to pull out on the gray days ahead.

Door County was really hopping. October is the last big hurrah before the county rests and recovers from hoards of visitors. We spent one day doing the 'touristy' thing, shopping, eating, visiting orchards, shopping... It's always a treat to visit Angie at Viva La Cottage. She and Carol and the rest of her staff create the most beautiful vignettes throughout the store. (Viva is closed this week for the seasonal changeover and when it re-opens I just know it's going to be swoony! Watch her Facebook page for pics next week!)

Back at the rental with our friends, the guys watched football and Cyndi and I worked on the projects we'd brought along. I couldn't wait to try out my new toy:

The Zutter Bind-It-All. This machine has been around for awhile, and in fact there's a new pink model out, but this is the only one I could find locally on the day that I decided I had to have one. Besides, it fits right into my favorite color family. I started with a stash of old bus passes and paper cut to size

...and ended up with these sweet little notebooks.

About the size of a business card, they're just the right size for jotting down a name or a phone number.

The graphics, (numbers...of course!), are fab and no two are alike.

The minis are available in the letters & numbers section of my etsy shop. You will save 15% off anything in my shop from now until the end of the month, by entering the code:
gracie15
at checkout.

We're linking up with Capers of the Vintage Vixens for Blogger's Bodega...check it out!

Letters & Numbers ...It's Been Awhile!

2011-10-12T10:30:00.001-05:00

You know we love our letters and numbers. Sadly, not many have found their way to my outstretched arms lately! Thanks to Hippie Tom I did get some BIG 24" gas station numbers last week that are de-lish-us!

And...my pal Margaret - Lady Liberty's Treasure Chest, found a few big 12" white letters for me recently. Thanks Margaret!

Both types have been added to the popular Letters & Numbers section of our etsy shop. Check it out!

We're linking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday; you'll be inspired by all the delightful posts you'll find there!

Revisiting Serendipity Farm - Hippie Tom Has a Sale

2011-10-09T23:56:00.001-05:00

Down the road and around the bend is Serendipity Farm, the home of 'Hippie Tom' and his wife, Sharon. Tom was featured in the best American Pickers episode ever, IMHO, and no, he wasn't playing to the camera...he was just being himself.

Several times a year Serendipity Farm is open to the public and visitors roam the grounds and pick their way through the many outbuildings. It's more fun than a day at the fair! Most of the buildings were built by Tom, using reclaimed materials. My favorite is the 'church'.

Quirky little details abound everywhere.

Why do you suppose there is an "off-on" sign above this window?

The greenhouse seems like it would be an especially happy place to be in winter, although the only things growing inside are piles of 'stuff'.

The buildings are filled. Let me rephrase that. The buildings are stuffed. Random things...pushed in upon arrival. Precarious piles from the floors to the rafters.

This bit of 'organization' in one building is rare. Love the cubby!

You'll find anything you can imagine, from primitive to pretty.

Outside, similar items are grouped together. How many ladders do you need?

Bowling anyone?

Shopping is a bit of a challenge because items haven't been priced. Tom has helpers, but he's the only one that can give you a price. Gather anything you have an interest in, put it in a pile and wait for Tom. It might be a long wait. (He loves to carry things out to the car for his buyers, so he's frequently away from 'ground zero'. And since appearing on American Pickers, he's got legions of fans that love to chat with him.)

I loved this cheese-box drawer unit, but it was too spendy for me.

I did come away with some fun finds including this chippy blue industrial bin...

...an old 10-yard line marker from a football field

...a shabbyfunalicious pink sign and a stack of other goodies.

Coming up with a mutually agreeable price is always interesting. Tom truly loves old stuff and I think he secretly hates to part with anything. He named the price that he wanted for my pile of treasures. (Tom's eyes twinkle like Santa's and you almost want to pay the asking price without negotiating. Almost.) I named the price that I was willing to pay. We were a little ways apart. Tom pondered for a long moment and asked, "Could you go any higher than ---?" I said "sure" and named a figure $1 higher than my first offer. He laughed, said "okay", we shook hands and the deal was done.

**Tom will be making another appearance on American Pickers on November 28th. In the meantime, you can find him on Facebook here.

All text and images copyright Gracie's Cottage and may not be used without permission.

Grayslake Antique Flea Market Tomorrow! Half Price Admission.

2011-10-07T12:29:00.000-05:00

Whoa...here we go, bein' spontaneous again! After a busy week filled with family stuff, a very fun visit from our 3 year old granddaughter and two days of driving, (to return her to her family and get myself back home), things should be slowing down a bit. But not just yet! The weather here is PERFECT with sunny skies and high 70's. I've decided to sell OUTSIDE tomorrow at the Grayslake Antique Market. Print this post and bring it along for half-price admission.

Kathy is coming along too, and we'll be in the mood to bargain since the show season is nearly over for this year. Anything that we've had for awhile is fair game for playing 'let's make a deal'! Additionally, we've got some things you haven't seen before, including some goodies I picked up from "Hippie Tom" just this morning. (More on that next post.)

We'll post some Grayslake preview pics on our facebook page later this evening. If there's anything you're looking for, let me know and I'll bring it along if I have it!

Thanks For a Great Season at Elkhorn!

2011-09-26T10:57:00.001-05:00

Forgot to take my camera to Elkhorn during setup on Saturday. Forgot to take my camera to Elkhorn on Sunday. Sheesh! No pics..sorry. I did make some altered spool photo holders just before heading out, and most of them sold. I believe most of them are headed for Japan. (There was a bit of a language barrier but we got the deal done.) It was a wonderful 2011 season at Elkhorn and I want to thank each of you that shopped our booth. YOU are the best and we appreciate you, old friends and new!

There was some amazin' stuff out on the grounds at Elkhorn yesterday and our buds that set up outside really had to fight the weather to sell. Pouring rain followed by sunshine, followed by sideways rain, followed by clouds, followed by showers, followed by clear skies, followed by downpours of Biblical proportions....(repeat)...we were happy to be inside where we only had to contend with one leak in the roof. CHiPPy!-SHabbY! Jeanine, Margaret from Lady Libertys and Diane Passi had amazing stuff and I hope the buyers didn't let the weather deter them. (I know there were other friends outside but I didn't get to see them.)

There's never much time for me to shop at Elkhorn, but I did make one fun purchase from a neighboring dealer.

A bag of scroll-cut name pins. These are old-timey...check out the names!

Aren't they the cutest?

They'll be appearing in my etsy shop soon.

In the meantime, thanks again Elkhorn shoppers!

(Our next scheduled show is Collectors Eye in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, October 23rd.)

Signed,

Yep, that's the name my Mom gave me...

(...and she's the only one allowed to call me that!)

I'm linking up with Linda over at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday . Check out all the fun posts over there!

Don't Forget Elkhorn This Sunday!

2011-09-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

Come to Elkhorn and dig for fun finds!!

The Elkhorn Antique Flea Market in Elkhorn, Wisconsin is one of the best in the Midwest...no Beanie Babies, tube socks or school supplies. Just 400-500 dealers of the best vintage around. It's an easy drive from Chicago, Milwaukee or Madison. It opens at 7 a.m. this Sunday, although early buyers can enter for $25 on Saturday afternoon. And don't worry if the showers come...there are plenty of buildings to take shelter in, (& shop!) . You'll find us in our usual location, space 29, in the Small Animal Building. We don't stage our booth...we stuff it with hundreds of great finds for you.

Shopping wasn't on my schedule this week, but I did trek out to a couple of fun sales and came home with some unique items for Elkhorn and Etsy.

I bought this for the letters, but it's such a cute, complete set that I don't have the heart to break it up without giving it a chance complete!


Feeling smart?


This 1940's IQ test will let you know if you are or not!

Over 2" thick, this catalog of typefaces will make you swoon!


fabulous fonts


and more!


These c1914 paper dolls are as charming as can be.

Call a shopping buddy and make plans to attend the last Elkhorn Antique Flea Market of the season.

See you there!

Watch our Facebook page for updates.

Got Staff?

2011-09-20T22:07:00.001-05:00

Some days I wish I had household staff.

They would be quiet, efficient and attend to my every need.

My laundry would be done and each morning my clothes would be laid out for me.

There would be someone charged only with planning menus, shopping, cooking & serving.

The newest member of my staff would be assigned to cleaning. She'd be a natural, keeping the house spotless. Yep, my household would run like a well-oiled machine... if I had a staff. Would you like to have household staff? (The professional ladies above are currently available in my etsy shop)

I'm linking up with Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday. Check out this wonderful linky party!

Junk Bonanza...Rockin' Shakopee!

2011-09-20T08:55:00.002-05:00

'Early birds' on opening day waiting to get in

Wow. What an amazing show. Ki & her terrific staff know how to throw a show! We loved our location this year, in the entrance tent. It was light, traffic couldn't miss us and the 'neighbors' were so fun! We were near Janis of Dime Store Vintage and Lori from Round Barn Potting Company. (I've been following her for-ever; it was great to finally meet!) These gals are the best! On the other side were Marge & her hubby from Hahler Windmill Antiques. Across the way were Cindy and Michelle from Iris and Ivy, rockin' the ruffles they added to their Junk Bonanza t-shirts. Cute! I'm ashamed to say that I don't have photos of any of this, or any of the other amazing vendors that filled Canterbury Park. I barely managed to snap some blurry pics of our space; most are from day three, when loads of stuff was gone.


"Miss Fruit of the Loom" appeared with Ki on a local TV spot on opening morning. She went home with a happy collector later that day.

Meeting Teresa from The Porch & Atelier was a special moment - love her stuff!

Linda and Liana from Itsy Bits & Pieces came by and I'm so bummed that we didn't get a photo. They have the best goodies. We missed meeting last year; I'm so glad we finally connected. We saw so many other great folks and I'm sure to miss a lot if I name names, but I'm gonna toss out a few that come to mind anyway. Texas was in the house all three days...Margo is a field editor for Flea Market Style magazine and a junker extraodanaire. Check out her blog here. Kari from Meadowview farm has a barn sale coming up; would love to go if we weren't elsewhere that weekend. We saw Terri who we see regularly at Elkhorn, Kim from Antiques Iowa and the cutest Mother/D-I-L pair, Lisa and Sara from Junque Factory. Laura from B&B's Nest was an early bird - (who would have guessed?)

I know I'm missing so many of you that took the time to say 'hi'...I truly want to thank each of you that shopped our booth...you're the best!

Thank You Junk Bonanza Shoppers!

2011-09-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

You were:

sweet

impulsive

not impulsive

patient

imaginative

organized

new to junk

young or not young

informative

local

cute

charming

from far away

kind

an experienced junker

hilariously funny

...and did I mention patient?

We appreciate each one that stopped by our booth...THANK YOU!
(More on Junk Bonanza next post...we got back late last night and my brain is 'mush' today! We'll add some pics to our facebook page later today.

Headed to Junk Bonanza

2011-09-13T15:59:00.002-05:00

6 chalkboard 4 drawer units that can be used alone or together.

...and this great PO box cubby unit

You've got to "squeeze and sniff" these "grainsackchets"... Gnarly and dreamy at the same time!

See you at JB!

We're linking up with Capers of the Vintage Vixen for Bloggers Bodega...check it out!

9-10-11 Blessed....

2011-09-12T00:10:00.000-05:00

...by a little guy that emerged rockin' a mohawk, on 9-10-11 at 1:57 a.m.

...by our amazing daughter-in-law, who gave birth to this 9 lb 5 oz boy, 22 1/2 inches long, without the assistance of any pharmaceuticals.....with her parents, her in-laws, two sisters and her daughter cheering her on. Her doctor was amazed at her strength and composure in the midst of some tough stuff.

...by our son who became a loving step-dad to a nine-year old a year ago, and has taken to parenting a newborn as if he's been doing it for years.

Welcome Dylan...we love you!

Pressing Matters

2011-09-09T09:36:00.002-05:00

Been feeling a little pressure here lately, trying to get ready for Junk Bonanza. I'm so behind on my blog reading and will have to play catchup later to see what all of you have been up to. Linda at Coastal Charm has a lovely post today...thanks Linda!

(We also are awaiting the birth of a grandson who is a bit overdue and hoping that he sees fit to make his appearance before I head out on Tuesday. I've resigned myself to the fact that I may be meeting him via Skype.)

I did want to show you the heaviest piece I'll be taking to Junk Bonanza; a 19th century cast iron book press. There's no ornamentation, it was designed for function, and yet it's beautiful in scale and proportion.

There are traces of old gold paint on the handles.

Pictured with it are some other items that are headed for Junk Bonanza.

These pages in a dreamy French-y blue are from a Potosi, Michigan shop, in 1866.

In the 1890's, someone "re-purposed" parts of the ledger for a scrapbook of trade cards.

The book was disintegrating so we're offering individual pages. We also will be bringing several leatherbound ledgers, which look great in autumnal vignettes.

We're posting Junk Bonanza updates on our facebook page so check it out if you haven't had a chance. (If you have a page, please post a link on my wall so I can check yours out as well!)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Working on the Little Things

2011-09-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

Welcome back from a long weekend everyone; hope you enjoyed it! The weather here was perfect! Progress was made on my 'big' projects for Junk Bonanza and I'm starting on the little stuff. We're known for our "schnibbles & bits" in our Fixin's Bar...my big roto-bin will be stuffed full of little treasures. (More on that another time.) Today I'm gathering ephemera.

There's stuff from every era from the 1850's forward.

You're just going to have to come by our booth and dig! If you can't make it to Junk Bonanza, you can also find ephemera in our etsy shop.

One week from today, we load the truck and head out.

Timeless Treasures - Letters & Numbers in San Francisco

2011-09-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

In San Francisco recently, we took a moment to pop into Timeless Treasures. Why? Because it's the coolest little shop for a letter-lovin' vintie, that's why! Before we could go there, we had to stop for a quick lunch at the wharf. Not this:

...but this. Yum!

Timeless Treasures is just two or three miles from the wharf. Uphill.

I was trying to help navigate and snap iPhone pics at the same time. The architecture of the city floors me every time we visit.

Once we arrived at the shop I was in letter heaven.

Every size, shape, font, and color imaginable was here.

Neatly organized...

...and creatively displayed.

Other fun items were mixed in.

The shop's owner, Joan, wasn't in the day that we visited, but we enjoyed chatting with Jenni. Now that we know how easy it is to find Timeless Treasures, I'm sure we'll return on our next trip West!

** I've just unpacked some letters & numbers that I found elsewhere in California and loaded some into my etsy shop for you! Others will be making their way to Junk Bonanza with me.

Speaking of Junk Bonanza, I can hardly believe that we'll be loading the truck and heading out just a week from Tuesday. There is SO much to be done here and you may not see many posts between now and then.
I will do my best to post sneak previews on Facebook...check it out!

Junk Bonanza Friday Half Price!

2011-09-04T08:24:00.001-05:00

There's currently a great deal on Groupon if you're going to Junk Bonanza on Friday, September 16th. Click here to get half price admission!

This old sweetie is just one of the things you'll see in our space.

Her back is just as pretty as her front!
Watch facebook for Junk Bonanza updates.

We Have a Winner!

2011-08-31T20:17:00.000-05:00

Wow - what a day! Haven't had a moment to sit down until now. Thanks to everyone who entered the Fleabag Giveaway. Your entries were numbered in the order they came in...if you qualified for two or more entries you were assigned two or more numbers. Random.org determined the winning number. I was going to take cute pics and show you all this but you'll just have to take my word for that - I'm pooped!
:)
Now let's have a little drum rolllllllllllllllll. Congratulations to you Linda at Coastal Charm - you win the Fleabag! (Please email me at cobblecreek at wi.rr. dot com with your contact info and shipping address so a Fleabag can fly to you.)

By A Child's Hand ....and Giveaway Ends Tonight!

2011-08-30T07:47:00.003-05:00

You never know what may turn up at an auction. I was casually hanging out while furniture was being sold on Saturday. There was an old tea crate sitting on a table; I hadn't looked inside. Just as it was being sold, someone lifted the lid briefly and I caught a glimpse of calico. I shot my card up and won the old box.

Imagine how thrilled I was to discover that the box was packed with over 100 quilt blocks. Some were pieced on pages of the 1910 Chicago Tribune.

The crate dates from the same era, so I imagine that the blocks were done in that time frame and tucked away, never to be assembled.

My favorite blocks are small...

...and imperfect.

The corners don't line up. (Not even close!)

Look at those sweet stitches! Big stitches, little stitches, crooked lines. Obviously stitched by a child's hand.

Can you imagine the concentration on her little face as she tried to line up the patches? These little blocks are what I call "heart-grabbers". Simple little bits of history that tell a story. (I'm sharing a few of these little blocks in my etsy shop.) Have you ever made an "accidental" purchase that turned out to be a heart-grabber?

Now...a little reminder! Entries for our Fleabag giveaway end tonight... click here for details!

Who Is This Woman and Why is She Wearing Pearls? Junk Bonanza Sneak Peek

2011-08-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Mysterious lady alert!

It looks like she tried to cut off her nose to spite her face...

...and when someone asked her for a hand, she gave it to them.

Turns out she's a model for Fruit of the Loom! She's wearing a sample dress. How cool is that? And all along, I thought they just made skivvies, represented by those wacky guys running around in tights wearing fruit costumes. Check out the Small Earth Vintage blog to see a real life FOTL dress. Cute!

I think we should give her a name, before she gets packed up for her appearance at Junk Bonanza.

Any ideas? (No prize for coming up with a name we adore, but if you want to win something you should be entering our giveaway!)

If you want the scoop on what else we're taking to Junk Bonanza check out our Facebook page...we'll be posting pics there regularly.

Time for A Fleabag Giveaway!

2011-08-24T00:35:00.004-05:00

We've just returned from a short vacation and can't wait to jump back into the fray. In just three weeks we'll be arriving in Minnesota, ready to set-up for Junk Bonanza. See us on the Junk Bonanza blog today. There's a whole lotta work to be done here. (Did you know that etsy will have a display at Junk Bonanza? We're excited that two of our favorite selling venues have teamed up, all for the love of vintage!) But I digress....we're here to announce a giveaway!

We're giving away a Great American Fleabag ! The winner will choose from a selection of bags, and yes, international entrants are welcome.

It's simple to enter...just leave a comment on this post, telling how you'd use a fleabag.

A comment gets you one entry.

IF you were a blog or facebook follower on or before August 23rd, mention it in your comment to get two entries. If you were following both the blog and the facebook page on or before August 23rd, you get three entries. (Giveaways are often designed to attract new followers, but we think that those of you who've been loyal followers should have a little extra opportunity to win.)

Entries close at 11:59 p.m., August 30th. We'll draw a winner and post the next day!

Good luck to all!

UPDATE: Note to self. Stop blogging in the middle of the night - you might forget something important! Get one additional entry if you post a link to this post on your Facebook page, blog or Twitter. Leave a comment for each that you do!

P.S. It's White Wednesday - check it out!

Going Home

2011-08-23T00:33:00.002-05:00

We spent the past few nights in my childhood home in California. My brother & his wife own the place now and I hadn't stayed in my old room in decades. The land that used to be pasture is now planted with a young walnut orchard.

The trees, along with the gardens my s-i-l nurtures give the property a real sense of sanctuary. I love how she loves the land. (She's also makes killer jelly from these pomegranates!)

A chicken coop is a new addition and the residents roam the yard.

The old barn that sheltered the sheep and calves that I raised is feeling it's age...

I still think it's beautiful.

I'd forgotten how spiders proliferate in a warm climate. I'm not a fan.

Daisy rules the trampoline while Rocket spots her.

These two entertained us daily.

...and I was tempted to sneak Rocket into my luggage and take him home.

Have you gone "home" lately?

Seen at the Flea - Elkhorn Wrap-up

2011-08-15T07:45:00.002-05:00

Oh!

Elkhorn Antique Flea Market, you are the b-e-s-t! I had to run over to the office during the afternoon and stopped to snap a few pics along the way, wishing for time to really shop. I'm sorry I didn't get into some of the buildings to check out other friends.

My pal Margaret and her granddaughter were enjoying the great weather.

I can't believe that this piece wasn't snapped up right away.

Julie & Ann of Tattered Tiques. These fun sisters are high-energy and have great stuff. Their Mom wasn't able to be at Elkhorn this time, but the three of them have a shop that I'm dying to visit one of these days. (Thanks for the shout-out on your blog girls!)

This was the first Elkhorn for Laura from B&B's Nest.

I hate to think of what I missed in her booth since I didn't get there until late in the day. Laura puts things together in the most delicious way.

I can't end this post without thanking all of our wonderful customers, old friends and new. August is traditionally the slowest of the shows at Elkhorn but you really surprised us this time. Industrial, clocks & flea bags were the 'hot' categories. (I really never expected to sell snowshoes in August either!) We truly do appreciate your business.

***On a personal note, we'd been concerned that we hadn't seen one of our favorite shoppers this year at Elkhorn. She was there yesterday and it was so good to see her. It's not our story to tell so I won't say more, but dear one if you are reading this, please know that you are in our hearts & prayers.

Next up for us? JUNK BONANZA! WooooooooHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Follow the Junk Bonanza blog and facebook page for the latest news, and make plans to be there. We know that you will love it!

Come on Out to Elkhorn Sunday

2011-08-13T23:07:00.000-05:00

It's gonna be a good day at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market on Sunday. It's an easy drive from Chicago or Milwaukee. We're all set up in the Small Animal building, Space 29. I don't have any photos of our entire booth. Early buyers snatched up most of the major foundation pieces of our display for this time, so it's all a little disjointed but I'm here to tell you that we still have loads of great items left for YOU! Here's a sampling:

We saw a lot of your favorites there too, including Melissa from North Shore Flea , Pete & Mo, Dale & Sarah from Antiques on Main, Laura from B & B's Nest, Mark from Room 363, Janice, and so many more. Come on out...you never know who you'll run into!

Elkhorn This Sunday!

2011-08-12T18:40:00.000-05:00

I've seen lots of Wisconsin and Illinois corn fields this past week.

Beautiful farms,

cute animals,

steam-powered tractors,

flea markets,

and farm sales.

All in a quest for the best junk on the planet. If Elkhorn is this weekend, can Junk Bonanza be far behind? No! And we can't wait. Elkhorn and Junk Bonanza are two of our favorite places to be. Gracie's Cottage and Down Lilac Lane will share space at Elkhorn so you know we'll have a huge assortment; there's sure to be something for everyone. Here's a sneak peek.

You could roll up your towels and store them on this awesome vintage comb display.

We've got a passel of ice cream cone holders. They make the cutest mats for summertime pics.

The Great American Fleabag. You betcha! Watch for 'show special' pricing!

Schibbles and bits from the Fixin's Bar - of course!

We're never without some letters and numbers for your projects.

cool old rubber stamps

The best gnarly hard hat we've ever had, hands down.

architectural bits

and so many other great finds from the Dairy State.

We'll be in our regular spot, Space 29 in the SMALL ANIMALS building.

See ya!

P.S. Are you following the Junk Bonanza blog? If not, you should be! Rumor has it that we'll be featured in an upcoming post.

Hot Night at the North Shore Flea

2011-08-05T22:58:00.001-05:00

The North Shore Flea is a fun place to hang out. The atmosphere is great, and with a farmer's market and gourmet food vendors just steps away, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant way to spend a Wednesday evening.

This past Wednesday Kathy, (Down Lilac Lane) and I teamed up for another visit to the market. The two of us always manage to bring enough to fill several spaces and never seem to be set up on time. Just down the way from us on one side was Diane Landry. Mary Ann was a couple of spaces away on the other side and brought this fab dress form.

We made new friends when we met our neighbors Pete and Mo. This fun duo has terrific stuff, including some killer architectural pieces.

The evening was humid which probably kept the crowds down a bit. The extreme weather has really provided a challenge to this young market.

Still, the crowd was a nice size this past Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone that stopped in to see us! We won't be able to be back at North Shore in the near future, but you should still head out there and shop if you get a chance! (Our next show is the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market on August 14th.)

You can read more about last week's market at Pure Vintage Chicago, At Home in English Valley, and ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! Promoter Melissa Sands keeps the North Shore Flea Facebook page up to date with the latest info...check it out!

An Auction and The North Shore Flea

2011-08-02T12:28:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's the oppressive heat & humidity, but I just had to cool off my blog template and lighten it up a little today! You can actually see the moisture in the air here.

This was the scene on Saturday morning as I headed for a farm AUCTION.

I love driving through the rural areas of Wisconsin at this time of year.

The auction turned out to be not quite as good as it sounded. There was loads of junk that could be repurposed, but since I try to limit myself to things that I can carry, I didn't bring much home.

Someone got a bargain on this old beauty. It was missing several drawers, but still had a great look.

I liked this old vent grate but after 6 hours of sweating it out, the heat got the best of me and we left before it came up for auction. I did get two of these awesome old bee traps. This one will be appearing in my etsy shop soon.

These next two items will be appearing at the North Shore Flea in Highwood, Illinois, tomorrow evening from 4:00 - 9:00.

This unique pulley would be perfect for suspending a light fixture. (Farm primitives work so well mixed with industrial finds. Add a little warm wood and you've wrapped up a look that I love.)

Here's another favorite find from Saturday...a 19th century rope winder.

The quality of these old implements is amazing. I love the little details on this old beauty.

Kathy and I will be sharing a space at the North Shore Flea and will be packing our small space with globes, clocks, Fleabags, and a wide assortment of fun finds for you.

Any of you bloggers that live in the area, (an easy drive from Milwaukee or Chicago), will want to be sure to be at the North Shore Flea for Blogger's Happy Hour from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Head over to the facebook page to let Melissa know that you'll be attending.

We're linking up with Capers of the Vintage Vixens for Bloggers Bodega...let's all go see what's being offered today!

Grain Sack Totes - The Great American Fleabag

2011-07-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

Who could have imagined back in April that it would take this long to have a few bags to offer for sale? It's a long boring story, but we're slowly making progress toward having a steady supply, (at least until my stockpile of bags is depleted.)

Here, from my April post, is how the Great American Fleabag(c) was born: 'Since I acquired hundreds of grain sacks last year and began selling them, I've noticed that many of them have been shunned. A few small stains or a flaw in the fabric and they get passed over. Since we've previously established that I love 'gnarly', I decided to sew a few totes from some of the less than perfect sacks'

Our totes are larger than average and 'Brimfield' tested. Margaret and I stuffed and overstuffed them on our trip to Brimfield in May and found them to be perfect for flea market shopping. You can pack a whole passel of treasures into one bag. (Of course you may feel free to use your bag for other uses - like when you need to pick up eighteen baguettes at the bakery, take your laundry home to Mom, or pack lunch for the entire family if your name is 'Duggar'.............)

No two totes are alike, since each grain sack is an authentic farm-used bit of American history and shows it's age in it's own way . You may expect to find any of the following: stains, mends, occasionally a tiny hole, patches, fabric flaws, faded graphics, discoloration, snags, wear......

Our first few bags are currently available on etsy; click on the photo of the one you like to be taken directly to that listing, or click here to see which ones are currently available.
When more totes are added, we'll post it on our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gracies-Cottage/213811755319551

A Whale of A Sale - Antiques on Main Estate Sale in Wisconsin Dells

2011-07-27T22:39:00.001-05:00

Early last Friday morning, Kathy and I headed up to Wisconsin Dells to attend the second weekend of an estate sale conducted by Antiques on Main in Reedsburg. (Wish we'd been there for part one!) Things left from the first weekend were 25% off, while items that were making their first appearance were full price on Friday.

The yard surrounding the old farmhouse was loaded with furniture in the rough, while inside the house, every room was literally packed. Sarah & Dale, proprietors of Antiques on Main do an excellent job of organizing & setting up a sale. They & their staff spent eight weeks getting ready for this one.

I walked through the house over and over, gathering items and putting them in a holding place. Each time I re-visited a room I'd find something I'd missed before.

One room was filled with lamp shades, toys & fabrics. Another had tables full of books. A small bedroom upstairs was devoted to frames & framed prints while a small porch held tables laden with lamps. There was a room full of pottery.

China cabinets and shelves were filled with small decorative objects.

Small cases held the tiniest treasures.

These photos were all taken mid-day Friday, week two, after loads of items had been purchased. Does this give you an idea of the scope of this sale? Outside, my heart was captured by this gnarly dental cabinet. The possibilities for decking this piece out for a show are amazing.

Fortunately, I came to my senses and realized that I have nowhere to store it; CG just wouldn't 'get it'. Thankfully, Kathy then bought it so I will get to see it again anyway! I have a hunch that you'll get a chance to see it at Junk Bonanza in September. I'll show you a few of the items that I did buy.

Five schoolhouse lights. Awesome!

Sweet ephemera.

A pair of watercolors on paper. (sold)

Irresistible birds - oil on board...

...and several other interesting paintings.

This Viccy doll settee...

...love the cherub!

Other purchases are still being unpacked and put away.

It's such a pleasure to attend a sale that has an abundance of wonderful items. When you drive a long way to attend a sale it's great to find that the quality and quantity of items has been honestly represented in the ads. Thanks for a fun sale Dale & Sarah. We had a blast! See you at Elkhorn!

Oh! The Places You'll Go - Hobohemia

2011-07-26T14:17:00.001-05:00

The marvelous Dr. Seuss was talking to children, but he might just as well have been talking to my little treasures...in the past thirteen years I've shipped things all over the world:

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!......

...And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights...."

One of the cardinal rules of retail is 'never fall in love with your inventory'. I think when it comes to vintage goodies that rule is balderdash. I love most all of my items and it makes me happy when they find the the perfect home.

Last November I 'met' Mike from Australia via an etsy convo. He was looking for sign letters to spell 'HOBOEHEMIA' for a shop that he & his wife were planning to open. I had them, he bought them, I shipped them...fast forward to the end of June - HOBOHEMIA is open for business and 'my' letters are residing happily therein. (All photos in this post courtesy of Mike.) Here they are:

...and again:

Now doesn't this look like the most fun shop ever? I adore these mirrors; especially the Deco number at top right.

If I ever cross that big ol' pond you'll spot me shopping here!

You, my Aussie buds, will find Hobohemia at
285A Given Tce, Paddington, Qld
If you stop in, tell 'em that Jan sent you!

Thanks Mike for sharing your marvy photos!
Big congrats to you & Liz on your new venture!

Wrapping Up the Weekend

2011-07-25T09:15:00.001-05:00

At 3:30 on Friday I got up and headed toward Wisconsin Dells. Somewhere outside of Madison I met up with Kathy and we journeyed on, arriving early at a wonderful estate sale. (More on that later this week.)

SATURDAY: With a 4:00 a.m. wake-up call, we took the short drive from our hotel to Baraboo. At least it should have been a short drive...the roads up there are unforgiving. If your foggy brain causes you to miss a ramp it's a long ways to the next exit. :)

We loved our spot on the square in Baraboo. We were by the curb for easy loading and shaded by two huge trees. Baraboo is a charming historical city. The antique flea market was surrounded by a Farmer's Market, Classic Car Show, and food vendors in the streets.

My 'Evergreen Nursery' sign found a fine new home. It's always great when some of the larger pieces sell, making load-out easier. A huge bird cage, a chunky stool, Kathy's industrial parts cubby, plant stands and other mid-size items that sold left us room in our vans to return to the estate sale after the show to pick up our bulkier purchases from Friday. Whew!

The crowd seemed smaller and sales were down a bit from last year, but it was still worth the trip. I'm sure the excessive heat & humidity had an effect on the crowd size. Along with the 'big stuff', our fun buyers walked away with a lot of quirky little gizmos. 'THANK YOU' to each one that shopped our space. Our first visitor of the day was Pamm from Fresh Eggs Antiques. (You can see more photos of our space on her blog - thanks Pamm!)

We chatted with some very fun peeps including two blog readers that we met for the first time; Nancy and Karen. Thanks so much for stopping by! It makes our day when we can meet you 'in person'...(even when we're dripping with sweat and looking rough!)

SUNDAY:
Yesterday we arrived in South Barrington early to set up for the Arboretum Show. We were welcomed by rain, lightning and wind. We set up Kathy's canopy, tables, and a few items...and waited...for two hours. The forecast for the rest of the day showed potential for storms all day with high heat and humidity.

The wind blew a small heavy sawhorse right off the table. Exhausted from the previous day, we decided that we weren't in the mood to do battle with the weather and headed home. The rain stopped as we were packing up and I'm sure that the vendors who stuck it out had a hot, but successful day. (Sorry, I didn't take any photos there.) We hope to be back at the Arboretum sometime next year.

Baraboo and Barrington Sneak Peek

2011-07-20T09:50:00.000-05:00

It's was just past 8 a.m. and I ran out to pull items from the garage for the shows this weekend. I was out there for all of 10 minutes...the sweat is dripping off my red face. I don't do summer gracefully! Kathy will be with me at both shows and of course you'll find our usual assortment of prims, shabby, industrial, ephemera, and just plain fun stuff. Here are a few of the items that will be with me at Baraboo on Saturday or The Arboretum of S Barrington on Sunday.

The little white cabinet was a Door County find, as was the sweet round lunch pail. The old bucket is a favorite of mine - it's lived!

This small canvas-covered foot locker would look great as a base for your suitcase collection; but there's more than meets the eye here...

Faintly stenciled on the lid is 'Greenfield Police'. This was an evidence collection kit; all the small parts are gone, leaving a perfect case to repurpose into a 'secret' office or artist kit.

There's a place to stash everything you might need here, from pencils & brushes to paper & laptop.

We've got a small collection of farm-stand signs...

To remind you to eat fresh home-grown foods!
Hope to see YOU this weekend!

We're linking up with Faded Charm for White Wednesday. Put on your sunscreen, grab a lemonade and follow me over to see the inspirational posts this week!

Well, It's Hot...

2011-07-19T10:53:00.001-05:00

...but it's still better than SNOW! After a week off, we're back to work and there's plenty to do. Some crazy person booked two shows this weekend. Two. One on Saturday two hours Northwest of here...and one on Sunday, 2 hours South. What was I thinking? We'll give you a sneak peek next post. In the meantime, it's Tuesday and so it's Blogger's Bodega - head over there and see what everyone's been adding to their shops. Here are some items we've recently added to Gracie's Cottage on etsy...

A Summer Break

2011-07-17T18:30:00.000-05:00

Nothing got done here last week. It was time to have fun with 'the girlies'. I took the ferry to Michigan, picked up the 7 & 8 year blondies, brought them home, went to the Dells, rode the 'Ducks', played in the water at Kalahari, ate at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty, came home, made cookies, went to the library, went shopping for 'dress-up' clothes.... Friday night their parents and little sister arrived. Saturday morning their Aunt, Uncle & cousin came and we played the day away. Nothing exciting ever happened in this little town until the First Annual Waterford Balloon Festival yesterday. We spent the morning at the festival grounds, the afternoon at the beach and the evening standing in the driveway gawking at the balloons flying over....

I think I could get used to doing 'nothing'.

VIVA! Viva la Cottage Vintage Market

2011-07-10T23:57:00.002-05:00

The tented grounds of Viva la Cottage were rockin' on Saturday morning as buyers rushed in to shop the Vintage Market. The atmosphere was reminiscent of Junk Bonanza as shoppers jammed the tent and rushed to hand over their cash so they could move on to the next vendor.

About two hours after opening the initial rush slowed, we were able to fill in empty spaces and sales continued at a more manageable pace for the rest of the day.

Our fellow vendors had great displays and I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to get photos of each one. Minutes before opening I snapped a couple pics and had to return to our tent.

Jeanine from ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! had the best collection of cherry-themed finds, and this display featuring oranges and greens just oozed summery charm.

Carol of In A Haystack had a fun assortment including a whole lotta cheery red & white.

We were set up next to our uber-creative friends at Altered Ever After, (Jill & Candyce), and later met for great conversation over a steak dinner; we often run into each other at shows and seldom have a chance to visit.

Lenni & Erica from Apron Strings brought a happy assortment of vintage finds.

The entire day was great fun and Angie from Viva la Cottage was a wonderful 'hostess'. (She & her hubs actually took our tent down for us as we were loading up after the show - thanks Angie! - can't wait to be back there next year!)

...and THANKS to everyone that shopped our booth - it wouldn't have been a successful day without you!

***P.S. If you bought 10 of something and arrived home with only 9, please email me...I have it!

Door County - Vintage Market Sneak Peek

2011-07-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

Clear skies, brilliant blue water, white sails, red cherries, bright flowers, crisp white cottages, green grass...Door County, Wisconsin is magical in the summer.

We're pleased to be a part of the Vintage Market this Saturday, at Viva la Cottage in Sister Bay. Flea Market Style named this one of the 'Best Small Flea Markets' in the country.

Kathy, (Down Lilac Lane), and I are teaming up to bring you 'The Summer Colors of Door County'. Under our tent you'll find a marvelous mix of the shades that define the season; the whites, the brilliants, and the beachy.

The market runs from 10-5, this Saturday; There will be twenty-one vendors, including our friends ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! and Altered Ever After, offering terrific finds. Rumor has it that there will be some awesome food vendors on hand as well.

Once we're set up, I'll try to post a couple of photos on my facebook page.

We'd love to see YOU there!

P.S. Gracie's Cottage accepts credit cards...as long as Verizon is 'on duty'!

We're linking up with the marvelous Kathleen of Faded Charm for White Wednesday...check it out!

Flea Shots

2011-06-30T16:03:00.001-05:00

Our evening at the North Shore Flea in Highwood, Illinois was pleasant. Merchants of vintage and artists were set up in the street while food & farmer's market vendors were in the park.

Kathy and I had adjoining spaces and co-mingled our merchandise, as we normally do.

This was just the third week of a new weekly market so we didn't know what to expect. There were several vendors of vintage clothing; we were glad that we'd brought some.

This trio, (girlfriend, brother, sister), went home with Kathy's three matching Hawaiian shirts.

Maria Tirabassi was next to us...we fell in love with her whimsical style and the sweet manner she had of dealing with the youngest buyers in the crowd. It was a great group of vendors all around; everyone was relaxed and friendly.

The market has a wide variety of food selections, from the sophisticated to the simple.

My vote for the best available dessert goes to this coconut cake with coconut buttercream frosting.

Buyers were mainly local folks enjoying the pleasant weather. While the evening was profitable, sales were nowhere near the level of most of the shows we do. We met several folks who mentioned how surprised they were to see great vintage items.

We think this market has great potential. The promoter, Melissa of Pure Vintage Chicago is working to spread the word that shopping for great vintage items doesn't have to wait for the weekend. We hope to be back at the North Shore Flea again later in the summer, schedule permitting.

****************

P.S.

We'd love it if you'd 'like' us on facebook! We're posting interesting tidbits there. We don't always get the time for a full blog post, and if you're like us you don't always have time to read a long post.

What You'll See at the North Shore Flea - Tonight!

2011-06-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

We're gonna toss you a little curve tonight at the North Shore Flea! Kathy,(Down Lilac Lane), and I have adjoining spaces and we're going to mix it up a bit. Of course you'll recognize our signature style, (loads of great stuff!), but we're adding in some great vintage clothes and sunglasses - just for fun!

Hope to see you at the flea! It runs from 4-9 p.m. tonight in Highwood, Illinois...by the farmer's market!

P.S. Thanks to Mara of Mara's Market for the shout-out in her Elkhorn post.

Check out her great pics.

Come See us at the North Shore Flea - Tomorrow!

2011-06-28T09:45:00.002-05:00

At the cottage, we're nothing if not spontaneous! We've just made plans to be at the North Shore Flea in Highwood, Illinois, tomorrow night from 4-9. This fun market is promoted by Pure Vintage Chicago.

The weather promises to be perfect and we'd love to see YOU there! If there's anything specific that you're looking for let us know. We just may have it!

A Perfect Day at Elkhorn

2011-06-27T07:40:00.005-05:00

We love the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market; it's nearby and we consider it our 'home' show. Elkhorn never lets us down, the shoppers come out and we always do well there.

Yesterday, Elkhorn positively rocked and we smashed all previous sales records. We saw a lot of our regulars and made new friends. THANK YOU to each of you...we appreciate you!

The morning started off a little quietly, but we figured that most shoppers were hitting the outside vendors first. Outdoor sellers often have to contend with rain or heavy wind at Elkhorn. Not yesterday. Sunshine and blue skies ruled the day. We were happy for our outdoor friends Margaret, MaryAnn, Judy and Janice, Anita and Judy, and our new friends at Tattered Tiques.

Around 10:00 the crowds came inside and we barely had a moment to breathe for the next four hours. Kathy had brought some great metal lawn chairs and industrial stools; most were gone by the end of the day. Wish I'd snapped a picture of her nearly empty van as she headed home.

My beautiful memory jug went to a happy collector. The mini shopping carts, big industrial fan, and fabulous early large advertising umbrella,(upper left corner of above pic), found wonderful new homes. Loads of smaller items went out the door along with most of the flags and toy batons we brought.

I can't end this post without giving a shout-out to CG who manned the post here at home yesterday to meet some nice buyers from Chicago. They came to pick up a couple of larger pieces in the garage and found some other items while they were here. CG was happy to help in my absence. I'm pretty sure that what he was most happy about was reclaiming the space. ;)

Today we start preparing for our next show, Viva la Cottage Vintage Market in Door County on July 9th. We've been setting aside special items for this show...you won't want to miss it!