What's Missing in This Photo?

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 - Dinner...

Dinner

 

...a show

...and a little night music!

"ribbit"

We're linkin' up with Faded Charm 
for White Wednesday...check it out!

400 Miles for Two Items

Driving all day for two items is not usually my idea of a good time, but I think yesterday's trip was worth it. First, I picked up this little beauty in Oregon, Wisconsin.  It measures 11" x 97".

....and presto/chango turns into this table which 

measures 22" x 97" x 33":

I think it's great!  It's an old wallpaper table, the type a contractor would have carried from location to location.  He'd unroll the paper on it, paste it, book it and hang it up.  A conversation with an Elkhorn customer reminded me that I had found this awhile back and never followed up on it.  I went back through my e-mail and found that the seller still had it, and the price had dropped since our last contact.  

 My sunroom is a tiny 8' x 11' . It's my favorite room and where I prefer to work on my laptop. It's currently furnished with two white wicker chairs, a lamp table and a small wicker desk.  I find that I don't sit & read here as much as I used to.  My aim now is to redecorate and turn the room into a studio/office.  When time permits I'm going to see how the table will work along one wall with a stool next to it.  It's the perfect height for crafting or photographing small items.

After leaving Oregon, I zig-zagged across the state up to Little Chute, Wisconsin where this beauty was waiting for me:

It was found in an attic and the paint is in great condition, although the wood is splitting in some areas.  I'm sure that decades in the attic contributed to the shrinkage of the wood.

It's a wonderful example of black Americana, folk art & advertising.  I just spoke with a staff member at the New London museum and she's going to send me the dates when Freiburger & Archibald were in business. 

 *Update: (With thanks to Alice, the Assistant Director of 

the New London Public Museum.) 

Freiburger & Archibald were in business from 1897 - 1903.

 Off to get ready for the show in Iowa this weekend.

Happy hunting!