Spotted at the Gurnee Antique Center

After stocking my case at the Gurnee Antique Center this week 

I took a stroll through the rest of the mall. 

This dealer has a lot of ironstone.

I love these pitchers.

Simply divine!

This jewelers cabinet looks great

and offers loads of storage for small items.

One chippy shelf...(the only one I saw).

perfect!

Old blue paint grabs me every time.

 I always find something to love in this booth.

Check out those bins on the back wall.

The Gurnee Antique Mall is located

in Gurnee, Illinois, right off I-94.

...easy to get to if you're traveling between

Chicago and Milwaukee.

***Housekeeping note...I haven't been able to get that 'update' box off my background, even after updating.  I'm happy to say that I have someone working on a new blog design and hope

to have it up in 2-3 weeks...can't wait!

Time for Some Shop Talk

Updated 1/24...read the comments for great specifics about the additions!  At this time we're just making a list of shops, (not shows or flea markets). 

Last week I asked for the names of fun antique shops & malls.  The kinds of places that make your heart beat faster when you walk in.  Your eyes are darting around at all the goodness and  you can't decide which way to go first! 

We've got some great suggestions so far, but I know there are far more to be found.  Let's keep growing the list, and once it gets longer I'll add it to my sidebar permanently. 

CALIFORNIA
Carmichael:  Fleuri 7301 Fair Oaks Boulevard 
Carmichael: Cottage Girls 5912 Palm Dr 
Roseville: Antique Trove 236 Harding Blvd 
Santa Monica: Wertz Brothers
Willows:  Gathering Better Junque

IDAHO
Boise:  The Shabby House

ILLINOIS
Barrington: Steeplechase Antiques
Chicago:  Posh - State Street 
Chicago: Urban Remains 
Elgin: State Street Market Shops
Glenview: Vintage Nest
Gurnee: Gurnee Antique Center


IOWA
Amana: Smoke House Square
Anamosa: Gatherings
Des Moines: Brass Armadillo
Kalona:  Sister's Garden - (thanks for the correction Anita!) 
Marion: Park Place Mall
Mount Vernon:  Polly Ann's

 MASSACHUSETTS
Wrentham:  The Wrentham Country Store


MINNESOTA
Buffalo: The Porch and Atelier
Minneapolis: Hunt & Gather

OREGON
Portland: Monticello Antique Marketplace

TEXAS
Athens: Winnie & Tulula's
Austin: Gatherings
Austin: Austin Antique Mall
Austin: Antique Marketplace
Austin: Rough and Ready
Fredericksburg: Homestead

UTAH
Farmington: Just A Bed of Roses
West Jordan: Aunt Elsie's

WISCONSIN
Milwaukee: Farm Girl Art & Antiques
Sister Bay:  Viva La Cottage

We're looking for shops all over the U.S. and all over the world!  Name, city, state or province, and a site or blog if they  have one.  Thanks!

Favorite Antique Malls & Shops? (That Don't Look Like This....)

 Last week I decided to cruise through some of the "antique malls" within an hour of where I live. The photo above pretty much typifies what I saw.  The 20,000sf mall in the photo was one that I rented space in when it first opened in 2002. It was near where I lived at the time and I was happy to be a part of it.  The building sits on a river in a beautiful downtown location. There were standards regarding what you could sell. The building was always filled, both with charming booths and customers.   Now half of it is a "craft mall" and the other half....I'll just be generous when I call it a mix of "vintage" and "stuff".  Sad. Same owner, same location, different vibe entirely.  No wonder there were only two other 'shoppers' when I was there.

 In two days, I went through four other malls.  I saw a lot of glassware and furniture.  It was basically a "brown-out" as my friend Jeanine, (ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!), would say.  Very few old painted pieces, architectural finds, industrial....  Nothing that tripped my trigger.  In two days of mall stops I purchased a total of one item, for resale...and spent less than $20.  

 I don't think one should totally avoid these types of malls entirely because you never know what may turn up. However, it would be terribly disappointing if I'd traveled specifically to these locations.   With that in mind, I'd like to compile a list of 'shops worth shopping' and post it here next week.  To keep it positive let's mention only the good ones.   At Grayslake, a friend and I were discussing taking a road trip. If we were coming to your area, where would you send us?   Please leave a comment with the shop name, city & state/province, along with a brief description. Large mall or small shop...it doesn't matter.  Together, let's find some fun places to shop!