My Glamorous Life

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!

Thanks Grayslake!....and Come See Us At Elkhorn

At the Grayslake Antique Flea Market this weekend I talked to loads of people about the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market next Sunday, (May 15), and was surprised by a., how many had never heard of it and b., how many had heard of this show but never attended.  Elkhorn is an amazing show and should not be missed!

Speaking of Grayslake, I'm sorry that I have no photos of some of the great vendors that were there; it was busy enough that I didn't leave my booth for long.  I couldn't resist pulling over on a country road on my way there on Sunday to capture this, however.

A big thanks to all of my buyers for a successful show; the big chippy corbels are going to a great home in Door County. Paper & garden items were the most popular categories, selling steadily all weekend. I love selling to other dealers as well; it's a large part of my business. The fab group of industrial looking alarm clocks that I bought at Kane last week sold before opening to a dealer friend. Within an hour she had sold them to a well-known dealer from Chicago. I really believe that there would be no antiques trade if we weren't all buying from each other...it keeps the business rolling! 

I'm headed to Brimfield first thing tomorrow morning and hope to share a few photos from there later this week.

*****The rest of this post was first published in May, 2010.*****

If you've not been to Elkhorn you really must go on Sunday!  Kathy and I will be in the Small Animal Building, Space 29.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the grounds were packed at Elkhorn yesterday.  We didn't get out of our booth much, but snapped a few photos when we made a run to the van.  This vendor had a dreamy selection of pottery in summery colors.

Kathy spotted this great chair.  It was a little spendy for us, but I didn't see it at the end of the day...

A vendor down the aisle from us had a wonderful display of crisp & bright vintage textiles. Isn't this dress and apron combo "the best"?

 Our neighbors in the Small Animal Building included Vintage Girl Stuff, Sezessions and Young American Picker.  We loved our new space.  What a difference it makes having "semi-clean" cement under your feet instead of the dirt that we battled for 2+ years in our previous location.  Happily, most of our regulars found us.

Our booth was a hot mess soon after opening; a lot of the bigger pieces were gone and we had a hard time getting in to rearrange.  

The best moments of the day involved blogger friends, The Junk Mammas stopped in and soon after Junkin Julie arrived.  It was great to meet Kim & Jenny and Julie.  Check out their blogs when you have a moment.  

Jeanine from ChiPPy SHaBBy! popped in for a moment. I think Jeanine was born with a "ChiPPy chip" that leads her to the bEst! finds. I can't wait to shop her sale next weekend. 

Toward the end of the day I ran over to see the Anything Goes Here booth. Joan obviously had a great day; there wasn't much left.  We never got to visit the Iowa Junk Gypsies. We saw their location on the way out Saturday night but the girls were nowhere to be seen.  (Out buying?)   Candyce & Jill from Altered Ever After were there somewhere but they were undoubtedly busy and we never connected.  (Missed you!)

Today preparations for the Northwind Perennial Farm Antique & Garden Show begin . No, that's not exactly true. Today we might unload the van, ship orders, catch up on accounting, take Gracie for a walk and then rest our tired tootsies.... Happy Monday everyone!  

Cedarburg - Fun at the Flea Market

The weather was perfect for the Cedarburg Maxwell Street Flea Market yesterday.  Kathy & I brought a lot of our "tired" inventory to move out, along with some fresh finds.

 The best part of any flea market is people watching.  This guy was checking himself out...so cute!

This guy should have checked himself out in the mirror.  Cute?  Ummmm...not so much.

It was Kathy's birthday and we celebrated by sampling all of the good food on the grounds including, the Big Bar, the deep-fried cheese curds and this delicious Kettle Korn, made on site in a big, (surprise!), kettle.

I never did find Mary Ann's space, or Margaret's, or get around to see Kathy-from-upper-Michigan's booth.  We were in the same neighborhood as Jeanine, (ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!)  Her vignettes are always amazing and things were sproutin' wings and flying out of her booth.  I loved the way she paired the hydrangeas with the whites...

This is about all she had left at the end of day when Jeff came to help her load.  I think this photo has an "American Gothic" vibe, don't you?

 Cedarburg was the last show we're doing until Junk Bonanza; we'll be loading the vans a week from tomorrow.  Frightening...I'd better get busy!

Fresh Merchandise In the Door - Weekend Finds

As promised, some of my recent finds...

Vintage garden markers from Amazing Grace Antiques, copper letters from Grannie's Attic and a bowl from another shop in Marshall.  

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

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

Old porcelain letters from Grannie's Attic

Plastic charms & beads

Enameled European house numbers

Steel letters from Amazing Grace Antiques

Funny little angels on slalom skis, made in Italy

Tea strainer from "Jane's Furniture"

The gals on this cabinet card look a little mysterious

 

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

Happy Tuesday everyone!

June 5 & 6 - Kane County Flea Market - Preview #2

Smile!  We're bringing our collection of vintage cameras...

...and old clay pots with "chalkboard" label space.  

Change the label whenever you feel like it

or apply a finish coat to make it permanent.

Of course we're bringing loads more...

feed sacks, primitives, hardware, ephemera.

Look for us in the "old" sheep building...

I promise you, it won't be baaaa'd. 

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Josie's Sale ...The Finds

"Never fall in love with your inventory" is a cardinal rule of retail.  Whoever made up that silly rule obviously didn't sell old things.  Truth is, I love everything that I got at Josie's sale.  Here are a few of my very favorite items. 

The chippy step stool and the small stool are two slightly different shades of blue that play well together.  

Would you believe that I almost missed the "Antiques" sign?  I never saw it.  A late-comer to the sale had it in his pile and decided not to take it.  I didn't even know what it said, as it was upside down and partially hidden, but knew that I wanted it.  When I was loading it I finally realized what it said.  (What can I say? I love old signs...)

 This sign was with it so I got it, too.  Gracie is looking for the Kruger's.  If you know them, tell  them that we've got their sign.

Here's a closer look at the two blue stools - 

Check out these crazy dudes; these are three of the five that I got.  They have a carnival/outsider/folk art vibe.  Josie didn't have any history on them but we all agreed that they are at least as much fun as the average guy!

This old bucket bench is perfect for the end of the bed.  CG asked if it is an "outside bench".  I replied that "it was outside...now it's inside".  Gracie likes it because she can hop up on the bed more easily now. 

I love the years of wear...

The funnel on the right is from Josie's sale.

It's a sibling for the one that I found a couple of weeks ago.

This big ol' primitive scoop is holding some feed sacks at the moment, 
but would be great loaded with flowers, towels or a multitude of other things. 

These are the highlights - come see us at Elkhorn this weekend to see more!