Flea Market Weekend

2 Flea Markets in one weekend.  We had so much fun.  The weather finally co-operated and it was sunny and beautiful.  (Except for the Belvidere flea market on Saturday.  It was overcast, but still warm.)

On Saturday, we all went to the Belvidere flea market in Belvidere IL at the fair grounds.  It was from 4pm-midnight.  We went at 4pm.  I know that I wouldn't have been able to keep awake at those later times.  There weren't many vendors, but the prices were very reasonable.   We even ate deep fried chocolate covered bacon.  It was OK.  I found a vintage white bracelet and necklace for $2.  We had been looking for a golf cart and found one for $4.  The boys found a box full of Pokemon toys for $8.  I was happy with all of the prices.

Sunday was the Elkhorn Flea Market in Elkhorn WI.  It started out cool, but turned really warm and sunny.  There were sooooo many people.  At times it was hard to get around.  Of course we had deep fried cheese curds.  We actually ate more today then usual.  I found a bracelet and earring set for $20.  It was really nice.  I also found some hammered aluminum by Wendell August Forge and Arthur Armour for $5 each.  Great prices!  and nice scenes on them.  They are definitely  for my collection.  Austin found a great big box of Bionicle toys.  Poor Ethan went home empty handed today, but at least his stomach was full.

Now we have to wait until August for the next Elkhorn Flea market.

Clear Skies for Rummage Sales

Finally, the rain has stopped and the day is bright and sunny.  Yesterday I spent all day cleaning up my basement that had 2" of water.  I never get water in my basement, but it happened.  The drains all clogged and my basement was the only place for it to go.  It's a good thing that I keep most of my treasures in plastic bins.  Even the items set aside for my garage sale were in plastic.  We were very fortunate and didn't lose anything.  The good side to all of this is that I got to throw out stuff and reorganize areas in the basement.  Austin and I worked on the play area and toys last week and had everything protected.  I'm glad we did all of that.  It pays to be super organized (I'm a little crazed with that, but it worked out this time.)

So, since today was a new day, Austin and I went to the Immanuel Lutheran rummage sale in Crystal Lake.  It felt good to stand and wait in the very hot sun.  What a difference a day makes!  Once inside, he ran for the toys (of course, since his new thing is Transformers, again.)  He did find one for 25 cents and another Nerf gun.  I don't know what it is with Nerf guns, but he needs one of every kind ever made.  I wonder where he gets that from?!!!

I found a few treasures, a GROW sign for $1 which is now on my front porch, an English sugar bowl for $1, an aluminum tray for $3 and an aluminum coaster set for 10 cents (wow), a Christmas apron for $1,  and purses for $1 each for their handles.  These handles were in different colors and textures then what I have so I had to get them for my felted purses.  I'm working hard on finishing one right now. I just have to work a little harder.

More garage sales tomorrow and I get to pick Ethan up from camp.  Two weeks was a long time and I'm really glad that he comes home tomorrow.  It wasn't the same without him.  (Just wait to goes away to college in a few years.......)

Rearranging My Treasures

The weather has been terrible at times the past few days.  The rain has been so heavy that I didn't want to go outside.  So, what better time to look around my house and rearrange my treasures.  I've also been cleaning out my collections and pricing them for a sale in August.  To make room, I'm only keeping one of each item.  It looks much better now.  Everything feels like new in different areas of the house.

These pictures are of my dining room and my ever growing milk glass collection.  All of the items are from garage sales, auctions, flea markets, etc.  The large painting fits the wall so nicely and was only a $5 garage sale find years ago.  I love how it looks in the room.  I love the idea that you can decorate a whole room for not a lot of money.  I love being able to do that.  I like the history behind each item that I buy.  It means so much to me.  So many times when I buy an item, the person selling it tells me that they are happy that it is going to a good home and that it will be appreciated.   

Is Summer Finally Here?

Finally, today was hot and sunny.  I was so happy after soooooo many days of rain.  (I know.  More rain is expected this week.)  I'll take what we had today.  It was a glorious day to spend in Lake Geneva.  Since we couldn't spend the day on Friday in Lake Geneva, because of the rain, we decided to do it today.  Austin and I spent the morning walking around town and down by the lake, eating ice cream from Kilwin's at 11am and having a bite to eat at the bagel store on the main drag.  It was fun and breezy and slightly cool until 1pm.  We left just as the weather started to get too hot and the town became too crowded.  What a wonderful way to spend the best part of the day.

On the way home, we drive through Hebron and haven't stopped at the antique stores in town for years.  I figured why not today?  We were out enjoying ourselves.  So, we stopped at Grampy's Antique Store at Routes 47 and 173.  They have 3 floors of antiques and salvage items.  (The resale store next door has lots of "stuff" that we checked out also.)  I found the two cutest hand embroidered pillowcases for $3.  I already washed them in Oxyclean and put them on my spare guest bed.  They match the quilt that is on the bed.  Love it! 

You never know what treasures you will find unless you stop.  I'm glad that we did.

Northwind Perennial Antique and Garden Fair

Happy Happy Summer!  Even though it poured for most of the day.  Austin and I had a fun filled day planned.  We stopped at a few sales and found some treasures for $1 each.  Vintage needlepoint tablecloths and hand painted plates.  Love them!

We made our way up to Northwind in Burlington WI as the sky was getting darker and darker.  I was optimistic that the rain would hold off until we finished treasure hunting.  I found a wonderful black wrought iron cage (for $25).  It has a chain to hang it.  My heart was beating when someone else started to look at it.  I grabbed it when they walked away.  It was at that time that the thunder started.  We walked around some more and then the rain came.  We made a mad run for the barn, but still managed to get drenched.  Everyone was in the barn waiting for the rain to end.  It didn't.  So, we ran for the car.  Austin said, "Well, at least we found a treasure."  Yes we did.  It was a wonderful day after all.

Next Thursday June 27th is the Immanuel Lutheran Church rummage sale in Crystal Lake and on Sunday, June 30th is the next Elkhorn WI flea market.

Thursday Sales

Austin and I hit the garage sales today.  I knew that our first stop would be good for him.  He found a whole lot of Transformer toys.  He filled up a box that he referred to as his "me" box.  They were still new in the box.  That kept him busy for all of the rest of the sales.

I found a few items.  A blue mason jar for $1, another jar for 25 cents (to hold my seashells) and a three tiered tin for $4.  I loved the flowers on it.  I'm going to use it to hold my vintage buttons. 

I'm hoping to stop at some sales tomorrow on my way up to Lake Geneva for the Northwind Perennial antique sale.  The day should be perfect with a happy ending of ice cream from Kilwin's in downtown Lake Geneva.

Strawberry Picking

Today was the most absolutely perfect day to go strawberry picking.  I have always taken the boys (since they were little) to McCann's Berry Farm on Kishwaukee Valley Rd in Woodstock.  It is a U-Pick strawberry and blueberry farm.  We also got lucky today and bought some sugar snap peas.

Austin and I spent some time gathering the strawberries.  I think that he ate more than he picked!  I really love this farm because they never stop the kids from "sampling" the berries.  It is so much fun to watch the kids enjoying themselves.  I have a lot of happy memories from berry picking.  I was thinking about some of them today......since.....Ethan left on Sunday to go to a camp for two weeks.  It was the first time he has gone away.  Time sure flies!

I used to make about 30 jars of strawberry jam.  We ate so much of it when the boys were younger and I gave a lot of it away as gifts.  I haven't made strawberry jam in awhile.  Instead, I freeze them and use them throughout the year for crisps and strawberry bread. 

Blueberry picking begins around the middle of July.  We will be there!  Probably eating as we pick.

Crafty Kind of Day

Since it was raining all morning, I decided to do some projects on my list.  I hadn't knitted in a long time and was really having withdrawals.  I love to knit.  So, I made progress on another felted bag.  It is really coming along.  (It is such a stress reducer for me.  I really relax when I knit).

I also put some finishing touches on a pillow that I had made in the winter.  It needed something more and I decided to add more yo-yo circles with vintage buttons to it.  I love how it came out!  It looks really nice with the other two pillows that I made on my couch.

Garage Sales are Great!

We had so much fun treasure hunting today.  This was one of those days when we stopped at loads of sales, but didn't find much.  But, the few things that we found were great.

I had the boys sit on this $3 green metal rocking bench to make sure it could hold them before I bought it.  It was perfect!  The price was even more perfect!  I'm not going to do anything to it (at least for this year).  It has some wear/rust, but I love things like that.  We are going to put it by the basketball hoop so that we can watch each other play.  I'm not sure yet if I'm going to put a cushion on it.  It looks good the way it is and it is comfortable even without it.  I also found (for $1) a nice cigar box purse that has a picture of the Woodstock Square on it.  (The square in Woodstock, IL is wonderful. My favorite store, Interiors Anew, is on the square.)  Even Austin thought the purse was great.  He drew the line though when I asked him to carry it so that Ethan and I could carry the bench to the van. 

At another sale, I found a vintage rocking chicken planter for $1.  I loved the colors in it.  I added it to my windowsill of planters in the basement.

Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow.  I would like to go to a community garage sale in Cary that is outside.  It would probably be cancelled if it rained.  It is from 8-11am.   

Unexpected Treasure

The kids and I went to visit my cousin Barb on Sunday.  When we were turning onto her street, we noticed that the whole block was having a garage sale.  How fun is that!  Ethan and I walked around to the houses and I found a beautiful milk glass cake plate for only $5.  It was in great condition.  You never know what you will find at any time.  Barb gave me a really pretty pink floral tray that looked vintage.  I love it!

We spent three hours today helping to set up the St. Mary's/Montini church rummage sale.  The boys worked really hard moving boxes up and down.  There are some really nice treasures there.  I did get a few necklaces and Austin found some toys.  I have never helped out at a rummage sale and was sooooo happy to be allowed to shop early.  We really appreciated that.  We're looking forward to the sale on Thursday.

I spent more time today cleaning out my china cabinets and removed duplicate milk glass pieces to sell at my garage sale.  They are all priced and wrapped for that future date.  I like to price and wrap the items as I store them, so that when I'm ready for the sale, it is all done.  It really saves time. 

Garden Treasures

I love looking at my garden treasures to make sure that they are in the right spot.  The flowers are starting to grow up around them and since I live on a mostly wooded yard, even the weeds are starting to look good. 

The kids and I will be helping to set up the church rummage sale for St Mary's/Montini in McHenry.  This is the first time that we are helping and I'm excited.  It should be fun.  It is on Thursday, June 13th starting at 9am.

I spent a large part of today going through my treasures and rearranging them.  I redid my cabinets and changed my milk glass displays.  I had a whole table full of garage sale items.  I may take them to New Jersey (when I visit my family) to sell at the garage sale I will be helping my mom with.  Since I'm driving, it wouldn't be a problem to take two bins full.   I'll have to see what other things I will be filling my trunk with.  I may not have any room.  Otherwise, I will plan on having a garage sale in August at my home.  I have some garden items I would like to part with. 

Mukwonago Flea Market

Today was a lovely day to visit the Mukwonago Flea Market in Wisconsin.  Not too hot or sunny.  Just perfect for walking around.  Of course, we ate soooo many deep fried cheese curds from the C.O.W.  A perfect day it was!

We did find some treasures.  I found mine while leaving.  They were $1 apiece.  I loved them on sight.  The price was right too.  I also found a neat metal piece that I was going to use in my garden for $5.  Last year, I found a great glass piece at a rummage sale for $2 and didn't have anything to use on top of it that would cover the hole in it.  I just had to wait for the perfect item to show up.  It did today.  The piece looks like a flower and I just turned it upside down and it was exactly what I was looking for.  Sometimes things just fall into place if you wait long enough.

I walked around my yard looking for the right place to sit it.  Right now it is on top of a weathered bistro table.  I like the look.  While looking around my yard, I took pictures of other areas that I love.  I will share them soon.

The kids and I went to two church rummage sales on Friday and found some treasures at both.  I bought lots of vintage jewerly for 25 cents to $2.  We also had lots of fun talking to our rummage sale friends.  We followed each other to the sales.  I stopped at an estate sale leftover sale and found a nice train watercolor painting for my father in law for father's day. 

Thursday is the St Mary's/Montini church rummage sale on Route 31 in McHenry.  I love this sale!  The kids and I are helping to set it up this week.  I can't wait to get my sneak peak. 

A New Place to Treasure Hunt

While the boys were at a Pokemon tournament, Caldwell and I went to treasure hunt at an outdoor flea market in the parking lot of Odana Antiques in Madison WI at 6201 Odana Rd.  It was the coldest Sunday ever.  While shivering, (of course I wore my sandals) I found a great green vintage vase for $1.  Couldn't pass that up.  Inside the antique mall, I found another NJ hankie.  This one was even nicer than the one I found at the Elkhorn Flea Market and more money.  I did buy it and now that I have two of them, I will be choosier when I find one again.  We went next door to a thrift store and were amazed at how expensive they were.  I did find a vintage shell planter for $3.50, but had to leave without the other items that I liked because of the prices. 

Saturday and Sunday is the opening of the Mukwonago WI flea market.  On Friday is the St. John's church rummage sale on Route 47 North in Woodstock.  Friday thru Sunday is a garden show at the Klehm Arboretum in Rockford.   It is $8 per person and it is a really nice sale.  The plant prices are usually very good.  I hope the weather holds out for these events and for all of the neighborhood garage sales that are starting tomorrow. 

Northwind Perennial Farm and Nursery in Burlington WI is having their antique show and sale on June 21-22.  I haven't been to this before, but I will try to get there this year hopefully.

A Few Things

I have been going crazy these past couple of days because our internet service, Clear, hasn't been working.  I haven't been able to connect to the internet.  Boy, is it hard without internet service.  I couldn't even check my Ebay auctions.  Hopefully, all will be fixed within the week.

There were a few sales this week.  Ethan went with me on Friday to a rummage sale since he was out of school.  Yay for the summer!  He had so much fun finding video games.  I found a few nice things this week:  more fabric (I just cleaned out my fabric closet once again and purged to make room for these new pieces) for about 50 cents each, jewelry for 25 cents to $1, a sewing pincushion for 50 cents, gardening books 50 cents to $1.50,  Japanese plates for $1.50,  and Christmas items for 25 cents each.

So, with time on my hands, I walked around my garden and found some beautiful irises that had bloomed.  My potted plant, whose name has long since been forgotten (I got it from a friend about 20 years ago who received it from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It loves rainwater and blooms like crazy when it is outside.)  It looks great paired with the irises.  The flower pot my sister-in-law Tina painted while following something that she learned from Martha Stewart. 

I love summer and am looking forward to some lazy days and treasure hunting.  Hope to see you!