Follow me on my pathtojunkentreasure as I hunt for treasures at flea markets, garage sales, rummage sales, thrift stores, estate sales and even on the side of the road. I'll share my love of ironstone, hammered aluminum, vintage Christmas, vintage jewelry, doilies and tablecloths, flower frogs, garden items and anything rusty and chippy. You can find me at Carriage House Antiques in Crystal Lake Illinois. Please join me on my pathtojunkentreasure!

Monday, September 30, 2013

So Much Going On!

I am on my 3 week break from subbing and thought I would be getting things done.  I have had so many little things to do that I'm actually not getting my list completed.  I have also been busy lining up the presenters for Gardenfest.  That has also taken so much of my time.

As usual though, I did manage to find some treasures.  I stopped at a sale in McHenry that was held by a person that does estate sales.  This was at her house.  I bought so many vintage costume jewelry pieces.  I was in heaven.  For half price too!  I spent quite some time there.

On Saturday, Austin and stopped at a garage sale in Crystal Lake and I found this cute blue table for outside. (It was painted this great blue color that I didn't need to even paint it).  Couldn't pass up a $3 bargain.  It looks really cute between my blue and green vintage lawn chairs.

Sunday, we went to the last Elkhorn flea market.  It started out foggy and wet, but turned into the most beautiful day.  It was so crowded that we could hardly shop.  I did manage to find more costume jewelry and jewelry pieces (I want to try to make jewelry).    The boys found a few treasures.  Afterwards, we stopped at the Apple Barn in Elkhorn for their festival.  It was also crowded so we got something to eat and left.

Thursday is a rummage sale at the Methodist Church in McHenry.  Sunday is the last Cedarburg WI flea market.  So far the weather looks good.  I can't wait to go.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Rainy Sunday

It has been raining all day so we never went up to Mukwonago for the last flea market weekend.  Bummer.  We will have to wait until next year for C.O.W. cheese curds.  Instead, I finished a pillow that has been sitting around for a while.  I found a needlepoint cat pillowcase when my friend Joyce was having a garage sale.  Austin knew that it would be perfect for his teacher who happens to love cats.  I didn't do much to it.  It was pretty stained so I soaked it in Oxyclean like I do with all of my linens.  Only one small spot didn't come out so I sewed a vintage material yo-yo to it.  Then, I added snaps and 2 red buttons as the closure.  When I was in New Jersey this summer visiting my family, I got hundreds of buttons from a family friend.  She used to sew for many design houses and these were her personal ones.  I couldn't believe how many there were and how beautiful they were.  So, I used 2 red ones from that collection.  The pillow turned out really cute.  I hope she likes it. 

I need to start sewing autumn pillows for my living room so that I can change them next week.  I will be on a break from the kindergarten substitute job next week and would like to begin fall cleaning/decorating.  So many plans.

This has also been a busy time for me since I am the co-chair for Gardenfest.  For those of you who don't know, Gardenfest is a yearly day long seminar of gardening classes put on by McHenry County College and the McHenry County University of Illinois Master Gardeners.  Next years date is April 5th.  So, I have been busy rounding up the presenters and topics since the brochure is being printed in a few weeks.  After that is done, things quiet down for a short while. 

Sept 20-21 is a vintage market at 6237 Linden Road, Rockford, Illinois from 9-4.  I went to the spring one with my friend Cecilia and had a great time.  I can't make this one since Homecoming and soccer take up that whole weekend.  I'm hoping for good weather for others to enjoy it.

The Methodist Church in McHenry is having their rummage sale Oct 3-5. I just saw the sign the other day advertising it. 

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Finally a few sales!

I have been enjoying my week being a kindergarten substitute, but I have also missed my unlimited time looking for treasures.

So, on Saturday, I headed for the downtown area in Crystal Lake to visit Material Girl.  It is a fabric shop plus.  In their basement is a large assortment of clearance fabric and trim.  I bought some tassels for about 30 cents each.  The trim is now 70% off and they still have a large assortment.  Around the corner is a great store, Carriage House Antiques.  I love it in there!  I found a pink metal candle holder for $3.  I am going to hang it outside on a tree, but not use a candle in it.  I am still looking for the right item to go in it.  They will be having their fall open house in a few weeks.  It is always so much fun going to it.  They even have food for the shoppers.  That's my kind of sale.  The downtown area is hosting a yearly event, Johnny Appleseed festival on Sept 28th.  The antique store across from Carriage House Antiques will be having a flea market during the event.  I'm definitely going to that.  I always like to go to a new flea market.

Remember, Thursday is the church rummage sale in Prairie Grove on Rt 176.  Saturday and Sunday is the last Mukwonago WI flea market.  Also, there is a church rummage/barn sale at the Kane County Flea Market that weekend. Lots of fun sales to go to. Hope you can make one of them.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Labor Day Weekend

This past week has been crazy with school and other stuff.  I will be starting a long term kindergarten sub assignment on Tuesday and have been trying to catch up with small projects.  I still have so much to do.

This weekend I have been having fun with family and get togethers.  Probably eating tooooo many sweets also.  But, loving it.  I did manage to stroll through my garden to see what needs to be weeded and I saw that my flower pot had come alive with flowers.  I love these flowers that I have had for over 20 years from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  They never cease to amaze me. 

Rummage sales are beginning on Sept 6th in West Dundee and on Sept 12th in Prairie Grove.  I won't be able to get to them until the afternoons (since I will be subbing half days), but I know that I will manage to find treasures anyway.  I have many sewing and jewelry projects in mind and hope to make time to start them.  I always like to create when it is cooler outside.  It just seems like the time to stay inside. 

Sept 15th is the last Mukwonago WI flea market and Sept 22nd is the last Elkhorn WI flea market of the season.  I hate the end of the flea market season.  Oct 6th is the last Cedarburg WI flea market.  I will be counting down until May when they begin again.