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!

Friday, October 31, 2014

On the Road Again

My friend Cecilia and I spent the whole day yesterday treasure hunting.  It was such a blast!  It is great to have someone to bounce ideas off of.  We pick up things that we know each other would like incase the other missed something.  The man at the store wasn't sure that we could pack all of the furniture that she bought into my van, but since I'm the master packer (as Cecilia says), we fit it all.  The back seat is there for a reason.  It was jammed packed too.

We still found time to stop at a new store that we found in Barrington right off of Route 14.  There was a pink sign on the road for Pink Geranium.  Our interest was piqued so we decided to stop.  It is in a nice old brick building.  They sell architectural remnants, new items and vintage items.  It was their 4th week opened.  They are only opened on Thurs-Sat.  Their Christmas open house is in 2 weeks so that might be a good time to visit them.  They are supposed to combine it with other Barrington stores.  We bought a few treasures, but I think that they have so much more room to stock more treasures for sale.

Happy Halloween!  It was scary to wake up with a dusting of snow on the ground.  I'm not ready for it yet.

Happy treasure hunting!


 



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Fall Colors Pillow

At least today I'm back into the fall.  The past few weeks have been all about Christmas and getting things ready for the November open house at Carriage House Antiques.

A while back at an estate sale, I bought a hand embroidered piece of a pheasant/partridge that incorporates fall colors.  I loved it and knew that it would make a great pillow.  Yesterday I finally made that pillow.  It is perfect for this time of year.

Since the weather is getting chilly here, I started knitting a scarf.  It always seems appropriate to sit down and knit when it begins to get cold.  I love to just sit and knit to clear my mind.  It is my stress reliever and meditation.

Enjoy the fall.  Happy treasure hunting!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Getting Ready for.....Sh!...Christmas

I have always loved the Christmas season.  I look forward to it every year.  This year is no different, except I have started working on it earlier.  Since the Carriage House Antiques will be having a Holiday Open House in November, I needed to get ready earlier.  I am almost finished going through my collection of Christmas ornaments and decorations and have many (I do mean a lot) of treasures that will be selling at the open house.  I have also been busy putting some of my "touches" on items that will be selling also.  So many wonderful items.  Too bad I can't keep them all!


Happy treasure hunting!

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Busy....Busy....

The days just seem to fly by lately.  I have been accomplishing a lot, but I need more time to do the other things.

This weekend, we were in Ft. Wayne Indiana so I had lots of time to finish some knitting projects.  They are being felted in the washing machine right now so I'll post pictures when they are finished.  I always get more knitting done when the weather gets cooler.  This weekend was perfect for that since I was spending it inside at a Pokémon tournament.

I rearranged my space at the Carriage House Antiques to fit in a few more things.  A favorite hand made wooden garage is there now.  I'm trying to not add too many new items since the Christmas open house is coming soon.  But, I keep finding great treasures to put in the space.  I'm really busy pricing Christmas treasures and have sooooo many wonderful ones.  You won't want to miss the open house.  (More to come on that at a later date).

Sparrows Nest thrift store had their Christmas open house today.  It was loads of fun.  Lots of great treasures.  All of the stores have Christmas items in them now.

There are 2 church rummage sales in Crystal Lake on Thursday:  1st Congregational on Pierson Street starts at 9am and the Methodist Church near the Salvation Army starts at 5pm.


Happy treasure hunting!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Sh....The Garden is Sleeping

This past weekend I put the garden to sleep.  It was a little chilly, but perfect to work outside.  It was time to clean up the garden.  I usually refresh the soil in the fall, but this year I'm waiting for the spring instead.  The yield wasn't that great this year and I felt that refreshing it in the spring would be better.  Since the garden is a series of raised beds, I can start early in the spring getting everything ready.   Next year I'm thinking of planting only kohlrabi, swiss chard and maybe squash in it.  Time to change it around.

I had my garage sale on Friday and it was sooooo cold.  I had on multiple layers along with my gloves.  I didn't have a great turnout, but at least I sold some of the bigger items like a jewelry armoire.  I was a little disappointed in the lack of people shopping.  I love to haggle on price, but most people were looking for free items or very inexpensive.  If I had a price of $1 on an item, they wanted it for 50 cents.  It was definitely the most challenging sale I have had.  I donated whatever was left to Savers in Crystal Lake so at least my house is clutter free.  For now.

I added new items to my space at Carriage House Antiques.  There is a lot of jewelry there now!  I'm getting ready with my Christmas items.  An open house is scheduled for in November.  Details will follow soon.

Thursday, October 25th is the First Congregational Church rummage sale in Crystal Lake on Pierson Street.

Happy treasure hunting!

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Simple Things

Sometimes the simply things are the best.  I bought some wonderful dried flowers at the Cedarburg flea market last weekend.   The large bouquet was for a wood vase that I have and love and the other bunch was for in my pitcher that is a part of a wash set that is on top of a buffet.  Just those simple touches really warmed up the room.

On another note:  I finished setting up for my garage sale.  I decided to have it this Friday only.  I haven't done a Friday only sale, but thought that since the weather will be good that I would try it.  I don't want to hold anything over until the spring.

Happy treasure hunting!

Monday, October 6, 2014

Treasures Galore

These past few weeks have gone by so quickly.  I have been so busy trying to get my space to look just right.  This morning, I rearranged and added more treasures.  (I took a few things out that I will be selling at my garage sale.  They just didn't fit in with the look that I was going for.)  If the weather holds, I will have the garage sale on Friday.  One day only.  I wanted to have the sale this past Saturday, but with the rain, snow flurries and cold temps, I decided to wait.

My space is really coming along at Carriage House Antiques.  I have been busy hunting for new treasures.  My friend Cecilia and I went out again on Friday and hit some estate sales and rummage sales.  It was a blast!  We have a great time and it's nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.

The boys and I went to the last Cedarburg Flea Market on Sunday.  Even though the weather was very cold, we had a great time.  We found a few treasures, but there weren't a lot of vendors.   It was way too cold to be outside all day.  I am updating the 2015 calendar of flea markets and events so be sure to look at it and mark your calendars for next year.

Zion Lutheran Church rummage sale in McHenry is on Thursday Oct 9th at 8am.  Autumn Drive in Woodstock along Garden Valley Road is on Oct 17-19.  Happy treasure hunting! 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

A Few Things.....

Sunday was a beautiful day for the last Elkhorn Flea Market.  It didn't start out that way though.  Caldwell was following us, since he had to leave to be on his way to a business meeting, when his car died 2 miles from the fair grounds.  He did eventually make his way to the fair grounds for his car to be towed, but what a morning!  We did find treasures, as we always do.  (Except I forgot to take pictures).

I added new items to my space at Carriage House Antiques yesterday.  I changed around a lot and also took away some items that didn't fit right now.  I was so excited when my vintage barn sold.  The man who bought it was going to use it as a manger.  How wonderful is that!  It is a beautiful vintage barn.  But guess what?  I forgot to take pictures again.  I will be back in there on Thursday so I'll try to remember to take pictures then.

Here are some dates:  Sunday, Oct 5th is the last Cedarburg flea market in Cedarburg WI.  It is also the Fall Fest in Union IL at the Historical Society.  Thursday Oct 2 is a rummage sale in McHenry at the First United Methodist Church.  On Friday there are 2 church rummage sales:  Barrington United Methodist Church in Barrington Hills and in Harvard at the First United Methodist Church on Division St.  Enjoy these as well as the garage and estate sales.  The season is slowing coming to an end.

Happy treasure hunting!