Even Though....

Even though the temperature yesterday was in the 80's, I had Christmas on my mind.  I try to create holiday themed items all during the year so that I'm not bogged down at the last minute.  So, I put on a Bon Jovi cd and got out my vintage holiday treasures. Here's what I created!

Now back to the fall.  I hit some great sales last weekend!

Lots of small items....

And some great fabric pieces.  I especially love the tray with a vintage quilt piece in it.

I added to my vintage leather coach purse collection. Love that they were not used.

I changed a decor piece in my yard.  I had been using a column just for some added design but it was falling apart and I didn't like the look of it anymore anyway.

I had my eye on this metal table at the Carriage House for a while so I decided to buy it.

I love the curly legs on it!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more photos of my space at Carriage House Antiques.

Mt Hope Church in Johnsburg is having their rummage sale on Friday.  Sept 24th is the last Elkhorn WI flea market for the season.  It's also the Master Gardener Farm Stroll. On Sept 30th is the Johnny Appleseed festival in downtown Crystal Lake.  At the same time around the corner is a flea market at the Crystal Lake Antique mall which is across the street from the Carriage House Antiques.  Oct 1 is the last Cedarburg WI flea market for the season. Watch out for church rummage sales that are starting to pop up now.

Happy treasure hunting!

A Cart.....Room Redo

It's funny how one new treasure can cause a whole room redo.  Years ago I found a vintage dress form (for $10) at an estate sale.  The family holding the sale didn't think that anyone in their right mind would want it.  Well, say no more.  I had to have it. It's been a part of  "my" room ever since.

Usually when I wish hard enough for something, I'm bound to find it.  I had been looking for a metal cart. Kind of like a plant metal cart.  Well, I found one at a garage sale along with other wonderful items.

I just knew that the cart would look perfect holding wire baskets filled with my favorite magazines. Wire baskets are another weakness of mine, but that's another blog post.  In order to fit the cart in "my" room, I needed to rearrange some things and purge a few things. I decided to get rid of the blue stand that held some yarn and magazines and another corner stand. But, the dress form stays exactly where it was.  I even left the floral wreath on it.

There is so much more room on my floors now.  Easier to dust too!  I like the original wood patina on most of my furniture.  Even with the scratches and chips, I like this dresser as is.  I use it to store my hankey and embroidered pillowcase collections.

The little black cart on the other side of the dress form is also from a garage sale years ago.  Another piece that I'm not parting with.  I have displayed so many items on it. I change it up often.  The skeins of yarn are in the basket underneath and the metal truck was a flea market find.  I'm super happy with how it turned out.  All because of a one item purchase.

Something I realized while putting this all together is that sometimes ideas need a little help. This site might be some help.  I haven't used it myself but it seems to have some great resources and ideas with a long list of designers to choose from. Let me know if you use them and how you benefited from the ideas/experience.

Happy treasure hunting!

Bringing in Fall

I love fall! Especially when Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove opens. https://www.facebook.com/Edwards-Apple-Orchard-296241517156065/

It's the perfect way to bring in fall.

Fall is also the perfect time to rearrange and declutter.  I moved the cabinet that I brought back from New Jersey into MY room and filled it with gardening books (after I decluttered them) and my Statue of Liberty collection.  I found another one this weekend at the Cedarburg WI flea market.  They are all so different.

Here'a a close up of the Lady Liberty's.

I treasure hunted at a 90 year accumulation estate sale on Friday.  I packed my car!

I love those kinds of sales.  Packed and slightly dirty where you have to dig.  The best finds are always in places like that.

Sunday was perfect weather for the Cedarburg WI flea market.  There were lots of treasures there also.

Here's a sampling of my outdoor finds this weekend.

And my indoor decor finds.

I spent many hours yesterday at the Carriage House getting my space ready for our 13th Anniversary celebration (my 3 years with them) and the Vintage Finds Off Route 14 Shop Hop. https://www.facebook.com/VintageFindsOffRoute14/

I still have the outside to work on, but the inside is pretty much done.

I always try to fit in as much as possible.  It's jammed packed in there right now!

It's always so exciting working during the sale.  It's great to see the reactions of our customers when they find that perfect item.

Happy treasure hunting!