Reorganizing

Always at this time of year, I get the crazy energy to reorganize, or should I say to purge my collections. It happened again this week. Maybe it's because I have started volunteering in a local thrift store a few times a month and am busy filling their shelves with donated merchandise.

Of course, this was my busiest week so that's where the extra energy probably came from.  I really wanted to reduce my milk glass collection, so I started there.

There is so much more room in this cabinet for colored glass and more hammered aluminum. At least you can see the pieces now.

It really has been reduced from previous pictures. Before pieces were on top of each other. Now only a few small pieces are.  I purposely left some bare areas in case I find another piece that I just have to buy.

I have two cabinets filled with my milk glass collection.  This one was paired down too and some hammered aluminum has been added.  The bottom left side has a hammered aluminum covered dish on top of a milk glass cake plate.  I just found that Arthur Armour piece in Lake Geneva and was so thrilled! It's really awesome.  I am trying to limit my hammered aluminum collection to only certain makers so as not to get too carried away.  I have been really good so far but a few pieces have snuck in.

My tastes have been changing so I'm sure there will be another day of purging my milk glass collection. But for now I'm done.  Not with my other collections though.  I cleaned out my room of some vintage planters and even decided to sell my collection of dog planters that I had lined up on the basement window ledge.  I have kept that area with frog planters and a few farm animals.  Some of those planters will be regifted to friends I know would love them.

Garage sales are winding down but the Crystal Lake Antique Mall is celebrating their 5th anniversary this weekend with a flea market in their parking lot on Saturday.

Holiday sales are just getting started. There's a Country Christmas craft show in Crystal Lake this weekend.  I really like this one. There is a nice selection with a few primitive looking craft makers. There is a 3 French Hens Holiday Market November 10-11 in Morris. I have never been to this one but a few friends are making a day of it with me. I'm super excited about that! My favorite, Mistletoe Magic in Woodstock, is cancelled this year. I was told it will be back next year. Stay tuned.

Happy treasure hunting!

Fall Finds

What beautiful weather we have been having! Hardly feels like fall is here with the holidays a short time away.

I have been finding the best holiday treasures the past few weeks.

More Christmas pins (and others) to add to my collection....some to sell.

Christmas treasures galore.

I'm getting ready for the Holiday Open House at the Carriage House on Nov 9-12.  I have 10 bins full of vintage Christmas! I don't know where I'll put it all.  It's so exciting to see the whole place filled with vintage treasures from Christmas's past.  The customers love it and I love it.  I buy all year for it.  I never get tired of looking at it.

But, it's not Halloween yet and I can't overlook that.  I'm still keeping my decor simple but I just had to add this wonderful scale I found yesterday. I couldn't believe that no one had bought it yet and it was 1pm!

I put it on my kitchen table with a pumpkin basket on top of it.  Simple. Cute. Perfect.

Autumn Drive in Woodstock is going on this weekend.  It was beautiful today out in the country. Tomorrow should be the perfect weather for it too.

Happy treasure hunting!

Thoughts

I just finished dusting and vacuuming my house while playing the last music CD, Southern Blood, that Greg Allman made.  Boy, does it touch my heart.  The first song, My Only True Friend, brings tears to my eyes each time. I guess that some soul searching is good.

With M&M's by my side, I'm just going to let my thought run..... It's a nice cool day after my hair kinked up from the morning rain.  So much for straightening it!

I have found some really great treasures lately.  I am going to show you lots of those.  Mostly small items but really fun anyway.

I have an idea for that wonderful frame in my room.  I have to play around with it for awhile before I can make a final decision.

I also found a ready made collection of oil cans. Great patina on them.

I couldn't part with this daisy basket.  I decided to keep it.  It's by my basement window and looks so cute with a vintage non working clock.  The clock has the best patina that I couldn't part with it either.

It cheers up that area and will be really nice when it's snowing outside.  It will always be spring in my house.

I just have to share a close up of it...

Here's some more finds...

I just loved this mini hat stand with vintage doll hats.  That's sitting on my case that's filled with Statue of Liberty figures.

I don't usually do a lot of decorating for Halloween.  I usually do more of a fall theme.  (Christmas is when I go way out with the decorating).

A round French mirror looks nice with a giant pumpkin on it.  I found that pumpkin years ago at a rummage sale for $3.  It's sitting on a fall themed quilt that was also from a rummage sale for $5.

Hello Fall keeps it simple.

My friend Cecilia gave me this crazy picture that reminded her of our outings! It's fun to put it out during Halloween. Doilies are always a part of my decor.  It doesn't look finished to me unless I have a doily in the display.  I guess that stems from my growing up where there was always a doily on the furniture.

My fireplace mantel is really long so I try to create small vignettes along it.  

Simple but fall like.  

Enjoy the fall weather and the rummage/garage sales. Thursday is the Methodist Church rummage sale in McHenry starting at 9am.  On Saturday is a barn sale in Richmond at 4219 W. Solon Rd by Rubbish Farm from 8-2.  Nellies Barn Sale is Friday and Saturday in Roscoe.  This is always a great sale with lots of wonderful vendors.  

Happy treasure hunting!