My Awesome Finds

What a fun filled week I had! The weather was perfect (except for the astronomical amount of mosquitoes) to spend the whole day treasure hunting. A favorite rummage sale turned up a vintage Coach purse. Another sale today turned up another vintage Coach purse: a black bucket bag. Love finding those vintage leather Coach bags!

I spent yesterday garage saleing all day. My favorite find.....yesterday.....

was this vintage wire dress form. I'm running out of room in "my" room. But it's a good thing!

Today was even better. I stopped at Washington Street Market  in South Barrington IL.  

As I was buying the cutest pumpkin,

Kris from Junk Chic Cottage  was buying some fun things too! It is always so nice to see her and her husband. Such a small world. As I was making my way around, there was Jeanine from Chippy Shabby.  

I always love her stuff. Just the right amount of chippy awesomeness.

Then, in the corner.....

I spotted this fabulous vintage dress form from New York. I have been looking for a vintage dress form like this forever. I was beyond super excited. It came home with me!!!!!

It is now resting in "my" room.

I am beyond excited! Did I already tell you that? Jeanine put those cute finishing touches on it. How darling!

Tomorrow is the last day of the season for the Pec Thing in Pecatonica.  The weather is going to be perfect. I'm sure it will be crowded but sooooo much fun!

The last day of the season for the Elkhorn Flea Market is Sept 30.

Edward's Apple Orchard has been open for awhile now.

I used to take the boys all the time. It is one of my favorite places to visit in the fall. I went by myself this week. Very nostalgic and bittersweet for me. And a little sad. I'm glad I went though. It's all good and I'm learning to welcome these experiences without the boys. I have so many happy memories of Edward's I'll always cherish.

Happy treasure hunting!

Happy September!

Happy September!

I have become an empty nester.  It's been a learning process for me and at times lonely without the boys. But, I have been keeping so busy that time is really moving fast.

A few weeks ago, I moved into a larger space at the Carriage House. I am so excited!  We redid the whole store with my move partly to get ready for the Vintage Finds Off Route 14 shop hop this weekend. I can't believe how open my space is now.  There's so much more room to merchandise my items.

I found this great chippy pie safe and it's such a focal point in my space.

Look how great it is!

I also love the Wonder Bread tray. It's the perfect shade of green to blend in with the farm table.

I have a huge wall to display pottery and other small treasures.

All of the flea market magazines are showcasing globes right now. I decided to group mine for a big impact. It worked!

After the move was complete, I decided to have a Christmas craft day. It was hot and steamy outside but I felt like creating and no one was home.  I put on my Greg Allman cd (it was his last one) and just created. It was relaxing and fun!

Last Sunday, Labor Day weekend, I went to the flea market in Cedarburg Wisconsin. The fields were soooo muddy and some of the vendors weren't there, but it was still fun with lots of bargains to be had.  The last one is October 7.

With more rain on Labor Day Monday, I spent it decorating my home for fall. (I went to the Carriage House for a few hours in the early afternoon to straighten up when the tornado sirens started to blast. I ran out of there so fast! Thank goodness none ever came around). This is just a small area of my living room. I have decided to decorate with more fall looking items this time, not really Halloween things. Except for this picture that my friend Cecilia gave me.

So, while I was fall decorating, I decided to move around my sheep pictures and get rid of a few. This one is my favorite sheep picture so it's a keeper.

I moved around the floral needlepoint from my Grandmother and brought those two floral paintings home from the Carriage House. I couldn't stop thinking about them so I thought I better bring them home to live with them for awhile. I'm glad I did!

Here's that mannequin head that I bought a few months ago. Yesterday, I found this hand (made in Trenton New Jersey). I have wanted a hand like this for awhile so I was glad when I found it at Steeplechase Antiques in Barrington.

On Sept 20, I'm giving my Flea Market Gardening presentation to the McHenry Garden Club. It's a lot of fun sharing my love of flea market gardening. 

Upcoming sales:  Sept 7-9 Vintage Finds Off Route 14 Shop Hop (see link above). Sept 13-14 Faith Community Church rummage sale on Route 176 in Prairie Grove starting at 9am. Main Street Market in Rockford Sept 8. Mukwonago Wisconsin flea market Sept 8-9. Antiques and Treasures in the Field in Lake Forest Sept 9. Pecatonica flea market Sept 15-16. Washington Street Market in Barrington on Sept 15. Johnny Appleseed festival in Crystal Lake Sept 29. Elkhorn Wisconsin flea market Sept 30. Master Gardener Farm Stroll Sept 30.  With all of these activities in September you are sure to find a treasure!

Happy treasure hunting!