Cold Weather Lists

This morning here in Illinois it was -26 degrees! What! The perfect day to stay in and do that "to do" list. I already made a cinnamon bread that was in the newest issue of Magnolia Journal.

I started opening boxes holding photo albums looking for my parents wedding photo. I wasn't sure where it was, so I opened each album I came across. I have many albums. Soooooo many albums. I got sidetracked and began looking at the pictures from when my boys were little. Where has the time gone?

Finally, there it was! I didn't have to go far to find the perfect frame. I just had to shop my stockpile in the basement.

I added it to the right of my grandparents photo. Now my wall is complete! I really love how it all turned out. Each photo has a special frame that seems to fit the overall look I was after perfectly.

On Monday, when it was also snowy but not as cold, cold still though, I went through the storage space under my basement steps. I had 2 very large bins of my hammered aluminum collection. I took them out and reorganized the area. Much easier to see everything at a glance now.

I am happy to say that I went through the bins and kept some pieces that I absolutely loved. The rest went into piles, to sell at the Carriage House, to sell on Ebay and to sell at my garage sale in April. At one point I had over 300 pieces of hammered aluminum. Not any more. I probably have a little over 100 now.

Then, I went through my china cabinets and rearranged and purged some from there too. One cabinet is exclusively for hammered aluminum. The smaller pieces go in here....

The other cabinet holds hammered aluminum and milk glass.

The one cabinet has milk glass, some crystal and other colored glass in it. I took most of the hammered aluminum out of it except for some of the larger hammered aluminum pieces.

Some of the hammered aluminum trays were pretty large and wouldn't fit into any of the cabinets so I used them in the bookshelves in the living room as backdrops with other collections.

Some of my favorite Wendell August Forge hammered aluminum pieces are on those shelves too...

I think I have accomplished my "to do" list. At least I think I have. Tomorrow will be more to add I'm sure. But for now I'm going to read my flea market magazines and have a cup of tea.  Stay safe and warm!

Hopefully we will be..... happy treasure hunting.....soon!

Snow Day at Home

It's a snow day for me today! I can't get out yet until the plow arrives. So, the next best thing is to catch up on little projects.

My updated 2019 list of favorite flea markets is ready. It will give you something to look forward to.

I decided to begin preparing for the March and April events that I will be a vendor at.

and in April...

These baskets get me in the springtime mood. They will be going with me to the April event.

Now is also the time to begin thinking of Valentine's Day. I have already put out my treasures.

She's darling!

More flowers to brighten up the room....notice I use doilies. These crochet ones are my favorites.

One of my heart creations.

I love vintage Valentine cards! The graphics are fantastic!

Happy treasure hunting!

Of and Running

Happy New Year!

I started out the new year in New Jersey visiting my family. It was the first time in way too many years that both of my brothers and me were together with my parents for the holidays. We had a great time!

We spent some time in New York since it's only about a 35 minute train trip from my parents house. It was sad to see that Lord and Taylor was closed. We always loved to stop in. But, Saks Fifth Avenue was spectacular!

We always stop in the Nintendo/Pokemon store in Rockefeller Center. Here I am!

We spent a few days treasure hunting with my brother Michael. Pickin's were slim but I did find these...

Of course I couldn't pass them up! They were at the Summit Antiques Center in Summit NJ.

On our way home, I always like to stop at Wendell August Forge in Grove City PA to get my fill of hammered aluminum. It always is amazing there! You can watch the artisans at work and just walk around to see some history and buy some amazing pieces.

Here are some of my favorite vintage pieces:

Here are some newer pieces that were fabulous....

I still have about 250 plus pieces in my collection that are put away in bins. I'm setting aside time next week to go through it all. I have decided to only keep those that I really love and can display in my home. All of the others I will let go. The trick is to decide which to keep and which to let go. I'll keep you posted.

So, now I'm back home and trying to catch up. I managed to fit in an estate sale and couldn't believe that these were still there 2 hours after the sale opened....

I kept a few and will be using those trucks for my vintage Christmas crafts. Love the color green on them!

Here are 3 events to mark you calendar for: Carriage House will be participating in the Vintage Shop/Hop again this year with 400 plus stores on March 1-2.

On March 10 is the Elgin High School Flea Market in Elgin IL. I will be in space 180 in the gym. I have been doing this event for a few years now and its great! It falls on daylight savings time so be sure to set your clock.

April 12 from 4-9pm is an amazing Vintage Market at Smith's Garage in McHenry IL. I am so excited and honored to be a vendor at this event.

There is so much to look forward! I will be updating my favorite flea market list so you can plan. Keep looking for those sales!

Happy treasure hunting!