January is Here!

 Happy New Year! January is here with a vengeance. It started out quietly, but these past few days the snow has come. And come it has! Over 11" inches in just one day and now the polar vortex has arrived. On days like these, I savor the moments of organizing my house, cleaning it and crafting ideas that I haven't had time for.

I embellished these Putz houses with vintage items that I collect all year round. Just a few additions really up the WOW factor. It's never too early to prepare for next Christmas sales.

Some cute little mugs with vintage embellishments.

I bought a red and white cutter quilt not too long ago with the idea of crafting with it. Well, here is one idea I made. So cute for Valentine's Day! I sewed a pillow with that cutter quilt and I will be sewing a few Valentine hearts with it also. 

I couldn't resist that Brocante necklace to dress up the mannequin in my upstairs hallway. It was just the look I wanted for it. 

I also couldn't resist this picture. I bought both at the Carriage House from a fellow vendor. 

My favorite flea markets page has been updated so please take a look. I will be selling at the Elgin High School Flea Market again this year on March 10th. Carriage House Antiques will be participating in the Vintage Shop Hop on March 1-2. So mark your calendar.

I have started selling on Etsy again. Slowly items will be added. Remember, I sell on Ebay as seller milena2000. I have some wonderful vintage jewelry pieces up now and there will be more added often.

Happy treasure hunting!

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas!

I have been busy working on my space at the Carriage House. Christmastime is by far my most hectic time, but I love it!

Here's a snapshot of what my space looked like. You can see more on Instagram....

My space was so full of vintage goodness....

I will be selling on my Etsy shop soon in the new year. I haven't sold on it for awhile so it took some time to update it. I will let you know when it's up and ready. Lots of fun changes in the new year!

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy new year filled with lots of treasures!

Milena 

Hello fall!

 Hello fall!

What a beautiful day for the first day of fall! First a visit to the Woodstock Farmer's Market to buy vegetables and a delicious blueberry crumble bar. I shredded the zucchini and froze it so when I want to make chocolate zucchini bread or cookies I'll have it. 

The rest of the day I was busy pricing my finds from yesterday. It was probably the best sale I have found all year! I love that feeling when I'm walking up the driveway and spot a great item only to look further and there are more great items just waiting for me....

Those corbels and gilded candelabra's are fantastic!

That primitive wooden shopping cart was the first thing that I spotted. It would look great with some fall branches in it.

There were plenty of primitive finds. Just up my alley...I have a thing for cloth head forms. 

Here's me at a recent flea market. It was a small haul day but I love the items that I did find. Tomorrow I'm off to the last Elkhorn Flea Market. I love the final one because it's fall inspired.

I fell in love with the fabric on this chair. It's going to the Carriage House for our Holiday Open House November 2-5. 

This Santa pitcher and mugs were a lucky find! It was three hours after the sale started and it was still there waiting for me....

A few more fun finds...

It was an ironstone finds kind of day. That's always a good day!

Garage sales are winding down but there are still some to be found. I am hoping to have a final one of my own in October but at this point I'm not completely sure that I'll find the time. I really hope I do so that I can enjoy the quiet winter months without stuff in the way.

Oct 6-7 is the Vintage Shop Hop. Carriage House Antiques is participating again. It's a really fun two days of sales and treasure hunting.

We already have the dates for our Holiday Open House....it's the most magical time of year at the shop where we transform it into a Holiday Wonderland...

Enjoy all that fall has to offer! Don't miss a sale....I'll be updating my favorite flea markets page in the coming months for 2024. In the meantime,

Happy treasure hunting!

End of Summer Fun

Summer is winding down. Except for the next few hot days.  I'm so looking forward to fall. I like sweater weather and cool sleeping weather.

I have reset my space at the Carriage House for fall. Oct 6-7 is the fall version of the Vintage Shop Hop. We will be participating this year. It's always so much fun!

Speaking of fun.....look at some of the treasures I have been finding at sales recently...

More scary dolls and doll heads.

Ironstone and bird cages. How great is that!

More ironstone and really pretty gravy boats and creamers. I'm planning on using the barkcloth fabric for a chair I'm going to recover. Hopefully I can start that project soon. 

Look at that glorious ironstone pitcher closer to the chair back. I had to keep that one! It's perfect. I was just thinking that I hope to find one like that soon and then.....boom....there it was.  Super exciting for me!

Look at this butter pat haul! Pretty awesome huh?

With all that has been keeping me busy this summer, I decided to start fall decorating in my home early. Here are 2 pictures so far....

My father gave me that beautiful candelabra when I visited my parent in NJ. It's perfect in my living room blending all the fall colors together.

Sales are slowing down but can still be found. There are a few more outdoor flea markets coming up. Holiday markets will be starting soon. Can you believe that?

Happy treasure hunting!

Summer Thoughts....

It's the middle of summer and I'm already planning my fall space redo at Carriage House Antiques this weekend. It's retail and I have to keep up with the other stores. I'll wait awhile before changing my home though to pumpkins.

I did change a few areas in my house recently. I found two fabulous paintings at an estate sale and knew I wanted to keep them. Plus, I had purchased a really great hall cabinet and loved it too much to sell. So, they went into my living room near my bookcases...

That painting has everything that I love on it.

My kitchen got a corner makeover too.  I brought in this swan planter from outside when I found this plant stand....

Estate sales have been plentiful! I have been having a great time with my loot shoots....

I'm always happy to find Christmas Santa mugs!

There's that other painting that I kept. I had the perfect frame for it and it now hangs in my laundry area.  Can you believe that the plaid tote was FREE! I couldn't either but I can't wait to use it at Christmastime.

My son loves paint by numbers so these are hanging in his apartment. They were a good find since paint by numbers can get pricey.

She's coming this weekend to my fall/Halloween space redo...

My picnic basket collection has grown. Not intentionally but how can I pass them up when the prices are soooo good! I use them to store my vintage Christmas crafting items...

I love the colors on these.

and this one....

More finds...

I love this watermelon basket but I haven't decided yet whether to keep it or sell it. The quilt is amazing! The colors are breathtaking. The lady lamp is also stunning. I haven't rewired it yet.

I bought the doll from my friend who sells as my_collected_nonsense. She was too cute to pass up so she's now in my china cabinet with many of my favorite things.

Today started out stormy but then the humidity kicked in. As I do every July, I work on creating Christmas decor on the hottest day. I put on Christmas music, turned on the air conditioner and spent the day making....

I know, I know. I'm putting in fall at the shop this weekend and I'm already thinking of Christmas. But you know me, I always have Christmas on my mind. I had a super fun day!

Keep going to those sales. There's still lots of garage sales, flea markets and estate sales.

Happy treasure hunting!

April Musings....

It's April but it sure doesn't feel like it! It was 80 degrees for the first few weeks and now the cold weather has returned with snow flurries and sleet. Welcome to the Midwest!

The cold weather isn't stopping me though from having my yearly garage sale. I'm doing it on a Wednesday this year with an open invite to local friends and fellow vintage dealers. It's a fun way to socialize and clean out the house/storage at the same time.

Sales have been going on. Here's a sampling of what I have found.....

It's been an ironstone kind of finds recently...

It was butterpats galore....

and ironstone dishware.

I did find some vintage Christmas...

and these Santa mugs finds....my heart was racing....

I'm always preparing for the Christmas Open House at the Carriage House in November. 

There has been some time to do some redecorating/reorganizing in my home. Recently I found this candelabra for the hallway at the top of my stairs. I was going for a French look to go along with my vintage dress form. It was a perfect fit!

Now that May is nearing, I'm preparing for the Spring Open House next week at the Carriage House. It's May 3-6. I'm bringing in some more garden related items and some more "lighter" furniture for a summer vibe. 

I have updated my favorite Flea Market page on my blog so be sure to check it out for some flea market fun. Keep looking for those rummage, garage and estate sales. You never know what you'll find!

Happy treasure hunting!