Welcome August

It's hard to believe that August is already here! I will be moving my boys into college dorms this Saturday and will officially be an empty nester. That's hard to believe too! I'm trying to prepare myself for my life to change but that's something I probably can't prepare for. Lots of crying on Saturday (for me).

I just updated my Flea Market page with more dates for my favorite flea markets so take a look and mark your calendars.

At the Carriage House, we are planning on participating in Vintage Finds Off of Route 14 again this year with so many other wonderful shops.  Plan on visiting us! It's the start of our 15th year in business and my 4th year with them. It's so exciting to be doing something that I love so much.

Here's some great finds since my last post! (The green motel chair is my own) but the others were my recent finds. Love that metal pie safe. It is so chippy!

Look at this great detail and colors in this crochet afghan. I couldn't pass it up.

I fell in love with this little pitcher that was a garage sale find. It's part of my collection now.

Here I am with my "find" during a beautiful day. This mannequin head is now resting in "my" room at home.

This little black table was found at the same market and it replaced a blue farm stool that was in this corner. I like this cohesive color look a lot better.

These gorgeous flowers were from the Woodstock Farmer's Market. You can make your own bouquet with some of the most fabulous flowers that I have ever seen. I have since dried them and can't wait to use them in my fall decorating.

Here's a recent picture of my space at the Carriage House with a great green and white farm table that I found recently. It has such a great farmhouse look. My look and space will be changing very soon so stay tuned for all of the details.

The University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners are putting on a Farm Stroll 
with 12 local farms. It's a self guided tour so you can stay and visit as many farms as you want to. It makes a lovely day in the country. Many of the farms sell items so be prepared to buy some local goods.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. Get in as many sales as you can.

Happy treasure hunting!

July Begins!

Happy 4th of July!

I'm trying to enjoy the lazy days of summer....except I don't know how to be lazy. I have been taking advantage of clothing retailers summer sales. Talbot's and Christopher and Banks have been really great at summer sales. TJMaxx is also tops on my list for weekly visits.

I fell in love with this cow pillow from Vintage Charm Homestead located at Reclaimed Artisans in Libertyville. Isn't it adorable? She also had a goat and pig and some other wonderful pillows. The cow is bordered by vintage quilt pieces.

I made the other pillows a while ago. The one on the left is made from a vintage tablecloth that had many holes in it and the one on the right was from a chenille bedspread that had seen better days. I don't like to cut up vintage fabric pieces unless they can't be saved.

With today being hot and muggy, I decided to stay home and be crafty. I have been wanting to try my hand at stenciling. So, I bought a few stencils and some paint and started with a galvanized bucket that came out just fine. But, I got to thinking about some trays that I had at the Carriage House that I would love to try to stencil on.

They are still drying but I like how they came out! I may try to sand them a little to see what happens. They are purely for decor only since I haven't sealed them nor have I used food safe paint. If there is such a thing. Not too bad for my first attempt at stenciling.

Some upcoming events: The Union Historical Society Fair is on July 8, Gardenwalk by the University of Illinois McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners and McHenry County College is on July 14, Cedarburg WI flea market is on July 15, Mukwonago WI flea market is July 21-22 and Mchenry County Fair located at the fairgrounds in Woodstock is from July 31-Aug 5.

Happy treasure hunting!

Spring Busyness

So much has been going on in the past month. My youngest son Austin graduated from high school. So the planning has begun for his start of college in the fall. Lots of emotions with this going on also. All will be fine I know but it's bittersweet.

We spent the weekend in Madison Wisconsin recently for the regional Pokemon tournament and I got to walk around the farmer's market. It's fabulous! I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area.

It's on Saturday mornings around the capital. I ate my way around with some delicious scones.

I've been enjoying myself hunting for treasures. Here are some things that I found while shopping a friend's sale:

I decided to keep a few things for myself and redo my dining room. I kept an angel piece from that buy and found a vintage bird cage at a garage sale and put the two together.

I couldn't part with the bird cage. I set it on a vintage silverplated serving tray on top of my buffet.

....along with the angel planters. Here's a side view....

I also kept the bust. I can always use her as a display piece for jewelry or hats. There are so many possibilities.

I have been selectively keeping angel statues from my treasure hunting. Here's one in front of my garage.

Another recent find while treasure hunting is this fabulous crystal chandelier....

No, I didn't keep this one! It's for sale at the Carriage House. It needs to be wired but even as just a display piece it's awesome!

Keep looking for those garage sales and rummage sales. They are in full swing right now. Friday and Saturday is Nellies Barn Sale in Roscoe IL.  June 24th is the flea market in Elkhorn WI. Remember that on Sundays' is the flea market in Wilmot WI.

Janet from Lucky Junk opened a new store in Barrington IL and will be having an open house on June 27 along with two other stores, Wabi and Pink Geranium. It sounds like a fun night!

Happy treasure hunting!

Recap

It's been a long time since I had time to post. Sorry. So many things happening with only so many hours in the day!

Let's start with the Pepper Road and Friends Vintage Spring Market that I was a part of in Lake Barrington on May 5. I had a great time, met some wonderful people and the weather was perfect for my first time setting up a tent.

The booth behind me was Rusty Anchor Design Co and she put up this wall as part of her display. It enhanced my space so much! Plus it blocked some of the wind that came later in the day.

This was my space before the wall, all set up by 7am!

I finally finished decorating wall space in my room. I had hung two vintage sheep prints and an empty frame that I fell in love with. I was waiting to find the perfect insert for the frame. I found another sheep print (darling but not old, but that's ok) at Simone-Michele Antiques in Ridgefield. The chippy white frame was perfect for the look I was after. I also hung a vintage sheep postcard and a darling felted sheep heart on the frame.

While at The Shops of Ridgefield, I came across this vintage enamel pitcher at Country Church. It was larger then the ones in my collection so I had to have it. Paired with my magazine obsession on the coffee table, it looks so nice.

Even fake flowers when displayed like this, look great!

I have been searching for a vintage yo-yo quilt for so long. I let one go a few years back and it has haunted me ever since. So, when I found this one, I was over the top excited!

I have some free time now until next Friday when my son graduates from high school. My last child to graduate. It's bittersweet. His life is beginning. A whole world to explore. In a way, my life is beginning anew also. I'm trying to grasp that excitement and let life lead me where I need to go. It's definitely a journey, with tears along the way.

It's another fun filled weekend! On Saturday is Main Street Market in Rockord put on by Urban Farmgirl. On Saturday and Sunday is the Pecatonica Flea Market and on Sunday is the opening of the season at the Elkhorn Flea Market in Elkhorn WI. Not to mention the large amount of garage sales listed for this weekend.

Happy treasure hunting!

That Chair

As promised, I'm sharing my chair redo. 

Here it was before:

I liked the fabric pattern but it was getting worn in a few areas. Not bad for a $5 thrift store find many years ago.

Here it is now with another thrift store find. Fabric for less than $6.

I love the floral pattern and that it has a tea stained look. 

I'm lovin it in my hallway. I'm not so sure I'm going to let anyone sit on it!

Saturday is my first outdoor Spring Market. 

I figured out the tent yesterday. That's my biggest stress concern. Everything else will be fun!

There are many garage sales this weekend. It's finally here! On Thursday the Environmental Defenders have their sale in Cary on Route 14 at the Algonquin Township office at 9am and the Tree of Life Church in McHenry has their rummage sale at 9am. 

Happy treasure hunting!

Perfect Spring Day

This was the perfect Spring Weekend! 2 friends joined me in having a three day garage sale. It was fun, tiring and awesome. My best one yet!  I'm glad it's done. Two thrift stores (Savers and Sparrows Nest) got the rest. I feel freer now that I cleaned out my house.

Now my focus is on the May 5 Spring Vendor Market in Lake Barrington at the Pepper Road and Friends Market. 

I'm bringing some cool unique treasures to it. It's going to be so much fun! My friends Becky from Burlap and Boots and Alice from Upsy-doozy will be there too.

Happy Earth Day!

 

Using vintage items is the best way to recycle. Photos were from past displays at the Carriage House.

Happy treasure hunting!

Spring Tea

Yesterday I attended a Spring Tea with the Ladies group from my church. It was cold, rainy and windy, but the company and estate where it was held was amazing!

We had a tour of the 14,000 square foot house before we sat down to eat. Our hostess Debbie had lovingly restored this home to its grandeur. Beautiful chandeliers, swing saloon doors into the bar area and period furniture where appropriate. 

The kitchen had beautiful built in cabinets when you entered and massive refrigerator space. 

The tables were set up in two rooms...

With floral arrangements and different tea cup settings at each place. 

I was one of the lucky door prize winners of 3 scented hand creams. So fun!

We each wore fancy hats, good thing there were extras there so I had a bunch to choose from. 

It was a nice day and then overnight this happens...

I'm hoping that by Friday the weather is more spring like since I'm having a two day garage sale with 2 of my friends. I think this is where lol comes in!

On a warmer note: May 5 I'm selling at the

Pepper Road and Friends Spring Vendor Market in Lake Barrington from 9-4. I have shopped it before but this is the first time I'm selling at it. I am so excited to be selling there! 

Happy treasure hunting!

Redo

I'm in the mood to redo some things in my house. 

For 2 years I have been looking for a cabinet to hold some of the small pieces in my hammered aluminum collection. I never liked the one I was using but it served its purpose until I could find one that I liked. 

So yesterday while I was out delivering a chair to get reupholstered (more on that in a minute) I stumbled upon this cabinet. It was perfect and easy enough for me to move. 

It fits perfectly in the spot. Thank goodness because I left my measurements at home and had to eyeball it for size.

So now to the chair. I found some great fabric that I stashed away until the right project came along.  This chair... 

The fabric was awesome but it was worn on the arms and a few other areas. But for $5 years ago and through 2 kids who loved to sit in it, it was time for a new look. 

Stay tuned in about a month for the change. 

I also have been working on my sunroom and purging my seashell collection. 

I've kept the really large ones but only one container of small ones. And you know what has happened? The past few sales I've been to have had lots of shells and I have closed my eyes and walked away from them. It wasn't easy!

Love this vintage green wicker table that I found over 20 years ago. It looks nicer with some of my green pottery collection.

Even my patio table and chairs looks fresher. 

I just wanted to show you my cute finds today.

I'm definitely keeping the cow creamer. He's already in the barn with the others. 

Happy treasure hunting!

Feeling Spring

I love the change in seasons because then I can change my decor. Inside and out. I keep this chippy door on my front porch so that I can change the wreath. 

It's at this time of year that I get the urge to plant something. Aldi has tulips and hyacinths right now for $3.99. Recently I bought a vintage tureen with soft pink flowers on it for $2. I knew right away what I wanted to do with it so I headed out to Aldi this morning and bought some pink hyacinths. 

It looks really nice on my Easter table. I can't wait for the hyacinths to open so that beautiful smell can fill my house.

Speaking of flowers, I came across this cute cow planter and think I may have inadvertently started a new collection. 

I also just found a large wire flower frog that I added to my collection. It was a super exciting find for 50 cents!

There were a few estate sales these last few weeks where I found some great garden items.

The Zion Lutheran Church rummage sale is 8am on April 5. The rummage sale in Huntley is at noon on April 12 and the Presbyterian church on Route 47 in Woodstock is the same day but starts at 8am. In Cary, the church rummage sale is at 9am on April 19.

If the weather cooperates on April 20-21, my 2 friends are joining me to have a huge garage sale at my house. I have been purging daily! I even purged my sea shell collection that I have collected for over 20 years. It feels right now to let them go. Someone else can enjoy them as much as I have. 

Happy treasure hunting!

Happy Easter!

May you have a glorious and blessed Easter!