Welcome November

As I sit here typing this, we are expecting a few inches of snow. Again! Who would have thought that on Halloween we had 7.1" of snow.

At least we had some snow for the Holiday Open House at the Carriage House. It got everyone in the Christmas spirit! It was a fabulous Open House. We had people lining up a half hour before we opened. Then it was crazy busy for the first three hours. It was great!

These were from a recent estate sale that I took to the Open House. My heart always skips a couple of beats when I find vintage Christmas.

Just like it did when I found these musical ones. Those white chippy posts were an estate sale find also. I wrapped some poinsettia garland around them.

They look super cute for sitting on a mantel.

My trunk was so packed with vintage Christmas that I was taking to the Carriage House Open House that I couldn't even see out of the rear view mirror.

My space turned out really well....if I do say so....

Santa welcomed everyone coming out of a "chimney". Then vintage Christmas filled my space.

and more....

it felt like a toy store....

I can't wait now to start decorating my house for Christmas.

While at Christmas at the Farm, I found this elf for myself. I saw it across the room but since the flow of shoppers was going in one direction, I couldn't skip out of line.  Good thing no one else wanted him.

Another fun place to visit was the McNeil Mansion in Elgin. They had a Holiday Open House for the past two weekends. I finally visited it! They had the best dark chocolate salted caramel candy. I actually went back the next weekend to get more. The felted slippers, bags and hats were exceptional. So many other crafts and antiques were mixed in.

Here's the entry into the Christmas room....

There is nothing like visiting all the Open Houses or shows this time of year to get you in the Christmas spirit.  It's my favorite time of year!

Urban Farmgirl in Rockford has a fun open house. They had a great hot cocoa bar and while you're on line paying, they come around with fabulous sugar cookies. An added bonus to shopping there.

There's also a fabulous farm truck out front of the store...

Make sure to keep checking for local sales. There are still estate sales going on as well as craft shows and local housewalks. Get in the spirit of the season! I know I am.

Happy treasure hunting!

My Mind is On....

My mind is on Christmas.  Vintage Christmas. November 7-10 is the Holiday Open House at the Carriage House.

I have bin upon bin of vintage Christmas to bring so I'm planning my displays.  It's my favorite time of the year.  Hope you can make it!

Here are my fun finds from the last Elkhorn Flea Market of the season.... You know how I love my vintage Santas.

I wanted to share a fun find from a garage sale.,,,

Isn't this awesome?

My house doesn't have overhead lighting. Each room needs a lamp.  I have always loved and admired the homes that had overhead fixtures. I knew that my bathroom would be so great with a chandelier in it. I was right! There is an overhead fan fixture that I hung it from even though it won't be plugged in anywhere. It's great to just have the look.

I bought that fabulous floral painting years ago on my birthday. It's one of my favorite paintings.

There are some fun events coming up to get you into the holiday spirit.  Nov 1-2 is
Christmas at the Farm in Belvidere.  Other stores are starting their Holiday Open houses at the same time. Keep checking for your favorite shops.

November 8-9 is Three French Hens in Morris.  The same weekend is Urban Farmgirl's Holiday Open House in Rockford. It's a cute store that last year had the most amazing hot chocolate bar.

There are other craft shows popping up now for the holidays. Check your local areas. I like to start getting in the holiday spirit early!

Happy treasure hunting!

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall!

I kept my fall decorating simple. I like the look. It's hard for me to keep things simple. I usually like it a little flashy and lots of stuff. This is a huge change for me.

Here's another inside idea....

Recently I was gifted this fun tray and really cool vintage fabric from a friend. Notice the tray in the above picture?

My outside decor is also simple but cute.  Watch out for Christmas decorating though when I go all out! No simple decor then.

Sometimes I buy things that I have a hard time parting with. Usually I'll get rid of something else in order to justify keeping it. This was one of those things....

I fell in love with this picture and frame. When I found it at a garage sale, the lady looked at me like she couldn't believe someone actually wanted it! Of course I did. It's fabulous. I rearranged the paintings in my basement and decided to sell a barn scene painting. This painting is so worth it!

This Saturday, Sept 28, is the Johnny Appleseed event in downtown Crystal Lake. It's a family friendly event. Sunday, Sept 29, is the final Elkhorn WI flea market for the season. October 6 is the final Cedarburg WI flea market.  October 6 is also the Historical Museum's Cider Festival in Union.

Keep looking for those garage sales and rummage sales before it gets too cold for them. They are out there!

Happy treasure hunting!

It's Been a While

I know, I know. It's been a lot longer than I thought since my last post. I'm so sorry. Life just got away from me.

I'll try to catch you up:

I saw fabulous paper lanterns in a vintage magazine and thought I would never find any. Well, at an estate sale there they were! Someone else had put them down and I snatched them up. So, I hung them in my sun room for a 4th of July get together.  Loved it!

Look at the details on them.

Fast forward to the middle of July. I always get into the Christmas creating mood in the middle of July when it's hot. I just put on some music and get out my little trucks and create. 

And here's some more....

These will be at the Vintage Christmas Open House at the Carriage House in November.

Here's an exciting find for my Statue of Liberty collection....another item I never thought I would find but thanks to a garage sale there it was.

It's a light and it works!

One of my favorite flea markets is at Holy Hill in Hubertus Wisconsin. It's held once a year at the end of July.  It was a beautiful day to be there and the hot dog tasted delicious.

Here's a bird's eye view from the top of the cathedral (yes I walked all the way to the top).

We spent some time with my family in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in August and made sure to visit another one of my favorite flea markets in Saylorsburg PA. It's in the Pocono Mountains.

Besides the two Santa blow molds that I found there, I also found these other Santa's at an estate sale in New Jersey....

Look how great this one is....

I found a few other wonderful items while on my trip. A few pieces of ironstone:

and another Statue of Liberty for my growing collection...

We always stop at Wendell August Forge in Grove City PA on the way home to look at the aluminum.  I love to look in the museum at my favorite pieces...

and this one....

Back at home estate/garage saleing, I came across this really great purse....

and here is the back....

I'm going to incorporate it somehow into my Thanksgiving decor.  I'll let you know what I come up with.

Look at the lower left hand corner on this shelf for my newest flower frog addition.  It's a turtle shell...

A few months ago I showed you this really great metal plant stand. I just popped a pumpkin into it for some quick fall decor...

The Carriage House just celebrated the beginning of their 16th year in business during the Vintage Finds off Route 14 shop crawl. We redid the whole store.  I especially love how this wall in my space came out...

Today was the St. Gabriel flea market up in Hubertus WI. I finally got to go! It was super fun and one that I will go to again.  Tomorrow is the second day of the Pecatonica IL flea market. Sept 21 is the flea market in Belvidere IL. A fun event in downtown Crystal Lake is the Johnny Appleseed event on Sept 28. The last Elkhorn WI flea market for the season is on Sept 29.  On the same day is a Farm Stroll put on by the McHenry County University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and local farms. Its a go on your own tour.

Now on to October: Oct 4-5 is a vintage Shop Hop with over 300 (maybe more) shops in IL and WI participating. Carriage House is on it.  The last Cedarburg WI flea market of the season is on Oct 6. The same day is the Union Historical Society Cider Fest autumn event. Three French Hens in Morris IL is on Oct 12. Autumn Drive in Woodstock is on Oct 18-20.

There are still many sales going on.

Happy treasure hunting!

Soooo Many Finds

This picture of my fabulous garage sale find....

had the most likes on the White Ironstone China Association Facebook page in June that it is now the July cover photo for the groups page! I'm super excited to have it featured!!!!

Speaking of finds, here are a few other great treasures that I found recently:

This Everlast bamboo pattern ice bucket was from the Pecatonica Flea Market.  I wasn't looking for more hammered aluminum but couldn't pass this up.

Here's a really cool garage sale plant stand....

I hit the garage sale jackpot one day for vintage toy trucks...

I kept the blue one...

It blends in well with my other collectibles.

At the Belvidere Flea Market I walked away from this dress form a few times before finally buying it.  I'm so glad I did! It's larger than any other that I have, it was made in New York and it's fabulous!

I have it in my dining room now.

Keeping on the garage sale kick, I found this piece of ironstone recently for my collection...

I just had to share this cookbook page I recently bought at a garage sale.  It's hysterical!

Old cookbooks have the craziest ideas. That's what makes them so fun to go through.  Don't pass them up.

Two friends and I finally had a garage sale.  It was great to clean out.  One table didn't sell and it was a good thing after all. It looks really great in my garden with a lavender plant on it.

I love the color chipped on it.

I was waiting for the perfect time to take a photo of my statue with the hostas in bloom. But, with all  the rain we were having, I didn't have a chance to spray deer repellent on them.  The deer devoured them so this is the best picture I can hope for this summer....

Debbie from the Peacock Shoppe in Ridgefield made me this fairy garden in a piece of milk glass. It was so thoughtful of her.

So now with summer finally in full swing, we at the Carriage House are having an architectural salvage sale starting on July 5 for the whole month.

Here are some more sales this month:  3 French Hens in Morris on July 13, Cedarburg Flea Market in Cedarburg WI July 14, Union Historical Museum in Union on July 14, Crystal Lake Sidewalk Sales in the downtown shops July 18-20. Mukwonago Flea Market in Mukwonago WI July 20-21.

The McHenry County University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners are having their annual Gardenwalk on July 13.

The McHenry County 4-H Fair starts on July 30-Aug 4.

There's so much to do in July! There are local festivals, not to mention garage sales/estate sales and a visit to Lake Geneva. Don't forget to eat ice cream along the way.

Happy treasure hunting!