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!

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!