Thursday, September 30, 2010

Shop Fun

Don't you love this creature? Actually it's a decal that can be put onto a wall or glass.
We put ours on an old mirror.
Our little crow friends have arrived.



Not Halloween, but some fun I found a couple of weekends ago.
Crinolines. Love this one which I would have kept, but it's too small for me.
You know I would totally wear this.



I found this wicker laundry cart which is very cute, but not really my style.
Boy was I surprised when I put it in the shop and read the stamp on it!!!





It's an actual laundry cart from the Chicago Merchandise Mart!!!!
That's fun.





A new display case arrived in the shop and had fun filling it full of Halloween fun.





Really fun glitter decorations on our lockers up front.



Oh do...



And from my blog pal Junkin Julie, I scored these really cool numbered stamps that must have been from a store because some of the stamps say "Lb", "each" and "for", with the old cents stamp.
Well, just a quick hey from me.
Hope you're having a lovely day.
Angie







Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Inspiration



Our holiday show is coming up Oct. 23rd. If you've been, you know that we transform the shop into themed rooms and pull out all the stops.
This year I really wanted to do "New Year's In Paris", but have been struggling with just how to do it.
Yesterday, I came across this mother load and am truly inspired!
I can't wait to share my ideas with you.
New Year's in Paris... if only.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Time To Stock Up and Nest



This is a quick peek at a fun collection I have at home. I can't resist the old clock faces, and rarely pass one up. One of our themes for the Holiday show Oct. 23rd is "New Year's In Paris".
We'll be using a clock theme, but you'll have to wait and see!
There is a woman named Sandy that comes to the shop every year in late summer. She and her daughter harvest all kinds of grasses and grains. I've bundled them together for simple fall swags.




Boy, do we have silver! As you know, I always keep it at three bucks a per piece, and we're loaded with some real beauties right now!
Come by and see us!

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Long and Winding Road



My only duty on Saturday was to pick John up at the airport, on his way home from Paris, at 8:40 that evening. Don't feel sorry for me, it was business. I'm still licking my wounds from the whole Junk Bonanza deal.

You know what? I remembered that my pal Jeanine from Chippy Shabby was going to have a booth at a flea market in Germantown. I called her up, she said it was small, but I knew that if I drove the three hours directly to her, I could spend the rest of my day junking and exploring the country side back to the Green Bay airport.
Woo-hoo!I knew that if I left at the crack of dawn, I could get there right before it opened. Jeanine always has the best finds and I would never hesitate to go to one of her many sales because I know she has just what I want.
So, I didn't leave at the crack of dawn, but I did get there in time to snag some great items.

Above is Jeanine chatting it up with a customer.
Jeanine has a fabulous blog. She updates frequently and is always showing new display ideas, so click here to check it out... you'll love it!

A vintage chandelier that I'm still wondering why I left it there.


Another lovely chandie (I've noticed some people calling them chandies's... trying to stay with the IN crowd).


Here are my scores from Jeanine, not looking like much but you just wait! They will be making a very special appearance at our holiday show Oct. 23rd.


After some weird stops in odd towns, I knew that I would enjoy Plymouth, WI where the Red Rooster was located. I did score and you will have to wait for the Oct. show.
I will tell you to be sure and visit this shop as there is so much to see, and the prices are very reasonable.


I did pick up hubby and we spent the night in Green Bay so we could just have a nice dinner and relax rather than hoofing it back to DC. I had a hard time finding a room, but we got a decent one with a restaurant and bar.... where we proceeded to share it with partiers and revelers going to the Packer game the next day.
Let me just leave you with this unromantic idea... A couple got off of the elevator and we heard someone say, "no problem, brother"... we got on and and a middle aged man in Packer gear from head to toe, asked which floor we wanted to go to, and when I told him it took him quite some time to focus on which button I was speaking of.
Needless to say, I stayed in the corner of the elevator praying that we got out before he tossed his good time all over our feet.
So the next morning, I remembered that I had googled antiques is WI and remember the one above.

We spent big bucks on just the outside!


This isn't a great pic, but this sweet lady is the owner. This mall had fantastic things at really good prices.
Here's another thing with me... when I go into antique malls, it always seems that the people working are just a little more than cranky. Even when I see great items, a cool clerk can really turn me off.
This woman was a gem. Happy to help, happy we were there and just delightful all around.
We bought a-plenty!


Yep, it's mine.



And see the mixers below? John had a great idea... more to come soon!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Junk Bonanza Pout... Might As Well Re-work Displays!

So

So.... I had every chance to go to the Junk Bonanza in MN.
Dang.
Sometimes I'm just a loser.
If you follow any blogs, all you are hearing about are the great buys, fabulous displays and
Ki and Heather. Of course Deb of Curious Sofa.
Okay, someone kick me in the pants next year if by June 1st, I don't have travel plans put in place.
Not to mention the Creative Connection.... Augh, Charlie Brown!
Breathe.


I let the time get away from me, so tomorrow I'm heading out to Germantown, WI
To see Jeanine of Chippy Shabby and Junkin' Julie at a special show they are doing at the
Pilgrim Antique Mall.

In the meantime, I decided to get my own creative connection and re do some things in the shop.
Here you go.This is the most adorable pin cushion created by Mary Virlee, just for us.



Click to enlarge, and check out the wooden carpenter's box with old blue chippy paint.

A very special customer of our dropped off vintage hankies.
Here's the box she brought... the shot is after I've taken out the colorful hankies and am left with the white one. These are my favorites. Some have lily of the valley, some have initials on them.
Does the box she stored them in look familiar? T.

Took the florals and made our wire mannequin a skirt of sorts.


Junk Bonanza Schmanza... next year.

Come and see me!
Angie

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Halloween and Mike, the Fedex Guy

You know you live in a small town when you answer the phone and on the other end you here
"Hey Angie, it's Mike. I've got a huge shipment for you and I'm not going to be there until 5:00, maybe later".
That would be Mike the Fedex Guy.
So, I spent my Friday evening unpacking boxes, hating that I was leaving Carol with a
mess of cardboard to put out the next morning.
However, there was Halloween in the boxes, and you all know I've laid the background for this.
So, I will admit to enjoying putting it together. There's even some orange in it... but I like it!
This guy is big. Notice that he is hanging from an old porch column.



Mr. Funny Bones. Hmmm... I like him too!



Okay, I admit to ordering these little crows from a catalog without having seen them up close for myself, but they are great.



And this little lady? Looks like she got her skirt from the Magic Jacket.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

Fall Foof and Fluff.


First of all, Peter is not on his knees. My BFF, Karen gave me a couple of sunflower sprouts in little peat pots to put outside. I just handed them off to Peter, and voila!
Seriously, have you ever seen a sunflower so big?
I also love that it's in the sign bed right on the road... it's drawn quite a following.

So this post is again, this and that. We got in more of these FABULOUS vests.
Linen... washer, dryer... put it on. No fussing here.


I foofed and fluffed today... it was a great time to do so seeing as how we had 78.00 in the till at the end of the day. Gotta love the week after Labor Day weekend.
However, the linen napkins I've been waiting for arrived today.
These napkins are 15.00 each. I know, I know, but they are made of a very heavy linen
and wash and dry like a charm. They will also last a lifetime, and could be handed down if desired.
I do love the mercury pendant lamps!



A closer look at the napkins, did I mention they are huge?
As far as a great vintage find, check out this scale. I've seen a kajillion of these, but not one as pretty or nearly as large.


Again, in the vintage department we have these little jars. Adorable with silver lids and a place where a spoon would have gone. Anyone? Someone suggested sugar.... hmm I don't know.



Clevah, again.
No words necessary.
(I'm the only person reading this, right?)



A great vintage phone. I have two of them right now.
Just love them as decoration.
Did anyone ever have those nightmares when you were trying to dial a phone number in distress and you could never put your fingers in the right holes?
I digress.

I just came across these vintage wooden printing blocks.

Great linen bolsters in as well.

Just a glance at the shop from today... I'm thinking it's time for the snake story.
The "snake story" happened the second year we were in business.
I still quiver/cackle when I think about it.
Stay tuned.

Angie

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

All You Need Is Love