Does Anyone Still Hang Out Laundry??!!

I think the last time I saw laundry on the clothesline was when we were driving out in the Amish country in Iowa a couple of years ago. Hanging clothes out in the sunshine is almost like a lost art.  While sorting through my treasures yesterday, I ran across 3 different types of clothespins, and this wonderful "Clothes Pins" apron.  I love it!  I have a weakness for embroidery and aprons, and put them together and WOWZA!!!

A perfect apron



Typical old round clothespins



Flat clothespins--older than the round ones!



Unusual smaller clothespins--I've never seen this style before!

Amish laundry blowing in the wind

Now, If I can just part with some of these pins! 

Until next time,
Pam



Unusual Cabinet Photos

I love looking at old photos. I ran across pictures of some old cabinet photos that I no longer have. Sometimes when you find old photo albums--the really old ones with tintypes and cabinet photos are still in tact. These photos were in the back of an album and are pictures of "Circus Acts". Really rare to find these! Before I deleted my folder, I had to share. Hope you enjoy.

Until next time, Pam

My Weakness for Linens!

I know I don't need any more linens, but I have a real BIG weakness for the old textiles! I love vintage embroidered linens, crocheted doilies, and of course quilts. It doesn't matter how many I have--which would be enough to open a linen store!, I just keep accumulating them.

I know linens are plentiful--but eventually they won't be and I'll have a real nice stash! Until next time, Pam

Back to School Already?

Remember when it was time to shop for school supplies--nothing like new pencils and notebooks!  Water colors, erasers, and a new lunchbox!I don't remember ever getting to use this learning game shown below!  I love it now--but years ago, I probably would have thought it was hard!  Now kids have computers--and have you tried to sell encyclopedias lately?  Our parents were so proud to have a complete set of encyclopedias for us to use.  Now I can't give them away at estate sales.  Times have surely changed!

                                                                   Until next time,
                                                                    Pam

Where Has Summer Gone?

 Well, I can't say that I'm sad summer is almost over.  The year started out great, I was posting daily, business was picking up at the shop, one estate sale after the other, then my dad got sick.  He kept getting better, then sick, then better, then--he surprised us all and died in June.  Life hasn't been the same for my family.  I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.  But...I'm ready for this summer to end ...maybe in time things will get back to normal.   I saw all of these little pennants and souviner spoons and it reminded me of our family vacations.  We always got a new pennant for our rooms.  Mom purchased a "state" plate for her collections.  It seems as though everything has a memory now.  Good memories!

Until next time,

Pam

Big Estate Sale Wed & Thursday

It's been a busy Estate Sale season--and the sale tomorrow is one you won't want to miss!  Opening Wednesday July 24th  from 10 - 5 and Thursday July 25th from 10 - 2.  I've never seen so many small collectibles in one house!  2106 WEST DELL in Alton, Illinois. (Rock Gate Subdivision)  You'll find: antique furniture, old cut glass, antique tools, linens, quilts, barware, LuRay pastel dishes, silverplate, several sets of fine china, Schwin bicycle, and hundreds of little collectibles--perfect for collectors and dealers.  You could replenish your stock for your online sales or shops!  Hope to see you there.
Until next time,
Pam

Spring is Finally Here--I Think!

Spring is a busy time for all of us.  Something always gets neglected.  I finally got around to changing the storefront window.  Loved the vintage prom dresses--found them in the upstairs of an old Alton house, in a pile, ready for the trash.  I about had a heart attack.  Trash--I don't think so, I made an offer and bought them on the spot!  Perfect for display! 

I'm working on another estate sale, with more to follow after that.  Calls all the time.  I'll keep you posted.
Until next time,
Pam

Estate Sale this Weekend in Godfrey

I've been busy working on an estate sale-- 4903 Southwood Dr, in River Aire South, Godfrey. It opens this Friday, April 5th from 4:30 until 7, then again on Saturday, April 6th from 9 till 1.  This is a good clean sale with lots of household items, including dining room furniture, love seats, tables, chairs, tv's and other electronics, holiday, glassware, barware, beds a riding lawn mower, tools and lots of other stuff.  No pictures to show--you'll just have to be there. 

I have other sales in the works so keep checking back.  Hope to see you on Friday!

Stitching--Attention to Detail

As if a hand stitched and hand quilted quilt is not beautiful enough, adding a fancy feather stitch just adds to the beauty.  The quilt below looks beautiful, but then look at the picture below it--it shows how fancy a topstitch can be!  It's all in the attention to detail!

This old quilt has fabulous color, the schoolhouse is all pieced together and then a fancy topstitch is added.




Upclose of the detailed top stitch.  You see this stitch alot on old crazy quilts.  This shows how the attention to detail just makes the quilt look snazzy!

  Displaying a quilt is always a challenge--this is a great look for small quilts or squares.


A wonderful way to display miniature quilts or quilt squares.

  More fancy top stitching....


Again--attention to detail.

 We've been selling quilts again...Funny how trends come and go...but a good quilt is always ---A GOOD QUILT!!  I had the chance to purchase about a dozen cutter quilts and they are selling as well.  I have about another dozen hand-pieced quilt tops that I will be getting out soon.  I love them all!
Until next time,
Pam

Old Paint Brushes Anyone?

You never know what will interest customers!  We came up with an assortment of old paintbrushes that had a great look!  We sold alot of them to customers that were going to make a collage out of them.  One guy said that he was really going to use it for painting because they don't make brushes like this anymore!  You never know!


Nice painted basket full of old brushes!

As the snow continues to fall here in Illinois, my thoughts are on spring--cleaning, painting and warm weather!
Until next time,
Pam

Early Kid's Things

These few pictures were taken at the Heart of Country Show in Nashville.  The dolls and bears were on the walls at the center aisle.  I love them all!

I love the detail of these old dolls.  The clothes, the face--everything.



These folk art dolls are almost impossible to find--especially in this condition. 




Fabulous bears.  Early, mint condition.

 When I was young, I had dolls (Barbies and Thumbalina!) but nothing like this.  I don't remember having a teddy bear.  Now, I love them all!
Until next time,
Pam

Early Pine Church Pew

I promised a picture of this church pew.  It was cut to this small size.  Dates to the mid 1800's.  I love it! It is narrow and would be perfect at a table, or in a hallway or porch.  Deep rich wood.

This is the front view of the church pew.  It is pine with the edges being solid walnut.

I love the carvings on the back.  I wonder who did it!

I have alot of pictures to post, but promised this one to an interested buyer!

Until next time,

Pam

Sewing Anyone?

I'm having some trouble getting my pictures to load properly, so a few of them were left out.  Not sure what's up with that!  Anyway, here are a few pictures of the buttons and sewing items we had at the show.  I will be setting up a sewing, textile section at the shop with lots more.

This laundry table was full of buttons and other sewing items.   Sold lots of it and the table.



I don't know how many of these old bone buttons we sold!  They are getting hard to find.



Sold the weavers thread rack. lots of spools of thread and the old binding.  Still have lots more to get out at the shop.

Better go for now,
Until next time,
Pam

Our Corner Booth at Heart of Country

Well, I'm not blowing when I say we had one of our best Heart of Country shows.  It was steady flow almost all of the time.  So many smalls and half of the furniture sold.  It was very exciting.  Here are pictures of our booth!  It's a big booth in the corner--so I can't get it all in one picture!  Trust me when I say it is BIG!  and FULL!!  As we sold, we kept getting more out, but I didn't have time to get pictures everythime.  That's a good problem to have.


This was the opening of our corner booth.  Sold the chair and the white counter.



The patriotic display was killer.  Sold all of it.  Also sold the basket full of old softballs.



This picture was taken before all of the Christmas was out.  Sold tons of it!  Also sold the Salesman Sample Gate and the painted towel/quilt rack.



Sold the pair of shutters.  Very unusual shape!



Sold some of the Yard Art!  Really a great look!



Sold the ladder and the quilts that were on it.  Lots of the smalls on the bucket bench also sold.  Honestly, I don't remember if we sold the screen or not.  I'll have to check on that! 



Sold the smalls in this picture--the church pew came home with us.  It is really a great piece and will be wonderful in the shop.  I'll show a picture of the back of it in another post.  It has carvings from students on the back!



Sold 4 of the  blue shutters--going to be made into a headboard!  Also sold the quilt. 

So much of the stuff we took is gone, and what's exciting is that what we took back home with us has never been in the shop--so that will be fresh to our market.  We're tired, but it's a good tired!  I'll post more pictures--some up close of small items, and some pictures of other booths.  Gotta go for now--Getting ready for a big snow/sleet/ice storm here.  Thank goodness we are not loading and leaving this weekend! 
Until next time,
Pam

Back Home from Nashville!

I'll be posting lot's of pictures from the Heart of Country Show. We had a really good show, sold lot's of wonderful things, just an overall great time. Pictures to come tomorrow!

Almost Time to CheckOut!

It's almost time to load--still not ready, but it'll all come together.  I take this old store counter to use as my checkout!  It is an awesome piece.  I could have sold the paper roll on the counter a million times!  But...it's not for sale--I use it to wrap all of the little treasures! 

I'll take alot of pictures in Nashville and post when I get back.

Until next time,

Pam

Heart of Country Preview Party

There is nothing like the Heart of Country Preview Party.  This year's party will be held on February 14th with regular show hours on February 15th and 16th.  The music, the food, the crowd!!! the anticipation of what the show dealers have to offer.  This is not your usual show.  The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is so beautiful...a perfect setting for a beautiful show. 

We load up on Friday.  I'm still not ready, but...my encouraging news is that my dad is finally out of the woods and improving.  I'm not sure if he will be out of the hospital when we are suppose to leave, but I know that he would kill me if I canceled!  He knows how much we look forward to this time of year...so somehow, we will be ready.  There's just not enough hours in the day.

Until next time,

Pam

Another Timely Booth Setup From the Past

I can still remember some of the customers that bought from us this year.  Many are now repeat customers, whether at the show, or they come to the shop.  Repeat business is what it is all about!  These pictures are from the 2007 Heart of Country Show in Nashville.  As you can see, this corner booth took awhile to setup too.  Hope you enjoy it!

Some of the dealers in the past have looked at this booth and thought WHAT???  No, it's not a booth with 10 things in it, and it's priced in every price range.  I finally got it through my head---who cares?   Those dealers sure don't mind searching through the booth and BUYING my stuff!  If they don't like it, I have a great policy for them----stay out of it!  I'm here for the faithful customers, and they seem to love it!

Wow, I finally said it! 

Until next time,

Pam