And You Think Painting a Room is Bad!

If you think painting a room is a big deal, you should try to paint a wall in a shop! This is the long view of just one side of the shop. We have been wanting to paint it forever, finally, I just hired a painter to do it! Nothing fancy, it had dark green and now it is clean white! We had to move everything at least 8 feet from the wall all the way down. What a mess! Then it was all covered so no spatter would get it. Now it is done and the fun can start. Everything on the other side of the shop will be moved here, making room for a great new dealer who needs two spaces. As we move, I'm going to weed out old stuff and replace it with fresh merchandise! Yippee!
This is a temporary set-up. All of this will be moved to the other side of the shop!

Some of this will remain, but a lot of this will change too. We have to start somewhere!

More temporary displays. It's amazing the comments we get from our customers. They really notice changes!

This display is right in the front center of the shop. It will stay for a bit. We had to move it first so we can move the rest!

This last month was no different for me than anyone else--meaning getting my taxes done! But they are done. I just finished an order for my junk necklaces---they are awesome and I'll show them in another post! I have the Mother-Daughter Banquet under control!!! Easter is coming, I have hired a new employee, been on several house calls, getting an estate sale lined up, listed numerous toys on ebay, and even with all of this---I have really been missing the shows we normally do. Marburger Farm, Midwest Antique Show in Cedar Rapids Iowa, and last weekend was Hermann MO. I'm so thankful Gary is back at his job at the refinery for now, but we still miss the shows. The only thing that makes it better for me is that every show so far has had stormy weather for travel....and since I am afraid of storms, I'm glad to be home! Better get for now. More storms tonight for us.

Until next time,
Pam

Jackpot on a Downer Day!

Well, it's the first day of Spring, beautiful weather and we should be leaving for Round Top. But....we can't make it this spring. Just as well, I just finished four days of the stomach flu bug and feeling down. So, to cheer myself up, I decided to open one of the boxes of treasures from a recent house call. Only took one picture on the top of the box. How's this for JACKPOT!!
Much more to come, lots of new inventory, painting-rearranging-decorating at the shop in the next couple of weeks. Exciting changes coming!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!
Until next time,
Pam

What Happened to Spring?

You never know about the crazy weather here in the Midwest! Suppose to be 70 on Thursday---but for today--more snow! This picture tells it all---THINK SPRING!!! Been on a couple of house calls, really fun stuff to show you--keep watching.
Until next time,
Pam

Show Opening--Anticipation Is Making Me Wait!

There's nothing like the feeling of waiting for a show to open. You've worked really hard on your booth, you're excited, scared, nervous and tired--but it's a good tired. At Heart of Country, you know the Preview Party is about to begin when the music starts--the doors open--and the people pile in! First they are greeted with champagne, then there is the beautiful food buffet (displayed like a work of art), and last but not least, the dealers are anxiously waiting for customer traffic. I couldn't help but show this picture first of Tricia and Jerry from The Red Door Antiques. Their business is in Eddyville, Kentucky. This was their first time to participate at Heart of Country. You can see them eagerly looking down the aisle...waiting.....



Tricia's displays are always excellent, but first jitters are always common. We've been in this show many times, and I still get the jitters. But once the tummies are full, customers do more than walk the aisles. They start shopping! Below are pictures of their booth, lovely, most wonderful. A nice mixture. Sorry, a couple of pictures are a little blurry. Enjoy the show!

These big oval windows were too die for! SOLD!

Lots of great textiles, and ironstone. Always plentiful in her booth.

This trunk was like none other. It opened up and all of the compartments were still there!

One nice piece of furniture after the other.

They had a great show, and will be back next year. I'm glad!!!

Until next time,

Pam

More Heart of Country!

I love these vintage lawn chairs. Perfect color and comfort. They spring when you sit in them. Kinda makes me nervous! Like when an aluminum lawn chair folds underneath you! But these aren't like that!













We sold all of the stools and benches that Gary has made with yardsticks. Of course, you always hear someone say--I can do that myself. Yeah right??!! How many people really follow through? Ha-Ha.








These little vintage pinecone elves were new "old store stock". Never used for decorating. All went to Betty, one of our favorite customers

Halloween sells no matter what time of year.

Love the green homemade storage piece. Great color and perfect size!

Very awesome dry sink. Worn just right.

These were shots from our booth at Heart of Country. Still some more to come!

Until next time,

Pam

Go Green!

We were gone so much last year doing shows, I really neglected my storefront window displays. I have been really working hard to keep it changed--and we have been selling everything we put in there! When we returned from Nashville, we had sold another set of red bar table and bar stools. So I decided to put green in the window for St Patrick's Day. We use this long green farm table and bench for displays at shows--now we're getting calls about it!





















We started out with 2 tables and 35 bar stools. Both tables are gone and we are down to 16 bar stools. In one month! Not bad! After the green display, it'll be time for spring--maybe an Easter display, but Cardinal Baseball season is approaching and I might squeeze in a display that would look like a sports bar. Hmmm......we'll see!



Lesson learned (again) no matter how busy we might be---don't neglect the windows. It sells itself--all lit up a night for drive by shoppers!



Until next time,
Pam

How Was Heart of Country? Very Fine Thank-You

We're home, unloaded and very happy with the whole trip to Nashville. We saw lots of great things, Lots of old friends and sold...sold...sold! As you will see in the pictures, we sell lots of smalls. No...it's not all early Americana, but there are numerous styles of country and that's what I go by. I take what the customers love! The weather was perfect for travel going down and coming home. It's raining today so I'm glad we're home. The only bad thing is that when I loaded my pictures, half of them didn't turn out. I'm going to try to reload again, there were no overall shots of my booth, or of other dealers booths. WHY, you ask??? I don't know! But here are some shots from inside the booth. We are always the big booth in the front corner!

The National Wildlife Turkey Federation Convention was also at Opryland, so needless to say I sold alot of turkey stuff! Sold all of the framed vintage postcards. The antique sign was to die for!

Almost all of the early black clothing sold. Somehow I accumulated alot of black and white this time.

Lots of small crock bowls, linens, blue and white pottery. A real assortment.

A stack of blue and white homespun aprons on the shelf below the crock bowls.

Some of the framed turkeys! Very colorful and a perfect gift for the holidays.

Early glass and transferware. I also had some fab large Blue Ridge dinner plates in a tulip pattern that I've never had. All went to a new home!

This corner was nothing but vintage toys and teeny tiny smalls that a lot of you use in collages and shadow boxes. Priced so cheap they were almost free---but you know, everyone likes to leave a show with something and those small prices add up!

The handing shelf was filled with a collection of chair pincushions. The seat lifts up so you can store your thread. Made as 4-H projects years ago. The gray bucket bench was filled with buttons, buckles and other sewing items.

This fantastic dress is also gone! It was a 2 piece yellow satin dress--jumper or flapper style with the top piece a delicate lace. Pastel colored satin ribbon roses were sewn to the lace. I loved it. Next to it you can see my "Junk Necklaces". I will show them up close in another post. They are my latest project. I haven't even had any in the shop yet because they sell before they get there. I only brought 4 home. Gotta make more---I have a large order requested for Texas! One of a kind, fun and affordable necklaces. You'll love them! We can't make the trip to Marburger Farm this spring but we'll be there in spirit!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Check back--I'm gonna see if I can figure out what's up with my camera!

Until next time,

Pam