Take Time to Remember This Memorial Day

As many of us are celebrating the long weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and the company of family and friends, let us not forget what this weekend really means.  Take a chance to say "thank you" to a veteran and to remember those who have made and continue to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom. 
To those veterans that are still with us and to the families of our fallen soldiers: "Thank you.  No words will ever do justice to the feelings of  deep gratitude that I have for your sacrifices.  These sacrifices have allowed all Americans to pursue their dreams and to live in a country where our children have the opportunity to be and to do anything they choose.  I will try my best to a live a life that honors these sacrifices.  God bless America and God bless you!"


For information on the history of Memorial Day, visit http://www.usmemorialday.org/

Flea Market Finds From Brimfield

As promised, here are my purchases from Brimfield:

I found this vintage metal globe in the original box.  It looks like it was never used.  This will go into my etsy shop.

I bought this old silver-plated award because I liked the scale and the patina, and it was a bargain at 20 bucks!  I'll keep this to display fresh-cut flowers in.

I wanted to buy these horse ribbons from the 1950s, but my new pal, Barry, insisted I take them for free.  Thanks Barry!  I'll add these to my growing collection of vintage awards.  I hope to display them in shadow boxes in the near future.

I couldn't resist this.  It looks like a cool metal suitcase, but look--it converts into a pinic table with place-settings for four--how cool is that?  This will go into my etsy shop, too.

My find of the day.  I bought this gorgeous Van Briggle pottery for a mere $30!!  It's in my favorite color and will make its home alongside the rest of my pottery collection.

From Bats to Ballgowns: Brimfield Delivers Once Again!

Each May I make my annual pilgrimage to the largest flea market in the WORLD--Brimfield Antiques Show and Flea Market.  Brimfield is actually the small, rural town in Massachusetts that hosts this thrice-yearly event ( May, July and September).  The show,which began in 1959, consists of multiple fields on both sides of a mile-long stretch of Route 20.  Each field opens on a different day.  Some open for one day, others the full week and every combination in between. 
Perhaps the most famous field is May's.  May's opens on Wednesday and draws a loyal crowd due to the fact that dealers are forbidden to unpack before the gates open.  This allows equal-opportunity for all buyers.  (The dirty, little secret being that most real bargains are bought up by other dealers before the gates even open.) 
I never worry about that.  I believe that if you are meant to find something, it will be there.  I went to Brimfield on Tuesday just chat with the other dealers and enjoy the show and I ended up leaving with some great finds!

Here are just a few of the sights from Brimfield:

All seasoned flea-marketers bring a wheeled cart to haul their finds in:

As stated in the title, here are the ball gowns:

In the Vintage Textiles Tent you'll find these ladies (Linda LeBissoniere and Hillary Boris) selling everything Shabby Chic, pink, and floral.  I love how they got into the spirit and dressed head-to-toe in lace, flowers, and pink, pink, pink!
Linda owns Little M's Posies in Meriden, CT (203-237-8312).  Hillary is the owner of Tickled Pink in Seymour, CT (203-888-8898).

My friend Mary sells her fabulous art here.  She has quite a following, especially with B&B owners on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  http://www.marymaguireart.com/

Cocoa, I found out, is a seasoned flea-marketer and she certainly knows how to travel!

Barry and I had such a good time hamming it up, he gave me my vintage horse ribbons for free!  How's that for a bargain?

Check out this array of vintage buttons--and only 25cents a piece!

These sculptural objects were all sold out by 10am, and at hundreds of dollars a piece, I'd say this dealer was a happy camper!

The sets from the Brady Bunch & The Partridge Family found a home here:

 

As promised, here are the bats:

For my next post, I'll share my Brimfield Finds!

For more info on Brimfield, visit http://www.brimfieldshow.com/

Saturday Tag Sale Finds

Ahhh...The weather is finally warming up here in New England which means...tag sale time!  Each weekend from April until the snow starts falling, I am out early on Friday and Saturday in search of finds for my store or for my home.  My weaknesses?  Art, books, glass, pottery, vintage jewelry, old signs...yes, I have many weaknesses.  So this Saturday morning, I headed out in search of nothing in particular and happened upon a tag sale filled with vintage and antique goods. At my first stop, I ended up buying all the following items from one person.  I love when that happens.

1946 Book Alice's Adventures with beautiful full color plates.

A Vintage Texaco Ad featuring a bikini clad woman water skiing.   I think these will look great matted and framed.

A Florida Orange Juice Ad featuring Santa Claus

A Vintage WWII Era Coca-Cola Ad

A fashion magazine from 1888.

Oh look, new walking gowns!  As much as I love antiques, I'm so happy to not  have to wear this "gear".

Some kitschy "First Family" and "Chuck and Di" paper dolls.  They were just too funny to pass up.

Vintage 1960s Bovano Studios Enamel on Copper ashtray and plates.  These will go up on my etsy store.

A signed print "Figure Study" and a charcoal nude.