shop thoughts

Busy Busy week at the shop. Tuesday Barb C. stopped in its always fun to talk with her. She found a few treasures, we loaded them up and off she went for an appt. at her shop. Wednesday I was home working on stuff to bring in, always new surprises. Thursday we had a great couple in from I think Wisconsin. They LOVED the place. Bought a large oil of a camp scene that I loved, but off to a good home it went. They also picked up some extremely cool sq. melmac dishes from the "vintage not ancient" area. Great people, just an example of all the fun folks we see. Friday,late got a call about my cool red hanging Pie safe. I don't know if it sold or not and can't decide what to wish for. Ya Know how it is when you love the stuff. The same folks bought a local tin Fish and Lobster sign I wouldn't have anyplace to put it, It's BIG, so I'm glad they found it. Went on a road trip today saw lots of Iowa beauty but only found 2 things and they're for home. Tomorrow I'm going to vacume all the great rugs we got in Ohio and get them in on Monday. See you soon
Barb

Monday in marion

The morning started out so rainy and gloomy,it was hard to get going! The shop was very slow today too but we were 5 for 5 for a while, 5 customers 5 sales. It slowed to a crawl this afternoon. But that magic happened again and from 4:30 to 5 we exploded! Had a Great day. Sold silhouetts, books , dishes, fabrics, vintage clothes, things that have been slow of late.I forgot that the other day we set up a display of sewing machines and sold two the very next day! Ya just never know in this business who is coming and what they love, it is always a surprise!

trip wrapup

we shopped around canandaqua on wed we found a cool egg shaped light fixture a mustard print quilt and a few other treasures. We had to be in Rochester for a international family reunion on wed. night so off we went. The event was fun and informative. Leaving there on Sat morning we drove to Port Clinton on the lake ate in a nice pub and stayed in Fremont Ohio again. We looked in Antique Week trying to find something fun to do. We found an auction in Leymon just 20miles from where we were. Had a great time. Got some cool old rugs a nice rosewood cabinet, vintage clothes. One dress is so neat, its pre civil war, a brown print, whats really cool is that a insert was put in the front to make it a maternity dress. Underneath it is the original row of buttons that were the front. Had to make do. The front looks great but the back is very damaged. Also got a 1860 sampler made by a 13 year old girl as a memorial for her , I think grandfather. I`m keeping it , I took it to be correctly framed as it had been re framed in the 50s on masonite.
Since our return I have been working hard in the shop. I have made the space behind the counter look like a general store.
I did one whole window and refreshed the other and made space for a new dealer. Whew I`m tired! you all come see!

shopping

We just got back today from our week long trip to New York. we had an international family reunion in Rochester NY. Of course we shopped all the way there and back. We had very little luck on Tues.We did stop at Hatties in Princeton. A really nice shop. We have been there before and always find some treasures. We did have to make some miles every day so we did not stop again until around South Ben. This was a nice Mall Unfortunetly we thought it was almost 4 o`clock but had forgotten about the time zone change so only had time to get one cute pink tablecloth with blackeyed susans. We stayed that night in Fremont Ohio. I have to do some catching up around here. More tomorrow.

shop ready!

The 4th is fast approaching and the shop is ready! So much wonderful stuff I cant even think of it all.
I have to tell you all this: Tuesday, such a perfect Iowa summer day, I got to the shop early to do just a few things. When I was ready to open, I started to take the 1st flag out (Marion merchants have flags to put out every day)I glance up and down the street, another shop owner is putting out her flag, we wave, up the other way someone is sweeping the front walk and again another flag is coming out. It just flashed thru my mind, This is it. This is what its all about, only in small town USA will you see this. ITs Great! So Fly your flag and watch the fireworks. Have a wonderful Independence Day.

I worked on tons of new displays today. That great red paint pie safe i mentioned the other day is all cleaned up and looking yummy! In the clean up process we discovered black stenciling on the side. With help from some young eyes it appears that section is made from a shipping crate, going to Chicago Ill USA.Dan came in tonight to help clean and set up A really special birdseye maple bed room set.A poster bed Wonderful dresser with lg mirror and a commode. Really have to see it! we didn`t leave the shop til 10. lots to do always So we have 2 new display areas ready for the 4th and hundreds of added pieces of inventory. Seeya soon!

We have been out and about this weekend! We found some great stuff. A wonderful very primitive hand made pie safe. It is small, table top or maybe hanging.The very best part is the old red paint. Come in and see! We also found some great white Ironstone, a yellow and green childs cupboard, Dan picked up some WWII photos, a pair of barkcloth type drapes. More more more. We will have it all in for the big 4th sale. see you then