Exploring

No 2 way traffic here!

Lansboro, Mn is a bikers destination

An Amish farmhouse with a pretty blue door.

Enlarge the pix for a closeup of this entry on 1859 house St. Charles, Mn

For non- Minnesotans, their impressions of our state may have to do with snow and cold. However, there are wonderful hidden areas of Minnesota that beckon to those who love hills, valleys and the history associated with them.  Southeastern Mn is just such a spot which offers trails for hiking or biking in addition to winding roads with one lane bridges for travelers in vehicles. Many state natives probably haven't ventured into the beautiful small towns that dot the countryside and don't know what they're missing. In many of these small towns are really nice antique shops which are worth the effort to get off beaten paths to see and to find the treasures which await.  Lansboro, Harmony, Fountain, Canton, Chatfield, Eyota, St Charles are some of the names of towns that are quaint and filled with beautiful old buildings. In addition this is in the middle of Amish country so there are tours and many shops that carry wonderful handmade furniture in addition to quilts, aprons and other accessories. When glaciers covered our state, they deposited the rocks and debris in this area as they melted,  which accounts for the wild but awesome topography. So in addition to fantastic geological history, the early settlers in this area brought goods and household items that are much sought after today. This really is an antiquers hunting ground!

I'm a bag lady

I really enjoy using a variety of bags for carry-alls when I'm out and about.  As a teacher, my bag was very utilitarian and usually held about 10 lbs of books, papers etc. so no cutsey stuff there. Paper or plastic at the grocery store doesn't do it for me either.  I'm talking cloth ones that food staples used to come in during the days of the country general store.  Wardrobes for an entire family were sewn from many patterned prints, as well as curtains, quilts, pillows and much more.  I read a story about a mom using sacks with advertisements for her children's underwear because it wasn't going to show unless someone bent over too far and the words flour or sugar appeared across their bottoms.  Wives sent their husbands to the store or flour mill with instructions to bring back certain designs or enough bags to make multiple pieces of clothing.  My daughter in law has started creating fun bags from various types of bags/sacks and I chose one for myself early on.  Can I do a plug?  Check out CarrieM24 on etsy and see some others she has done in addition to an earlier blog I wrote.  Pictures aren't the best today due to excessive sunlight.  Also, apparently lots of you like aqua---many visits to my blog yesterday!

Bag on the left holds tons of stuff, one on right is for I Pad!

Future pillows.  From Wells, Mn on right

Hard to see, but adorable.  Fluffing her dress in back.

Thanks so much.

Attracted to aqua.

Little clothespin dress bag "framed"

perfect for picnics

assortment of things to love for the kitchen

Two McCoy and one Ransbottom planters

Ice Cream chair to sit in and enjoy a cone!

Have noticed on various sites, including pinterest and blogs, that many people are in love with the color aqua, teal, blue-green etc. etc. I happen to be a cancer/on the edge of gemini so water colors appeal to me.  The birthstone for a Gemini is an aquamarine and life pursuit is to explore a little bit of everything---wow, love that idea.  Cancer has a moonstone ruled by the moon and life pursuit is constant reassurance and intimacy. hmmmmm  But a Cancer's element is water so guess it all fits.   Looked around Exit 55 and came up with some examples of fun items we have for sale in the aqua tones.

Love that garden junk!

cool roof ridge cap, huge spring, wire baskets, garden fence

The tin finial have a new home.

Little green cabinet has a new home.

Happy bright sunny Sunday to everyone.  Cathy and I finally got our "finds" into a display at Exit 55 Antiques last Wednesday when a snow storm brought enough snow to close schools and stop folks from getting around roads and streets without becoming stuck.  HOWEVER, that didn't stop these intrepid antiquers from braving the elements to get the goods out for our customers.  My hubby and I worked yesterday and it was interesting to watch customers' reactions as they came in and were met with an array of things they normally don't find in our shop.  If you look closely under the display on top of the seed counter there is a carpet runner protecting the finish---someone bought that yesterday and the dealer working had to dismantle the whole display. Yikes--thanks LM!   I know there are lots of friends into the rustic look so this is for all of you who like to play in the garden or decorate your houses to bring a smile.  Some of the rusty goods are from Texas, including the roof ridge cap and other tin pieces that we normally don't see around this neck of the woods.  Have a fun time perusing the goodies.  Questions? Comments?  Become a follower!  I'd love to hear from you!

vintage Zenith-Gouda bunny bowl

Have had this sweet little bunny bowl in aqua for several years torn between keeping and selling.  Will be available at Exit 55 Antiques in Fergus Falls!   Another one of those tough decisions because it is really cute but have enjoyed it long enough so away it goes.  By the way, if any of you visit the shops mentioned, I would love to hear from you or tell the dealer working that you saw pix or heard about items mentioned in this blog.  Thanks so much!   

Vintage furniture meant to last!

Victorian marble top dresser is sold.

nice oak dresser with hat box

I call this one the Queens Chair

Wonderful folk art style or tramp art look rocking chair.

So glad to see that more vintage furniture, whether painted or left in its natural finish is making its way into many homes of younger people.  If some of these wonderful pieces have lasted 50-100 yrs. there's a good chance it will survive through another go around.  Our three sons grew up with things from great grandparents and learned to treat them with respect.  Even though  they are all over 6 ft tall, the only items that didn't survive so well were dining chairs!  We learned to buy heavy oak reproduction ones to take care of that issue.  They actually all have pieces  from my house, as well as my mom's so another generation is living with antiques.  Our four yr. old grandson has taken to "playing" estate sale and even makes tags for the things he and his mommy found.(mommy made in Mn)  The 11 yr. old used to use monopoly money to buy special toys at our former shop, Ashby Village Antiques which had a special room for toys. At about 4 or 5 he told his grandpa that he knew the money wasn't real but he would pay it back some day.  We left the tags on the cars, trucks etc. and just returned them to the shelves afer the weekend visit!  Hope you see some things that would look good in your house.  Enjoy!  These pices all found at Exit 55 In Fergus Falls.

Stuff for that man's cave

LWJ has 2 of these electrified Schlitz lights----
really cool!

Decoys literally "fly" out the door and these well worn, well
used fellas attest to the fact they are probably from the
40s or 50s.

All set for game night!

Seems lots of folks are still after those decorating touches that scream MAN CAVE!  Some guys have proclaimed they are sick and tired of the term and refuse to even admit they are  looking for things to fill those special get aways that are more than a den but not a family room.  Several of the dealers at Exit 55 Antiques in Fergus have a few items that just might fill the space on the wall or find a place on a bar in the rec room?   Many of our manly men come back often to scope out the new merchandise to add to their collections and to decorate those non-caves.

MORE FAVORITE THINGS

I'm partial to aqua anything, although the faded white on the
other side is very charming.  A Very Vintage find that was in
an earlier post as part of a vignette.

The mirror is part of a set that I painted aqua--what a surprise!
Large bucket on right is at Yesterdays in Alexandria, the small
firkin on the shabby drawer at Exit 55,  Fergus Falls.

Had a difficult time parting with this French, shabby, country
basket with the neat design. from Main Street Antiques in
Hutchinson.  Now at Yesterdays. 

How fun are the large rusty hooks hanging on the wire basket. 
Also love the enormous spring----perfect on a desk to hold papers.
Metal clip boards another handy industrial touch for a home office.
All from Main Street Antiques in Hutchinson.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEW FOLLOWERS WHO JOINED THIS BLOG!  LOVE TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND HOPE YOU ENJOY THE STORIES OF THIS AND THAT.  PLANNING TO ATTEND AN AUCTION TOMORROW BUT GIVEN THE WEATHER FORECAST, MAYBE NOT.  HERE ARE A FEW MORE PIX OF SOME OF THE THINGS I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE  RECENTLY  AND NOW WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH SHOP SOME OF IT GOES TO. FINALLY GOT A NEW CAMERA TODAY SO AM ANXIOUS TO TEST IT.   ENJOY THE NEW VIEWS.

Renovation Relics

Camera is on last legs so hence the grouping.  Table possibly from
school shop class, cast iron water trough and hooks, 2 metal ladders
great primitive treenware bowl and rolling pin?

Handy and colorful items for wall art or adding to old wood
headers for hangers, blue pot cut down from ???

Thinking this is the kind of stuff American Pickers might choose!
Yellow items are from civil defense siren, old fan for funky wall
art, wire basket, iron gate from livestock truck.  Imagination central!

Love this stool----maybe from shop class or assembly line?

In earlier posts I told you about our road trip to several antique stores.  I had so much fun discovering things that are out of the norm for antique dealers.  Read an article recently in which the author lamented the fact that people were purchasing more items for decorating than for collecting and saving.  But, times they are a-changing so we had better get on the band wagon and find the funky stuff customers are looking for.  Not to say different styles and eras can't be combined for a one of a kind look.  Lots more folks are looking to reuse and repurpose both for inside and out.  Had a "garden junk" sign that hadn't sold so brought it home yesterday and will keep it for myself.   My long term dream has been to turn an unused former summer kitchen shed into a fun place to display old tools, gardening gear etc. and this sign is perfect!    Anyway, most of the items pictured will be used in an industrial/rusty relic display at Exit 55 Antiques very soon.  Our partners just returned from a family visiting, antique buying trip south so they have some awesome things to encorporate.  Email me if you have questions, follow along if you enjoy my blog and thanks to the new followers for signing up!

NOT SO FUNNY PRICES FOR OLD COMICS!

One of our sons sent us an article about two young men who inherited a collection of comic books from their aunt who passed away recently.  They had been stored in a basement after her husband died a number of years ago.  If you go to Heritage Auctions and check out the prices realized for  rare issues of comics, the young men are laughing all the way to the bank.  Unbelievable estimates for little magazines  kids used to stand in the drugstores across America reading, or trading or just tossing under the bed. ( I speak from experience having 3 boys.)  This also brings me to the sad but true stories of mom's who threw away or gave away hundreds of comics once the "boy" left home. (ask my husband)  There were also lots of baseball cards that suffered the same fate.  When we moved, I put all of the stuff and nonsense saved in the attic over the years into black garbage bags and our kids received them as gifts the last Christmas we spent in that house.  We still joke that you aren't part of the family unless you get gifts in black garbage sacks.  However:  don't expect to get a million dollars worth of comics or baseball cards!

Weekend Cottage from A to Z

event planners R US

     Now and then we get requests from various individuals or committees to borrow something "old."  We have provided props for school plays, church dinners or luncheons, various workshops, community theater, parades and family get togethers to name a few.  Often young people will arrive with list in hand and permission slips from adult supervisors asking very sincerely if they can borrow items for a special project.  Usually, by the time they're ready to leave, they have fallen into infatuation with particular items they've seen.  We as dealers, should be jumping for joy that another generation has discovered the uniqueness of  collectibles and antiques!  We even provided a complete 1940s outfit for a competition for Miss Something:  head to toe she looked fabulous.  AND she won!
      We also have many brides-to-be who frequently look for vintage dresses, jewelry or other treasures that will make their wedding day even more memorable.  One young woman shopped for months for anything with lillies of the valley, another found a mink stole for her winter wedding, and just recently a girl came in and spent over an hour looking for things she liked for the wedding as well as things she might like for her new home.  How fun is that!

Yesterday's Rustiques

Stopped at Yesterdays in Alexandria to check on sales and straighten the booth----I should spend as much time cleaning my house as I do organizing our spaces!  Gail had some new things to show me and as usual she has created absolutely stunning pieces.  Once again, rusty relics/gears etc. have been reused and repurposed to make a statement in  any home, cabin, office, or retail business.   It makes me want to redo my whole house, but since we've already added on twice since moving to the lake, I don't think it's in the cards.  Hope you love these ideas and be sure to call Yesterdays if you'd like more information.

This unique cistern cover topped table originally had a glass top!

Several sizes of gears make up this interesting display. 

Furnace grates become the frames for mirrors.

Large iron machine used to showcase various sizes of gears, plus
the large grate has been transformed with clock works.

Vintage bottle with ivy twined around the gear.  A few spring
flowers to brighten up the display.

Simply White

Shown is a long baptismal dress with lovely detailing on the bottom.
This for the Gibson Girl in you--delicate with leg of mutton sleeves.
The little girl's petticoat is from an 1890s store.

This sweet little dress shows its age which is now a sepia tone, but
the pretty lacy bodice is lovely.  Perfect for framing or to add to
a collection.

I love vintage clothes of all shades and hues, but these pieces shown in the pictures have a particular appeal just because there is such beauty in white dresses for women and children.  Can you picture playing lawn croquet or having tea on a veranda wearing the long gown?   According to trends shown in magazines, the color for spring and summer is neutral with white being at the top of the list.  There are so many variations of white so it's such a versatile choice to go with.  The items shown in the pictures will be available at Weekend Cottage in Clear lake, Mn.  Any questions, contact me through my profile or leave a comment.

Be Mine, Sweet Valentine

     My mother was a country school maarm for 7 years in the 1930s.  She grew up in a small town but had never so much as stepped foot in  any of the little country schools dotting the countryside.  She attended what was then, St. Cloud Teachers College in St. Cloud, Mn. for 2 years and was ready to meet whatever challenges lay ahead..... little did she know!  Among the duties:  preparing lesson plans for children who ranged from 1st grade to 8th grade, dealing with male students who were nearly as old as she and in some cases several heads taller.  She usually had the support of parents when it came to discipline and she needed it a time or two!  She also had to get the wood stove going on cold winter mornings, shoveled snow, often walked to and from school.  Teachers in those days stayed with families of students so this could be uncomfortable at times.  She remembered one stay because in the mornings she awoke to ice frozen in the wash basin and slept with her coat on many nights.  She also developed a distinct dislike for rice pudding after eating it for dessert an entire year.  Holidays and parties were looked forward to with anticipation since life was often difficult so entertainment was homemade and involved the entire family participating in school activities.

The verse on the card on the left is wonderful:
Peter, Peter, Pumpkin eater,
As your wife I will be sweeter
Don't put me in a pumpkin shell,
but love me much and love me well.

     Marion received wonderful Valentines from many of her students and even up to two  years  before she passed away at age 94, she would often take them out of her cedar chest to look through each one  and reminesce about all those children who had a special place in her heart.  Many of the names are familiar to me because I heard about their escapades and personal histories for many years.  Here are a few of those vintage charmers.


     

CAN A TREE BE AN ANTIQUE?

Thought I would share a picture of our  beautiful weeping birch that we calculate is between 75 to 100 years old.  It has withstood drought, storms, children climbing in its branches and several additions to the house.  It also  offers food and shelter for multitudes of birds, including two stunning piliated woodpeckers with brilliant red heads that were investigating it the other morning.  While looking out the kitchen window, I saw what I thought was a cardinal, but soon realized it was a woodpecker which was soon joined by another.  They were chased away by a nosy squirrel who apparently thought he was missing some morsel or other.  "Old Timers"  tell me they often drive out just to look at its regal beauty.  Its colors aren't  spectacular, but the thickness of the spindly branches and leaves as well as its height give it a landmark quality.  At one point, a family with 9 children lived in a little house on this property and I can only imagine how much they enjoyed playng in and around this welcoming tree.  Unfortunately, it is beginning to show its age, and we cross fingers that it will continue to stand tall with some trimming of its branches.

Country store shoe display

This primitive shoe display rack shows the wonderful patina (plus a little dust?) that comes with age.  I think this would make a perfect wine rack, towel and linen shelf in a country bathroom or kitchen, an organizer in an office------ Just put your imagination in gear and you can come up with many different uses for a  rare item like this.  It is available for purchase at , Yesterdays in AlexandriaMn.  Wouldn't it be a terrific conversation piece in your home or cottage?

classic car trims and ornaments

Here are more examples of those items collected by big boys who can always find a fun project that involves old cars.  Several dealers at Exit 55 Antiques in Fergus Falls  have a variety of small trims that might be just what the mechanic or restorer is looking for.  Several lucky shoppers already snatched up the Studebaker and Pontiac hood ornaments.  Let us know if you're looking for special items or are interested in anything in the pictures.  Happy hunting!

MORE SIMPLY PRIMITIVE

Primitives usually have such interesting patinas and often have wonderful stories to tell, which in antiquesque language is "provenance."  Often customers like to know the history of a piece so they have an idea of who, what, where and when.  I have had favorite antiques over the years which I was hesitant to sell unless I knew it was going to a good home where it was  going to be loved  for its uniqueness or quirkiness.  Because, above all, primitives are often one of a kind items.  I have shared some things that came to me through a sister in law of my son.  We had just added on a dining room/future family room and before the builder was out of the drive way, I was single handedly hauling the wonderful green cupboard up the stairs and placed against the perfect wall.  The funky bird cage was also part of the truck full of stuff,  as well as other accent pieces.  She enjoyed decorating her home with them and now I can assure her that they are well loved in my home.  The egg counter was formerly a meat counter in the old Red Owl store in Elbow Lake.  A friend bought it from a family member and was another one of those serendipity moments for me-----perfect for my house and local history to boot.  I have collected "chicken" stuff for several years and love it.  This is my little corner of country living.