Fresh supplies for Yesterdays in Alexandria!

Once a week we make a trip to Alexandria with different merchandise to add to our booth at Yesterdays.  It's always fun to visit with Ron, Gale, Jeff or Carnie as they usually have updates on what's selling, interesting stories about encounters they've had and just talking shop.  In addition, there are always new displays and ideas to check out.  Interesting how dynamics can be so opposite in every shop and what sells in one, doesn't necessarily go in another---that's why we like to be able to rotate inventory.  Hope those of you who are within driving distance of Fergus Falls, Alexandria and Clear lake in Minnesota, will take the opportunity to do some real antique shopping in this beautiful lake area.  Bring your fishing poles just in case you'd like to stop for a few days.  Opening fishing on Mom's Day weekend----hey great gift!  Just hand her the check book and she can entertain herself looking for treasures.  But then, there's always lay away!!!!

Nice shabby style hanging mirror/ comb pocket/towel bar.

Colors are wonderful in this camp blanket.

cute little chippy youth chair minus the bread board.

Beautiful aqua chenille bedspread/flowers!

This sweet little purse is signed and in mint condition.

Aasness Antique Auction

Tins were a hot commodity.

fabulous firescreen

Two fine pine pieces: dresser, washstand

 

This was in mint condition with drawers intact.

 

Spent Fri evening plus all day Saturday at another fabulous auction featuring items from a collector who had spent many years adding to and living with wonderful antiques.  Cary Aasness related that over time he had sold her many pieces when there used to be farm sales featuring the homestead keepsakes of everyday
living and that now he felt privileged to be asked to send her treasures on their way again.  This auction was also on proxibid, but as the listed items sold, it was apparent there were buyers in the audience who weren't going to let this opportunity to buy increasingly hard to find mint condition antiques slip away.  Some final bids were quite amazing, at least to me, but it only takes two to create a bidding frenzy! Aasness Auction
Company tends to attract some outstanding antique collections of all types so you may want to check out Midwest Auctions now and then or get on his mailing list.  No, I'm not getting a kick back-----I bought a few things that I'll share later on my business facebook page or here so be sure to check later.  We just know a good auctioneer when we see him/her and like to attend their sales.  Good hunting and bidding!!!

Lots of Red Wing stoneware for the collectors.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Fulda, Mn

Granite Falls, Mn

Okoboji , Iowa

Red Rock, Iowa

Just can't get enough of searching for treasures---but we do seem to head farther afield looking for those elusive just perfect items. Spent 5 days in SW Mn, NW Iowa and Western South Dakota, following I-29 from the Tea and Canton area up to Brookings and then home.  Our business partners had never been to some of our favorite shops so returned to several we had been in only 3 weeks before.  BUT, of course, we managed to find some more goodies to fill the truck!  On my business facebook page, I mentioned several things that really peeve us---advertising for shops that have gone out of business or that aren't open when the brochures or internet say they are.  However, there seem to be others cropping up and occasional sales galore.  We didn't get to the Benson flea market event in Sioux Falls on the weekend, due to a pulled leg muscle, so will have to try in the fall.  The truck and van were pretty much loaded so guess our efforts were rewarded.  Now as my hubby says:  SELL  SELL SELL.

A weekend at Weekend Cottage

Thought I needed to bring you up to speed on what's new at Weekend Cottage in Clear Lake.  In an earlier blog I described the three shops where we rent space.  Each time we spend our 1 day a month working here, we meet many new people coming from the "north" who either rent cabins or who have second homes in that area.  Always fun to compare notes and talk about antiques and collectibles.  Customers  are invariably interested in the history of the house and always amazed to learn that 9 children grew up in this  little farmhouse style home.  No doubt, it was in the country when it was first built and probably included acreage.  There are two sloped ceiling bedrooms upstairs and probably had two down with one bathroom, although I don't know the entire story of the remodeling that took place.  But this little house must have been bursting at the seams with eleven people going about their daily lives in such a small space.  Today it is bursting with goods to be sold and includes the yard, a porch and lodge (read 2 car garage) that are equally filled to the brim with treasures waiting for new owners. The Cottage is  open every weekend:  Fri - Sun and starting in May will be open 10 to 6 pm.  Okay, lake people and city people, now is the time to check out the goodies!!! 

Pardeeville, Wisconsin antique mall

Apparently we do have really good taste in antique stores----article in Antique Trader tells about unplanned stop at this mall and found much to admire!  We discovered it last year on a short road trip into Wisconsin and chose to make another stop on our way home this year.  It is an awesome place that has the feeling of small shops within the larger building.  Everything is clean, well organized and each vendor takes obvious pride in their space. If you love primitives, treenware, homestead antiques and a wonderful selection of items in between, it is well worth your time to get out a map or set the gps and head for Pardeeville.  I asked the owners for permission to take pictures and they graciously encouraged me to do so.  Their web site is beautiful and well done and gives an overall sense of the feeling.  What a pleasure to spend several hours taking in the fantastic selection of gorgeous antiques.  Enjoy a few pictures but check their site for more.  Been busy adding more pictures and info to my facebook page so hope you'll visit there also.  Lots to do, but isn't it fun!!!

This Little Riding Hood multitasks!

This little cutie has been with me for a while.  It resided on a shelf in my wall unit for many years, but decided to make space for other treasures.  I have searched high and low for Red Ridinghood collectibles and have never found this particular one.  Yes, she multitasks-----she entertains with her nodding head, offers a pincushion on her back for sewers or pretty pins, and she has a tapemeasure!  Who could ask for anything more?  If anyone has seen another or knows where I could find information, please let me know.  I may have to bring her home again if the right buyer doesn't show up before too long.  I can always make room on the shelf....  This picture is also going to be on my business facebook page, because it's so unique.  Thanks for stopping by and thanks for comments----love to hear from you.

vintage retro style toys

beautiful graphics on paper goods 1930s-40s  Exit 55

Beautiful old ferris wheel toy.

This is located Yesterdays in Alexandria

Yesterdays in Alexandria, Mn

I love collecting toys and children's books but have come to the point where something has to go.  Does this have anything to do with being a teacher and loving kid stuff?  I also saved toys my three sons played with as children and our two young grandsons have enjoyed discovering Fisher Price little people plus the airport, garage etc.  They also were smitten briefly with GI Joes until the newer flashier action figures grabbed their attention.  We try to buy things that we won't mind keeping in a collection if buyers don't see the same charm in them that we do.  I also include dolls in this grouping---guess we won't even go there, although I have been selling more lately and I think it has to do with the new craze of altered states!!!  If you're not familiar with this idea, think doll head on a tea pot, a flower pot or a kitchen tin decorated with all manner of strange stuff.  I think they're fun and fully intend to try a couple for myself!  And so it goes---another generation of kids learn to play with old treasures and appreciate their special colors and graphics.

A Wall of China

Sorry, couldn't resist the title.  Such  a cute idea to display pretty cup and saucer sets.  I saw this in a sweet shop in Kalona, Iowa called the Pink Begonia which featured antiques, collectibles, art and vintage decor and was owned by a mom a daughter.  Remember when cups and saucers commanded very high prices, particularly if they were bone china?  Not so much anymore so if anyone is thinking of starting a collection or just likes to decorate with pretty dishes, now is the hour!  My mom LOVED china of all persuasions and had a large assortment of beautiful cups and saucers.  No one ever came to our home without being served a snack with a  cup of coffee served correctly with her best china.  I am the keeper of many of those lovely pieces and my three sons actually have a few to keep as memories of Nan.

Whats the story in Story City?

Must share pictures and comments about the antique mall in Story City, Iowa, called Antiques Iowa.  It is a huge mall with a wonderful assortment of vintage and collectibles for your viewing and buying pleasure.  We spent several hours perusing the goods and could have gone back again and again.  Lots to see and absorb.  For example: beautifully displayed antique tools, cabin/country goods, lots of vintage feed sacks plus oodles of primitives----both smalls, cupboards and other furniture.  Actually, took pictures of several booths maintained by Carter Station, dealers with multiple booths.  Sorry, can't ID the booth with feed sacks, although I bought several items.  If you love paper and books, there was a wide selection.  More formal furniture in room style vignettes. Many dealers had special short term sales, possibly for weekend.  Well worth the stop but plan to spend some time  in order to see it all!  Managed to snare some fun items.

Iowa's Sisters antiques

Original farmhouse at Sisters' Bloom

A blue/aqua vignette: great table!

Wire basket hanging in stairwell with birdies!

Book banner with letters spelling: house things--cool

I have been following sistersgardeniowa.blogspot.com for some time and thoroughly enjoy the entries.  Today, I got to meet two young ladies who are sisters, plus a sister in law who are part of an extended family who own or consign items to this shop.  However, none of the above was one of the "official" sisters for whom the business is named... whew!  Located beside the road between Kalona and Iowa City, there are two farmhouses serving as showplaces for the chippy, sometimes rusty, funky primitive and thoroughly charming stuff that is for sale.  The yard is also filled to the brim with things to sort and pick through including iron yard art, wood tables, things made from old tin or old farm tools.  There are some retail items that are interspersed with the vintage, but are chosen to blend with the the old elements.  Sisters' garden & bloom is such a fun place and the shop keepers  so enthusiastic and helpful, that I definitely want to return sooner rather than later, but it will probably be fall before I get back again.  All of you Iowa vendors of funky junk need to check this place out if you haven't already.  Fun, fun, fun.  More  pix will  appear later on my business FB pg.

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.