The Cottage Book Has Finally Arrived!

I finally got my copy of Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes, the book I had the privilege of contributing to with many other of my fellow vintage-loving colleagues. I was pleased to see that quite a few of my pictures made the book including a vintage Mexican apron that I currently have for sale on my website. You'll also find the beautifully hand-embroidered tea towel pictured on the right side panel of my blog. You may need to scroll down to see it!

The book is filled to the brim with many pictures of vintage, cottage collectibles and furniture that are listed with their values and the contributors' websites where you'll be able to find an array of collectible goodies! It will definitely prove to be a great resource for someone looking to get that great vintage cottage look.

To order the book online at just over $10.00 off the retail price, just go to my Amazon Bookshop!

Thank you for visiting! Stay tuned for a post about Halloween and Day of the Dead!

~Jeannie

You Snooze, You Lose!

So, I just returned from the Sacramento Antique Faire that I wrote about yesterday and had a great time. It’s been a few months now since I’d last visited, and it was great being immersed in the market once again with all the vintage stuff, particularly things that you don’t normally run across. I did pick up some things for me and my family and for my shop.

For the most part, I got really some good deals but did have a “when you snooze you lose” experience. It’s happened to all of us, I’m sure, but I feel like I’m the queen of indecision sometimes and occasionally get punished for it! I saw three little vintage figural light bulbs in pretty good condition at this small booth. For some reason I love those things. I once got a couple 1930’s Santa head bulbs that were in this huge box of vintage Christmas stuff that I bought for $2 total (score!) at a church rummage sale and didn’t even know the bulbs were in there. I ended up selling the bulbs for $10 each. Anyway, the figural bulbs I saw today were of a blue bird and a couple Japanese lanterns. I wandered one foot away to see what else the vendor was selling when some woman and her Our Lady of Guadalupe market bag (which I kinda liked – reminded me of Santa Fe) came swooping in and snatched all three up for $2.00. They weren’t marked so I didn’t immediately ask thinking I might bargain with the seller if there was something else there I liked. Had I known it was going to be two bucks for the lot, I would have bought them then and there. Oh, well…I got some fun things so I’m really not too broken up about it! But I did give that gal and her cute market bag some stink-eye as we both made our way down the rest of the isle.

By the way, in my previous post, I mentioned that I prefer to go to the antique faire earlier rather than later. I explained that the reason being that I hated to think of everything I may have missed if I go later in the day…After today’s excursion, I just remembered another reason why I don’t like going later – the crazy crowds! I’ve never seen so many people just literally stopping and talking or just sort of milling about right at the entrance to a booth. You can't get in and you can't get out...The later being pretty bad when you're faced with a booth that primarily has a table of eclectic" $1.00 only!" items.

In the spirit of Halloween soon arriving, I took a picture of some fun vintage masks. I remember having a bunny mask that was made by Collegeville. complete with a thin plastic outfit that tied in the back.



These were the most beautiful and clean vintage oven/stoves I've ever seen. And such great colors too! The folks selling these stoves have a store called Buckeye Appliance in Stockton, CA.


This one was just so wonderfully displayed with the vintage kitchen accessories and all.








Without further ado, here's what I actually bought!

This was my first purchase of the day. I know this has nothing to do with vintage, but I just fell in love with these little rusty quails! They'll be perfect in my yard, and I feel I got a good price at $25.00 for all three. Garden art can be expensive! (Please ignore my crab grass!)



Even though this small McKee refrigerator dish is missing it's glass lid, I couldn't help buying it considering I just happened to mention the matching McKee salt and pepper shakers I'd found at a garage sale in yesterday's post.


I just love this find! These are Shiny Brite ornaments with the "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme. Each bulb is a day. The box has seen better days, but the bulbs are in great condition!



I couldn't resist getting this for my house. I love western stuff, even if it's a little kitschy. I happened to mention to the gal that I bought this from that I love Santa Fe and would love to live there some day, and she proceeded to tell me how she had just returned from her first trip there last week and absolutely loved it! She, too, would like to live there some day. Interesting how these things happen. She has her own store, Topia, in a great little Gold Rush town near Sacramento called Sutter's Creek. She has a knack for display and sells a great array of vintage/garden-style items and art, including some great metal work and vintage watering cans. I think I just happened to purchase one of the only western-styled items she had to sell! If you're ever in the Sutter Creek area, be sure to stop by her beautiful store.

I couldn't resist buying these Little Little Golden Books. The "Four Puppies" one was my favorite as a child growing up, and I've read this book over and over to my son (in the original size) over the years (now he can read it to himself if he wanted - they grow up so fast). These were so cute and small and the "Four Puppies" one was on top when I walked by, so I had to buy them for my son.


This last picture was just simply to be used as blackmail later when my son is a teenager! All kidding aside, he was interested enough to see what Mom was doing all morning to help display my last purchase, a cute Santa apron. I'm thinking of keeping this one. We'll see if I actually end up using it, but it makes me smile!

It's been fun sharing today's adventure! Thank you for reading!

Until next time....

~Jeannie

Gettin' That Giddy Feeling

I'm getting that giddy feeling I usually get just before going to what I hope to be a great sale or the Sacramento Antique Faire that's held the second Sunday of every month.

I've finally decided that I'm going to pull my sorry a** out of bed tomorrow at the butt-crack of dawn (as my friend, Tina, would say), pack up the car with my cute cart, boxes for holding small things, bubble wrap for hopefully good vintage glass finds, and get to the Antique Faire before all the other vintage-horders get their grubby hands on my vintage finds! I kid...kind of...I've never been the type to wait until the end of the faire for the supposedly good bargains because all I can think about is, 'What did I miss earlier that day?' Plus, I'm usually lucky enough, at least at this particular faire, to find items at pretty fair prices.

I thought I'd share with you some of the items I've found at this particular faire and sold online or will sell online:

Some great Pyrex

I just love this rainbow design on this mixing bowl. I kinda wish I didn't sell this one.

I just love the blue delphite Pyrex bowl. I had a complete set of three!

Pyrex's Friendship pattern.

Such a cute vintage baby's divided dish. This was one of my most fun Pyrex finds!

Below is an adorable (and so soft!) vintage chenille baby blanket. I've not yet put this up to sell, but I will soon! However, feel free to contact me if you are interested or have any questions about this precious blanket!

Try to ignore all different formatting I have going on with these photos. I took and edited these at different times.

I also found the cake saver and Hawaiian straw bag that I featured on this blog at the faire. I will be updating an album soon that will contain more pics of my finds (besides Pyrex!) from this fair.

OK, I didn't find these McKee salt and pepper shakers at the faire, but I thought I'd share them in this post because they were one of my best single garage sale finds! I nearly threw my body across the table they were on to reach them before anyone else could snatch them up. I turned them over to find a sticker with $5.00 written on it! I could hardly contain myself. I've not managed to separate myself from this pair...I'm not sure if I'll ultimately keep them, but at this point, I can't part with them. These are the same McKee salt and pepper shakers that are featured in C. Dianne Zweig's new book, Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes, that I had the honor of contributing to with some pics of my vintage finds, including these shakers.

Take care and I'll let you all know what I found tomorrow at the faire!

~Jeannie

A Note about My Other Passion

So, while this has nothing to do with vintage stuff or is even a family anecdote, I thought I'd just quickly share one thing with you because I was so excited about it I nearly peed my pants!

I do have another passion, aside from collecting old (or semi-old) stuff, and if any of you have ever read my profile or my 'About Us' page on my store website, you may know that I love the Southwest and dream of someday living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Well, one morning a few months back, I got a burr in my saddle and decided to write a letter to the editor of New Mexico magazine...And they published it in the September issue! I was just tickled! I've never written a letter to a publication nor have I had my words published in print (be it a school paper or a widely distributed magazine)! To read more about it, see my other blog about my soul-searching adventures and ramblings.

Anyway, just wanted to share! Thanks for reading!

~Jeannie

Let's Go Antiquing, Girls!

I've been away from the blog a lot longer than I'd like. Things have been hectic around here with my son starting 2nd grade and getting ready for a short trip to Southern California to visit family and enjoy a NASCAR race. I know the words enjoy and NASCAR in the same sentence may seem like crazy-talk to some of you, but I have to admit it - I love NASCAR and I love going to races. In fact, I really didn't understand the whole NASCAR thing until I went to a race. I'm not really sure how it happened other than my husband was somewhat of a fan and wanted to take my son to a race up here in Northern California...I decided I'd go just to not feel left out, and I've been hooked ever since. You know what I'm talking about NASCAR fans...Am I right or what? I know - I know...But if you read my Mustang post, you'd know what a car nut I am to begin with.

Anyway, I'm sure none of you logged on to read about that...But I did want you all to know that I've been trying to get some vintage items up in our online store and our eBay store. Here's some of the latest...I have a ton more vintage items to sell, but like I mentioned above, I've been a little busy!

It's a Pyrex-sta's Paradise

I just love this cookie canister with the adorable little decal and red handle!

We also have a couple vintage sheer half aprons that are in near perfect condition and priced to sell! I think they're just perfect as the end of summer gets closer and more time will be spent indoors.

All these items and more can be found on our 'Flea Market' page.

For the readers of my blog, I'd love hear what kind of items you love to collect!

Well, I'll be off for now. I've got to go pack my Nascar t-shirts, hats, and shorts...I also have to go remind my husband to pack our folding chairs, car flags, and backpacks that have all our favorite drivers' numbers on them....You think I kid!