Local Sale With A Cautionary Tale

The Islip Antiques and Collectibles Fair is one of my favorite shows.  I try to hit it every year.

It is held on the grounds of the Islip Art Museum, a stunning old building which was a private home, then an orphanage and now home to the museum, the Islip Arts Council and several Islip offices.

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It overlooks a lake with lots of daily visitors…..

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and beautiful reminders that fall is finally here!!!

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The weather the day of the sale was more reminiscent of summer than fall but it was beautiful nonetheless.

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I saw great stuff beginning at the first booth I walked into…..

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I L-O-V-E-D this leather camera bag but there was no way I could justify the $275.00 price tag.

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I adore old bed headboards and footboards.  Some day I want a whole house of them!!!

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Trunks, too!!!  These look great as coffee tables, at the end of a bed to hold extra pillows and blankets or anywhere else you need extra storage!!!  And they can be painted any color you choose.

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There were great Beatles items at every turn…..

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and pop culture galore!!!

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Do you remember when Jimmy Carter was President and his brother-Billy-came out with his own beer???

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How cool is this metal phone book stand?  This would make a great entry room table (just add a basket on top to corral keys and sunglasses and a mat below to leave your shoes on) or a small kitchen island.

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Each book covered a different county.

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And now for my cautionary tale, fellow Vixens:  I found this GORGEOUS roll of pink linoleum flooring at the sale.  I had instant fantasies of how great this would look in the country dream house I want someday.  I pictured it as the floor of a first level powder room, the laundry room or the butler’s pantry-maybe all 3!!!

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But while I was waiting to ask the dealer how much the flooring cost, I talked myself out of it.  I thought about how small my current place is, and why I should use up valuable storage space now for a dream that is years away, how I might not be able to find someone to install it, etc.  I worked myself up in to such a state I walked away telling myself I needed to fix my current place before bringing in things that I want someday.  But since the sale I have had SEVERE non-buyer’s remorse.  I should have bought it.  Sigh!!!  😦

I always tell people they can always find room for something they want-they just need to be creative.  I could have stored this in my trunk until I made room in my apartment.  Next time I have to remember to take my own advice!!!

My find at the show:  A flue cover.

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On my way home, I stopped at my favorite farm stand for some produce and picked up a few gourds.  They are now on top of my fridge with some of my antiques:

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Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!

Local Sale: The Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department’s Antiques Flea Market

This time of year I do not even have to leave my county to find great antiques shows to attend, and one of them is held in one of my favorite cities  on the north shore of Long Island-The Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department’s annual show.

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The biggest reason why I love this area is because of the view of the harbor.

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Despite the dreary weather (and the oppressive humidity) the sale was still busy.

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I saw some dear old friends…

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and some interesting pieces (this would look adorable in a flower garden)…

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this mid century modern table top…

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a garden squirrel…

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and these gorgeous candle holders which I swooned over…..until I saw they were $125.00 EACH!!!  Needless to say I passed.

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I did not buy anything there so I treated myself to lunch at my favorite sushi place (Show Win-Northport, NY) and later a pedicure (don’t you love the fall color!!!)

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On my way home, I stopped for a few groceries and was treated to these lovely displays:

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Pumpkins and mums-two obvious tell tale signs of fall!!!

Until next time, fellow vixens, happy digging!!!

 

Happy Birthday Boss Man!!!

Photo courtesy of Eric Meola.

Happy birthday to one of my heroes, Bruce Springsteen.

Before I discovered his music, my world was so dark I forgot what light was like.  Then I bought the “Born To Run” album and heard the words that changed my life:  “What else can we do now except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair.”

Thank you for every note of every song.  What you have given me, let alone the world, is immeasurable.

B-R-U-C-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo courtesy of americanicons.com.

Welcome Fall!!!

“Autumn…..the year’s last loveliest smile”-William Cullen Bryant.

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How do I love fall?  Let me count the ways:  Pumpkins, falling leaves in beautiful hues, crisp air, Halloween, comfort food, my yearly trek to Vermont, cozy sweaters, warm blankets, the first frost, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”, apple picking, gourds, weekend getaways to New England, snuggling weather, warm cider, fairs & festivals, mums, pansies, acorns, pepperberries and Thanksgiving, just to name a few.

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”-F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Oh, and let’s not forget antiquing, estate sale-ing and junking!!!

Happy Autumn, fellow vixens!!!

Some Seasonal Shopping

Last weekend I was rained out on Saturday (and there were no indoor sales that I was aware of) so Sunday was my only day to hit the local sales.  I went to five of them-yes, FIVE-and did not find ANYTHING!!!  It was not that any of them were junk, they just had things I was not in the market for:  newer items, toys, children’s items, clothes and large furniture (tables and chairs, etc).

It was nice to be at it again in the crisp weather-it was 70 degrees here on Sunday-so the outcome was by no means a complaint.  But the cooler air always puts me in the mood to hit some of my favorite stores to see what is new for the season.  I do not purchase a lot, maybe a few pieces here and there to mix in with my vintage items, and I shop at stores where I get the most bang for my buck.

While most of my decorating this time of year is with real pumpkins and other finds from nature (read:  acorns and leaves), a few store-bought items peppered in seem to complete the look I am going for.

Some of my favorite places to visit are the Christmas Tree Shops, the Dollar Tree and Michaels.

At the Christmas Tree Shop I found some burlap pumpkins and seasonal pot holders.

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At the Dollar Tree I found a witches sign (and some bungee cords for those big treasures I find that need to be secured in my car).

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At Michaels I found another seasonal sign and some burlap ribbon that I plan to use on my Christmas tree.

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I am still in the throes of organizing and decorating my apartment, but soon I will show you how I incorporate these purchases in my space.

Until next time, fellow vixens, happy digging!!!

Shopping On Ebay

Even when I cannot make it to local estate and garage sales, I am always on the look out for vintage items.  One of my favorite ways to find them?  I sign in to Ebay.  I used to be completely against online shopping for vintage pieces, but then I saw that heart tugging ebay commercial about the man who finds the toy he lost as a child decades earlier (if you have never seen that ad, you MUST!!!  Check it out here:  http://youtu.be/E0x9punvi9o).

In the last month, I made two great finds.  The first one is a Peanuts Christmas pot holder (yes, I shop for Christmas & other holiday items year round, especially ones featuring my buddies, the Peanuts!!!).  Plus the holidays are right around the corner so I like to get a jump on things.

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The other is an old match dispenser which has a wonderful patina.  I plan to hang it right by my front door as a holder for my sunglasses and my keys.

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This was an item I never would have searched for, but Ebay keeps track of what items you look at and buy, then they send you periodic emails for similar items or ones they think you might be interested in.  That is how I found the match holder.

So until next time fellow vixens, happy digging!!!