A Retro Summer

With the heat of summer my mind turns to brighter colors and fun furniture. So we just did a retro display with some of the best (bright and clean) vintage tablecloths. kitchen towels and aprons that I have ever had. A metal turquoise desk and file cabinet make the display come alive. A generous sprinkling of pink flamingos and the display screams SUMMER! So go take a look and get out of the heat! But enjoy summer - even if you just put a pink flamngo next to your chaise lounge! 

Old Glory

 

I love the flag! It represents so much about our country and the sacrifices so many people have made to keep us free! We have alot of vintage flags for sale in this display. And we have some wonderful WW1 ephemera in this display - from a Welcome Home banner that was hung on doors in 1919 to alot of Red Cross items. There is a program of songs and poems to welcome home the troops and alot of war bond ads too. There are 30" and 55" fabric banners to hang inside or outside and a wonderful 80" long narrow flag to use down the center of your table. So come down and enjoy the display and get some decorations to show your pride too! Sara and Bob did this display for me as I am still recovering from my knee replacement. I so appreciate my family helping me as I get my strength back. Happy Fourth of July and long may she wave! Happy Birthday America! 

Seeds for Sale!

The sign says "Seeds for Sale" but we have something even more amazing than just seeds for sale! A store seed display rack c.1910 from the Alfred J. Brown Seed Co. from Grand Rapids, Michigan! A beautiful piece that was given to stores who stocked the companies seeds. One of a kind as I am sure not many survived when the stores closed down. Get in to see it. The second picture is some c.1915 seed packs in unused condition. The colors are wonderful. They look just right in the seed rack as they are the same vintage. Funny how that works!
The back wall is a wonderful six foot gate with a c.1910 scale on the counter.  The ferns add just the right color to pull it all together! So the Home and Garden show is still going strong with new displays in all parts of the store. Come in and buy some seeds! 

Garden Show is hopping!

 Had to take more furniture up today as a few pieces sold. Here is a great flower trolly that probably won't last long. Great for serving on too...

 A green birdhouse condo with glass on top for a great coffee table!

 The most beautiful begonia baskets that bloom all summer and get so full! Shade please.

A hand painted sign - I made one for a friend so thought I might as well make one to sell also.  So get up to this show and have some inside fun while it is raining out. The perfect place to shop - Monticello Antique Marketplace in Portland!

When it sells...

 When it sells we replace it! The table in our Euro display sold so we put the nicest chicken crate coffee table I have ever had in its place. Love the legs and the patina of the wood is perfect.

 Back in the Garden show booth we had alot of furniture sell too. This is a little table that Bob made out of reclaimed wood and a slender door. It could be used as a potting bench but I think it is perfect for using on your patio to serve up dinner!

 Sara made us up a sweet Fairy Garden.

 The white urns went in and went right out! Will post pics when I get up there to replace them!

 The ostrich ferns have been very popular. They die back in winter but come up every spring in a riot of green!

Some yelloware bowls ready to serve up your favorite recipes.

So the Garden Show runs through June 15 with new inventory coming in every morning. I love seeing some of the things the other dealers bring in. So come shop at Monticello Antique Marketplace in Portland. A fun place! Now I have to go load more furniture.... 

Spring Garden Show

It is almost here - the Spring Home and Garden show opens tomorrow, April 11 at 8 am at Monticello in Portland. Lots of work finding it, fixing it, loading it and the displaying it. My old knees are mindfull of that these days!  But it is always a fun show to set up. I love interacting with the other dealers. Randy of Madison Park is across from our booth and he has 35 wicker picnic (European and American) baskets that are so beautiful. I asked him if he bought a collection and he said he bought them one at a time and they had been great insulation on a wall in his attic for 5 years. Go see them - you will have a hard time picking a favorite.  I will post pics of them when I go back up. So the show runs through June 11 but it will change daily. So go have a look - I dare you to leave without making a purchase.... Happy Spring   Mary

A European theme

We did a new display at Monticello yesterday with a European theme.  I upholstered two chairs in linen and made some "wool" pillows that is all the rage now.  My favorite items in this display are the antique linen grain sacks. The nubby texture and heavy weight are amazing. To think of someone breaking down the fibers, spinning it and then weaving it into a 20" width of fabric is amazing to me. These sacks are from all over Europe and about 100 years old. The weaver would do stripes (red and blue being the most common) and the some of them would embroider their initials on the sacks. When they took their harvested grains to the miller they were guaranteed to get their own flours and grains back. I had intended to make pillows out of the sacks but was hesitent to cut them once I held them.  I am getting over it and you will see some grain sack pillows soon.  So get up to Monticello soon. We noticed lots of new merchandise and displays at the orther vendors too.  Time to update your house for spring. Remember to mark your calender that the Spring Home and Garden show will open on Friday, April 11and run through June 16. I have been collecting some wonderful treasures as have all the other dealers. So plan on coming up for that. Now I have to go work on that display.....