Handmade treasures

In Friday's Treasure Hunting column, I wrote about spending time at the auction and an antique sale this weekend.
I took this photo of two of my favorite finds from the sale.
As collectors, I think we honor the time and hard work that went into things like this hand-pieced quilt top, and little house made out of old packing crates, when we bring them into our homes to use and display.
These items meant something to someone in the past, and now they're special to me.

The sign of a good time at the auction

I can't believe it's Wednesday! I had such a good time junking over the weekend, I had to play catch-up Monday and Tuesday.
I spent Thursday evening at a great estate auction in Hillyard. Auctioneer Mary Ann Duffey plowed through a room full of antiques and oddities in a couple of hours. The deep-pocket collectors were there for the railroad and fire department collectibles and it's hard to believe what those things bring at auction. An early Spokane Fire Department. helmet sold for more than $300.
My favorite buy was this old "Registered Guernseys" sign. I love the colors and the sweet Guernsey faces. I also picked up an old "Washington Farmer" insurance sign.
I'll have more auction stories in Friday's Treasure Hunting column.

Portrait of love

Several readers asked me to show the photograph of the romantic couple I wrote about in Friday's Treasure Hunting column, so here it is:

Lea Sammons of Sandpoint is another lover of old photos. Sammons wrote:

Hi Cheryl-Anne,
I loved your column about vintage photos! I too have always been
fasinated with old pictures, and when people ask about pictures I have
displayed and find out they are of people I don't even know, they always
look at me as if I'm a little nuts! ha! Now I don't feel quite so
crazy.
Sammons also wrote about seeing an old photo of a 1920s baseball team in an antique shop in Carson City, Nev., and how she was smitten with one of the players on sight. I have to confess, I have a photograph of a World War I "doughboy" that had the same effect on me. I bought the portrait when I was younger and I've kept it ever since. My daughter saw it one day and asked who it was. I replied, "Oh, that's just an on old boyfriend." She didn't know what to make of that.

One man's trash ...

The Washington State Department of Ecology sponsors "2 good 2 toss," an online trading post for state residents to buy, sell, or exchange items. Each county has a site, and the items range from topsoil to exercise equipment.

Make way for ducklings

We got our new babies yesterday! They're tucked into a box, under a warm light, in my laundry room.
Each spring we raise a bevy of ducks in our backyard. The little ducklings aren't much bigger than ping-pong balls when we get them, and by the time they fly away, they're bigger than my cats!
Last year we raised nine ducklings, lost two to things higher on the food chain, and released seven gorgeous adult ducks.
When I saw this old Purina "chicks, turkeys and ducklings" feeder at the Farm Chicks sale last Fall, I had to bring it home to decorate my suburban farm. When my little peeps get big enough to live in their pen outside, away from their warming light, I'll use it as their feeder.

Custer's latest stand

Custer's Spring Antique Sale is at the Fairgrounds this weekend.
A lot of people turn out for this sale and there'll be a line waiting to get in when it opens Friday evening. As I've said before, I don't even try to get in on the opening rush. I don't like to be pushed along the aisles by a treasure-hungry mob.
I found this article on shopping the shows. The writer makes a good point when he says that the best bargains are spotted by other dealers before the show even opens. It's true. If you go to a sale several times, and keep your eyes open, you can spot items as they move from dealer to dealer increasing in price along the way.
This isn't the flea market. It's a show and most of the prices are show prices. The appeal is that the dealers have done the work for us. They've scouted out all those wonderful things and I think they're entitled to their markup. As long as it's reasonable, of course.

Vintage Vonnegut

Years ago I read a short story by Kurt Vonnegut that still comes to mind now and then. The story, "More Stately Mansions," is about a woman who is so obsessed with reading decorating magazines and re-doing her house that she completely loses touch with reality. The story was written in 1951, but honestly, it could reads like it was written about the whole Martha Stewart - HGTV - Antiques Roadshow phenomenon.
This weekend was Get Lit! and the featured speaker Saturday night at The Met was none other than Kurt Vonnegut. I didn't get a ticket to Vonnegut before the show sold out, but after a little creative begging, I found one through an EWU Press staffer.
I sat in the next-to-last row of the balcony, next to Chris Crutcher and his wife.
It was fascinating to see and listen to Vonnegut and I felt a lump in my throat when he waltzed slowly off the stage. He's 81 and I don't think I'll ever get a chance to hear him again.
Sunday afternoon we went to the Opera House to listen to Dave Barry, and others, read. After dinner and a glass or two of wine at Europa, we went back to the Opera House to hear readers that included Scott Poole, Crutcher, reading from "King of the Mild Frontier," and Garrison Keillor. I got home after 10 p.m. knowing I had a short deadline looming, but it was worth it.
The last thing I did before I fell asleep was read that story by Vonnegut.

Avon Lady

Question: I think it was the mid-1960s when I acquired this Avon Bracelet. They only issued six charms which are replicas of various containers of their product. I got all six and then they discontinued. I have no idea what the value is and am not interested in selling it. When I read your column I remembered having it. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has one like it. -- Mary Pichette

Answer: I'll ask. Anyone have a bracelet like Mary's? There are several Avon bracelets listed on eBay. They aren't expensive, but like a lot of things, the real value is sentimental.

Shades of fun

The Custer's Antique Show is coming up next weekend. If you're a regular, like me, you probably know the Forget-me-not ladies, Nancy Frederickson and Sally Barlowe. They have the funky space right down the center aisle of the show. Frederickson and Barlow usually pick a color scheme and fill their booth with an assortment of good junk in those colors. You might remember the pink and orange decor at the sale a couple of years ago.
Well, ( I feel just like one of those big-time gossip columnists here) I've got a little "advance" information. I asked what the tone of this year's show was going to be. Frederickson says it isn't definite yet, but it looks like this year's booth is going to be loaded with all of those wonderful vintage shades of green.
The bad news for me is that I love anything in chippy green paint. So that means I'll have to check the sofa cushions for spare change or get up extra early so I can quietly "borrow" the kid's allowance before they wake up.

Update: Oops. I should have mentioned that Nancy Frederickson and Sally Barlow's shop is located in Cd'A. Five women are partners in the business and it's one of my favorite stops when I drive over.

Stupid sister tricks

I just got a call from my sister in Arizona saying she reads my blog. I have to give her credit for being my first junk sister. We used to share a room full of junk and we were always planning a big makeover.
On the day we moved into our turn-of-the-century craftsman-style house I wanted to see if the sconces on the wall were for lightbulbs or candles. So, I climbed up on a chair and stuck my finger in one of the fixtures. Turns out they were wired. I got a good jolt that knocked me off the chair and my sister got a good laugh. We'll see who gets the last one...

Spokane splendor

Last night I sat in the balcony of the exquisitely renovated Met Theatre, in downtown Spokane, and watched American Splendor, the movie based on the comics of Harvey Pekar.
Pekar is a former record collector and in the movie his apartment is cluttered with sagging shelves of jazz records and albums. Pekar talks about the lure of garage sales and I laughed out loud at the scene where he balks at paying a quarter for an old 78 record. "It has a lamination crack," he says.
Pekar spoke after the movie and answered questions. it was all fascinating. Even better than my last night on the town. I was in the balcony of the Opera House that night, watching Tom Jones strut across the stage. I talk about the concert in my Home Planet column today.
I don't know what it says about me. but I found Pekar to be much more interesting to watch.

I believe in cooking up at least one hot deal every day

I love old stoves and would love to restore one. Wouldn't my old pots and pans look great on one of these? It might even inspire me to open my Joy of Cooking and whip up something wonderful. Or not.

True Confessions

I am about to tell you something I'm not proud of. I can't work in the little room I use as an office because it's haunted. It's haunted by the ghost of Christmas past.
All of the precious family heirlooms and vintage ornaments I've collected over the years are still sitting in my office. Still in the box where I dropped them when I stripped the tree on New Years Day. I haven't wrapped them in tissue and put them away in the special ornament containers I bought several years ago. And every time I walk into the room they smirk at me.
So, I've been carrying my laptop around trying to find a place to work where I won't have to look at them. I have bunnies on my dining room table for Easter, and Christmas decorations cluttering my office.
I'm a hard working woman. I don't run from a challenge and I know how to roll up my sleeves and get a job done. Except for those ornaments. I am so ashamed.

A truckload

This month's Country Home magazine lists The Farm Chicks sale (May 22-23) in it's events calendar.
The chicks have been digging again and are gathering up truckloads of goodies for the sale.

I'm putting together a calendar of treasure hunting events, like the Custer show next weekend, and The Farm Chicks sale in May. Drop me a line if you have something to add. No garage sales or estate sales, please.

Junk Stars

The Junk Gypsies let me know that their "Gypsywear" tees are going to be in the celebrity gift baskets at CMT's " 2004 Flame Worthy Video Music Awards."
This way, even if Faith Hill or Dolly Parton never make it to the big time as real "Junk Divas", they can still dress like us.

What's this worth?

Question: I have a server, that comes from the Paine Furniture company with one draw and double doors that are hand painted. It has a dark finish and is in very good shape. I have no clue what it's worth, but everyone loves it. Can you tell me it's approximate value? -- Penny Joy

Answer: Thanks for sending the photo. Your server, with lovely painted accents on each door, was probably sold as part of a dining room suite. I'm not a furniture expert, but I would say it was made in the late 1920s or early 1930s. To find out the value, I would advise you to show the photo to a qualified appraiser. You shouldn't have a hard time finding a buyer for such a nice piece. Good luck!

Running on empty

This week has been Spring Break for my children and they made the most of it. We didn't take a trip, but that doesn't mean they stayed home. I'm pretty sure I've driven the same mileage as a trip to the coast, but all I have to show for it is an empty tank. And the car is out of gas, too.
However, as I drove through the Peone Prairie to deliver my teenage daughter to a friend's house, I spotted a sale at one of the pretty farmhouses that dot the landscape. As soon as I dropped her off (she forgot to say "Thanks Mom") I drove back by the sale.
I picked up a wonderful old iron folding daybed or cot. It will be perfect for the little garden shed I'm going to have one day. It only cost $10 so that leaves me with enough money to put gas in the car.

I'm charmed!

In today's Treasure Hunting column I wrote about charm bracelets and invited readers to share the stories of their bracelets. A number of women have responded and I'll be sharing some of their letters in this blog. I had a feeling that each bracelet could tell a story, and it looks like I was right.

A night on the town

Last night, I got a call from a friend with an extra ticket for the Tom Jones concert at the Opera House.
The place was packed and it's true; middle-aged women do toss their skivvies onstage.
Just think, one minute I'm dragging out my vintage watering cans and wheelbarrows to get the garden ready for summer, and the next minute I'm scarfing down a peanut butter and banana sandwich and a glass of red wine at the kitchen sink so I can drive downtown to see a sight like that. Is my life exciting, or what?
(As if mixing red wine with a peanut butter and banana sandwich isn't already living dangerously.)
Here's the Seattle Times review of the concert.

Plant junk on patio

Rebecca Cole, designer, urban gardener, and co-host of Discovery Television's Surprise by Design likes to incorporate found objects and funky junk into her projects. I like the way she uses galvanized pots and buckets for planting containers.

It's time to junk right in and start digging

Now that it's springtime in Spokane, I've started puttering around in my garden. It's full of interesting things I've dragged home from garage sales, flea markets and even a few curbside finds.
I found this site while I was looking for inspiration. I love the mirrors and the stone fountain.

Where do I go in Pennsylvania?

Question: I read in your article that you had been to a fleamarket in
Pennsylvania. My wife and I will be traveling to the Pittsburgh area this month and I waswondering if you could recommend good places to look for treasures in that area? -- Jerry A. Focht

Answer: My copy of "Country Living's Guide to the Best Flea Markets," lists several flea markets in Pennsylvania.
Some of the favorites are:
Renninger's Antiques market, Adamstown, PA (610) 683-6848
Renninger''s Antique Market #2, Kutztown, PA (610) 683-6848
Greengate Outdoor Flea Market, Greensburg, PA (724) 837-6881
SuperFlea Flea Market, Pittsburgh, (412) 673-3532

Renninger's always puts on a good show, but you might want to check out this online listing of flea markets accross the country for more. Have a great trip. Send me a photo of your favorite find and I'll post it.

Mining for gold

Need a reason to dig a little deeper in that box of junk jewelry at a flea market or garage sale? Here's a story about a Rhode Island man who dug up a Victorian brooch set with a rare purple quahog (clam) pearl and diamonds.
He paid $14 for the piece and hopes to sell it for more than $ 1 million.

I never scored anything like that, but I have picked up a few treasures through the years. When I was a teenager I paid 25 cents for a gold-filled brooch set with a whopping big opal.
And, several years ago, I picked up a small very tarnished gold Victorian padlock bracelet for 50 cents. I don't have the tiny gold key to open the lock, but who knows, maybe I'll find that in another box one day.

A treasure "maid" to order

Rhonda Perry, of Marshall, Wash., shopped for vintage aprons at the flea market in Spokane this weekend. Perry likes to tie the frilly aprons on her dining room chairs to dress them up for teas and parties.

I worked all weekend 'cause I'm a Type "J" personality

My daughter snapped this as we were leaving the flea market Saturday. (sigh Now you know I'm not tall, blonde, and willowy.)

The flea market was great. I didn't get there until late afternoon, after the mad rush in the morning, but I still scored. I found a pair of much-needed stools for my kitchen counter. The stools were already painted green (Liked that), and they were just $5 each (Loved that!) Look closely and you can see the antique egg crate at the bottom of my shopping cart. I picked up a few other treasures, (a stack of 1940s and 50s printed tablecloths and a pair of "hand" vases,) to talk about later.
I had such a great time talking to everyone. It's nice to know that people are reading the column. Several dealers even brought a copy of Friday's story about "shopping styles" with them.
Chatting with the shoppers and dealers, I picked up a couple of hot tips about upcoming shows and sales, and a list of ideas for future columns.
Do I have a great job, or what?

A charming story

Next week's Treasure Hunting column will be on vintage charm bracelets.
I picked one up at the Vintage Rabbit Antique Mall a couple of weeks ago, and haven't taken it off. It's like wearing a bunch of little toys around my wrist.

Not too shabby

Rachel Ashwell, the queen of Shabby Chic (I keep telling my children that I invented Shabby Chic, but they don't care), talks about being dragged to the flea market as a child in this interview.
Now she's designing a line of linens for Target. Only in America.

Circle of (junking) friends

The Farm Chicks dropped me a line to let me know about their upcoming show in Fairfield, Wash., and their new "ideas" page.

The "chicks" also sent links to the new forum at Mary Jane's Farm and West 16th, a new Spokane source of interesting and one-of-a-kind treasures.

Thanks for mentioning my weekly Treasure Hunting columns, and blog in the mailing, ladies.

Just fill 'er up (with junk)

OK, I know the flea market this weekend will be small, but I'm looking forward to it anyway. Parental duties are going to cut down on the time I can spend playing, but I''ll sneak away somehow.
I wish I could take a little time off this summer for a flea market tour, but that's just a dream.
I found this site listing the top fleas across the country.
Hey, I've got a camper. Anybody want to join me? We could caravan across the country picking up treasures, (not to mention a few great stories) along the way.