Shopping my garage

My friend Beth came with me yesterday afternoon to check out the booth and see what I might have room to fill in, and I was So Very Excited to see that this 3-piece set of blue vintage luggage had sold:

Which left me with quite a lot of floor space it had previously been taking up.  And since I'm on a thrifting moratorium, we went to what is arguably the best thrift store in town at the moment: my garage, where everything is free, since I bought it already!  I buy vintage luggage semi-obsessively, I'll admit, but it's been a really good seller for me, as well.  I believe that since mid-February I have sold 5 suitcases, 2 train cases, a leather satchel, an army-style messenger bag, a small overnight travel bag and, also this past week, the Pringles duffle bag:

So, with a suitcase-sized space emptied out on the floor, I found no reason not to replace it with more suitcases!  A pretty green one with a cool trapezoidal handle and another leather-ish Samsonite, of somewhat better quality than the one that's already there, also with the included hangers and whatnot still inside (not pictured - I didn't have my camera along yesterday, so these are all quick phone shots:

The one on top was already there, the other two are new to the booth.

The picture doesn't do this one justice - white vinyl
overnight bag with red trim - very clean and bright.

Cute Mickey Mouse knapsack, possibly 60s?  I can't find a match online.

And, because they were being stored inside of some of the bags, and because my little book/record shelf wasn't really intended to display purses, I added a bunch more books.  Children's books as well as craft, cook, gardening and fashion books from the 50s 60s and 70s.  Here are a few of them:

Books, books, I <3 books!

Project Cat, about a group of kids in a housing project befriending a stray cat, is a great one, and we found cutouts from the St Louis Post Dispatch from 1972 in the Vogue Sewing Book:

The other sides of these two clippings from May 12 and November 16 have sewing tips on making a mandarin collar and sewing fake suede, respectively.

I had no idea when these movies came out, but lets be honest.  If, 40 years from now, some random person were to come across two totally random clippings from a current newspaper of movie ads that were actually clipped for the information on the other side of the page, do you think they would find 4 movies out of 5 that they totally knew all about?  I'll admit I've never sat all the way through Deliverance or Funny Girl, but I know exactly what they are, and I bet you heard the little banjo riff from Deliverance in your head the minute you saw the ad, didn't you?  Ok, well I did.  I'm afraid to even Google "Dirty Little Billy", so I'll leave that one a mystery, and the name is cut off of the one at the bottom, but as it has Peter O'Toole and Alastair Sim both in it it's got to be something called The Ruling Class, where apparently Peter O'Toole's character thinks he's Jesus (thanks IMDB!)

No idea what to do with these little bits of ephemera, but it was such a fun find!  I did snatch them out of the book to keep, in case anybody has any ideas!

And, to round out the Garage Shopping, Beth found this cowboy hat in one of the bags, which now graces the booth as well:

It's very small - size 6 3/4 if you have a little head!

It turns out, shopping the stock I already have is almost as fun as hunting down new treasures, since my prodigious disorganization makes all things new again!  Which is good, because I need to keep doing it awhile longer.  How about you - finding new treasures?  Rediscovering old ones?

I'm linking up again:

Her Library Adventures Flea Market Finds, Me and My Shadow's Magpie Mondays, Cap Creations Thrifty Love Link Party  and Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday.  Don't miss all the great finds!

And an announcement will be coming soon on the Facebook page about a big sale on vintage clothing in the booth with exclusive first dibs to Facebook followers, so go Like the page!

Introducing the competition

It's been a little over five months now since the snowy February morning that I made my wide-eyed debut peddling my vintage wares in booth 78 at Kenrick Antique Mall, and since then, to be honest, I haven't met many of my fellow vendors.  In fact, I've yet to meet the one I'm about to introduce to you all, at least in person.  But when her booth popped up shortly after mine, I felt like I knew her, or at least like she'd be a fun person to know. So of course I I had to stop for a good look.

A snap I took of the booth shortly after I first spotted it.
I wish my walls went all the way up like that!

Our styles were similar.  We both stock vintage rather than serious antique items, generally from the 40s-70s.  We both seem to have an affection for cheery colors, toys and a bit of kitsch, and we both sell crewel work and vintage luggage, but right from the start she was brave and savvy in a few ways I'm still not yet.  This booth sold furniture, brought vintage pieces new life with bright, glossy paint and, cleverly (now you know my inspiration for finally getting 2ndhand Moon on Facebook) engaged in branding.  The booth was, adorably, called "Jack Loves Fronie".  The kind of name that sticks in your head.  So I asked my good friend Google about it, found the Facebook page and sent a message.  

We've swapped stories a bit since then, and found a few more things in common, and almost from the beginning I thought how fun it would be to do a little profile here on the blog - to share with you guys what awesome (and friendly!) competition I have for your interest when you wander the aisles of our mall.  So I finally got around to it, and now you get to meet Rachel Mowrey, proud proprietor of booth 12 at Kenrick Antique Mall.  Here's her smiling face now, with two of her adorable children:

How exactly does a mom of 3 manage to also keep up with an antique shop?
The one question I didn't ask her - every superwoman has secrets to keep!

I did send Rachel a list of questions, and here are her answers, interspersed with pics she supplied of some of her favorite items you've already missed the chance to snap up - her favorite sales!

How would you like to introduce yourself? What should readers know about you?

I'm Rachel. I'm the wife of an amazing guy, mom to three sweet kids and a graphic designer who finally realized it's ok to shop at thrift stores! I'm hooked and always feel like there's a treasure out there waiting to be found!

Gold-striped coffee carafe

Golden hearts Pyrex dish

I love your booth - you have a fun, lighthearted retro vibe. How would you describe your style? Where does it come from?

I'm starting to grow into my style, I'd say. It's definitely unstuffy, retro and eclectic. My philosophy has been, if I like it, somehow it will fit. I am drawn to mid century, but not always modern. I love pattern and color and like to pair things that don't belong in the same style family or era. I like to think of our home as my constant art work in progress!


I credit my style to my grandparents (the shop is named after them: Jack + Fronie...short for Florence), though I doubt they would take credit! I always loved the style I saw in faded photos from their youth and my mom and uncle's childhood. There was something so alluring about the 1950s and 60s...almost like a dream. Visiting my aunt and uncle's house and seeing their nostalgia on display and hearing their records constantly turning created a spark in me.

Damask chair

Fun blue floral chair

Have you always been interested in 'old junk'? What got you started?

I have always been interested in old junk! It's funny to think that it's always been in me, but as I grew older, I didn't feel the freedom to explore. As a child, I would collect small trinkets and hide them in a bottle with a corked lid and tuck it away. I'd forget about it and then, when I would discover it months later, I'd spend an hour pulling each trinket out and savoring the memory or beauty of it. As a teenager, I always preferred shopping at thrift stores but my family couldn't understand why I'd ever want things that had been used by someone else. It took hitting my thirties to realize that I'm not the only one into this sort of idea and that, actually, it's a really helpful outlet for me to express myself creatively!

A trio of kitschy big-eyed owls - so cute!

And a pair of chi-chi fancy peacocks

What's the first vintage item you remember acquiring? Do you still have it?

The first vintage piece I remember acquiring would be an old 1940s hat. I started collecting them around age 8 or 9. But a fonder item would be a rusty, vintage Clash of the Titans lunch box I got at a flea market and took my lunch to school in faithfully my junior and senior year of high school.  Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to any of those things!

Big, bright, pretty crewelwork basket of flowers.

What's the best treasure you've ever scored? 

The best treasure I ever scored was a 1960s Plycraft Mr. Chair off Craigslist. It wasn't listed for sale but I saw it sitting in the background of someone's garage and got them to sell it to me for a song. It needed reupholstering, which I never ended up getting around to, so I resold it and now it resides with Mr. Modtomic who recovered it himself!

The (envy-worthy) chair itself, after Mr Mod's
ministrations (photo linked to his awesome site).

What sorts of things insipre you?

I'm easily inspired, I think. I love small towns and movie theaters, where it feels like time has not passed by too quickly. I love little details, soft light in the evening from a great old lamp, the comfort of quiet habits like cups of coffee in my favorite mug in the morning (or afternoon). I love seeing how other people take old things and give them a new spin, though, most often, I find the original beauty of things even better. As a design major, I can't avoid saying I appreciate beautiful typography, poignant photography and great illustration. But most of all, I am inspired by that sparkle in my family's eyes that comes from me thinking of them and creating spaces that makes them feel cozy and cared for!

Bright, fun, funky luggage.

Saucy electric blue mirror.

Where do you usually find your treasures? Any secrets to share with other vintage lovers like yourself?

I find most of my treasures out thrifting. My favorite spots are any of the Value Villages, Goodwills or Salvation Armies. I hit St. Vincent DePaul off South Kingshighway a few times a week since it's near my house. Most of the really great stuff comes from estate sales, but I don't often get the chance to do estates much. My biggest treasure trove is small town shopping, usually when I visit my mom in northeast Missouri. Things are much more affordable there and I stock up on lots of inventory when I travel to that neck of the woods!

Pretty buttery sofa

Dramatic red velvet sofa

Can you believe all the fabulous stuff Rachel has already sold?  But don't worry, there's still plenty for you, if you've missed out so far!  Here are a few of the items that stood out to me when I took a peek at the competition the other day:

Round suitcase

Cute toy piano!

Pretty cookware - Fire King?

Adorable bright cups/saucers

And here are some pictures Rachel provided to give you an idea of how her booth looks and what's for sale now:

Love the mushroom/butterfly wall hangings!

Great stuff on a great shelf!

The whole big lovely booth - isn't it fun?  You know you want to check it out!

 So now that you know all about my competition, why don't you come down to Kenrick Antique Mall on Watson Road in Shrewsbury and check us both out?  Rachel's booth, Jack Loves Fronie, is booth # 12 at the end of the first row as you walk in, and the 2ndhand Moon booth, #78 is about 2/3 of the way back on the east side of row 3, and both are chock full of goodness just waiting for you!

And don't forget to check out the Facebook pages:
Jack Loves Fronie and 2ndhand Moon

Booth overhaul and new treasures for the Big Sale

So I got over to the booth and spiffed it up fairly significantly.  Biggest news is I finally, in light of the no-end-in-sight triple-digit weather, took home Mitch's sexy coat.  I had intended to take it home in May, but some ladies from another booth told me that they see guys taking pictures of it with their phones, so I thought I might as well leave it, to attract the dude attention to the booth, but... it'll be back in the fall, when it makes a little bit of sense.  I replaced it on its stand with some weather-appropriate fun vintage girlie things (I forgot my camera today, so please forgive the fact that all my pictures are phone-shot):

 

In the girlie vein, I also added a bunch more awesome vintage purses:

The great little book/record shelf they are on is also a new addition, and also for sale!: 

And of course you can see in that shot some new old luggage.  It's a pretty caramel fake leather hard-side suitcase and train case.  The suitcase is spectacular inside, with a lovely peach-champagne satin interior that even includes the original hangers all racked up and ready to go:

You know I can't leave out the awesome kitcheny goodness, so here are a couple of new pieces featuring cheery yellow:

And I've teased you long enough for this one.  From what I've seen, people are listing these on Ebay from  $70.00 to $Stupid.00, but this week only, you can snatch one from Booth 78 at Kenrick Antique Mall for only $30.00!  It will go back up to its still nice price of $40.00 if it's still there when the 25% off sale is over on Sunday:

Smith Corona SCM Super Sterling typewriter

It's in its original carrying case, and looks sharp except for one tiny spit on top where the paint has rubbed off (to give it some vintage cred!).  The keys feel nice and snappy, and a nice retrocam shot seemed appropriate to show you how great it works:

And for the fabulously zha-zha-kitschy among us, this bright pink flocked vintage shower curtain (it's brighter than this sad blurry picture suggests!):

I scored two of these, actually.  One is in the booth, and I'm currently debating whether to replace the green/brown/pink daisies in my Oh-So-South-City-Pink bathroom.  What do you think - should I go for it?:  

As for the booth, I think I made it a little more navigable.  I took out the round table that's been in the middle since day one.  It belonged to friends, so I couldn't sell it, and I always wondered if people were reluctant to walk around in there because of it.  I also re-secured the stupid slanty clothing rack with a bungee cord high up attaching it to the pegboard wall, and added this nifty new shelf:

Here's how the whole boot looks now:

So tell your friends: 25% off sale Wed-Sat in the 2ndhand Moon booth - #78 - at Kenrick Antique Mall in Shrewsbury, MO.  Tons of other booths will have markdowns too for the Independence Day sale!

And while the fireworks were cancelled because of the drought, here's a bit of Americana from the Carnival we attended this evening:

Carnivals = nostalgia.  Maybe I'll be a carnie when I grow up!

And I'm praying tonight for Selena at Apron Thrift Girl, wher I have had hours of pleasure reading about the amazing finds of her and others, and hae often linked up my own.  Visit her blog, look at some of the old Thift Share Monday link-ups and check out everyone's treasurs, then lift up her and her family if you would.  Goo night all, sweet dreams.

The moon was so handsome tonight!

Cruel Summer may be on it's way, but it's a crewel Spring!

Officially today was the first day of Spring, I know, but Spring sprung on us already awhile ago here in the 'Lou, and I took full advantage of it Monday on my day off.  I'd been invited to dinner at friends Alaina and Steve's house in O'Fallon, IL for Monday evening, and I hadn't planned much of anything else for the day beyond getting some more new items in my booth, so I took advantage of the rest of the day to explore a few of the many, many great thrift stores in and around Belleville, IL.  I had heard there were quite a few, but when I started googling, I was surprised at the sheer numbers in what I'd always considered to be (compared to St Louis) a small town.  Have you guys ever used The Thrift Shopper?  I just came across it while doing the aforementioned googling, and what a handy resource!  I'm excited to put it to use again soon.

I didn't get to every shop listed on my nifty new resource, but I'll give you what impressions I can of the ones I did visit:

Goodwill, Fairview Heights:

I stopped by this one mostly because it's right off the highway and easy enough to stop at sort-of-on-the-way to the others.  It's a huge Goodwill in a nifty building, but I wasn't expecting all that much, since it's right by the highway and surrounded by suburban sprawl-mall complexes.  I assumed it would be high on prices and low on vintage, but I was pleasantly surprised!  

Nice vintage desk and old utility chair.
I believe the desk was marked $30.

Old covered wagon lamp
with Carebear wagon-cover!

Cool laminate-topped end table with inverted arch designs.

I walked around for about 15 seconds before heading back outside to grab a cart to contain a great vintage Samsonite suitcase much like this one that sold on Etsy last fall:

Obviously I haven't yet gotten a pic of the one I bought!

Picked up a couple of other, smaller items as well, then headed South to Belleville proper.  

Next stop was the Shelter Shop on North Belt in Belleville, whose proceeds go to violence prevention, I'm told.  Prices here were very reasonable, but I didn't spot much that I couldn't live without this trip.  I will definitely give it another try next time I'm in that neck of the woods though - the people were nice, even if they wouldn't sell me the super cool vintage chrome and vinyl chair I coveted.  Apparently their customers sometimes need to sit down, and they didn't mean at my house.  Oh well!  I did pick up a couple of old embroidery hoops and a 70s kitchen gadget, for a grand total of $0.89.  Not bad.

Then it was the Salvation Army, where I wouldn't have been surprised to hear an actual angel chorus sing when you open the door.  Seriously, I found some fantastic things!  First, what I left for the rest of you:

This half-buried loveseat had great lines, the upholstery
that wasn't piled with stuff looked great, and I believe it
was a sleeper.  Beef up those seat cushions a touch
and it would be good as new!

Can you see that? Yes, this awesome "Dad chair"
is marked down to $8.99!  Go get it before somebody
who won't appreciate it's classic lines and Ward
Cleaver appeal takes it home and spills Red Bull on it!

Heavy brass and wood bookends - pretty in person.

And a creepy one for you.  Please tell me you can see that
this is definitely Carol Anne from Poltergeist sitting
there with her over-realistic Raggedy Ann doll.  Yikes!

I picked up a handful of gems here, but the coolest, by far, was this:

Wide lapels and wild pleating

 The jacket itself brings the funk with all the wild details, but the real reason this is an out-and-out treasure in my book is what you find inside:

Yes, that definitely says "Original Fashions by Sammy Davis Jr.,
and his signature is part of the lining fabric print!

I tried to walk away from this jacket.  I mean, it's not exactly a practical purchase, but... Sammy Davis Jr.!  I mean... come on.  Sammy. Davis. Jr.!  I was powerless to resist.  And interestingly, Google seems to have very little to say about the great Mr Bojangles' fashion line.  I found a garment bag with the logo someone's trying to sell, and one three piece pinstriped suit.  

The prettier finds I made were vintage Springtime perfection.  I picked up four gorgeous crewelwork pictures (there were at least 2 more that I left behind, if you love this stuff like I do!):

As they're leaning against the tire of my car, you can kind of get the idea of the scale of these two.  Bright, beautiful, detailed and well-done.  I adore the blue genie-bottle type vase in the one on the right.

As you can see, these two are much bigger still than the first pair.  I love the bold colors in the vertical one, but the horizontal looks awesomely just like a field of wildflowers, complete with a bumblebee in the upper-right there.  So Pretty!

I already have a few other cool crewelwork pieces (including the Van Gogh Sunflowers I've shown before), so I really need to free up some wall space in my booth and show these off like they deserve.  If anyone's looking for some fun, funky, beautifully crafted artwork, let me know, or I'll let you know when I get them up in the booth!

I visited a couple more thrift stores yesterday, but it just hit midnight here in the 'Lou, and I'm about to turn into a late-for-work in the morning pumpkin, so I'll wrap it up for the night.  Hope you're enjoying the Spring as much as I have been!