I've decided something about myself after all these years of thrifting, junkin', and wandering through flea markets. The weirder the find, the more likely I am to bring it home. I mean, anybody can walk into a thrift store and find a pretty vase or a nice picture frame. But an old bedpan? Now THAT gets my attention. Yes, I really bought an old bedpan at Antique Alley. And yes, I really do plan to plant succulents in it. (After a very thorough cleaning, of course!) And that's not even close to...
9 days ago • 2 min read
It's that time of year again! It snuck up on me... like it always does. 30 Days of Thanksgiving! I've been celebrating 30 Days of Thanksgiving for over two decades. Actually, we may be getting close to three decades now... I'm losing track! So much has changed during that time. But one thing hasn't changed. Thanksgiving still gets squeezed out between Halloween and Christmas. Maybe even more now than ever. And with so much bad news around us, I'm finding that I need to be even more...
17 days ago • 2 min read
I wrote a blog article almost ten years ago listing the top 10 things I'm always looking for at thrift stores. The list hasn't changed much. But I am much choosier than I was ten years ago! And check back in with me next year... the list may change again. (Hopefully we'll be in a new house by then!) 10 Things I Almost Always Buy at Thrift Stores (or Antique Malls, Flea Markets, Garage Sales...) Cloth bound books - I love old books and don’t even care what they’re about. If their $1-2, they'll...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
I usually end up with some pretty unique pieces from Antique Alley. Here's the most unique from this last market: I found this old bedpan in one of my neighbor's booths. I just couldn't pass it up. I'm planning to save it until spring and plant succulents in it. It should be available at our Antique Alley booth in April or our spring open house. This next item was only 50 cents at a church rummage sale during Antique Alley. It was slightly yellowed all over with some crusty looking brown/gold...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I told you last week I'd let you know how Antique Alley went... it was my best AA sale ever! In more ways that one: I made more than I have in the past; I was in a great new venue under a barn roof; and I got rid of a bunch of old stock. (Some still leftover from our Canton days!) I almost didn't bring these flannels 'cause it was still soooooo hot! But we ended up selling several... and LOTS of t-shirts. (The flannels are all in the booth now but email if you're interested and I'll let you...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I'm writing this email ahead of time because we just finished up Antique Alley weekend and I'm going to assume that I'm exhausted. And hopefully will be sleeping late on Monday morning. (Although for me 7:00 am is late now!) Sadly, it was 100 degrees right up until Antique Alley started and I just can't be a Fall Fairy on September 1 like I did back in California. So... I think we'll actually decorate for fall on the first day of fall this year. Here's the scarecrow that I bought at Antique...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Antique Alley week is here!!! And, as always, it’s bringing back a lot of memories. I was looking through old pictures and found one from 2015 — my sister and I had our tent set up at Faith Meadows. 2015!!! How was that 11 years ago?! I can’t wait to see how different our setup looks this year. We’re doing something new this time, too! My son-in-law, Jonathan, has been making wooden planters, so we’ll be bringing some of those along with plants to go in them. And, of course, we’ll have plenty...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
I’m pretty sure old game pieces follow me home. Scrabble tiles, dominoes, bingo cards, puzzle pieces, old children’s matching games… and now Mahjong tiles. Over the years I’ve collected thousands of them, because I’m always convinced I’ll think of something fun to make with them eventually. And usually I do! But there’s one little problem with having thousands of game pieces in the SheShed… I have to be able to FIND them when inspiration strikes. How I Organize My Scrabble Tiles I’m like a...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Last weekend we headed down to Fredericksburg to celebrate Glenn’s cousin’s 50th wedding anniversary... and somehow we ended up getting to be the best man and matron of honor! We had planned to stay a few extra days, but y’all… it was just TOO HOT. So instead of spending much time outside, we did what any sensible junkers would do in 103+ degree Texas heat… We went thrifting. In air conditioning. 😂 On the way down and back home, we stopped at some old favorite thrift stores and indoor flea...
2 months ago • 2 min read