Pin Cushion Half Dolls

 More downsizing. Sigh.

Getting rid of of "Half Dolls"

which were originally used for pincushions

(had full dresses that could hold the pins).

This little one on top is only 1.5" tall.

 These three are Marie Antoinette,

big gray hair.

 The nicer ones are made in Germany,

like these two gems.

 Some of the more desirable ones are flapper style

like these two.  

All are heading on ebay to find new homes.

Sold for $76.

Moving Into A New Antique Mall

 Moving is hard.  Finding a new church.  New friends.  New doctor.  New grocery store.  New antique mall....really that was a hard one.

We talked to people and visited several antique malls.  But it took some actual shopping for antique furniture for our house to discover the best fit for us.  We had several shopping trips to an area in Ozark, MO that had several antique stores close together.  It seemed like whenever we needed something we had to do "speed shopping" and it was handy to have a few antique stores in one basic location.  That's how we landed on our new selling "home" .... Camp Flea in Ozark, MO.

The Camp Flea mall is located just off hwy 65 south of Springfield 9 miles or north of Branson at the Jackson Street Exit under the big "ANTIQUES"sign.  Either direction it is the second Ozark MO exit.

People pass right by it on their way to Branson, so the location is great.  I asked about booths for rent, and the manager asked me some discerning questions to figure out if I was cut out for one of the front booths.  After looking at some pics of past shows and booths, I passed the mustard.  

 So if you are ever in the area -- look for my "Saturdays" Antique Booth right across from the front counter.

 We moved in Saturday so that we could be "settled" for their Christmas Open House the first weekend of November.  

 Of course, vintage Christmas is no problem for me. Just getting the booth painted, lighted and furniture moved in -- that is the hard part.

Letting Go Of My Antique Frames

 I've shared about several collections that I have had

to say goodbye to.  I just don't have the space in the cottage

that I had in my big victorian house.

 But this might be the most painful goodbye.

I put all of these great frames on the front porch

the day we moved down here (two months ago).

I kept thinking that I would be able to squeeze them in somewhere....

 But, as you can see, they are still on the front porch.

Sigh.

I have resigned myself to letting them go.

I will be selling them at my new antique booth --

in Camp Flea Antique Mall

Scary Table Redo Just In Time For Halloween

I bought this little white table on a local on-line auction a few months ago.  In fact, it was this table that my vintage pair of Levi's was sitting on -- that went on to sell for $689  (click here to read that post).  So the $24 I paid for this pale old girl was well worth the cost.

It went right from that auction to our chicken coop, and it has sat in the chicken shed until just a few days ago.  I want to take it to my new antique booth this weekend, but remembered it needed a little work.  Someone had hammered a thin piece of plywood on the top to cover _____.
I was scared to find out what was in the blank.  (What I should have been worried about was at the bottom and not the top!)

What I found under the plywood was the super chippy brown paint in the first photo. The oak boards were a bit uneven too, but I specialize in primitive furniture so that goes with the territory.  I vacuumed the loose bits and painted a thin layer flat white over the top.  When that was dry, I painted a thin layer of satin buff color (it matched the old paint on the legs and apron very well).  Then sanding to allow some of the old brown paint and newer white paint to peek through.  During the sanding some more of the brown chippy parts came off -- which actually helped the top blend in with the legs.  Easy, cheesy.  Call it a day.  Simply tip the table over so I can clean the legs, and then ..... EEK!.

Inside the bottom of one of the legs was an infestation of ghostly white termites.  SO GROSS.
(You can thank me for not taking a photo of that!) I put a five gallon bucket under the offending leg to catch any deserters.  My husband fetched the reciprocating saw and I hacked the crawly foot off.  Of course, I had to saw off the three innocent feet as well.  But the amputation was successful.  (Don't worry, I will purge the chicken coop before we actually get any chickens.) We will be packing up the patient and putting her in my new booth Saturday.

Christening Stonecrest Property

 I have mentioned the three live-edge walnut boards I purchased a few weeks ago. The first one was used to make to live-edge shelves for the laundry room. Click here to read that post.

We used the second one to make a sign for our "new" Ozark home.  Right after we purchased this property a year ago we mulled over what to call it.  We have never owned real property before.  It seemed only natural to give it a name. After seeing all of the rocks on the property, and on the exterior of the house we decided to christen it Stonecrest.  We toyed around with the idea of paying someone hundreds of dollars to create a sign for the front yard.  But the walnut board inspired my husband to make one himself.  $20 for the board and the finish instead of $400 -- yeah, that is a deal.

So he cut out the letters himself with a jigsaw.  Used a walnut stain on the bottom board.  Fixed the letters with little nails and liquid nails.  Finished with a maritime poly.  Then we attached rods to the back to hold it in place on the rock berm in front of the house (click here to read about the creation of the berm).           

Back Yard View

We started out this spring with a pretty rough looking back yard.  We are not talking about the wooded perimeter, just the basic back yard had been neglected.  A large back section had been devoted to a "burn pile".  Picture not having trash service for 15 years and trying to burn all of your trash.  Yes, it was that bad.

After my husband cleared the area and grew grass, he planted a couple trees and some ornamental grasses to memorialize the area.  Lest we forget.

You can see our second big eyesore in back of the little tree -- an old chicken coop foundation that sat directly in back of our house.  Couldn't mow inside it, so huge weeds would grow within the foundation to great heights.

So my husband took out his frustrations in the summer heat by removing all of the stone foundation by himself.  Days.

 But our view is so fantastic now.

And this is the view from the back of the property towards our house.

Dining Room Tour

 Eventually you will get to see the whole house.

But I am taking it one room each week or so.

And this week it is the dining room.

 I painted the china cabinet before we moved (click here for more details about that).

I knew the gold would go well with the 

"Magnolia Home" rug we bought for the room.

 I finally lead-tested my brown transferware,

so now I know I can use it to feed people.

Many of my white vases had to "move on"

because I don't have room for them --

these are the ones that made the cut.

 Original old oil painting on top of the cabinet.

Love it.

 

 Old wooden ladder my husband found --

 with great graphics on the side.

Almost sold our HEAVY oak buffet before moving.
I bought it about 30 years ago for $10, it was my first major furniture redo.
So glad I didn't sell it.  It fit into this little nook perfectly.
And has an awesome storage capacity.

Folk art oil painting above it.
My all-time favorite frame.
(And I do love frames.)

Last Flea Market of 2018

Cold. Threat of rain.  Early. Dark. Muddy.  I am going to miss it...

This is what I bought at the last flea market of the 2018 season.

I am not totally familiar with all auctions, fleas, vintage sales in my new area.  But Sunday mornings I knew the place to be was this outdoor flea about 15 minutes from my new house.  Sadly, this was the last one of the year.

Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers

 I know that I have said it before, we have downsized.

There simply isn't room for everything that we had

at our old house.  One the collections that I don't have

room for is my vintage wedding cake toppers. 😖

 I do love them,

but they don't have the primitive vibe we are going for.

So time for them to move on.

Ouch.

 (Love his pinstriped pants)

I bought my first one over 20 years ago.

It was so gorgeous, but I sold it on ebay.

 I was so sad about selling it,

that I decided I would keep any other wedding cake toppers

that flipped my trigger.

 And these did.

I enjoyed them for many years

but now it is time for someone else to enjoy them.

 Any objections?

Speak now or forever hold your peace.

First Antiques Sale In My Stonecrest Shop

 After moving in the middle of August,

I sorted through all the treasures we had stuffed in the garage

and those that did not fit into our somewhat smaller house.

 Since I had to sort and price everything anyway,

I decided it was time for an antiques sale set up in my new "shop".

 I don't move into my new antiques booth until November,
 so I thought it would be nice to clear out some of the excess.

 It took awhile to get the shop cleaned and organized.

And then some extra effort to get lights in place.

 

 And there was enough stuff

to line two of the exterior walls.

 

Quite a few things sold, including this pew.

I made some new friends, good contacts

and cleared some stuff out.

So I hope to have 2-3 home Antiques Sales next year.