Serendipity

Weekend Inspiration

2010-08-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hanging out at home this weekend. Surfing the internet. Looking for inspiring rooms to motivate myself to go clean and rearrange. Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Trash to Treasure project

2010-08-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

I found this vintage store manequin at a little antique shop. I had been searching for a manequin to use for a project I had in mind, she was going to be perfect!Last weekend my daughter and I transformed her. I just love how she turned out!

West End Salvage

2010-06-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

I discovered this great booth while at the flea in Okoboji Iowa. West End Salvage, located in DesMoines. Three story building filled with architectural salvage and unique pieces they make using the salvaged parts. I love the legs on this table.

This table top was made by pressing tin ceiling tiles flat, piecing them onto this table top and using tiny nails to fasten them down, click on the picture to enlarge and check out the detail.

This awesome old arrow went home with me. It was one of those to die for items. You all know what I mean.

I love anything with lots of little drawers.

This is an old sleigh cut in half to make an awesome coffee table.

Okoboji Flea Part 2

2010-06-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

Just a few more pictures from the flea market. Loved these old toys.

This would be so great on the deck or patio filled with flowers for the summer and other seasonal displays the rest of the year.

Ships wheel, great for the lake cottage.

This vintage beauty was already sporting a sold tag when I saw it.

Okoboji Flea

2010-06-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

The flea markets on Memorial Day weekend held in Lake Okoboji were a great time. This was our first trip to the lake area. It was beautiful and the flea markets were fun. They are held every Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor day weekends. We will definetley go back.I loved this old bike. It would be great as yard art.

I'm not sure what I'd do with these but they sure were fun. Halloween maybe?

Great vintage kitchen.

Get a hat for church on Sunday.

More great yard art.

New Shop Photos

2010-05-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

Whisk brooms , I love them grouped together, more is better!

Great old lantern. Would look great at your lake cabin, on camping trips, a porch, or anywhere to add a touch of vintage charm.

Tin molds. 1.00 each. I have these displayed in a big crystal punch bowl and they look so great as a display . Great to use for candle molds and projects .

Vintage shoe store fixture, put your foot up and try on shoes, great for your vintage style bedroom or any room. Next is my pared down dress form, what's left of it after the former owner was going to throw it away, stripped off the broken parts and decided she was pretty cute as is. I use her for displaying vintage purses and jewelery.

Great sifter, wood, screen and wire. It's graphic star shaped wire frame is to die for. Very unique. UDATE..... sifter is SOLD.

I have several new quilts in the shop. This sunbonnet sue is mainly pinks and whites, great for your summer decorating. UPDATE...quilt is SOLD.

Dollys all waiting for a new home. Another great random patchwork quilt in great colors.

Cute small size clip board to display your photo or whatever you like.

Brushes, some with advertising, one is sterling silver, these look great displayed in a group in an old wooden bowl.

This little lamp is a cutie, plaster figure on a wooden base, makes just the right light in the evening for one of your vingnettes.

So sweet little doll size dresser. Use it for your jewelery or art supplies.

These old sign letters are so hot right now. Super graphic for decorating. Spell out a word or just display your initial. 3.00 each.

Spring for comfort.

I can't decide if I should keep this beauty to ride, put an old wire saddle basket filled with flowers and display it as yard art, or sell it. There's so much more new to see, come check us out. Open when home or anytime by chance or appointment.

Love...

2010-03-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

I just finished a great book. 'Water for Elephants'. These animals fascinate me, can't wait for the circus to come to town!

Old books...

2010-02-17T11:11:00.001-08:00

What a great project for using old books. I saw this project in a magazine and couldn't resist trying it out. Start with an old paperback book. Tear off the cover and the back. Then just fold each page to the center. When you get done, glue the front and back together and you have a great little pillar to hold a treasure or add some height to a vingnette.

Memory Jugs

2010-02-17T11:00:00.001-08:00

My daughter and I spent a fun afternoon making these memory jugs. We used old crock jugs and covered them with lots of little treasures that were tucked away in boxes and drawers. What a great way to use up your little stuff and be able to enjoy it.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

Wishing all my blog friends a Merry Christmas and the best year in 2010.

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

Since I can't figure out how to get Blogger to let me download more than five pictures per post I've broken my Christmas decorating pictures into three posts. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season. This clown is one of favorites, he always gets a special spot on the tree.

Frosty keeping watch for Santas arrival.

My house at night.

Vintage bird ornament on a twiggy little tree I got at Goodwill.

The same twiggy tree planted in an urn with silver balls , reflecting in the mirror.

Vintage Christmas

2009-12-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

Bringing the outdoors inside with my vintage cement urns filled with beautiful pointsettias, only 4.oo at Walmart.

Vintage cast iron urn filled with mercury glass pinecones.

My little village houses and mini bottle brush trees in a window sill.

Mercury glass silver trees on the mantle.

My collection of vintage Christmas snow boxes.

Tis the season !

2009-12-22T10:56:00.001-08:00

It's cold in South Dakota! The shop is buttoned up for the winter after a busy season, only the bravest of shoppers stop in the winter months as we have no heat. That doesn't stop some of my hardier customers from braving the cold to see what's new. I've been busy do the Christmas thing around my house. Although I never seem to get everything done I manage to get it done enough. The tree is up, the lights are up, the gifts are bought or made ( let's not talk about wrapping just yet). This old goat cart was in pieces when I found it at my friends garage sale last summer, I had to have it anyway, it's great on the deck for seasonal displays or flowers .

This was my year for silver and red decorations, I kept things simple and try to use alot of natural elements.

Always the vintage glass ornaments have a special place.

Paper mache santa boots are another favorite collectible.

Just can't wait to get on the road again!

2009-08-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

We hit the road last week. A quick trip to Minneapolis and back in 2 days. My husband, daughter and myself. We had a great time antiquing all the
way up and all the way back. Our first stop was one of my all-time favorite shops, Ms Macs, in Janesville Mn. Primitive lovers heaven. The displays are so creative and inspiring.

Located in the coolest historic building in downtown Janesville.

This pair of urns would've been mine if I would've had a trailer. I loved how all the white looked, the architectural salvage is always a favorite of mine.

This unusual stone mosaic urn did come home with me, it's very heavy and I love it!

Another view of the white display.

Oh how I love this horse! Wouldn't you just love to take him home??

This is great old octagon shaped hardware store fixture, storage for screws ect would my guess. It was super neat.

If you are ever near Ms Macs in Janesville it is well worth the trip. We had so much fun and the owner Ron always makes you feel like an old friend.

Does anyone else do this?

2009-07-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

I saw a picture of an old battery jar in a magazine and it inspired me to make my own, does anyone else 'borrow' ideas ? UPDATE: The battery jar photo is from Bryan and Melanie of Seed Box Antiques lovely home featured on Garden Antiques Vintage blog by Theresa Cano.

Not sure who to give photo credit to for this one, if anyone knows , let me know.

Time For Fun

2009-07-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from our trip to Kansas City. This is Mission Road antique mall.

More Mission Road. This is a huge multi-dealer mall, plan to spend at least a couple hours and wear comfy shoes!

Curious Sofa, always a fun place to shop and get ideas!

Gosh, it's hard to believe summer is almost over! I've been doing some traveling, going to some auctions, lots of garage sales and the shop has been hopping! I've been adding new treasures weekly to the shop, come check us out if you are in the area.

Happy Friday

2009-06-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Susan, this one's for you! Hope everyone has a great junking weekend!

Serendipity Antiques, photo tour

2009-06-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Something for everyone.

I love these old pottery vases.

Cute little dresser for your little girls room or for yourself. I have a matching doll size wardrobe to go with it. Love the shell boxes .

White ironstone, green pottery, old cupboard.

More white...love white!

Serendipity Antiques, photo tour

2009-06-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Lots of smalls in the curio cabinet.

Cubbies full of treasures that change weekly.

Showcase with lots of childrens toys, a vintage 60's tin doll house, complete with furniture, dolls, vintage wicker doll buggy, tin dishes and lots more.

Vintage blown glass Christmas ornaments. Pretty old silver spoons in and enamel cup.

Serendipity Anitques, photo tour

2009-06-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

These vintage typewritters make great display pieces, alone or in a group. Or salvage them for the vintage type keys for you jewelery designers. ( just don't tell me you are going to rip them apart, lol)

Old document boxes rest on top of old tin bread box.

This old cash register was bought at auction by my dad, from and old country store that was going out of business. My mom about killed him for dragging it home. After he passed away Mom gave it to me and I love it in the shop. Makes me feel like a piece of my dad is still with me.

Does anyone need a globe? I love how they look in a group.

See anything you like?

House tour cont...

2009-06-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is an old store display rack, probably used for chips or snacks of some type. I just clipped a few odd things on it and I think it looks pretty cool. During the holidays I put seasonal post cards on it.

Cute little bird, perched on the windowsill, and you ever have to many?

I used to have this collection of game boards on my stairway wall but decided to move them when i painted a few weeks ago, this is at the top of the stairs. I'm thinking of doing a wall of mirrors going up the stairs but can't decide, does anyone have any unique ideas for decorating this space?

Old books, oil still lifes....love em!

This is just a small portion of my flower frog collection.

Random house pics

2009-06-01T08:53:00.001-07:00

These are random pics from around my house...come back, I'll be posting more pics all week.

My house

2009-05-04T19:37:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of my house, taken last fall as you can see by the pumpkins. The house was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Historical Homes list, which prevents us from making any changes to the outside structure. It's home...and I love it.

Antique fever.

2009-04-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Just a few random things in my shop. Now that spring weather is finally here I will be adding lots of new things and making some new displays. I've been to some good sales and auctions and have alot of new treasures to tempt you. If you are in the area, stop by and check it out. Love this display of primitive wood items, would love to keep the collection of cutting boards but I just can't keep everything!

These are old juggling pins, indian clubs or exercise pins, I've heard them called by various names. They are old, primitive and very cool.

Greenhouse made from salvaged windows....so cool. Could be used inside as a great garden table display or on your sunporch filled with garden 'tiques' . Or...use it in your yard, patio or where ever you need a touch of whimsy.

Little old wheelbarrow, could be used for flowers on your porch, or fill it with your old garden utensils for a great display.

Fairy Baby

2009-04-06T07:54:00.001-07:00

Martha, from Vintage Trifles http://www.vintagetrifles.blogspot.com/ makes these beautiful fairy babies. I ordered mine last week and already have it. I love it! The pictures don't do it justice. Please check out her blog and etsy shop for more fairy babies and awesome art.

2009-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

My sisters newly decorated sewing room/studio/hang out space.

Pin cushion obsession.....this is just a sample of her many pin cushions...she scours antique shops obsessively searching for more!

More collections.

Love this creative use of sewing machine drawers!

Monday inspiration

2009-03-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

Just a little Monday inspiration....love the dress forms and the giant scissors...watch for a great sewing room/studio tour next post!

Images: Baileys Home and Garden, England

Dog love

2009-02-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Chocolates? Mushy cards? Flowers? NOPE! I got this little guy for Valentines day and I love it! I hope you all had a great day!

Thrifting

2009-02-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

It gets to be a long winter here in South Dakota. No garage sales, very few auctions, no way to get my junking fix! I do however make a regular run through the salvation army thrift store. Most days I don't find much but once in awhile I get lucky. I found this stack of mini books on one of my trips. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, I just knew I loved the way they looked. I love the look of old books in a display. Saturday I found this glass dome, I put my little books under it, added some scrabble letters to spell read and I love it! I found a few other treasures I'll show in my next post.

Kitchen re-do

2009-01-22T18:05:00.000-08:00

after

before

after

before

As soon as Christmas is over and packed away for another year I get the urge to do some shaking up around the house.. I love to clean, re-arrange and get rid of stuff I'm sick of. My kitchen has been bugging me for ages. I've debated on painting the ugly old cabinets for months now and finally said to heck with it and did it! I don't know why I waited so long ... I love it. It's amazing how fresh and new a coat (or 3) of paint makes a room feel. In my dream of dreams I'd love to gut the whole room and start from scratch but that is not in the budget. These old cupboards were custom built in the 1940's and were looking their age. I salvaged the old hinges, the drawer pulls and added new glass knobs on the doors.. removed all the doors, hardware..sanded, primed, painted and painted some more. Stripped wallpaper and border...if I ever mention wanting wallpaper again, please just shoot me...after working 3 weekends it's almost done, just have to put things away and hang a few things .. I'm happy the way it turned out....now I just have to decide which room I will tackle next.....

I downloaded the pics backwards so veiw them from the bottom up to get the before/after effect.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

Deck the Halls

2008-12-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

This is an old architectural piece from the top of an old column, a farm machinery disc on top to hold a collection of old ornaments and a mercury glass candle holder which you can't see.

I love spelling out seasonal messages with my collection of old printers blocks.

This snowman ornament is one of the oldest in my collection and also my favorite. I bought it at a neighbors estate sale in a box chock full of old ornaments.

Part of my mantle...love these mercury glass trees...this is my one new purchase this year for Christmas decorating. The Santa Claus Snow box is vintage mica snow, I love the old boxes this came in, this one has never been opened.

I'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to Christmas decorating...I love anything vintage , especially my collection of old shinybrite glass ornaments.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2008-10-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween weekend.

I've been busy rearranging my shop, will be back soon with new pictures.

Garden junque art

2008-09-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Garden collage. A great way to use those old discarded garden tools. It's heavy! Don't tell hubby how many holes you had to put in the siding to hang it !

What's on your mantle ?

2008-09-17T19:26:00.002-07:00

I'm not lucky enough to have a real fireplace. I do however have an awesome salvaged mantle. I love to change it with the seasons. Halloween and fall are my favorites. What's on your mantles?

South Dakota Harvest Moon

2008-09-17T19:26:00.001-07:00

The sunsets and moon rises are so beautiful this time of year. You can't really tell from this picture but the moon is low in the sky , orange with light cloud cover, what we call a harvest moon...love it.

Bag Lady

2008-09-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

A new purse designer in the making! My daughter makes these great , funky , purses using mostly vintage or Amy Butler fabric and patterns. They are so cute and get compliments often when she's out with one on her arm. I find it funny that this is the girl I used to drag to garage sales ect , complaining all the while, now scouring the sales herself for vintage fabric and cool stuff for her own apartment! I always knew I'd make a junker out of her!
Amy Butler pattern and fabric.
Inside of the bag above
Love this retro look fabric!

The inside is just as cute!

Come rummage with me...

2008-09-02T14:37:00.001-07:00

It was a great weekend for finding good bargains at the local rummage sales. I found all this stuff and more. A great yellow and brown plaid cooler..so cool! A pink Ginny doll wardrobe full of Ginny clothes and accesories, an old wire grocery basket.
A miniature Stetson hat box with a mini hat in side, a tin replica wringer washer (not old) , advertising mirror, ironstone pitcher, enamel pot, small round suitcase.

One of my best finds was this 2 piece Western stoneware water cooler. White pottery basket and a small McCoy planter. Vintage bird theme juice glasses. The wire thing with all the rings is a fruit holder but wouldn't it look great with a display of old baseballs or croquet balls?
This old woodburned box and adorable Fenton chick.

And this beautiful Dresden plate....I'm not really into glassware or dishes, I just buy what I like, so this plate with roses caught my eye.

All these treasures are now for sale in my shop, Serendipity Antiques.

Hunt and Gather cont.

2008-08-21T08:31:00.001-07:00

Lot's of lighting choices...
Dice...game pieces.....
Vintage fabric used to make purses...lamp shades...
Wall of art...

Find your prize

2008-08-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hunt and Gather is a unique shop located in Minneapolis Mn. Multiple dealers with a wide variety of merchandise. Funky, current, and so much fun.
Pink pottery on a silver tray...
Fun vintage carnival prize girls.
Funky chicken and egg vending machine, loved this! I didn't put my quarter in for my prize...what was I thinking??!!

Lot's of letters, numbers, flash cards and other graphic art supplies.

Oronoco

2008-08-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Oronoco Gold Rush days. Oronoco Mn. Great outdoor sale, held 3rd weekend in August. It seems like the crowds were down on Friday. LOTS of empty spaces. Not sure if the economy and gas prices are to blame. It looked like the people who did venture out were buying, so hopefully everyone had good sales....lots of interesting architectural salvage...primitives...furniture...

A day at the auction

2008-07-24T07:23:00.001-07:00

Beautiful old sideboard/buffet..love that glass door in the middle.
Vintage gas sign.
Horse teeth anyone????? (only at Wicks!)
Molds...just waiting for a project.
rows and rows of 'stuff'

Soda caps...my daughter uses these to make very cool, unique table top mosaics.

Wicks Auction House is operated by Larry Wicks and his wife Jan. Weekly auctions with just about anything you can think of for sale. About 4 times a year they have a special antique auction which is where i spent my Saturday. It's always an adventure. Held in an old pole barn type building, it's usually filled to the brim with all sorts of 'stuff '. Boxes to dig through, furniture, primitives, once in awhile a few chickens or other live creatures, you just never know.

The sale starts at 9am and has been known to last well into the night, so if your stamina is good, you can pick up some good bargains at the end of the night. I only stayed for a few hours but I did manage to buy a very cool old wire basket, a wire flower frog, a french post card album and an ironstone pitcher. You can check out their website for future sale dates and pictures. http://www.wicksauction.com/.

Shell inspiration

2008-07-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a great idea for using a shell in a different way. I planted hen and chicks in the shell opening and watered carefully. You could use any kind of succulent plants, or a big, flat clam type shell would work great for a mix of plants. This displayed on a tray of shells or resting on a table next to a stack of old books......or.....under a cloche.....got any ideas??

Summer Arts Festival

2008-07-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

I loved this old chest of little drawers...to expensive for me though.
Vintage toy cars....love the Donald Duck!
Lots of nice furniture and glassware.
My kind of treasure!
I was thrilled to find this box of vintage shaving brushes. I saw a picture of these displayed along a bathroom window ledge on the Barn House Blog and a new obsession was born. I had to have my own collection, this was to easy! I bought five of them. I especially love the one with the glass handle....they look great in my bathroom window.

Saturday I went to the summer arts festival in Brookings SD. It's an annual event I look forward to every year. It draws artists and crowds from all over the US. I love the crowds, the wonderful artists displaying their work, the live entertainment, the great fair food and my favorite part , the flea market where they have antique dealers selling their treasures. This year, for whatever reason, the number of antique booths were down. I still enjoyed looking and even managed to take home a few treasures. If you are ever in the area, the arts festival is held every year the first weekend after the 4th of July, in Brookings, South Dakota.

cookie jars and clothespin bags

2008-07-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

10.95 + shipping
10.95 + shipping

chick 24.95 + shipping
Owl 24.95 + shipping

Elf 24.95 + shipping

I had a reader request information on the cookie jars she saw pictured in another post.

The pictures above are a few of the current jars available. If you see anything you like, feel free to email me for details. I am willing to ship within the United States with buyer to pay shipping fees.

The little dresses are vintage clothes pin bags. They used to hang them on the clothesline filled with the old wooden clothes pins.

Curious Sofa

2008-07-02T13:43:00.001-07:00

Curious Sofa is a unique shop located in Overland Park, Kansas. I discovered it in Country Living magazine and became hooked on Debbie's blog. http://www.curioussofa.com/ This is the second time I've been to the Sofa and as always it was fun to wander through the beautiful displays, sink into a comfy chair and just let my eyes wander. I didn't take any photos inside the shop but did manage to catch a little bird greeting customers over the entrance door! Check out the Curious Sofa blog to see what your missing and if you are ever in the area don't miss this shop.

vacation adventures

2008-07-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

I know my poor blog is terribly neglected. I'm back and determined to do better! Hubby and I hit the road Fathers day weekend and took in the anual antique street fair in Walnut Iowa. This is always a fun day. It's tough to buy for re-sale at this show but good to see what's selling, getting great display ideas and always great food.

We left Walnut and headed down to Overland Park , Kansas to spend the weekend with my fav sister..bright and early Saturday morning we headed out to Raised in Cotton , a great little shop in Raymore MO. From there we went to Greenwood MO. where we enjoyed a morning of shopping in several very cool primitive style antique shops. We managed to leave with lighter wallets and hopes of going back some day. The pictures above are from the Greenwood shops.

Next post I'll tell about our much anticipated trip to Curious Sofa.

Garden party weekend

2007-06-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

I was invited to participate in a garden party weekend at the local nursery this past weekend. Even though it rained most of the weekend the turn out was great. We had alot of fun selling garden antiques and promoting our shop. I've downloaded some pictures of my booth.

A view inside

2007-05-29T13:14:00.000-07:00