A few weeks ago, I got the auction itch.  I need to find things for Lucketts and auctions are a great way to get a bunch of things in one place…sometimes.  So, I browsed online to see what was up for sale at an auction I used to frequent.  I saw something that made me pick up the phone immediately and place an absentee bid – ironstone.  Lots of ironstone.  Three boxes of sugar bowls (sans lids) and two boxes of platters.  Since they were boxed, I knew they would be sold as a lot.  I placed a strong bid and waited; waited for the phone to ring the next day to tell me I had won.  The phone didn’t ring. I’ve actually had conversations about those sugar jars and how I can’t believe my bid didn’t win them.  I was really disappointed.  They got away and I was sure

Those of you who have read my blog for a long time are familiar with the weeks leading up to the Lucketts Antique Market in May.  It’s always a frenzy of shopping, painting/repairing/refinishing/upholstering furniture, getting together fillers and old standbys as well.   For those of you who aren’t familiar with this event, it’s held once a year (the third weekend in May) on the grounds of The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, Virginia.  This year, they will have over 170 vendors, the design house will be open and they have lots of other awesome things going on. If you’re considering coming for the first time this year, here’s a little tip…  If you’re coming to do some die-hard, no nonsense, wait in line and run for the best stuff kind of shopping, show up early Saturday.  It is craziness from 10-2:00 and that’s when a lot of the best stuff is

  Today I went out antique shopping for the Lucketts fair with my mother-in-law and mom.  It’s been a while since I’ve been out looking for goodies, but the Lucketts May Fair is fast approaching and I’ve got to build up my inventory. I saw these cool arched shutters, but didn’t buy them because they were too expensive. I did come home with two wooden crates.  One of them had this great label on it… Sort of random things to be packaged together, don’t you think? The other one has a bit more patina.   I also bought some levels… …these really cool grass green metal dry goods containers… …a few pieces of ironstone… …a red metal lab stool, a chippy milking stool, a white doll chair, a balance scale, a small wooden wheel and a few other things. I also found a beautiful antique dresser.  It needs a little

 Recently, I’ve been buying up some vintage European linens.  From France… …Germany… …and I just got a shipment in from Hungary… I’m buying most of them for upholstery/slipcovering projects for pieces to sell at the Lucketts fair, some to sell as-is and a few to keep (like the monogram French sheet.) I just love old textiles, especially linen and hemp.  I should be receiving another shipment this week and I will offer some for sale on my online shop, which doesn’t have anything in it at the moment.  Some of you may have noticed the “shop” tab at the top of my blog.  I have plans for that.  Since I’m not selling at Lucketts anymore, I am going to offer some things for sale online.  Small furniture pieces, antique finds, some handmade items, German glass glitter, as well as my t-shirts and autographed copies of my book.  I just need

    There are times when I’m browsing through an antique store and someone asks me what I’m looking for.  My response is almost always, “Well, I don’t know.  I’ll know it when I see it.”  I find that my method of shopping has shifted from wanting to get as many things as I could for my money to wanting to get something that really speaks to me or makes a statement in my home.  So, when I received an e-mail from Carrie of Copper & Tin and I checked out her Etsy shop, I knew I wanted to work with this proprietress.  So many pieces in her shop spoke to me.  These are the three that spoke the loudest… …a “for rent” sign…   …a paint brush…  …and an ironstone mold…     Here are some of the pieces currently in her shop that I love…