Antique Shopping Archives

Treasure Hunting At Scott Antique Market

April 16, 2018

I did something last week that I haven’t done in a very long time. On Friday the hubs and I met up with my friend Montina and her husband JP at Scott Antique Market. Guys, I haven’t been to the market is over a year and was so happy to carve some time out of my schedule to finally make it back.

Shopping Scott Antique Market is one of my favorite things to do. The market is open in Atlanta the second weekend of every month and shopping it always leaves me inspired and lighter in the pocket book. I did buy a few small items and spotted a couple of furniture pieces that might work in our house.

Let me show you the goodies I saw…

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The Ones That Got Away | Thrifting Regrets From Round Top

April 18, 2017

We’ve all been there…shopping at a thrift store and coming across an item that grabs your attention. You approach the item, give it a good once over and then rationalize the decision to purchase it or NOT. The piece looks great, has so much potential and is priced right but the voice in your head says no.

You walk away.

You leave those amazing pieces behind and can’t stop thinking about the ones that got away. That’s what happened when I was shopping during my trip to Round Top and the Hill Country. I walked way!!

Before I show you the ones that got away, let me point out a few things…

I consider myself a seasoned antique/vintage/thrift store shopper. I can tell is a piece is quality and know if something is over-priced or priced right.
One of my rules for thrifting is to buy it if you love it. Even if you don’t have an immediate idea where something will go in your home or how you’ll use it, if you love it, you always find a spot.
Another rule I have is to not overthink a purchase…if you gut says yes don’t let your mind talk you out of it.

So if I could click my heels and transport myself back in time, I would have bought these items when I was thrifting at Round Top…

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What I Bought At The Round Top Antiques Market (and a few other places too)!

April 7, 2017

Happy Friday friends. As you read this the hubs and I are headed back to Atlanta with my mom in tow. She’ll be visiting us for a week or so before heading back to Oklahoma.

I wish you could see our car….it’s loaded to the gills with luggage and the vintage finds I picked up at the Round Top Antiques Market and beyond. If you’re wondering what I mean by beyond, here’s the scope. In addition to shopping Round Top, my travel buddies and I, Marsha, Wanda and Sherry also stopped at antique stores, flea markets and Goodwill stores during our road trip. It was a thrifters dream.

Before I show you some of what I purchased, I wanted to share a bit more about our trip.

We left Dallas at 6:30 am on Saturday morning and made the trek to Round Top. Dallas to Round Top is a 3 hour drive so we had time to chat and plan our shopping strategy for the day.

Once we made it to Round Top we spent the day shopping then drove to Saledo, TX where we were staying the night. We stayed at the Inn On The Creek which is an adorable bed and breakfast. I share more about the inn next week but here’s a little glimpse of this charming spot.

On Sunday morning we left Saledo and headed to Waco for more shopping and finally made our way back to Dallas last Sunday evening.

Two days….lots of shopping and a whole lot of fun!

Now let’s get to the really fun stuff…what I bought.

If you remember from my previous posts, I had a list of items I was shopping for including ironstone, blue and white pottery, old design books and vintage jewelry. Although I wasn’t able to find everything on my list, I did find some plus a few things I didn’t have on my list.

WHAT I BOUGHT IN AND AROUND THE ROUND TOP ANTIQUES MARKET…

I had pretty good luck in the ironstone category. I found this pretty ironstone pitcher at a thrift store in Waco and it is in great condition.

I’ve sold several ironstone gravy boats/creamers in my Etsy store recently and was hoping to find some new pieces to add to the shop. This one has a pretty leaf and vine design on it and it was only $5.00.

This 3-piece English ironstone sugar/creamer set was a great find at a Goodwill we stopped at. And you won’t believe the prices–$5.49 for all three pieces.

I found this large ironstone bowl at Round Top and love the softly scalloped edge. It’s a great bowl for fruit or serving salads or pasta.

Another Goodwill score was a set of Federalist Ironstone cups and saucers. I’ve never come across this brand of ironstone before but couldn’t pass up the set which was priced at $5.49.

There were two of these blue and white gravy boats but one had a chip so I only bought the one. And it was less than $6.00!

My friend Marsha grabbed this blue and white vase but offered it up to me. #goodfriendssharetheirthriftingfinds

I found these blue and white bread plates at another thrift store for just $1.99 each. They are English transferware from Lochs of Scotland.

One of the booths I stumbled upon a t Round Top had bins of vintage lace for $1.00 per bundle. You know I had to add a few to my collection.

I was excited to come across a dealer at Round Top that was selling design books for 50% off the marked price. The books I purchased, were published between 1993 and 2008 and cost $6.00 each.

I spotted this beautiful silver-plated bowl in an antique store in Waco but it didn’t have a price tag on it. When I took it up to the counter to check the price I was expecting them to say something like $48. I was surprised and thrilled that it was only $12! #winning

One of my favorite finds was this cute elephant planter/vase. There were people around me when I spotted it so I played it cool and grabbed it when they weren’t looking.

Thrifting tip: be ruthless in the pursuit of a unique treasures

This cute plaid ice bucket and glass set (6 glasses) was a find at an antique store outside Ft. Worth. What a fun set for someone to use for summer entertaining.

These are just a few of the items I purchased on the trip. I’m coming home with tree boxes full of goodies, most of which I’m planning on putting my Etsy shop. I’ll be sure to let you know when the items are available. If you see something you’re interested in, just leave me a comment and I’ll email you the price.

Before I sign off, I did want to share an unexpected find.

Last night we stopped by my cousins’ house. I’ve been in her house many times but didn’t realized she was a blue and white collector. She has some beautiful vases, ginger jars and a full set of Blue Willow Dinnerware. When I spotted it, I commented how I’ve been looking for Blue Willow chins. Then she said something I didn’t expect…she said I could have it.

I’m happy to say that I am now a proud owner of a full set of Churchill Blue Willow dinnerware.

As I pointed out in yesterday’s blog post, it pays to go off the beaten path when antique shopping in and around Round Top.

Until next time…

My Round Top Antiques Market Shopping List

March 30, 2017

If all goes according to plan I’ll be shopping up at storm at the Round Top Antiques Market in just a few days.

I attended Round Top for the first time last year. Even though I had an idea of what I hoped to find, the magnitude of the show (and the cold weather) stopped me from doing my best shopping. This year it’s going to be a different story. The weather is going to be warm, I’ve been brushing up on my vintage shopping skills and I’ve got a LIST!

Over the years I’ve found that shopping with a list when I go to a flea market or antique store keeps me focused and yields better results. So when I hit Round Top this year not only will I be shopping with a written list but I’ll also have photos to serve as inspiration. Want a peek at what’s on my shopping list…check it out below.

Since I love all things chinoiserie, I’ll be on the hunt for anything in that genre. I’m hoping to luck upon some Staffordshire dogs in white both for me and my Etsy shop.

I’ll also be looking for vintage fashion books. I may have mentioned this before but I have a degree in fashion merchandising and spent most of my corporate career as a buyer and merchandising executive. My love for fashion runs deep!

Right up there with my love of fashion is my love of vintage jewelry. I love finding pieces that I can use to make my own custom jewelry and anything tassel and bejeweled is what I’m looking for.

One of the things I sell a lot of in my Etsy shop is vintage toast racks. I show them as a desk accessory holding stationery and notecards which is such a fun way to use these days. I found a couple last year and Round Top and hope to find some unique pieces this market.

One of things on my personal shopping list is vintage dinnerware. Even though I can find pieces locally, I hoping to find a few unique designs to add to my collection.

Two items that I think I might not have luck finding are vintage wallpaper rolls and Asian art brushes. I don’t often see these items when out shopping but I’m hoping that Round Top will deliver.

Also on the chinoiserie list is a monkey bowl and a pair of bamboo stools. I lucked upon a blue and white monkey last year and posted a photo on Instagram. One of my followers wanted to purchase it so I sold it to her. Now I’m on the hunt for another one which I will be keeping.

Bamboo stools….wish me luck!

So there you have it, a look at my Round Top shopping list. And in case you were wondering, I’ll have my eyes open for other items as well like ironstone, blue and white pottery and brass pieces.

You can check out last years trip to Round Top here.

MY ROUND TOP ANTIQUE MARKET SHOPPING LIST

p.s. In route to Round Top we’ll be stopping in Jackson, Mississippi so if there are any great antique stores or flea markets in that area leave me a comment and let me know.

Happy Monday & my latest vintage finds!

March 13, 2017

Hey there friends. I hope the day started off great for you. Between Day Light Savings Time and insomnia, I woke up feeling gloomy. After getting dressed, I did some mediation followed by a cup of tea and those two things helped me refocus and re-energize.

I’ve meditated on and off over the years but after getting away from it I’m trying hard to make it a daily practice. It really does make a difference in how I manage my day and most importantly how I feel. If you’ve never tried mediation, here’s a great article that outlines 8 Way Meditation Can Improve Your Life.

Now on to the fun stuff…

Over the weekend I did sneak in some time to hit up one of my favorite antique stores. I haven’t had time to go antique shopping lately so I took my time walking the aisles of the store. Here are a few things I found.

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The last few months, I’ve been selling lots of Ironstone in my Etsy shop so I’m on the hunt for some new pieces. This sugar jar was a great find and I love the design.

I already own one of these mini blue and white garden stools so this one will go in my shop. It would look great on bookshelf as a bookend.

The pattern on this creamer grabbed my attention and I love the design of the handle.

This large blue and white floral pitcher was just sitting in the corner waiting for me. Sell or not to sell…that is the question?

I purchased a similar elephant the last time I was in Oklahoma for my Etsy shop so I didn’t hesitate when I saw this one. I’m going to keep it and use it as a perch to hold a plant or stack of books.

Did anyone else go thrifting over the weekend and if so, what did you find?

Becoming An Expert Flea Market Shopper (5 books to own)

September 20, 2016

One of the things I love most in life is shopping flea markets. There is something exciting about looking for a hidden treasures amongst piles of dirty, dusty and cast-off relics.

Shopping flea markets isn’t something I’ve done all my life, I’ve only been treasure hunting for about the last 6 or 7 years. In that time I think I have become pretty savvy at vintage shopping, partly because I’ve taken the time read about, study and research the craft.

If you love flea market shopping and want to learn how to find the best collectibles and vintage pieces, I have 5 books I recommend you read. All of these books are filled with valuable tips on what to look , how to tell if an item has value and they highlight the best flea markets around the country.

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Because I’m a big fan of Better Homes and Gardens books, Flea Market Decorating was the first ‘thrifting’ book I purchased. Included in this book is a state-by-state listing of flea markets and antique fairs and well as tips on refurbishing your vintage finds. There is also loads of decorating ideas using real room settings with actual vintage items. The cover alone should entice you!

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I stumbled upon Flea Market Secrets in a thrift store and gave it my usual flip through to get a feel for the images. One of the best things about this book are the 10 Golden Rules of shopping flea markets that the author outlines. The rules are tried-and-true and things you’ll want to employ no matter where you shop. I also like that there are chapters dedicated to different types of items like glass, furniture, textiles and jewelry. Each chapter give you in-depth information on what types of items to buy, what to pass up and how to care for your treasures. You’ll also find the authors favorite flea markets around the world from Paris to Round Top, Texas.

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I remember when Lara Spencer first announced that she was writing a book of thrifting–I was so excited. I’m a big fan of Lara’s, have watched all her HGTV shows and love her design (and fashion) style. Her book, I Break For Yard Sales is one of the best out there and I love the fact that it combines flea market and thrifting tips with great design advice and inspiration. Page after page Lara shares her passion form shopping yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales and flea markets. You’ll learn her bargain hunting secrets and get insight from appraisers on what to look for when shopping.

You gotta love that Lara isn’t above dumpster diving for a treasure!

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Lara’s second book, Flea Market Fabulous expands upon her flea market shopping tips by showcasing nine rooms that have been decorated with thrifted pieces. The book walks you through the entire process of decorating with vintage finds, from creating a design plan to building a mood board. I also love the room illustrations and before and after photos of the DIY transformations Lara and her team pull off.

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And finally, my list of inspirational flea market shopping books would not be complete without Eddie Ross’ amazing book Modern Mix. When you want to take you flea market and antique shopping to the next level, this is the book that will guide you. Throughout the 8 chapters of the book you’ll find beautiful images of chic interiors, table settings, bars and parties created using vintage pieces. And along with sharing his secrets to shopping, Eddie will teach you how to expertly combine colors and pattern, mix old and new & curate a high and low mix within your decor.

“Modern Mix cracks the code to navigating thrift shops, yard sales and flea markets with confidence.”

And of course I had to share a few of my flea market shopping tips with you:

Have a list of items you’re looking for but be flexible. Shopping flea markets can be overwhelming and you can easily get side-tracked so it’s a good idea to have a list of ‘must have’ items to keep you focused.
Let your creativity flow. Whenever I’m out treasure hunting, I always stop and think about an item I’m interested in. I think about the different ways I could use it in my decor or how I could transform it into something else. Many of the items you’ll find shopping won’t be a perfect fit but with a little creativity and work they can be become real gems.
If you love it, buy it. We’ve all been there–spotting an item but then giving it too much thought and passing it by. Then we have buyers regret and go back hoping the piece is still there but sadly it’s not. I learned early in the game that if you love it and it fits your budget and needs then get it.
Negotiate. Flea market and vintage shop dealers are used to bargaining so don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. And remember the more items you buy from one dealer, the better your bargaining strength.

For even more flea market shopping tips, read my 10 Tips for Shopping Flea Markets Like a Pro post.

Happy hunting friends.

**this post contains affiliate links

Round Top Antiques Market–An Inside Look

April 6, 2016

I’m back today with at look at my trip to the Round Top Antiques Market in Round Top, Texas. If you’ve never been to Round Top before, this post should give you an inside look at the market through the eyes of an avid antique and vintage shopper.

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Attending Round Top has been on my bucket list for some time now. I’ve heard so many great things about the market and was excited to check it out for myself.

Here’s what I thought of the market, what I saw and a few things I purchased.

The Round Top Antique Market spans over about a 15 to 20 mile stretch of road. There are buildings and tents all along the route selling antiques and vintage goods and even some vendors off the main road selling odds and ends. Unless you attend the show for a number of days, there is no way to stop at every shopping spot. If you are only attending the market for a day or two, you’ll definitely want to plan ahead and determine which spots you want to shop.

La Bahia Antiques Show is one of places we stopped and shopped. This area is made up of permanent buildings and tented vendors and you’ll find all types of vintage decor and housewares here. I spotted lots of great items and although many were in my opinion were over-priced, most of the dealers were willing to negotiate.

This outdoor vendor had an amazing selection silver-plate items but most were very over-priced and when you asked for his best price he seemed offended. Needless to say he didn’t get our business.

One of the best blue and white tabletop dealers is located at La Bahia and his selection of items was impressive. His prices were a bit stiff but he was willing to negotiate which gave him two thumbs up in my book.

After La Bahia we stopped at a barn along the road where ‘Poor Richard’ was selling goods. He had a mx of items including large furniture pieces and miscellaneous tabletop and decor items. And Richard was a nice as can be so shopping with him was a pleasure.

This oversized brass urn was $25 dollars but was a bit worn for my liking so I passed.

I did buy these beautiful ironstone bowls for practically nothing! A definite score!

Poor Richard was also selling these amazing tree stumps…so gorgeous!

There was a lady near Poor Richards selling items for $1.00 and my shopping mates scored big with her. They had picked over the table by the time I made it over there 🙁

Our next stop was the Big Red Barn. This is one of several sites at Round Top that charge a fee to get in ($10 at the Red Barn). If you are shopping for high-end antiques this is definitely a place you want to check out.

Check out this antique ribbon holder. So many beautiful details including some of the most beautiful brass pulls I’ve ever seen.

This scale was amazing and I think it was around $2700.

I had a vintage paper roll rack on my shopping list but every one I came across was several hundred dollars. This one was amazing because it held three different size paper rolls.

There was lots of ironstone (check out the prices)

After the Red Barn we traveled up the road and stopped a several different places.

Lots of beautiful Staffordshire Dog statutes…

Beautiful blue and white antiques…

Isn’t this the most beautiful chamber pot you’ve ever seen. I really, really wanted to this piece but couldn’t pull the trigger on the price.

Old doors with lots of charm and character…

I spotted several dealers that also show at Scott Antique Market here in Atlanta and was happy to see that they didn’t increase their prices on some of their tried and true items.

The one place that we didn’t stop at but I will be sure to check out the next time I’m there is the Warrenton area. This area was loaded with tented vendors and the selection of items appeared to be good as we drove through.

All in all, Round Top Antiques Market is a great show and has something to offer everyone. Here are a few tips I have for shopping the market:

TIPS FOR SHOPPING ROUND TOP ANTIQUES MARKET

Create a shopping list so that you stay focused on the items you are looking for. Doing a little research before hand will also help you think about what you’re willing to pay for an item and it will help you when negotiating with dealers.
Take a camera or make sure your phone is fully charged so you can take pictures as you shop. You can always turn around and go back to a location you saw an item at and picture of the piece and location will help.
Take cash. I did see some vendor accepting credit cards and checks but cash is king and you’ll get a better deal if you are negotiating with cash.
Carry a tote bag or rolling cart. Many of the shopping areas are large and you’ll want to be comfortable carrying your purchases as you shop.
Take it with you or have it shipped. There are several shipping business located throughout the show so if you see something that won’t fit on the plane or in the trunk, consider having it shipped.
Dress in layers. Our shopping day started out nice, then it rained a bit and then it got super windy and cold.
Visit the free shopping areas and by-pass the paid spots like the Big Red Barn and Marburger. I promise you won’t miss anything and you’ll find everything you can image in the free tents and buildings.
Negotiate. Most dealers are prepared to negotiate on the price and many of them will offer you a fair deal. Several times I looked items up on Etsy and Ebay in front of the dealer and they offered better pricing because they saw I was up to speed on the prices.
Plan to spend a little time in downtown Round Top which as some cute shops, restaurants and outdoor vendors that set up during the show.
Like most antique markets these days, you’ll see lots of vintage and antique reproductions of if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, ask the dealers to tell you a bit about the history of an item. And, keep in mind that in most cases when you see a true antique, you’re not going to see multiples of the same item. Multiples of an item often signals a reproduction especially with furniture, lighting and some tabletop pieces.

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So, I know you’ve been waiting to see what other goodies I bought so here’s a look at a few of my favorite purchases…

A beautiful brass tray

blue and white ironstone plates

a larger ironstone mold

Bucket List: Round Top Antiques Market √

On Monday I’ll be sharing the rest of our road trip including our visit to Magnolia Market in Waco.

Round Top or Bust–A Antique Market Dream.

March 31, 2016

via Marburger Farms

Today is a big day! Today I’m checking off a bucket list item and heading to Round Top, TX to shop the famous Round Top Antiques market. I’ve wanted to go to Round Top for years and the planets aligned this year and I’m doing it….

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