Dime Store Chic

Going A Little Bonkers

Hello, My Friends!~~~

Sometimes, OK all the time, I go a little bonkers with my creations.

This is a wall-hanging measuring 12 inches across with a small wall pocket tucked in with the millinery flowers. yes, I'd say I lost my senses when I made this piece!~~~XXOO, Beth

Antiquing in Adamstown~~part deux

Hello, My Friends!~~~

What a fabulous weekend! We began Sunday bright and early by getting to Renninger's Extravaganza in Adamstown by 7 a.m. The parking lot was half full and the area for outside vendors was quite full. There were a few raindrops but they quickly gave way to the heat and sun.

Renninger's is located on Route 272 in Adamstown, PA. Every Sunday they have an outdoor flea market to compliment the inside more permanent vendor spaces. Sometimes I find a bargain inside, but mostly I shop outside.

This Sunday there were about 150 vendors. However, I learned that the prices at Shupp's Grove are overall better and there were lots more vendors there, but it is worth stopping by Renninger's on Sunday morning if you are staying in the area over Satirday night.

I don't know if you can read the prices for these Christmas items, but the box on the left is $12 each and the box on the far right is $18 each. Too much for me! I did, however, score some wonderful feedsack scraps for a quarter a bundle.

Some of the vendors have spaces under this long, long cover.

After shopping in the heat, I felt a bit like this, but I could go on all day looking for goodies!

Hubby saw this bomb car toy inside the permanent vendor's building and was tempted.

After Renninger's we headed south to Shrewsbury and stopped the Antique Center off exit 4 on I-83. Located on 65 North Highland Drive, this is a very nice and reasonably priced antique mall.

There are quite a few vendors here, and they have a nice variety of treasures!

But the reason we stopped in Shrewsbury is to satisfy Hubby's need for firepower.

We will certainly have a sparkly July Fourth!

Here are the treasures I found this weekend!

In the back are two Fiestaware nesting mixing bowls to add to the two we already have. Hubby spotted them at two different vendors and teh prices were VERY good! Now I need three more bowls to complete the set I began back in 1987!~~I found lots of reasonably priced fabrics this weekend too as well as more goodies for crafting!~~~Here's hoping you all had a great weekend too, and thanks for joining me on our flea weekend!~~~XXOO, Beth

Antiquing in Adamstown, PA~~day one

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I'm composing this post in Euphrata, PA at the Hampton Inn! Whew! What a wonderful day it has been for me and hubby!~~We left home a little before 6 this morning and three hours later we were a little north of Adamstown, PA in lovely and thankfully shady, Shupps Grove!

That confused looking fellow in one of MANY rows of vendors at this antique/flea market, is Hubby who is so wonderful to carry my bag!~~Shupps was having their extravaganza this weekend which meant that it had lots of vendors. Although this tranquil area of Shupps looked unused for quite a while as moss was growing on the tables.

Once a campground, Shupps is now such a lovely shady place for finding treasures.

Most of Shupps looked like this. We spent over three hours here.

I filled two bags full of goodies (which I will show in a later post). But I did photograph a few things that I had to pass on, but were interesting nevertheless.

This wagon was $145, and I took this picture for our friends Jon and Caroline, and they know why!

The graphics on this paint set are charming and it's a relief to know they used non-poisonous colors!

And what a bargain!

Part of Shupps is an area on one side of the creek from the main area, called the "Island." It was full of mostly "mantiques."

I found several goodies at this great sale tent! It was hot and crowded inside but worth it!

This vendor's pug puppy was by far the sweetest sight of the day!~~~Sunday, Hubby and I are getting up at sunrise to hit Renniger's Sunday extravaganza which believe it or not begins at 4 a.m.! We will be fashionalbly late and get there about 7 a.m. I'll report on that day in the next post!~~~XXOO, Beth

An Odd Find

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I took my son to a local comic book store today but we got there a little before it was due to open. To use up a few minutes (or more!) I took him into the local antique mall. Son is almost 16 and a fan of Pawn Stars so he was interested in browsing around the antique mall for a few minutes. I found it amusing to see him in a setting that didn't include electronics of any kind.

During our excursion I found this odd item and couldn't resist making a purchase.

At first I thought this package of marbles was sold through the Girls Scouts of America. What I learned after a little research was the colors of these marbles are known as Girl Scouts. Most Girl Scout marbles are green and yellow, but these have some red too. I like this unusual dime store find and am happy to display it in my office.~~And I learned something about marbles too!~~~XXOO, Beth

Over the Top

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I do believe that more of a good thing IS wonderful. Here's proof:

And this...

This is what happens when you sit at the craft table in your studio, surrounded by more bits and bobs than a person should have!~~~XXOO, Beth

Craft Stash Bonanza

Hello, My Friends!~~~

Please pardon the commercial, but yesterday I found a wonderful stash of crafting goodies! I thought you all might have a use for these beads and bobs! If you are in need of a lot of beads and twine, please stop by Dime Store Chic! I got lots for you!

There are lots more crafting goodness in my etsy shop. Stop by if you have a minute!~~~XXOO, Beth

Grey Gardens in Falls Church, VA

Hello, My Friends~~~

For the past three days an auction company has been hosting what they call an "estate-tag" sale in my town of Falls Church, VA. The historic home, built in 1891 is one of the original grand dames of the town, although now she is in serious need of TLC. She reminded me of "Grey Gardens."

We were not allowed inside this lovely Victorian, but I did wander the overgrown grounds and get these photos for you.

Situated on a shady corner, this beauty beckons shoppers to the sale.

Tents were set up all over the front yard as the sellers were hauling out goods in a constant stream.

This is the largest Tulip tree I've ever seen and it is in the front yard. It must be about 200 years old. There is a lightning rod on it, thank goodness!

The turret on the front of the house is a little creepy in the shadows.

I spied this nifty nest over the front door.

Here is one side of the house where you can see the wooden "fish scale" details in the siding.

 
On the side of the house were a scattering of tools and shabby old furniture. I particularly liked this aqua cabinet. But sadly have no room for it in my home.

More furniture and tools are near the back yard by the spring house which is connected to the main house by a breezeway.

I snuck around back and got this detail of the spring house back.

Here is the back of the main house as seen from the spring house.

And here is the back of the house in full view.~~~I wish I could have bribed someone to actually go in the house, but sigh...My photos will have to do. Hope you enjoyed the tour!~~~XXOO, Beth

De-Cluttering part deux

Hello, My Friends!~~~

After several hours of sorting and trying to decide how to make these shelves work best in my studio, I have finished!

Here is the corner shelf now full of stacked bolts of ribbon:

Before, I had kept the ribbon bolts in round containers, but after accumulating more ribbon the ones on the bottom where buried and forgotten. Now I can see what I have. AS long as the cat doesn't decide to knock the ribbon down I'm OK.

The ribbon was originally on this shelf in the containers. Now I ahve put the large jars to use holding small glass Christmas ornaments and beads which I frequently use in crafting.

Now I can easily see beads and other bobbles for use in crafts!~~~Whew! Now I'd better get crafting!~~~XXOO, Beth

Corner De-Cluttering, part one

Hello, My Friends!~~

I visited an estate sale this morning and found a box of five big jars!

I knew once I saw them that I had found the prefect storage solution for a cluttered corner of my studio.

I need to use the space for effectively and these five jars will help me with that. I also need to de-clutter this shelf of ribbon and figurines destined for pin cushions.

So, with the help of the new jars I'll de-clutter these two areas. I'll post soon and let you know how things turned out!~~~XXOO, Beth

You Never Know What You Will Find

Hello, My Friends!~~~

As we are now deep into yard sale and estate sale season, I am amazed at what one can find out there in the world, and more remarkably, what I choose to bring home!

As you may know I opened Dime Store Chic in etsy ten months ago. I had a lot of vintage stash to release and decided opening a new etsy shop would help free up space in my studio. I have been so delighted at the success of Dime Store Chic. But what I didn't expect was that having my shop would lead me to pick up fun vintage goodies that I may not necessarily use but that someone else might use them. So I decided to only buy goodies at a modest price so I could sell them for a modest profit to fund the purchase of the things I keep. That is my business philosophy, to break even on my spending. It'll never make me a millionaire but that isn't my goal.

This weekend I found a nice variety of goodies, which I have listed in my etsy shop. Among these finds were some original early sixties pen and ink fashion illustrations from the home of a Maryland artist:

They are so wonderful and for folks who love the Madmen show this is a great piece of original advertising art.

I also found a big batch of red plastic cookie cutters:

And I don't over look small goodies, such as these parakeet playing cards:

I hope you like my store as much as I like offering it to you! As always thanks so much for your visit!~~~XXOO, Beth