Brown Dog Field Trip...Kansas (very long post with Open House info at end!)

My BirThDaY request was to attend an Arts/Crafts fair in Kansas this past weekend. Not to show my wares...just shop! Honestly, the main attraction was a little vintage show I had somehow stumbled across when I was checking out a fab local shed sale...and I just.had.to.GO!

I made it to the Vintage Soiree, and hubby (did I mention that he drove and encouraged me to BUY, BUY, BUY!?) watched me coo over crib side rails and swoon over a chippy newell post! I was lamenting that I hadn't made it to the opening day of the sale, but still found some of the items on my WISH list, and then some :)
...and the prices were wonderful!
If you click HERE you will go to some photos of that sale, provided by blogger Kimberlee who writes "The Driveway of Life."

We then headed, all of 2 blocks to the Arts and Crafts sale...a lovely event, full of LOTS of crafting and GREAT food.

We made our way through...
...a cheeseburger prepared by the Fire and Rescue guys.
...caramel apple slices served up for a school fundraiser.
...roasted nuts.
...AND a cherry-lemonade that was shaken before our very eyes by one of the members of the local high school band (that was for you, Lucy, my clarinet-player!)...delish!

I'm making my selection from the mega-lemon!
showing off the oh-so-sweet concoction (we shared it, or I might have been too sugared to shop!)
I'll admit it...I was a bit disappointed to not find more vintage items, but trying to just enjoy the day with hubby...and then we took Kimberlee's suggestion and headed to Marion, Kansas...destination The Barn/The Mill...

SUCCESS! Not only did we locate our intended antique shop (it's really 3 VERY large buildings), but the little (?) town was FULL of them! I'm just guessing that it was a small town. Honestly? I was too busy pointing out places for Todd to park so I could shop!

The store-front shop we'd made the trip for was unlike anything we've seen in the antique world. Most antique shops of this size are a jumbled amassment of ecclectic items, separated into individual dealer booths. A lot of the search is just that...searching!
This very LARGE store, however, was section after section of neatly arranged...whatever you're looking for.

I think the woman in front of me in line bought nearly every jar of buttons (all found on one shelf, with all of the sewing/millinery items).

Then we made our way about 10 blocks (if you go across the railroad tracks, you've gone too far!) to the Barn/Mill.
Todd didn't take photos of the interiors of these 2 buildings, also NEATLY arranged architectural elements and hardware and larger pieces. But also the 4 HUGE rows of the rusty and cool outdoor items...a whole section of wagon wheels, galvanized metal and more.

Not as many, or as quality photos as I would have liked. We ended up having to use Todd's camera because we'd mistakenly inserted a 16MB card (do those even exist anymore!?).

So, WOW. Good trip-not so good photos.

I'll be rested in time for my fall shows, which begin THIS SATURDAY...

Millard West, September 24, 9-4 (I'm in Wildcat II Gym)

then...STUDIO OPEN HOUSE

Friday Sept 30 (10-3, 5-8), Sat Oct 1 (10-4)

(if you've never been to the studio, or have just forgotten where I am, e-mail me for the address!)

I'm sending out postcards this week, of all of my fall dates, including the dates of the 2-part Christmas Open House (shop/order and shop/pick-up). Further updates, reminder for the Christmas show will come via e-mail or can be found on my blog (no Christmas postcard).

I won't be having Thursday Open Studio Hours this Fall, and I am trying to coordinate most of my in-studio Private Trunk Shows with Open House dates...

so, I have hours available Wed Sept 28 and Thurs Sept 29, as well as Monday Oct 3 for you and groups of 5 or more friends. You must contact me to get these on the calendar :)

I think that's all...next week, I am planning to post photos daily of some of the SurPrisEs I've been working on all summer and keeping for the fall shows...very fun!

Final Saturday at Piedmont Market

My new Dotties were in high-demand during the show at Nelly's Nest. I sold out of the cross and other symbols, and almost all of the Fall/Halloween charms I had brought with me. I've made more and will have them with me this week (Sept 10), at the Piedmont Market!
As promised, I'll have another fun addition to my charms and jewelry...a SALE

This week I am bringing along a VERY LARGE basket of sale charms of all sorts...$5 each. This does not mean that all of my charms are on sale, but these sale charms only make a few appearances a year. They won't be for sale again until the studio Garage Sale next summer!

This will be the final Saturday of the Piedmont Market. I'll be joining my market friends from 8-noon (Cotner and A Streets...about 50th Street)...let's hope for GlORioUS weather.

...unlike last Saturday, which was nice and cool, but prone to rain showers. The THREE brave souls who shopped with me had fabulous odds for winning the $10 studio gift certificate (to be used in September or October). They also should have received their little polishing pad, but the rain commotion means that Staci and Sharon will be getting theirs THIS week (happily they placed orders, so I'll just tuck them in for them!).

AMY was the lucky-ducky winner of the drawing. E-mail me, Amy to claim your gift.

Upcoming appearances after this Saturday...
Millard West...Sept 24 (9-4)
Studio Open House...Friday Sept 30-Saturday Oct 1.

2 Weeks left of Brown Dog at Piedmont

YES...I will be at the Piedmont Market for the next 2 Saturdays (Sept 3 and 10th).

I will be planning to take some fun items, and have different special gifties to go with your purchase both days.

I'll then take a week off.
Saturday September 24 will be Omaha at Millard West.
THEN...the studio open house will be September 29-October 1, hours to be decided :)

After much dedication to my regular Open Studio on Thursdays, I've decided that they just don't work with my schedule right now. I'm out and about so much that trying to get my studio back in order for Thursdays and then re-packing for weekend shows is taking away from time I need to work on pretties. So...PLEASE find me when I'm out and about, because I LOVE to see all of you!

Nelly's Nest last weekend was so much fun...I had my camera, ready to take photos, and then didn't.

My excuses...
...visiting with YOU and all of the great antiques dealers (and shopping).
...eating delightful baked goods from Mary Helen (she's at the Piedmont Market, too).
...more SHOPPING ( I got some LOVELY flashcards and a cool mailbox, and MORE!!!).
...having the blue grass band, Burnt Biskits, play right in front of my tent.

BUT...Janelle posted some fabulous photos on her blog (click), and some of them were of Lucy and me, our jewelry and there's even one of Janelle wearing the necklace she bought from me...

If you can believe it I sold EVERY ONE OF THEM on Saturday...so I made more this week! I'll have them at Piedmont tomorrow, you might NEED one ;)

Nelly's Nest on Saturday

You can find me this Saturday, August 27th, at Nelly's Nest Harvest Gathering...9-5 at 33rd and B Street. I have LOTS of charms, silver, including some new BRONZE and silver! I'm mixed in with lots of fun antiques, and am bringing some of my own antiques to pass along for sale :)

Can't wait to see you!

french fairy tales...

I will be at Piedmont Market tomorrow, Saturday August 20, from 8-noon...

I will have new charms with me, including these adorable images from a French children's book of fairy tales... Blanche Neige, les 3 cochons, boucle d'or et les 3 ours...

Next Saturday, my first BIG show for Fall (can you believe it!?). I've been invited to be part of Nelly's Nest Harvest Gathering. It takes place on Saturday August 27th, from 9-5.

Nelly's Nest is located at 33rd and B, and is full of the cutest primitives and MORE. Her neighbor, The Goods will be celebrating her grand opening...SHE has GREAT vintage pieces...I've shopped both shops and hope to get there early to lay claim to some goodies...watch out! There will be other invited antiques dealers, but I think I'm the sole jewelry gal :)

I will have my new designs for Fall...some FUN surprises! Come join me :)