Road Trip Antiquing - Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina

:: For some reason, the spacing is really squirrely on this blog post -- no matter how much I double-check and correct the code, it still comes out too widely spaced! Please keep reading and forgive the goofy spacing!:: I recently did a Facebook post about a wonderful handmade wooden toy farm set that I bought on a road trip. One of the FB followers asked which malls we went to, so I thought I'd do a little 'on the road' and highlight our stops.
No matter where we're driving, we try to stop at at least one antique mall every day of the trip -- more if time allows. We recently drove from Michigan to North Carolina and back and hit a few malls all along the way. We didn't have much time to go on back roads, so all the malls had to be fairly close to the interstates.

not my picture...I forgot to take a picture outside

We went through Columbus, Ohio so we could visit family and went to Heritage Square Antiques in Reynoldsburg. I'd been there several years ago, but didn't remember a lot about it. It's in an old grocery store and is pretty big. It had some really junk-ey booths and lots of country/primitive antiques with some mid-century mixed in. I bought a few Christmas items, but not much else. Many of the prices were more than I would even charge on Etsy for similar things! The oddest thing was that I didn't see a single birthday angel -- I can't remember the last time that happened. The workers were polite, but not really friendly and seemed really frazzled because there were 3 customers waiting to check out. The check out process took a LONG time, too. I don't think I would go out of my way to go back, though I'd probably stop again if it was near Christmas, just to see what the dealers had brought in.

The next time I went shopping was to several places in New Bern, North Carolina. I went to Poor Charlie's Flea Market, which is in a barn-like building very near the Neuse River. The men working there were really friendly and nice and there was a surprising number of booths and a lot of variety for a smaller mall. I only bought two sewing needle packages, but will definitely stop back next time we're in New Bern.

Black Swan Resale

the attic was the least cluttered space

I visited Black Swan Resale Shop in New Bern, too. It looked like a picker's paradise from the road -- the entire yard is full of junk stuff. It's 3 floors of a house crammed full of stuff, to the point that it's hard to walk through the rooms. Many of the things I looked at had no prices at all. Oddly enough, I didn't see a check out desk anywhere and didn't see a human anywhere in the yard or building (I've NEVER seen that at an antique store, or most other stores, for that matter)! I climbed the stairs and went through room after room all the way up to the attic and saw no one. In theory, I guess I could have walked out with anything I wanted and no one would have known. I saw a couple of things I was interested in, but without prices and or a worker to ask, I just left empty handed.

there were lots of animal heads tucked into odd corners

not my picture...there were no leaves on the trees!

After that I went to New Berne Antiques, also in New Bern (and, yes, they spell it New Berne, though I don't know why). I'd been there several times before and always find something. The prices are all over the place from bargains to overpriced, so it just depends on what you find and how the dealer prices. There's a fair amount of what I think of as 'junk' (not in a good way) -- newer things from China, some crocheted crafts and wood crafts. That said, though, that's where I found the wood farm, so I was thrilled! The workers there are always so nice and friendly, which is always a plus and makes you want to go back.

this is how you know you're in the south...two bins of sweet tea and only one of unsweet!

On the way home we stopped at several malls in West Virginia that we'd seen signs for on the way there. First was Landmark Antiques in Bluefield, WV. The Facebook description and reviews made it sound like it might be a 'hidden treasure'...what a disappointment this was! It was poorly lit and really cold (the workers had a space heater by the check out area, but it didn't spread to the rest of the mall. Most everything was dusty and some was downright dirty and most of it was just crammed onto shelves -- certainly not 'staged', as you see in many malls. I love a picker's paradise and have no problem rooting through piles to find the good stuff, but the store seemed more like a thrift store with people's cast-offs than vintage or antiques. The one exception was that there were LOTS of vintage trains and train stuff. If you're looking for that, Landmark is probably worth checking out. It looked like there was a large railroad spur in Bluefield and it could be that lots of train collectors live around there. For me, though, the mall was too many miles off the highway and not easy to get to and we won't bother going back.

Next we stopped at Four Seasons Antiques in Princeton, WV. It was the opposite of Landmark -- it was very clean, well lit and well arranged. I picked up some great deals there (lots of vintage Christmas) and had a good conversation with the owners, who just took over in December. I would highly recommend a stop there to anyone going by Princeton! It was a couple of miles off the interstate, but worth the trip.

I wish I could have bought this entire collection of pink elephant Hazel Atlas at Four Seasons...so cool

South Charleston Antique Mall in Charleston, WV is the one were I found the most treasures. It's large and well laid out with lots of variety. Like most malls, some things were reasonable, a few were downright cheap and some were overpriced. Still, I found one booth of almost all Christmas and it was all 40% off! We'll definitely stop there on our next time through Charleston.

An idea for next Christmas -- a garland made of vintage cards

the bathroom door at South Charleston -- vintage snowman holding his nose

Mound Antique Mall is right next door to South Charleston. It's divided into booths, but each one is color blocked, which made me wonder if it was really mostly one owner. There were a few obviously separate sellers, but it seemed like most items belonged to one. The prices were high for the kitschy items that I looked at -- more than I see online or at other malls. There was a lot of colored glass and depression glass (which I don't look at much or buy), so if you're shopping for that, you may want to stop at Mound. I don't know if the pricing was high on the glass or not.

Across the street from South Charleston and Mound is T & P Antiques. It's a small, privately owned shop that was filled with lots of glassware and kitchenware. The owner was telling me that she and her husband have an auction company and that the items in the store are often in box lots and whole-lots that they buy from people. I wouldn't go to Charleston just to visit that little shop, but I'll stop in again when we're across the street.

Here's the wonderful farm set that started this 'one the road' post! It has 68 pieces -- lots of fences with separate posts so you can rearrange them, 2 barns (one large and one small) and so many sweet animals! Some need new stands (mostly chickens -- laying down on the job), but that will be easy to fix. The hard part will be giving it up, I think...I may have to 'foster' it for a while before it goes on Etsy. I know my granddaughter will love to play with it a little bit first!

An Unexpected Journey

My morning started with a text message from my junking buddy, Bargain Hunter:  "Can you be dressed and meet me in an hour?"  When I asked where we were going, she just said, "Not telling...but you'll really like it!"

Never mind cleaning the bathrooms...or watering the garden...or working in the barn -- I was going on an adventure!

We'd talked a lot about how the sales always seemed better in the older neighborhoods around Detroit than they are by us and that we wanted to go to some garage sales there.  That's what we did today!  Bargain Hunter had four sales mapped out and ready to go.

The first sale was advertised as 'Pyrex and Vintage'.  I felt sure the Pyrex would be all gone, but it wasn't -- there was a lot there, plus some other good stuff.  I got a few things for my collection and a birthday gift for someone (I can't tell, in case she sees this post)

This Bluebirds casserole and Apple Tree carafe will look great in my kitchen!

Gold spattered Fire King baking dish in a white metal cradle

 Sale #2 was a real frog.  Advertised as 'vintage', but the oldest thing there was from the late 90s -- not my idea of old (I have kids older than most of the stuff at that sale)!

Next stop was an estate sale and it was a Prince (with a capital P)!  The basement was packed.  I got so much Christmas and fun kids' stuff there that I could hardly claim it fast enough.  I filled a plastic salad bowl with Christmas kitsch AND got a Santa & sleigh for just $4!

Santa & his sleigh have the original box.  The spaghetti Santa has blue rhinestone eyes (just a little creepy)

Gurley candles and Hong Kong nativities are always popular

Love this Japanese stocking face pose doll 

I also picked up 2 partial rolls of vintage Christmas wrap and a big roll of commercial Christmas paper.  I think I'll use it to wrap my Etsy orders this holiday season.   Today was the second day of the sale, so everything was 25% off, too!  The estate sale company was a new one to me, but one I'll watch for in the future --  the people running it were really nice and VERY organized (always a plus).

The chalkware puppy will have to stay here, I think...I've really become attached to him

Fun kids' books

I think the paper dolls go with the Betsy McCall set...they have mohair doll hair

Embroidered tea towels

Of course, there had to be a pennant there somewhere!

The last place we went to was another estate sale with lots of fishing stuff.  I got a few lures for my son and a Pyrex percolator.  Bargain Hunter found a live catch basket and an anchor for her son...the guys made out pretty well at that sale!

Cowboy and western glasses are so cool!

So a big thank you to Bargain Hunter and her spur-of-the-moment invitation!  This adventure was a happy end to a long week of work.  I'll be up for an unexpected journey any time.

Hope you have a great weekend!

A Perfect Day for a Vintage Flea Market

Today was the first flea market of the season at Midland Fairgrounds.  My friend Bargain Hunter couldn't go, so Mr. KV kindly offered to go with me (what a guy!)  It was fun shopping with him and he even found a few things to buy.  It was a perfect day, too...blue skies, wispy clouds and a high of 80.

I laughed with him about how I'd really have to rein in my buying because I didn't have Bargain Hunter's granny cart to use, in addition to my own (I usually end up spilling over into hers when I run out of space in mine).  I really held back!  My total purchases (and his) didn't even fill my cart.  I think having a huge yard sale and still donating a lot of the leftovers may have had something to do with my frugality, too -- I'm just oh-so aware that I have so much stuff!

There were the usual sights to see at Midland...many favorite dealers were back, though their prices were noticeably higher.  Even the 'digger' vendors who just pile their stuff on plywood and sawhorse tables were priced like malls today!

I did see some very cool things, though...

This big Pepsi Santa was pretty creepy

Love this tin toy

This glider and chair sold almost immediately after I took the picture

SO many Hummels!  (and no one was stopping to look at them...)

Great starburst entertainment set and holder!

Outstanding red & gray barkcloth, but not for me at $25

The prize for 'most creative' goes to the man who makes these birdhouses -- he told me that no two are ever alike, since he uses whatever he can find to decorate them.  I'm kicking myself (pun intended) for not buying one of the cowboy boots.

 Here's what I actually bought:

A few souvenirs (of course...)

Some Christmas (also of course...)  The Helen Gallagher Christmas catalog is from 1967 and the ceramic tree is a music box!

Love these flocked apple ornaments with the pixies inside...four will make their way to the Etsy shop, but one will have to live on our tree

My newest passion...colored aluminum!  These dessert bowls will end up on Etsy, too

 You always find the most random and unusual stuff at flea markets -- that's what makes them so much fun!  Here are some of the unexpected things that came home with me:

The Wilken family (whoever they were) published a cookbook and photo album in 1935.  I really like the previous owner's handwritten note, 'very good biscuits', on the front.  It makes me want to try the recipe before I sell it

Stiff cardboard calendar pages from 1937, illustrated with monkeys and orangutans doing sports -- they're very strange

A 'my pal' dog night light for a child's room, a turquoise wall sconce (which needs a really good cleaning!) and a pair of cemetery vases with spikes

Here are my favorite finds of the day:

Black cat's eye glasses decorated with rhinestones (with case), a red Swingline pencil sharpener and best of all, a ceramic 'My Rosary' angel rosary holder, that came with a little girl's rosary.  I think she's pretty rare

 And this is the only thing I actually bought for myself...

Pyrex pink daisy space saver with lid -- in great condition!

It was just a fun day all around...I hope you're having a great weekend!