You can come Antique shopping with me in a minute, but I just wanted to remind you of Caroline’s Regency dress that is ending tonight on Ebay. (Monday) You can see it by clicking the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE.
Friday, Rebecca was off work, so we planned a day of shopping with her. She’s been in the mood for some new bedroom furniture and was ready to go see in person what was out there. She’s been “stalking” Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Ebay, the thrift stores around here, but wanted to venture a little further out to a few nearby towns.
She’s wanting to find a new queen bed and upgrade from her twin. She’s also wanting to find some kind of storage piece… either an armoire, a wardrobe, a TV cabinet that has shelving, and drawers or something similar. She’s also wanting a taller end table or a lingerie chest that’s on the skinnier side.
We had quite a day of shopping and I’ll show you some of the things we saw. The first place we hit was a used furniture store but as soon as we opened the door, it smelled like cigarettes, so Rebecca stepped inside and then said, “Nope!” and walked out. It really was bad! No pictures from there! :o(
Then we headed to the next place in line… another dud… it was mostly junk and their prices were way too high. A little orange Hot Wheels car was $5.00… It wasn’t pristine either! No pictures there either. :o( :o(
So we headed to another Antique shop… We walked around and my hubby spotted something for me… I think it was a letter/mail holder or maybe a Salesman’s Sample for a child’s bed… Anyway, my hubby found it and said, “Yes? It’s $5.00” and I said, “Yes!” right back at him… I’m going to cut the sides apart from the headboard and footboard and add some side rails and a bottom to make it into a doll bed. I’m not sure which doll size I’ll make it for, but I’m sure I can come up with a nice prop for less than $10!
14″ Betsy McCall said she’d like to be in the pictures today so I said she could show my newest treasure.
I looked on Ebay to see if I could find something similar and I did…but they were vintage doll beds and had a price tag to go with them! EEP!
As we were leaving the owner said we could have a bag of Gala apples that had been given to her. They were bright shiny red and looked wonderful so we took about 6 of them. As we started down the road, I chomped on one and my hubby started on one. After about 2 minutes, he said, “Does your apple taste funny?” I told him I was kind of thinking the same thing, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it… We both decided to toss what was left of our apples out the window. My hubby said, “Good grief, we’ve only gone to a few places and already we’ve been “smoked out” by cigarettes and now it feels like we’ve been “poisoned” by apples!”
We headed to the next stop…a few miles up the road… Here are some pictures of what we saw in there…
I was looking for things for Rebecca…but found myself taking pictures of everything.
Rebecca didn’t see anything that she was thrilled over, so we kept going…
That big armoire was pretty, but she wasn’t sure it was what she wanted…it’s quite big!
We stopped at another shop along the way and when we went in it, my hubby said, “I smell a gas leak!” We looked around pretty quickly and then left… When we got in the car and were pulling away, my hubby said, “We better get out of here before that place explodes! Now we can add to our list… smoked out, poisoned and now gassed out!”
The rest of our trip was just fine… but I was the only one who found something…We went in this one antique store and Rebecca and her dad went to peruse the shop, while look what arrested me!!!
Stacks of it, all neatly tied together on the shelves and on the tables…
Pretty soon they appeared and I wasn’t nearly done looking, so Rebecca got to looking with me.
I could have done some MAJOR damage there, but I was pretty good. I only picked out 6 pieces…
Rebecca spotted this cranberry red piece and said she thought this would make a nice Civil War dress using the border near the bottom of the dress. Hmmm… she’s going to turn out to be more than a jewelry maker after all, isn’t she?
It was the funniest thing, I usually spot these kind of booths and see lots of fabrics that are in my stash… BUT in this lady’s booth, and all the fabrics I fingered and looked under… I didn’t run across ONE SINGLE PIECE that was in my collection, or EVEN that I had ever seen before. It was so strange! Oh, my goodness, couldn’t we all have had fun in that lady’s booth??? Wish you could have been there with me!
So that was the end of our trip…Rebecca struck out, my hubby struck out, and I ended up with a stubby doll bed and a few new pieces of fabric. We had a fun day in spite it everything and made it home safe and sound!
I hope you enjoyed tagging along with me!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a fun day you all had! I agree, there’s nothing worse than walking into a room that stinks of cigarette smoke! No doubt the owners have no idea it smells so repulsive to the rest of us!
But, you did find some wonderful things,and I do wish I could have been along!! My favorites of your fabric choices are the tiny pink floral (Ten Ping is nudging me here!) and the blue/rose print next to it. So pretty!!
My good news is, last night I picked up my Viking #1+, and this afternoon, after finishing my second bear and oiling and putting away my vintage machine, I set up my Viking, and SEWED on it!! Ohhhhhhh, that felt Sooooo good!!
I have a list of things I need to get accomplished before I leave Wed. for Sewing Expo, so I guess I’d better get moving!! Some things will have to wait until tomorrow, but there are a couple of things I could do before I go to bed tonight.
HI Charlotte,
We DID have a fun day just going from place to place and looking around.
I agree about those tiny floral prints. They are both so dainty looking and spring like! The blue and pink might be my favorite of the lot! I will definitely go back sometime… it’s about 35 minutes from my house, I think.
Isn’t it wonderful when you get something back that you missed so much! I’m glad your machine is back in your sewing room. It will get lots of use in the next few weeks!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
I finally am writing because I finally was able to see the pictures! My desktop did not or could not display more than 3 or 4 pictures, so I decided to wait and see if my iPad would be any better, and it was!
Goodness sakes, what a treasure trove of antiques you saw! I haven’t done that in years, because where to put anything? I do have several pieces of old furniture that belonged to the family, bu t I am really scarce on space.
I was going to say, if Rebecca wants a queen sized bed, she more than likely won’t find one in an antique store, because they are fairly recent, well, like 50 years ago! That’s not THAT recent, actually, but older homes had double beds most of the time, so she would probably do better to get a new bed. Our first bed was a queen sized bed, 50 years ago boy, doesn’t that sound wired? Fifty years ago, what am I thinking? Maybe she can find a 50 year old bed somewhere!
What a great group of fabrics! Looks like a certain someone had more fun than the other certain someone’s!
HI Linda,
I’m glad the pictures finally came through for you to see. This was one post that was HEAVY on pictures and I would have hated for you to miss them.
After we were in a few places, I told my hubby, “I think we need to add on to our house, so I can buy more furniture!” You should have seen the look on his face… :o(
We have discovered the problem of finding a queen size bed in antique stores too. She’s been looking at getting that new, but in a reproduction style. She likes things that aren’t too modern looking. She found a sleigh bed that was a queen but it was way too big for her room.
I think the trip was definitely a fun one for me. I would have LOVED more fabrics, but didn’t I just say recently I needed to pare back on buying more? Yikes… There’s no hope for me. I just love fabrics.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, this was fun! Now you know where I will spend my afternoon, if it rains again as the weather people have predicted. I will be perusing Illinois antique stores. Loved seeing the antiques as well as the more modern. I didn’t see much in the mid-century category. That is what is quite popular around here. And the fabric. Oh, that would have been so fun. I spotted a lot of 60’s pieces in the lovely display. How were the prices for fabric? I’m sure other person would have been saying, put it all back, please. Spoil sport!
Curious, but what era/style is Rebecca interested in? Our daughter, in her 30’s, is a fan of Pottery Barn and is not interested in antiques at all. 🙁
We were able to see the progress in the kids bathroom remodel yesterday at when we visited to celebrate a big 6 birthday for grand number two. New double vanity is in and the gray large rectangular tile floor laid on the diagonal is going to be great. Big tile equals less grout and cleaning to me. Guess I’m just practical.
Thank you for sharing your antique run and so glad you survived all of the adversity. Kind of like, don’t take apples from strangers as in Sleeping Beauty. 🙂
Back again. Got in our walk as it was starting to sprinkle. We’re supposed to have a monsoon and get 4-6 inches in the next couple of days. Ugly.
I went back and super enlarged your fun photos. I admire how the space owners in the most part added in seasonal items like the Easter. I especially liked the booths that had items grouped together. Makes it so much easier to spot things that way. For me anyway. Next time your looking around, I’d be curious as to prices for some things. I couldn’t read all of the price tags.:) Because, we have a ton of stuff to sell. For instance Mason jars? Crocks? And that adorable huge stuffed pony? We don’t have one of those though, but I’d like one. Other person, not at all. That sprayed gold tree branch mounted on a block reminded me of the 50’s. We had one. In the booth with some farm style items, on the right is a large basket I would love to own. Wooden woven slats with a string of little chicks draped over the side. Cute. And seeing the fabric enlarged was a treat. There was one Egyptian piece that looked interesting to me, and I liked the center front middle with the St. Patrick’s fabrics piece in green lattice with blue hearts. Don’t ask what I’d do with it, but I just like it. 🙂 You chose some great fabrics too. Look forward to seeing what you make.
And I totally forgot to say Hi! to Betsy. That little reduced bed will be great when put back to it’s intended use. I was thinking that maybe build a new wooden box for it, the size needed, and then attach the head/foot pieces. Just my take. And you are right. Doll beds in usable sizes are expensive and with the shipping mostly out of my range. I did finally find an AG trundle bed at a reasonable price for grands birthday which included all of the bedding. In perfect new condition too. She was delighted to receive it and promptly put Willa Wellie in bed.
Thanks for sharing your adventure finds.
HI Joy,
I’m glad you enjoyed the post for today TWICE! Glad you got your walk in too, before the rain came.
Rebecca is looking more at the older styled things… She likes real wood and no particle board. She doesn’t want anything fake so it has to almost be old. She’s pretty picky but said she’ll know it when she sees it. She has probably looked at 40 Armoire’s on Marketplace and maybe 20 bed frames. She wants something with drawers and shelves on the inside. I’ll keep you posted as to what she decides on.
The shop that was so organized and had all the cute little Easter things in it was called Annabelle’s Market and it was fun. I saw an island…it’s partially shown in that wide shot with the rug. It’s a distressed white and is on the right. I thought I took a picture of it straight on, but didn’t find it on my phone. It has a wine rack underneath that had pull out shelves, but the ends were solid so you wouldn’t see everything under the shelves when you opened my front door. (If I had it!)
The fabric was VERY fun to look at. I probably would have bought more if it had all been up on the tables… that bottom row of fabrics was pretty low to the ground. UGH! The prices were about $2 a yard.
I haven’t even thought about the bed construction, but I do like your idea of making the box and then connecting them.
(Oh, and I’ll be sure and stay away from FREE apples!)
Thanks!
Blessings, Jeanne
My, what a bunch of fun stuff to look at. I went through the pictures twice trying to see it all. I’m sure Rebecca will find what she wants if she keeps looking. It sounds like you all had a fun day with the exception of the cigarette smoke and the poison apples! I’m still wondering what could have made the apples taste so strange…
glad you enjoyed the pictures enough to look at them twice. I did have a lot of pictures to digest.
I think, like Joy said, I’ll stay away from strangers giving away apples. :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne,
Hello. I am back from the Madame Alexander Doll Club Premier in New Jersey. I had big fun. I didn’t win any of the dolls in the raffle but I was the raffle caller and I had a blast.
It sounds like you had a blast too, almost a literal one (laugh).
Smoke, poison, explosions. Wow! And you say you live an average life (chuckle).
Thanks for taking us on your adventure. It is a hoot. Oh, wait, no, then you would have to add wild birds to your list. Uh, I better stop now.
Hi Dorothy,
I’m so glad you had a fun time at MADCP, despite the fact that you didn’t win a doll! :o(
But being a the raffle caller must have been a whole lot of fun!
You are too funny! Glad you enjoyed tagging along!
Blessings, Jeanne
One knows one is in a scary place when the adrenaline starts rushing at just seeing pictures of fabric. Told you I was hopeless. How you walked away with only six pieces is beyond me. I might have picked out six, but many more would have followed me home.
I’m still looking for a pattern lookalike like the one we were searching for. What is so hard about finding a collared, scoop neck dress with a bodice and skirt and little puffed sleeves. It shouldn’t be hard to find the combination but it is. I looked through every pattern I have, every place I know to look and none of them have it all. I found a Little Darling dress on the Adams-Harris website that would, with a little tweaking, create the collared neckline. It has the same type collar but not the scooped neckline, but it could be. But the dress does not have a bodice per se. It drops from the shoulders in pleats with coordinating fabric inserts. It is called Cherry Lane if anyone wants to take a look. I really liked the pattern we were searching for. Maybe we could get Carol Pringle to sell the pattern itself, if in fact it is hers. Think of all the money she could make just from us.
In the past week I made slacks and tops for Betsy and Jane Tonner. I used the Betsy McCall pattern 4334. That is the pattern I was commenting on (or complaining about) the other day. The first pair of pants I made for Jane were tight. Betsy and Jane are not lacking in the size of their backsides and the pattern doesn’t really allow for that. Used “as is”, it would make a great leggings pattern. When I made Betsy’s pants, I added some to the sides which also added to the waist which was definitely needed. The pattern has no picture of the shirt by itself so the first one I made was shorter than I wished. I should have measured it on the doll, but it’s a Betsy McCall pattern right, so it should fit without much ado. The second time I made it I actually added an inch to the bottom and 1/2 inch around and like it better. So does Betsy. Jane wants me to make her another outfit. I told her maybe next year.
I cut out one of the patterns I got from Londonberries for an Easter dress for Betsy or Jane, they can’t seem to make up their minds who likes it the best. I think it should turn out cute. I’m hoping to have all my girls dressed in their Easter finery in time to take some pictures to send you. There are some complaints around here right now because several of the girls will be wearing last years togs. I told them I can’t make them all new dresses for Easter every year. What’s a mother to do?!
I really enjoyed the antique shopping, but enjoyed the fabric display the most. I have no room for more furniture, but I can always find space for more fabric. Another plastic container? I hope you get a chance to show us how you did the frosting on the cupcakes. My mouth is still watering. Cupcakes are my favorite.
Thanks for the heads up on McCall 4334. I was going to take a look today to see if I can locate it. I’m pretty sure I have it. I thought it would work because it doesn’t have separate sleeves and the neckline could be lowered. But after the sizing problems, maybe not. I’ve never seen Carol’s patterns for sale. A friend mentioned that there is a Ginny doll pattern similar that could be enlarged. I haven’t found it though. Look forward to seeing your Betsy/Jane dresses.
HI Joy,
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a pattern similar too!
HI Barbara,
Yes, I think my adrenaline was pumping when I opened the door to this antique shop and saw all that folded fabric. I think anyone who sews would have had the same reaction. If I had been by myself I probably wouldn’t have gotten out with only 6 pieces.
I thought the same thing when I saw the pattern, how hard could it be to replicate that pattern or find one like it? But it is different enough to be unique.
I think you get the prize for getting the most sewing done this week! Whew, you’ve been busy. Of course we have to give Charlotte a break, because her sewing machine (her FAVORITE sewing machine) has been in the shop!
A woman at my church wanted to know how I did the cupcakes too… I’ll have to get Kristoffer on that with me… and show a little video if I can figure it out.
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Would have enjoyed the antique shopping with you. Haven’t done that in a long while. If Rebecca would be interested in that wardrobe I have, let me know. It is currently sitting in the garage which I doubt is very good for it. I can send pictures if you don’t remember what it looked like.
HI Gloria,
I asked George if he remembered what your wardrobe looked like and he didn’t. Do you have any old pictures of it assembled? I’ll show the pictures to Rebecca if you can snap a shot of two of the pieces… maybe get a measurement of how tall the longest side board is?
Thanks Gloria,
Love you, Jeanne
I was just looking at the Trentsation site on Etsy for patterns for my newly purchased Dumpling. There is a dress that, if you scooped the neckline, is exactly like the Carol Pringle dress. I didn’t think of this one until someone mentioned a Ginny pattern that could be enlarged. The Dumplings are closer to the size of an LD so maybe that pattern would work.
HI Barbara,
I hope you get it figured out and come up with something that works. Pattern drafting was a class I took, but I don’t use it as often as I should. I hope you are successful at making something work.. I bet Jane would be interested too.
Blessings, Jeanne
I too was looking at that Trentsation pattern today. I have one of her other patterns, but not the one you mentioned. Only problem, I was not able to see if it was a straight dress or one with a bodice. And just a note, the Dumplings will fit 10″ Ann Estelle patterns which are pretty close to the LD’s except length.
Thank you Jeanne for sharing all of these photos.
I am happy to know you tossed the poison apples. We live in interesting times. Who knows
what people do these days
I looked at your doll dress Amazing that you earned $85 for that.
I used to make doll dresses when my girls were little (in the 80s and 90s)
The furniture shops, oh my I love old furniture.
The fabrics, did they feel like good fabrics? Yesterday I picked up a fat quarter of
adorable bitty flowers in a new Moda line called Amberley by Brenda Riddle.
Moda makes fine fabrics. Well, I won’t get you too deep into fabrics but there are some stuffing designs by Art Gallery Fabrics as well.
I just found your blog, I do not know where you are located. I am in Northern Virginia, 35 miles west of DC. I just sew quilts and blouses and big and little things. Kind of busy mostly taking care of my daddy (95) and hubbs (retired) and the other etc of life.
I am happy to see your blog, and I feel like pulling out my American Girl Dolls (4) and making new clothes for all of them
HI Rosemary,
I’m so glad you found my blog too! We have lots of fun and the ladies on here are the absolute sweetest and kindest anyone blogger could ever hope for.
Actually Caroline’s dress didn’t sell… :o( …but I relisted it tonight for $10 less to start out and hopefully the second time around it will sell!
You sound like you stay quite busy sewing a variety of things! I am a caregiver for my mom (84) too. She lives at a senior place, but has Alzheimer’s so I still go over there fairly often. This morning before noon, she had called me 15 times. She thought my hubby was in the hospital and wanted to go see him. She just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t taking her up to see him.
I am 61 years (young) and live in Southern Illinois… about 2 hours south of St. Louis. I hope you DO get your American Girl dolls out and start sewing for them again. Susette, one of my readers did…and now she’s hooked on sewing!
Thanks Rosemary,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
This is in regards to the cute little dress you pictured a couple days ago. I have been searching and I think I have found one that is really close. Your readers can go to Etsy and look for at https://www.etsy.com/fr/shop/LesCheriesdeVaniline pattern #14. The neck line is higher but wouldn’t be too hard to change.
I hope this will help with your readers. Blessings, Janet
Hi again,
I think you have to add 1/4″ to each piece to make it fit. For instructions go to:
http://poupeecouture.canalblog.com and translate to English for instructions.
Hope this helps. Janet
HI again Janet,
Thanks for the links to the patterns and instructions… Everyone will be thrilled!
Blessings, Jeanne