On our way back from the Memorial Service, we went through this tiny little town and stopped at St. Mary’s Antique Mall. The way “I” remember it…my hubby had the idea to stop before I even remembered it was there… but when I hear him tell it, it was “all” my idea… :o) It doesn’t matter too much whose idea it was, it was a nice place to stop. It’s a huge mall for such a tiny little town…77,000 square feet and over 450 booths. Maybe the best paying job in town is to have a booth and sell your wares. :o) It goes on and on, row after row, until you almost get sick of looking at all the stuff… but we walked down every single aisle and at least glanced at every single booth.
Here’s an idea of how big one aisle is…
There were lots of things to look at, but since this is a dolly/sewing blog (or at least it’s supposed to be most of the time…), I thought I’d just show you pictures of things related to that…
I found lots of racks with doll clothes made from vintage fabrics. Some of them were really cute…
Of course I had to stop at the vintage hankies and at least take a peek…
…and of course, I had to look at the lace collars too…
The booths are generally set up pretty neatly in this mall and not too “flea markety” if you know what I mean. It’s easy to just skip those booths if you run across one…
There was a booth with old christening gowns and slips and skirts, almost all in various shades of white. I did find a pretty skirt/slip that had the prettiest cotton lace on it. It is made of the softest cotton fabric and was sewn with the tiniest stitches. It is snow white but I had to distort the color of my pictures just a bit so you could see the details. There is so much lace on it and it will go a long way toward decorating dresses… It was only $16.99, so I “had” to buy it…
…and we got all the way around the store and were almost ready to leave when I spotted a booth that made wool penny rugs. They had rolls of wool felt and that’s what I use to make many of my doll hats, so I picked up 6 colors to add to my stash…
It was a lot of fun looking at things from the past, but sometimes it made me feel old… seeing things called antiques that I remember using or having… Oh well….my white lacy slip and wool felt made me smile… :o)
Oh, and one more thing… just in case you didn’t believe me…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
My eyes popped out of my head when you said St. Mary’s Antique Mall! You mean in St. Mary’s MO, that teensy little bitty town I used to go through on the way to Cape? I had no idea that was there!! Well, probably not back then in pre-historic times, but we went down that way recently on a drive to Cape. This is a funny story that you will laugh about for sure! When I was going to college at Cape Girardeau, back in the 60’s I had gone home for the weekend. I rode back with a group of girls that went to school with me. As we were going through St. Mary’s, which was well publicized as a speed trap, we noticed lights flashing behind us. Bear in mind, ladies, St. Mary’s is on a highway, a two lane highway, and it just zips through town, which is what we were doing at 40 miles per hour. What? We were speeding, since the speed limit in the town was 25!! So we had to go to the courthouse and before a judge, no less, paid a fine, can’t remember what, and went off our merry way to school. Everytime we go through that town I remember that!
That lace slip is gorgeous, Jeanne! Are you sure it’s a slip? It looks like it could be the bottom half of a Gunne Sax outfit, or wedding dress! I’m sure you will find plenty to do with it. Do you have to wash it first when you find older clothes with lace trim? I’d hate to be the one to have to cut up that beautiful slip!
Wow, those flowers!! How do you arrange them in a vase, or do you do that? I actually like flowers right where they grow!
Your “speed trap” story made me laugh out loud, Linda! I can remember a couple of similar stories myself, both on the way to the University of Akron, where my soon to be husband was in engineering school. Thanks for the memories!
Hi Linda,
Yes I’m talking about that same St Mary’s town that you go through on your way to Cape. The antique mall is tucked somewhere in the tiny town but I don’t know how long it’s been there. I had to laugh at your story! Ill have to tell George… I bet you do think of it every time you go through there.
I’m pretty sure the white lacy slip/skirt that I found is for a young girl. The waist of it probably wouldn’t even fit around my thigh. All of the seams on the inside our French seams and it truly is a work of art but I am going to be cutting it up. I love the lace that much and I have no need for it just to hang around my sewing room when I can use it for something. The lace really is pretty!
Thanks Linda,
blessings, Jeanne
What an interesting post! Your pictures are great. The slip is unbelievable, especially at that price. I wonder how old it is. I know what you mean about getting sick of looking at it all by the time you’ve looked at so many stalls. Then there’s also the “I remember that, but why is it considered an antique now?” feeling. Obviously I’m one too. Loved the doll clothes. How would one choose what to buy? I did a Google Search for “St. Mary, Mo, and Antiques” and there are lots more pictures. I remember St. Mary was on the way to church camp when I was a child. We lived in St. Louis and camp was a log cabin deep in the woods.
The hibiscus are amazing. I remember them from when we lived in Hawaii but even there they weren’t that big. They grow here in California, too, but not that big. Must be the variety. They are like daylilies when picked, though, and don’t last any time at all in a vase. Thanks again for the memories.
Hi Suzette,
I have no idea how old the slip is but I can just tell by the lace and the seams, which are French seams,and the way it’s put together that it’s not been constructed recently. It is definitely vintage if not antique.
I have no idea how long the antique mall has been in St Marys. I should have looked that up when I found out how large the place was.
My hibiscus blossoms only last a day and they get sort of wilted like and droop over and I have to pluck them off every day. I’ve tried to bring them inside and put them in a vase but it just doesn’t work. As soon as you take them off of the stem they start wilting.
Glad you enjoyed todays post.
Thanks Suzette,
blessings Jeanne
Oh that antique mall looked like a lot of fun! Thanks for the pictures. The skirt/slip you purchased is beautiful. All the pretty colors of felt and lovely too.
I believed you about your hibiscus without the plate comparison but now I know where they get their name. I still think they are an amazing looking flower.
Hope you have a good day. They are predicting rain for us here. I’m not sure if that will make us more or less hot. Less, I hope.
Take care.
Hi Charlotte,
I’m glad you enjoyed shopping with me at the antique mall! It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed ourselves.
I would have to agree with you that my hibiscus is some kind of plant with blossoms like it has.
Thanks Charlotte,
blessings, Jeanne
Boy, that was FUN! Really made me want to go to an antique mall, even though I would have to do it on one of those handicapped carts now, and irritate everyone around me. Hey, now that I think about it, I bet it’s really difficult, if not impossible, to navigate an antique mall with all it’s pricey treasures, on a handicapped cart. I love the way that one was so neat and orderly and I saw a million things I would have had to pick up and examine. Thanks for sharing, Jeanne and your hibiscus is AMAZING!! Sending love and many blessings
Hi Bobi,
The Antique Mall seemed to be pretty wheelchair friendly. They had 6 handicapped spaces out front and they were all taken! I couldn’t really tell you if there were any people inside in wheelchairs, as I wasn’t looking for that… I was on the hunt for dolly finds.
Im glad you enjoyed the tour, Bobi,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a fun way for you and us, to begin to end our week by the jaunt through the antique mall. Now I see where you get some of your beautiful lace for your ensembles. I know I was struck with your last ensemble with that beautiful bonnet that you made for Felicity. It is absolutely the tops!
Because you don’t always have sewing in your blog, I think it helps me, perhaps others, to slow down our pace of life and just enjoy a chance to enjoy chicks/chickens, a new dog, tomatoes, lovely, large hibiscus flowers, a walk in an antique mall and of course all of those lovely outfits you create as well as life’s challenges and joys. Thanks for a mixture of life…and…doll stories! I just love your blog.
Blessings.
Hi Becky,
I’m glad you enjoyed the tour at the mall too. It would have been fun to have gone in a group with everyone, but I guess this was the next best thing.
I’m so happy to read what you wrote Becky…some weeks I can devote the whole week to sewing and some weeks, like this one, I can’t. I’ve been dipping pretzels in icing for the baby shower Sunday!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
How fun today! So happy you took pictures for us. Just fabulous.
I do love that slip/skirt and can picture it on a dress form on display in your sewing room. I know you want to use the lace, but it would be just lovely as a looking piece. Maybe you can find a decorative vintage blouse to go with it. Or wear it yourself. Maybe with a denim jacket. Would be great fun. Don’t have time right now, but will be back looking closely at all of the photos. Love the vintage stuff.
Amazing to see the hibiscus photo with an actual plate. You definitely weren’t kidding.
Have a wonderful day.
Hi Joy,
The slip might be a young girls. Like I told someone above, I don’t think it would even go around my thigh. But it goes down to my ankles when held at my waist…I think it might be early 1900’s…because of that. I don’t really have room for it to be on display and the lace is much too nice not to use…
I’m glad you like my hibiscus!
Blessings, Jeanne
I hadn’t thought of it, but Becky is right — this is a wonderful way for us to slow down. You don’t get to — you get to feed the chicks, water the hibiscus and tomatoes, mow the lawn, make the cupcakes — but reading about them lets us take a break from our lawns and laundry and then be inspired. I’d love to go to that mall. I hope they have chairs here and there for exhausted customers. What a wonderful petticoat. I am so glad it has a new owner to enjoy it.
Thanks to you and all of the people who wrote in about wigs. That is so useful. Now I need to go wig shopping and it will be way less frustrating.
I did try the Downy on the hair of one of my dolls to see if it worked as well or better than conditioner. The results I got are about equal. The only difference is that Downy has a very permeating fragrance which filled my house for 3 days. So for me, conditioner is the answer.
Hi Marilyn,
If we were all in a group, we’d probably all spread out and look at the things that tickle our fancy!
Yes, some days it’s sewing and some days it’s decorating pretzel rods, sugar wafers, finishing up my games, and getting things in a big enough box to carry it all!
I’ll have to share about the baby shower next week.
I have been toying with the idea of washing Elizabeth’s hair. She needs it done as the dust on top of her head makes it look a bit dull right now. I’m glad you found some useful tips about the doll wigs and I hope you find something you really like soon!
Blessings, Jeanne
Your post with the “Whose Idea Was It?” story made me smile, because my family members are always saying that to each other. And your pictures were like a trip to Liberty Antique Mall here in Powell, without any of the effort! You and George should have received an award for walking every aisle and checking every booth. Maybe a cookie, or a frozen yogurt? 🙂 You have a good eye, Jeanne, and I’m glad you found some bargains among all those “treasures.” The slip is just beautiful, and the felts will make MANY dolly hats and purses. Your photos have given us plenty to peruse, and I will have to check them all out again in the days to follow. My “baby” turned 30 on Monday, and my oldest will turn 34 tomorrow, so we are getting ready to celebrate both. Much to do today! Thanks for sharing your adventure to the antique mall, Jeanne. And OF COURSE we believed you about your hibiscus, but it is fun to see it in comparison to your dinner plate with the fruit pattern, which is very pretty! Thursday blessings!
Hi Anne,
Oh good…I guess I’ve started virtual antique shopping… the easy way…with Jeanne! Works for me!
I think there were 17 aisles….I’m telling you it was huge!
It looks like you will be celebrating birthdays and I hope you have a very nice time together…I just now realized…My Baby, Kristoffer, will turn 30 in October! How can that be????
Thanks so much, Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
What fun getting to look at all your pictures. The hibiscus is gorgeous and so vivid. God’s handiwork as usual.
The antique store is huge and the fact that you walked through the whole building is some kind of determination while having fun. You have to wonder, who owned some of these items and is there a story behind them. One of my favorite treasures is a teapot and cup, sugar and creamer I got from the Queen Mary. I’ve often wondered about how many people, including the Royal family from England, Winston Churchill and American celebrities were served tea in it.
* Anne, I know what you’re feeling…my baby’s birthday is next week and he’ll be 32.
Happy (Upcoming) Birthday to your son! No matter their age, they’re always our babies, aren’t they?! Enjoy!
Hi Paula,
I sometimes wonder things like you do, Paula.
Who used this, who wore it, what would they think if they were here today? It’s sort of fun to speculate.
It appears a few of us have 30 something babies with up coming birthdays! Happy birthday to them all!
Thank you Anne…I’m glad you enjoyed shopping with me…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Welcome home! I’m so happy to hear the visit was a celebration of life. I wish all funeral’s I attend could be “Celebrations” … Christians going home to be with our Lord and Savior. Sadly it’s not always the case. How very nice that you got to meet family members you didn’t know. My husbands family is huge and I’m pretty sure I’ve only met half. Sadly they aren’t the lets get together and have a picnic type. Anywho, Loved the antique mall photo’s thanks for sharing. I’m not sure I’d be able to cut up that pretty slip/skirt, it’s so feminine and the lace is stunning… but I know you’ll do wonders with all that pretty lace!
I just wanted to make a comment about some of the things you saw at the mall and the feeling old thing. Anything less than 100 years old is not technology considered an antique. It’s called vintage which I like better, don’t you? lol
Your Hibiscus wow! I have never seen such a big beautiful flower. I’ve been to Florida and Cali and have seen some large hibiscus flowers but your’s takes the prize. It’s huge and the color is gorgeous!
Have a great Thursday!
hugs
Ingrid
Hi Ingrid, it was really nice to meet up with one of Georgia’s cousins. I met her probably 30 years ago but I never really had any conversations with her and this visit I did. We had a really good time together and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
The slip will be cut up because I love the lace so much and I really don’t have room for the skirt to be put on display in my sewing room. It’ll be much more use to me putting the lace on doll clothes… Everyone will see!
Oh I do like your idea of being called vintage much better than being called in antique!
Thanks for that! It made my day, Ingrid, Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks for the tour! One question I have is do you use wool felt or felted wool?
Donna
Hi Donna, I use wool felt for my doll hats…not felted wool. I haven’t ever tried making felted wool before….maybe someday…
Glad you enjoyed tagging along with me at the mall.
Blessings, Jeanne
For some reason, my comments have not been posting, but I am going to try it again…..I wish I could visit that antique mall. There is one similar in Alvin, Texas–also not a very big town–that I like to visit. It looks much the same, although some of the booths are more things like collectible action figures and stuff. I love the pictures of the little dresses, and would probably have been tempted to make some purchases. The slip you bought does have some awesome lace on it; I can certainly understand why you want to remove it and use it one your creations, but I also like Joy’s idea of pairing it with a denim jacket and wearing it yourself.
I agree with you about seeing things in antique stores that you have owned yourself! That happens to me a lot, and I have a hard time thinking of things I had in the 80’s as being antique or even vintage.
Hopefully this comment will post; I think I need to patient and not flip the iPad closed so quickly.
Hi Carolyn,
Sorry you’ve been having trouble posting comments on my blog. I don’t know what makes it do that but I know some ladies say it happens to them too.
I guess antique malls are everywhere and it’s fun to seek out new ones to see what kind of things you can find in them.
I’m pretty certain the slip was for a young girl because there’s there’s no way I could ever wear it. It is teeny tiny but yet it’s long like it’s supposed to be down to my ankles I’m thinking it was just made for someone with the really small waist. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour and I hope when you go shopping at yours, you find some treasures too.
Blessings, Jeanne
Gasp!!!!!
That skirt/slip is magnificent!!! OMG! that lace is gorgeous!!! And I can’t believe the price you bought it for!!! I wish I could find items, not to mention PRICES like that around here! and that hibiscus is incredibly LARGE!!! I must have missed the post where you mentioned it previously.
Just to add, after reading everyone else’ comments: I ALSO have a child turning 30 this year (also in Oct!) My SECOND oldest! She’s ALSO will be producing my second grandchild about a month later (that should lessen the blow a bit) MY BABY just turned 21 a couple of days ago, sob.