My husband and I decided to get out of the house yesterday and do some antiquing. We visited a new-to-us antique mall as well as a favorite in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We never buy much, but it’s always fun to look. I was pleased to find a booth with sewing patterns from the 1950’s – 60’s and snatched up this Vogue Couturier pattern to see if I can adapt it for Barbie (anyone heard of the designer Rodriguez of Spain?). I also found a booth with some lovely antique lace. I soaked the lace in Woolite and warm water for an hour or so to get out any dust and musty smell and then laid it flat to dry. I’m planning to layer it over silk tissue taffeta for Barbie dresses.
This past weekend, we antiqued our way around Lake Michigan from Southwest Michigan to Indiana and the west/northwest suburbs of Chicago. It’s amazing how many miniatures you can find in antique shops, many the perfect scale for Barbie. And I also scored some beautiful handkerchiefs and vintage lace. On Sunday, we shopped the Naperville Doll and Teddy Bear show where I found vintage Ken and Skipper sewing patterns (I already had copies of the vintage Barbie patterns I found there), more lace and hankies, and a Silkstone lingerie Barbie #6, never removed from her box. Plus we got to visit one of my favorite customers, stop by the Windy City Dolls shop in Geneva, Illinois, to see Barb, the proprietor, and help my nephew find some furnishings for his new apartment. All in all, a wonderful trip!
Antique shops we visited included: Great Lakes Antique Mall, Coloma, Michigan; The Antique Market, Michigan City, Indiana; Jackson Square Antique Mall, LaGrange, Illinois; Affordable Antiques & More, Naperville, Illinois; Antiques of Winfield, Winfield, Illinois; Antique and Chic, Winfield, Illinois; Oakton Street Antique Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois; Geneva Antique Market at the Berry House Shops, Geneva, Illinois; Antique Market I, St. Charles, Illinois; and Coachman Antique Mall, LaPorte, Indiana.
Here are some pictures of the treasures I found.
Lots of gorgeous lace!Hankies galore!Hand painted miniature ceramics: salt shakers to make into lamps, vases, cake salt and pepper shakers, and a clockA quarter sawn oak library table, a metal rack to store miniatures, and a 3 tier plastic rolling bin.Silkstone lingerie Barbie #6Found in the basement at the Coachman Antique Mall in LaPorte, Indiana, on our way home. Could not get it all in one picture! Doll boxes were stacked about 6 deep from floor to ceiling! Tons of furniture, vehicles, and accessories, as well as bins full of Barbie clothes. I honestly don’t know how they got it all in there. If you’re looking for Barbie stuff, this is a must see!
Today we went to Jackson, Michigan, to check out an antique show and flea market at the fairgrounds, and then two antique malls in town. Somehow, I managed to find something at each place we shopped. From miniatures to hankies, I found some treasures.
I don’t know about you, but everywhere I go, I’m spotting miniature treasures to use in my dioramas. Here are some of my recent acquisitions.
Left to right: The white vase and little Avon lady in blue were found at an antique shop in Grandville, Michigan, last weekend. The flower cart was a gift from my sister— it’s a placecard holder she found at Pier One … I just removed the holder stick. The red roses lying on the top of the sideboard are from Michaels. The birdhouse is a little metal and enamel trinket box from Hobby Lobby. The painted sign is actually a magnet, also from Hobby Lobby. On the shelves below are a few books I made along with two antique salt holders I picked up in my travels.
Amazing things are out there! Just check out your local antiques or crafts store.
This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with an overnight trip to Ohio. On the way there, we stopped at a couple antique malls in Elkhart, Indiana, where I bought a couple hankies.
We stayed at a romantic hotel in Perrysburg, Ohio, (just outside Toledo) so we could go antiquing at the mammoth antique mall in Maumee. After 2 1/2 hours in the Maumee Antique Mall, I still didn’t see everything. However, I did find a booth jam packed with beautiful hankies …
Here’s a glimpse of some of the amazing hankies I found. Lots of petit point and pretty embroidered borders.
And this little Barbie sized miniature jumped into my hands.
I also found this lovely silk scarf.
I’m planning to donate a Silkstone Barbie dressed in a Hankie Chic fashion to the charity auction at the 2019 GAW Barbie Convention. The theme is Journey to Japan, so I thought this scarf could be a possibility to use for the doll’s outfit. The design looks Japanese inspired to me.
Here are my inspiration photos for the fashion I want to make … kind of a modern kimono over a long column dress. But maybe a little less gold and not quite so pink.
Altogether, a lovely weekend. Back home now with my feet up contemplating what to make next.
Today, hubby and I went antique shopping on Century Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A huge old factory building was converted into several large antique malls housing pretty much anything you can imagine. I came away with quite the haul … and maybe a little frostbite … they really skimp on the heat in that old building!
Here’s what I found. Counter clockwise from bottom left: a vintage Barbie sewing pattern, Scrabble tiles to make into books for Barbie, some exquisite petit point hankies, delicate lace, a table and chairs set to refurbish, a couple toothpick holders to repurpose into 1:6 scale planters, and a ladder back chair with woven jute seat.
Hankie Chic 