True Confessions

One of our sales goals is to turn all merchandise every 30 days, meaning we hope to not own anything for longer than a month. Usually, we're pretty successful at reaching that mark. However, once in a while, we run into a piece that is just plain reluctant to part company with us. Case in point -- this crazy quilt, which I still think is fabulous:

I have to confess that we've had it for over a year now, and I don't know why. It makes a stunning wall hanging, but would be great draped over a sofa, folded in a cupboard, tossed artfully as table-scape base -- dozens of places. It is currently gracing the wall of our booth at Midland, so dear reader, if you'd like to help us out and give it a new home, it can be yours for the amazing price of just $34. We're waiting for those phones to start ringing!

I was much happier with how the booth turned out this time than I was on our last visit; think it needed a little more color last time, but we just didn't have it.

Two favorite finds this trip were a pair of grain elevator auger coils (which would make fabulous table bases, but also look great just as arty objects) and

a collection of industrial gauges, several of which are pictured here. We restocked Midland Saturday, then headed down to our space at the Burlington Antique Show, just outside of Cincinnati. It was definitely a frost-on-the-pumpkin affair, but a beautiful setting Sunday for our last outdoor show of the season. There was a good crowd all day, although Early Buy was quiet. We sold a wide range of product, with small tables taking the cake. Wish we'd had a dozen more!

Sunday afternoon, we put the tent away for the last time this year. The end of the outdoor season always feels like a turning point. It used to be even more dramatic, as we literally were outside every show, all summer long. Now we have permanent space inside during the summer, too, but it definitely still feels like passing an annual milestone when the canopy goes into winter storage.

This was my favorite find from the weekend -- a vintage classroom piece, full of fabulous flashcards. What wonderful graphics. What you can't see are the contents of the bags behind the little guy -- they are filled with vintage Christmas ornaments, a true reminder that summer's over. I'm getting really excited to start work on our holiday items. We'll have them out for the first time at Kane in November. Stay tuned for details and come and see us soon. xo