Newsflash: Spring is NOT Hiding in Indy or Ohio Either

We took the show on the road this weekend, visiting two of our favorite places, SoBo Style in Columbus, Ohio, and Midland Arts and Antiques in Indianapolis. While the sun followed us, warm temperatures did not. The wind still had that sharp, lion's edge, even though the lamb surely can't be far behind. But SoBo never disappoints -- the shop is totally decked out for spring. Check out these adorable bags by Hedy Regal; so cute with a spring outfit: This glass-door bookcase was my favorite find in our load for Katie this time; won't it be cute in some one's house, full of books or other treasures:

On Saturday, we restocked our booth at Midland. The joint was hoppin'! I loved how the blues worked together in this corner:

We also have a fun group of gauges and lots of vintage store displays (some of which were already on the way out the door before we left, which always makes us feel good). Check out our new Facebook page for more photos from the weekend. Just search Rhubarb Reign Inc and please consider LIKING us when you do.

We shopped all the way home and didn't make it back to the Great State until after 10 pm Sunday. Spring wasn't waiting for us there either! But it looks like it might be creeping in just in time for Kane. Keep your fingers crossed and check back later in the week for a show update. xo

You Just Never Know

"Hey, Mama, look! A sale! You just never know what you are going to find." Whenever my son would say this from his car seat, I would have to smile. How many times had he heard this coming from the front seat? The thrill of the hunt is what drives a lot of people in this business. You just never know what's going to turn up.

Case in point: two of our favorite Chicago customers, Bill and Janet McCarthy, found this wonderful Montgomery Hawthorne messenger bike at a local estate sale that they happened upon one weekend while headed somewhere else.

Look at the wonderful details -- heart-shaped gears and leather seat included. Very steampunk! Can't you just see the original rider, tearing down a country road with goggles on and coat tails flapping? Awesome.

What about your favorite find? Tell us about it or better yet, send some photos. We'd love to share! Until then, we sure to check our Facebook page over the weekend (just search Rhubarb Reign Inc) for photos of our latest finds. xo

Good News and Thank Yous

Just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Wheaton (IL) Antique Market this season. As you may remember, a scheduling conflict two years ago forced the show to move to Saturdays from its 40-year run as a third Sunday show.

While this may not seem like a big deal, any time a show moves or changes dates, attendance and dealer counts suffer. Think of it like a shopping ecosystem -- one changes causes another, and before too long, you can be on the road to extinction. But the show definitely made a come-back this year, and we really appreciate every one's help in making that possible.

So, here's the good news, part two: Zurkos are continuing the HALF-OFF GENERAL ADMISSION discount for the foreseeable future! We'll keep reminding you -- just keep coming!

This week, we are headed to Midland and Ohio. Check back Thursday or Friday to see what's headed to Indy. Until then -- think SPRING! And please don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook, just search Rhubarb Reign Inc. xo

Great New Finds for Last Wheaton of the Season

Print this page -- good for HALF-OFF GENERAL ADMISSION, make a bunch for your friends, and join us Saturday for the Wheaton (IL) Antique Market. Details are just a click away on our show sidebar. This is the last show for the season, and we've got some great stuff.



As I mentioned last week, we've got a whole collection of wonderful egg and nest graphics straight from England. These are from a bestselling, 19th-century book by the Rev. Francis O. Morris, a renowned Irish naturalist and early conservationist. We sold out of them at Grayslake, so be sure to take a look at the ones we framed this week for Wheaton.


Plus, we have a great collection of store and school props from a special buy we made Tuesday. Check our Facebook page for more photos of these -- just search Rhubarb Reign Inc -- and please LIKE us while you're at it! We're posting all the time about new finds, project tips, shows...all the news from the vintage world we both love.

Plus we've got a brand-new load of furniture, garden, industrial, smalls and more from 4 -- count them -- 4 buying trips we made earlier this week. Whew. So do plan to join us Saturday for the BEST Wheaton of the year! See you there. xo

Spring Handmades; Grayslake Report

I'm addicted to Martha Stewart's white-gold glitter -- I love its tarnished look. We used it to coat these vintage bunnies we bought from our dealer pal, Mark McKee. Dressed up with some old silver-foil flowers, hand-dyed silk ribbon and dainty tinsel, they are ready to take center stage for your Easter parade!

One tip we've discovered with using any kind of glitter is to coat it with a light covering of Mod Podge once it has dried. This helps to keep the glitter on the project and not all over everything else!

Love these paper magnolias which we made from a Paper-Source kit, then tweaked with a little excelsior. They look so pretty tossed in any spring container.

Just one more to share today -- have lots more planned for the season. These vintage frames were filled with copies made from antique Easter graphics, enhanced with some sweet old millinery flowers. Great for a spring vignette.

We featured these and many other spring projects at last weekend's Grayslake Antique Market. It was an awesome show. Our thanks to all who came out. Furniture was definitely the big seller -- only wish we had had more of it. If you missed out on something you were hunting for, be sure to join us this coming weekend at Wheaton. Check back later in the week for a preview and to print out your half-off admission coupon! Remember to check our Facebook page this week, too. I'm going on a field trip today and will post there about what I find! xo

Grayslake Is This Weekend -- The Half-Off-Admission Coupon Is Still Good!

But this will be the LAST ONE for Grayslake (one more next week for Wheaton). Just print out this page and bring it with you. Make as many as you'd like for friends, too! Many thanks to Zurko Promotions for this awesome first-quarter deal.

While we can't promise sunny skies outside, we can promise lots of great stuff inside! We will have the first of our spring and Easter handmades, some lovely 19th century English prints, great new furniture, plus lots of smalls, industrial stuff and garden. Details are a click away on the show sidebar! Make plans now to come and see us. AND, big news! We just created a Facebook page this week. Please come and LIKE us for all sorts of tips on the vintage world we all love. xo

Kane County Report

Despite the less than spectacular weather, things were hopping at the Season Opener for the Kane County Flea Market. Sales were brisk across the board, from painted furniture:

to garden:

to smalls:

and graphics:

There was no real clear "winner"! It was great to see so many of our regulars, as well as customers from Michigan and Indiana. Many thanks to all who came out to support the show. Overall, we felt the opener didn't have the knock down, drag out/shop-til-you-drop excitement that it has for the last couple of years; B+, but not an A. But still we were happy to be back in our usual spot.

Now we are getting ready for Grayslake. Remember that the 50-percent-off admission coupons are still good for March. Check back later in the week to print out yours! xo

This Weekend: Kane County Season Opener

Come get your SPRING on this weekend at the Season Opener for the Kane County (IL) Flea Market! We have a brand new load of furniture, lots of garden, industrial, handmades and an entire vehicle full of smalls. Don't miss it. Details are just a click away on the show sidebar. See you there! xo