A beautiful day in Richmond, VA.  Sunshine and temps in the 70's. Just about perfect.

And for me, that means perfect for shopping!

Today I went on a treasure hunt of another sort. Returning from a doctor's visit, I went right by a mall where a local Macy's is closing. I decided to check out the final closing bargains, hoping to score a dress or at least a couple of tops. When I arrived at the store, it looked so strange that I was taken aback for a few minutes. All of the merchandise was gone, and the once busy store was emptied down to the fixtures. It was peopled by an army of headless mannequins and some industrious liquidation team members. How had so much time slipped by?

This store had been a favorite of mine through the 1980's and 90's, but as I stood looking in, I realized that I have seldom been to this Macy's in the last ten years. Newer stores have opened, closer to my house, and this mall, which was new and shiny when I was a college girl in the 70's, is now  grown old and mediocre ( like me perhaps?)

 I remembered hunting for dresses as spring approached, catching jeans on sale in October,  and standing in line for gift boxes at Christmas. A strong desire formed in my mind--- I need a piece of this store!

But what could I justify? The headless mannequins were fascinating: troops of skinny women in show off poses with no mouths to tell secrets. But what would my husband think  about one of those in our living room? They seemed too dear also; most were tagged at $100.

Then I began to notice the display racks: all shapes and sizes, wood bases and chrome bases, square, round, tall, short. Some advertised the brands they had once displayed. Why not one of these to use in my antique booth?

The idea took root; how fabulous to have a piece of Macy's in my own shop, but the prices were still too high.

Then I was approached by an energetic woman who began to talk price. The Queen of the Liquidation! "I've already marked these 50% off", she said, "and I'm going to mark them down again, so let me know what you are interested in, and I'll make you a deal."

A deal? Now we're talking. With renewed energy, I walked the perimeter of the once beloved Misses' department. I kept  coming back to a wood and glass display with gleaming chrome pegs on either side and a popular dressmaker's name on a plaque. It was still tagged at $100. She had 4 of these left and was ready to deal.  I got my dress rack for $10! Trusting my new friend, I began to look for more treasure.

As I walked the store, I shared smiles and words with a few other Macy's shoppers, all of whom remarked on the strangeness of the empty store where we had spent many happy hours.

After a half hour trip down memory lane, I had amassed a few more things : a stack of Macy's mailing boxes, a rotating Estee Lauder counter display, a half mannequin, and a 12" black plastic "S" from the end of a Macy's sign .

The liquidation lady marked my pile "Sold" and totaled my purchases: $18.00.

I'll have a ball cleaning the displays up and using them; the S is  displayed on my desk, and I'll use the boxes for shipping.

On a pretty spring day, I enjoyed treasure hunting in a place filled with wonderful shopping memories.

Today, S was for Macy's, memories, spring, shopping, and nostalgia.

I just returned from a wonderful two day treasure hunt and I had a blast!

A girlfriend and I journeyed north even though snow was forecast. We felt brave and hopeful.

Each of us took the other to one of our favorite shopping haunts.

We started by driving up Interstate 15 to Emmittsburg, Maryland, a small town just across the state line from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Emmittsburg Antique Mall is one of the best I have ever shopped. Don't know exactly what makes it so special... a variety of merchandise, always great stuff, nice people, and very fair prices. It's a comfortable place to shop and I have been known to shop it for 2 days in a row, especially when I bring my Mom along with me.

I was hopeful that my friend would like it as much as I do. In our first 15 minutes inside, she had already screamed over a pair of pewter julep cups and toted an aluminum watering can to the front counter, so I was pretty relieved that she was a fan.

I bought perhaps less than I usually do, because I was conscious of helping her look for great stuff. I bought doilies, hankies, and kitchen stuff.

 A friend had asked me to look for a vintage syrup pitcher.  It seemed that Emmittsburg was celebrating syrup pitchers, and I found them with their bright plastic tops in red, green, white, gold, and pink. I called my friend to ask her her color choice and she said "Surprise me!" I ended up buying 3 --- tops in pink, white, and green. White for my friend, green because it matched my kitchen, and pink because... well, because it was pink.

We had a lovely dinner at the Carriage House Inn in Emmittsburg and, as we got out of the car at the inn, it was beginning to snow.  We weren't far from our hotel so, in spite of the snow, we stayed through wine, prime rib, and dessert. A lovely meal in a lovely place.

By the next morning, the world was covered with an inch of sugary snow. It was beautiful on the farms around Emmittsburg. Fortunately, it hadn't really stuck to the highway.  We crossed into Virginia at Point of Rocks, and the snow on the hillsides was beautiful. By the time we got a few miles below Point of Rocks, the snow was gone, but we enjoyed seeing the hills wearing their last winter glory.

Now it was my friend's turn to show me one of her shopping places, The Minute Man Antique Mall in Culpepper, Virginia. She is from the Culpepper area and has shopped this mall for many years. She was excited to see that it has undergone some brightening and cleaning.

I was pleased that the mall was large and seemed to offer a variety of merchandise. The lighting was good and the booths seemed to stretch on forever. I   chose a Peppermint Patty out of a jar on the counter. The manager told me to pay for it  when I checked out.

We started in for a second day of treasure hunting. I was happy looking and had bought some linens and a few other small pieces when I saw them: a collection of 1950's dolls. So sweet, so nicely displayed. And then I saw the sign...50% off! Unbelievable; that's what it was, and I was not going to be hoodwinked. I  chose two of the prettiest babies, as though someone would buy them before I returned, and headed for the front counter. "The sign says that these are 50% off today", I said to the manager. "Yep." he replied. "Is that  true?" I asked. "Yep". again.

He must have thought me a silly woman, but it really seemed to good to be true.

I returned to the booth where I had found the dolls and had a  great time looking at all of them, handling them, making sure that their eyes opened and closed. What fun!

I ended up choosing three --- two 1950's Tiny Tears dolls by American Character and one 1940's composition baby wearing her original clothes. Treasure with a capital T!

My friend found treasure too --- vintage pillow cases and glassware in  a pattern that a good friend of hers collects. She left a Daisy and Button salad set; the large oval bowl and 6 small bowls. I am convincing her to go back next weekend to pick it up.

We complimented the manager on his antique mall.  He must have been pleased. He didn't even charge me for that Peppermint Patty.

Here is a picture of my three new girls. Joining them is my own Tiny Tears from 1957. They are getting along famously.

I am HOME after a great week in Florida visiting my parents. My mom, who is 83, also loves to scour dark and dirty places looking for treasure, and Venice, Florida is such a great place to find it.

I scored beautiful vintage hankies in a dark flea market in Palmetto, including initial hankies in M and V. This was my first find in this flea market, and I will definitely return.

I also revisited two of my Florida favorites --- Emmeline's Antique Mall in Palmetto and the Rialto Goodwill in Venice.

In Emmeline's, I found a beautiful compo baby doll. She isn't marked, but judging from her material, I believe that she dates to the 1930's. She is large and heavy and feels like a real baby. Sadly, I had to leave her in Florida, so I don't have a photo. She will wait until I make a driving trip down ; just  couldn't get her on the airplane. Can't wait to choose a dress and bonnet for her to wear!

The Rialto Goodwill isn't as reasonable as the Salvation Army, but I did find some treasures that were too good to leave behind.

Someone had brought in a load of baby clothes which probably date to the 1970's. Some lovely pieces, plus a tiny pair of red and white crib shoes, like tiny oxfords, Made in Japan. Pristine, so clean, so sweet!

It's great to be back in Virginia tonight, and it doesn't hurt that the weather here is just about perfect.

I had a great week of online sales while I was away.

I need to get items shipped tonight to make room for more treasure--- Thursday and Friday I will be shopping at Mecca, also known as the Emmittsburg Antique Mall in Emmittsburg, Maryland.

Stay tuned!

I am a bad blogger, giving my readers nothing interesting for a very long time. That's because I have NOT been shopping. No, really. No estate sales, no eBay, not even a brief run into the Good Will. Nothing.

Winter has been cold and cruel indeed!

But... today I have a story. I have been working this week in a part of the county about 40 minutes from here; a semi rural area that looks much as it did a generation ago. And along the way, among old farms, old houses, and Mom and Pop stores, I smelled... TREASURE.

I couldn't wait for the  school day to end because I had spotted a flea market across the road from the school. It looked so inviting. An old hanging banner blowing in the winter wind proclaimed "Antiques" and a matching banner said "Thrift Store". I would be delighted with either, or both.

I headed across the road as soon as I left school in the midst of a gentle snow flurry. The owner was sitting in his car to keep warm but was happy to accompany me inside. The shop was dark, dimly lit, and full of stuff. But so cold. I made my way around and checked out a few promising things. Most items had no prices.  Items with prices were a bit high, but he promised to make me a good deal. I started to ask for a good price on a StarTrek Barbie and Ken in their original box but I was so cold that I lost interest. I took his card and thanked him, and I will definitely hit the Route 5 Flea Market another day.

Disappointed, I headed back up the road toward civilization. After driving for 20 minutes or so, I decided to make a stop at a thrift store that I like but haven't visited for months, because it is not on my regular route. It's bright and clean and supports a cancer hospital for kids, so it's always worth a look when I'm out that way. Usually the items are new, but I have had a few good finds there over the years, including a Vanity Fair full slip in bright red a couple of years ago. Hope springs eternal in my shopping breast...

As I got out of the car, I spied an item with my name on it in the  store window. SHARON, the German coffee pot said. I went inside to find that it was tagged $8.98. German, marked, with lid, perfect. And hey, it's for the kids, right?

I asked the lady at the counter to hold it for me while I made my rounds. Not much in the clothing and linens. One little Imp jacket which might sell for Easter, but not a great color. A   pretty vintage wedding gown, but it looked like a project that I don't have time for.

Then, strolling through the furniture, I found a shabby green typewriter stand, very old, of wood and metal. Its beautiful light green paint was mostly intact. SO so cute. The price was right, and it's for the kids...

So I drove home in the end of the snow flurry with my two pieces,  content. The typewriter stand will probably go to add spring color to my booth at OddBalls Antiques, and the coffeepot will join many friends in my living room.

Happy Valentines' Day to me!  And to all of you as well!

Few things keep me from thrifting, but a monster snowstorm is one of them. After two days of steady snowfall, we woke this morning to  SUNSHINE. We estimate about 20 inches on the ground. It is beautiful!

Have not been out of the house since Friday morning; have not been out of the neighborhood since Thursday afternoon. I did not feel bored or stir crazy; I enjoyed shopping in my basement for forgotten treasure.

The normally outdoor semi feral  but spoiled tomcat accompanied me on my forays into forgotten boxes and storage containers.

Found some great stuff and it didn't cost anything.

Be safe, East Coasters, as you dig out of the Blizzard of 2016.

 Today, I continued a long honored tradition, observed every year on the third Monday of January. My friend Julie works in an elementary school,  so she is off on MLK Day. In honor of a great man, we thrift shop until we drop on this day every year.

This morning, we met at a Good Will in a rural/suburban area about 30 minutes away. More kids in the store than usual on a weekday, but we had a couple of upbeat hours of solid thrifting. I came away with old baby booties in pink satin, old toy rolling pins ( 3 together , strange), cookie cutters
( even though they remain on the do not buy list) and a new clock for my bedroom.

The next phase of the tradition, enchiladas at Mexico Restaurant. Perfection!

Then we drove back toward the city of Richmond, where there is a dark old Salvation Army which always contains treasure. It is an absolutely Never Fail place, and today was no exception. I scored old baby dresses, a pale blue smocked baby coat, and an old Vanity Fair ballerina nightgown. Scrumptious!

We hugged good bye in front of the Salvation Army and headed back to our busy lives. Nothing like thrifting to cement a friendship.

 A cloudy day in RVA. A good day to stay home, store vintage Christmas decorations, and organize the basement.

I have reached the point that all true hoarders reach someday ---my basement has become one of my favorite places to look for treasure.

Its so great to be looking for something and find something else entirely! Its always a good time investment --- even if the best you find is junk to throw away and old sweaters to pass along to the homeless shelter.

I have now lived in this house for 15 years, but some of the boxes in my basement were moved ,
unpacked, from my last house. So the possibilities are really endless.

Today's haul included: a tiny German bisque baby that I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. Did I buy her during a wild night of drinking when my memory was impaired? Also, an old Valentine card belonging to my dear neighbor who recently died, a box of vintage costume jewelry that I am supposed to be selling for another  neighbor (oops), my Weight Watchers booklet from 1995, and a box of great old toys.

Such fun and the price is definitely right!