Antekin

Caught In The Act

2009-11-01T16:39:00.003-05:00

Well once again I stayed in this past weekend. The rain makes my leg and ankle hurt. I can not get that boot wet either. During the night every night this past week, the deer have come and eaten my plants around the patio. The little buggers ate all the ivy out of the planters on the patio wall, and then moved to the hydrangeas around the patio.

Today at 11am they decided to come out and munch on the grass inside the farm fence. What did I Do!! I watched them. They are a set of this years twins, cute as can be, but next year they are dinner.

Broken Bones and Broken Dreams

2009-05-18T20:54:00.009-04:00

It has been a roller coaster of a ride since the last post. Where to begin, well Connie did a wonderful job with the private sale she conducted for a client. The finds were really nice, and the best part was no crowds and no lines. It was an invitation only sale. I picked up some really nice vintage and antique items.

My daughter graduated from West Chester University in West Chester PA. Yah!!! Tuition is done. But, she moved the end of summer to New Jersey with her boyfriend. Happy to buy and help her decorate, gonna miss her.

In May I was let go from my real job of 7 1/2 yrs. I am going to miss the patients something awful. But, better and new experiences await. I will keep you all up dated.
Also in May a week after being let go from my job, the neighbor's dog came for a visit. A very nice dog, who knocked me over and broke my left leg, and my ankle. I spent a week in the hospital and 2 months confined to a hospital bed in my library. Now I am going thru painful re-hab while I learn to walk normally again.

Was not in the proper mood to sit and be nice. I know that sounds self pitty, but I kinda missed out on alot of really good sales and alot of family functions. I am looking forward to getting back into the real world.

One really good thing was on the way home from therapy with leg in a boot, I found in the trash a wonderful wrought iron set. Hobbled to the door and the owner was nice enough to load it in my car. I sat on the floor for hours, leg up on a pillow and recovered the seats to match my kitchen. Habits do not die easily. Still have a long road ahead to full recovering, but it is all fixable. Missed you all!!!

Here is my story

2009-03-30T18:50:00.006-04:00

Here is my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Sat. morning came Connie is
building a wall (that is her story, when she is ready to share) so I am
once again on my own. There is an Estate sale down the road, 8 rooms in
a historic home, same family since it was built in the 1800's. Well you
know I have to go, BUT!!!! I am mad at my husband, we will not go
there. ( U know what I mean). He knows I am mad too!!!

So after getting showered, dressed, and walked ( ME) the dog, He says " How about we go out for breakfast???".
So I throw in, well ok, if we can stop by this Estate sale on the
way.( P.S. I am driving so he really has no choice.) So he agrees (If
wife is not happy, NO ONE else is either)

Well, we stop. Prices are way toooooo high. Nice things BUT!!! I saw an antique vanity, just wanted it so bad FOR Tami's room. (matches her bed!!! how often does that happen? And in perfect condition) The lady wanted $75. I just could not do it. So we left with a beaming smile on husband's face. Nothing bought. Boy, was he WRONG!!

After breakfast
we went home, tackled the yard work, and Sunday I waited to 1/2 hour
before the Estate sale was over. Drove back got the vanity for $25. HA
HA HA, I scored and brought it home. I pulled in the drive way, opened
the back of my car, started to unload the 3 pane mirror, my husband
lets out the dog, I turned, mirror in hand, dog under foot, trip, mirror
goes flying across driveway, and smashes to smithereens, and I broke
every nail on both hands trying to catch the damn thing!!!

Thank
God, I had a mirror in the barn that will fill in, and only you know it
is not the real deal. So that is my story, and I am sticking to IT!

Check out Vintage Re-Style for before and after. Also some painting tips!

She Made Me Do It!!

2009-03-23T18:59:00.003-04:00

It is not my fault, She made me do it! I went to that estate sale that
Connie and I showed up to a week early. And I bought two, not one, but
two boxes of sewing patterns. I can not sew, I do not even pretend to
know how. Bought them anyway I did. You want to know why, because of
Colleen! It is all her fault, and there was a Barbie Doll pattern set
from the 1960's that just sealed the deal for me. You do know that
Barbie is 50 this year, and oh! to still have the perfect body at such
an age!!!!

Well once again I blame Colleen for what I bought! Hope she can help me unload these 1950-1980 patterns!!!!

Find of A Lifetime

2009-03-15T18:25:00.003-04:00

For the first time in quite some time, Connie and I got out on a Saturday
morning. We drove up into Delaware County and hit an Estate Sale. This
one was great, no one in line, we were right on time, drove right to
the house! Looked at the ad and realized, the sale is next Saturday. Oh well!

Off we went to Havertown
PA, and hit another sale. Nice things, just nothing we really were
looking for. So home again. Connie went on home and I did some house
chores. Bored, I decided to check out Craigslist, and an Estate Sale right down the road. Call for an appointment. So why not? I am not doing anything that can not wait. So I call, and go right over. Nothing interested
me here either. The lady asked if I was looking for anything special,
and right out of my mouth comes " I collect The Blessed Mother"

Where
that came from, I have no idea. So off into the attic she goes, and
comes down with a large INDOOR church statue of the Blessed Mother! She
is made of chalk, hand painted, and came out of a church in Ireland
that was bombed. She was the only thing that had survived! She was than
brought to the U.S. and sat in the attic all of these years. I will not
tell you what I paid, but, it really was not much.

When the daughter gets back to Ireland after settling her parent's Estate, she said she would E-mail me the name of the church.

I did pick up a few odds and ends, but, after The Blessed mother find, I could not even count them as finds.

A Quick Sale

2009-02-08T18:31:00.004-05:00

Not much in the sale department going on around here. Friday was spent moving my son home. The condo living was just to expensive, for a nineteen year old. UHMMMMMMMMMMM, I recall saying those very words when he moved out. Oh well, I am glad to have him home. I know this sounds really funny, but both my kids can stay forever if they want. LOL, Let you all know how much I mean that a week from now.

Sat.( between doing a hundred loads of the boy's dirty clothes)PS( Did I say they could stay forever?, I need more bleach for what was the whites.) I went to one sale,Helen was right down the street from me, so I had to go. Not much was left on Sat.am, but I did get a nice piece of silver, a few books to read while doing the boy's laundry,and a pretty Italian tray.

The Executive

2009-01-25T18:49:00.005-05:00

On Friday I became an executive. LOL. At an estate sale up on the Main
Line of Philadelphia, I scored a piano bench, and a pretty little lamp.
I did not need a piano bench, reason being no piano( and if I did have
one, I would not know what to do with it)But, I thought what a cute miniature desk for my lap top, while watching TV.
Easy to use and easy to re-use.

The small picture frame is brass and enamel, some of it's pearls and rhinestones are missing. I removed the soldier's picture and underneath was a Victorian Valentine. The feeling of love is still there.

On
Sat. morning I went back to the estate sale for any left overs. Behind
the hot water heater in the basement I found a great old mirror frame
the bottom piece missing. Fell in love with that and just had to have
it.

So after rewiring the lamp, refinishing the bench, and bringing the mirror frame back to life, I settled into my library seated at the Executive desk.

Before
I forget,hubby took his dad and brothers goose hunting on Sat. morning
and he found this cast iron post in the marsh. Not sure if it is an old
weather vane or a trail marker. He brought it home for me. Now, it has
a winter home on the patio.
Guess I'll keep that man a little bit longer.

Check out Vintage Re-Style for before and after pictures of this weeks projects.

Blessed Mother is worth WHAT??

2009-01-12T19:34:00.003-05:00

I do not know why it never accrued to me that the statues of the Blessed Mother and the Pope and all statues of religious figures
were worth money. Well, not all, but I had picked up some of these
statues over the weekend at two estate sales. I bought them for $1 here
and a $1 there. I mainly bought them because they are all made of
chalk. Now chalk brings a few $$$. But, as I was surfing the Internet for maker names and statue names, I came across all these sites for these items, And boy are these items pricey
. I also stumbled across a site for a print of The Holy Mother and
Child that I had bought over the last summer. Turns out it is rare. Who
would have known? You learn something everyday about this world of
antiques, it just goes to prove, you never know it all, nor will you
ever.

Speaking of learning check out Vintage Re-Style this week Gold Anyone??

It Was Broke

2009-01-05T19:29:00.003-05:00

Sorry, I have missed the whole month of Dec. with you all. I did not mean to. But, the monitor and then the computer
died right after my last post. Then I had to wait to buy new, because
my husband went and bought us a new living room set for an early
Christmas gift. That meant waiting till after the holidays for
technology. New Years Eve was spent with the flu. As the Tiffany Ball
landed, so did I right in the bathroom for three days. I hope that
means a good 2009. Only time will tell. I wish everyone health, wealth,
and happiness in the New Year. And I hope you all had wonderful Holidays.

Just Can't Help It!

2008-11-22T16:18:00.004-05:00

I have a disease, it is not life threatening at the moment, but it is getting close!
I just can not seem to pass up anything different and unusual.
My Sister-in-law says it is because I see beauty in what others want
gone. I hope she is right, just hope I can find others who want this
beauty too! Or else my house will be over flowing again.

Three
sales this morning, one did not have anything I felt that I must have.
The other I bought a angle figure, no marks etc. But detailing is incredible. Any ideas?
Also a small crystal lamp, a Radio Flyer Sled, not sure what to do with this yet, I will let you know, they are only selling for $10 on E-Bay. Also snagged some Napco figures, and an Italian Clock, electric and works, But I do not trust it.

The third sale was held at the Kennett Quakers Meeting House, they have this sale 2x's
a year. It is hit or miss. I always end up buying something. I came
home with books a wonderful piece of handwork, a creamer that matches a
set I already own,and a set of prints along with a very old child's
bookcopy written in the 1800"s. The nut cracker is for my husband, the lovable nut, that I would like to crack sometimes.

All in all a good day to buy things I really do not need, just have to feed the addicition some how.

Check out Vintage Re-Style this week Clock Cases.

Snow,Cookies, and Wine

2008-11-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

This morning we woke to an early snow. And around here this is really early for snow.
But all was not lost, a crock pot filled with homemade chicken soup, chocolate chip cookies, and a glass of wine is all worth a day of quite watching the snow fall from the sky.

Hope to get to a few sales tomorrow.

Bitter Cold Finds

2008-11-16T16:28:00.003-05:00

After yesterdays all day rains, a cold front followed on its heals. It
really was only in the 50's today, but the wind made it feel finally like
winter. So after my morning cup of coffee, I looked at the dirty
floors, the piled up laundry, and the inch of dust that covered every
nook and cranny of my house, and decided to go yard sailing instead.

There were only 2 sales this morning, so I would be home in plenty of time to
do that" I can't wait to clean thing." So with my travel cup of coffee, I
headed out. Both sales started at 9am. I was at the first one at 9:15,
and I was it. The poor lady was freezing and not one person had stopped by till
me. Great for me, I picked up a brass chicken, a wonderful old wooden
framed mirror, in excellent shape, a large crystal candy dish, an old
outside "come to dinner now" bell, and two glass globes. I never have
enough of those! A quick $10 and I was in my car headed for the next
sale. Once again no one had ventured to this sale either, so I picked
up "The Twelve Days of Christmas" ornaments and a dozen silver snowflake
chargers and coasters. A great day in all, and I still had coffee left
for the ride home. Oh. Now I have to tackle the household chores.

Speaking of mirrors, do not forget Vintage Re-Style this week.

Spoiled Rotton

2008-11-15T16:42:00.002-05:00

I am soooo spoiled. Connie and I went to an Estate Sale today. It is
poring down rain and we drove quite aways to get there. There is a line
outside. OK, nothing weird about that. They have a sign up sheet, OK,
Then they are giving out numbers, and than they call your name, and
then you are allowed into the garage at 9am. The whole process must be
done again at 9:30 when the house opens. And they were only letting 10
people in at a time. OK, I understand organization, after all I run quite a number of business, but, I must say this was pretty sad. So, when I got home I look up this woman's website, no pics, nothing. She needs to go to a few of my friends
sales. Check out her site. Helen does not full around. Her sales start
on time, the door opens, you go in, you buy. End of story.

But today was not a total wash out. I scored at one downsizing sale. A pair of Alexander Backer chalk busts. The girls head had been re-glued on at some time. But I added an old neckless and she looks just fine. Also picked up some USA pottery vases,and a cute little shelf. The oil lamp says Made in The USA of the Americas. I
just that was neat, so I spent the $1 on it.

Check out Vintage Re-Style, this weeks projects are looking glasses. ( Mirrors)

Trash Pickin

2008-11-09T17:47:00.003-05:00

Tuesday morning my boss comes strolling into work at 10am. Right behind
him in tow is his little girl. She was suppose to be at school. Well,
they over slept. So he hands me his car keys and says "Can you take her
to school. My car is parked out front in handicap." Guess, I'm taken
the muchkin to school.

Off we go, on the way back from delivering my precious cargo, I cut thru the development behind our office building, and there in the trash is the cutest little mahogany chair. With a hand embroidered
seat. The seat has seen better days. The springs had fallen out and the
horse hair stuffing just fell apart in ones hands. BUT!!!

With
out a thought in the world I slammed on the breaks jumped out, grabbed
the chair... and I forgot I had the bosses car, not mine. Well he
brought to work today the little Volvo
sedan complete with car seats and toys. Determined and cursing him out
for not bringing his Tahoe today, I squeezed the chair in and returned
to work. I transferred the chair to my car, and quick to his to vacuum
it out. Thanking God the whole time that he had not driven the Porshe
in today. It would have been a shame to get horse hair all over the
inside of that BABY! But hey, I bet the chair would have fit, even if
it's legs had to hang out the window! After all it is a covertable! The car that is. Check out my new blog to see the chair now. Vintage Re-Style by Antekin.

November Already??

2008-11-02T18:47:00.006-05:00

I do not, do not know where October went. I can not find it any where.
I looked high, and I looked low, and somewhere in between it vanished.
But, I guess that is no surprise at all. This entire year has gone so
quickly, and Christmas right around the corner too!

I have been absent from my blogging this entire month. Work has been
pretty crazy, and after spending 10-12 hour days on the computer at
work, I just could not even look at mine when I got home.

So instead I have been working on many projects and preparing for the last sale of this almost gone year. The AGI Holiday Sale is on Dec. 3. Connie and I will be sharing a space, and this year we will be having a vintage Christmas. Will keep you up to
date.

I have enclosed some pics of my favorite finds and projects for the month of October. Please enjoy them.

Wash,Dry, and Fold

2008-10-27T18:59:00.003-04:00

There is nothing more dear to one's heart, than their washer and dryer.
What? You laugh, do you? Well, let me explain, there is nothing dear to
one's heart than their washer and dryer, especially when they both
finally die! And you happen to be broke at the moment. Sooooo!! What is one to do?? Well you go yardsaling!! I just happened to be on my way to the Superfresh, when I saw this sign in a driveway." Washer & Dryer 4 Sale Knock on Door" and I did. The couple had just been transferred here with their new washer and dryer in tow. Their new townhouse came with these appliances already, so, they had to sell their six
month old Maytag Set right away. I was there and helped them out with their little problem of twin washers and dryers. Lucky for me they Took the $300 I offered for the pair.

Now on to do laundry!! The family is tired of wearing dirty undies!! Do not know why?? Mine were clean. LOL

What Do You Get ???

2008-10-12T16:29:00.002-04:00

What do you get when you tear apart an old hassock, a chair frame, and a old Pennsylvania House end table?

Well, you get an old chair with a hassock/side table.

It
was very hard too! Let me tell you. But, for my first try, I think it
came out pretty good. NOT Something I would sell at this moment, but, a
pretty good learning project. Can't wait to try this recovering project
again.

Connie and I went sailing on Sat, morning, our first time
together in over a month. We had lots of fun, and I was good, very
good. The only thing I bought was a mirror to hang over my husband's
big screen. I wanted to draw the eye up and away from that TV!!

The
barn sale Connie and I held at my house today, I think it went well. We
got rid of the yard sale Stuff, well any way that's what we called it.

Gloria
from Vintage Home and her husband stopped by. I was very happy to meet
them. Not, because they bought almost everything I was selling, but,
she started out just like Connie and I. I am going to visit her in a
couple of weeks. I can not wait to see what magic her husband did on my
furniture!!!

Almost forgot Colleen from Fresh Vintage had rented a spot over Vintage Home during the summer. What a small world!@!

And The Winner Is????

2008-10-05T18:00:00.003-04:00

Yes, I can be a little slow sometimes, and this seems to be the time to be so. I have picked a winner for the Sept. give away. The winner will receive the 2008 Fall/Winter issue of French Country Decorating. Second printing. I just love the looks in this book. Hope you do to Michelle.

This weekend once again was spent cleaning up the remenents of rebuilding and filling a dumpster with all the remains. The trashmen come tomorrow to remove the dumpster, and the whole house feels like it has had a major lift. I know it is happy to be able to breathe again.

Next Sunday is the barn sale, Connie will be bringing her stuff over during the week to get ready for the sale. Hopefully we will be all set up and ready to go. so that Sunday morning all we will need is our coffee and tea.

I did pick up some neat treasures this past Sat. A few chalk pieces, some necklaces, a dog kennell for the dog, who ate my decorative pillows, a pair of French crystal candelsticks, and a ladder for my husband. Hope you all had a great weekend.

Dona

Sell, Sell, Sell, BUY!!!!!!!

2008-09-24T18:53:00.003-04:00

So you all know Connie and I had a sale at the DDDC Flea Market this
past Sunday. I did very well indeed , the only things I brought home
were a mirror, picture, and 5 vintage hats. Everything else sold.
YEA!!!! My husband is sending out THANK YOU NOTES as we speak!!!

But, OK, I had to buy something and it is a wrought iron flower pot stand. In it's original green paint. Well you know I just had to have it. I bent the arms straight up. Added a china butter pat, a candle in French vanilla, and than an old antique outside alabaster lamp shade. Ah, nice candle lite .

Just to let you know, I have been tagged by a dear blogging friend, and I have to share seven things about me, Stay tuned! This could be very INTRESTING!! LOL

And I will be tagging seven people. Get REady!!

The New Library

2008-09-21T21:16:00.003-04:00

The library has gone under a major re- haul once again.
I have sold everything that was purchased and stored in the library for future sales. The basement and every nook and cranny that held flea market, auction, and internet items to sell have been emptied. Now one last place to unload. That will be the loft in the barn. Full of goodies it is. Connie and I will be having a Barn Sale in October and than the Sale in Dec. That will be the end for 2008!!!

Next years items will be specially purchased and sold at special venues. There will be a very special collection of items offered in 2009. Keep an eye out.

Also do not forget that the end of the month is around the corner, leave a comment or e-mail for a special give away.

Re-Wired and Crystal and Brass At That

2008-09-15T20:24:00.005-04:00

I started to take those crystal lamps apart and walla they are solid
brass and crystal. Never would have known that. They were so black, I
thought , huh, nothing worth saving but the glass do-dats.

I am so happy when I am wrong. Tomato
juice, ketchup, etc. cleans brass with a nice out come. I like my items
to sparkle, but only the glass, everything else, I want clean, but I
want age and use to still be present. So try tomato acid, works great. ( Tomato acid, kethcup, tomato juice, soup, etc. Soak pieces in a zip lock bag. Ah, nice!!!)

Now, all that crystal has a new home in my guest room. Not sure I am happy with that shade on the large lamp. Any thoughts???

P.S. Do not forget to leave a comment or e-mail. I have a really nice give away at the end of Sept.

Romance and Bathrooms

2008-09-14T19:00:00.004-04:00

We strolled the beach, him and his rock hard abs, me and my...............

Sorry, that was last week. This week we strolled the "isles" of our favorite home improvment store for paint. The barn is in need,and there in the clearence section of wall paper, I found one lonely roll of this really cute wall boarder. Just perfect to finish off the powder room. It was lacking that little detail.

I also did manage to get to an Estate sale. I never saw so much costume jewerly, it was fun going thru it all. I picked a few pieces. You know the weird stuff, and a few old lamps in desperate need of new wiring.

The auction house was also glad to see me, as I dropped off enough furniture to furnish an entire house. My library and my entire house are breathing a sigh of Thanks as with most of the treasures purchased this year has now moved on to new homes. ( Or was that my husband breathing that sigh??)
Oh well, time to start on next years inventory.

I"m BACKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

2008-09-08T18:04:00.006-04:00

Thought I dropped off the end of the Earth ? Well, I did not. I have been busy this past month. Just like alot of you, I am sure. Last minute vacations, getaways, school shopping, Doctors, and so on......

Well, Yes, I have had some of that too... But, I quit smoking Aug. 1, 2008 ( that was very hard.) My daughter turned 21 ! My husband and I took her to her first bar outing. ( Yah, RIGHT !!!) The work we planned for the house this year is almost done. We watched both Dem. and Rep. Conventions. How about that Sarah???

And I did alot of thinking about my Antekin. I have decided to close the web store. ( Kinda of). I will be offering for sale one maybe three, high quality items dear to my heart every month instead. I have thought this thru, and decided, that a special, very special item would spark a must have, than an offering of many, seen that before items.
So, keep an eye out and let me know if you are intrested.

I also am excited to share with you, I'm PUBLISHED!!!!!

Well, kinda of. I sent a pic of that chair I re-did to Country Living, and they published it. With the pic and half of my letter missing! But, I do not care. I"m PUBLISHED in the 2008 Oct. Issue!!!!

Some day, you can all say, " I knew her when!!""" HA HA HA LOL!!!!

To celebrate my one year anniversary to blogging, I will be giving away a small token, To THANK YOU ALL!!! for visiting with me. Stay tuned!!

Dona

Trippin The Big Easy

2008-08-11T20:50:00.004-04:00

Our first vacation in 22 years with out the children. The last vacation
resulted in the birth of the first. NOLA ( New Orleans Louisiana) as
the locals call it. The Big Easy as the rest of us call it. What a
place to visit.

We stayed one block off of Bourbon Street for
five fun filled days. My husband and I toured every inch of the French
Quarter. We toured the Garden District, the Warehouse District, Downtown
New Orleans, and what is left of the Ninth Ward. It is hard to imagine
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit NOLA 3 years ago this month. The
rebuilding is still underway.

We
ate in little restaurants on the side streets where the locals eat, and
spent the nights watching the people on Bourbon Street. What a HOOT
that was.
The St. Louis Cathedral was beautiful and the antique
shops filled with wonderful French Antiques. Voodoo and cemeteries
gives NOLA its' mysterious charm, especially at night.

During the day the streets are quiet in
The French Quarter,but the night dances with lights, beer, and beads.
Yes, I got beads, but I earned them honestly! ( I picked them up off
the ground where they fell, when missed by Miss Topless) LOL I really DID!!

On Thursday night our hotel was evacuated at 2 in the morning. The place was on fire. We stood outside in our jammies,
and waited for the Firemen. They arrived 30 min. later and declared the
elevator motor and belt had caught on fire. We were allowed to return
to our rooms an hour and half later.

Sunday we headed home, the
first part of the trip was smooth flying. But with a lay over in
Washington DC. The weather was so bad all flights were cancelled up and
down the East Coast. So we rented a car and drove home. It was alot of fun. But, I am glad to be home.

To view all the pictures of Trippin in NOLA. Please Click here. or you can veiw The Slide Show on the left.

The Silent Woman ( Yea!! Right!!)

2008-08-03T11:40:00.006-04:00

What a crazy week. After donating all my out of style clothes to the
Salvation Army, I got new ones. My daughter took me shopping. ( I paid
of course) After new everythings, I now am up to date. At least until next week, when a new fad comes out. Oh, Lucky ME!!

I
did not attend many sales this week, being naked and all. But I did
manage to talk my husband into stopping at one on the way home from
running an errand. He bought the drill press for me, He says I may need it for a project. Yea!! Right!!
Also the window pane, I'm seeing coffee table, and a wonderful old chair to practice upholstery . Then we found the sign! You know he was going to get it for me! Yea !! Right !!

I am very proud of him for coming along and being a good sport about it all.

Now on to some blogging business.
Michelle ~~~
Thank you so much for the award. It really brightened my day!!!

So I would like to pass it on to these Five Fabs !

Shawn ~~~ Who makes me dream!

Margo ~~~ Who thinks like me!

Linda ~~~ Who is always a friend!

Dena ~~~ Who reminds me of the finer things !

Lee ~~~ Who brightens my days of stories of her little people!