Russian Federation & Antiquities

I had a visit to my blog from the Russian Federation!   WTH??  I wish they were trying to contact me to tell me that I had won a trip to Russia or something exciting, but they didn't even leave a comment.  Sigh.

I've been keeping very busy acquiring things to sell in my Antique/Flea Market booth.  A couple of weeks ago, Chuck went with me to my booth, to measure and see if his gun cabinet would fit.  I suppose I should back up here. I'm getting ahead of myself.

Back in December, Chuck bought a gun safe for his rather ample gun collection.  That left the gun cabinet that I bought him, oh so many years ago, empty.  He suggested that he could put shelves in it and I could use it to display things in my booth.  Particularly things that need to be locked up to prevent being stolen! So, a couple Sundays ago he went down to Betty's Attic with me to see what rearranging we might have to do if we brought the gun cabinet in.  While we were there, we found that there was a larger booth for rent, so I decided to take it.  So instead of $40 a month, I'm paying $55 for almost double the space.  It allows me to better display things, to a point, anyway.  And presentation means a lot.  I felt like I was trying to cram too much stuff into a too small space.

Old Booth before I moved

Gun Cabinet full of treasures

New space

New Space

My shelf in the Display Case (top left)

Okay, from the pictures you can see that I have quite a bit more room and was able to put more items out for sale.  I also rented an available shelf in their big display cases up front, where I can sell some of my rings and jewelry that I no longer wear, and it can be kept safe under lock and key!

The gun cabinet works quite well, but I need more furniture type items to better display things.  That is only a table up against the back wall, and I really want to get some sort of a hutch to put there, so that I can better display dishes, etc.  For now, I am looking at a bench I found, that has a back and arms.  I want to put that along the right side and lay table clothes over the back of it, and put baskets holding assorted linens on the seat.  There will also be room for some things to set on the floor underneath it.  The shelves Chuck made me are fine, for a start, but I'd rather have hutches and such for my displays.

I actually have spruced up my booth a bit since I took these pictures, but forgot to take more.  Chuck hung a curtain rod for me, up high on the back wall, and we put up some old fashioned lace curtains I had.  Looks much better than that ugly old peg board.  I also have a new rug that needs to go down, to cover the ratty carpet. 

I've been busy buying vintage linens (doilies, table clothes, guest towels, dresser scarves, etc.) to resell and have acquired some terrific items for next to nothing.  I do the whole stain removal, starch and iron thing....and yes, I actually enjoy doing that :-)
I have also gotten a huge batch of vintage knitting needles, that I was very excited about!  Some of them I am keeping for myself, but most I am selling.  Also, have any of you heard about the new fad of making bridal bouquets out of vintage brooches?  It's quite the thing, and I invested in several 'lots' of those to resell, as well.  I really enjoy doing all this.  I just wish things would sell faster!  Things have been picking up quite a bit the past month, tho'.  Hopefully it will stay that way.  This fall, once I get all healed up from my surgery as all, I should be able to go scouring the country side for great finds to resell.  It's really what I want to do!