Winter time.

Winter here in the South is rough for a west cost girl! The Holiday season came and went and honestly I didn't even realize I hadn't posted in so long, its the cold weather I tell you! ;)

Christmas in the Country went well this year, many thanks as always to the dedicated vendors at the shop for helping make it special with donated goodies!

January and February typically make for slow months when it comes to treasure hunting, crafting and shopping, I think everyone goes on a sort of spending hiatus and takes a break from getting out. (It's the weather!). Whether it is the cold that keeps us inside, or the sheer lack of funds following the biggest shopping season of the year, people just tend to keep their wallets a bit closer during this time and those of us who make things, refinish things and hunt things tend to stay inside and hibernate a bit as well.

I am hoping to break out of this a bit this year, with college courses, a full time demanding job, two kids and a home it is difficult enough to find "time" to enjoy hunting for unique finds, painting and creating, but honestly it can also be a great escape and outlet. The down side is there are obviously not a ton of outdoor flea markets going on, or events at the local Farmer's Market, street events and vendors to browse and one can find it tough to paint a piece of furniture when it's 34 degrees. (above 45 is the only way anything dries). But there are always places like the shop to shop :)......and many others that are indoors and climate controlled! Shopping online is another great way to keep warm and find some new fun things, here are a few of my favorite shops and online stores.

Old Made Good East Nashville  - while these ladies are in my hood here in Nashville, they now have an online store! Quirky, re-imagined, refinished items with a sense of humor and classic taste. AND they are locally and female owned.
Goodwill  - yep you heard right, Goodwill now offers online auctions of used goods, pretty fun. You have to pay shipping but if you get something uber cheap its worth the shipping cost and saves gas!
Southern Thrift  - this is my favorite thrift store, they do not have an online store and I am okay with that! Part of the fun in shopping here is the hunting. I have found a ton of designer goods, vintage furniture and nearly new items - some for resale, some to keep. Worth a look if you are in Nashville.
Hip Zipper  - The Hip Zipper is local business here in East Nashville also owned by a woman and a stylish one at that. Their website is currently down, but spending some time in the store is better anyway. The ladies spend hours sorting, cleaning, and pricing the vintage clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, bathing suits, for men, women and children here and the place is packed so it is fun to look!

Well I am back to the day job and I promise when Mom and I get out hunting I will share our special finds. Till next time, happy hunting.

xo- Jenn

Autumn in the South

My favorite time of year is upon us, namely my favorite time of year in Tennessee. As a Southern California Native, I didn't typically experience seasons in the way that many folks in the South do. The weather is beautiful in California and mild pretty much year round, I often miss that about my home state but while the mild weather back home is quite enjoyable, Tennessee has given me an appreciation for Autumn I would have never experienced if I did not live here. Autumn here in the South is an event in and of itself, the changing trees, the chill in the passing breeze, a welcoming back of pumpkins and hay bails, pumpkin spiced coffees and teas, and many Southern recipes and traditions. The atmosphere changes, there are festivals to commemorate the season, the markets reflect the Farmer's harvest and a new menu emerges from many of the local restaurants that use only seasonal and local produce.

Farm in Franklin, TN hunting pumpkins 2009 

I begin to dig out my sweaters, and the kid's hats, shop for new boots and rain coats. I suddenly have the desire to incorporate some sort of pumpkin spice or cider into anything we eat or drink! I feel compelled to change all of the decor in the house to burnt orange and rustic brown, and burn spice candles all day long and I usually feel the need to scavenge stores for a new wreath or decoration for the door, so I can announce to my neighbors that Fall is here! Or as they say in the South "Its Fall, Y'all!".

One of the most exciting aspects of Autumn in the South in the transformation outside I mentioned above  and the same is true inside the shop. All Things Vintage's vendors begin to bring in handmade items, pot holders, candle warmers, knitted blankets and sweaters, pumpkin decorations, scented candles and cinnamon sticks, warm fabrics, and fun farm finds. Watching the shop change with each season has always been fun for me, I try and make sure I visit at least once during every change and take in all the new and creative things everyone has contributed in honor of each season.

I am reminded as this season is upon us how grateful I am for the investment my Mother has made in her business and the people who are a part of it. I am grateful that the shop is a second home to me, and somewhere I can be creative and express my joy for the changing seasons with creative and inventive folks from all around the Country. I am looking forward to enjoying all of the new things everyone brings in this season!

xo Jenn

The art of junking

There are some things about this "business" of seeking out and re-purposing, recreating vintage finds that I think those of us who do it can appreciate that may be lost on those who don't.

The amount of time, patience, thought and love that goes into what we do. maybe if people truly understood what is involved, we wouldn't hear those comments about what we charge when we are done.....

We spend a great deal of time thinking, planning, shopping, sorting, digging, painting, scraping, sanding, nailing, piecing together and taking apart. We scour stores, yard sales, junk sales, auctions, thrift stores and flea markets, searching for just the right thing. Then we spend a ton more time fixing it, painting it, reworking it to be that very special thing that catches your eye, that you can't live without.

We pour our hearts into each piece. Thinking about it's history, who might have loved it once, why it was discarded or sold, where it came from and who will love it again. It makes us happy to see someone enjoy it, or gush over how much we have improved upon it.

I recently did a flea market at OMG, a very creative vintage shop in my neighborhood of East Nashville, with my things separate from the All Things Vintage, my collection of art, vintage clothing and such "Heart for Vintage". While I was there, I had a customer who was interested browsing the clothing and a few kitchen items. She inquired about a large metal platter that had a folk-ish design painted on it. She shared with me that it matched identically one her Mother had hanging in her kitchen when she was a child, it literally appeared to almost bring her to tears. I sold it to her for $2.
I don't even know what I paid for it and I don't care, I wanted to make sure she took that home with her and it brought her the memories over and over again, it did when she saw it at my booth. I told her how excited I was that she was going to enjoy it, her response was "you have no idea". I almost cried myself.
The same woman also purchased a black eyelet 1950's dress suit with cropped jacket. I'd been in love with that dress suite since Mom bought it for me in 2005 to sell to make extra money for a trip I was taking that year. I tried selling it on ebay and lost more money than Mom paid for it, and I've had it ever since. I always wondered why I didn't sell it then, but when I met this woman I knew, it was because she was meant to have it.

To some people the things I spend money on appear to be junk. Those same people are often impressed when we are done "working" on that same junk and some, well they don't see vintage things as anything but old stuff and that's okay too. But for those of us who love this, we will continue to have paint stained hands and clothes, cramps in our backs and arms from sanding, dirty finger nails from scraping, a supply of mod podge, paint brushes, paint, fabric, sewing needles and "junk" in hopes of making something beautiful out of things with a long history of making people happy. It is worth all of the time and effort and love to see even one person's face light up, knowing they will truly enjoy it.

Off to the Market

Well Easter has come and gone, cant believe how fast a Holiday passes us by. We spend so much time preparing for them, shopping, making food, scheduling a get together then in a moment it's over and onto the next event! I did not unfortunately have the time to deck out the kid's canvas egg hunting bags :( although, I did get each of them a bag in 4 different colors. Hobby Lobby had them 50% off and I got 4 bags for a little over $3. Worth it to check ads and advertised specials during holiday time!

The day before Easter Mom and I were finally able to venture out to the Nashville Flea Market. Mom has been in Tennessee over 10 years and never visited, I've been here 5 and we both couldn't believe it took us this long to get over there and check it out! For anyone who has not been, you must check it out, it is every third weekend at the Nashville Farigrounds. The expansive array of vendors is impressive to say the least. We were immediately impressed with the number of people there both vendors and customers. I had never been to the fairgrounds and just didnt realize how large it was. We began with the ouside vendors, an assortment of plants, flowers, clothing, jewelry, iron work and garden decor, mixed furniture and $1 items.

Shelves made using repurposed tin ceiling tiles and hook boards

As we moved into each tent, shed and building we were greeted with a greater variety of items. Mom and I were both impressed with the furniture and local craft items. There are very high end pieces to bargain basement items. There is a lot to work with here if you are into treasure hunting, and as always a plethora of craft ideas to take home and try. I was impressed with shelves I saw made out of salvaged tin ceiling tiles, looks like they just bent the tin over a shelf made out of wood and painted it and hooks nailed to repurposed wood, then they used decorative wood accents to dress it up. You can see these items in the photo above, along with some shutters. Shutters are always a neat find at flea markets too, there are so many things you can use a shutter for. You will notice Mom made her doors that lead to her private back room out of shutters she painted and added fabric for curtains - take a look at the shop next time you are there if you missed it. She's also made screens out of them by hinging them together. The possibilities are endless!

Furniture is my favorite thing to shop for, period. I dont know what it is about an old chair or a table made out of old wood, a coffee table that lived generations in a home then revamped with a good cleaning and new paint, but old made new again is more fun to me than any newly manufactured piece of furniture. Maybe it is the history, but I am a sucker for anything that has a story. Turn of the century is what catches my eye most, but recently I have also seen items dating back further and in different styles that are really unique.

Mom checking out a neat side table

 Remember if you are buying old, make sure it isnt junk - water damage being one of the biggest issues. Pulls can be replaced, some small cracks can be mended and paint is an easy fix, but warping cant be reversed. I usually look on the bottom of a piece to see who made it, or to check for any indication of its manufactured date. Some times you will get lucky and find a nice Lane or Bassett piece typically they are made out of solid wood and will fair better longer. I saw a lot of nice pieces here at the market, and some I wouldnt take my chances on. Open it, feel it, look underneath!

Several vendors had marked items for sale, and they were discounted, I found a retro Circa 1960 lamp for $10!! It works and all I need is a shade, this was my favorite find. Seems like every trip there is always that certain something that you feel especially excited about bringing home, that was it for me. I also found a Frankenstein toy for Cash's room, a Toille table cloth for $5 and some LSU stuff for the man. Pretty exciting mix of things here. We saw a lot of quilts, glassware, ball jars, hardware like you wouldnt believe! Tin signs, pie safes, chairs, bistro sets and very creative furniture and art made out of wood and iron. Mirrors, frames, vintage toys, magazines, post cards, vintage clothing and shoes, scarves, kitchen tools, yard tools....the list goes on and on. I scored an old cast iron pan for $6 and saw about a ton of other iron pieces I would have loved to have had at the booth near that.



One of many booths under the shed area, check out the mirrors!



We felt a bit unprepared for what we ended up getting into with this trip. Mom and I are serious hunters, but we had no idea how many unique and interesting things we would come across. Being our first time, we just weren't prepared! We have vowed to bring along a rolling cart of some sort, shopping bags, and our own stash of cold water. With the weather trending towards summer temps and more heat, a day here could be exhausting! I also decided to wear tennis shoes next time too for all the walking.

A smart and convenient solution to the question of "how to get this stuff to the car?" is they offer a merchandice pick up. Mom found some really neat old windows and of course since we couldn't carry them, the vendor provided us with a pick up ticket. We were able to pull around and enter at the back to pick up our items. They even brought them to our car on a dolly for us. This makes it easier to continue shopping, and know your piece is bought and paid for and you can pick it up when you're done.

Quilts for sale

The Nashville Flea Market has one decent place to eat; The Garden Cafe. At first glance we were disappointed that we were going to spend about $7 per person for what we were sure was going to be crappy "carnival" style food. We were pleasantly surprised to discover, first: how professional and clean the place and staff were, second: that the portions were indeed in line with the prices and third: the quality was worth the trip here and wait in line as opposed to one of the snack vendors in the buildings.

They offer a weekly special, this particular week it was fish, they offer burgers, salads, corn dogs, hot dogs and chicken fingers any served with fries and they are fresh. I had the Hot dog with tomato, onion, and the fixings with fries. The nice man at the counter also spotted Mom and I two drinks for free. We will definitely check this place out next time too. Trust me, only place worth eating here and they scored a 90 on their last inspection!

This was a great trip, we took the trolley back down to our car which was parked at the far end of the parking area, next time we agreed we will try and park closer. Parking is $4 or you can try and park nearby at one of the many businesses and houses that sell parking for anywhere from $3-$5. On our way to pick up our items at the back entrance, we discovered an entire side of the market we didnt see before!! We can't wait to get back here and hunt some more. I love treasure hunting, I love finding that unique something the best part however is sharing this time with my Mom. I cannot wait until we do this again!

All Things Spring

If you live in Tennessee you may be asking yourself and God when in the world Spring is truly going to arrive! I know I am, but the truth is we know how funny the weather can be here and the light at the end of the tunnel is, it will come and soon.

Spring is a season for shopping, forget Christmas sales, and back to school - Spring is where it is at. Flea markets, open air markets, yard sales that span several states, community sales, consignment sales, outdoor special tent events, the Spring weather brings everyone out, and when we are out, we shop.

There is something about a nice warm and breezy day that makes me want to hop in the car and go treasure hunting. With the recent rain and mugginess I have found that I get a bit anxious for the weather and those days when I can hop in the car and head out to yard sales and street fairs. One thing that is helping me deal with my anxiety is crafting ideas. The beauty of the internet is that it doesnt matter what the weather is outside, you can find every season online, and this is a motivating way to get ideas while you are trapped inside.

My most recent inspiration is none other than Easter. There are so many ads, specials and coupons with relation to Easter and candy shopping. One helpful website that I reference all the time is http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/, she consistently lists all the deals advertised and coupons related to products both online and in store. One of the recent promotions was at Disney.com - I had never thought of buying Easter basket goodies online, but with discounts it can be a great idea.

When I think about Easter, I think baskets but the truth is the basket is the least important part of the Easter Basket experience, isn't it? Well I don't suppose it has to be. I was thinking about the kid's baskets this year, I typically buy a very inexpensive basket and fill it with the "goods" - and they use that same basket for easter egg hunting. This year I am hoping to find some new ideas for baskets or in lieu of baskets. There are always pails, bags and other multi purpose containers that can be used, these are great. In the past I have used toy storage containers by Sterlite or Rubbermaid that are intended to be used as open boxes or tubs for toys. The small ones serve as a great and useful alternative for Easter baskets. But what about the egg hunting.....I am on a mission to find a really cute Tote and decorate it for Emma's easter egg hunting this year.

Just a few ideas for the tote:

- Canvas bag or maybe a recycable shopping bag that doesnt have a lot of design
- Add gluable rhinestones, flowers and glitter with fabric glue
- Sew on or Iron on patches with colorful spring themed designs
- Customize and personalize with Fabric markers and let the kids decorate them on their own
- Attach a key chain around the arm straps for added personality


This is a little project I am hoping to get into before Easter while this weather is keeping me inside! I will post pics when I am done, hope everyone has fun finding bargains and using their creative bones to create while we wait for Spring to spring!

Beginnings.....

This family of ours, we are transplants from Southern California. Mom moved here a long time ago (about 11 years), my Sister Crystal and I just weren't interested in living in Tennessee at that time, her in her late teens, I in my early twenties. But as we grew older and began to have children, we knew we had to be close to Mom. So move we did, and now we enjoy weekends, events, and every Holiday and Birthday together. When I am lucky enough to get away from life in Nashville, I venture out to share moments with Mom at the shop too and it reminds me of when it all began.

The Shop July 2005 

In the beginning, we all lived near Livingston, TN where All Things Vintage  the shop, began and is today. Mom had lived here in Tennessee for some time before she decided she really wanted to pursue her love of all things creative and well, All Things Vintage! She never was a junk collector or a pack rat, she enjoys things, she enjoys shopping for antiques, second hand goods, quality furniture, and things almost forgotten by time but she rarely wants to keep all of them, so what is better than being able to shop, rehab and create then pass it onto someone who is going to make use of it?.... She won't stay more than 30 minutes in a mall and that's if you drag her, it's the hunting, the searching and the finding of those special things and bits of history that Mom truly loves - and lucky for her (and I) I am a sucker for those things too. Although, I love the mall ;)

Mom thought long and hard about her plans to own something and follow this dream of hers.....she had seen a building for sale on the square for a while and wondered what it would cost. The wheels began turning and the plans began forming, once she is on a mission there is no turning back. Long story short, that building became hers.

We aren't a rich family as far as finances are concerned, no trust funds here, or Grandparents who own oil.....Mom had to pay for this thing, this project and it would become her constant labor of love and remains so to this day...and often Daddy's too, just ask him he is probably there right now moving a piece of furniture.

First floor July 2005 

The place was a mess, an onion of historic papers, books, and unfortunately long forgotten repairs. We helped Mom as much as we could, and she worked every day cleaning, scraping, painting, laying down floor, cleaning windows, removing nails, having the toilets repaired, cleaning some more, searching, trashing, saving and hoping it would all come together. She searched second hand places for sales counters, display cases, she was starting with nothing and it was incredibly scary and exciting all at the same time.

The first "paper" sign announcing the opening 

It took a long time, but she did it. I won't even pretend we were a huge part of her success, we weren't. We helped, we painted, we threw away trash, we sorted through things, and offered ideas, but she did it. She had the dream and she worked hard to make it her own. Every day, every week adding a few things here and there. Until it all came together. She had the shop set up, paint on the walls, plumbing working for the most part, electricity took a few weeks so it sat unopened a bit longer than she wanted.....that was just the beginning of what we have discovered it truly means to own a piece of "History". The roof gave out in the first year, we blew breakers, we had no vendors, then we had many, then we had none again. But slowly, with a lot of love and time it began to become the little shop that could and it had my Mom's touch all over it. I loved it when it was one floor of everything old and new, and then when she opened the second floor and toiled on the old wood floors wearing out mops and eventually her hands  for months to clean them, put up lights, painted walls until she opened yet another floor and I love it now nearly 6 years later.......

The good, the bad and the ugly

If there is one thing I have learned in my experience with Antique searching, second hand shopping, treasure hunting and what some call "junking", is you will find some amount of "junk" in the process. It is what you end up doing with that junk that is the true test of your creativity and passion for the art of re-do, re-make, re-create.

Essentially working with anything used, you are asking for a level of damage, wear, or possible "outdated appearance", the main thing is follow these rules and you can work with the piece, and come up with something worth enjoying (or better yet, selling):

- Do not buy anything with water damage even if it appears to be "okay" - you cannot reverse water damage and potential for mold.
- Do not buy furniture that has split wood, or something that cannot be refashioned or repaired easily. You don't want to spend so much money rehabbing the piece you could have bought it new.
- Don't shy away from items that are dirty. If you are hunting at yard sales, a lot of folks don't see the point in cleaning things (not sure why), but that doesn't mean they aren't worth anything. Cleaning something can make a world of difference.
- Remember when purchasing items you intend on repainting, they must be able to take paint. Laminates are a lot of fuss for painting, unless you are willing to put in the extra work using a sander or finish remover, don't invest.
- If you are searching for used clothing or vintage threads, remember the style can mean a lot or a little. If you are looking for a piece to resell as is, then style is important only certain eras are marketable, but if you are going to refashion it ie; make a new dress out of it, or use a vintage T-shirt to make a new kid's dress, then material and pattern are your only concern. Polyester wasn't breathable and comfy in the 70's, that hasn't change take material/ fabric into consideration.
- Be willing to dig!!! Some of the best things I have ever come across I found by digging, and hunting, searching through racks, boxes and mounds of "stuff".

The biggest difference between people who love this and don't - is the time we are willing to spend looking for that certain something.

My latest inspiration is Decoupage.......more on that later.

Happy Hunting! xo - Jenn