This show is HUGE, with hundreds of dealers offering everything from fine antiques to jewelry to country collectibles to reproduction craft items. The crowd was ALSO huge, and I shuffled my way through most of the show trying not to step on people. I assure you, it was really difficult to get photos of my favorite things, because there was almost always a person in my way and I had to snap quickly whenever I got the opportunity. (Because of this, please forgive the quality of some of these photos.)
In today's Part 1, let's take a look at some of the things that stood out to me. Most are timeless and inspirational but some represent trends that have seen their popularity and it's time to move on.
This table was beautiful!
If you collect art pottery, this booth had a wonderful selection.
For you lovers of primitive decor, how about this grain bin made of beadboard.
I was sad to see that all of the pieces of this set of Spode china were priced individually ... and priced too high, in my opinion.
I love everything in this vignette!
Whoever chose the fabric to reupholster this antique mahogany sofa was a genius! The muted color and the modern pattern updated this old beauty and it would now look perfectly at home almost anywhere.
I loved how these antique metal animals were displayed in this soda crate.
Though the glass globes don't appear to be antique, $60 for this light fixture is a DEAL.
This photo of an antique porch railing, with its sawn balusters, is offered as a tease to let you know that there's progress being made on OUR old porch.
The writing on this old iron piggy bank, which says "Invest In Pork", rings particularly true ... at $225, buying this IS an investment.
The size and shape of this old pie safe was super, but the eye-popping blue isn't a color that I really care for.
This 1980s-era Steiff bear looked so perfect sitting in this old green high chair.
It saddens me to see wonderful old photos like this sitting out for sale. I always wonder who these people are and why their families don't love these photos as much as I do.
Aren't these old concrete flamingos FABULOUS!!!
Why do people do this? The word 'Biscuit' is clearly spelled correctly on the box ... but it is misspelled on the price card.
I wonder if I have a place where I can use an idea like this.
If I had another bathroom renovation in my near future, I would have snapped up this medicine chest.
Chalkboard paint on these old lockers was a neat idea.
I have a telephone exactly like this pink princess phone, but it doesn't work. I talked to the dealer and he will repair it for me this fall.
This dealer had a thing for black paint and toile wallpaper. Not only did she do this table, but she subjected a really nice 19th Century hutch to the same treatment. I couldn't get a photo of the hutch because there were too many people in the way. Trust me, it wasn't good.
Here's a hutch that IS good ... along with boxes, and watering cans, and wooden buckets.
I have a 'thing' for redwork pillow shams.
I know these stencilled pillows appeal to a lot of folks, but I don't particularly like them.
I got a skate key just like this off of a nail in my in-laws' basement last month!
Like the teddy bear I showed earlier in this post, Raggedy Ann was perfect sitting in this old baby swing.
Lots of dealers had painted furniture. Some of it was done well, like this painted dresser ...
... and some of it they should have left alone. I really don't like imitation distressing on most furniture.
I fell head-over-heels in love with this wedding cake topper! I'm paring down my collections, so I didn't even THINK about buying it.
Here is a ready-made collection of blue canning jars!
This was the sales table for one dealer. Isn't it great how she used the quilt top to skirt the underneath?
One thing that I saw over and over were old, refinished work benches. I love them, but I have no place to use one right now.
I will finish up today by showing you a few things I saw that reminded me of some of you:
I remember Diane (The Blue Ridge Gal) saying once that she's looking for a laughing Buddha. This one had loads of personality, and a pricetag to match. $100 was too much for him. The dealer tried to tell me that he was hand-carved. I wasn't falling for it.
Linda (A La Carte), our resident Pyrex collector, would have loved this display ... but not the prices. She usually gets unbelievable deals on stuff like this.
Doesn't this look like something that Kim (Savvy Southern Style) would do?
These dog figurines remind me of a post that Suzanne (Privet and Holly) did the other day.
Speaking of Suzanne, tomorrow she is hosting a link party. She is encouraging everyone to visit and show-and-tell their collections. For Part 2 of my trip to the DC Big Flea, I will share with you some of the things that I found that would fit perfectly into MY collections.
See you tomorrow!
