Piddlin’ Trips – piddlin'

Piddlin’ Trips | Family Pickin’

As I mentioned before, we really kicked off this new year with a few back-to-back piddlin’ weekends, all mostly around town. One particular weekend in January, we loaded up the crew in the piddlin’ pickup + headed north.

I had caught wind of a promising estate sale + the pictures were enticing. Despite the low draw it had on instagram it was also listed on an estate sale website, so the place was absolutely crawling with folks by the time we arrived (mid-morning). Items were all exactly my vintage style, but relatively overpriced in light of deep discount/liquidation sale prices advertised. It was a fun target + something that really slingshotted us away from the usual piddlin’ fare, which is so important to do from time to time. We got to enjoy the mountain views + pastoral scenes of the North Georgia Mountains, just by driving an hour away from home!

We were recently that way for a celebratory family field trip to go hiking + see a double waterfall this past summer. It brought a smile to each of us as we journeyed back to the area six months later in a different season. It’s nice to recall the warmth of summer memories in the midst of winter’s cold.

Even though we didn’t get to haul a bunch away from the main draw as anticipated, we found some items on this trip that we otherwise may have never come across. Simply leaving town makes a piddlin’ trip memorable. More often than not, the best treasures end up coming from the little side stops along the way + the journey is made all the more fun + spontaneous because of it.

Take a look at the great things we saw on our family pick:

This scale is absolutely gorgeous!

Always on the hunt for that special church pew we’ve wanted to add to our home for years!

Quilts have always been among my first antique loves!

Wooden organizers, crates + typewriters—oh my!! What’s not to love?

Here are the items we brought home!

[TOP] extra large, old glass window pane // lots of charm on this extra large, chippy white, antique-glass window; my architect says it was likely used in an old church or factory
[BOTTOM L] “vintage” toy cars // The part I most loved about this trip is how the girls got to pick out something that excited them! We’ve started giving them a few dollars to spend, so they pay close attention to the “number tags”, which is becoming a bit of a game for them!
[BOTTOM Center] 1940s royal companion portable typewriter // I’ve been writing on it since we got her tuned up + working again!
[BOTTOM R] black + white enamelware tray // just like the butcher used in Mrs. Maisel!

The girls discover such wonderful treasures, oftentimes items which I may never notice, if not for them. This time, they unearthed these toy cars, a cute little Curious George lunchbox + a pink fishing pole. None of these things were terribly old, but the fact that they are learning to hunt alongside us, learning the meaning of seeing value in something no one else wants at a young age is pretty fun to see!

I’ve been doing this so long, I only recently realized it’s so green to collect old things + find different ways to reuse + repurpose them– so much better than buying those cars, or that typewriter or containers from a store. On top of that, these trips are great family quality time for all of us + we always ask them for input before setting any plans on Saturday morning as to what they want to do.

The real fun often, is just riding in the piddlin’ pickup together + even more now that they have been given their own pint-sized piddlin’ picnic basket-!! These are the days, + this is how we love spending them right now– out + about exploring this great big world, with our crew. The family that enjoys piddlin’ together, stays together!

May all your piddlin’ journeys be full of smiles + memories to last you a spell…

Piddlin’ Trips | Girls’ Road Trips

I miss those days of meandering amidst endless cardboard boxes falling apart at the seams with chipped china plates + scuffed up architectural pieces. You just haven’t been piddlin’ until you’ve seen a show like that!

I’ve been spending lots of time lately at the usual haunts around town. After meeting a new friend late last year + kicking off 2020 with a piddlin’ streak, you could say the antique bug has bit once again! There are SO many fun stops around Metro Atlanta; this helped make our decision to relocate here so easy. Pro Tip: the areas that surround Atlanta are full of piddlin’ potential for miles for those willing to put in the travel time.

Sometimes you just gotta leave town to get a fresh look!

This past Friday I traveled a couple hours away to do just that. I found a lot of fun, saw some wonderfully unique things + also brought a few home. It was sensory overload with all the pretty booths + vignettes throughout the vintage market, though I’m forever on the hunt for a classic antiques show like the ones I cut my teeth on.

So here’s a few glimpses from the “show” + a few items that spoke to me that came home!

Piddlin’ finds that came home with me!

Does anyone remember Metrolina?

This quick day trip was a great change of pace + I’m beyond lucky my family can provide the flexibility to be able to let me go. I love the pause I’m given to think + reflect. I also found myself smiling, reminiscing about the time I snagged my first deal at Metrolina in Charlotte. I circled a very primitive wood bench (probably quite obviously, looking back), 😂 until I finally worked up the courage to make an offer. To my surprise, the dealer + I bargained a bit until finally settling on the exact price I wanted to pay for it. I have been hooked on hunting for treasures since. I still have that bench + have always treasured it as a symbol of the self-confidence I gained that day as well as the love for piddlin’ it instilled in me.

I so wish we could find another place where we can take a walk through piles of chippy, patinated junk as previously seen at places like Metrolina + Scott’s. I miss those days of meandering amidst endless cardboard boxes falling apart at the seams with chipped china plates + scuffed up architectural pieces. You just haven’t been piddlin’ until you’ve seen a show like that!

Mom with the dough bowl she picked for me at Scott’s, circa 2008

I’m talkin’ piddlin’ finds worth the bargain made for them. Those awesome things that hadn’t yet been dusted off or brushed up; rusty, dusty, fabulously forgotten finds. There is a bit of authenticity given to the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” when you are actually digging through the tangle of tossed things found at a great antique show. Bonus points if the piles of stuff are found outside! There is simply something added to the whole experience when it’s out in the elements.

I also got to meet up with my mom!

This was an awesome time for the two of us to spend some rare one on one time + we both really enjoyed the spontaneity of the meeting in the middle for the day. One thing we are equally interested in is antiques-!

When I was in middle-school, mom’s mom + her aunt took my cousin + I to “The Flea Market” at the Gaillard in Charleston on many occasions. While we honestly didn’t love it at first, we grew familiar to the experience what, with all the visitin’ with my grandmother + great aunts friends, + we began to look forward to picking out the souvenir hankie we would take home. We ended up with quite a collection. Though we grew away from those trips, mom continued to go until the building was renovated. I can still remember the last time I went with her while it was being held at an adjacent building—that was where we found my beloved Bermuda bag! Such memories made at an event that I would have never asked to go to otherwise.

Mom has also taught me a few of the tricks of the trade over the years, like how to make a deal, how to stay nourished while piddlin’—always pack a piddlin’ basket for the “intermission” tailgate, + how to efficiently pack up the car for the ride home. When I go piddlin’ I always carry my cash in the sterling cigarette case she gave me. She has a lot of stories from all of her trips with friends + encourages me to make a few of my own with my girlfriends too!

Over the years our styles have evolved, but the silver lining is we can now appreciate each other’s eye + pick side by side, while helping each other a little along the way. Remember this tip: the best piddlin’ partner is one who is willing (eager) to go check out a few local spots before heading back home.

A friend of mine also made a girls’ weekend trip to some of her favorite spots + they snagged a church pew for $125 (steal) – at their FIRST stop!! Doesn’t get any more meant-to-be than that. They also ventured to an auction which is what drew them to the area + walked away with some lovely Americana pieces—a beautiful GE fan, a sturdy wooden pulley, some enamelware frigidair refrigerator drawers with beautiful art deco type, a wooden checkerboard with loads of charm, a ladder for almost nothing, some nice vintage metal bin labels with great type, vintage ice skates + roller skates!! It’s so fun to make a girls’ trip out of these journeys because even if you haven’t found what you came for, you walk away with such memories!!

Have you done any hunting lately? What’s your favorite thing to collect?

I’m already looking ahead to see where my next day trip might be + making a wish list for it. Until then…keep piddlin’!

Piddlin’ Trips | First Family Fun Trip

We did it. Ryan + I took our little girls piddlin’ + it was A M A Z I N G!!

There isn’t much I love more than sharing my piddlin’ adventures… what we saw, what we picked… but this trip was one of those milestone moments for me.

The moment your children enter your life, you realize through a lingering fog, slowly, that life will never be the same. All of life with or without children is an adjustment- things are changing around each of us everyday. With kids, you go through a constant state of redefining “normal”. While we were piddlin’ on Saturday, I had a moment of clarity where I could almost see this proverbial page turning. We have reached a new chapter. My family has graduated to a piddlin’ cortet + the only way it could be better is if our pup could tag along too.

Not only could the girls hang, but the did so with gusto! The kept us laughing + smiling around every bend. We managed to squeeze in four stops, y’all–! F O U R -! I fully expected to head back home after the first refurbished mill stop, but the trick is staying “fueled”. man, woman + child alike! Pack snacks, eat often!

They enjoyed seeing all the old things, + as you might imagine had many talks about what is this + why is that + never has “don’t touch” been uttered in so many creative ways. We saw thousands of objects + it felt good to be back at it… like riding a bike. I have known the thrill of a hunt from a very young age + Ryan + I have enjoyed many a good piddlin’ trip… this one just took the cake.

See more from our adventures @piddlinfinds on instagram!

Piddlin’ Trips | Scott’s +1

It has been -T W O- years since our last trip to Scott Antique Market here in Atlanta. Last trip it was Ryan, Walker, myself +1 in utero + we got a steal on an old table with chippy green paint. It has currently taken up residence in our shed as my antique sorting table…hope to share more on that soon!

Just wanted to post briefly here for a moment for all of you who are visiting via instagram or for the first time / in a while. Scott’s is having it’s monthly show this weekend at the Expo Center down by the airport + I was lucky enough to take my first born babe to tag along. Boy, did she ever. She mostly enjoyed pointing which direction she wanted to go next which humorously led us in roundabout circles + figure eights but seemingly always to the art, orientals (that’s my girl!), vintage baby dolls + fabulous cameos alongside exciting costume jewelry! Pretty good tastes for a not-quite-four-year-old!

I have so cherished watching her grow into her own person + had a goal from the start to teach her to have decisiveness early on. No one is perfect in making decisions, but for the most part I have a girl who knows what she likes + technically speaking, there are two of them in my quiver!

I hope to post pictures soon (come back to see later!) of the items shared on my insta-stories today along with a couple items we brought home- the BEST! For now, please message me or comment below with any questions you have about what you see or Scott’s show, as I am more than happy to answer!

Hoping your Mothers’ Day weekend is nice + cooler than the heat wave we are currently weathering here!!

X—X,

Piddlin’ Trips | Old Haunts

‘pressed while netflixing…and waiting for baby’s any-day-any-week-now-arrival!

After one has spent enough time at any piddlin’ outpost, there may often be a need to take a break to allow for booths to be refreshed + shook up a bit before returning to successfully uncover more spectacularly long-awaited finds once again.

Put simply –it never hurts to give a place a rest–

I’ve been looking back through some of my photo archives + came across these fun piddlin’ sights from some months ago (could it have really been over a year?) + it may be time to circle back for a fresh look!

Can someone explain why these lovely mounted antlers seem to always cost a small fortune? …Also, that round mirror! These two items will both be on my mind for years to come.

A beautiful secretary has been on my wish list for a few years now…though I have been spotting them with more frequency on my piddlin’ trips, I’m unsure I will ever be able to pull the trigger on one as they each have such a lovely, victorian charm about them in so many ways. Some with lattice work atop their glass cabinet, others with intricate drawers + cubbies, + still a great many feature fancy finials on top. I love them all.

A few more sights from our outing:

What a bummer it is to miss your chance to snag a fun find + oh,
how it feeds the frenzy of a good pick to come!

…I always say “nothing haunts like the antiques we didn’t buy”, so when some fabulous find once seen is still there after a hiatus, it’s a sure sign it belongs with you! Otherwise… all you have are the snaps you take while speed pickin’. I’ll be honest, there are more than a few things here that will be haunting me for a little while longer.

| happy ~~haunting~~ piddlin’ to you this october!

Piddlin’ Trips | Diamonds in The Rough

We made the trip a couple weeks back to a small town outside Atlanta to one of my most favorite piddlin’ haunts of all time, Vintage Village + had quite the time with my piddlin’ partner. See more about the first time we visited Snellville, Georgia!

Take a peek at the fun stuff -“goodness” as they call it at V.V.- that we soaked up for what seemed like hours. It still seems like a tie between who loves treasure hunting more-my little sweet pea or myself!

Jump to the bottom to see our finds…

I consider this trip one of the best as of late + thereby, its finds as “diamonds in the rough”, because this shop has such a lovely ambiance about it. It is easy to see the level of care + attention to detail put into each booth’s display.

The vendors who sell here love their antiques + the thrill of the hunt as much as I do! It truly makes a difference + you typically can tell the moment you walk in a place to do a little piddlin’ whether or not that is the case. All the items for sale here are so unique, while also being reasonably + fairly priced–I’m crazy to be sharing some of my favorite secrets!!

Here’s a few things we couldn’t head home without…

[>] These folding wooden chairs have been on my wish list for sometime-after seeing a similar pair painted with team colors + logos on Pinterest some years back; there’s a project in my future + I could not be more excited! Yes-they are purple for now, but their construction is sturdy and they are beautifully made. These are going to be great at our tailgates or just at home in our sports room! …stay tuned.

[>] This vintage wood frame was no question, especially when it was my piddlin’ partner who saw it and picked it up. The detail on it is not seen all that often on frames and the lovely paint job brings out the craftsmanship. Obviously I am not too concerned with how it’s been put together because it is still rough around the edges; that adds to the charm of this darling frame + is sure to add a little something to my big girl’s room!

[>] Lastly, these beautiful blue tins…swoonworthy!! I have been on the lookout for an assortment of tin containers like these to one day have a beautifully curated collection to hold all of our art supplies + the occasional wild flower clippings.

These are especially stunning with a posy of flowers, in particular, zinnias ! I chose to only take home the two that still had a nice rounded opening + will continue the hunt for more beautifully designed vintage tin containers to keep the collection growing…let me know if you come across any?

I’ll leave you with a little something to daydream on…

| keep piddlin’!

Piddlin’ Trips | Functional Finds from The Queen City + Beyond

‘pressed on the road, at nap time + a polished off after supper
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One October past, I took an impromptu solo road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to peruse some of my favorite piles of junk at Metrolina’s Antique Extravaganza! Oftentimes, my love of discovering old things sends me off in new directions exploring unfamiliar or less frequented territory; this is key to finding the gems that keep me coming back for more.

The slightly foggy morning set the tone for this piddlin’ trip!

Is there anything better than fresh kettle korn from out of the copper pot?

It was fun flying solo on a crisp fall morning to one of my first out of town stomping grounds, but there truly were not many finds to be had.

Little did I know, this trip would break the mold!

It seems to me, that as decorating with old things has grown in popularity, the prices continue to rise at the more frequented stops + the search for a bargain find has become more + more competitive. I did manage to find a couple of very useful treasures, as luck would have it –behold the jackpot items below!

[>] This green hardware trough {pictured above} has found the perfect spot in our home in a number of ways, most recently as my cutout cookie co. packaging supplies organizer for the past year and a half + prior to that, it effectively + beautifully corralled the cache at my surcie-wrapping station {two of my other hobbies: baking + packaging//presentation}.

After our upcoming move at the end of the year, it will most likely find a new life as the perfect gardener’s assistant atop a potting bench, or even help sort my handy husband’s tools on his workbench…stay tuned for more on all that!!

[>] The second find of the day was a perfectly-sized box for our dog bowls! It was purchased with a specific idea in mind- i.e. cutting bowl sized holes into the top of the overturned box to place the bowls inside the top slats {or bottom depending how you look} so they sit flush with the flat side of the container. This saves our sweet {aging} pup from having too much pressure on his back/joints while eating + drinking while keeping up with the vintage feel of our home–all in all, it’s a big win!

For now, we are using the bowls on top of the box because we wanted to make sure our boy would not have any qualms with the new set up– and sure enough, he loves it!

I am not sure that I want to cut into such a great box just yet…I love the aged look of the wood + can hardly stand to even think of repurposing such a great old container in such a permanent way; there are SO many great uses for a box of this size! Either way, we love this addition to our family room + it’s safe to say the pup does too.

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The Depot at Gibson Mill was my second stop + replaced my usual haunt on this trip, The Sleepy Poet. Since my first piddlin’ trip to Charlotte some years ago I had seen The Depot advertised all over, yet had never had the chance to make the trip to Concord, a bit outside of The Queen City limits.

When I pulled up to Gibson Mill, my senses were on overload; from the country drive into town + the train that speeds by adjacent to the parking lot, to the sight of the monstrosity that is the mill housing The Depot–how would I ever get through this entire place without my trusty sidekick pickin’ beau?! The initial daunting feelings quickly evaporated when I came upon the most amazing item I had seen in some while…

[>] A perpetual calendar was waiting for me in the fifth booth down, on the first aisle I chose. I could hardly believe my piddlin’ eyes as the rush of disbelief + excitement came over me just laying eyes on this item. I held my breath as I picked up the calendar to see what the price would be: $21?! Another item scratched off the antique wish list, unreal. I was one aisle + five booths in and already began thinking– Gibson Mills FTW!

[>] Speaking of wins…not many paces away down the same aisle, was this classic college pennant tin trash can which I had recently seen featured in Country Living…what luck!! I cannot wait to see this in our finished sports room–another project that is currently many years in the works, thanks to our collecting-albeit discriminating- habit. Check out the matching lunch pail we found a few years back, while spending Thanksgiving on the coast of North Carolina…

What a great trip it was to Charlotte–just writing about it makes me eager to head back! Who’s up for a Fall piddlin’ trip?!

There is simply nothing better than piddlin’ in Autumn. Oh, I cannot wait for the cooler months to grace us with their presence: crisp air, crunchy leaves, football, pumpkin spice everything + piddlin’– bring it on.

| keep piddlin’!

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This post is published in homage to Metrolina: one of the first antique “shows” I ever attended as well as the first place I successfully bargained with a vendor. June 2 was the last show and I am elated for the future it opens up for finding new haunts at better prices! Memories made there will not be soon forgotten.

Speed Pick Special | New Places, New Faces

Our family is beginning a new adventure, with a transitional move to Atlanta this Summer to be completed when baby no.✌ arrives this Autumn.

I could not be more thrilled to be in one of our favorite antique hubs of the Southeast + am hoping to enjoy much more time piddlin’ + perusing the aisles at every antique mall from here to the Blue Ridge Mountains {another favorite piddlin’ territory}!

piddlin' partners

Today was day o n e of that dream realized. Take a look at some of the fun things we saw on our first boondoggle together around our new neck of the woods, pictured below. I never dreamt I’d be piddlin’ in some of these places for a second time with my daughter holding my hand + loving it as much as me. Oh, the sweet surprises life gives!!

Coming soon to Chamblee’s Antique Row!

…this Persian runner-!!

+ this beauty-that green is swoonworthy!

Furs for days!

my daughter’s favorite piddlin find of the day!

Stop three…

Last stop…

olive buckets…a piddlin’ decor staple

love the subtle details on this dresser….would be great for a big girl room + fresh paint + hardware

vintage trash can -LOVE!

definitely one of the oldest antiques I have ever seen!

| keep piddlin’

Piddlin’ Trips | Speed Pick Special

Piddlin’ Finds | Southern Gems

I haven’t been piddlin’ very often so far this year, so two Fridays ago, I was able to get over to Antiques Market in Mount Pleasant for a speed-pick just before they closed. Sometimes, I just like the smell of an antique mall and the comfort of being surrounded by old things just waiting to be rediscovered. After all, the secret to great piddlin’…

I haven’t been piddlin’ very often this year, so two Fridays ago, I was able to get over to Antiques Market in Mount Pleasant for a speed-pick just before they closed. Sometimes, I just like the smell of an antique mall and the comfort of being surrounded by old things just waiting to be rediscovered. Afterall, the secret to great piddlin’ is that nothing has to be purchased, often times it is a scouting trip that turns out to be time better spent than a big buying trip. On this occasion however, I was pleasantly surprised to have these two Southern gems find me. Let’s not forget that is how it happens after all!

This lovely, well-worn piece of driftwood came home with me for $8 and this classic “blue book” of etiquette {Emily Post’s no less} was on sale, so I snagged it for $16! I just LOVE the gold engraved writing revealed, now that the dust cover is no longer on the book! The font is exactly what I would imagine for a book of this subject matter! I can’t wait to flip through it’s beautifully yellow-ed pages and see what’s changed and what hasn’t since its publish date! What Southern lady or gentleman doesn’t love a little etiquette refresher after all? I will have to share a few excerpts from the book once I have a chance to look through it. Have you been enjoying any good piddlin’ lately? Please, tell me about it below!! I miss hearing from everyone!

| Until next time!