piddlin – Page 5

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!

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Piddlin’ Finds | For Auld Lang Syne

Photo Dec 31, 9 30 57 PM

It’s already 2014 and I still have piddlin’ finds and stories from 2013 to tell! So- without further ado let me show you a few of these sweet finds that brightened my year, but first have a quick peek at the fun time we had ringing in the new year in our own backyard to the sound of area fireworks!

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Now to the good stuff! We picked up these sweet piddlin’ finds from Antiques Market this past September with a little birthday money I had been given in August and I have been loving them so very much.

I have been looking for some uniquely fabulous milk glass pieces to jump-start the collection. What is not to love about this hob nob milk glass vase? It’s ultra feminine and just so perfectly retro.

Next up: this pretty little toast rack that was just featured in February’s Country Living! {see below} I looked everywhere in 2013 for something just like this one to hold our outgoing mail + correspondence {call me an old soul; I am a *huge fan* of sending and receiving snail mail} + we finally snagged this one for $10? $12? also found at Antiques Market!

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Lastly, take a look at a few of my favorite {vintage gifts} I was given for Christmas! Aren’t vintage gifts the BEST!?

This {little lion locket} is my new favorite!! My mom has named him, “Leo the Lion”…I’ve never seen anything quite like him- have you?

I am loving our evolving collection of milk glass– look at this mini hob nob milkglass vase for the dantiest of flowers! Perfect size for a guest room, window sill or bathroom sink- so sweet.

These gorgeous mother of pearl binoculars are the PERFECT thing and just what I have been hoping to find for a night at the ballet! Mom and I recently went to see The Shanghai Ballet at Sottile Theater and we had dad’s football binoculars with us…not exactly what a lady should take to the theater! {These beauties} will be classy & fabulous for our next girls’ night out! PLUS: I spotted the very same ones a few days after Christmas featured in Southern Living! Jackie O would be so proud. That Santa always knows just what to give!

Ryan’s Grandma also loves antiques and she gifted us with this fun little vintage bottle rack! I’m thinking it will be perfect to store some vino or perhaps even the milk jar collection we started so long ago! I’ve also seen organizers like this used for magazine and condiment storage! What would you use it for? Regardless, it’s the cutest thing with the little wooden handle that’s sure to add a nice shabby chic touch to any room.

Also, while we were at Grandma’s for Christmas, Ryan’s brother had asked about trying on a pair of their grandfather’s cowboy boots. As luck would have it, Ryan was able to fit into this amazing pair of boots that he remembers his Granddad wearing. This was one of the coolest things we brought home from Elizabeth City because last Friday was one year since we lost Granddaddy Sam. These will be such a special reminder for both of us, but especially for Ryan each time he sees them! There is nothing more special, nothing more truly vintage than a hand-me-down.

The day after Christmas we enjoyed the scenic drive from Charleston to Kiawah to be with our Walker Family!

As a new tradition this year, we decided to play White Elephant Gift Exchange instead of exchanging gifts to each member of the family. It was such a blast especially since I walked away with Granny Mabel’s Framed High School Diploma–!! Everyone was in an uproar as I opened it’s bright red wrapping because half the family didn’t even know it existed. The best part? It will be kept by the relative that opens her then, brought back each Christmas -wrapped- to be included annually in the Walker White Elephant Exchange! I love this and I am so elated that I got to take it home first! It is the biggest, most beautiful diploma I may have ever seen.

Last, and certainly not least, we received a very, very special antique this Christmas…

…this beautiful {sterling silver rattle} that will be held, loved and cherished in the Summer of 2014!

Here’s hoping your 2013 and Christmas season have been filled with love, hugs and lots of laughter.

May your 2014 be bright and blessed.

| with love

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Piddlin’ Trips | Birthday Piddlin’ in Atlanta

The hiatus is over! Check out the piddlin’ treasures we snagged from a few small towns outside Atlanta this past weekend to celebrate my birthday + read the weekend’s full story here. I am one lucky lady!

I so LOVE surprises, so Ryan woke me up early on Saturday with a folded piece of paper. On the front fold was an itinerary of stops carefully planned en route to Atlanta…because when I opened up the page to see all the stops, out fell two tickets to see The Braves take on the Nationals in what has become quite a heated sports rivalry! —it was a 15 inning game, y’all. It was a dream come true, because I can never get enough baseball! We even got to ring in my official birthday at The Ted- at the stroke of midnight all while a dense fog rolled in! It was perfect.

So we packed a quick bag, dropped off the pup and rode on adrenaline towards the A.

Here were the piddlin’ stops {in order headed toward Atlanta from Charleston}:

Monroe, Georgia
1. Cherry Hill at the Mill, 601 S.
Madison Ave.
2. Pickers Paradise Antique Mall, 147
Etten Dr.

Loganville, GA
3. My Sister’s Antiques, 285 Main
Street

Snellville, GA
4. Vintage Village, 2229 Scenic Hwy N

Best stop of them all? Read on!

First stop: Cherry Hill at The Mill

I just love this pretty little milk glass stand; it will be so perfect filled with a handful of candy corn in just a few short weeks! I’ve always wanted a milk glass piece with the loops around the edges where I can swap out a pretty ribbon for each season! {$7-}

Next, these adorable green enamel chairs stole my heart when they would not open up properly, or at all and so we had to leave them behind at just {$36/pair}!

Also found at Cherry Hill:
A perfectly vintage wire basket to use on my desk at work {pictured above}! What’s not to love?! {$12-}

And…this quaint little “tobacco farm sign” as it was labeled, with our anniversary day on it! This gem is double sided and boasts one side in very good condition as well as this wonderfully chippy side…best of both worlds when it comes to piddlin’ finds! Believe it or not it was also {$28-}!

Second stop: Pickers {not-so} Paradise
Unfortunately, this stop was a tad on the scarce side! So we scooted over to our third stop: My Sister’s Antiques

This store was precious and really more a mix of “new-tiques” as Ryan has so aptly named them, or as i say “faux-tiques”. The best part, were the couple booths up toward the front of the store that had a Country French feel, boasting lots of chicken wire, chalkboards and a barely rusted feeding trough that I was squealing over {for wrapping supplies storage- my latest organization project}…alas, it was too long to fit in any room of our house! Maybe next time!

Stop 4: Vintage Village -Now! It always works this way that our last stop turns out to be the very best and we are almost always running a little shy on time. Regardless we have now found a treasure trove that we will be returning to someday soon for more sweet nick-nacks; think McCoy planters, candlestick holders, aprons, organizers, silver plate and glass decor and more. This was a speed pick, but we managed to make out like bandits with a few items for decorating and organizing, however no glass spooners which I’d so love to find! Without further ado…the rest of the loot!
This fabulously shabby silver plate candelabra will be the *perfect* addition to our Halloween decor!! At just {$12-} I’m not even sure I’m going to try to clean it up and yes— I love Halloween that much!

Next up, were these perfect little pewter…egg holders{?} that I have seen many a time in magazines and on Pinterest as drawer or desk organizers! These will add such a cute touch to my “office” at home or at work! {$3 ea.}

Last and certainly not least was something I looked high and low for in each of our previous stops: a dainty milk glass vase! Isn’t she a beauty?! {$10-}

Unwrapping all these beauties after we got home was like opening birthday gifts all over again!

What a fun trip! One day soon I will make it to Scott’s again…that second weekend of the month just keeps filling up for some reason-but I definitely have some unfinished business there…

| Until next time, adieu!

Piddlin’ Finds | Carolina Cane Chairs

These chairs really compliment our new to us antique table’s character + were found in Gibsonville, NC just NW of Greensboro where we spent the weekend taking in the ACC tournament- a huge tradition among basketball and all college athletics fans alike. It was fun getting a chance to spend time with Ryan’s dad leading up to his birthday too!

Here’s a close up look at the chairs when we found them in the antique mall…Ryan has gotten so good at finding these places that all I have to do is go along for the ride! See all of our recent trips on the “Past Piddlin’ Trip” page found up top!

and here’s one more of the beautifully unique table legs on this amazing find originally from the area near High Point, NC! The table belonged to a man who lives in Mt. Pleasant, who had inherited it from his mother, originally from that area in North Carolina! …we found it…..on Craigslist. Definitely a case of an antique finding us…just meant to be.

| keep piddlin’!

Piddlin’ Trips + Finds | Long Time, No Write!

Well hey there, stranger! Long time, no see-

I have been quite a busy piddler lately! Since March I have been…to

5 weddings
3 bachelorette parties- not including my own,
shopped for 4 bridesmaids dresses- for myself and for my own fair ‘maids,
then attended 3 engagement parties
5 wedding showers
opened countless packages and cards filled with wonderfully thoughtful words and gifts
attended a delicious food tasting at Newton Farms
had fun at Charleston Fashion Week with the cutest neighbor who is also Charleston’s favorite Lilly Pullitzer store manager
house sat at my favorite antique mansion
acquired my first passport
created a wedding registry at 3 of my favorite stores
took a ferry trip up the beautiful coast of North Carolina, also known as The Outerbanks (that’s OBX for all you tourists)
ate the best teriyaki ahi tuna sandwich of my life at an undisclosed location en route
and met lots of Ryan’s friends and family

…all while making plans for our own special day (coming soon to a church near you). Through all this, we have been renovating what will soon be “our” kitchen and I have managed to hold onto at least 25% of my sanity at all times.

Now you can see how there has been little to no time for piddlin’ nor even so much as a sentence-length update to the piddlin’ press and I have really been having withdrawals- All work and no ‘tiquin’ (that is…antiquing or piddlin’) makes MC a dull girl! I mean look, for 3 years now, I have been able to post some type of preview, image or update almost every month and for the very first time I have gone some 5 months without so much as a peep! So last weekend, when we knew a trip to IKEA was in store, we took the opportunity and ran with it!

Ryan and I started renovating the kitchen back in March and it has been such an adventure! I was on a friend’s bachelorette weekend in Florida when the first of the revamps took place and I was genuinely upset about not being able to help with that first round of demolition—which everyone knows is THE best part of renos! Ok well, let’s face it, I do love to paint and pick colors, tiles and the like, but I digress. Each phase of the process my handy architect sits me down and walks me through the step by step process at hand and we discuss back and forth a bit about how it ~~will~~ should go. It was during the most recent chat we decided to replace the old (circa 1970-something) counter-tops, with beautiful beech butcher block counters! Now, my fiance, being the crafty/resourceful man that he is not only found out that IKEA sold butcher block, but also had planned in a side trip to one of our happy haunts: Sleepy Poet! We, correction, I have had my heart set on a very specific screen-door style. While this type of door is available new, Ryan and I have a love of all things worn-in over the brand new, so we set out on a hunt for just that- our new/old screen door.

While this trip may not have produced any screen-door finds, we did manage to rustle up a few great picks. You mind, now- I have already picked out the perfect paint for said door, hahah…I just haven’t quite gotten my hands on that particular object for painting it as of yet! (mercy)

So, in the meantime, check out the fun finds below that we snagged on this (much needed) trip and look for more updates on home improvement with Team R+C. (total nerds, yes)

[>] This is a piece I have been wanting for some time now! …it’s an old ceiling tin square that used to make up the ceilings of just about every restaurant for a time. The tin is magnetic and can be used as a magnet board for photos, mementos and notes! I can’t wait to hang this on a wall in my finished kitchen or even upstairs in the hallway!

[>] These awesome gas station numbers (below) were discovered by Ryan at Sleepy Poet! So in love with these- once we hang them we’ll have no trouble remembering our anniversary! ;)

[>] Next, you’ll see more gas station lettering here with our two favorite initials that also make up the name of one of our favorite collectible items: RC Cola! Ryan grew up drinking RC on Saturday mornings which he spent working on tractors with his granddaddy at his Case International tractor shop!

When Ryan and I were first dating, I bought him an antique iron bracket that I knew he would appreciate as a repurposed door stop with him being an architect. This was after he had once told me, “you’re more than welcome to fill up my house with antiques!” I took him completely seriously and the piddlin’ habit grew. The second antique I ever gave Ryan, was one that I found at Metrolina in Charlotte- it was a wooden RC Cola crate. Prior to gifting it to him, I filled it with RC Cola cans, knowing he was sure to love it! It was later on that we realized the letters in the drinks’ name were also our initials.

[>] These fabulously-French inspired dishtowels are tres-chic and tres-handy! We found these gems at IKEA of all places…can you say .79 a pop? The antique version goes for MUCH much more!

[>] Now, the next couple photos are finds that we picked up at Riverside Antique Barn in Wallace, NC on our way home from the wedding shower thrown in our honor! It was Memorial Day weekend, but we had no idea they were open and had even looked up their hours online, once in the car. Ryan decided to drive me by it so I could see what a killer warehouse it really was (he had been once before). It was just our luck that they were open on the occasion and here is what we found!

[>] Some fabulous antique clothespins…

[>] These 2 precious red + white enamel refrigerator tins (that’s pre-tupperware, ladies and gents)!

[>] and lastly, these Dr. Pepper bottle caps which will be magnets by the end of this week! Love the 10 -2 and 4 on these especially!

That is it for now, thanks for checkin in and catchin up! Don’t forget to let me know of any items you’re looking for as I am always happy to pick up a sursie or two for anyone! (Meredith, still looking for your ladder!) Hope to have more again soon to share. ‘Till then-

| peace, love + antiques for all

On the Road Again!

A few weekends back, we made our way up the road to Clinton, SC to celebrate Shawn + David’s engagement. A good time was had by all!

Now, as usual when we travel, we make a road trip out of it and some piddlin’ time is always involved, so we end up stopping at every antique mall / shop / lean-to on our path. At this point, it’s hard to believe there are still places we have yet to visit or come across!

Stops included Columbia for lunch at Zesto…always very delish, and highly recommended by many! Then Newberry, SC …both en route to the Saturday night party. Downtown Newberry was a ghost town, but that was to our advantage.

Our first stop was Eurolux- a very fine, high-end antique shop with GORGEOUS mahogany butler’s cabinets, hutches, dressers, tables and chairs from Europe. We made a friend, Minky- who is a beautiful Siamese cat rescued by the store owner’s son. As I type, remembering sweet Minky, I wish I had taken a picture of his charming and inquisitive face with his blue eyes that were piercing sky blue! …mind you, I don’t even like PICTURES of cats much less real ones! This one stole my heart. He greeted us at the door, just as the owner stood to tell us about his treasures for sale. He leapt to the floor from the window ledge were we stood and followed us at our pace as if he were to be leading us on a guided tour. If at any point we stopped he would be sure to catch our eye as if to say, “do you have any questions for me?” It is not an exaggeration to say that Minky led us around the entire store, and kept us entertained and laughing as he would sneak up and over and sometimes under the pieces of furniture on the floor. I was impressed by his personality and intellect; what a cat!

220px-Young_Siamese_Seal_Point — This is a picture of a Siamese cat that looks a lot like Minky!

After snagging a town “guide” we located a number of stores so Ryan promptly found a parking space and we headed to store #2: Antiques on Main. Well, this was more what we were hoping for. Separate booths with each their own “style” of antiques and plenty to feast our eyes on! It was an older man and woman running the shop and while they were not terribly friendly upon our arrival, or to one another for that matter, by the time we were settling up and heading out, she invited us for dinner at their house! HA! She was enamored with us when we told her we were from Charleston. She was a riot! Telling me all about the houses they almost lived in in Summerville and even who they were once owned by…oh my goodness, she was a trip. Our two finds from Antiques on Main included this nice small, gold frame for $3

and this vibrant yellow McCoy vase which I promptly latched onto as a sursie to DeeDee for keeping our pup safe and happy at home! (She has got quite a collection goin’!)

Store #3 was our jackpot-there are many pros to having an architect for a fiancé, but perhaps one of my favorite things about having an architect as my piddlin’ partner is how it only takes him 3-5 minutes inside of a building, and he can tell me so much about the history of it, and its primary function! So this shop we stopped into was determined by Ryan to have been a boarding house or dormitory/orphanage…which was both really cool, and a bit eerie too. Well, it bordered between a pack-rat’s haven and a picker’s dream! It didn’t take long for me to put my hands on what may be, to do this day, the coolest, most unusual piddlin’ find I have ever come across. Behold, the Carolina bobble head!!

And that was just the beginning! How can any piddlin’ find follow that, you say? Well be sure to feast your eyes on the precious vintage Valentine’s Day cards that will be included in my Valentine’s Day post!! Read it HERE

We woke up the next morning after the big engagement party fuzzy eyed and a bit drained but managed to make it back to Newberry to meet up and go to church with my brother (he’s a freshman there this year!). After brunch at The Flying Pie on Main Street (amazing), we headed eastbound and down to Prosperity and Little Mountain, SC. Wow, were we in for a great surprise!

If you have never driven into downtown Prosperity…it is every bit of a country mile (or three) from the interstate so be patient…it’s worth the drive. We arrived half past 12 to find the shop opened at 1:00, and after a good long glance in the store front, we decided we’d wait it out and in just 5 minutes, the owner pulled up and told Ryan she would open up early for us! We found a gamecock mug, a surprise pictured below to be given at a later date, and this (yes, I’ll admit) very cool Clemson cookbook from the year they won The National Championship in 1981, I can’t say I’ve ever seen that before! We gave it to Ryan’s roommates for giving him such a great place to stay until we get married. Needless to say, they looooooved it.

Last stop: Little Mountain where we found this fab hunter green mailbox!

I won’t keep you any longer than I have already, but clearly the piddlin’ has been getting better and better!!! I can only imagine what goodies there must be still out there just waiting to be found! If you stumble across a good find, I’d love to hear about it! Email me @ pigginpiddler@gmail.

Au Revoir for now!

Keep Piddlin’ | the p.p.

Just Piddlin’ Y’all!

Okay, first order of business, I owe you a post and it will be a good one when I finally find the time to polish it up! More importantly, I awoke Saturday morning to find a lovely little magazine article from a publication you may have heard of…Southern Living – !!! posted on my facebook page.

The article is in this month’s issue and talks about the art form that is piddlin‘!!! Please, don’t take my word for what a fun read this is! Just read it here in Rick Bragg’s Southern Journal! {Enjoy}

Keep Piddlin’!

Life is FULL of Surprises!

Mom always said, “If you’re good, life will be full of surprises!” So let’s see…there were a few stops in Southport, NC for Thanksgiving where Ryan’s brother lives, even though I wasn’t entirely sure we’d have time what with all the cooking, eating, napping, and football watching we had in store this Thanksgiving (our first together). That was where I first saw and fell in love with this *GEM* which was later given to me from Ryan’s parents for Christmas! *Such* a fabulous, fabulous surprise!

Then there were the somewhat surprise stops in Landrum, SC and Inman, SC en route to Asheville, NC where we actually found some very fab vintage coke glasses for Uncle Tom-which he LOVED, a neat baguette board as seen in this picture holding the green and gold ornaments:

and then from Inman,SC : we found these very fun Spanish tiles which I plan to make into coasters very soon!!

That was early December so our next trip came on December 22nd as we drove to Elizabeth City, NC to celebrate Christmas with The Jennings Families! We stopped just outside of New Bern, NC (yes, the birthplace of Pepsi) and found this wonderfully unique “Maola” milk crate complete with heavy steel/aluminum bottom. SO AWESOME:

AND the other fab find was an addition to mom’s collection of Royal Doulton children’s dish line, “Bunnykins.” The find? …a bowl that pictures bunny’s picking peaches!! AH! I wanted to keep it for myself, but she started her collection first! Hopefully my name gets written down to inherit it (wink, wink)!!

As if these great finds weren’t enough, we even were gifted with some cool antiques this Christmas that ONLY mom could have found—she always finds the BEST stuff!

So first-this awesome red, brit-inspired, mailbox!!

and then this really cool vintage baseball game given to Ryan, that brought back memories for our parents and grandparents alike! It proved to be very fun- and addicting! If it is not yet obvious, we are baseball junkies. You should see our house!

Last but not least, my sweet fiance found some very perfect items at Antiques Market that reminded him of me, a small sampler chalkboard (not pictured) and this fun sign (I’m def a beach girl!- very perfect!)

That’s all for now, but there’s STILL more to follow! So stay tuned for another update from the piddlin’ ‘press!

Happy Piddlin!

Bouckville 2011

A guest post by our friend, Sarah from New York on her piddlin’ adventures near and far: Enjoy!!

Bouckville, or should I say Madison & Bouckville, are quaint villages located side by side about 30 miles southeast of Syracuse, New York. The two locales are known for their numerous antiques shops and enormous antiques festival held every summer. In mid-August, both communities transform into an endless piddler’s delight; fields & fields of vendors, tent after tent, shop after shop, and deal after deal. There’s something for everyone at Madison Bouckville’s Antiques Week.

I’ve had the privilege of attending this antiques extravaganza over the past 4 years. I know I’ve never come close to seeing it all! I recommend you arrive early and stay late. Eat salt potatoes amp; fried dough at any one of the many food vendors you’ll find street side along US Route 20. Bring a wagon or cart – you’ll need it to carry your many wares. No one wants to trek back to their cars once they’re in their groove.

This year I picked up 3 old Maxwell House Coffee tins (without lids) for $1 each:

…a blue & white vintage spice rack with ceramic jars depicting the following spices: salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice & paprika for $25:

and an old blue & white swirl graniteware colander for $20.

I also purchased a piggin gift for my Sister Jessie (aka Pig). Hint: it’s so “piggin” cute; hope she can use it for her cookbooks in the kitchen. This represents the least amount of purchases I’ve ever scored at Bouckville.

In years past I’ve picked up kitchen chairs, more blue & white swirl graniteware and a collection of equestrian goodies that I used to decorate my daughter’s bedroom (back when she was interested in horses). BTW those items are now for sale if y’all like horses.

I’ve been with a friend who scored an oak desk for her hubby (that helped justify her other purchases) and another friend who found the perfect side table. Last year I found 2 kitchen cabinets that I absolutely loved but knew I could not justify buying them. They weren’t there this year; I know as I looked and looked thinking I might just break down and “acquire” one. “Acquire” is what I say to my husband when I don’t exactly tell him how much an item was. (editor’s note: this is a sign of a good seasoned picker! haha)

If The Piggin Piddler (aka Mary Catherine) allows, I’ll update y’all from Central New York next August as I return to Madison Bouckville Antiques Week in search of the perfect piggin’ kitchen cupboard.

Sista Sara | hatrickme@twcny.rr.com

Thanks to Sister Sara for the fabulous post! What a great pick she had! If YOU are interested in guest posting, just email me at pigginpiddler@gmail.com! Stay tuned for the latest on this piddler’s recent move and revamp of the soon to be love nest~ until then keep piddlin’!

Oh Piddlin-Trips!

Charlotte, NC / Columbia, SC

One month ago, while piddlin’ I came to the conclusion that I had seen all the antique shops in town (and surrounding area) and decided it was time for another trip to Metrolina. After quickly checkin out their schedule for upcoming “extravaganzas” I called our dear friend, neighbor as well as my own personal antique collecting muse, Jessie.

[piddlin’] is about having an eye for certain items that you may or may not be in need of and having an intutive sense of what these items can be used for.

A little background: Jess is a sun-kissed yankee transplant, a vivacious + passionate mother of two all-american kids that do it all. Being originally from Upstate NY, Jessie was always exposed to some fine + primitive antiques + her love of such started at home- with her mom. I don’t know how she does it, but mygoodness this lady can piddle with the best-of-em. She even takes along her special piddlin’ bag for the occasion, loaded with her favorite piddlin’ snack: almonds + dried cranberries…yum! One of the many things I have learned from Jess is that piddlin’ is not only about finding a diamond in the rough piece, its about having an eye for certain items that you may or may not be in need of + having an intutive sense of what these items can be used for.

I’ve picked up quite a few great items lately, so this update will likely need to be spread over the course of a couple entries (so check back soon)…

Suffice it to say- the antique show at Metrolina in Charlotte was a great time , although not nearly as hustlin + bustlin as the usual show in Fall.

Here are a few items found last weekend:

RCola — …another coke crate for my RC Cola lovin beau! I recently found out that RC stands for Royal Crown, it being based in the Queen City- Charlotte, NC! I also love that these are his + my initials.

"Little Queen" — …another coke crate for my RC Cola lovin beau! I recently found out that RC stands for Royal Crown, it being based in the Queen City- Charlotte, NC! I also love that these are his + my initials.

crock 1 — …another coke crate for my RC Cola lovin beau! I recently found out that RC stands for Royal Crown, it being based in the Queen City- Charlotte, NC! I also love that these are his + my initials.

I did find a few other items however they are being stowed away for a special occasion {shhhh… don’t tell Ryan}

| to be continued

____________________

Well there’s more where that came from! How about these fabulous chippy shutters with that black on blue patina?! Found these in the little fox den of an antique shop nestled right over the Gervais St Bridge in Columbia, SC…who knew!!?

I had lots of fun picking out these fun vintage bottlecaps out of one serious collection @ Metrolina, now, they’re magnets for the fridge at the townhouse!

I snagged this beautifully aged nautical flag for $12 also at Metrolina…it represents the letter “X” or can be interpreted alone as ” Stop with your intentions” as a means of boat to boat communication. SO. COOL. and such a great find!

Asheville2010 - 743

The ultimate find of this particular weekend must remain a secret, but will be revealed after the 2nd weekend in May when I present it to Ryan for his birthday! I think he’ll really like it…

…what will it be!!?

| check back soon!

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