BRIMFIELD!!!

 

I had such a nice day yesterday.  The weather was perfect, perfect for going to Brimfield, MA for the largest and longest running outdoor antique show in America.  I love antiques and vintage goodies (as we all know) and about 12 years ago a shop owner asked me if I had ever been to Brimfield.  I had not.  Didn't even know what it was.  Well......it is only the best thing since sliced bread, maybe even better!  It happens three times a year, lasts for a week and takes over an entire town.  It is awesome!!!!  Old stuff as far as the eye can see.  There are literally, thousands of dealers in numerous fields.  It is one of my favorite places of all times.  I have been going to at least one show (often all three) for 12 years now.  Usually I can only spare one day, but once I went for two.  Boy was that fun!  Even if I went all week, I doubt I'd see it all, and for sure I'd run out of money.  I've been going long enough now that I have favorite fields, favorite dealers and favorite outhouses (yes, we must take care of the necessities too).  I love talking to the dealers, learning about old stuff and about other peoples lives.  And of course, I love finding treasures to bring home.  This year was a little different, as I was doing more shopping for things to resell at the Cooperage, but that doesn't make it any less fun.  And I did find some happy treasures to keep.  The following are some highlights and my finds for the day.

Get ready, get set, SHOP.  This field is about 300 tents.  One field of  MANY!

This was probably my favorite set up of the day.  I didn't buy anything here, but I spent plenty of time soaking in all the eye candy and getting a few ideas to try out myself at a later date.



Loved the little kitty pillow.  No place to put it though and couldn't justify the $30 price tag if I didn't really need it.





I just love all the colors together.  I would have liked to pull up a chair and had my lunch here.

Never know what you'll see.  This little princess has been traveling with her dealer mommy to antique shows for 14 years.  She sits on the table top with her little vintage custard cup of water for her to lap at will.  Her name is Roxy.



My large purchases:  a vintage German file cabinet, a green tool organizer with lots of drawers, a card catalogue, and a sweet shabby-chic stool (won't it look great with a red geranium sitting on it?).



My smaller purchases:  two flower curtain panels to use for making tote bags, a tote bag for me made with vintage bark cloth (I'll use it for fun and for inspiration for my own bags), an opticians drawer unit, a statue of a mommy horse and her baby, a whole spool of vintage periwinkle seam binding, three chiffon scarves for my hair, two vintage tablecloths (they are not perfect, but they are perfect for me to cut and make into sweet dishtowels), a big letter 'H' for Heidi's room cut out of tin from an old barn roof, and a really cool old water jug (for my porch as a decoration).

And the dainty purchases:  seven vintage handkerchiefs, a little porcelain jug, a set of four custard cups with etched polka dots on them, two sets of etched wine glasses (one a set of 4, the other a set of 6), three little hand crocheted doilies, three napkins with hem stitching and flower applique and an oval embossed glass serving dish.

A full apron made from a feed sack (looks like the 1930's) that I can't wait to wear when I bake something yummy, not to mention adding to my already large apron collection (and yes, I wear them all - food just tastes better when the cook wore a vintage apron and chores are much more palatable when I wear one!)  The dress on the right, I originally bought for the fabric, but it's in great condition, fits me and is really cute.  Think I'll change out the buttons to a set of turquoise ones I have, replace the missing belt with pretty ribbon and stroll through my garden in it.

And last but not least, is this sweet vintage chiffon summer bathrobe (also for me to wear).  The picture doesn't come close to doing it justice.  It has little rhinestones on the buttons, lace on the fold back cuffs and collar and pipping to match.  It fits like a glove and I feel like Cinderella in it.  (Maybe I'll post a picture of me in it after it is laundered and pressed.)  I can hardly wait to have my morning toast and tea out on the screen porch wearing in on a breezy summer morning.

Well, that's about the sum of it.  It was a great day.  I moved at my own pace and enjoyed every minute of it.  And best yet, I have no regrets about my purchases and didn't feel bad about leaving anything behind.  I even came home with some money left in my pocket.  Doesn't get much better than that.  Looking forward to the next one in July!