Regrouping after an outdoor event

Have been trying to get the shop put together after tearing it apart for Artsy at Edgebrook. Thanks to so many of you for stopping by to say hi.  We were very happy when the weather cleared by 11:00. 

After working in the yard for 3 hours Tuesday, I was not quite ready to tackle the shop, but since we open again today, I had no choice. 

Here are a couple of peaks at our front room.  Notice the sign.  That was done at 2:00 AM when I couldn't get to sleep the night before the Artsy event.

It is a bit unusual for us to have vinyl seated chairs, but couldn't resist these and the small kidney shaped coffee table one of the chairs is resting on. I won't paint the light colored wood because the table has a 50's feel to it, and the chairs go so well with it.

I learn something new every day. I looked up bentwood chairs and saw a photo of a chair such as these, and many of you probably already know this, but I didn't.  They are called hairpin back chairs, because the back resembles a hair pin. And how many of you are familiar with hair pins?

Here's another shot of crates and baskets and beachy accessories,
plus another modern vinyl chair with chrome trim.  If it's soft aqua, I love it, especially during these blue sky, blue water days of summer.  The color goes so well with browns and whites.  Color can tie items together even when they are from entirely different eras and of totally different styles. 

I was home getting dinner ready when John got home and told me the shop looked nice. I said it isn't finished yet.  His response: it's never finished.  Got that right. It's always a work in progress.

And talk about progress, we've been doing that for four years this month.  Please join us this Saturday to help us celebrate with treats and door prizes, and discounts - 11-3 - Saturday, June 22.  Happy Birthday, Just A Second!

Shopping at the Shop for a Shower

This post was actually composed on Saturday night, but since I never know who is going to be seeing it, (I've actually had people from Russia, France, and other far away places) I didn't want to spoil any surprises.  So, if I go back and forth in tenses, please understand that I am even more mixed up than usual.

Sunday was my niece's wedding shower.  She was not there because she lives in Switzerland, so it was a Skype shower. 

I had ordered a couple of soup bowls from her registry, and unfortunately, one arrived chipped around the rim, so I'll have to send it back and get another.

The gift seemed a bit boring, so I decided to shop for a little something exciting to add to the soup bowls.  There is a theme to all this, and it all centers around this rooster.

This glass rooster was on display at the shop.  One of our fellow treasure hunters brought it in last week. 

In our family, chicken soup is a staple.  My mom served it every Sunday at family dinner.  So with soup bowls goes the chicken (rooster). And, my sister, my niece's mother, uses a rooster as her Lenten kitchen table centerpiece. (before the cock crows...etc.) so Katie can now follow her mother's tradition. And, coincidentally, Katie is marrying a French Swiss native, so this traditional symbol of Provence will feel right at home in her home.

The hat box came from the shop.  It accommodated the rooster much better than any other box I tried, and it didn't even have to be wrapped.  Just threaded ribbon through the side holes of the hat box and used it to hold the bow on the top.

 

Our tag line for Just A Second is "Gifts and Decor with a Past"
Keep that in mind when you want to add a little excitement to your gift giving. Looking forward to your visit.

One of those red, white, and blue weekends

Are you ready? I'm not.  Been so busy with the shop and life that i have hardly given the holiday a thought.

So I am sharing a few past arrangements and a little story from the shop. A customer came in and asked about 4th of July decorations, and I showed her a couple of displays.  One had been all blue and white

and another had been red. 

 

That morning I had mixed some of the red with the blue and some of the blue with the red....and there you have it red, white, and blue.  Add a flag, and you are all set.

 

You can do the same at home.  Here are a couple of items we have at the shop that could help you this weekend.

A vintage Anchor Hocking ruby glass berry bowl set. and...

this vintage padded vinyl ice bucket,....or how about this large vintage enamelware bowl, supersized for fruit or popcorn or whatever.

We also have a large square pattern blue and white quilt which would look fantastic as a tablecloth, blue enamelware coffee pot, large blue vase.  Just use your imagination and maybe a couple of decor items with a past.

And have a great Memorial Day weekend. 

Having fun Pickin' and Plannin' for the Shop

It's funny, because when you start out treasure hunting you never know what you will find or whether you will find anything at all.

Usually I concentrate on the current season - spring and gardening, which was good, because we found this set of 6 vintage Nasco gnomes, just sitting in the corner of a basement at an estate sale. The sale was in its third and last day, and it's hard to believe no one had snatched these up.

Then you spot something you are not even thinking about, like Christmas, or Christmas in July.  If you come across something Christmas and it is marvelous, you've got to strike, and strike we did with these fantastic vintage ornaments, a whole box of them.  

The dilemma is - do I keep them? 
I really want to do our tree in all vintage ornaments, or do I put them in the store because they will look so wonderful in a display? Fortunately, we have a few months to decide.

At the same time we came across this, what I think is, a 50's lighted church.  When I was researching it, one person called it a night light, which I suppose it could be, but most would associate it with a Christmas display. Whatever it is, we had to have it, and it works. Its windows (celluloid?) were coming loose because the tape used to hold them in place was yellow and stiff with age.  It was  pretty easy to fix with a few new pieces of tape.

We also gathered quite a few items which many would call "junk", but for us, they are the treasures of our trade.  You'll get to see those next time.  In the meantime, Happy Junkin'. (See more items  at my etsy shop, justasecondonmain. And there are lots more goodies at Just A Second on N. Main in Rockford.  I'd say in my brick and mortar store, but it's wood and siding.

The Vintage Market's Polly and her touches in our home

I've known Polly for quite a few years, since shortly after 2000, when I began selling goodies in booths at various locations.  

And through the years, especially when we were both at LaDida on North Main Street, I have been attracted to and purchased several of her items.  

And so, since we just finished another very successful Vintage Market, I've decided to share my "polly finds".




First, there was this mirror.  It was in Polly's green phase, a very soft, almost an aqua color. And there it remains - above the mantle.  I like it as much today as I did the day I bought it.








And there's the wine rack, and I may have gotten this from Polly's mom, Kay's booth.
Can't quite remember.  It's iron and has metal leaves and soft rose colored metal blossoms on it. It sits on a pine cupboard in the dining room.

Then we go upstairs to our bedroom, and one of her pillows sets off the other pillows on our bed.

It has a message on it, and I couldn't resist it. In case you can't read it, it says "I could winter or summer with you."  When I bought it, I thought it would mean we would winter or summer in exotic places.  As it turns out, we pretty much winter AND summer right here. And that's OK, too.


Then on to the guest room - where Polly's bark cloth and polished cotton pillow with the eyelet trim graces the iron bed with the antique quilt. 

 

In the close up, you can better see the various patterns and fabrics and how well it picks up all the colors.

And finally, we have the story of the cabinet shown below. Somehow, I was able to trade a copy of one of my husband's books, The First Forest, for the cabinet which, at the time, had no top and either no knobs or different knobs. I subsequently attached an old wooden soap box end to the top, added glass knobs, and there it sits in our bathroom holding washcloths, and soaps, and grandchildren's bath toys.

It is so much fun decorating with vintage and hand made goods.  So many memories come with them.

And, I think it is quite amazing that one very talented and generous young woman has played such an important role in accessorizing our home and enriching the lives of so many.

I think I'm Hallucinating

I keep talking about the deck and the patio and treats outside for Just A Second Sunday Social - this Sunday from 11-2.

And what are the temps? 30's, and it's supposed to be Spring.

And the rain, you'd think it was April.

It has been sunny this month, as these photos, taken last Friday show - shadows and all.

And it has been warm. I was actually out there and didn't need a jacket.

So being the optimist, Pollyanna, as my father used to call me, I will look forward to Sunday, and treats on the deck, and shielding our eyes from the sun, and listening to the sprinkling can fountain splashing into the galvanized tub.

 

And relaxing in the rockers, sipping our special little libation.
We'll visit with friends and neighbors and talk about our gardens,
and plans for the warm weather.

Keep on wishing and dreaming and planning on joining us for a wonderful Sunday Social out on the deck.
We are looking forward to your visit.

More than April Showers are coming...

 

April is coming, and with April comes a couple of exciting events for Just A Second.

Our Just A Second Sunday Social will be held from 11 - 2 on Sunday, April 14, and weather permitting, the deck will be open so we can serve you "Second Sunday Only" special treats "al fresco".

Invite your friends to browse, relax on the deck and visit over coffee, tea, or ???? (it's a surprise!) to accompany our signature "taste of chocolate".

There is also an "on the spot special" available only during the three hours of Just A Second Sunday. Fun, food, festive atmosphere awaits you at our Just A Second Sunday Social. Don't miss it.

Then, the next weekend,  April 19 and 20, we will have a double feature:  we will be participating in The Vintage Market, Spring 2013 to be held in Polly's 100 year old home at 1919 Garfield Ave in one of Rockford's first historical districts.  

The ground floor of her home will be emptied and set up as a wonderful "delight the senses" emporium - as only Polly can do, where you can view and buy vintage and hand created lovelies for yourself and your home.  Area businesses, including some of etsy's creative best, will display their jewelry, accessories, embellishments, and furniture in styles ranging from french country, to shabby, to rustic farm style, to romantic, to urban industrial.  It's your chance to add those special elements to your decor or to buy a one of a kind gift for yourself or a friend.

 

And, secondly, Just A Second and other area shops will be open, so you can continue your weekend adventure - especially important, if you are coming from out of town as so many of you are. You'll want to get the most from your outing and we want to help you do that.

Click this link: The Vintage Market Spring 2013 or the button above for more information including directions, list of vendors, pinterest board, and news as it is released.