Ready for the 4th of July

I think I love the 4th of July maybe even a little more than Christmas. After all, a hot summer day with a gazillion antique shows to attend, grilled hot dogs, cherry pie, and fireworks over the Iowa River--what more could you ask for?

As you see, I'm getting ready early this year, painting everything that gets in my way in red white and blue, happy colors always.

A Stop in Marion

I found these amazing Victorian baby shoes in Marion at Antique Avenue, they must have been saved for Sunday best, they are in pristine condition.

A Fun Sale

We headed out to Fairfax for Simply Iowa's Memorial Day Sale, it did not disappoint. I actually remembered my camera and got some wonderful shots of her displays. I was totally enamored of the Mad Hatters Tea Party, isn't it just the best?

The Longest Trip Across Town

Yesterday, we went across town to a yard sale and were going to come right home. Well, it was such a nice day, we decided to keep driving and since we were so close to Hwy 6, we headed on to the Mississippi River town of Muscatine. Muscatine has the most gorgeous Victorian homes overlooking the river, downtown still looks much as it did one hundred years ago. There used to be a million antique stores, but sadly now down to just 2. One is worth going for though, Manleys Antiques downtown, a beautiful store with everything from primitive kitchenwares to Victorian toys and clothing, all wonderfully displayed. The other must stop is always the Cotton Shop, a primitive fabric store where I always spend a million dollars.

After enjoying the view of the river, we decided LeClaire wasn't that far away, and why not drive there? It is a tiny river town on the edge of the Quad Cities, worth a trip just to look at it, paddle wheel river boat parked at the dock, Victorian homes looking out over the river, a real treat.

Well, we picked up a flyer that Geneseo Illinois has an antique mall, and again, why not? So, off we went across the river and had a great time at C & S Antique Mall, lots of good finds. The photo is wonderful antique spoons turned plant markers.

Patriotic Primitives

I finally finished a few of my red white and blue projects, they will be in the ebay store this week. I have tons left to do, including a nested set of bowls in red white and blue, a stack of breadboards in the same shades, red spoons, blue spoons, mustard spoons, hoping time will allow!

Great Iowa Stores

I have been shopping like crazy this week, mostly for the store and a little for my own selfish pleasure (and I must say, the old bank account now has tumbleweeds rolling through it). I go south to Kalona all the time (see Sisters and Rug Cottage on the blog list), this week I headed a bit north to Anamosa, where Gatherings (new to my blog list) might win for best primitives shop in the land. If you adore primitive antiques, take your smelling salts, you might just keel over when you walk in the door from being overwhelmed by the best of the best. This store has it all, and although she has great photos on her blog, it doesn't come close to showing how wonderful this store is. My obsession with dough bowls and bread boards always gets a helping hand, there are hundreds of them, all in great shape. There are so many odds and ends, little dolls and whisk brooms (yes, I bought some of those too) and crocks, old flags, great prim pillows, and I could make this list go on forever, trust me, just go there, you will love it, and want to spend hours just to see everything.

A Good Day

I started my birthday with a lovely email all the way from England, what fun! I also got wishes from my sister. I very briefly considered throwing myself a pity party that no one else remembered, but thought better of it and set out for a wonderful day with my girls. We went to Amana and bought fabric, fabric, fabric! They have the best Civil War reproductions, and I am glorying in my pile of blue and red beauties as some women might look at their priceless jewels. We then headed out to Cedar Rapids, which will forever be Cedar Rabbits to my youngest. I slowly pronounce Raaapppppiddds, and she smiles and says, " I know, Rabbits!" She is in good company, there is an old story that back in the train days, when approaching the city, the conductor would announce "Ce--dar Ra--pids!" It is said that travellers went to peer out the windows, since they just heard "See da rabbits!"

Well, the first treat is caesar salad and creme brulee at Biaggis. Next, we head to Marion, which is attached to Cedar Rapids, and has all the antique stores. Big score, I found a late 1800s quilt top in dark blues and reds at Park Place Antiques. Next, we just love Antiques of Marion, the owner gives me the best deals and he always has a great selection. I got a dough bowl with an old repair, very nice. I also got an old cast iron mail box bank that is painted red and a very cool prim cast iron horse bookend with the chippiest best paint, not sure I'll be able to send that off for sale....