I’ve been so busy playing with the new kitty, I’ve forgotten to post about all the loot I scored last weekend when BF and I went to Lancaster.  (I got a great deal on a resort out there via Groupon, and loving the great prices on antiques the city has to offer, how could I not get the voucher?)

Saturday we woke up and started by trekking to Crackleberry Farm Antique Mall.  After a few minutes of browsing I thought it was going to be a real bust, just nothing I was in the market to purchase.  But since we were there, why not walk all the way through it…and in the last 4-5 stalls I visited I hit the jackpot!

A vintage Coach Bucket Bag for a phenomenal price:

and a Waylon Jennings album…HELLO!!!!!!

After, we drove a few more minutes to a town called Intercourse, PA (and yes I laugh everytime I say the town’s name, because I am the poster child for maturity).

In Intercourse, we stopped at a Pretzel factory, had a snack, and bought some to take home:

Next door was an Amish run antique store which I wish for the life of me that I could remember its name because I would absolutely hands down recommend this tiny shop to anyone.  Not only was the man working overly friendly and informative with a rundown on each item’s history, but also the prices were out of the world unbelievable!  So much so, I had to tell him he had a price tag mislabeled when we looked at this amazing antique trunk:

While I know Lancaster is not NYC, you too would question a great piece priced at only $20, no?  However, turns out that was indeed the price.  SOLD!  (just a little TLC and some clean up and this trunk is about to hold my blankets and quilts!)

I also loved the print of my man, Abraham Lincoln, that the store had for sale.

Turns out the frames are made by Amish farmers using repurposed husk drying frames…that’s where the wood of the print’s frame comes from.  Who’d thought?

In addition to those two items, I couldn’t keep my sniffer away from these wonderfully scented handmade soaps either, and the horse one was a total given that I’d be buying.

On Sunday, with breakfast in our stomachs, we hit up the downtown area for shopping. Sadly, not everything is open on Sundays.  But lucky for me my favorite store (like favorite store EVER, not just in Lancaster), Mommalicious, was open.

I ended up purchasing some new perfume they’re carrying by Tokyomilk.  There were so many scents it was hard to choose, but I settled with Arsenic partially because of the name, and partially because of the imagery on the bottle.  Plus I got a free sample of hand cream…ALRIGHT!

After, I stopped in a head shop and got some new incense,

then into an antique store that had 1/2 off everything on their 1st floor…meaning these bracelets were all $2 each…how could I not buy more bling that I don’t need??

I also grabbed a much needed fruit bowl while I was in that same antique store (also 1/2 off).

And lastly, before we set off on the open road to head back to NYC, we stopped into Building Character. It’s a warehouse that has about 40 stores in it.  BF got himself a printer’s letter tray/holder to put up in his office and put whatever inside.  He took a real interest to the old art of printmaking after we took a quick tour of the printer museum housed within.  And I, well I got a new vintage dress, because thats’ the way I roll.  It’s cute, I can see myself wearing it in September, early fall.  And I liked the print, and little detail at the front waist.

So you can see why a girl like me would love a quick weekend trip to Lancaster, PA.  Between the great antiques, vintage fashions available for cheap, and the Amish goodies, what’s not to like?

Scored myself a new hoot owl today!!

Whippin’ up frames & vintage patterns for some wall art in my craft room!

All part of what I think is a creative mind, my mind!  I had this idea after going to the flea market last weekend.  They were selling pages from vintage kids’ board books, and I found a few with images of shoes or dresses and thought they’d make a great way to spiffy of my otherwise plain white walls.  And if I put them in simple black frames, all the better!

However, I wasn’t sure, so being the new “thrifty shopper” I’ve become, I put the board book images back down and walked away.

Fortunately for me, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head on the way home.  And thankfully, the lightbulb went on and I remembered I had some old patterns from my mother when she was in high school.  So, I pulled out her 1960s patterns and sized them up.  A lot of her envelopes had tears, or maybe it was the design and layout of the Simplicity patterns, who knows?  I put her patterns back where I store them, and began my search for decent condition patterns.  I found that my liking veered toward the Butterick aesthetic, the fashion illustration lover that I am, I really enjoy their drawings the most. 

I managed within days to track down three, 1960s Butterick patterns, in ok condition, all within my size so I can sew these dresses myself if I want, and all having illustrations of black, white, or yellow dresses (the color scheme of my craft room).

I went to Michael’s last night to hit up their frame sale (50% off all frames…woohoo!), and I walked away with my wall art project almost complete!

I came home, whipped these babies into the frames…and voila!

Once this craft room of mine is in viewing shape, I’ll have some pictures, its been a work in progress, and slowly but surely its being transformed into a home office this girl is really going to enjoy!

…is another man’s treasure; right?  RIGHT!

I went to Brooklyn Flea today as planned, and picture frame hunting (as mentioned in yesterday’s post) was a total strike-out.

One vendor had the sizes I needed, but for the shape they were in there was no way in hell i was giving him $95.  C’mon!  just because this is NYC, I don’t get some of these vendors’ mindset.  Seriously, I can find something in the dumpster down the street in much better shape and looking infinitely cooler…and it’ll be FREE.  And so the hunt continues…no worries, I’ve got time. This girl does not need a picture frame stat.

I did however, luck out in other realms…and that made my flea market trip grand!

1.  I found this vintage tin serving tray (unfortunately it looks pretty dull in the photo, no justice served at all), in person its got a metallic sheen.  I bought it to place on top of my soon-to-own vintage liquor cabinet that BF has stashed away at his mom’s house.  It’ll look perfect holding my doo-dads when I make cocktails!

2. BF and I splurged a whole $5 to spiffy up our fridge’s door with this funny magnet.  I personally get a kick out of how tiny that little alien guy is…so seductive just like the magnet claims.

3. And my favorite knick-knack of all…the innards of a real parking meter.  It still works too!  We’ve been slipping spare change in its slots all evening.  I get a kick out of the tick-tick-tick sound it makes, and I like when the money runs out and the Time Expired piece flips up.  Of course, this item was sooooooo necessary for BF to purchase I know. (wink wink)

What can I say?  BF and I are suckers for shit we don’t need, obviously!

Its natual that I would look better in this ’80s vintage tee than this meathead.  So who wants to bid on it and send to me when they win???

I’m in Lancaster, PA…and slightly in love with the small town goodness of it all.  Lots of cool shops, and tons of great vintage treats…So many baubles!! Loving my Saturday antiquing excursion!

Just got some new “FLAIR” for my gang vest! (Taken with instagram)