Mmmm, I love the smell of vintage in the morning! If you needed further proof that I have a serious vintage obsession, you should know that I barely slept a wink last night, as I knew we were heading to one of the largest antique shows in Canada this morning (it had 300 vendors). Basically, last night was like my Christmas eve, except instead of visions of sugar plums dancing in my head, whirling images of undiscovered frocks and swoony bric-a-brac (for me and for the shop) waltzed inside my brain until the wee hours. Five AM rolled around and the pooch was ready to get out and about, so I sprang out of bed, threw together my outfit (1930s bakelite sunglasses from eBay; 1930s feedsack blouse from Etsy; nudeedudee belt and bespoke 1930s skirt from my two-piece dress set, 1950s basket purse from 13bees), did some emailing, and before I knew it, it was GO TIME. The show started at 8:00AM. We left at 7 AM, stopped for breakfast, and reached the grounds at 7:30AM. The parking area was already half filled and people were lined up outside the circus-like area where the vendors were set up. By the time 8 AM came around, I was like a race horse out of the gate. Good thing, too because I KID YOU NOT, just inside the gates was the first of only a few stalls with vintage clothing and HONEST TO GOODNESS, guess what my first (and best) find of the day was: YEP, a 1930s cotton dress...in my size. SPOOKY, I tell you...and very very lucky. Why can't I have this sort of luck with lotteries and such? Anyway, I'll show you the dress in another post (maybe tomorrow's, depending on what we end up doing). Back to the show. Although it started to get incredibly warm very quickly and I now feel a bit sunburned and dehydrated, I got a couple of lovely things for the shop, saw a ton of amazing antique items, and got to try on a $700 Alphonse Mucha-esque Egyptian Revival headpiece. Believe me, it wasn't my idea to even dream of asking to slip that thing on my head. The seller was the sweetest lady ever and she told me to come over and get some photos with it on. SWOON! Enough chitchat: see below for images of the sights today.
Early bird ready for action
Think pink (depression glassware)
Game face on, Baroness springs into action. Considering I was in my own little slice of heaven here, it is fitting that the sun's rays were cascading down in such ethereal prismatic beams. SWOON! I wish that carpet bag in my hand had been more affordable and in better condition. Alas, it had tons of smudges and stains on it and was therefore not worth $40 to me, so I had to leave it behind.
I just LOVED the black and white scheme in this booth filled with Victorian and Edwardian amazingness. I was so happy that the vendors at this show were so amazingly friendly. I snapped tons a pictures without anyone getting grumpy.
THE $700 Egyptian Revival headpiece the seller begged ME to try on. Tempting, but it did NOT come home with me.
LOVE this little scenario. I think the Hobo Clown is exasperatedly but unsuccessfully attempting to convince his French doll wife not to send him packing after it was discovered Hobo clown had been stepping out with Boudoir Doll in next stall.
One last look at the swarming hive of antique goodness. What a day!!
20 comments:
I love your outfit, those sunglasses are so cool!! Looks like so much fun, I love those boots in the Victorian/Edwardian stall!!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue
That headpiece looks good on you!
I LOVE that shirt. And that headpiece would have been wicked with a sequined 20s gown. But not for $700!!! Hola.
The last antique show here in Calgary had oh...40 vendors? And oh...60 patrons? lol. On a Saturday afternoon to boot.
Love your outfit. How lucky to find a 30s dress in your size right off the bat. Sounds like a lovely day.
the perfect antiquing outfit. you look spot on. those photos make me wish i were there. looks like such a good time!
Your outing looks so fun!!!! I can't wait for the flea market season to pick up here in Michigan.
Wow, that looks like it was awesome! Can't wait to see the new dress!
Sounds awesome! I'm jealous! Can't wait to see the new dress. :D
Just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look in the pic with the egyptian headpiece. You're smile is gorgeous:)
Wow, that does look like a piece of heaven! And your outfit is perfectly darling!
Everything looks soooooo amazing, I really wish they did things like this where I live! Though it all does sound so so pricey, which is at the same time understandable but a shame too as you looked divine in the headpiece! Guess the most special part is that it's a great opportunity to see all of those bits and pieces of history on show, it must be magical to be able to see and touch all of those things...
Btw, wonderful detailed post as always, the best part of your blog is that when you post about the places you visit you always give us such a great glimpse at everything you see, something I appreciate a lot when reading your blog as you tend to see some pretty amazing things, like Avonlea *sigh*
Lots of love
Harlow
xxx
what a lovely shirt you have! and a 300 vendors vintage fair sounds very satisfying indeed!
Thanks, darlings! I literally had amazing flapper-filled dreams last night because of that headpiece. Glad you liked my little feedsack blouse. Being made of rather delicate cotton, I foresee that it has only got a set number of outings in her, so I felt like this was a worthy occasion to wear it.
I've "said" it before, but I really am glad you all enjoy these posts of my outings. My mom is an avid reader of my blog and she insists I put up as many pics of my goings on as possible, so I am happy I am not boring everyone else silly in the process.
Harlow Darling: I cannot believe how much antiquing and flea marketing goes on around here. As Rueby knows, the Western part of Canada (perhaps due to its smaller population and 'newer' history, just doesn't have such big events). I really had no idea I was moving to my own personal vintage heaven when my husband and I decided to take a chance on a once-in-a-life-time job promotion and move across country!! While I seem to gravitate towards the most expensive things going (at least while "window shopping"), I actually snagged some really really great deals. Mind you, I was only really buying vintage clothing and accessories, not furniture or other pricey antique collectibles. ;)
Where did you live before? I'm in BC. we never (that I know of) have anything like that. I'm super jealous, haha! I guess I'll have to be content with living it through your blog. :)
Kir, I was born in raised in Edmonton, Alberta, but lived in Vancouver BC for ten years before moving out here to Ontario last fall!
Sounds like a great day! Your outfit is adorable :)
Looks like a great show! That head piece is too amazing.
I'm still having dreams about that amazing headpiece....and wishing I had been able to spend all day there!!
nothing gets my heart seriously racing like a scene of grass, tents and antiques....as far as the eye can see. the bag looks fabulous on you!
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