A GIVE-AWAY AND GOLD RUSH

 We are getting close to having 1000 sales in our Etsy shop, Gwen And Alma's!! As soon as we hit this huge mark we will be having a Give-Away on our Instagram account @gwenandalmas.

Follow us on Instagram to know when we are having the Give-Away! It might not be long so head on over and click "Follow"!

Also we are having a space at the upcoming Gold Rush event in Rochester, Mn on the weekend of August 20th-22nd. This is the 49th anniversary of this event! People come from all over the U.S. to attend! And the different vendors are from all over the U.S. as well! You won't want to miss it! This is one of the largest Antique/Flea Market shows in the Midwest covering 52 acres of fairgrounds both inside and outside!

We are really excited about coming  back to this event. We will be bringing Farmhouse Decor and Mid Century Modern Decor as well as some other unique and fun finds! And those who purchase will receive a discount coupon  for shopping in our online store!

We will be showing some of the treasures we will have at Gold Rush on our Instagram account so check it out often @gwenandalmas!

In the meantime you also will want to check out our Gwen And Alma store to see our wonderful finds! Go here to see them!

Plummer House News: After a year of being closed due to Covid, we are now open for rentals and also Wednesdays for Self Guided Tours. Check out my Plummer House page to read more about the House and our role here. 

Here's a sneak peek at a few of our finds at Gwen And Alma's...

                                                   

                                                    Antique Copper Soap And Glass Holder

                                                                  Vintage Enamel Pot

                                      Four of these sweet vintage German candle and flower holders.

                                                            AND SO MUCH MORE!

MORE TRESURES FOR GOLD RUSH

Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it.   Robert Heinlien


  We're gearing up for Gold Rush! We've been hitting some final sales before the big event and the countdown is on! Now we have to make tags, give the treasures one last cleaning, and pack 'em up! We try not to wait until the last minute. It ends up being back-breaking! We are getting OLD but it's always encouraging to see even older sellers at Gold Rush. On either side of where we usually have our booth are couples that are in their 80's and 90's! They make ME feel older than THEY are the way they run around!

So here are a few bigger items we'll be bringing to Gold Rush:

This table will be coming to the sale this year! It has been in my Laundry Room for quite a while now and I have another table I'll be using in there. We're working on downsizing so one has to go. This table was handy because any spills of laundry detergent could be easily wiped off this enamel top table. It was hard to choose which one would go but the other one gets to stay because we bought it as a gift to ourselves  and used it in our last house as a kitchen table. Brings back good memories STILL.

This old Hitchcock Chair is another guy coming with us. The rush seat is in great condition though the wood is a little scratched in some places. I saw a picture of a chair exactly like this in Country Living magazine. I've loved this little guy also but he needs a new home.

This primitive black coffee table will be there! It's the perfect size for a small space but also opens on both sides to add table room when needed.

And more fun stuff to come! I'll also be bringing some items from my Gwen And Alma's shop to sell and you can see those items here. 

I'll be sharing more things that will be there in the next couple of weeks.

And even though this collecting and selling is still a "Hobby" for us, we find other fun things to do as well. We also enjoy spending time at the Lake on our Pontoon with the kids and grandkids. We always have fun with the kids and enjoy the beautiful scenery as well.

             

We also see fun wild life like these migrating white pelicans that make a stop through this Lake on their way through...and some Sea Gulls in the background.

Hope you're having a fun and relaxing summer!

Thanks for stopping by!  

BAKERS RACK GOING TO GOLD RUSH

   Gladness of the heart is the life of a man, and the joyfulness of the man prolongs his days.  


We will be having a booth at Gold Rush in Rochester. The event is being held on August 17, 18, 19.

Here is one thing that will be in our booth:

 This old industrial bakers rack ( or shoe rack ) that I purchased at an antique shop a few years back.

It has metal posts at the corners and four wooden dowel shelves. There is a fifth space at the bottom that can be used as storage also by using the steel beam frames. 

I am trying to create a simpler lifestyle by downsizing so I've decided to let this go. I've used it as storage in a little office I have but it really takes up too much room for the space. At the time I purchased it I had been looking for one of these for years so when I spotted it I had to have it! 

 

        It had been on the second floor of the antique shop, called The Button Factory, and had to be sent down on an old elevator. The shop is unique in that it is in a very old building that previously was a button making factory. They made pearl buttons from clam shells taken from the lake. The town sits on Lake Pepin, an enlarged area on the Mississippi River.

We have our pontoon on this lake and I've spent many years on this lake going back to when I was a child. The Mississippi River marks the dividing line between the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. So while we live in Minnesota, when we're at the lake we can look across the river  to see the bluffs in Wisconsin.

I'll be sharing more photos in the coming days of more treasures that we will be bringing to Gold Rush. Hope to see you there! 

GOLD RUSH SUCCESS

                        Don't GO through life, GROW through life.  Eric Butterworth


We've finally recovered from Gold Rush! It was a whirlwind week of cleaning our treasures, tagging them, packing them, and then unloading them in our booth. That was followed by three days of selling and of course, more buying! The first day was raining and COLD! Fortunately we were inside. The people who had planned on being outside didn't set up until the following day. I was surprised  that we actually sold some things! The true diehard collectors and shoppers still came! We did have to have our winter jackets, boots, and even mittens. It was THAT cold, even inside! But still, as always, we had FUN!

I managed to remember to take a few photos of our booth.  Some of the items in the photos have sold and others are being listed in our Etsy Shop.  We sold a lot of the furniture on the first day. A large green cart was sold to a lady who was going to use it for an outdoor wedding and then giving it to a friend who had a floral and garden shop. I love it when someone finds something that is just perfect for their needs. Some of our items go to photographers to be used as photo props. Others, of course, are happy to find a treasure for themselves. There were even shoppers for Mother's Day gifts and I happened to have just the right items! So all in all it was a success for everyone!

                                     And these were  just SOME of the treasures we had.  Be sure and check out my Etsy Shop, here, to see more!

GOLD RUSH...NOW IN ITS 46TH YEAR!

                   Gwen and Alma's will be at Gold Rush this coming May 11th! We'd love to see you there!                      

                                           GOLD RUSH 
                        ANTIQUE SHOW AND FLEA MARKET
                        
                      OLMSTED COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
                                      ROCHESTER, MN 

                                          MAY 11 - 13

Now in its 46th year, Rochester Gold Rush is known to be one of the top antique destinations in the nation!

Covering the entire 52 acres of the grounds with vendors from across the U.S.  Including 10 buildings, 3 arenas, and the grounds outdoors!

                                 You won't want to miss this! 

          FREE ADMISSION AND $5 UNLIMITED PARKING

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! FINALLY!

                    No Winter lasts forever; no Spring skips its turn.  Hal  Borland


Hah! Actually I WAS beginning to think that Spring was skipping its turn this year. Winter went on forever it seemed...But now I can feel Spring in the air!

And so with Spring in the air...

                     ....We're getting ready for Gold Rush, an Antique Show and Flea Market!

                             ...I'm buying new plants!

I bought a new hanging plant. I've tried several times to keep plants alive but have failed. Now I'm trying to turn over a new leaf in this area and treat plants like pets ( so to speak ).  I even began naming them. I've purchased a few smaller plants and so far so good. I started naming them after my Grandmother's sisters and so far we have Sigra, Emma, and Vera. The Spider Plant above is new and named Francis and my new hanging plant I named Madie. She's a fern.

Say "hello" to Madie!

                             ...the gardener's here at the Plummer House are planting flowers in pots! Love pansies!

                 ...The first outdoor wedding here at the Plummer House ( see Plummer House page ) is taking place as I write! I can hear the music from here.
                 ...Les golfed for the first time this year.
                 ...The snow is finally melted.
                 ...We went for our first outdoor walk today.
                 ...And we're working on de-cluttering and simplifying our lives.
                 ...OH! And one more thing..."Baby" is sporting one of Les' baseball caps. And some glasses.

 

YUP! Spring is here! 

GOLD RUSH

Les and I spent the weekend at Gold Rush as vendors. We had fun, sold some stuff, and filled up on the BEST Kettle Corn around! We also met many interesting people from all over!

Our space is divided in two areas. Right smack in the middle are two back to back shelves which can't be moved. So it doesn't always leave room for a lot of creating vignettes. But it DOES help in having things to put small items on.

                Les helped out setting up items on the shelves while I put together little vignettes. I tell him where to put things, of course.

I sold the Seed Rack to the perfect couple! It will have a good home! As they came by the husband said, "I have to have this!" He said it brought back so many memories of his Grandma giving him packets of flower seeds to plant and these were some of the  kinds of seed packs she gave him! He still plants flowers and is a Farmer and uses the exact seed company listed on the bottom of the rack. It was meant to be!

                                       
                                           So nice when treasures go to the perfect home!

I also did a little shopping myself and bought a cute little ladder and a wire basket. I"ll be bringing these to our Hob Nobber sale to sell. I wish now I would have bought more...

Just met with the Hob Nobbers this week to run down the layout for the Fall Sale. We keep things pretty much in the same areas. But one difference this year is that we will have more than toys and linens upstairs. So you're going to want to make sure and get up there! We're going to mix up some things a little bit!  There will also be a Christmas Room filled with Vintage Christmas Decor as mentioned in a previous post. We also have some Vintage Norwegian Wool Sweaters for the cold winter coming up. And some of the collectible toys will be around the house in various places. So you're going to have to hunt and take a few trips around the house to make sure you see everything! We will also have some antique books if you're into old books! And folk art and whimsies! Folk art make great collectibles so make sure and check that area out! So pretty much LOTS of everything!

Hope to see you there!

GOLD RUSH, HOB NOBBERS, AND GWEN AND ALMA'S

Les and I will be taking some Primitives and other Goodies to Gold Rush in Rochester, Mn this August. This event has been around for many many years and draws hundreds of vendors each year. We will have a booth in a building that is in front of the 4H Building.


Actually Les will be there MOST of the time because I will be taking care of our Granddaughter. But I WILL make an appearance. We always have fun at this event. We know a couple of other vendors in this building from Rochester also. And we've come to know another couple from another state we've met that come back every year as well.

Somehow I keep finding antique bath accessories...

I found this old metal antique bath stand that holds up to three basins and has a hook for towels. It would look great in a bathroom filled with towels and bath accessories. I will be selling this at our Hob Nobber Sale this Fall.

And this HUGE enamel rustic tub would also look great in a bathroom filled with white fluffy rolled towels. But you could also use this as a planter, or many other fun uses could be found as well. This will be going to Gold Rush with us.

And I'm not sure where I'll take these collars but I thought they were so cute I picked them up! These
 are white antique collars that were worn back in Victorian times. They are in good shape. They might end up in my Etsy Shop. I have four of these but am showing only two of them here.

I have three places I'm selling items currently. Well, four if you count Craigslist. You might want to check out all four as each place lists different treasures.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sandy

GOLD RUSH

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

We just finished Gold Rush, one of Minnesota's largest Antique Show and Flea Markets! Les ( with granddaughter, Brianna's help ) really took on this project because he enjoys working alongside some guys he knows. They have a lot of fun! He also learned some new lingo, like the "Be Backers" ( people who say they will be back, but don't come back ), and the "Looky Lou's" ( people who are just looking ). Personally, I have been BOTH of these kinds of people. ; )

Helper, Brianna

We sold some stuff but it was a lot of work! First of all, it was HOT and HUMID. At least we were in a building where the sun didn't beat down on us. Some poor folks had to bear the sweltering heat all day under the sun. It was in the upper 90's with high humidity. Ugh! There were also fans in our building and we had plenty of water so it was somewhat bearable.

In the short time that I helped out, I was mistaken for Bri's "Mother" instead of her "Grandmother" so that made my day!

Some young lady bought this old wedding photo and said, "This is going to be my new family".

I wish I had taken more photos but I was busy running back and forth between the antique show, helping my Mom who had just had a knee replacement, and taking time to celebrate family birthdays with a dinner. It was a busy but fun weekend!

In the short time I was at the show I found a nice library table that I thought would be a good fit for our upcoming Hob Nobber sale. But instead of buying it, I traded it for the vintage horse above. I was kind of sad to see the horse go because I really liked it. I kept it in our living room between sales but since it didn't sell at our last Hob Nobber sale I decided I could let it go in this trade. I know I'm going to miss it but I can't keep everything! I think we both got a good deal in the trade!

ANOTHER NEW ADVENTURE

Since my husband started collecting with me we have amassed SO MUCH MORE and have also found some bigger items that fit in well with other "events". So here's what we are going to do: We are renting a space at the Rochester Gold Rush! I'm really excited about it! Since this is our first venture into this type of arena we are not sure what to expect but  we DO  KNOW we'll have fun meeting people with the same love of  antiques, vintage, and old stuff that we have. 

This event is  a few weeks before our Hob Nobber sale so you'll have a chance to purchase some of our finds BEFORE our Hob Nobber event.  We'd love to see you all come out and see some of the things we have. Of course a small space at Gold Rush is not even CLOSE to the amount of treasures we will have for you over our Hob Nobber Labor Day weekend event so you won't want to miss that one either!

1930's grocery scale

One of the things we will have for sale at Gold Rush is the scale pictured. It is a 1930's grocery store counter top scale. It is in great condition, still works, and  has amazing graphics! I can see this fun treasure in someone's  large  vintage kitchen or perhaps in a market owned by lovers of vintage. It makes a great conversation piece as well as adding to the great vintage feel! Anyone who loves VINTAGE and FOOD will love this piece!

Graphics on the opposite side

So be sure and put the Rochester Gold Rush on your calendar, August 17-19, along with our  "now annual" Hob Nobber sale!