THE LATEST HAPPENINGS

 An honest answer is like a warm hug. Proverbs 24: 26 The Message

As I look back at my posts I realize I've been posting just one post a month. Not what I had hoped to do when I first started this blog. I had hoped to post much more often! But the reason for this blog in the first place was to let you all know when our Hob Nobber sales were coming up and also to share some of our "finds" before the big sale and the adventures we had finding them! But change is a part of life and as we got older the work became harder. It became quite a huge project to fill this big old house with vintage and antique finds, as fun as it was! So that's when I opened up my online shop, Gwen And Alma's, on Etsy. Later my daughter and granddaughter joined me in this endeavor. Hubby Les, became our shipper! Occasionally we had a booth at Gold Rush in Rochester but later stopped doing that as well.

Presently we are still selling in our online shop, Gwen And Alma's! Hop on over there to see some of our latest finds!

One thing that we started doing is having a yearly garage and vintage sale to begin downsizing while also selling some of our Gwen And Alma treasures. So I'll be sharing here when our next garage sale will be. Most likely in September. So keep an eye out for it! You might also want to check out our Instagram page which Elissa will be taking charge of and will be posting photos on there! 

As mentioned in several posts I'm also sharing about how to simplify your life which, as I think about what I've written here, doesn't sound like I'm doing any simplifying myself! Hahaha! It's a work in progress!

Another thing that's in the planning stages is a Centennial Celebration for the Plummer House in 2024. Read about the Plummer House on another page seen at the top of our blog. The Plummer House was built from 1917 to 1924! It took 7 years to build this 49 room mansion! Next year it will be 100 years old! So we're planning an event to celebrate! I'll share details as it gets closer!

Every year my granddaughter, Gili,  sets up a Fairy Garden on the grounds. We found a spot at the bottom of a stone stairway that is hidden just until you come around the corner and there it is! A pleasant little surprise! People began leaving change in the little shell that we set next to it! That was a magical surprise for US! It never amounts to much but we save it and buy new things for next year's garden. Below is this year's Fairy Garden.

              Gili posted a little note that reads, "My Fairy Garden...Enjoy but please don't destroy!

Stay Cool!

Sandy 

A PLUMMER HOUSE TOUR AND MORE TREASURES FOR THE POP UP SALE

Charity is twice blessed--it blesses the one who gives and the one who receives.  Anonymous

Had a fun day today giving a Plummer House tour for a group of 10! A young couple, both doctors at the Mayo Clinic, had just married two days before. They were a beautiful couple! The bride and her family were from India and the groom and his family were from Mexico. They also brought along two friends who were photographers so it also became a photo shoot. 

After showing them the ballroom, they turned on music from one of their phones, and grabbing partners, everyone danced! So it also became a dance party! The photographers took photos and videos. It was fun watching them.

They were very lovely families and they insisted on me getting into one of the group photos. I regret not taking a photo of THEM! 

I went to an Estate Sale this past weekend, gathering up more treasures for our big Hob Nobber Pop Up Shop on November 2nd. I found some very fun items! I don't have photos of these new pieces but will share some things that I purchased previously that will be for sale:

And for this next sale we will have one room filled with Man Cave Items! Tell your guy friends, your husbands and fathers, because we will have some very special treasures for them! I'll show some pictures of these items in another post! Even if you don't have a Man Cave these could be used in your lake home, cabin, or even in your own home! Also includes some vintage hunting, fishing, and sports gear! They won't want to miss this!!

A BUSY SUMMER AND NEW FINDS

Every situation- nay, every moment- is of infinite worth: for it is the representative of a whole eternity. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

It has been a busy summer so far! Lots of time with our grandkids! Last week was Gramma Camp where two of our "grands" ( 10 year old Charlie and 7 year old Gili ) came to our house for four days. It was fun and exhausting at the same time! The theme was "Under The Sea" and among the activities was a visit to "Sea Life" at the Mall of America! If you haven't been there it's at MUST SEE! 

You walk through a tunnel where you are surrounded on both sides and the top by the aquarium. So swimming overhead are sharks, fish, turtles, and sting rays. You can get up close and very personal with these creatures of the deep. 

I happened to see a couple of Estate Sale signs and I reeeeeeally wanted to stop but it wasn't on the  Gramma Camp agenda so.....we had to pass right by it!

Elissa ( daughter and co partner in G&A's ) has been finding a lot of great treasures. While I haven't been "picking" as much as Elissa this summer, I've got quite a stash of treasures that I'm able to pull from to list every week. So we have new items listed weekly!

Here are a few treasures, some listed, some not yet:

French Galvanized Bin

Mid Century Modern Wood Decor

Large Bee Hive Jug

Vintage MCM Ottoman and Decor

Enamel Hanging Soap Dish With Cup

Cut Glass Salt Cellars with Sterling Spoons

 

MCM Malmac

                                                             Go to gwenandalmas.etsy.com to see more!

                                                               AND LOTS MORE!

NEW LISTINGS AT GWEN AND ALMA'S

                        In the Spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.  Margaret Atwood


 Are you getting ready to get out there into the dirt? The gardeners here are out working hard already. Ben has planted Pansies in the big pots by the door but now is using his blower to blow leaves, dirt, and other junk off the driveway and sidewalks.

For my part I've just purchased indoor plants as mentioned in a previous post. I don't smell like dirt, yet, but I'm working on it!

I've listed a few more things in my Etsy Shop, Gwen And Alma's! I'll post some of them here but go check out our shop to see more. I'm trying to get up to 300 things for sale on our shop but things keep selling! Not complaining though! I love to hear those Cha Chings! In case you don't know what I mean by that.... Etsy's site is set up so that whenever you make a sale, your ipad makes a loud CHA CHING noise! If I'm on the ipad, engrossed in reading something when it cha chings, it scares the bejeemers out of me! But it's so FUN to hear!

So here are some latest listings:

Tomorrow I head out to the 100 mile garage sale around Lake Pepin! Hope to pick up some great stuff! I'll be listing some and taking some to Gold Rush this month! See last post for info on  Gold Rush.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sandy

P.S. Click the  link to go to our  Etsy Shop

If you like something, "heart" it! Thanks!

NEW FINDS

Last week in addition to many Fourth of July festivities with family, I managed to fit in a couple of Estate Sales! Some of these will be listed in my Etsy Shop, Gwen And Alma's and some will go to our Hob Nobbers sale coming up this Labor Day weekend! Les will also be taking some things to Gold Rush in August.

So you have THREE places to purchase some GREAT DEALS!

This PRIMITIVE MILKING STOOL caught my eye right away!

This looked like a FUN DECOR PIECE...

Loving the color red in this cute little CHAIR, HOOSIER JARS, AND WHEEL BARROW...

Oh, yes, and another VINTAGE SCALE....

I'm also on the lookout for OLD WOOD BOWLS...

And of course, GRANITEWARE, always catches my eye...

I always manage to find a PRETTY TRAY WITH LACE...

Always some RED WING...Elissa found this one!

And for something unique...if you're looking for MEDIA ROOM DECOR....Elissa also found this VINTAGE FILM SPLICER WITH REEL

I've never heard of these but it looked pretty cool...Can you guess what it is?

                    Give up? it's an ANTIQUE CANDLE WICK SCISSORS ON A TRAY!

             An last but not least, this POSTAL MAILBOX DOOR TURNED INTO A BANK!

 

                      And yes, there is more but you'll have to check out our sales to find out!

 Don't forget to mark your calendar for our Labor Day Weekend Sale and Gold Rush in August! Also check out our Etsy Shop here

Thanks for stopping by!    Sandy

ESTATE SALE FINDS AND A HUGE WOODEN BOWL

We just returned from our trip to Florida! Had a nice relaxing and fun time! I managed to find some Estate Sales along the way using the website "Estate Sales. Net". We found one in Tennessee on the way down and one in Alabama on the way home! We found some really fun treasures!

Once I get photos taken I'll post what we found. These will be for sale at our Hob Nobber Spring Sale and some may be listed in my Etsy Shop Gwen And Alma's! In the meantime here are some things that are being listed this week at Gwen And Alma's!

             Other than the coverlet I picked up THESE treasures BEFORE we left for Florida!

And I happened to find this HUGE, and I mean HUGE, wooden bowl for sale online. The ad said "HUGE" but it still didn't hit me how big it was until I picked it up! This is an amazing find which someone will love to have and it will be for sale at our Spring Hob Nobber Sale!

                        It has a wire around the bottom of the rim kind of holding it together.

Until Next Time!   

Sandy

NEW FINDS NOW LISTED AT GWEN AND ALMA'S

I'm really enjoying having my Etsy Shop, Gwen And Alma's! It's fun being able to sell to people all over the U.S.! Most of my customers live on the East or West Coast, a few down South. I have had some requests to sell in the U.K. so right now I'm working on the details of selling Internationally.

I have ideas of how we could make this a Full Time business but being retired I'm not sure we have  the energy to build a huge business at this time. However, we would like to build it big enough to be able to sell the whole business some day. So our goal right now is to grow our inventory, build our brand, and keep expanding one small step at a time.

          Since we started a year ago, our sales have increased significantly each month! I can't believe people keep finding our little shop!!

                                       I have 11 of these little Swanky Swig Glasses for sale...These are the glasses that got me started collecting vintage treasures in the first place...

                             And we continue to find more interesting vintage and antique treasures...
                              
                                      Like this handy dandy Notecard and Pencil Holder

                                        Organize with this 8 compartment wire basket...

                                         How about an antique Flow Blue Salt Container?

 
                                                       Harry Potter Glasses, anyone? 

                      For Your Office Desk....A Vintage Retro Letter ( or napkin ) Holder

                                                            And just in time for Easter...Collect more and make an Easter Banner

                                                        Some Great Granite  Ware....I was going to make one of those three tiered storage holders with these...Great idea for the "buyer" of these fun rusty granite bowls!

                          And a darling Chick Tablecloth for Easter! But this already sold!

You can see more photos of these and even MORE new items listed in our Etsy Shop at gwenandalmas.etsy.com. Hop on over!!