Oh, the Antiqueing We Will Go

One of the things that i love to do is to go to antique/thrift fairs. And, my favourite is a place that is in a small village outside of the town i went to school. Not just because i never leave empty-handed, or because i love day trips, or even because everyone is so nice and friendly (and the deals are too!) but because this signifies Spring/Summer for me.

Aberfoyle really isn't even a town really but a place with an antique fair of 100 stalls and homes that have been converted into antique stores - a perfect destination for a day trip from Toronto. I grew up going to flea markets and antique stores, and my mother instilled the need to have hobbies on both my sister and all. It's what proper young women do, or so i'm told. Collecting things is indeed one of my hobbies. Yes, i am a lover of knick knacks, and our tiny apartment is getting jammed pack. But one day (and for the sake of our stuff, i hope that's soon) we plan to buy a house all to ourselves and all our things. Shuma our cat also loves when we buy vintage or second hand. I know that each piece has a history but Shuma loves smelling everything, and i know he's connecting to the story of each thing we bring home.

Well, yesterday marked the opening season of Aberfoyle and Flamboro fairs. Flamboro is the mega fair - over 200 stalls! The weather was quite nippy but we braved it and oh my goodness, i'm glad we did. Look what we came home with!


And, i love to collect a lot of things - currently my obsessions - call them what they are, right - are hankies, of course, buttons, fabrics, hats from the 50s, aprons, and Pyrex bowls. But, i also have a list of things that i Just Have to Have - and i found a few of them this weekend! For instance, i love those old Italian flower chandeliers. You know the ones i mean. Our house, built in the 20's has one, and i have been dying for one of my own - with flowers that are painted in fun colours, but not a dainty chandelier per say. We bought one at a great price that needs cleaning a work, but i think this will be the piece de resistence in our eventual home. I'm excited yet wonder if i really cross them off my list now, after years of searching? Of course it's just as exciting when i find treasures like this turquoise (!) sewing machine that works for a mere $20. I had to ask the guy to repeat the price. Made in Japan and sold in England, it made it's way here in the 1950s. Wow, i couldn't believe my luck, and i just had to have it, practical purchase or not.