After The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market...Reflections....

I am recovering from a whirlwind couple of days...What an event! It is a weird feeling, my head is spinning from thinking about the set up, the event itself, the packing up, and putting things away at home...wow...

I am reflecting on some special moments that occured that I would like to share...special fleeting moments, interacting with customers, that make all the work and stress so worth it...

I met a young girl, thirteen to be exact, almost a young lady I should say, she was the daughter of another vendor that I did not meet, but this young lady came by numerous times to visit and chat and I could not be more impressed with her wit and charm. She chose a set of nesting dolls from my booth and said she would "cherish them forever"...Amazing and bright girl! She had such a great personality, an old soul I think...

Another special moment was when a little baby girl, probably about 1 year old, happily took her new vintage doll buggy for a stroll...so cute! How cool are those parents who bought her that! Some of my favorite moments as a vintage seller, are the ones that happen when a child finds something cool they would like to have from my booth. I love those happy faces....It really make these events truly memorable for me....

I met many more interesting people...I also am honored that Artist, Shopkeeper, and Blogger, Heather Ross, made a few purchases from my booth...I was truly floored! OMG!

So now, maybe another?? We will see..I need to rest now! Or maybe, start hunting for more treasures for the next event!

How to contact me at Farm & Found.....

I had a great day yesterday at the Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market....Even though it poured most of the day, brave shoppers still came out in droves...Thank you to all my customers! Also, it was my first time selling at this market, and it has been the best so far! Leah, the fabulous organizer of this event, did an amazing job, and her family all pitched in and were wonderful....

I have made the mistake of not having business cards on hand, so, here is my contact info just in case you find your way to this blog and read this and need to contact me...silly silly me...I am working on business cards for the next time!

Just email me at mycollectedlife@gmail.com

Thanks again!

Nicole

Collecting, The Official Definition Vs. My Definition

Col-lect: "to bring or come together into one body or place, to gather from numerous sources.." ( This is from my Merriam-Webster Dictionary I still have from elementary school..1975...)

Wikipedia: "The hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, others focus on a subtopic within their area of interest. Antiques are collectible items at least 100 years old; collectibles are less than antique, and may even be new. Collectors and dealers may use the word vintage to describe older collectibles".

I like both of those defintions, but to me, collecting is a way of life, a means with which to connect with like minded people. An excuse to road trip and stop in every town, which in the US, has at least one antique mall (sorry patient Husband!). I love the excitement I feel when I discover something new, something, even after twenty years of collecting, I have never seen before...Thats when I realize "uh-oh, something else to collect!".

My collecting hobby encompasses everything I do, and my career of twenty years in the film industry as a buyer in the Set Decoration Deptartment, really enabled and fed my passion. Oh, the places I got access to, and the people I met. The numerous trips to thrift stores, antique stores, peoples' homes, really kept my interest in collecting going. I stumbled across many a treasure while working, and I really thank my job for that..It was great fun! I even met fellow collectors along the way, with whom I would have never met, and, to this day, I am still friends with...more on that later...

Amidst all the negative definitions about "collecting", I know, I know, OCD! We can talk about that later, for now, let us focus on the fun, creative, and adventurous part of collecting!

Stay tuned, as I bring you information on some items I collect and will give you a peek at some of my past and present collections....

For my Baba, Stella.....

I planted these lilacs, over 15 years ago...Lilacs remind me of my Baba who had lilacs lining one side of her house...Oh the lovely sweet smell...Why oh why did I plant these beauties way out back behind the barn?

Next Project in Line....

What should I do with this???

Like Wagons?

Love Love Love my weekend garage sale score....if you love wagons like I do, you will appreciate this one...I think Donna at Funky Junk might be jealous of this one...Best of all it was free!

What to do when you live in a shoe......

So it has been a while since I posted....I have been stuck...stuck with how to cope with all the stuff.... I am working full time, for a bit, thanks Mom for helping out....So I haven't had too much time to delve into the "basement"....Time is ticking... I am slowly moving favorite things of mine into the storage locker I rented, which is a few miles away...I have moved a few items and am amazed at the great things I uncovered, and have had for years, but have not seen...It is a reminder of the years spent collecting and picking up wonderful things while out and about while doing my work and time frequenting the plethora of antique malls that used to exist here, that are no longer.... I will post some photos ( when I get the time and remember to photo my treasures! ). I should really be documenting what I uncover as I go...hmm..good idea...then I can keep a record of what I pack away..that would be way too organized, but a good idea.... Soon, I will not remember what I have packed away there too!