Tuesday, March 22

Late UNI-Dome show shots...

A few random shots of what was left at the show on Sunday morning. Pack up was lickedy split as we had nothing big left. Things went very smoothly and now I just have to empty the boxes into the shop over the next few days.








My friend, Amy, at had a big sale the last few days and I bought a bunch of stuff yesterday. I'm going to go to the shop and send dad home early today and get to work pricing and cleaning those things up. One of my dealers moved out yesterday and I have a booth of lovely emptiness just waiting for me to go to work on. I absolutely LOVE having a blank spot to work with. I've got some plans, but most of it will work itself out as I go along. I am thinking that I am going to move the stuff in the baby area so that I can move my big cases into the area where that display is and open up some new possibilities out by the counter area. It's really going to be a lot of shoving, but my hips have taken on plenty of padding (unfortunately) these last few weeks so I'm thinking I can handle it... wish me luck!

I'll try to post some before and after shots over the next few days... make sure to check back...

Until next time - Polly Ann

Saturday, March 19

Dad is doing great & Waterloo shoppers rock!!!

My daddy had his carotid artery "reamed" out on Wednesday. The doctor came out and told us he scraped a bunch of gravy and some "debris" out of there. He has a large incision which is glued shut on his neck and has quite a bit of swelling, but is otherwise doing GREAT! He is NOT happy about missing the show at UNI this weekend, but if he does what the doctors say he'll be out and about in no time flat. He was in the hospital overnight and this picture was taken about 12 hours post-op. He's at home and is doing great with ZERO pain killers... what a guy!!! Continued prayers are always welcome... thank you !



This picture was taken Wednesday night when we took a little time out before heading to Cedar Falls for the show on Thursday... I love this man... he's got it all! :0)




We're having a FANTASTIC sale at the UNI-Dome! I've sold so much and I just keep spreading out... Thanks to Susie from Minnesota for making a bunch of holes to fill :0) I am so sad that I didn't get a picture of a cupboard that I bought early on Friday and sold early on in the show. It was SOOOOOO sweet. Wanda (if you're reading this) I think you would have loved it!
I've been crazy busy with the show and never even got any pictures taken of my booth. Sorry ;0(

The shop almost always has a rough weekend when I've stripped it for a show, but not this weekend. We did some great business and have tomorrow yet to go at the shop and at the show!
I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful people out there I call my customers and my friends. It was so great to get all the hugs and well wishes from those who heard about my craigslist woes... I'm over it! I know in my heart that I did all I could do and whoever it was just likes to complain and step on others to make them feel better. I've prayed for them (thank you for the reminder, Miss Karen ;0)) and I will keep my chin up and always and all ways strive to do better in the future!

Life is good in my world!!! Love and thanks to all... bless you - Polly Ann

Monday, March 14

I'm really sad...

Someone posted some really frustrating comments about my shop on craigslist... I'm not sure what to do... any suggestions?

A few of the past weeks' sales...

These are just a few of the "finds" at Polly Ann's that have recently been "found" by their new owners. It's always interesting to watch some items wait around for the right fit. I truly believe that happens...
This clock FINALLY found a new home... thank you, thank you, thank you to the new owners!
My sweet friend Karen took this little treasure home to use in her new, tiny, bathroom to hide her hair dryer, curling iron, etc.
The stairstep shutter set behind the table went to a new home today...
This little children's writing desk went out last week.
A sweet gal named Amy from Monroe, Wisconsin is the new lucky owner of the shabby chic bedroom set. She's so excited and that makes me very, very happy. I love it when things find the right home.
This kitchen cabinet had a cool old red linoleum top on it... who know's what life now has in store for it... bye bye :0)
This is going to be a cherry red wine storage refrigerator in a retro red kitchen in Iowa City... I wish I could see it finished!
This one had lots of possibilities... the new owners were sure excited about it!

Friday, March 11

Rediscovered art and beauty...

I am a girl with a frame and print problem. I have hundreds of each and I bought a bunch more just Wednesday... my husband doesn't get it, but all of them deserve to be given a new chance at life. The frames come to life again with the paper and glass and a little TLC and the print is so vulnerable without the protection of the frame. I have magazine covers and scrapbook pages that someone long ago found worthy enough of saving... I feel a compulsion to help them. I especially love the ones that are a bit rough around the edges... frames and prints. They tell a story all their own... I hope you enjoy them...
A few of my framing projects from the last few days... most of them on the right side of the display are relating to little boys, many with a fishing theme... the ones on the right are dedicated to the ladies...
Wonderful old ad for Cosmos from a seed catalog... I repainted the frame and it turned out great... wonderful colors. Love the little girl with the "loving wishes" sign, too ...
Sweet little girl with her bunny toy... the frame is missing almost all of its original silver paint... love it!
This is an unusual bunny print... you can't see it in the photo, but it has some sort of Asian symbol or signature in the lower right hand corner... great orange accent color...
This is one of my favorites... a little girl at the beach... it's a print taken from a Mother Goose book... "Seaside"... I used the little pottery basket in front as a sand pail with the little red shovel... so sweet... the little creamy frame has a wonderful little blue border...

Did I mention that I love putting prints and frames together. I could lose myself for hours in my framing studio... in fact... I did just yesterday. Bobby texted me sometime after 5pm and asked if I was working late... I lost all track of time and was sad to have to leave my projects.

Thursday, March 10

More spring views...

It's been a great month so far at the shop. We'd certainly love to have more traffic, but those who are coming in are enjoying themselves and are finding treasures to take home with them. I spent today framing and fluffing the shop. I'm so excited to get to play with my favorite colors again. I'll try to get some pictures posted this weekend of some of the framing projects. There are some sweeties!!!
I finally got a good one of these... I've had several clothes pin holders over the years, but most of them are threadbare and faded... not this little sweet heart. She's in great shape. So fun to play with...
A great batch of hankies and Easter postcards... $2.00 each... can't beat it!
I like this Georgian Eggshell pattern of dishes, but I LOVE this little covered creamer in Harker's Cameo pattern... isn't it adorable?
I love these little hoop skirt dress forms... I have two sizes... I put a bunch of dresden plates on for a skirt and it's OH so YUMMY!

Tuesday, March 8

Ahhhhhh.... the colors of spring!

These photos are of the front room at the shop that Bobby and I have been working on the last few days. We have another show coming up next weekend in Cedar Falls at the UNI-Dome so I'll be tearing it all apart again. For the time being I'm loving every little detail of the spring colors and florals. It makes me happy, happy, happy!!!
I love these Nippon pieces... the colors are wonderful! I filled the chipped cup with one of my yummy soy candles... recycling at it's prettiest!
Mmmmm hmmmmm.... more Nippon and pretty pastel colors... my absolute favorite time of year right now. This is the time of year that I make sense... what I do actually makes sense...
Pretty and delicate hand made and embroidered pillows...
More for the birds... Isn't the mixer cover yummy?
One of the set of pastel chairs... I'm having so much fun playing with these!
McCoy and other vintage planters and pottery pieces... the two big planters on the top shelf are new but are WONDERFUL... love the aqua color!

A cute little corner of the front room with a wash station and medicine cabinet...

"Just Ducky"... sweet little Easter and spring shelf...


Monday, March 7

More images from the show...

My son came along to help his Grandpa and his mom with set-up... we wore him out...
Love this little green wicker table... only $129
Pottery and linens sold very well at the show... my bell jar with the eggs sold right off the bat...
I love these old wash tubs... this one is in great shape. It made for a fun display piece... I played with it all weekend long... and then I brought it back to the shop :0(
I needed an upholstered piece for the show... I've been storing this one in my front room at home for a while now... no one ever sits up there... I LOVE this fabric... Ralph Lauren

Rock Island, Illinois Antique Spectacular

A few glimpses of our booth this past weekend in Rock Island... we sold well, but not as well as I had hoped. I still have most of the furniture. Very few furniture pieces sold for the entire show, so it wasn't just me. Traffic was good and everyone seemed to love the "spring" theme I was sporting.

Dad's ice cream sign lasted until Sunday... the "Cabins" sign was one of the first items to go...
Can't understand why no one snapped up this little white bookcase/shelf... it's fantastic...
Sweet little tablescape... of course, my favorite little tablecloth on the table went to a new home... :0( I didn't get to play with it long enough... same with the little pink cubbies under the sofa table... bye, bye
My husband took this picture... wish I wasn't in it...
Really, Bob... really? I just wanted a picture of the booth!

Thursday, March 3

On the move to Rock Island Antique Spectacular!!!


Here's a photo from our Rock Island booth a couple years ago... this time I'll have garden, spring, pastels, patio, Easter, and florals... Can you tell I'm ready for spring? Hope to see you all there!!!

Tuesday, March 1

Linens for the Antique Spectacular this weekend... ey,yey,yey... so much left to do!


Linens for the show this weekend... I've been ironing tonight, too... I love linens, but they are so much work... I have a thousand linens waiting to be finished if I have one and I'm NOT lying!
Anybody want a job?

Love this one... going to make it a valance...
Pillows that need to be sewn/hemmed... will she get it done... YES... SHE... WILL!!! (I think)



Tablecloths, tablecloths, tablecloths... love these darn things... so many have issues, but I love to layer them with other linens... cover the spot or hole with a doily or some other fun linen... the possibilities are endless with linens!