Show and Tell - February Auction

I love Auctions!
The research weekly in our little free newspaper, the excitement as I see one in the area that, after a quick skim, looks promising, and finally knowing that one of my weekend days is now planned after reading the complete bill.

All week long I talk about it, reread the auction bill and check out any pictures if it happens to















be with an auctioneer that has "modernized" and has a web site. I worry about how I will get home any treasures too big for my car and think about who I can borrow a truck from. Then on the morning of the event I organize my bags, grab some tools, incase I need to take anything apart, get some small bills for the possibility that I might be able to buy a treasure out of someone's "box" they didn't want and add in a book just incase there are long pauses for selling guns or coins that I just am not into. And off I go.

I always leave time to peruse the selection before the actual auction starts since these are no refined Sothebys events.

These are country estate auctions. Often boxes are loaded with anything from bottle of cleaning solutions, to rusty old huge chains, to drill presses.( what ever those are).

This was no exception. The crowd was huge. Most are just there for the entertainment. Not much to do in our rural part of Wisconsin on a long winter weekend. The only downfall for winter auctions are prices are usually higher. Everyone is waiting for Spring and haven't been to an auction all winter. Never the less I was able to scoop up a few goodies.

The amazing oil painting of the pansies will stay with me. I have wanted one for ever. However the rest will be for sale at my shop this April at my first open house of the season. Especially check out the painting of the lady and the dog. This is a watercolor from the 1930's. Beautiful isn't it?

Kath

The Passing of the Princess

One of my best friends passed on yesterday. Velvet enriched our (and supervised) our lives for 16 years. She was my gardening buddy and we will greatly miss her.

Show and Tell Monday

I am participating in Make Mine Pink's Show and Tell Monday. I spent most of yesterday adding new cottagey vintage and antique goodies. Check them out here and of course I would love you to pop on over to my web site too.

I hope you all look at my sister MMP sites too. They are always busy little bees and will have lots of new products or inspiration.

Have fun today looking at all of the Blogs and Stay Warm!

Kath



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A Time For Change

We are having the cold spell of the decade right now. It either makes you want to stay in bed and pull the covers up or rebel against it and try to better your personal world. I am choosing the later right now. (the head in the covers option may happen before our long Wisconsin winter is over however).

I am doing some personal research and soul searching through a couple of sources.

1. I'm reading a great book I found, and I'm sure many of you have already read, called Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny. I am finding it amazing for not only looking at how you handle money but basically how you take care of most aspects of your life. Bottom line; it's all about self esteem.

2. The second book is great for your body or head. It is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Her belief is that your belief systems can make you sick and heal you. Very interesting concepts and lots of great affirmations.

So think of me in the 30 below wind chills working on my beliefs, body, and finances. It will be interesting to see what comes of it all.

The last change is something I didn't think I would ever see. Our Samantha (the German Shepard) and Dimitri (our persnickety miss kitty) were found sleeping touching! I guess the cold got to them too!

Keep Warm.

Kath

P.S. Oh and I did some changing around in my Dining Room. What do you think of the new Bay Window set up?

Show and Tell-Christmas

Well Christmas has come to the Whitford's. I finally got most of my decorating done. It had started right after Thanksgiving when my daughter was home but as these things will it did not get done. Off to her home she went with her boyfriend and Mom was left with an idea of where we were going with our decorating but no more help. Oh well it was great to have the help when she was there and some new ideas too. Check out the pics and check out all of the busy ladies at Make Mine Pink to see what great things they are up to.http://www.makeminepink.com/forum/Topic128209-77-1.aspx.

Oh and you will see my very tired helper that replaced my daughter....

See you next week. kath

Xmas At Retromantic Antiques

Christmas is coming to Retromantic Antiques and Mineral Point. After much procrastinating, research for inspiration,stressing out I finally came to my senses and called on some friends and family for help. Not something I am very good at doing. An evening of fun, creativity, and a little wine and great food from my in house caterer, and Voila! Xmas arrived! The night before Deborah and I put up a little window on the main street of my little town. Hope it will help the locals and visitors to Mineral Point know I am around and open for business. (Well once a month any way)

I will be open 2 weekends for all your vintage decorating and gifting needs. The dates are November 28 & 29, and December 6 & 7, 10-4 both days. I've included some pictures of my little window downtown,a couple of the set ups we did at the shop and one of your photography shy blogger.

Let me know what you think and I hope I will see you soon.

kath

New look with the help of my friend

I'm sooo excited! I have the new look for my Blog I wanted! I love it. I think it reflects my antiques just perfectly. Once my Pink buddie Gail http://cupcakesandcutestuff.blogspot.com/ helped me figure out one little thing Voila a new blog look. It is free from the http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/.Check them and Gail out. Gail makes really cute jewelry so start your Xmas shopping early(along with some vintage shopping from Retromantic of course) lol.

I spent yesterday getting lots of my vintage glasses loaded on my web site. I want to get the rest loaded today and take more pictures of them for some alternate views. I am on vacation and really want to use the week to work on my business. Now that summer is over and I will be inside it's time to take it more seriously. I'm really ready for it. I am also working on a window design that I am hoping to be able to do in an open store front on our main st downtown for Xmas. This should help people find me and my little shop at my house.

Stay warm and let me know what you think of my new look. I love to hear from you. kath