Burton Antiques Market

We have been going to this show for more years than I want to admit! SO many things in our home come from the Burton Show. (Including my husband's wedding band!)
It happens every June and September in Burton, Ohio, about 20 minutes from where we live. Today's event was a particularly good one one, I thought. Lots of vendors and perfect weather. Cool and cloudy.
Much better than those times when we slogged through mud while dodging raindrops trying to stay warm, or baked in the heat of the hot sun.
I resisted the urge to splurge on furniture, as I really have no room for anything, but I did come home with lots of treasures for upcoming SToNZ necklaces:

A great heavy sterling curb chain which will become part of a few bracelets, 4 sterling silver thimbles, a little megaphone charm (bottom right corner), 3 small padlocks with their keys, and a nice pile of old keys. Oh, and a wonderful oak frame. Score!

One person's junk is another's treasure. I was like a kid in a candy store in this booth!

Faucet knob heaven!

These elaborate handmade dioramas are amazing. Real folk art collector's items that belong in a folk art museum. Two scenes with all sorts of little figures of people and farm animals. There's a mechanism underneath that rotates and makes the figures move. I think they had a $6000 price tag on the group. If you look closely you can spot Popeye having a bite of lunch with Olive Oyl. Maybe it's supposed to be a county fair scene? Just a guess.

Some great old Disney stuff:

For the Beatleophile. That's a thing, right?

Daffy Dan sighting!

Cleveland Rocks.

Don Draper, I found your shades.

Industrial is still super hot.

Is that bellows large enough or what?!

Apparently keys DO grow on trees.

If you are thinking of going to this show in September, here's a little advice:

Get there early (it's worth paying the extra $20 to beat the crowds), bring cash and a checkbook, don't be afraid to bargain but be polite about it, dress for the weather (it might be muddy, hot, freezing...bad weather can be your friend as there will be fewer shoppers and the vendors will be eager to unload stuff rather than carting it home) and try the french fries. They are unfriggin' believable.

Sneak peek at the new three.home

The new location of the fabulous Chagrin Falls store three.home is shaping up and just about ready for their grand re-opening / Once In A Blue Moon SToNZ Trunk show this coming Friday and Saturday. (Though Rory is still working her magic and adding more great stuff every hour until Friday!) Here's a sneak peek at what's "in store" so far, in addition to SToNZ Jewelry. 

These pics will make you say, "I want to go to there!"

Report from the Ashtabula Beach Glass Festival 2011

Yesterday I dragged my husband to Ashtabula for the third annual Ashtabula Beach Glass Festival. I have been working with beach glass for several years and though I am not big on selling my work at shows, I do enjoy supporting other artists and seeing what they are creating. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too windy. There weren't huge crowds, but the vendors I knew said that they were doing well over the 2 day show. I especially enjoyed seeing my Cleveland Handmade teammate Jacquie of Jlynncreations, whose work sells like hotcakes on Etsy, and the beach glass fine silver jewelry made by Dottie Gilbo of DMG Creations. Her pmc work is just lovely. Another stand out was the booth of Youngstown native Marcie Roepke-Applegate of Flybird Designs. I had a thing for her cast bronze metal clay maple seed pod pendants. 
Another great Youngstown jewelry artist was Kathy Grantonic of Just Sayin'. Her booth was perpetually crowded for obvious reasons. You can see her whimsical work in her Etsy shop here.

Thought you might enjoy a few photos from the event.

Wow. Beach glass mosaic windows!

Afterward we headed the nearby Walnut Beach and did a little beachcombing of our own. Actually found some great stones and beach glass in spite of the fact that there were a lot of like-minded beachcombers there that day.

Walnut Beach, Ashtabula, OH