A Safe Place To Land

Looks like the Antique Company Mall is expecting a flurry of feathered friends this Spring. Bird cages seem to be the rage in home decorating. This large green one is ready for occupancy in our booth.

Many others can be found around the store.

They all seem to be a safe place to land!

Dumpster Diving

Not too long ago we were visiting relatives in a nearby apartment complex. As we drove by a dumpster, something caught my eye. I spotted what appeared to be pieces of an old cabinet or bookcase peeking around from behind the dumpster. Upon closer examination we found part of a Globe-Wernicke sectional barrister bookcase from the 1920's. The bottom half of the piece was missing but the rest was in pretty good condition.

Mr. 58 checked around and found a man in Georgia who could reproduce the missing pieces at a very reasonable price. A trip to the glass store and a little stain job by Mr. 58 resulted in a wonderful vintage piece.

You just never know what will end up in a dumpster. Someone else's cast off became our treasure.

You Can't Keep It All

When Mr. 58 and I are shopping for the booth, we have a lot of things to consider. Will it compliment the look of the booth? Is it too big to fit in the booth? Can we get it at a good price? Will customers like it? Will it sell?

However, now and then we come across an item I really like and want to take home. It might work in the booth but I want it for the house. Mr. 58 sometimes has to remind me that I can't keep it all. We do however bend the rules somewhat when it comes to ironstone pitchers....

and brown transfer ware. I love both and have a hard time putting them in the booth. Much of the ironstone does make its way to the booth. Wish I could say the same for the brown dishes. This brown transfer ware bowl was quite unusual with a mother stirring a pot of soup as a little boy watches.

So now you know NOT to come to Booth 58 looking for brown transfer ware. It's probably at home where I can enjoy it every day.

Easter blessings to you and yours from all of us at Booth 58!

Knew We Would Find One

During the Great Depression of the 1930's, many colleges tried to generate a little extra revenue through the sale of commemorative plates. These plates, made by Wedgwood, depicted campus buildings and scenes from the era and were sold in sets of twelve.

This ad ran in the Texas A&M yearbook, ironically called The Longhorn, in 1937.

Mr. 58 and I are both Aggies and have always wanted to have one of these vintage plates. They are quite rare and somewhat pricey. I've joked that maybe one day we'd find one at a garage sale. Not too long ago, we were browsing at a thrift store. Mr. 58 had gone one way and I another to check out the wares. I looked up and there stood Mr. 58 with a huge grin on his face and TWO Aggie plates in his hands. The best part was the price, $3 for both!!

They are displayed with pride in our home and one day will pass on to our children.

Set your DVRs!

So you wanna know where you can find the BEST Chocolate Pie EVER???  McKinney, Texas!

The Pantry has been a long time favorite of ours.... We've made it a habit of eating lunch there whenever we are on the Square.  It is a great family friendly restuarant, a perfect place to meet a girlfriend for lunch, and the best spot to stop for a shopping break.  The chocolate cream pie is a MUST!!! 

The Pantry  is being featured on FoodNetwork this Friday, April 22 at 9 pm.  Outrageous Food filmed them in January building a 5 foot chocolate pie to feed local fire fighers, police, and military members.  Set your DVRs... and then plan your escape to McKinney to come try the pie for yourself!

$50 - OBO

At a yard sale recently, I spotted a great piece of potential yard art. Mr. 58 identified it as a electric washing machine from the early 1900's...lots of gears, wheels and dangerous moving parts; cast iron with a copper wash tub. The tag said "$50-OBO". Our OBO (or best offer) of $35 was gladly accepted and the seller even offered to help load this 200 lb monster into the truck before we changed our minds.. When we did a little research, we were surprised to learn our little piece of yard art was a Apex Clothes Washer from 1917. It was worth 10 times our OBO. You just never know what OBO will get you. We got a great addition to the patio and the seller got rid of a lawn mowing obstacle.

Destination McKinney... this weekend!

Set your GPS to Downtown McKinney this weekend.... There is so much going on!
THIS WAY...

Old Red Lumberyard - Monthly Sale - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
McKinney Trade Days - Third Monday Trade Days
Chestnut Square - The Civil War Comes to McKinney
Farmers' Market - Chestnut Square - Saturday - 8 am - Noon

Don't forget to carve out time to browse Antique Company Mall.  We have some fun new things in Booth 58... including these McKinney Totes... latitude and longitude directions for our favorite town!!!!





I always appreciate Beth's On the Square posts on what's new in downtown mckinney. Check out her blog for tons of great links and her "insider view" of what's going on.