Are you ready? We almost are. Just some few last minute details to complete then we’ll be ready to roll out the welcome mat! Remember, our first show is just 9 days away in Spirit Lake, Iowa in the Expo Building at the Fairgrounds. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces there!
Czech Glass
Tammy’s on TV! : Thousands anticipated to flood Oronoco for annual Gold Rush Days – KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports
Wham Bam!
Yep — It’s been an adventure!
Keepers Antique Mall
We spent Thursday in Missouri. The day started with breakfast. We found a “joint” outside of Harrisonville that had a pork chop breakfast special. Awesome!
At 8:45AM we followed the staff into Keepers and started shopping. It was a nice first stop. We picked up four candlewick dinner plates, some salts and a great Geisha cobalt chocolate pot set. Then just around the corner we found a HUGE Blenko vase at Trade Fair.
A short drive down I71 took us to Faithful Peddlers in La Mars. What a wonderful place — and the owners are AWESOME. This shop has two floors and Mom decided she was going to start up stairs. And of course, she found the good stuff including a Victorian Brides Basket and a nice RS Prussia bowl. On a personal note — I found a very unusual Spaghetti Santa Nodder — and NO, it is not for re-sale.
We found ourselves having pancakes in Joplin, Missouri on Friday morning.
- Mom tried pecan cinnamon
- Dad had one pinapple pancake and one peanut butter pancake
- And I went with an old stand-by — blueberry pecan
But by 10AM (based on a recommendation from the good folks at Faithful Peddler) we were roaming the aisles at Southside Antiques. Three hours later we had two more boxes to put into the truck that included:
- Red Behemian Cut Glass
- Vaseline
- American Fostoria
- Viking
- Fenton
- Loetz
Hidden Acres
Then based on another recommendation we headed off to Hidden Treasures. This is a neat little one-owner shop. He specializes in crystal, colored EAPG and Asian-ware — and while he didn’t have any moriage — during the hour we spent there I learned a ton!
At that point we ran out of recommendations — so we went back to my internet research and decided to stop in Claremore, Oklahoma. As we drove into town we found a bunch of stores. After a quick drive-by we decided to stop in at the Hudson – Metcalf Antique Mall .
Good decision!
I found Christmas presents for two VIPs. And after a quick conversation they sent us down the road to Tulsa to the I44 Antique Mall. Specifically, they suggested that we visit “Marcia’s” booth. And for the first time during the entire trip I wished we had more money for inventory.
Can you guess what Marcia is holding?
Marcia had Gold Aurene, Tiffany, Irridescent Bohemian. Cameo Glass, Brides Baskets, RS Prussia, Victorian Vaseline, Blenko, Mary Gregory ..do I need to continue?
With an hour to go before closing we identified our “like-to-have’s” — prioritized the items — and chose a cut-off point. Unfortunately I think I’m going to remember the Blenko we left behind. Then after a full day we headed off to dinner.
The next thing we knew — Wham Bam — a young driver smacked into my truck!
Girls Weekend
I’m not just an antiquer — I’m also a golfer. So when the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) invited the Des Moines Chapter to join them for a golf outing in Grove, Oklahoma — I jumped at the chance.
The carpool picked me up bright and early on Friday morning and we headed south on I35. We had a 6 1/2 hour drive ahead of us — and I had antiquing on my mind!
I love to drive I35 because Missouri has this antiquing thing figured out. Every 45 minutes there is a GOOD antique shop — just off the highway. So you can drive 45 minutes — and then shop for 45 minutes. Drive 45 minutes. Shop 45 minutes. Yep — it takes a lot longer to get to Kansas City — but it’s worth it!
Now, if I had had my way — we would have stopped at every antique mall in every small town between Des Moines and Grove, Oklahoma. But alas — I was a passenger on this trip. So I had to strategize. When would we require gas breaks? When would nature call? How long would our knees last? And if I could only convince them to stop once — what would my 1st choice be…
I love this place. They have great dealers with beautiful merchandise. But the one thing that makes them stand out is that the people behind the counter really know their dealers and are more than willing to call them and negotiate for you! And if you are looking for something specific — they know just where to look. Did I tell you I love this place?
My golf mates were very kind — and agreed to stop. To save time I had planned to just shop 3 of my favorite dealers — but the gal behind the counter suggested I look in two additional booths. And that ended up being good advice. I found an unusual RS Prussia Hidden Image Shaving Mug for one of our regular customers.
And two pieces of Czech glass that I know will draw a lot of attention in Oronoco.
I admit I wanted to spend more than 30 minutes shopping. And for the rest of the trip — every time I saw a sign for a mall or spotted that antique flag flying — my heart fluttered and it broke my heart to drive right on by. But I know I’ll be back.
Earlier this year we decided that it was time to do a little picking in Oklahoma and Texas. And now I have a travel plan in mind. I-35, US-71, I-44 — here we come!
Nine Lives Antiques 
