LOOKIN FOR JUNK IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES............

FOR ALL OF YOU SINCERELY VINTAGE FANS, HERE IS THE CATHIE COX COLUMN FROM THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE

NEW CENTURY COLLECTOR
ENJOY!

 

 

In addition to selling vintage wares at flea markets and the antique mall, I sometimes have people come to my house to “pick.”  They often ask me where I find all the treasures I have collected.  Here are a few  ideas  on how to find the good stuff.

 

Read between the lines...  Online classified ads for yard and estate sales are one of my best sources for finding vintage items. However, yard sales follow the law of diminishing returns, so I make sure that I only go to the sales with the best potential during the short window of opportunity each week. First, type “antiques” or “vintage” into the search box in the garage sale  section on KSL.com or craigslist and then “sift.” Look for phrases such as “40 years of accumulation,” “Grandma died and we’re cleaning out her house,” or “shed is full.” I avoid ads that say they have antiques and lots of new items, ads that only list one or two antiques, ads that list high prices and ANY ad that includes a Healthrider.

 

It’s a lovely day in the neighborhood. . . As the saying goes, “Location, location,    location.” Get to know which parts of town (or the state) work best for what you are hunting for.  Many vintage aficionados prefer the Avenues and Sugarhouse for their picking. Others have discovered their own “secret” neighborhoods that yield treasures galore. Give different parts of town a try until you discover which ones are your     favorites. And don’t rule out rural areas or distant parts of the state.  Find areas that work for you. . . and go back often.

 

Talk to sellers...  What you see is often not all you can get.  Recently I went to a yard sale that advertised that the house was being demolished.  When I got there all that was outside was newer merchandise.  After asking a few probing yet polite questions, the homeowner invited me to go inside – where the vintage items were hiding. I came out with several choice items including six ornate wood chairs.  Another tip – flea market sellers and antique dealers frequently have additional merchandise in boxes, under the table, in their trailers, or back at home.  Asking them what else they have will often yield fantastic results.

 

Be a detective...  The best vintage isn’t   always on top.  Or in the living room.  You’ve got to be a bit of a detective, opening drawers, cupboards and boxes.  Look under the table, at the bottom of the pile and behind the bookcase.  Look in the  basement.  Once I went down into a cellar (that was basically a hole in the floor under a trap door) looking for treasure.  That  wasn’t the word I used for the dead cat I found down there that the owners weren’t aware of. . . . Another time I found an incredible tweed suitcase at a sale – with three vintage dresses inside.

 

Get down and dirty...  Here are a few    suggestions Ki Nassauer offered on how to shop a junkyard in the spring 2013 issue of Flea Market Style magazine: “Search online for ‘junkyard,’ ‘scrap yard’ and ‘salvage yard.’ Work gloves and sturdy shoes are a must.  Anything you buy is likely to be filthy.  Muddy.  Disgusting.  If you don’t have a pickup truck, bring something to shield the floor of your trunk.  Both you and your car will need at bath at the end of the day, but the junk makes the grime worthwhile.”

 

Road trip!  A vacation is always a nice idea, don’t you think?  Why not take a junking vacation your next go-round.  Flea market magazines love to publish lists of vintage sales and there is a new nationwide online vintage guide called FleaQuest that will give you the skinny on vintage sales, shops and flea markets from Atlantic to Pacific.  In addition, there are several “hundred miles-long” yard sales – most in the East and  Midwest – to give even the most seasoned junker something to drool about. So rent yourself a U-Haul (http://www.uhaul.com/), decide where to go (www.fleaquest.com), pick up a Trip Tik travel map from AAA (google “Trip Tik”; then type in your starting point and your destination) – and don’t   forget to haggle!

 

Before you go. . .   Remember an over sized tote or two, a flashlight to illuminate those dark spots, a thick wad of cash, and a friend to help you carry your stuff home. Happy junking!

                                                            Sincerely, Cathie

 

 

 

 



PUT A LITTLE MAGIC INTO YOUR LIFE.............. COLLECT!

IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED HOW SOMETHING AS WONDERFUL AS THE NEW CENTURY COLLECTOR ARRIVES AT YOUR FAVORITE ANTIQUES OR VINTAGE SHOP
EVERY MONTH......

WELL......

MAGIC OF COURSE

JUST GIVE THE COVER A LITTLE CLICK, AND TAKE AN EARLY PEEK AT THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE!

FARM WITH CHARM

NANCY LONG, FOUNDER OF GARDNER VILLAGE IN
 SALT LAKE IS SELLING HER PERSONAL FARM IN RIVERTON.  LOTS OF BUILDINGS, LOTS OF COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.  CHECK OUT HER AD IN AUGUST ISSUE OF THE
NEW CENTURY COLLECTOR

 

 JUST CLICK ON THE PAGE TO OPEN UP THIS MONTHS ISSUE TO CHECK OUT THE FARM ON PAGE 3

 

 

WORKING OUT........ VINTAGE STYLE!

FLEANASIUM

 

Nothing can slow you down if you're in good "flea market shape". Saturday morning, Lyn and I jumped up at the crack of dawn, tore two grandsons from their warm beds, guzzled a cup of coffee, scarfed down a banana and a bagel, jumped in the car, and, nearly tore off the rear door as I tried to pull out before it was completely closed. Un-detoured, I reassured my cowering grandson, slammed, pushed and cajoled the door until it would latch properly, quickly recomputed the necessary speed to reach the old Pleasant Grove gymnasium for the FLEATTITUDE 8:00 am early entry time, and was on my way. I'm certain I saw a neighbor hold up a paper scorecard that had a perfect 10 on it. I was the posterboy for flea market fit. 

 

These are the coaches at the "fleanasium", FLEATTITUDE promoter's Jen Reed (left) and Cathie Cox (right). 

 

40 minutes later we were standing in the fleanasium, all of us sporting that "let the games begin" look on our faces. As usual, Lyn began shopping her way to Nirvana, I started kicking tires in search of a bargain, and it didn't take long for my Grandson's Max & Jackson to shed their amateur status.  We weren't there for 5 minutes before I noticed Jackson, a budding antique camera collector, taking advantage of Mike Sovic over an old Kodak autographic. 

 

An hour or so later, Lyn a found a few trinkets, Jackson another old camera, and Max was the proud owner of a 1940's geiger counter. My hands were empty, but all that meant was that I could get a start on saving the money to fix that car door. 

 

If you're not taking your morning exercise at the fleanasium, you're missing out on a lot of fun. Don't miss the next one.  Be sure to keep an eye out in the New Century Collector for upcoming FLEATTITDE markets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





For our blog readers that follow Cathie's "Sincerely Vintage" column in the collector, here is her article from our August issue.

 SINCERELY VINTAGE

by Cathie Cox

 

On the prowl for retro in Utah?

Here are five of your best bets:

Decades, 627 S State St, Salt Lake City, 801-537-1357, Mon-Sat 11-6; Sun 12-5.  Love vintage clothing?  Then you should run to Decades, where the inventory is endless with plenty of retro in the mix, and the prices are incredibly reasonable.  Owner Justin Ferguson, who has been collecting vintage clothing since he was very young and has experience in theater costuming, says the prices “make it fun if you come. . . and then leave with something.”  An example – most cowboy boots are in the $24-35 range.  Out-of-state customers will fill bag after bag – to take home for resale.  As for selection – let’s just say you’ll be impressed.  Mens’ and womens’, all sizes.  Dresses, tops, bottoms, shoes & boots, handbags, coats, furs, hats, ties, jewelry, even a suitcase full of suspenders!  Ferguson says the quality with older pieces is amazing, making it a considerable value, plus you won’t see anybody else in your outfit.  Got a thing for retro clothing? Decades is your store. . . .

 

Mini’s Cupcakes, 14 E 800 S, Salt Lake City, 801-363-0608, Mon 10-5:30; Tues-Fri 8-5:30; Sat 10-5 and 1751 S 1100 E, Sugarhouse, 801-746-2208, Mon-Sat 10-6:30.  In the mood for a snack after some serious retro shopping?  Then stop in at Mini’s where authentic retro is as plentiful as cream cheese frosting.  Owner Leslie Fiet has retro in her blood.  She begged her grandma to give her the retro lamp in the basement – at age 11.  80% of her clothes are vintage.  In her shops you’ll enjoy your food on a 50s Formica and chrome table with vinyl chairs, or maybe you’ll curl up on a vintage sofa next to one of those retro lamps.  Mini’s is based on what Fiet remembers as “a better time.”  “My grandma baked everything from scratch.  The way we bake is from the way Grandma would have done it,” she says.  So “come in and sit on Grandma’s couch and eat a cupcake.”  They also have incredible box lunches.  BTW, my favorite cupcake is “The Diva” – dark Belgium chocolate with pink crème cheese frosting.

Now and Again, 501 E. 300 S. Salt Lake City, 801-364-0664, Mon-Fri 10-6; Sat 11-6.  Ask Now and Again owner Michael Sanders to define “retro” and you better be prepared to stay a while.  After all, he has carved a niche in Utah – defining the term via his shop, which is perfectly stuffed with “an eclectic mix of retro, vintage and mid-century modern. . . .”  Those retro lamps you eat by at Mini’s – buy them at Now and Again.  Looking for one of those sofas?  Ditto.  Just about anything you could want for your retro home you’ll find here.  Sanders has designed his store based on his definition of retro: “items from the recent past – whimsical – vibrant colors – forced organic shapes – over the top.  Think orange lamps, kidney tables, turquoise fabric.”  Welcome, Utah, to Now and Again.  

Retro Betty, 2821 S 2300 E, Salt Lake City, 801-467-2222, Mon-Sat 11-7.  One step over the threshold into Retro Betty and you’ll know you’ve come to a “happy place”. . . and one conversation with owner Amanda Parrish will confirm that.  Named after Mad Men character Betty Draper, this small yet incredibly charming shop houses colorful 60s-style home décor, upcycled furniture and amazing retro clothing that’s displayed professionally and priced so you can get a bag-full without draining your wallet.  Parrish says she got her love of vintage from her mom, who took her to flea markets in the South when she was a child.  Retro Betty celebrates its one-year anniversary in September.

Retro Rose, 207 E Broadway (300 S), Salt Lake City, 801-364-7979, Mon-Sat 11-6.  “As long as you have one beautiful thing in each room, you’ll always have a conversation piece,” declares Marci Rasmussen, owner of Retro Rose and the sole buyer for the store – which happens to be overloaded with “conversation pieces.”  It’s like a candy store for retro enthusiasts, and I promise you won’t be able to stop buying at just one piece.  Artfully decorated by color with “out of the ordinary” retro-abilia, Ramussen says her emphasis when purchasing merchandise is on color, quality, and usability.  Retro Rose has been in business for 12 years, and you won’t come away disappointed if you truly love retro.

Sincerely, Cathie