As winter turned to spring and people started to plant new annuals in their gardens and switch out their sweaters for tank tops in spite of the persistently cold and dreary weather in the Northeast, we were busy sprucing Wanda up for the approaching vintage market season. Much to my husband's dismay, I decided she needed a darker coat of paint to help withstand the wear and tear of camping and some fresh accents to go along with her new paint job. I was very nervous about going darker in such a small space, but I have to say, I am pleased with the results.
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| This is my favorite spot to cozy up in the camper, and one of my favorite new additions is the "Wanderlust" banner behind the bench. |
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Here she is in all her sage glory set up at A Whole Lot of LuLu in Phoenixville last weekend.
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| An angle that I think shows the new color off nicely. |
Once the paint dried and the new decorations were tacked up, it was just a matter of time until Wanda hit the 2016 Vintage Market Circuit. Of course, she started off at
A Whole Lot of Lulu in Phoenixville. The corner of Bridge and Main in downtown Phoenixville is beginning to feel like a second home to Wanda, and Keeley and Joan, the dynamic duo who run the market twice a year in May and October, are quickly becoming like her favorite aunts.
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| There's no place like Bridge and Main. |
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| We bring so much good stuff that we need two spots. |
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| It's fun to see the surprises we have tucked away inside, too. |
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| Wanda's the perfect backdrop for a display of cool 70's block prints done by a local artist. |
Miraculously, the Saturday of LuLu was the only dry day squeezed into a week's worth of lousy, wet weather. We bit our nails the entire week leading up to the market, hoping the forecast would hold out for us, and it did. Fortunately, lots of shoppers took advantage of the break in the weather and came out to browse all the vintage and handcrafted wares being offered by the 50+ vendors at the market. As a bonus, everybody was treated to music provided by the Thrifty Discount DJ's who take the responsibility of spinning vinyl that will take you back in the day very seriously. This time there was even live musical entertainment by an acapella group and crafts for the kids.
It was an all-around great day, and the perfect occasion to unveil our brand new vinyl banner. One of the secrets to making it through this crazy ride we call life with a smile on your face is learning that sometimes it's the little things that matter most. We're all about appreciating the little things at Vintage Character, and that's why a simple thing like a new sign can fill us with inexplicable joy and satisfaction.
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| Like it was meant to be there all along. |
Please bear with me for a brief commercial break. We used
vistaprint for the banner, and we are super happy with the results. We've used them before for business cards and mailing inserts, but never for a big project like this. I already knew the site was very user friendly and easy to navigate so I was willing to attempt the banner. I did pretty well for my first try and when I did hit a snag with a resolution issue, the woman who worked with me on their customer service line was gracious and knowledgeable. If you are looking for a reliable and affordable printing service, I recommend vistaprint.
And before I sign off, I wanted to give a shout out to Lisa Vonderstuck and her crew from
Brandywine View Antiques. Although Wanda, was not in attendance, Vintage Character officially kicked of the 2016 market season at
The Massive Barn Market in Chadds Ford, PA. It was our first time at the barn market and only their second time hosting it. The event has grown quickly from the original 50 vendors last spring to include 100 vintage sellers and 10 food trucks this year. Watching the customers lineup down the road for the official opening marked by a 9:00 AM rope cutting was pretty spectacular, as was the weather and the steady flow of shoppers who visited our tent all day long. The Massive Barn Market is a relatively new market, but it is one to keep your eye on. I predict it will only grow and get better each season.
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| Build it and they will come. Maybe Lisa got her inspiration from "A Field of Dreams" |
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| All set up and ready to go. Loved the natural setting and the fact that the proceeds from the market benefitted The Chadds Ford Historical Society |
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| Baskets and rolling pins were hot sellers. We left with only two rolling pins from this photo. |
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| You'll find good stuff wherever you find Vintage Character. |
That's all for now. Peace out from my mobile office, AKA our mini van. Thank heavens for mobile hotspots and husbands that are willing to drive all 990 miles to Alabama. Long car rides are the perfect opportunity to catch up on things you never seem to have enough time for.
Until next time,
Stacy
