Gypsy Lea's is Lookin' Good

Gypsy, Kris, Donna, Kate and I spent a large part of today getting the shop set up for the sale that starts next Thursday. It was a regular furniture ho down with furniture dancing everywhere. We are probably 75% done, but things are still moving around. We try to keep the smalls out until we have the furniture in place. So there is still an entire layer of smalls to smear over the tentative furniture set up.

Window shoppers were everywhere today.

My tuba and iron fence.

Donna lifting and hoisting.

My cog table.

Original Mame poster and my red ladder.

These benches are elegant.

My china cabinet (in brown). bahhhh!

Gypsy polka-ing.

Tables over tables next to tables.

Great buffet in greenish brown paint.

More photos from the final set-up tomorrow. With most of the smalls and a bunch of Christmas to be added.

Mr. Flannery

Just Pulling Strings

I bought this puppet theater from one of the other dealers at Maple Lake Antiques. I think that I will refurbish the blackboard and bring it to Gypsy Lea's. This is the first puppet theater that I've ever seen in many years of doing this hunt. I think that it is very cool.

Mr. Flannery

Another View of Second Hand Rose

I stopped by Second Hand Rose in Buffalo, Minnesota. Buffalo is a city of about 13,000 people about 40 miles north and west of Minneapolis. Rose also said that I should have been there on Thursday because the spaces were quite depleted.

Entrance from Rose's new private cul-de-sac.

Rose, a little tired after the 2nd day, still is shuffling and resetting merchandise.

One of my favorites is this carved cross.

The seldom seen, silver painted Hoosier cabinet.

Rose setting up the bar?

One of 2 great sets of lockers.

The other set of lockers.

Some of Kris' stuff in the kitchen.

Fancy!!

I like the pump organ parts turned into shutters, quite cymbalic.

And a partridge in a gear wheel.

Boat wheel and cowling is very cool.

Oh deer!

Mr. Flannery

A Little Sit on the Porch

I had a mind numbing pile of documents to review and cross reference for my real job today. After 6 hours of such drain I decided that a trip to Buffalo to bank, grocery shop and maybe stop at a few of the occasional sales would be invigorating. Well the banking and groceries didn't do much but a stop at The Porch and at Second Hand Rose did help.

The Porch is a shop in the 1905 Post Office building in downtown Buffalo. I sold at the Porch for many years and have always enjoyed talking to Teresa, the owner.

The basement entrance from the parking lot.

Lots of greens.

Teresa was pleased that I was going to post some pictures here, but said that it was a shame that I hadn't been there yesterday. Sales have been so good that there were many bare spots and the dealers hadn't restocked yet for the weekend.

Mr. Flannery

So You Want More Painted Furniture?

Gypsy always has a problem with my penchant for brown stained wood furniture. I just don't like to paint and I really don't think much of painting good wood furniture. While Gypsy will concede that "good" wood furniture should not be painted, our definition of where the good line runs may be a little divergent. For years I had a rule about refurbishing furniture. "Nothing more than Old English". Well such a mantra does not really meld well with the shabotage ethos. I readily admit that painted furniture sells well at Gypsy Lea's. I have even painted some pieces to make them more saleable.

Well in the midst of our discussions I have found the ultimately painted chair. I didn't paint it. (That would require much more talent than I possess). But this chair is part of my load being assembled for transport to Gypsy Lea's.

Babe and Simon have to be in the picture.

Some other boxes ready to go. (Note the two auto paint lamps).

Mr. Flannery

Guess That I Can Break the Template

I went to an auction today. I bought nothing. Now that is a shock. This was a large auction, starting at 3:00 PM on a Tuesday. I got there about 3:45 and was number 203. Lots of bidders, lots of stuff and nothing that interested me. I looked at everything and a few things were mildly interesting. I talked to some people, I watched a few pieces sell and I left. I bought a tuna sandwich at Subway. 100 miles round trip is a long way to go for a crumby tuna sandwich.

Mr. Flannery

New Diet Program - Got a Haircut

I spent the day dancing with furniture. I brought 4 pieces into Gypsy Lea's, but sold two to Mike and Kris before I unloaded them and then took 4 pieces out because they had been there for two months. Not much of a net gain, but at least I got somethings out of my storage and somethings arranged better at the storage.

My entire route was charted out before I left the house. A very unusual concept for me. I loaded the extra things from home, I brought things into storage, I took things out of storage and I hauled things to Gypsy's. BTW the store is looking great. Lots and lots of very good stuff and a hog sticking up its head here and there.

Along the route I even got a haircut. Its part of my diet program, I immediately lose about 6 pounds and can jump higher. Sam's Club and back to the storage with the items out of Gypsy's and the route was completed. Good thing. It was pretty much dark by 5 PM.

We are getting our only touch of Indian Summer this week. Late and a weak imitation of the September version that we missed. I have gutters to clean, leaves to chop and more junk to haul to the new storage. I just hope the good weather and my back survive the tasks on the list.

Mr. Flannery