A Picker's Paradise...

A couple of weekends ago my husband and I hopped in our car and drove eight hours to Omaha. We had planned to make the drive to visit our daughter's wonderful family sometime this summer, but when she called to tell us about a huge flea market scheduled that weekend just 10 minutes from their home, we decided to pack right then and there. We were not disappointed.

Junkstock happens twice a year -- early summer and mid fall -- in the fields of an old dairy farm in west Omaha. It's a unique shopping event that features antique and vintage finds, including repurposed items, rescued finds, mid-century modern, architectural salvage, jewelry, homemade goods, and lots of nostalgia. Food and beverages are also available along with live music.

The farm is filled with junk and vintage vendors from many different states. Simply put: it's the best picker's paradise I've ever visited.

Each and every vendor deserves a visit. 

It's definitely worth a road trip if you're into repurposed, antique or vintage finds! Apparently, Mike and Frank from American Pickers agree with that statement, as they stopped by on Sunday to browse.

We went on Saturday, which was the morning after a torrential thunder and rainstorm. The fields {and a few of the upholstered furniture items} were a bit soggy, but overall there were so many fun items to browse through or purchase that the slippery conditions hardly mattered.

This is one event I'd love to come back to time and time again. The next Junkstock is scheduled for October 10th, 11th, and 12th of this year.  Our calendar is already marked...

Somehow we didn't manage to buy one thing! I'm a little disappointed in my shopping prowess. We even took out some seats in our minivan before we left home "just in case." Next time I'll have to get more serious, which shouldn't be hard.

Vintage Dresses...

A few weeks ago my husband and I flew to California for a special event. My mother was celebrating her 90th birthday, so we spent the weekend with her. As a surprise for my mom our children also came from all over the U.S. to be in on the festivities. It was an amazing weekend. Here's a four generation photo of my granddaughter, my daughter, my mother and me. My mother is so beautiful, isn't she?

While there my mother gave my daughters two dresses that she had kept safe for years. They were her mother's (my grandmother's) dresses. We asked the girls to try them on to see if they fit. We were amazed that they seemed to be made just for them...

My daughter Jillian was given a gorgeous black velvet three piece dress. The sleeves were made of beautiful lace and the pocket (you can't really see it in the photo) has beautiful beading...

My daughter Shannon had visited my mother in December. While there Shannon found this beautiful beaded dress and instantly fell in love. The dress was my grandmother Lillie's wedding dress. Lillie was married in 1922 -- so the dress is 91 years old and in perfect condition. The beading and ribbon work on this dress is so amazing...

Shannon is also modeling a {real} 90 year old fox stole.
Don't judge -- they did things differently back then.
;o)

Since many of those who read my blog are sewers, I thought you might like to see these vintage dresses. I know that my daughters consider their great-grandmother's dresses beautiful treasures, and they were so grateful to be gifted them.