ForeverMore

Merry Christmas From ForeverMore

2011-12-23T12:43:00.006-06:00

May the true spirit of the season be with you this Chrismas...

"For unto you this day is born a savior who is Christ the Lord!"

Great Time at Simpler Thyme!

2011-11-21T19:43:00.003-06:00

Tons of fun in Noblesville, IN at the Simpler Thyme Show! An enthusiastice crowd made up of really nice folks plus a great group of dealers made for a very pleasant "thyme"!

Here are a couple pics of the shoppers enjoying ForeverMore's booth...

Christmas Open House

2011-11-15T20:43:00.001-06:00

Join Us Next Weekend For Our Christmas Open House

Shop Our Selection of Primitives, Country Furniture, Quilts, Vintage Christmas Items and Handmades And Enjoy a Special Treat Or Two!

Friday, 1 - 4 pm

Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm

and

Sunday, 11 am until 1 pm

Handmade & Primitive Christmas Ornaments & Decor

2011-11-01T11:24:00.005-05:00

Check out Sunday's post (scroll down to see it ) for a Sneak Peek slideshow of our offerings at this weekend's 2011 Holiday Gathering. Plus, here's a little more of a hint at what you'll find at Forevermore this weekend:

We will be showcasing handmade items to complement your antiques at Christmas such as stockings and ornaments made from early overshot coverlets. Some great pillows in red/green too. You can find reproduction coverlets everywhere, but these items are made from "the real deal"!

Kay has also been busy sewing some wonderful wool applique ornaments, gift bags and even a framed Santa picture that's perfect for a primitive home.

Primitive lovers will also like ornaments that are tiny redware decorated plates. Just a couple of inches across, they are really nice. Another prim addition to your Christmas tree would be a tiny painted firkin (or sugar bucket). While everything else is antique and/or handmade, these redware plates and firkins were too cute to pass up -- just had to share them with you all!

We also have prim ornaments from dried fruit and grubby candles. Plus some neat little seed bag ornies for a prim or garden themed tree.

If vintage is your thing, how about a vintage Christmas pin on a little denim ornament? Hang it on your tree, on a door or drawer knob or borrow the little pin to wear on your lapel. Too cute!

Don't miss the vintage textiles -- 1940s and 50s tablecloths and hankies with Christmas themes. Those will go fast - they always do!

Last but not least, we have a great selection of European grain sacks in that amazing course linen. (Same look as Pottery Barn but authentic...and cheaper!) We have the actual grain sacks as well as other items made from that fabric including some nice roomy totes, small zippered bags -- perfect for cosmetics or travel -- pillows, table runners and placemats. Green stripes, red stripes, blue stripes and red/blue. Get 'em before their gone!

OK, that's just today's "peek"...keep coming back for more info!

See ya in a few days, ladies!!!

Holiday Gathering - Next Weekend!

2011-10-30T16:58:00.011-05:00

We're lucky we didn't get that big snowstorm the folks out East are dealing with! But the chill in the air the last few nights is all we Midwesterners need to get in a holiday mood, right? Well, the cooler nights AND the Georgetown Holiday Gathering! Join us next weekend for this annual town-wide event. Make ForeverMore your first stop. Enjoy our selection of antiques and primitives with a holiday theme, including lots of quilts and other textiles, as always. An added bonus this time are handmade Christmas decorations & ornaments to complement your antique collections.

Check out this slideshow (below) of "Sneak Peek" photos for just a tiny glimpse of what you'll find next weekend, then plan to join us Friday from 10-5, Saturday 8-5 and Sunday 11-4.

You can sign up for the cash prizes offered in the Holiday Gathering raffle and pick up a map to all of the other locations. See you next weekend!

Plenty of Fun & Some Sun At Harvest Open House

2011-09-19T10:01:00.004-05:00

A cool fall day on Friday was followed by a glorious sunny Saturday, but even a slightly wet Sunday didn't dampen the mood at our Harvest Open House this past weekend.

Looks like those "sneak peek" photos are a hit because lots of you came in and made a bee-line for something that had caught your eye online.

Great to see you all! Thanks for making time on a busy fall weekend in Central Illinois to come to see us!

We're off to the Osage Farm show this weekend down in Charleston, IL. About a dozen antique dealers plus artisans, music & food. Always a fun time.

Then, believe it or not, in just about a month we'll be getting ready and posting sneak peeks of the 2011 Georgetown Holiday Gathering on the first weekend in November where we will have all of our antique and handmade Christmas offerings. Stay tuned...

Harvest Open House - Sneak Peek!

2011-09-10T21:24:00.004-05:00

Check out a glimpse into next weekend's open house on our Facebook page.

Here's a link to the album of photos on FaceBook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.257631630926921.62265.144420288914723

Come visit us in Georgetown to see all the rest of the good ol' stuff in this sale!

Next up...

2011-08-20T18:50:00.002-05:00

ForeverMore's Harvest Open House

Sept. 16, 17 & 18

Details coming soon!

To your mailbox if you're on our mailing list.

On our website, Facebook & this blog, too!

Four years and counting...

2011-06-28T21:07:00.004-05:00

What a great time last weekend at our 4th annual Summer Open House! So good to see everyone and hope you all enjoyed the sale as much as we did.

(It did get a tad cramped inside on Friday afternoon - sorry about that. We'll try to make things go smoother next time so everyone has a chance to see all three rooms in addition to everything outside and then don't have to wait in too long of a line. Something for us to figure out before the Harvest Open House this fall.)

It's always fun to hear the plans you all have for the items you find at our sales. You're an inspired group, that's for sure! Feel free to send us photos when you get all those projects finished or find the perfect spot for something you found at our sale. We'd love to see the results of all that creativity!

p.s. Lots of you asked about the show at Bishop Hill -- that's weekend after next up near Galesburg. Come visit us inside the Old Colony School House, have some of the Bakery's delicious food, enjoy the historic setting and seek out some more "finds"! Details at http://www.bishophillcolonybakery.com/id13.html

Sneak Peek Photos!

2011-06-21T18:31:00.009-05:00

Just a little glimpse into our Summer Open House offering -- lots, lots more inside that's not shown plus tons outside -- especially if the weather man is right and we're going to be treated to a few pleasant summer days for the sale, which starts starts at noon on Friday. See ya this weekend!

Just a hint...

2011-06-18T08:28:00.003-05:00

Sneak peek photos coming in just a few days but for now, "read all about it"!

Here's an idea of what you'll see at our Summer Open House next weekend....

A room full of early primitives -- furniture and smalls in old paint, great patriotic touches, stoneware, quilts & coverlets...

Another room like a garden conservatory -- wicker furniture, great architectural pieces, watering cans, floral prints, bark cloth, and some wonderful handmade items from vintage textiles...

More country & cottage-style furniture with vintage red/white/blue accents...cool old trunks...neat vintage kitchen items in a good old green color...

The coach house will be open -- first time for everything! -- on one end to offer some really nice furniture pieces come rain or come shine...with some cute painted pieces on the patio too...

And the yard full of everything else we can't fit in the shop!

Watch for the photos....See ya next weekend!

The Sugarplum...at ForeverMore

2011-06-14T20:13:00.002-05:00

Any of you read "Country Gardens" magazine? It's one of my favorites and I was so happy to see an article in the current issue (Summer 2011 p. 41) about my friends Anne & Garret Rowe from New Hampshire. Anne's shop, The Sugarplum, sells garden antiques and I have quite a few things she brought back from England, France and Germany. Anne has a great eye, plus we always have a nice conversation whenever our paths cross. I've shopped with her for several years now and never been disappointed.
Along with a devoted group of folks who love her garden stuff as much as I do, I made a bee line for The Sugarplum booth to get "first dibs" at a show out in Massachusetts last month . You, too, can have some early New England or European garden items -- wonderful watering cans, neat decorative iron pieces, cool galvanized buckets, zinc flower holders and more -- they will be part of the offering at ForeverMore's Summer Open House on June 24-26. Come see what I managed to grab before the crowds arrived and cleaned her out! (Sneak peek photos coming next week...)

Friends of Forevermore Are Having A Sale

2011-06-09T19:29:00.003-05:00

Our friends Bob & Betty Swisher are having an amazing tag sale next weekend. Bob, a columnist for the Champaign News-Gazette and his wife have been collectors for more than 30 years. They have typically sold only once a year -- at the Gordyville annual all-antiques show in December -- plus in a local mall but now they are having a HUGE sale near their home in Urbana. They're selling off their vast and varied collections. From what I've heard, there's something for just about everyone. Bob says some of it has never been offered for sale!
Bob does a lot of work with PACA so he has an eye for architectural salvage and it sounds like there will be plenty of that type of stuff. They've sold Depression glass for years and this sale will be no exception. But that's not all. Everything from ink wells to ice cream chairs, children's toys to teapots. A whole entire house full of stuff set up just for this sale.
The sale runs from 8-6 on June 17 and 8-3 on June 18. As Bob wrote in his column last week, most things have been marked down (regular prices by this pair are always quite reasonable anyway) so there won't be any half-price sale. See ya there!
Location: 1006 E. Washington Street, Urbana (parking on Cottage Grove or Wabash)

(Good luck you two! Hope you sell it all! Can't wait to come see!)

Time For A Breather

2011-05-18T19:10:00.005-05:00

Hope everyone is enjoying spring. The spring show season has come to a close for ForeverMore. Time to do some buying (a great trip out East recently - found some amazing stuff!), some gardening and have a little break before the Summer Open House late next month, followed by the show in Bishop Hill in mid-July.

We will have Judy Condon's latest book "The Spirit of Country" at the Summer Open House. Can't wait for your copy? Drop us an email and you'll have it soon!

More details about our big summer event coming soon!

p.s. The Pure & Simple show in Kokomo was held on May 7. Here are a few pics from ForeverMore's booth. Enjoy.

Time To Go To The Kokomo Show!

2011-05-03T20:32:00.005-05:00

Osage Farm was fun -- good show, friendly folks, good time was had by all.

This Saturday is the "Pure & Simple" Show in Kokomo, IN featuring high-end early Americana and primitives from the 17th & 18th Century. We are focusing on early textiles -- quilts, doll quilts, coverlets, children's and doll clothing and homespun fabric -- along with some nice early smalls. There are nearly 80 dealers in the show from this area eastward. It's unlike any other show around. This is the second year for the show which runs from 9:00 am (IN time) until 3:00 pm.

If you're considering the trip, you should know that there's another show right down the road in Noblesville, IN -- A Simpler Thyme -- which is a great little primitive/country show held twice a year at the Fairgrounds. The Llama Barn if I remember right (although I said that once thinking it was the site for the Homesteaders show at the fairgrounds in Arcola and got in all kinds of hot water for getting the building wrong...still, I think I'm right this time). There's always a nice selection there with lots of our dealer friends including Micky Bakemen & Sue Beahm ("Primitive Pursuits") who do the Country Spirit show with us in Arcola. Tell 'em ForeverMore sent ya!

Get an early start, check out both shows and you'll get that hour back when you head home to Illinois!

Come to Osage Farm!

2011-04-25T19:17:00.003-05:00

This Saturday marks the return of the spring show in Charleston known as "Art & Antiques at Osage Farm." It's a fun day in the country with quality country antiques, all under cover inside the barn, a nice vareity of artists, an old summer kitchen filled with period antiques, great food and the absolute best band around playing everything from bluegrass to the Eagles to gospel -- guaranteed toe-tappers all day long!
Admission is FREE, the line forms early, the band starts and 9:00 and the lunch is not to be missed! Check out the website for more info and directions.
ForeverMore will have lots of garden items, cool old stuff planted up with spring flowers, quilts (of course), a selection of vintage sewing items and textiles and other good old country stuff. Stop by and say hello...Our hosts Diane & Gary Cole sure know how to make folks feel welcome...you won't be disappointed!

A Great Video & An Open House Recap

2011-04-21T18:48:00.005-05:00

COUNTRY SPIRIT VIDEO

Check out this wonderful video courtesy of my friend Kristine Berg-Doss, editor and founder of A Primitive Place magazine! She and some of her great staff attended the Country Spirit show in Arcola and she was kind enough to put this video together. I was totally surprised and blown away by her generosity and her talents!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whsJxBmKUa0 Enjoy the show!

By the way, if you don't subscribe to A Primitive Place, you absolutely must! Go to http://www.aprimitiveplace.org/ where you can get a sneak peek at the next issue coming out in just a couple weeks and explore all the great stuff on their website, their blog and their forum. Kristine is surrounded by a whole group of talented folks and I'm sure you'll find something inspiring on the website.

OPEN HOUSE

For those of you who came out to the open house event last weekend -- thanks! Great to see everyone -- we had so many nice chats with friends old and new. Can't wait for the Summer event -- probably late June this year so watch for details to follow! Enjoy our latest slideshow which includes just a handful of the finds" we passed along last weekend to happy shoppers...

Spring Open House - Day One!

2011-04-15T19:16:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who ignored the dire weather forecast and came on out today to shop our spring offerings! Some of of our favorite items found new homes -- those cute doll-sized long johns were a crowd favorite but didn't make it past the first hour! Some cool green architectural pieces, an adorable framed "Peter Rabbit" story book page, neat old iron plant hangers, one of the last of the French grain sacks, a wonderful large stoneware bowl, an advertising piece with amazing color, an unusual large treen masher and a framed oil painting of sheep went out the door, just to name a few. But there's plenty left to choose from and with better weather - knock on wood -- we'll put lots more out under the tent and on the porches tomorrow. Come visit -- 10:00 until 4:00 tomorrow and 11:00 to 3:00 on Sunday.

p.s. Another crowed pleaser was our selection of small purses and bags made from vintage textiles - bark cloth, quilt pieces, embroidered tea towels and more. They make great cosmetic bags, glasses cases, cell phone cases etc and are perfect if you need a unique gift idea.

sneak peek

2011-04-14T00:24:00.001-05:00

It's Almost Time -- Our First 2011 Open House In A Few Days

2011-04-12T18:18:00.005-05:00

Our Spring Open House is just around the corner, marking our first open days for 2011. It's been awhile since our Christmas Open House last November -- and we've been gathering great stuff that whole time to make this a really good sale.

Love garden antiques? We've got 'em. Love cottage style? Got that too! What about primitives? Plenty of those! Or maybe you like the new country look found in "Country Living" magazine these days -- a little French Country, a little bit more urban-- you'll find a taste of that as well.

We're open Friday afternoon -- sales start at noon (sorry, no early sales) -- Saturday and again Sunday midday. Even if you can't make it Friday afternoon, don't worry. We have plenty of wonderful things and will be replenishing before Saturday morning.

Check back here to this blog tomorrow evening for some "sneak peek" photos!!! Can't wait to show you!

Barn Buster

2011-04-04T20:02:00.005-05:00

Well, Brocton was...interesting. The first day's weather left a lot to be desired. Cold, cold, cold. And dustier than ever. Day two was warm and windy but still chilly inside the barn. That wind just kicked up the barn floor so we've got a bit of cleaning to do on the stuff we brought home. See how that light shines through? That's how the dust gets in too!

Plus near the very end of the show, the rear window of ForeverMore's trusty cargo van got shattered. The gal who was retreiving a cool chair she'd bought from out of the back of the van when it happened feels horrible about it, of course. A really nice vendor saw it happen - I was in the barn at the time - and he jumped in to help cover up the windown with plastic for the ride back to Georgetown -- Thanks Scott Sprague, you're awesome - I owe you one! So...between the weather, breathing in the dust and the busted window, it wasn't the most fun ever. But we have to take the good with the bad and the good last weekend was seeing so many familiar faces. Lots of pleasant chats made up for the unpleasantness...well, almost anyway!

Oh and here's the new owner's pic of the chair she got -- I see she's loving it despite the whole incident 'cause she she keeps blogging about it and posted this photo yesterday!

Anyway....next up is our Spring Open House on April 15-17. Can't control the weather, but we know there won't be barn dust! (And I'm holding tight to the keys to the van from now on so no more of that kind of trouble either!)

Stay tuned for more details on the open house...even some sneak peek photos next week!

See ya in Brocton!

2011-03-30T10:30:00.002-05:00

Friday and Saturday we will be at the Brocton Red Barn Market along with other antique dealers, crafters and some great food. The show runs from 12:30 to 5:00 on Friday and again on Saturday from 8:30 until 3:00. Brocton is just south of Route 36 along Route 49. Watch for the signs and come enjoy a day in the country. (Don't let any weather bother you -- it's dry as can be inside the barn!)
p.s. ForeverMore has special surprise planned for each shopper entering our booth...bet you won't leave empty-handed!

It's spring show season!

2011-03-15T20:48:00.002-05:00

Saturday, March 19, will find us at the St. Jospeh Antique Show -- just follow the signs through town to the school. The hours are 9 am to 4 pm. Antiques and offerings from local artisans plus good food and great antiquing at the malls and shops in town -- Make a day of it!
We're planning a booth that celebrates spring AND all the other seasons, too! Quilts, vintage linens, pottery, baskets, stoneware, framed pictures & prints, and collectibles for every season. Plus almost everything is "on sale" some come find some bargains!!

Next up after that? The Brocton Red Barn Market, the first weekend of April and then in mid-April, ForeverMore will be open for the first time in 2011. Details to follow!

Country Spirit - What a blast!

2011-03-07T15:38:00.003-06:00

Wow! The Country Spirit Antique Show in Arcola this past weekend was SO much fun! @e were blown away at the quality of the vendors' merchandise. Plus they were just about the nicest bunch you'd ever want to meet! We all enjoyed each other's company all weekend long.
On Friday night the crowd poured in for the early buying session. You've never seen such happy folks! Lots of friends from the other shows visited too and that's always nice.
By Saturday morning, the booths were restocked and the gates opened again -- with the first 50 receiving some special treats from Country Spirit. Folks were still finding treasures late in the day and we noticed lots of people making their second and even third visit to the show.
On both days we had Mike Anderson's amazing dulcimer skills to entertain - thanks again, Mike! And the booth from "A Primitive Place" magazine was a huge hit -- photos and autographs all day long! There will be lots of happy new subscribers waiting anxiously for the Summer issue -- I know we are! Thanks to Kristine Berg-Doss and her staff for supporting the show!
If you missed it -- or even if you just want to relive it -- there will be tons of photos posted on the show website in the coming days.
Mark your calendars now because we can't wait and our terrific bunch of dealers are going to be out hunting fresh merchandise all spring and summer to stock up for our next show on November 11 & 12!

See you in Arcola!

2011-02-28T13:28:00.004-06:00

2011 show season kicks off next weekend in Arcola!

Come visit our booth Friday night at the Country Spirit show starting at 5:00 p.m. -- or be one of the first in line on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. (the first 50 get a gift!)...ForeverMore will have a fresh selection of quilts, primitives and good ol' country antiques with a spring theme. Stop by and say hello -- and sign up for our mailing list if you're not already on it so you can get updates and postcards alerting you to our upcoming events.

See ya in Arcola!

Online Open House FRIDAY FEB 4

2011-02-03T14:03:00.002-06:00

Wow...this weather has been a little rough. The power was out, the Internet was out. So we are pushing back the first ever ForeverMore Online Open House just one day until tomorrow night. It will start at 7:00 on www.picturetrail.com/forevermoreantiques.
Right now, the site is password protected but starting at 7:00 p.m. Friday night everyone will get to see the offerings for the first time. You will NOT need a password to shop. More rules on how to buy, etc. will be posted on the picturetrail site.
No icy roads to maneuver, no cold winds to brave...just go antiquing right from the comfort of your own home!

From Arthur to Arcola...

2011-01-16T20:04:00.004-06:00

OK, the answer to the question some of you are asking is "Yes" -- we did decide to leave the Gathering on the Prairie show in Arthur even though we had enjoyed three great years there and met lots of new friends. But the opportunity to be a part of Country Spirit in Arcola was just too good to pass up! Wait until you see the show and then you'll understand!

We wish all of our friends back at the Gathering the best of luck and hope that all of our customers will enjoy the now bigger and better chance to shop THREE shows in Amish Country twice a year!

Two of the shows are open Friday night as well as Saturday and you can buy advance tickets for both shows, both days if you buy them now -- check out the details on the Country Spirit website! (www.picturetrail.com/countryspirit) If you've never been on Friday night, give it a try. It's a really festive and fun atomosphere that everyone seems to really enjoy.

Even if you don't buy the advance ticket for Country Spirit and the Homesteaders on the Prairie show, your admission to the Friday night festivities at Country Spirit is good for both days so you can always come back and see what goodies the dealers have brought out on Saturday.

Hotel rooms are going fast so get yours now if you're planning of making a weekend out of the shows and all the good antiquing down in Amish country!

Country Spirit

2011-01-16T19:49:00.005-06:00

We've been busy working to put together a really wonderful group of exhibitors for the Country Spirit Antique Show & Sale in Arcola on March 4 and 5. It's going to be a great show full of wonderful country antiques, primitives and early Americana. Come shop Friday evening or Saturday -- there will be a great selection available whenever you shop. Details are unfolding fast so watch the Country Spirit site for news updates. (Our vendor list will be posted very soon -- can't wait for you to see who's joining us!!!) And don't forget to "like" the show on Facebook (just search "Country Spirit Antique Show" on Facebook).

The show must go on but so does the shop! It's just too darn cold these days to even think of an open house at ForeverMore. But we're going to give you an opportunity to shop from the warmth and comfort of your own home and we're putting together some primitives, some Valentines items, and some things to get you to "think spring". If you're on our email list, you'll get details soon. If not, then it's not too late to join the list! Just drop us a line at forevermoresale@aol.com and let us know you want to be on the email list. It's that simple!

Something to talk about!

2010-12-15T16:11:00.011-06:00

Lots of buzz has already been heard...but no official word until now...you're the first ones to see this...check it out! More details in the next few weeks!

Introducing...our new show!

Whew!

2010-12-06T18:32:00.002-06:00

Well, the shows are over for 2010! Gordyville's Antique Show this past weekend suffered from bad weather for the 3rd or 4th year in a row. Thanks to everyone who braved the road conditions and came out to see us. Everyone seemed to have found a treasure or two. We too found lots of fun vintage Christmas things that you'll see next year during the Holiday Gathering.

But now its time to relax, enjoy the holidays and get ready for next year's shows and open houses in Georgetown. Just like with gardening, the winter provides some nice down time to think and plan and dream.

One of the plans - a tentative one for now - is an online open house sometime this winter. Several of our friends who stopped by to visit during our Christmas Open House were urging us to do a "Cabin Fever" sale or a "Football Widows" sale in January or February. But weather can be so unpredictable that we think maybe doing an online event so that you can all enjoy shopping from the warmth and comfort of home might be just the answer. Stay tuned....

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T09:38:00.002-06:00

Here's hoping you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day with friends and family. It's the quintessential all-American holiday and while everyone seems to rush right past it anymore, I hope you all find time to sit back and think about that first Thanksgiving. The early settlers were already demonstrating the spirit, strength and character that went on to make this country great. We should always be mindful of their struggles & their sacrifices.

After a peaceful day of giving thanks tomorrow, I know some of you will head out to the mall for so-called "Black Friday" (isn't that a terrible name for it??) For those of you who are skipping the middle-of-the-night madness, and even for those who venture out but have energy left over, feel free to stop in at ForeverMore this weekend. Our Christmas Open House is Saturday from 8-4 and Sunday from 11-3. We haven't made huge changes since the Holiday Gathering, but if you missed us then, you have a second chance to enjoy our vintage and primitive Christmas selection. Of course, you're welcome to come back even if you visited us a few weeks ago!! We'll have a little treat for you this time, too! These will be our final open days for 2010.

(And remember, those of you who need a little help with shopping can always pick up a gift certificate good for 2011!)

Another great primitive show

2010-11-16T19:17:00.002-06:00

Check out these scenes from the ForeverMore booth and a few views of the show floor just before the shoppers poured in last Saturday. So many amazing finds to be discovered -- hope you didn't miss it!

20th Annual Georgetown Holiday Gathering

2010-10-28T18:43:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone...it's time again for the annual Georgetown Holiday Gathering, this year celebrating its 20th year. The yearly event features a number of local businesses and crafts people offering holiday decor, gift items, handmade crafts, baked goods and more.

ForeverMore participates in the first weekend of the event, starting next Friday, November 5 and continuing on Saturday and Sunday as well. Stop by ForeverMore first and pick up a map to all of the other locations. At each vendor, you can enter a raffle -- $50 given away each weekend and another $100 from all the entries.

ForeverMore's shop will be brimming with our regular selection of country antiques, primitives and old handstitched quilts. In addition, we will offer vintage and antique Christmas items, handmade ornaments, handmade quilted pieces and other "ready to give" country gifts.

We'll have some neat 2011 calendars with great photos of primitives each month, ad some lovely greeting cards by the same photographer. As usual, we have Judy Condon's latest book - Simply Country, Simply Greens -- it features a number of homes deocrated for Christmas with natural items. Inspiration on every page! Plus we expect to have the new issue of "A Primitive Place" magazine -- this is the holiday issue and we're looking forward to our copy for sure!

(All books and magazines will be specially priced during the Holiday Gathering!!!)

Indian Summer!

2010-10-10T18:50:00.006-05:00

Wow! What a great time at our Harvest Open House! Such a pleasure to see everyone -- old friends and new! Who would have thought it would be 90 degrees in mid-October?? But any open house at ForeverMore without rain is a good thing!

Even the neighborhood trees cooperated to give us some perfectly timed lovely fall color.

Tonight -- with this balmy weather and having just spent the last couple of days surrounded by pumpkins and straw bales and mums and gourds -- it's almost impossible to think "Christmas" but that's what's coming up next time we're open. That will be the first weekend of November during Georgetown's annual Holiday Gathering. Can't even imagine that being just around the corner but it will be here before you know it. We've been finding great old Christmas stuff all year long and for those red and green lovers -- you know who you are!! -- there will be plenty of that as well! We know you'll be shopping for gifts, too, and will have plenty of unique little items. But, like I said, can't "go there" mentally while we're still basking in Indian Summer. Maybe after the first hard frost...or on a rainy day (if it ever rains again around here!)...

Anyway, thanks again to everyone who attended the Open House! Come back and see us again!

Sneak Peek

2010-10-06T20:37:00.003-05:00

As promised, here's a glimpse inside the Harvest Open House. There's plenty more inside and lots of great stuff outside too! The weather is going to cooperate (for once!) so we hope you'll take some time out of a beautiful fall weekend to join us and see what you can find!

Next Weekend...

2010-10-03T21:44:00.008-05:00

What are you doing next weekend? Going to Indiana to shop the Covered Bridge Festival? Want to jump start your Saturday with some antiquing before the Illini game? Looking for a pleasant Sunday drive in the country? Whatever your weekend plans, make ForeverMore's Harvest Open House a part of the fun. We'd love to see you!

Saturday, October 9, 8 til 4

Sunday, October 10, 11 til 4

Watch our blog for a "sneak peek" with photos later this week. Our middle room is chock full of primitives. Another room is all country with plenty of blue accented with fall colors. The third room will feature textiles but also some cottage-style vintage pottery, a great Mission style rocking chair, and some cool old post office finds. There's SO much more, too much to list here so check back soon!

p.s. Don't forget -- we have the premiere issue of the brand new magazine "A Primitive Place" and also Judy Condon's latest book "Simply Country - Simply Greens" which is brimming with holiday decorating ideas for primitive lovers!

A Perfect Fall Day at Osage Farm

2010-09-25T19:11:00.005-05:00

Wow! What a picture perfect fall day for Art & Antiques at Osage Farm! Diane & Gary Cole once again put on a first-class event that was bigger and better than ever. The new building to keep all the antique dealers and quality craftspeople under cover was a great addition and the new cabin was amazing! The music and food were delightful as always and the show was something to behold. Everyone remarked about how pleasing the whole show was to the eye. All of us used natural fall decor to accent great old country antiques. One shopper even had the impression that you just gathered what you liked and paid when you left! Not quite -- each dealer was separate -- but that speaks volumes because when you stepped inside it did look like one giant booth overflowing with "must-have" items!

Great to see all of the familiar faces who stopped by and just as nice to meet new antique enthusiasts discovering the show for the first time. Bet you'll all be back in the spring! Personally, I can't wait. It's such a great group of folks and a totally pleasant setting that I'm going to start planning for the spring show right away. Watch our site and Diane's show site (http://www.artandantiquesatosagefarm.com/) for 2011 dates. The spring show is always toward the end of April. See ya there!

PS -- Just two weeks until ForeverMore's Harvest Open House & Sale! I'll post a sneak peek as soon as everything is set up inside the shop. Heading to the pumpkin patch tomorrow, having been inspired by all the HUGE pumpkins and gorgeous gourds I saw today at Osage Farm! What chair doesn't look better with a pumpkin on it? What wooden bowl doesn't welcome gourds? And I never saw a door or a garden gate that didn't look better with some Indian corn! Baskets and crocks? Well, they need mums and kale and pansies! I'll be busy adding those fall touches and digging around for primitives, cottage country, garden stuff and architecture you've not seen from us before!

Again, Harvest Open House hours are going to be ---

Saturday, October 9, 8 am to 4 pm

Sunday, October 10, 11 am to 4 pm

(I'll let you in on a secret -- the best pumpkin patch around is at the Negangard farm over by Philo/Sidney. They just opened today. I went for the first time last year and now it's going to be an annual trip!)

A Primitive By Any Other Name...

2010-09-16T19:48:00.013-05:00

Wondering if any of you have seen the great new magazine "A Primitive Place"? If you like Judy Condon's series of primitive decorating books, you'll love the magazine too. We have the first issue -- a great fall issue -- available for our Harvest Open House & Sale in October. It features several homes and some really interesting "how to" articles, a column on collecting and even some recipes. Judging by the first issue, it will be around for awhile. If you can't wait for your copy, drop me a email (forevermoresale@aol.com). Meanwhile, check out their website: http://www.aprimitiveplace.org/APP-Magazine.html

Writing this post to let everyone know about this new magazine caused me to think about just what we mean when we use the term "primitives." The word seems to have lots of varying definitions.

I heard a local antique dealer -- one of my favorite people but one whose shop carries more general line antiques -- recently quip "there's a fine line between primitive and junk." To him and many others, a "primitive" piece of furniture is one that is dilapidated and either seriously needs to be refinished or is beyond repair.

Several local auctioneers have been known to list "primitives" in their sale bills when they are offering hay hooks and other such rusty farm tools out of a farmers' barn. They can't imagine any of the women at the auction even looking at their version of primitives, much less bidding.

Then again, some of the cute little gift/decor shops around Champaign and Vermilion County who advertise that they sell "primitives" are referring to grungy candles, berry wreaths, wooden crow cut-outs, and painted signs that say things like "Welcome Friends." But that is not just a local use of the term. Catalogs like "The Country House" feature so-called primitives of the same ilk. "Country Sampler" magazine offers that kind of merchandise for sale in the back half of the magazine (while sometimes featuring original "primtive" antiques in the articles up front).

Some folks like to decorate in a grungy style reminiscent of a log cabin, with little or no color, low lighting and with tea-stained textiles; guess what they call that style? Primitive, of course!

So what does "primitive" mean when ForeverMore uses the term? The same thing that shows like Pure & Simple (an annual event in Kokomo, IN) and Gathering on the Prairie (twice a year in Arthur) mean when they use the term -- "unfancy" furniture and accessories from the 1800s or earlier in original surface (preferably old paint or a dry, attic surface) that have simple lines and were "using' pieces as opposed to decorative items. Perfect examples include early dry sinks or pie safes, painted hanging cupboards, wooden dough bowls, hogscraper candlesticks, old handmade baskets, pantry boxes and firkins.

When we mix in early salt-glazed pottery or a red/green applique quilt from early 1800s, we're probably stretching the concept of primitive a bit toward what some would call "early" or "Colonial". And when we display an old scrub bench topped with a row of mismatched sprinkling cans, some see "primitive" and others see "country". (My dealer friend quoted above probably just sees "junk"!) Is an old harvest table with chippy white over blue paint "primitive" or "farmhouse"? Who knows for sure!

So many different images conjured up by the same simple word! In the final analysis, whether you call it primitive" or "early" or "Colonial" or "country" or "frontier" or "farmhouse" or even "junk" doesn't matter. All that matters if if you love and want to live with it!

September - Time for Osage Farm

2010-09-01T19:28:00.006-05:00

Art & Antiques at Osage Farm - September 25

If you've never been to Osage Farm (near Charleston, IL) for one of Diane & Gary Cole's shows, then you're missing out on a great day in the country. The fall shows are wonderful -- pumpkins, gourds, fall flowers, great music, tasty food and of course great country antiques. This year's show is bigger and better than ever. The Cole's have been busy adding a new building so the entire, expanded show can be under cover. Plenty to do, see, taste, smell -- a good time is guaranteed! Admission is free and the show runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Whether you're lined up with the early birds, plan your visit around lunch or make your stop later in the day, just make sure not to miss out on the festivities! See ya there!

For more info, see Diane's website: http://www.artandantiquesatosagefarm.com/

p.s. If you haven't visited our page on Facebook, check us out! Watch for more updates on Facebook as the fall schedule heats up.

Save the Date!

2010-08-14T17:23:00.004-05:00

Mark your calendar and plan to stop by our Harvest Open House & Sale on October 9 & 10.

I'll post more details soon - and if you're on our maling list, you'll see a postcard in a couple of weeks with more info.

UPDATE: Hours on Saturday, October 9, 8 am to 4 pm
and Sunday, October 10, 11 am to 4 pm

p.s. Stopped in today at the Casey Antique Centre in Casey, IL, which we're sad to say is closing its doors next month. For the last 7 years, it's been a great place to find primitives. Never left there without a few goodies.But the owner is on to other pursuits and we wish her well.

2010-07-25T20:19:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note after a terrific three days to say "thanks" to all of you who braved the heat and humidity this weekend in Georgetown. We had a fun time chatting with old friends and meeting new ones, too. Everyone's enthusiasm was contagious and I almost forgot the heat index of 110 degrees! We said goodbye to lots of great stuff which means we'll have to bring out tons of "new" (I mean different) old stuff for next time. As soon as we have a solid date, we'll let you know when our fall sale will be. Think cool weather, pumpkins, mums and - of course - country antiques! (Meanwhile, mark your calendars for the last Saturday in September for the Osage Farm show.)
Thanks again - hope you all enjoyed the open house as much as we did!

Sneak Peek (part 2)

2010-07-21T19:34:00.006-05:00

As promised, a glimpse of SOME - but not all! - of the quilts for sale this weekend and the same for the architectural pieces.

As far as architectural salvage, we have screen doors, shutters, a fireplace mantel, 2 types of columns, old windows, a set of outdoor stairs, lots of neat ceiling tiles in several different patterns, cool details like porch posts, finials and moldings.

Come check it out starting Friday at noon...

See you there!

Sneak Peek!

2010-07-16T19:40:00.019-05:00

Hi everyone! Here's just a tiny taste of our Summer Open House scheduled for next weekend starting Friday at noon.

For primitive lovers, we'll have a whole room full of early furniture and accessories (and more outside). Below you can see a wonderful mustard child's chair, a cupboard full of early small items, a lift-top child's desk in old red paint. You can glimpse a couple of the quilts, and peek at a couple of cupboards and a great little painted apothecary. Much more to see next weekend including coverlets, early chairs, primitive tables, treenware, stoneware, baskets, a bucket bench...and the list goes on! We're still adding to the offering.

(p.s. We have Judy Condon's newest primitive decorating book "The Comfort of Home"!!! It's hot off the presses -- shipment just arrived today! Judy told me we are the first to have it in this area. Along with some other great interiors, this book features two Central Illinois homes -- Doris Roush from Urbana and Jody Coffin from Rantoul -- and both are amazing! If you are a fan of Judy's books and don't want to miss out, drop me an email and I'll reserve a copy. Regular price is $24.95 plus tax; Summer Open House special price is $22 OR with any other purchase, just $20!!)

Another room has something for everyone - primitives, quilts, wire ware, garden pieces, architecture, galvanized -- a cleaner, more "modern" spin on country with a bit of French influence. Combining a primitive pie safe, a European watering can, old photos, French grain sacks, a vintage garden trellis, an early child's chair and cast iron planters creates a look all its own...but, if it's not your cup of tea, just look a little closer. Chances are the discerning eye will be able to find items mixed in that fit with any style. Some may think some of the displays lean a little toward Shabby Chic (because there's a fair amount of white); that's not really the gist of it, but if that happens to be your style, you'll likely find some pieces that would be right at home with your more flowery or pastel designs. At the same time, a primitive lover might take home a black table and have it fit perfectly with a Colonial Williamsburg decor.

We also have some cool vintage items. Check out this stack of picnic tins -- lots of possibilities there -- and our handmade "Flea Market Bags" fashioned from vintage bark cloth and ready for shopping. Or maybe sewing accessories or a cute 1940's child's cupboard in white & blue will grab your eye -- the homemade cupboard complete with little bread board would be adorable hanging in a hallway or even a guest bathroom as a storage place for soaps, toiletries, hand towels, etc.

Check back again before next weekend to see some more of our quilts -- more than two dozen will be included in the open house offering -- as well as some great architectural salvage perfect for your creative projects.

Hope to see you next weekend!! Come see what else we've found!

Show pics

2010-07-15T20:02:00.007-05:00

Here are a few pics from the 20th Annual Antiques Market at Bishop Hill last weekend. Next year I'll try to take more of the action outside during the show but I didn't have a chance to sneak out and take photos this time -- WAY too busy inside! Here's our booth at the back wall of the Colony School - a cool old building.

Here's the Colony Bakery and its gardens -- where all of that AMAZING pie comes from!

The commeraderie among the dealers is pretty special at Bishop Hill-- including having a lovely picnic dinner together after a busy day of setup in the beautiful gardens of our hosts Jim & Cheri Campbell.

Even if you didn't make it to the show, Bishop Hill is always a great destination and Sweet Annie Primitives, in the lower level of the Campbell's home, is not to be missed.

Also, check out the the lastest issue of Country Sampler -- September 2010, don't know if it's on the newsstand yet, but I mine came in the mail already -- for a wonderful article about Jim & Cheri's historic home. I've seen it in person and it is absolutely stunning! She has impeccable taste, as you will see.

If you're still hoping for more views of the show than I managed to provide here, stay tuned. A fellow dealer took TONS of pics and is putting together sort of a photo-essay about the show. I'll find our her webite address and include it in a future post.

Tomorrow...the promised "sneak peeks" for next week's Summer Open House & Sale!! Check back -- or check your email if you're on our email list. (Want to be on the list but aren't yet? Just drop me a note -- forevermoresale@aol.com -- or click on "contact us" on the website.)

Back From Bishop Hill

2010-07-10T20:55:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone! Good to see so many of you today at the 20th Annual Bishop Hill Antiques Market -- such a beautiful day and so much great country stuff! For those of you who missed this event, I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

We enjoy all of our shows but Bishop Hill is such a special setting -- an historic Swedish colony - and Jim & Cheri Campbell have gathered together such a nice, friendly group of dealers that I look forward to this one every summer and have to say that it just gets better & better! Mark your calendars now for the Saturday after the 4th next year. Trust me on this one! (My only regret is that I didn't have a way to bring home a pie from the Colony Bakery -- I can't stop thinking about that delicious strawberry rhubarb pie!)

For those of you who read Bob Swisher's column today and are new to our site, welcome! The promised "sneak peek" pictures will be up no later than next weekend to give you a little taste of the offerings we're planning for our upcoming Summer Open House. Thanks to Bob for the kind mention -- and don't forget to check out PACA's special sale going on for the next couple weeks (see my prior post for details).

Recent Finds & Upcoming Events

2010-06-27T19:22:00.010-05:00

Hot enough for ya? The weather has been a real "beast" lately and all the rain has done wonders for the weeds in the garden but it hasn't stopped us when it comes to hunting for great antiques.

RECENT FINDS

Recent finds include a great 12-tin pie safe in old green paint, some amazing early sewing items, early handstitched quilts (and a crib quilt!), decorative iron garden pieces, a mustard comb-painted open cupboard, a group of neat little stools and benches, an adorable white doll bed, a folky dark painted church pew, a group of early doll dresses, two great peg racks, and a couple of white vintage cupboards & shelves (perfect for a vintage kitchen, a shabby chic bedroom or just about anywhere a little cute storage is needed). And that was just some of "the haul" from this past weekend ! Whew! But what fun!

JULY -- TIME FOR OUR SUMMER OPEN HOUSE

We're gearing up for the 20th Annual Bishop Hill Antiques Market (more below) and, of course, our Summer Open House & Sale. The Open House kicks off our third year of business and we're planning on doing so with a bang! Check back later for pictures but, meanwhile, here's a little taste of what's to come...

In addition to plenty of quilts, as always, one area will be devoted to primitives and Americana. A blue painted primitive cupboard, a little lift top desk in red paint, and a great set of painted chairs with woven seats are new additions. Vintage linens, kitchen items and country accessories with a summer theme will fill one of the rooms of the house. We're also planning a group of vintage garden-style pieces with a bit of a French twist -- lots of black, white & old silver, old French grain sacks (perfect for upholstery or as a runner or just an accent), unique painted chairs with toile fabric, bistro chairs, and great French galvanized items. For creative types and lovers of old architecture, we have some really neat old windows with curved tops that have lots of possibilites as well as some cool tin ceiling tiles -- some painted, some already sand blasted -- that could lead to projects galore. At $15 to $20 a piece, the tiles are a bargain AND a great find!

Also new this time are some stylish "flea market bags" sewn from vintage barkcloth fabric. (They're reversible too in case a big floral or tropical barkcloth print clashes with your outfit when you head out to do some shopping.) The bags have nice wide, cushy straps so you can stuff them full of goodies without hurting your shoulder. Pics of those soon -- as well as some scenes from inside the house. Stay tuned...

Meanwhile, if you see something on the website from a prior sale, feel free to drop us an email and we'll let you know if it's still available. One of our friends from Indiana recently came to pick up an awesome little cupboard she'd seen during our early spring open days -- we still had it and now it's found a new home in her garden shed in Indiana. So don't hesitate to ask if you had your eye on something in the past!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Those of you on our mailing list: please forgive the repetition here but I want to share with everyone the events coming up in July & August. So here they are...

July 10
20th Annual Bishop Hill Antiques Market
This great country show is held each year in and around the Colony School in Bishop Hill, IL (30 minutes northeast of Galesburg). The show is a great gathering of 50 proprietors from 8 states showing and selling their antique wares including primitive cupboards, folk art, early country, pottery, textiles and more.

Bishop Hill is a fascinating historic community where you feel like you are taking a step back in time. Many of the homes and all of the town buildings are original to an early 1800s colony. Cheri Campbell, the energetic and super nice lady who runs the antique show with her husband Jim, owns the local bakery with amazing pastries and pies that are "to die for"! Cheri also has Sweet Annie Primitives in the bottom level of her period home. All we can say about that shop is "wow." There are lots of other interesting little shops and plenty to do in Bishop Hill anytime of the year but the weekend of the antique show is definitely the time to make the trip. (Shopping along the way in Peoria and Washington, IL would be fun, too.)

When they ring the bell on the old time fire engine to start the antique show, you'll have to decide whether to dash into the old school or head around the lawn to the booths set up outside. (Look for the ForeverMore booth inside the old Colony School in the back corner.) The show hours are 9:00 until 3:00. Live music adds to the atmosphere and the food cannot be missed! Admission is $5 and proceeds go to the colony fire department. For more details, you can visit http://bishophillcolonybakery.com/ and http://www.bishophill.com/.

July 24
Summer Moon Gathering
Friends told us about this happening in Covington, Indiana. It sounds like an interesting event sponsored in part by the Fountain County Art Council, where "music, history, art and gardens come to life".
For more about the non-profit event, see http://www.summermoongathering.com/ If we weren't going to be busy minding the shop for our Summer Open House, we'd be there for sure!

July 7 thru July 31 (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Lincoln Hall Salvage for Sale
Those of you who follow Bob Swisher's column in the Champaign News Gazette already know about this one but we thought we would help spread the word. Bob and his friends at PACA (Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign County, http://www.pacacc.org/) have organized a sale of used furniture and slate blackboards from the University of Illinois' Lincoln Hall. Sale hours are 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wed. and 9:30 until 3:00 on Saturdays. There are four semi-trailers full of stuff moved to the sale location at 312 N. Walnut Street in Champaign. Among the interesting things to are oak desks, all sizes of tables, solid oak chairs, school desks with cast-iron bases and the slate blackboards. Anyone who reads any of the country decorating magazines can think of tons of things to do with the slate, which sells for $2 per square foot. Any questions? Call PACA at 217.359-7222.

p.s. If you've never been to PACA's architectural salvage warehouse in downtown Champaign, you MUST go. Great architectural salvage of all shapes and sizes plus a friendly, knowledgeable, volunteer staff to help you out. Everyone is sure to find something they "need" among all the salvaged treasures.

August 21 & 22
30th Skinner Farm Museum and Gas Show

Everyone around East Central Illinois and nearby parts of Indiana knows Norm Skinner and his annual farm show in Perrysville, IN. He has amassed an astounding collection of farm artifacts and even moved one of his family's ancestral homes to his property. Old farm equipment is fired up and working and your whole family is sure to have a fun day -- and learn a little history, too! From 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. both days, you can visit 12 historic buildings filled with fascinating displays and period furnishings, a log smithy shop, round barn, print shop, calaboose (jail), threshing, sawing, and many activities, food, and more. Flea markets, crafts, and demonstrations too. Admission, Adults $4, Children under 12 free, Contact Norman Skinner 1850 West SR32 Perrysville, IN 47974, or 765-793-4079. For more info see http://skinnervillage.eshire.net/.

Great news!

2010-06-09T20:44:00.002-05:00

Had to post the latest news -- ForeverMore is headed back to Osage Farm this fall for another wonderful edition of "Arts & Antiques at Osage Farm"! Summer is just getting underway but plans are already brewing for a booth with great old stuff in fall colors, accented with pumpkins & mums and all things autumn. Something to look forward to for sure!

Meanwhile, the Heartland show is in the rear-view mirror. Quite a happening over in Richmond, Indiana with about 150 dealers. One building was so chock full of truly amazing pieces it was almost like visiting a museum! I'll post photos later unless the Heartland website beats me to it.

p.s. Those of you on the mailing list should watch your mailboxes for our Third Annual Summer Open House postcard coming your way soon. Meanwhile, go ahead and mark your calendars to save the date -- we'll start the sale on Friday, July 23 at noon for the early buyers and keep it going into the evening for the after-work crowd. Then the Open House continues on Saturday and Sunday (July 24 & 25). It's been quite a few months since our last open days so we will have a really big offering of "new" old stuff. Hope to see you in Georgetown!

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-31T08:16:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone is having a relaxing long weekend. On this Memorial Day, let's all make sure to take a few moments to honor all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend this great nation and ensure that we continue to enjoy our freedoms and our liberty.

After the long weekend, Forever More will be packing up to make a trip to Richmond, Indiana for the 20th year of the Heartland Antique Show next Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00. (We are a last-minute addition, substituting for our friend Jackie Bradford - feel better, Jackie!) Check out the website at www.heartlandantiqueshow.com -- it's a quality show with dealers from all over. I'll post pictures the following week -- I'm sure there will be some amazing items. I do have to say that the Richmond area has tons of great antique shops so you might consider an impromptu trip to make an antiquing weekend out of the Heartland show. Or make a note to go to the fall edition of the show, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, back in Georgetown, plans are underway for the Third Annual Summer Open House which will be July 23, 24 & 25. Watch for details soon -- if you're on the mailing list you'll get a card in the next couple of weeks. Keep following the blog to see a sneak peek sometime in July.

p.s. Don't forget the Bishop Hill Antique Market on July 10. If you've never been, watch for more info on things to do in and on your way to Bishop Hill in a future post.

Pure & Simple - Purely & Simply A Wonderful Show!

2010-05-04T20:26:00.006-05:00

May 1 found us in Kokomo, Indiana for the first ever "Pure & Simple" Antique Show. 62 select dealers, each hand-picked by promoters Marti & Mike Korba, brought an amazing selection of wares to the Kokomo Event Center. The show looked absolutely fabulous -- booth after booth of great stuff and neat vignettes in the rows between the aisles. As promised, the Korbas put together a show with something for everyone from the bargain-hunter to the most discerning collector. From a $15 wooden strawberry tote (that will look great this summer filled with red geraniums) to a pristine early weathervane that fetched more than $20,000 (WOW!), there was truly something for everyone. Hundreds of lucky shoppers enjoyed the show and the word among the dealers was that this was a great start to what will be an annual tradition. We had lovely neighbors and plan to be part of things again in 2011.

It was great to see some familiar faces in the crowd -- I'm sure you enjoyed the show -- let me know what you thought...And next time, bring a carload of your friends!

ForeverMore's booth included -- as always -- early quilts along with other textiles including homespuns, crewel work, coverlet pieces, hooked rugs and early child's dresses and doll dresses. We had a rope bed (yes, we roped it and topped it with a feather tick and a quilt), a blanket chest in old red paint, several folk art pieces and a small, grain-painted, one-door dry sink. Early sewing items were popular with shoppers as were the textiles. An adorable primitive child's cupboard sold quickly as did a wonderful 40" wide early set of dovetailed walnut drawers signed 1855 and a tiny child's chair in old green over red paint.

Next up? The Bishop Hill Antiques Market in July. (More on that later!) And then our Third Annual Summer Open House. We've got grand plans for out summer sale and if the weather cooperates, it will be our biggest and best event to date. Like they say, "third time's a charm...."

Down on the farm...and on up to Kokomo

2010-04-25T09:52:00.007-05:00

What a great show yesterday at Osage Farm -- country antiques, delicious food and live music, all under one roof! This twice-yearly event (once in spring and again in fall) has such a great, laid-back feel to it. Thanks to Diane & Gary Cole our wonderful hosts...and thanks to everyone who shopped with us! For those of you who missed the show, here's a look at some of the items in the ForeverMore booth.

Next up, "Pure & Simple" in Kokomo, Indiana next Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 to 3:00.

ForeverMore's booth will feature early textiles, plenty of quilts (as always!), an early rope bed, decorated blanket chests in original paint, a one-door, grain-painted dry sink, lots of decorative early smalls, baskets, some architectural pieces and a bit of garden decor....plus, lots, lots more!

Come see us and shop with 60 select dealers from over 12 different states in this first-of-its kind show. If you need more info to make it a weekend full of antiquing, check out the show website for nearby hotels/motels as well as dining options. http://www.theoldshed.com/pureandsimple/index.htm

Make yourself at home and enjoy the show!

The Shows Must Go On...

2010-04-18T10:09:00.009-05:00

This spring show season has been a whirlwind so far! Following the always wonderful primitives show "A Gathering on the Prairie" in Arthur, IL, we joined a local show in St. Joseph, IL where we showcased more of a vintage spring look. Depression era quilts and vintage linens were the crowd favorites.

The next weekend was ForeverMore's Early Spring Open House. The weather didn't cooperate -- it was COLD, windy and rainy -- but we still had a nice turnout. Word of mouth brought us new friends from Champaign-Urbana and a good time was had by all (despite the weather)!

After Easter, we turned our attention to getting ready for the Brocton Red Barn Market, a unique mix of antiques & crafts in nearby Brocton, IL. The show is actually held in an old barn so its perfect for farm primitives. Although the crowd was smaller than last year, we had a great time with a group of dealers we don't see often enough. Sharing ideas with other sellers and with customers is always part of the fun. "Best idea of the day" in our booth went to a simple tray-style galvanized chicken feeder planted up with purple violas. It seems almost everyone has one gathering dust somewhere but no one had ever thought of it as a container for plants. There should be chicken feeders blooming all over Central Illinois by now!

Our old green wicker porch swing went home with a happy customer as did lots of other items destined to add a touch of spring. One unique item in the ForeverMore booth got tons of attention -- a blue & white painted handmade child's stepback cupboard, made for a little girl in the early '40s by her great-great-uncle in mid-Missouri complete with a pull-out bread board. It would be great sitting on a table or hanging on a wall -- maybe in a hallway, or even a guest bathroom as a place for soaps and hand towels. It's a true one-of-a-kind.

Next up is "Arts & Antiques At Osage Farm" near Charleston, IL on April 24 from 8:00 - 3:00, rain or shine. Just over a dozen select antique dealers will be offering quality country antiques alongside beautiful handcrafted folk art, live music and tasty food. It's a great day in the country as show promoter Diane Cole hosts one of the most unique shows you'll find in this area. Mark your calendar for next weekend - you'll be glad you did! (more info? directions? http://www.artandantiquesatosagefarm.com/ ) If time allows this week, I'll post a few of the unique pieces you'll be able to see in our booth.

p.s. Don't forget the upcoming "Pure & Simple" show in Kokomo, IN on May 1st! Everyone is talking about it and from what I hear it's going to be amazing! A couple of weeks ago, Antique Week had a write-up that is sure to bring people from all around the country. More about that next time. Meanwhile, see our website for info or go to http://www.theoldshed.com/pureandsimple/about.htm.

The Show Scene

2010-03-08T09:14:00.013-06:00

The Gathering On The Prairie

This past Saturday's primitive show in Amish Country was packed with great old country pieces, unique early American items and one-of-a-kind finds. There was so much to see and plenty of shoppers there to see it. The weather cooperated (giving us all a touch of spring fever) and it's safe to say a good time was had by all. All day long we watched happy folks with great items tucked under their arms and big smiles on their faces as they went in search of another find. How fun!

Here is a view of the ForeverMore booth right before the show opened. I'll update the slide show in the next few days to include some this year's offerings and close-ups of some of the amazing old quilts we passed along to new owners including that green Turkey Tracks quilt from the 1800s you can see above, and the blue/yellow/red star patterned crib quilt hanging above the blue dry sink.

An item that received lots of attention until someone snapped it up was a great old piece of architectural salvage -- a half-moon window, 52" wide with that neat old wavy glass. It was quickly followed out the door by a neat little corner shelf in old blue and green paint. A great primitive work table in old green paint disappeared along with a big slant top tool box also in green. Green may have been the color of the day (were we all thinking spring?) because a early jelly cupboard in light green wash with a bread-board door found a new home as well. Among our other sales were some personal favorites including a folk-art birdhouse with two chimneys, a tiny doll dress made from old blue & white ticking, a heavy zinc bottle carrier from Germany, a great big wire basket with wooden handles and an early child's low-back Windsor chair, just to name a few.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by. It's always good to see familiar faces and meet new ones too. To those of you from far away places who made the trek to Central Illinois - see you next year!

St. Joseph Antique Show - March 20

Next up on Saturday, March 20 is the St. Joseph Antique Show, now in its 24th year. The show has gone through some changes in the last few years but given the group of dealers who have signed up this time, its definitely going strong again. The show runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Middle School Gym (take exit 192 from I-74 and follow the signs to the other side of town). The entrance donation is $3, and the building is handicap accessible. In addition to all of the great antiques and collectibles, there will be food, beverages, and items from local artisans.

We're taking a huge trunk full of vintage linens, lots of springy, garden things and - of course - QUILTS, along with some country furniture too. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Primitives Show

2010-02-13T16:43:00.010-06:00

Lots of you have been calling to ask "When is the primtives show in Arthur?" We're so glad you're interested in coming back to visit us at the show so here are the details:

"A Gathering On The Prairie"
8th Annual Country Primitives & Antique Show
Saturday, March 6, 2010
8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: $3
At the Otto Center in Arthur, Illinois

How to get there: The Otto Center is 1/2 mile South of Arthur off of Route 133. From I-57, take exite 203 and then follow Route 133 West through Arcola to Arthur.

What you'll see: Bigger and better than ever, with about 50 quality dealers from 13 states, you will see one of the best selections of furniture in old paint & original surface, early decorative accessories, textiles (including quilts -- you know we will have plenty!), baskets, folk art and one-of-a-kind early American items you don't see in central Illinois at any other time of the year. If you love primitives and the new country style, it's a "don't-miss" show!!

Shopping Tip: Before last year -- our first year setting up at the show -- we could be found waiting in line out front to be among the first ones through the door. One lesson I learned the hard way is that if you see it and you like it, grab it because the Gathering attracts such a great group of primitive lovers that you can't count on a piece still being available if you come back around the show a little later. Last year there were lots of disappointed faces who came back to our booth for something that someone else had snatched up. There's nothing worse -- for the customer and for us -- than when we have to break the bad news! So remember, if it caught your eye, chances are it will draw someone else's attention too.

Looking for the ForeverMore booth? We'll be in the back corner on the right side as you enter. Look for a quilt you should be able to see down the aisle! Stop by and say "hello" and definately let me know if you read this blog!

P.S. Don't mistake this show for "Homesteaders on the Prairie". That's another quality primitives show (including some crafts too). It's at the school on the corner where you turn south toward the Otto Center. That show opens an hour later on Saturday. Make a day of it and shop both shows!

SINCE THIS POSTING WAS FIRST WRITTEN, THERE IS NOW A THIRD SHOW THAT SAME WEEKEND. FOREVERMORE HOSTS THE COUNTRY SPIRIT SHOW IN ARCOLA! CHECK OUT www.picturetrail.com/countryspirit

Coming Soon!

2010-01-17T14:57:00.003-06:00

Watch this blog for posts about our upcoming events and the great roster of shows we will be partcipating in during 2010. Meanwhile, you can always visit our website at www.forevermoreantiques.com.