Two weekends in a row is a bit much but I really enjoyed doing the Monroe Antique Show last weekend and the Palmer Wirfs Antique Show in Puyallup this weekend. Sales on sewing collectible remain a bit sluggish but it's still the best game in town as far as I am concerned. Buttons are always great fun for me because I love sorting, carding, and crafting with them and of course I love selling them.
There will be no more shows for me this year as I am going to go down to sunny Texas for a while and visit my family in Weatherford.
November 14Th and 15Th is our bi-annual "Haggle Day Sale" at The Tacoma Antique Center at Fife here in Washington. It is great fun because on Saturday most of the dealers come and haggle over the prices with you. Every booth has some kind of sale and we have wonderful snacks and beverages. The mall never looked better and wonderful, wonderful treasures are waiting for your viewing and shopping pleasure. See you there!

Where does all of the blogging time go? Let's see if we can catch up. October 16 and 17th I did the Dancing With the Stars Quilt show at the Thurston Country Fairgrounds. It was a beautiful, friendly show and I enjoyed seeing all of the quilt creations.

This weekend Oct 31st and Nov 1st I'll be doing the Monroe Antiques Show with a friend of mine, Linda Morrison. This show is also at the fairgrounds in Monroe and it's just a lovely old fashioned antique show with wonderful antique merchandise. See you there?
Like my sunsets? They are our view from Steilacoom.

Still having great fun with collages.

Better collage of Centralia.

I wanted to share my collage I made of some of my merchandise collections.

New Adventure

This is Centralia, Washington, the site of my new booth. Pacific Galleries reopened this mall under the name of VINTAGE & NEW TREASURES. The town of Centralia is full of beautiful old buildings and flower lined streets. There are many antique stores and antique malls. I have already enjoyed several of their great eating establishments and they have all been first rate.

My booth is a hodgepodge of china, kitchenware, jewelry, post cards, Victorian papers, sheet music, sewing items, advertising, and as always, lots of old prints and pictures.

If you haven't seen Centralia, you've missed great antiquing and lots of history.
PS You can come by train!

Busy Doings

Back to July with pictures of the Sumner Arts Fair and my new booth in the Whistle Stop Antiques Mall in Sumner, Washington. I started out moving into one showcase and ended up with two showcases and a booth. I hope everyone reading this will stop by and see my new space if you live in this area. Believe me Sumner is one shopping experience that you don't want to miss. It has charm, variety, history, and friendly, friendly folks. Lots of good places to eat too. You can spend the whole day if you want because there is lots to see.

After closing my shop I hope to make sure that I stay in touch with all my customers and friends so here is my current information:
antiquebuttons@yahoo.com

Malls I'm in:

Tacoma Antiques Center at Fife
1414 59th Ave. E.
Fife, WA 98424
253 922 1297

Whistle Stop Antiques Mall
1109 Main St.
Sumner, WA
253 863 3309

Upcoming Shows I'll be participating in:

October 16, 2009
"Dancing With the Stars" Quilt Show
Washington Stars Quilt Guild
Thurston County Fair Grounds


October 31 & Nov 1, 2009
Monroe Antiques Show & Sale
Evergreen State Fairgrounds
Monroe, WA

November 7 & 8, 2009
Palmer Wirfs Antiques Show
Row C, Booth 196 & 197
Puyallup Fairgrounds
Puyallup, WA

February 13,14, 2010
Ocean Shores Antiques Show
Ocean Shores Convention Center
Ocean Shores, WA

March 25-28, 2010
Sewing & Stitchery Expo
Puyallup Fairgrounds
Puyallup, WA

April 10-11, 2010
Monroe Antiques Show & Sale
Evergreen Fairgrounds
Monroe, WA

Well, the final day of my closing sale is fast approaching. All has gone well and if it continues I won't have to rent that barn after all. I want to thank all of my customers and well wishers. I decided to get a space at Whistle Stop Antiques in Sumner, Washington and am looking forward to getting to know all of the nice folks there. Also, I am still going strong at the Tacoma Antique Center at Fife, in Fife, Washington. I have signed up for the Quilt Show at the Thurston County Fairgrounds October 16th and the Monroe Antiques Show, October 31st. You can find me also at the Palmer Wirfs show in November.

Time Out

Now I am in Texas visiting my sister after her back operation. I will be back in Washington after the 27th of June, unless I stay a week longer. My friend Karen is keeping the shop open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so I hope my customers will take advantage of the great 50% off sale. When I get back I have to get serious and get the shop closed.

Snohomish Arts and Antiques Faire

The town of Snohomish had an exciting Arts and Antiques Faire on May the 16th. It opened at 8:30 am and we who participated enjoyed a steady stream of shoppers until 6:00 pm. Of course I could have used a tent and of course I didn't have one. I really enjoyed being out of doors and seeing the hot air balloons and parasailors across the river. How perfect!

By the by, Stitches In Time Antiques in Lakewood is still having 50% off until closing. I will keep to shop open for another month or so. Come out and take advantage of the sale.

My antiques as always are exhibited at the Tacoma Antique Center at Fife, Washington. All you need to do is email me if you have questions on shows or sewing items/buttons.

After deliberating I have decided to close my shop in Lakewood. That is good and bad because although I will miss seeing the nice folks who stop by my shop, I will have lots more time to work on my booth at the Tacoma Antique Center at Fife and do shows. I did eight shows last year and they really take a lot of time and energy. Maybe I will even find time to clean my flowerbeds at home. Anyway, the sale starts Friday, April 24th and runs until I sell it all and I hope it all sells. So, 50% off and special deals on displays and fixtures. Don't miss it! Remember, you can email me at antiquebuttons@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
Thanks, Betty

Monroe Show

The Monroe Show was a great time for me because my sister Pat was here from Texas and she was a great help to me. If you have ever done any kind of show you know that it is exhausting physically and mentally. This show is located at the fairgrounds in Monroe and has so many wonderful dealers with great quality items. I could have spent a ton of money but did try to control myself. I did find a great little antique sewing cabinet that might have been part of an old sewing machine and some wonderful buttons. (Buttons are one thing I will just never get enough of). My sister bought a wonderful Llardro sailor figurine. I will be looking forward to the next Monroe show the first weekend in November. Hope to see you there!

Clearance sale

Thought I would have a Spring Clearance Sale at 25% to clear out some of my Merchandise.
Hope some of you will take advantage to get some great decorating items or materials like buttons and lace for a great spring project. Linens too are so refreshing in the spring with all of the pretty flowers and floral dishes. To get first pick before the best things are gone, come on in and take a look.

Buttons, buttons everywhere!

Click here...Antique Button Collecting

Below is an informative article on what else, Button Collecting! Enjoy!

Antique Button Collecting

Written by Web Master
Saturday, 12 June 2004

Did your Grandma have a button drawer?

Bet she had a ton of antique buttons and collectibles in there.

Antiques in general require a lifetime's study to master, but when you hone in on antique button collectibles, finding, valuing and selling antiques become a snap.

When it comes to collecting, nothing really beats antique buttons. Button lovers get crazy about their subject, and there are many online sites to wander through by searching such items as antique buttons, collectibles, antiques and Victorian buttons.

There are button clubs, button conventions and button fairs, not to mention the fact that some buttons are truly valuable treasures, for the savvy huntress of antique buttons, collectibles, antiques and thrift shops.

As you search, you will no doubt find yourself becoming more and more involved in the world of vintage memorabilia, unable to resist the antiques and collectibles as well as the antique buttons you started the search for in the first place.

Don't resist this urge, it's a healthy hobby, and good for your 'nostalgia button.'Collectors who seeks antique buttons, collectibles, antiques of every kind, and vintage or retro in particular, shall find these days, the internet provides more information than you can possibly assimilate on antique buttons, collectibles, antiques, and vintage accessories... you only have to open your mind and computer.

The wealth of information about any subject is unfathomable, in fact, being all but limitless. Antique buttons is no different.

It's generally agreed-upon that buttons have to be older than 1918 to be considered vintage buttons. But you can find collectible buttons after that date too. For example, many buttons crafted during the '60s were made of metal, and Czechoslovakia is still making fabulous glass buttons that are collectibles, along with your basic antique buttons.

How to find a value on antique buttons, collectibles, antiques in general? Once again, let's focus on antique buttons. There's actually a National Button Society that collects information on collectibles conventions and antique buttons shows, and disseminates data on collector's buttons. True antique buttons, collectible antiques without dispute, can be valued in the hundreds of dollars. But even some lovely modern collectible buttons can sell for seven to ten dollars each.

Button collectors usually find the hobby satisfying for the obvious reasons: collectible buttons are cheaper than most other collectible antiques, easy to handle, and they are up-and-coming in the field of antiques and collectibles. It's really fun to learn how the different little treasures were made, too. Once you get started collecting antique buttons you are unlikely to ever stop. From glass, to wood, to colorful composition to handmade buttons, button collection will hook you, and the search for antique buttons, collectibles, antique and vintage accessories may just become one of the most satisfying endeavors of your life.

So clear out a drawer and put some empty boxes and jars in it, then hit the antique stores, thrift shops, garage and estate sales.

Grandma would love it.

L~ filling in for B~ says, "Don't hesitate to post your questions here for Betty, she's a wealth of information!" And...stop by the shop to check out Betty's AMAZING collection of buttons!

Sewing Expo Report

The Sewing and Stitchery Expo 2009 was a rousing success. Everything beautiful in the way of sewing ideas, projects and merchandise makes this show a delight. I love seeing the shoppers in such an excited and happy mood. They see old friends they have been meeting for years and there are reunions galore. They come from all over and some have never missed the show in 25 years. It is great to see three generations introducing the show to yet another generation. I love that a great many of the shoppers remembered my booth and told me what they bought in previous years and what they made with it. I sold buttons, a featherweight, a sewing bird along with many other antique sewing item, lace trims, books, pin cushions and all things sewing.
I want to thank everyone I will see you again next year.

Tacoma Antique Center at Fife

Today I worked at the antique mall and as always it was lots of fun and lots of work. I found a bargain that I was very happy with. It was a bag with three small 1950's era pens. Very nice and only $8.00 for all three. All the while my mind was working on what to take to the Sewing Expo this weekend and how to get everything done. Several of my friends are helping me out because I would never be able to do it by myself. Wish me luck and hope to see you there.

Sewing and Stitchery EXPO 2009

Please Join me at the Sewing and Stitchery EXPO,
Feb 26-Mar 1st at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center, Puyallup, WA.
Hours are 8:30 am to 6;00 pm.
This is the nations largest sewing show with celebrity speakers and classes that will amaze you. www.sewexpo.com 866-554-8559 I am bringing lots of "old" and exciting sewing and buttons so be sure to stop by Booth 400 in the Showplex exhibitors hall.

Ocean Shores Antique Show was wonderful as always. Big crowd, wonderful antiques and delicious food. What more could you ask?

~Wishing you a joyful St. Valentines's Day~

Sand & Antiques...

I am currently enjoying the salt air & vintage trinkets at an antique show in Ocean Shores!

The shoppe (in Lakewood) is open while I'm away, can't wait to chat with you when I get back!