I have these vivid childhood memories
of schlepping around from antique store to antique store
while my Mom, Grandma and Aunties took their sweet time
looking through, what I {at the time}thought was junk.
I remember being a total brat,
tucking my nose into the colar of my shirt
pretending to gag on the overwhelming scent of mothballs
that seemed to be the pinnacle of the “antiquing experience”.
Are we done yet?
I would ask, over and over.
Flash forward twenty-something years,
and not only has my opinion of “antiquing” evolved,
but it seems the entire concept of antiquing has come a long way.
For example, in my home town
antiquing now smells like lavender, instead of mothballs.
Antiquing now means burlap and potato sacks,
rather than coffee stained cotton.
Antiquing means barn wood and vintage typewriters and petite fur coats.
Antiquing means inspiration;
it means stopping time for just a bit,
to look back
and admire the simple beauty
of what once was.
And on Tuesday,
time stopped for me
when I took the afternoon to go antiquing.
Ahhh, it was wonderful.
The moment you walk in, you are transported to a world of beauty.
This is not your grandma’s antique mart ladies.
Rather, this is an antique mart you would find on the pages of Cottage Living Magazine. An antique mart where you wish to adorn the spaces of your home with all the treasures you find. There are twinkle lights and chandeliers, european soaps and soy candles, vintage tablescapes and 1960′s cocktail dresses.
I see a vision of what I hope my home will one day become.
Antique Chic–is that even a term?
Linen ruffles, vintage table runners, rod iron fixtures, french doors, distressed barn wood, seashells pearls and of course, burlap.
This is my happy place.
I would be happy to spend an entire day trying on vintage wedding gowns.
Is that normal?
So, if you’re ever in the area,
I’m always looking for a good excuse to go antiquing.
*wink*wink*
For more information on these shops click below:
Ashley Stock
Blogger at Little Miss Momma
I'm Ashley. Sometimes I craft, occasionally I cook, everyday I write, and I'm always Momma. This is my blog. I keep it real while still seeing the rainbows and butterflies in all of life's lessons.
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That's so funny! I used to do the same thing! My mom dragged me to "Craft Shows" and I would call them Crap Shows but now I am the one dragging her to all the antique stores I can find.
You are too funny, love it! I did the same too. Now I have such an appreciation for antiques, but boy oh boy, they can be soooo expensive. We have one large antique warehouse in this area and most of the items are not as beautiful as the pictures you posted. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the wall of subway art. Oh how I wish I had been there, I saw a couple I would take home, bummer!
I'm DYING to go there! How do we live right here and yet I've never really been into those shops. I'm terrible. We need a girls day NOW!
ummmm I would LOVE to join, these look AMAZING! (and your outfit is adorable!)
When my mom was here we went to the Agoura place! Loved it! A beautiful mess was wonderful! Done of the stores are a little pricey, but beautiful! I need to go back there! So fun!
I want to try that gown on! Gorgeous.
You have much better antique places than around here, beautiful!
Jodi
I would've been in that store for HOURS, I love antique shops!
The antique shops in my little town still smell like mothballs. Or occasionally cigarette smoke because apparently the owners can get away with smoking from time to time. You can still find some keepers though. I would've spent hours in your shops.
My hubby and I are living in London right now, and I LOVE going to all the antiques markets here! I am kind of obsessed with Portobello Road Market (the largest antiques market in the world, which is like a 10 minute walk from our flat. I have dragged him there so many times. He is so sick of it, but I could go every Saturday. I have found so many amazing things there from candelabras, to books, to jewelry to keys. I took my parents there a few weeks ago and they fell in love with it to! I highly recommend it! Plus it is actually the market that they show in Notting Hill by where Hugh Grant lives in the movie!
Wow – so much great stuff in one place. I wouldn't know where to begin looking. Love your shoes too!
I hope you picked up that Chanel bag!!!
The subway art and burlap goodies have me drooling! Wish I knew of place like that close to where I lived.
LOVE THIS POST! Your antique stores are way better than ours…lol. AMAZING pics!
Heather
Aww such lovely pictures!! Makes me want to go there and go antiquing with you!! I LOVE to go antiquing. And even the hubs does too. We live in a small town that still has a lot of Victorian houses and store original to the towns start, they are now antique shops. And most of main street is just lined with antique shops and cute new boutiques. Every year on our anniversary one of the first things the hubs and I do is walk up and down main street checking out all the shops. Its really awesome to look back in time, not just in a book.. but to literally see, touch and feel stuff from another time, is just wonderful to me.
omgosh…you have totally inspired me to go antiquing!! Love the pictures and I can't get enough of your blog.
wow you have some pretty sweet antique places! round these parts… not so much lol
cute wedges by the way!
Antiquing for me was the smell. Ah. I would go with my mom and my grandmother who was blind so it was all about the way things smelled and felt. I can remember our favorite antique shop was this old two story building and the stairs had blue carpet that was so soft, but didn't quite keep you from feeling them lurch as you stepped on them. The upstairs part was where the books were, and that was my favorite place to be. I can in fact, still smell the upstairs of that antique store. Old book, maybe moth balls too, but old books was more memorable. My mom let me buy this random books that I never read or did anything with because they were usually in German or French or in such awful condition I couldn't even ope them.
And lastly, I love, love your shoes.
great post-so much to see! your outfit is adorable, love the springy yellow!!
molly
I recently just found a antique shop just a few minutes from my house. I am now addicted to going to antique shops!! I too remember going with my grandparents to antique stores and wondering when we would be done. Now going into these shops I see different items that remind me of them. Gives me a nostalgic feeling!
http://www.stilettostodiapers.blogspot.com
Can I come live with you for awhile?? We can be bff's and go on adventures together?!?! And maybe you could take me to these uh-mazing stores? My schedule is free, so just let me know
.
Jillian
Prettylittlelion.blogspot.com
I love antique shops, but none of them look as good as the two stores you show here! I'm drooling and dreaming I could go! My latest gift was an antique coffee grinder. I plan on taking pictures and blogging them soon.
What beautiful shops! I have nothing like this where I live. That vintage wedding dress was so beautiful!
i feel the same way as you do, in the past as well as the present!
in fact, i went just this past weekend with my mom and mother-in-law and found so many treasures! instead of wanting something new, i want something old!
I can't wait till I get proposed to so I can go and try on SOOO many vintage wedding gowns! Oh second thought I should just find a ring and go for fun!? You in!? Love antique shopping! AHHH! Now I want to go SOOO bad
xo Meag
maycontainnutz.blogspot.com
oh lmm, you made my heart go pitter patter with these pictures. I totally LOVE antiquing. Now that I think of it, its about time I go again soon
That antique mart looks so enchanting. How could you not want to spend all day there.
shellseaoberski.blogspot.com – Giveaway today
I would absolutely love those stores! I grew up in Agoura and have never been to there! I can't wait to go!
Please tell me you got that Chanel bag!!
LOVE those shoes!!
Did you buy anything?!?!?
Sadie x
http://whatsadiedid.blogspot.com/
I grew up antiquing, too! And thrifting. I loved it.
Probably why I am in so much trouble now, buying and selling and crafting for our shop space.
I wish I could do it full-time!
Those shops you featured are awesome! They remind me of a place in Oregon called Monticello!
~michelle~
oh i could do some serious damage in that agoura shop! and i was the same way when my parents would drag me through antique shops when i was little– i hated the smell!
All those photos look absolutley amazing. Wherever you live, I want to move there so I can go to this! Antique stores areound me don't look like THIS!
The Bungalow has such a downhome country / western feel I LOVE it! However did you get them to let you take pictures? I don't think our shops around here allow that (boo). I want EVERYTHING in these shops! If you love vintage you should check out Red Velvet, it's so pretty too. Thank you so much for sharing these, such a great inspiration…
what a fabulous shop! i used to live in Calabasas…i hate that I never knew this little gem existed.
I used to do that too! And with garage sales. Then this past summer I was begging my mom to go garage saling with me! Oh how the times have changed!
thats it. ive gotta find some fun antique shops in my area! these pictures are too beautiful.
looks amazing! i wish we had antiquing like this in my hood..
I used to do the same thing to my mom as a child. I apologized when I came to and realized how amazing they are
These shops are CRAZY amazing. Looks like I'm going to have to move!
If you get a chance, I'd LOVE for you to stop by and enter to win my 1st giveaway (grain sack chevron ruffle pillow, chalkboard coasters, and thank yous – all made by me)! Last day to enter is this Sunday!
Found my way to your blog via A Blissful Nest a few weeks ago…just found out you live in California too. Cool.
These are great inspirations. I have to go visit these shops. Thanks for posting.
I happened to be there when you were at the Bungalow and your just a doll. It was fun meeting you and it was fun seeing that my space was one of the ones photographed…(Vanity with Vintage Dress). I hope you come back again soon and thanks for blogging about our great store "The Bungalow", Cheryl
lovely item, quick delivery! a+ seller, thanks!:D
There have been no problems with this transaction to date.