Good To Be Home Again

I love going on our annual Mother-Daughter shopping trips to the States.

But I also love getting home again...

This year we took a six day jaunt to Fargo, Moorhead, Maple Grove, Buffalo and finally Minneapolis. On our way we hit three Antique Malls, a whole slew of Antique shops in numerous towns, the Mall of America (natch), the Minneapolis Zoo and discovered some new restaurants to nosh at.

We both found some fantastic deals on wonderful treasures to bring home to Canada. Good thing the weather had cooled (and that we had comfy shoes) - we walked until we dropped every day.

Buffalo Nickel Antique Mall, Buffalo Minn.

Of course I picked up some antiques for my Studio: a great small printers tray, a square Mason jar for an upcoming Christmas crafting project, a still-full matchbox and metal stamp pad both with awesome graphics and daughter found that sweet metal soap container for me! I have seen so many antique wall-mounted matchbox holders over the years; but never had I found one that was cast iron and perfectly matching my Victorian wall clip, hook and wall pocket... until now. I'm so glad I waited to find this one! 

(As always, click to biggify the photos)

Antique Studio Stuff

I always try to bring home a reindeer on every trip away from home... so when I spied this vintage fella in a glass case, I knew he had to come up North with us. The honeycomb Halloween picks are too cute, and I couldn't believe I found a paper mache Easter Bunny... I have been wanting him since I saw one in a local antique shop, but there was no way I was laying out $75 bucks - even if he was from the 1930s. This pink beauty is in better condition and was only $20! Later the same day, in another town, we found one more - this time marked $50! So I was very happy this one hopped into my arms.

Vintage Holiday Stuff

Of course I love anything rusty or crusty... these three relics are now decorating my living room. The oil can was a mere $5 and has a paper label with Minneapolis on it. The wheel and pulley were $15 each:

Rusty Stuff

And large spools for the Studio were on my shopping list - they will soon have lace wrapped around them. So pleased to find these for a few bucks each:

Spool Stuff

My largest purchase was this:

Card File Stuff!

You must know by now I love my wooden cabinets and drawers - this beauty was one-third the price of the ones here (they took my first offer!) The gold writing on the top says "Shaw Walker" and when researching it online, this oak dovetail jointed library card cabinet dates from the 1930s. I just couldn't resist... it's in remarkable condition. I still have to organize it and label the drawers, but I already know what it's going to hold.

Yep, I love to travel with daughter; we have so much fun together... but after 1800 km of driving, it's also fun to get back home and "play" with all the new treasures we discovered.

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Angie at Knick of Time Tuesdays