A Whimsical (and Productive) Trip to Scott Antiques Markets

I was captivated by some of the whimsical items for sale at Scott Antique Markets - runs through Sunday in Atlanta

This is the second weekend of the month and, therefore, Scott Antique Market weekend (aka the largest in the world) - link. My usual companion for this monthly event, Bette, and I traveled there on a cold, clear day to spend time with some of our favorite vendors and visit the numerous shops. It was a particularly busy day which we attributed not only to post-holiday enthusiasm (December is one of their slowest months) but also the fact that there is a huge Atlanta Mart activity in the city bringing lots of designers and others to the area.

In addition to looking for great pieces to add to my collection (Wydeven Designs sales), I looked around at the whimsical items on display. I found quite a few although would have found many more if I didn't get distracted so easily and constantly by great pieces of upholstered furniture - many at MY price point.

Bought this set of four French style chairs newly upholstered and refinished by Cynthia of CJD Antiques - regulars in the North Building of Scott Antique Markets. I have made several purchases from this charming and talented couple. 

Here are the items i bought from Sharon (does her own upholstery and refinishing work as well). I am making monthly purchases from her which become part of my "European Linen Collection". It will be interesting to see how those unusual benches (with arms) sell. She told us she was inspired by a photo of benches like these in the latest issue of Architectural Digest!  

A great day at the markets! I spend quite a bit but could have bought more - such an interesting variety and, clearly, some within my price point limits. I continue to be surprised that so many people in this area have never been to these sales and finally convinced my daughter and her husband to go last month. They loved it and promptly bought a unique table for their new home.

French Style Trio Transformed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Pieces bought at Scott's Antique Market - BEFORE refurbishing.

I continue to enjoy the wonderful transformations possible with heirloom quality furniture - sometimes just new fabric is needed but at other times the wood needs attention as well.  Recently, I wrote about the culmination (to date) of lessons learned using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) link to posting and highlighted some of my 2014 projects.

This posting is about a very special trio of French style pieces bought from a Florida vendor at the June Atlanta Scott's Antique Market link to website. I recently listed the three pieces (and have already sold one through One King's Lane link to one of the listings on OKL.

The basic construction on these pieces (estimated to be 60-70's vintage) was solid. Each has hand-tied eight-way steel coil springs which ensure a stable seat platform foundation (and their presence is a GREAT way to determine the quality of a piece of upholstered furniture - only the best have these coils). The woodwork was fully intact but had old finishes which had become dirty and discolored over time. The fabric, of course, desperately needed replacing - it may have been original. The set was perfect for me and the seller said she did not want to truck these back to Florida so she gave me a very good price on them.

First two steps illustrated. I always use Goof Off to thoroughly clean the woodwork of oils, dirt, grease, tobacco staining and anything else that would interfere with good adhesion or create stubbles in the painted surface.

This is the one that has already sold on One King's Lane ($999). I choose a "French linen" cream fabric to offset the neutral wood finish. My upholsterers (the fabulous Lee's of Sun's Upholstery in Norcross, WI) do a wonderful job with the double welting and extensive back tufting. 

This bergere was upholstered in a paler cream fabric which beautifully offsets the chalk paint finish. The first paint coat was ASCP Old White with a diluted Duck Egg Blue light brush (almost dry) overcoat. The double-welted fabric is a duck egg color and highlights the wood finish. I love how this turned out!

The finish and fabric on this slightly oversized - almost a settee - chair is the same as the first item above. It does create a nice clean look!

I will be keeping my eye out for more French style pieces - my overall favorite style - and need to get to work on the pieces in my garage. This is, after all, just procrastination but I am getting inspired to get out there to start the new projects!

Thinking of Mother's Day at Scott's Antique Markets

This is the second weekend in May and, therefore, Scott's Antique Markets weekend - link to site. This large market, held in two separate areas south of the city of Atlanta, is heralded as the world's largest flea market. I try to go each month usually accompanied by my friend, Bette. We have developed a visiting strategy that culminates with a double-scoop of ice cream at the end ... after all that walking and work!

When attending the markets, I am always on the look-out for those special refurbished (or refurbishable) upholstered pieces that would add to my collection. I have several vendors that I check with each month, most of whom are at the North building site.  I also try to plan my observations and attendant photo shoots around a theme for this blog. This also helps me look at the market offerings through a different prism. Yesterday, I chose to look for items that remind me of mothers and motherhood. It proved to be an interesting challenge. 

Here are some of the images:

Finding good mother's day reminders was a little more challenging than I thought it would. I loved the sweet baptismal  /christening dresses and the European style baby stroller. Those kids do grow up fast!

The silver service is the same pattern that Bette's grandmother had (and now in Bette's possession). The dishes were her mother's every-day dishes. Such memories!
My mother came of age during World War II in The Netherlands and had a lovely cream and gold pattern china that my daughter now proudly displays on special occasions. She also had the more commonly found blue willow pattern as a tea and coffee service.

I couldn't resist this one. I have for many years collected pigs and  have a sweet Lladro pig mother with babies. This reminded me of that special piece.

I was easily distracted at the market by the usual hunt for upholstered furniture and ended up finding a number of pieces to bring home. I always stop by to see Sharon P. and look at her fine refurbished pieces (always in distressed lacquer finish and usually with neutral linen fabrics). I sell her items as part of my "European Linen" collection. She does such fine work! I bought four Century French-style chairs and a settee. I also ran into a woman who runs estate sales in the are (The Turnage Company). Her sales are generally high-end (and a little too pricey for me). She also happens to be the aunt of my next door neighbor - small world. I bought a very nice three piece set of rusk chairs and ottoman that I plan to have reupholstered in a largish blue and cream/white print. 

It was a great and nostalgic day at the markets!

My purchases from yesterday - coming soon to my sales sites!

Introducing an Artison Whose Works I will Include in My Collection

Spring Display at Entrance of North Building - Scott's Antique Markets

Last weekend was Scott's Antique Markets (link to website) weekend in Atlanta and I went with my usual companion, Bette. We love to visit the markets and have accumulated our favorite sellers/vendors over the last 18 months. One of our favorites is Sharon P. (card name is "Antiques and Interiors - Buy and Sell Estate Antiques"). She had a regular booth in the South Building (Scott's has very distinct North and South Building locations - separate gates, parking, everything). She was one of the reasons that the South Building was our favorite. For the past four months, we did not see Sharon and couldn't figure out what had caused her to disappear.

Sharon's Booth

This time, we visited the North Building and, miracle of miracles, there was Sharon surrounded by her usual array of great furniture - most hand-refinished and upholstered by her. And, of course, she told us that FOUR months ago she moved to this building to be closer to her daughter who is also a Scott's seller.

We caught up with Sharon and I proceeded to check out this months goodies. Sharon hunts out fabulous antiques and vintage pieces and redoes most for sale at Scott's - apparently her only venue. She admitted to pretty much selling out and bringing new pieces each month.

Her technique for redoing woodwork is different than mine (as most readers know, I have become an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint fanatic). She uses a lacquer paint which is harder than chalk paint and distresses the pieces before applying a clear finish. The look is a little harder and probably a little more durable. She uses various shades of neutral (off-white, cream, putty, pale grey).

Sharon also does her own upholstery work and mostly uses neutral European linen that she buys in large volumes. Occasionally, she will use a silk or other fabric - again mostly in neutral shades.

I had bought a few pieces from her last year (before she disappeared) and proceeded to buy first a set of four chairs (photo above), then a set of benches and lastly, a set of Sherrill French style chairs - all wonderful.

I am now offering the pieces for sale (with a slight uptick in prices of course). Her work is exactly the kind of product that underlies my passion for this business. She takes heirloom quality pieces and transforms them into something not just very usable, but also very trendy and made FAR better than anything you can buy today at twice the cost. I hope to have a good collaboration with her on these sales - I can buy her things and share them with my eBay, Etsy and One King's Lane clients who cannot get the markets themselves. A WIN-WIN!

First Scott's Antique Markets Visit in 2014

This is Scott's Antique Markets weekend in Atlanta link to website and my usual market companion, Bette, and I visited the markets (south building - our favorite) on Friday. As I always do, I developed a plan for focusing and photographing in advance of the trip and decided to concentrate on the use of blues in decorating. Various decorating gurus are predicting that the color blue - particularly cobalt blue - will be a major trend for 2014. Since I LOVE blue in decorating and use it extensively myself, this choice was a natural for me.

I did start out looking for and photographing blues but very quickly got distracted by the various furniture offerings at the sale - including some that were within my admittedly cheapskate price range.

Of these pieces photographed, only the chaise was a true draw based on a reasonable ($125) price point. I loved the chunky wooden legs and overall shape. My hesitation was the back which looked like it needed a cushion to balance the rest of the piece and to make it comfortable. 

This vendor, near the front of the building near the concessions, always has interesting pieces for sale. I have bought from him in the past - usually when he gets a little more desperate to sell than he was today. 

These were some of the pieces that tempted me. The chairs on top left (had more for sale) were interesting and reasonable. The chairs on the top-right are done by a talented lady we've seen before and also quite reasonable. The great chair on bottom has a Century frame and nicely done upholstery. All tempting! 

Well at least I could get my purchases into my Highlander and not be forced to return with the bigger minivan. I look forward to using the great fabric on a set of wing back chairs and perhaps a settee - there is enough for at least this much upholstery work. 

It was a great day to be at the sale and much busier than our last visit in December. Several vendors told us they do not appear in December - evidently it is not a great month for sales. However, it is hard for us to stay away!

It's Christmas at Scott's Antique Market

The world's largest yard sale - Scott's Antique Market (link to website - was held this weekend in two large buildings (and plenty of outside space) near the Atlanta airport. It is held during the second weekend of the month and I try to go each month and particularly if my cohort and friend, Bette, is available to join me.  We traveled to the site on Friday and "did" just the south building - our favorite. The crowds were down from other months and we saw fewer of our favorite sellers which is a trend we've observed before. It was still a wonderful visit. I did try to capture some of the great holiday decorations and ideas.

Love these little guys - they were $25 each.

Nice wooden Santa! 

This vendor was selling battery-lit (some with timers) candles that looked quite real. The prices were $8-12 each. We almost bought one or more. I would have liked these better if they looked less rustic. 

Holiday combo - the scarf was made of felt with fabric balls.

Oversized cones work in so many places - they are great fillers as well for more delicate ornaments. 

I can do this!  I love the look of fresh greenery in a simple mercury vase.

These santas were "wearing" antique fabrics/linens - really nicely done! 

A sweet looking Santa!

We saw a number of these which would work well in a cabin or minimalist setting.

This vendor had a number of playful gourds - love this one!

I'd like this year round!

Good sized ceramic snowman! 

I bought a herd of these last year and distributed them to family members - I have three in my foyer!

Beachy-looking trees!

This and the next wreath were displayed by our favorite "fake but you wouldn't believe it" seller - $89. 

I loved this deer!

On our way out - would love to see this little guy on front porch bench!

We had a nice visit and look forward to next month - as always!

A Beautiful Fall Visit to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta

Outdoor "pumpkins" at Scott's Antique Markets

This is the second weekend of the month and, therefore, the occasion for Scott's Antique Market south of the City of Atlanta. I missed last month's event because of our China trip and almost did not go today because my regular friend/companion for these trips is on vacation this month. My sweet husband volunteered to accompany me and we had a wonderful time at the market. It helped that the weather could not be more perfect and the crowds seemed somewhat subdued.

I always choose a "theme" for my photography work at the market and decided that Halloween/Fall was as good as any - there were a lot of wonderful exhibits and items for sale.

We visited the south building which is my favorite at the market.

I like this cat candy holder!

Anything orange looked particularly right to me!

This lovely piece was surrounded by a sea of "French Linen" painted furniture - it just sparkled! 

This centerpiece was quite pricey ($600) but looked wonderful and would certainly work for a fall theme. 

Anything this bright orange is fair game for my Halloween/Fall theme! 

Loved these canisters!

This would work as a great indoor or outdoor centerpiece!

This wonderful floral arrangement (fake) was created by one of our favorite floral designers - his work is pricey but just great!

I do not always spend much time looking at the outside stalls particularly if it is very hot or otherwise not great weather but this was a great day for wandering around! 

I did not buy anything today (other than my usual double-scoop ice cream cone for lunch). These pieces were hard to resist and 3 out of 4 had been professionally refinished by one of our favorite vendors and beautifully upholstered in a drop-cloth quality fabric - unbelievably nice looking. 

What a great day for visiting (and not buying) at the Market - I look forward to returning next month!