Nobleboro Antique Exchange

Located on US Route 1 in Nobleboro, Maine, the Nobleboro Antique Exchange offers a delightful array of antiques and collectibles. It is also the place to bring antiques for repair and restoration. The Antique Exchange features over 70 of mid-coast Maine's finest antique merchants.

Along the cobblestone path, under the arbor and up the stairs to the porch.

Where I spotted this patio set and antique watering can.   It was love at first sight.

This charming miniature chest of drawers would be perfect for stamps and stationery, jewelry, a collection of antique post cards or treasured love letters.

This lovely antique hutch was restored and painted in a soft gray with robin's egg blue shelves. It makes for a perfect display of antique dishes.

 

Blue was the theme for this gorgeous mirrored cabinet. The pillows were made from repurposed vintage fabric and the ship's lantern tied into the nautical theme of this room.  See the model boats in the reflection of the mirror?

 

 

 

And here is a collection from  Sweet Woodruff Farm featuring fun indulgences for home, garden & soul. From antique watering cans, to grain bag tote bags, old wire baskets and birdcages.

 

 

 

This weathered hutch displayed odds and ends of garden and kitchen items. I loved the purple and yellow stools next to the worn beige and browns.

 

 

 

 And tucked in the corner were some fragrant handmade soaps and some vintage linen towels.

And why not choose a lovely antique dish to repurpose as a soap dish. They were just $3 and $4 a piece and would make a perfect hostess gift.

 

Stashed away in the hallway leading to the lower level was a wonderful collection of garden trellises, repurposed muslin pillows, a picnic basket, bundles of raffia and lavender sachets. And yes, "so much more to see!"

This was an interesting collection- a vintage globe, sleigh bells, metal rabbits, a variety of kitchen wares, vintage linens and even chickens under glass.

 

Here is a wall of interesting and whimsical fish made from repurposed wood. And I love the mint green cabinet.

 

 

 

I could have stayed all afternoon and enjoyed a glass of ice tea and a green apple. Perhaps I could have caught up on some correspondence.

 

 

Or I could have picked out a book from their vast library of vintage books and magazines, and then curled up in a chair to read.

 

 

 

But instead we took in all the wonderful sights and vowed to return soon.

And until then, I will follow them on Facebook and Twitter!!

Maine Antiques Festival 2013

We took a ride to Union last weekend for the 32nd Annual Maine Antiques Festival. This wonderful antique lover's event is held every year, rain or shine, at the Union Fairgrounds. This year's show featured over 100 dealers from across the United States, as far away as California!

 

This is Maine's largest antique show featuring an extraordinary display of antiques and collectibles. Under tents, in the field, in the exhibition halls and throughout the animal stalls, there was something for everyone.

 

Come on in and take a look around!

 

 

 

This gal looked like a Gypsy Girl Adventurer to me...large tote bag to carry her treasures and a straw hat to protect her from the hot sun.

 

 

 

This hand-carved mermaid looked very comfortable among the fishing creels, and other nautical items.

 

What a magnificent old windmill wheel.

And an antique show would not be complete without jewelry, jewelry and more jewelry! All shapes, sizes, styles and metals. Costume to collectible. The jewelry booths were my weakness, of course!

 

And how could I resist the vintage linens, especially the table full of doilies. 

$2 a piece or 6 for $10! 

   

This display had vintage school spirit with the old baseball catcher's masks and helmets, a lacrosse stick, football trophies, a Princeton pennant and an old brass baritone. (I played one of those in my high school band in Freeport Maine! )

 

The outdoor furniture was so shabby chic!

 

Wire baskets, wicker furniture, wire plant stands, wooden cabinets, and so much more!

 



 

 

Not exactly Hollywood and Vine, but just as interesting!


And the one thing "that got away" was this beautiful head vase. I almost purchased this lovely lady to add to my collection, but decided to look around some more. When I went back to fetch her, she was gone. I only hope she went to a good home.

 

 

I was getting hungry after a couple hours of browsing the show.  

 

Thank goodness for the food vendors! There were sausage sandwiches, fresh cut fries, fried Maine seafood, gelato, fresh squeezed lemonade and more. You would not go hungry!

 

This banner said it all! And is exactly what I will do with the treasures I picked up at the antiques show.

 

Vintage doilies, buttons, costume jewelry and chandelier crystals.

I can't wait to make them into something new!

Mark your calendar... next year's show is August 8-10, 2014. Whatever your tastes, hobbies or passion, you're likely to find some treasures at this show!

 



The History of Gypsies

Gypsies (or Romani, as they call themselves, the Gypsy word for "men") originated in northern India 1,000 years ago. Their language, called Romani, is undoubtedly related to Hindu and other Indian languages (named Indo-Aryan). Nobody knows why they left India. Some say that their ancestors, artisans and artists, accompanied troops and after some military conflicts left India. By 1,300 AD they reached Europe, after passing through Persia and Turkey.

 

 

Their image has always been controversial in the eyes of the Europeans: in some novels and movies they are depicted as extremely hospitable, careless, nomadic beings who loved to sing and dance. Others have portrayed them as dirty, untrustworthy people.

When gypsies arrived in Europe during the Middle Ages, they were strangers to the European villagers with their dark skin, black eyes and hair, clothing, habits and language. Moreover, gypsies remained isolated, a habit probably inherited from the culture they left behind in India.

Gypsies were forced to make their camps outside the villages and they were not allowed to enter the villages. They were known as child eaters and were forced by law to cook on in the open, so that anybody could see what they were cooking.  This forced the gypsies to steal to feed their families and provide basic supplies they needed to survive.

 

courtesy of rabwah.net

 

Facing discrimination made gypsies united and they focused more on family life. The relationship between children and parents was strong in gypsy communities. In their nomadic life, gypsies became skilled blacksmiths and traders, talented artists and many of the women pretended to have supernatural powers in order to make a living.

 

 

In time, prejudices led to persecutions and gypsies were expelled from some European countries while others were taken as slaves for well into the 1800’s when it was finally abolished.

The gypsies adapted the local folk music to their own style and created a musical genre that inspired Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Liszt, Mozart and other great composers.

 

 

There are several famous people with gypsy blood: Charlie Chaplin, Yul Brynner, Rita Hayward and Pablo Picasso.

Today there are over 5 million gypsies, most of them living in Europe. Very few are still nomads and many got rich. But, in some areas of Europe they remain among the poorest.

 

 

Resource: Stefan Anitei