Sunday, June 15, 2014

Father's Day at the Welchville Antiques Mall

On the corner of Routes 121 and 26 in Oxford, Maine, you'll find a treasure trove of antiques and vintage collectibles at the Welchville Antiques Mall. While the building is quite unassuming, you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you'll find inside.


In honor of Father's Day, I thought we'd take a stroll around to see what a Dad might like at the Welchville Antiques Mall.

The mall is made up of individual rooms, each featuring a dealer's wares. It's easy to stroll from one room to the next, not knowing what you will find around the next corner. We found all kinds of things for all kinds of Dads.

If your Dad is a cook, he'll like the assortment of vintage cooking utensils.



If your Dad likes to read. There's a wonderful collection of antique books.




If your Dad likes to fish, there are plenty of wonderful vintage finds for him. Here are some fishing reels...


  
And some vintage creels, paddles and fishing rods...


 
 
And if your Dad likes a little moonshine now and then, he will like these vintage beauties.
 
 
 
 
If your Dad is a fire fighter or a military man, he will enjoy this collection of fire equipment and military uniforms.
 
 


 
 
My Dad was a sailor, so he would have liked this board of nautical knots.
 
 
 


And he would of loved this mantel clock for his collection.




If your Dad is a traveling man, here are some vintage suitcases. How about a set for Dad and "the little lady."




So bring your Dad over to the Welchville Antiques Mall. It's worth the drive to Oxford Maine!
  



And tell Paul, who owns the shop, that Gypsy Girl sent you!




Saturday, June 7, 2014

Gypsy Girl Craft Retreats...Queen for a Day

Life can be so hectic so that's why it's nice to take some time to gather with friends, get creative, enjoy some lunch, share some life stories and just relax.

That's what Gypsy Girl Craft Retreats are all about!


During one particular Gypsy Girl Craft Retreat, we gathered to create crowns made from chicken wire.

From my stash of crafting supplies, I gathered silk flowers, paper decorations, ribbon, vintage jewels and a variety of other trims and embellishments.


Beforehand, I cut chicken wire using a paper crown template. When my guests arrived they decided on a theme for their crown and gathered their embellishments. My crown was going to have a nature theme.


We wrapped the ends of the wire together to form our crowns.  Then we lined the front and the insides with decorative paper and vintage sheet music.
 


With the paper in place, the fun really began. We chose the embellishments for the crowns and with glue guns in hand, we went to town!

Green silk flowers and fancy ribbons...

 
Paper doilies and purple sequin trimmings...


Spanish moss and a green butterflies...


 
And here are our final results!

Stacy's crown...


Faye's crown...


And my crown...


We had such a great day!  Who wouldn't want to be a gypsy queen for a day?