Or should my title read that I found my head?
On one hand I bought this cute/creepy doll head, so in that respect I guess I did find my head. Or a head at least.
But man, did I lose my head about how to buy really cool stuff.
I even wrote a post titled Tips For Shopping Flea Markets, Festivals And Fairs a few years ago, so I should have known!!!
I have a hard set rule at these types of fairs and barn sales, if you see something you buy it. Right then and there.
If you think about it too long or walk around to see what else is out there, it will be gone when you get back.
Except I sort of lost my head in the pure size of the fair and the excitement of the day and completely forgot about my own rule. And it bit me in the butt.
Chomp, chomp.
For instance, I saw this fun display of vintage red plaid-ness when I first walked in.
I just assumed there would be a whole slew of other vintage thermoses and thermos sets at the fair this year, because hey, doesn't everyone love them as much as I do?
But there really wasn't a bunch to choose from.
And then when I came back around later in the morning to pick up one of the plaid thermos travel sets they were both gone.
Surprise, surprise.
Neither one had their thermoses or sandwich boxes inside them, they were just empty cases, but I thought one of them would be cute to carry as a purse this fall.
Nope, I'm still toting my basic Kohl's purse. Sorry Kohl's, but it is anything but special and anything but plaid vintage Heaven.
Example number 2 is this owl.
I have started to have a unhealthy obsession with owls. I only seem to like them in the fall though, it's not like you're going to see a pastel colored owl for Easter decor or anything, but even for their limited run I do seem to gravitate toward them!
This one is a cookie jar and I liked the fact that he wasn't as cartoon-ish as you normally see with owl cookie jars. Sometimes they're just so cute, they're not cute.
When I came back to grab him two minutes after I took his photo he was snatched up. Literally I was uploading him to some social media channel (why are there so many?) and looked up and he was nowhere to be seen.
I thought about putting out a missing owl report on him, but I'm pretty sure someone else bought him. Darn it!
OK, as I was writing this I kept having this vision of another owl cookie jar in my head. It was bugging me and then I realized I bought an owl cookie jar this summer. And a cartoon-ish one at that. How can I buy something and then forget about it so quickly!!!
And these yummy vintage wooden folding theater seats!!!
Can we have a moment of silence for these wonderful hunks of wooden yumminess.
They would have looked PERFECT in my entryway.
I was in a "Let's not go overboard and let's keep a clear head while seeing everything this year" kind of mind space. There is so much really neat stuff that you can get overwhelmed easily and spend a few hundred (thousand) dollars on stuff quickly.
So I kept hemming and hawing about buying them.
In the end I left them. With a wave and a tear in the corner of my eye I bid them farewell.
Until I got home and had serious regrets. Like HUGE regrets.
Like I actually got in my car and drove back A FEW HOURS LATER to see if they were still there kind of regrets. Just on the off chance that everyone else at the Country Living Fair was nuts and did not think they were the coolest thing EVER and they would still be setting there.
Ha! Silly me! They were not!
Someday I will find a set again. I hope.
Can I tell you something that was not in abundance at the Country Living Fair?
Blow molds.
I saw a couple here and there, but nothing like last year (I wrote about last year's finds HERE)!
Are my beloved blow molds on the way out? Were they ever in?
I tend to think it's because blow molds are more kitschy and mid-century modern and the Country Living Fair tends to be more farmhouse and vintage. That has to be it!
So what DID I buy?
Well, you already saw my little friend up top. Of course she came home with me.
Oddly enough doll heads were a big thing at the fair this year. As I was buying this one a lady came up to the cashier with 3 other doll heads.
Who doesn't love a Gurley candle shaped like a jack o'lantern. It is larger than it looks in this photo, measuring in at a robust 6" tall.
It's a little dinged up and dirty looking, but that comes with the territory of being a 50 year old wax candle stored in someone's attic for the last 49.5 years.
I think I can fix that up with a little pumpkin TLC.
I adored this pumpkin painting from The Orchard House Women. I actually found her on facebook prior to the fair and her booth was the very 1st booth I made a beeline to when the doors opened. SaraJane has lots of examples of her work on her Instagram feed.
This cutie patootie baby pumpkin is made from an old chenille bedspread.
Which really surprises me because I used to LOVE to pull the little chenille threads out of my bedspread as a kid until it was just a really thin blanket, so that there are vintage chenille bedspreads still out there in the world amazes me!
Or maybe this is the only spot on the bedspread some bratty little girl from Northeast Ohio did not pick apart?
This is the ONE item I had seen on Friday and didn't buy, but was still there when I went back for it. I was really surprised because I think it's cuter then cute.
I can see wearing it when I'm baking a pie this fall. Or when I take a pie out of the freezer, slide it out of the box and pop it into the oven according to directions???
So did I buy a ton of stuff there? Nope.
But I think I made smart purchases, except for when I forgot my own rules and missed out on a few things.
Heads. Sometimes you find them, sometimes you lose them. It's all in a day of shopping at the Country Living Fair.
Other posts you may enjoy:
How To Clean And Restore Thrift Store Finds
Top Ten Thrift Store Shopping Tips
Fonda Rush
I had a horse with springs just like the one you pictured. My sister and I got it when we were very young, like maybe 2 and 3. It lasted all the way to my baby brother who is 14 years my junior. He rode it for awhile. I'll be it lasted 20 years, and he was still going strong, it's just that there was no one around to ride it any more. His name was Spike, and he provided hours and hours of entertainment for the five of us. Thank you for the memory.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
This looks like so much fun! Lots of eye candy and goodies! The doll head is so cute! Love your finds!
Johnene
Hey Pam, I just signed up for your newsletter and to my surprise the first thing I read is about the Country Living Fair. For years I've pondered going to this fair, but I live in Canada. So with your inspiration from this post, my husband and I decided that a road trip across the border next year is gonna happen. Thanks for the inspiration.
Pam
How exciting! It is worth the trip!
Jen
Feel like road tripping to Cape Cod? I have a triple set of auditoriums seats, but metal base, not wood. Thanks for sharing your shopping adventure!
Pam
Packing my bags!!! Just kidding, that may be a little bit of a trip for me, but thanks for offering!
Karen Steinmann
Love old aprons: have a few. Owls: I collected in the 70s so have a few of those too. I have a pastel green one so they were out there. I picked up a theater seat during a trip to one of the antique shops a couple of years ago.. Our taste runs in the same direction. Every time I clean my front closet and move the red plaid picnic /silverware carrier. I think of you. I won it when I sold Rubbermaid in a home party plan in the early 70's. Don't use it any longer, need to send it to you.
Thanks for keeping us updated on your "finds" Missed the Country Fair this year.. but looking forward to going next year. Thanks for sharing your treasures.
laura
what a fun day of finds! laura
Finger
I totally didn’t go to the CL fair this year! I have no idea why! I too have missed out by waiting to see if there’s something better. In case you don’t already know, Gurley candles shine up very well with an old pair of pantyhose! I bought several and I’ve used this trick on all of them! I love your posts! (But I kinda don’t get the owl thing!!)
pam
OMG! I was just reading Susan Branch's blog and she has that same owl! Thought it was funny seeing both in the same day. LOL
Kari Wagner Hoban
You are so damn lucky to have that in Ohio. Although, if I were hardcore, I would drive my butt out there to go. But fall is hard with kids, yo.
I don't think I could ever go though because then I would spend my life savings and end up living in one of those adorable plaid suitcases.
Leslie Schmidt
I feel bad for you that you missed out on some great things (especially the theater seats), but you did give me a few good chuckles. I enjoy your humor and seeing all the wonderful items you find. I love Gurley candles, too.
Pam
Gurleys are the best! I love finding them at garage sales where the people are practically giving them away. I think this is the 1st time I ever paid any real money for one, but even then he was just a few dollars. By far the cheapest thing I bought at the show (including my lunch).
mary scott
You have yourself to blame for losing out on the desired goods. Because we all read your tips for shopping and know to buy it when we see it! AND if you want something, put your hand(s) on it. The cookie jar was in play while you photographed it! Just kidding you as I feel bad that you lost out on those treasures. You did get some amazing things! I wonder if so few blow molds were for sale because they are so popular, they're being snapped up, so supply is dwindling. ?????????????
Pam
Oh, I like your "supply is dwindling" theory! That makes so much more sense than my "no one loves them" theory!
Diane Walgrave
LOVE your adorable apron! It's pristine! When you first started sharing your experience this year, I could
feel myself becoming envious! I just knew you were going to come across some wonderful treasures. Am
sad that you have regrets, but I think your apron makes up for some of what you left behind. The hunt
will continue!
Pam
Isn't that the cutest thing! I don't think I've ever seen a fall apron that wasn't full of turkeys!
Kathy
P.S. It dawned on me that I have way more regrets about things I've sold. I used to buy and sell collectible stuff at the flea market back in the 70s. I've had some nice things in my hands but I didn't know that 30 years later the stuff I was tossing out or selling was going to be worth a lot of money.
Pam
Those things would haunt me!!! I had a yard sale two years ago where I sold a lot of stuff I thought I was done using, but every once in a while I'll go looking for a certain item and then I remember that I sold it at that yard sale. You can't keep everything though!
Kathy
Love your humor. You make me laugh. I passed up one of the giant Santa blow molds several years ago at a yard sale. Went back after I told my husband we HAD to have it, but lucky for him it was gone. He was about 5 ft tall and looked older than usual. Now I have one that's 18 inches.
Funny, I'm liking owls lately also. Even the real ones I saw on PBS's Nature show!
Thanks for all your interesting posts!
Pam
Well, the 18 inch one would be a heck of a lot easier to store! The really big ones take up so much room and for about 10 months out of the year you're wondering why you bought them (until holiday season comes around again and you suddenly remember why)!
Gloria Richards
You definitely passed up some goodies. I've done that on neighborhood garage sales. Frustrating. But then again. if I find much more that I love, I'm probably either going to have to move or build a room.
I found a lovely little thrift shop, gift shoppe that uses it's proceeds for the Humane Society. It may be the worst place I have ever found. And why you ask.... the first Saturday of the month everything is half price!!!! And boy oh boy do they have some great items in there, especially glassware.
So good luck on your next excursion and remember, if you snooze you loose. Grab it quick. <3
Pam
I can't resist half-priced days. Our local Salvation Army has those every so often to clear stuff off the shelves. Suddenly things I was on the fence about look so much better at half the price!