Metrolina Antique & Vintage Market - Charlotte

They say when life gives you a rainy day, go play in the puddles, so it's no surprise that rain or shine, the Metrolina Antiques Festival will be going on this weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina! Since half of the fun of treasure hunting at an antiques & vintage market is never knowing what you'll find, which is fun to do, the other half is taking home your new found treasure, and sharing its story with your friends in your home. If you're in North Carolina, and you're up for some treasure hunting this weekend, hunting through hundreds of vendors in a 98,000 sq. ft. space, that's exactly what you can do at Metrolina. Thursday was set up day, a day when many of the rare finds are usually the first to go, but this show will be running through Sunday -- and here's a little tip: bargains too may be found on the last day too (less for people to pack up if they sell it to you!) -- along with Free Appraisals happening Saturday from 11am - 3pm!

 (Only 10 mins from uptown Charlotte!)

METROLINA ANTIQUE & VINTAGE MARKET

Open Thurs. Oct. 1 thru Sunday Oct. 4

 9am - 5pm - Thursday - Saturday -- 10am - 4pm Sunday

7100 Statesville Rd

Charlotte, North Carolina

(704) 714-7909

For additional dates, prices and info, visit their websit at:

 metrolinaantiquemarket.com

 Here is a peek at some of the gems, collectibles, and treasures you can find...

 vintage jewelry for an outfit...

 vintage jewelry for a room...

(these would be so charming in a dressing room, hallway, or powder room!)

 

architectural details, such as doors, columns, windows, and concrete garden sculptures...

love the look & charm of painted furniture? here it is already done for you...

and unlike some other antique & vintage shows, this one includes more inside tented areas, giving vendors & attendees more of a protected area to shop in should the rains come...

loving these chests - great for a guest room, bedroom, or a foyer...

 the holidays are coming, and so too are family and times to entertain...

 hand painted tole tray for you, vintage snow skies for him (man cave), and a vintage sled for a holiday entry...

 industrial globes - great for a kitchen island, stairway, or family-room...

 rustic wooden trough bowls - great for an autumn / winter centerpiece...

paintings from florals, to oceans to abstracts...

vintage, brass statement lighting...

 

 steampunk-style industrial design prints...

 crocs and pottery...

 coins!! (don't tell my hubs!!)

 
The Metrolina Antique and Vintage Market features the East coast’s largest open-air market, with more than 3,000 outdoor exhibit spaces offering a vast selection of one-of-a-kind items at unbelievable prices. It's been Charlotte's home for antiques for nearly 50 years. From this aerial shot below, you can see just how large the campus is - so wear comfortable shoes, and bring at least one tote - if not a wagon - for your treasures!

Hope Hurricane Joaquin holds out and doesn't throw any storm-bands our way. This looks like a great show to attend, and the weather also has cooled down to be crisp fall air! And don't forget: food trucks will also be on the premises, to full your treasure hunting fire!

Loving this time of year! September was still warm, and much of the month, most people were still inside - getting their homes ready for Fall. Now it's time to spend some time outdoors. What a great way to Welcome October - the heart of the Fall season - treasure hunting at an antiques festival!

Thanks for stopping by!

note: all market photos from Metrolina - Facebook

LIBERTY ANTIQUES FESTIVAL - FALL 2015

Back in Phoenix, I enjoyed visiting the gang at Sweet Salvage, a chippy-chic, rustic fun antiques & vintage collectibles monthly pop-up shop, and occasionally, I would also attend the Junk In the Trunk Show - a bi-annual Vintage Market in Scottsdale. But here in North Carolina, when it comes to a vintage market event, I head to the Liberty Antiques Festival - which happens rain or shine! Unfortunately, it's rained rather than shined both times I've gone (back in April for Spring and this weekend for Fall) - but the die-hard antique collectors and pickers still attend... with galoshes, raincoats, canes and a buggy - (a few key Carolina wardrobe items I may needs to invest in!)

 The Liberty Antiques Festival is held just twice a year, with 400 dealers from more than 25 states, that pack a 100-acre farm near downtown Liberty, North Carolina. It's an adventure to dig through the past to find today's treasures from early American primitive decorative arts consisting of: 18th to 20th century furniture, paintings, pottery, glass, clocks, toys, military items, advertising memorabilia, decoys, jewelry, quilts, folk art - truckloads of antiques and collectibles, most all "in the rough." Here's a peek at some of what I was able to go through yesterday, along with my trooper of a husband Jeff...

 

 

As in Arizona, touring these charming rustic events can be a wonderful source of inspiration. The pic on the left was one of my fave vignette moments...

 

And although some vendors may be a bit 'grumpy' (as was this vendor above) most of the people are happy to share their back stories to many of the items they've collected to sell...

 

You can also be inspired by some of the vintage palettes like this lovely shade of green shown above...

This medium Greek Key concrete planter (on the right) I actually scored back in the Spring - and now I shifted it from the back deck to the front stoop for fall (pics to come!!) -- but they still had some others at the festival this Fall...

 

Not kidding when I said rain or shine!!

Below is a "birds'eye view" (click here for video) from the Liberty Antiques Festival, just this past Spring 2015 (but on Friday, which was also the last day of HPMKT)

 

 The north-east may have Brimfield, but the Liberty Antiques Festival here in North Carolina has been voted the Best Antiques Show in the Mid-Atlantic Region and it has drawn even famous Hollywood celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis! (read more about Liberty, NC here)

 And it's not that far of a drive from the Triad, Raleigh, or Charlotte...

 Liberty Antiques Festival info:

September 25 & 26 2015 

& Upcoming Spring Festival Dates: April 29 & 30, 2016

Location: Pike Family Farm - 2855 Pikes Farm Rd, Staley, NC

Event Hours: 8 am to 5 pm, Friday & Saturday

Admission: $7, Adults; children under 12 free

Parking: Free

Food & Beverages are also available - great for lunch!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by --

and if you're in town, today or next Spring, give this antiques festival a try!

 

 

Around Town: The Red Collection Consignment Shop - Greensboro

I love exploring new (to me) consignment and thrift stores in my new area. I'm a HUGE fan of salvaging the past into something new for today. Savvy shopping for secondhand style finds is also a great way to curate quality pieces for a home, but without spending an arm and a leg for the craftsmanship, and sometimes history. One of the consignment stores I've visited here in the Triad area of North Carolina is called The Red Collection. I've found a lot of great bones and lovely pieces at both of their shops, located in Greensboro. Sometimes, it's good to leave the finish as is, and just clean it up a bit, and sometimes, a fresh coat of paint + new upholstery can breath new life into a very traditional piece to update it for today. Here's a peek at some of the finds I've spotted at The Red Collection...

 

Love the design of the doors on this china hutch...

 

Loved these doors too...

 

Petite étager ... 

 

Great hardware - a pair of Century end tables...

 

Great storage piece for a kids room or guest room...

 Good bones and beautiful hardware - vintage Broyhill chest of drawers...

 Both high ($565) and low ($18.95) busts...

Even HPMKT showroom finds like Gabby are being consigned... I've been in quite a few consignment shops, and I have to say, their pricing system makes it easy to know when the next markdown will be, but you may not want to chance letting that find get away.

 

Baker coffee table in brass & glass...

 

Great Federal style mirror...

 

Side table heaven!

 Hello Greek Key!

 Perfect for a transitional style dining room: Sheraton Style sideboard...

 Lovely bench for an entryway - I'd leave the black & gold and re-upholster (probably with dalmatian dots!)

 

GORGEOUS NAVY velvet sofa...

 

Chair heaven!!

 

Great shield-back chair - perfect for a writing desk or dressing room - just needs to be re-upholstered...

 

COTY 2015 - Marsala - Flamestitch Chevron Wingbacks...

 

 And for the coastal collector - a fantastic over-sized and shell filled glass top coffee table (I'd probably paint heirloom white or grey).

 

The Red Collection is open

Monday - Saturday - 10AM - 5:30PM

at

1201 South Holden Road

Greensboro, NC

336-632-0091

 and

1411 Mill Street

Greensboro, NC

336-279-8519

Delivery available.

And since it's a consignment shop, you can also bring in some of your old (but still good condition) home furnishings to sell, and put those funds towards something new (to you). Read more about how their consignment system works at: theredcollection.com

I've enjoyed 'hunting' here, and have even scored a few new pieces for #HarmonHouse. Can't wait to head back and discover new treasures!

Thanks for stopping by!