As you may know if you follow Serendipity Refined on Facebook, last weekend I helped my friend Ann with her semi-annual barn sale which has now become a 40+ vendor vintage pop up show held in Roscoe, IL. To say that it was amazing would be an understatement.
Nellie's has a longstanding practice of not allowing pre-sales so lines formed early and stretched across the parking lot and down the road by the time the gates opened. The local Boy Scouts manned the gates because Nellie's generously donated a portion of the gate to their troop. What a nice way to give back to the community.
In past years when the sale was at Ann's home, I was a vendor. But when the event grew and I decided to take on the French Farmhouse project, I knew that the most productive way for me to be a part of this show was to be there to help my friend. So, that's what I did.
I had so much fun meeting vendors, customers and followers. I saw lots of old friends and made some new ones. The weather was glorious and the event set records for attendance and vendor sales.
There was something for everyone. Fabulous food, live entertainment , a paint demonstration and lots of sharing of knowledge and ideas about everything from repurposing to restoring to creating home vignettes.
Yes, that is a saddle...and 1/2 of a canoe!~ I told you that there was something for everyone! ;)
With the help of my good friend Judy (and at Ann's insistence since she couldn't walk through my breezeway when she came to visit), I actually sold one of the cabinets that I had painted.
Of course, I found a few keepers to use the money on...including this fabulous vintage wheelbarrow which will eventually reside in the courtyard of the farmhouse, an old copper beer funnel that will become a light fixture, a French mirror that doesn't have a home yet and these corbels which are destined to become a shelf somewhere...
Things that I saw...and loved...but which did not make the trip home with me were THIS: (don't worry, my new friend Erin has more of them).
And this.....sigh....
And this......
and last but certainly not least...this (which I may have to knock off at some point soon)
Nellie's Barn Sale has become an amazing vintage pop up show thanks to the careful curation of my friend Ann and her hand selected vendors. They are the best in the Midwest at picking and creating and arranging beautiful vignettes.
The atmosphere is so fun that it's contagious. Smiles and hugs and helpful attitudes are plentiful. I can't wait until next year! If you can make the trip, I hope to see you there!
