Our Secret is Out

The Purple Pig Emporium

I'm happy to announce that Ranch Dressing will have a presence at the newest addition to Uptown Lexington's group of antique and specialty shops that line Main Street.  The shop's name, The Purple Pig Emporium, was inspired, of course, by being born in the Barbecue Capital of the World.

As you know, I've had antique booths, in addition to our shop here at home, for a little over a year at both The Depot at Gibson Mill and The Thomasville Emporium. Both places have their appeal for sure but I haven't truly found the right fit just yet...until now.

The Purple Pig Emporium  is a whole lot like what I have been seeing in my mind's eye when I possibly think for a moment, that I would again open a retail store other than what I have here at my studio...and I say that in all honesty. Yesterday, I called it a Live Etsy shop..a combination of vintage collectibles shop and fine craft gallery. Kind of like Ranch Dressing actually. I think I've found the perfect fit! 

It's in a busy little uptown shopping destination. I think there are about seven antique shops within walking distance and this one is just different and edgy enough for me to feel at home in. I quickly found out that I am not primitive or shabby enough for The Depot and not traditional enough for the T'ville Emporium. This one, however has good chi and you feel it the moment you open the door.

The owners, Wanda Cox and Lee Manring, are both interior designers and not only have a vision for a fun shopping experience but they both possess many years of combined retail knowledge that will make the business succeed. They've already shared some wonderful ideas for what's to come and I tell you, I can hardly sleep. 

 I will snap some teasers next week when I'm getting my booth set up. Just so you know...it is purple, pink and green...with wood floors, a balcony surrounding the sales floor...and that's not even the important stuff really. The booths are starting to fill already with great vintage finds accented with handmade wares of all kinds. FYI, I also saw a piece of gallery quality, hand made furniture coming through the front door...see why I feel at home already?

It will open just in time for the Barbecue Festival, so put it on your list to do and see! You will find it right there on the main drag,  221 South Main, Lexington. 

Third Generation Picker

I'm teaching our son to pick.

It's not really a new concept to him. Bless his heart, we've dragged him to auctions and antique malls since he was a baby. When he was playing little league sports on Saturday mornings I would pray for an early game so we could stop by any yard sales along the way and hit the estate sales on the way back.

We come from a family of pickers. My daddy is a picker but not a seller. He got me started with my bottle collection when I was in my late teens and early 20's. He would dig up bottles he found on job sites...see this post for the story.

Part of my soda bottle collection

Corkers in the bathroom window

I love bottles in the window

He has a varied collection of things he's picked from over the years. He rarely if ever sells anything, but for the most part he can justify keeping his treasures because he has put them into use at some time or another. What he hasn't is somewhat on display around the barn or shop.

At any rate, I got the bug honestly. I spent a lot of time as a kid, digging through old trash piles on farms near where I grew up, finding little saucers or zinc jar lids...enough to make me want to keep digging and searching. 

My first auction buy was a Diamond King wood cookstove that I saved until we built our house and still have it today. It cost $150 in 1981. I was offered $500 for it a couple of years later and I wasn't even tempted to sell. I loved it that much. 

Our cookstove, here piled with stuff during our recent ceiling reno project...we now have tin, but more on that later...

And now...generation three. Our son.

Sam NEVER intended to be a picker. Since becoming a teenager four years ago he began his protest against anything old. But, now at a wiser seventeen, he can be motivated.

Sam likes to spend money. His likes far exceeds his needs, which is probably true for most of us. Being homeschooled has so many advantages, one being we get to choose curriculum. This semester his electives are Photography and Essentials of Business along with his last English class needed to graduate. 

With jobs for teenagers being slim to none here, we finally convinced him that he can be his own boss and generate as much or as little money as his own efforts produce...plus he will be earning school credits at the same time...or in other words, an internship.

Picking without selling can become hoarding! We can easily have a relationship with all of the cool things we find...so, I've started Sam out selling first to get a taste of profit and motivation for more. We still have a barn stall full of things from the trailer...see here for story... that need to be sold. I'm letting him pick from there first. He has been sifting through boxes for smalls to list on ebay. 

Ford Volt Meter

Model T Headlight

He cleans, researches, photographs, packs, weighs, measures, writes descriptions, lists on ebay or craigslist,  answers any correspondence, ships and collects his rewards. This helps me immensely by taking care of things that need a broader market than than our local venues, by building positive feedback in our new ebay account, and saving me the incredible amount of time it takes to do all of this.

He is doing a great job, all the while, using his creative writing skills, business essentials, plus teaching me all about the functions of my camera. Win! Win!

The items above end this evening, February 8. Click on either photo for a link to the auction if interested.

Do your kids work for you? How's it going?

For the Locals

Hope it's cooler where you are than here in the hot and humid south! On Monday it honestly felt pretty tolerable at 95 and low humidity. Now, both the heat and humidity are rising and I'm happy to be inside sprucing things up for our opening this weekend.

We recently got in some new local collectibles that I think are quite unique and just may be near to someone's heart....

First is the High Point Bank and Trust 60th anniversary commemorative ashtrays. Ordinarily, I may have passed up something like this but,

My first bank account was with this bank and they gave me my first loan as well for my one and only brand new car....and my best friend worked there for a while. The bank looked like this even when my children were small. I remember going through the drive-thru in the back and my kids getting lolli pops. It was fancy back in the day.

We have two of these smoky glass ashtrays. I still know several people that worked there and am wondering who will scoop these up.

....And on the other end of the spectrum are these little windshield ice scrappers...

From the iconic Fulton's Grocery. It was one of those places everyone stopped by and that had Cokes in a big red cooler outside for a long time.

If you've not been to one of our occasional sales, we have lots more local collectibles you may be interested in...

New old stock North State Telephone Match book

Dial???

First Methodist Church
Winston-Salem
Built 1842

Great Smoky Mountains

Blowing Rock

White Lake - I'm not sure what this is but I like the art...

Tiny little ashtrays from Star NC

I would use them for soap in a guest bath/powder room

More from White Lake - 10 coasters still in package...

Coasters Lable

Commemorative silver plate money clip from Kay Jewelers

Record Cleaner from Greensboro Music

I know...a cat hair. 

Lots of vintage travel brochures from all those childhood vacations.

Post cards...some linen...from the same childhood family trips.

If you see anything you are interested in we will be open this Saturday August 7th from 10 - 5 and Sunday the 8th fom 1 - 5. We'd love to see you! 

How Tu...esday. Get Creative with Containers

Over the weekend, we had a family cookout at the lake where my brother-in-law and his wife live. Everywhere we looked they had the most beautiful pots of plants and flowers which lead to a conversation about the expense of not the flowers...but the containers.

It's true. Containers bought at the garden shop or even one of the big box stores will set you back a pretty penny.  I have a hard time personally, justifying the cost, although I have splurged a time or two for a beautiful pot. For the most part though I have usually looked around behind our out buildings or through my husband's junk stash for anything hollow to stuff my plants and flowers in...
I am a cheap-o.

Old cast iron pot with it's lid propped up at it's side

Late one Sunday evening I got a whim to add a couple of planters on each side of the shop walkway...but I didn't have two matching containers except the ones on my front porch. Not many people come to our front door when they visit so I seriously considered swiping those. Then, from no where to now here (I love that expression) I saw in my mind's eye the trailer park planter from a past life I suppose. I went out behind Rick's shop and found his scrapped block from the same building and wha-la...matching planters. Being the junque dealer that I am it is only fitting that I use said junque in my own decorating. Right?

Half of a concrete block set up on it's end...bottomless so it's great for something with long roots or perennials 

The little granite blocks around the concrete block are from the Blue Ridge Mountains and were at one time part of a parkway wall that was removed for new construction.  All of the  granite used in the parkway was actually mined from the mountains by the way. The horseshoe is one of many that I've used in my gardens. I love the rusty brown with the plain gray backdrop of the concrete block.

It appears that I really have an appreciation for rust...another rusty piece that I love!

Old fireplace grate works as a pot holder for my geraniums this summer.

I don't do just rust....This old enamel milk bucket has always been one of my favorites. Everything I put in it looks great...white seems just make everything pop.

In the shop, I've taken lots of things that might have gone to the dump and am using them as plant containers. To

me they still have a few more years of service in them lending their character and beauty in new ways. 

Old galvanized bucket with a nice, pretty wooden handle and decorative  hardware

Sweet, rusty enamel coffee pot 

Bromwell sifter...a little bent and rusty, a lot cute! ...and the Sweet Annie  pictured here is looking much better. I think she was still in shock from the transplant.

What is your favorite alternative to a pricey planter? I'd love to see your photos too...leave a link with your comment.  I  hope you can get out and enjoy your garden today! I plan to do the same.