An Antique Market and a Much Needed Break

Being a mom to two very active toddlers and being pregnant at the same time has its moments.  Most of those moments are completely joyous and wonderful.  I'm grateful they're healthy and I love watching B & B discover new things and the world around them and how amazed they are by the smallest of things that we take for granted.  But some moments are these kind of moments:

Do you know what I mean?  Chasing around two little ones with a third one along for the ride can be tiring for a mom in her late 30s.  A much needed break was in order for this baby mama!

My fantastic hubby agreed to watch the babes while I headed out bright and early this past Saturday morning to the Chicago area to attend the Grayslake Antique Market.  Three of my favorite vendors (Jan from Gracie's Cottage, Jeanine from Chippy Shabby and Diane Passi) were all going to be there and I hadn't been antiquing in quite some time (due to my icky first trimester, followed by the busy holidays) so I was super excited to get out and see some vintage eye candy.  To top it off, my friend, Kim, from Serendipity agreed to meet me there to do some shopping.  I hadn't seen Kim since the barn sale in October and despite our attempts to get together over the holidays it just never worked out.  It was guaranteed to be a great day, and it was!

I thought it'd be nice to share some photos with you.  So, first up is Gracie's Cottage:

Her displays always draw me in.

This wooden beauty is an old lab kit.  It's beautiful in person.  Jan shares its story with you here.

I wonder if she sold it?

She always has the best bits and pieces.

Up next is Diane Passi:

I love, love, love her sense of style.  Her booth is always staged perfectly and always looks incredible.  I want to buy it all whenever I'm near her things.  This woman has an eye!

And then there's Jeanine from Chippy Shabby:

I didn't take too many photos of her booth this time because it was packed every time I went near it.  I didn't buy anything from her or Jan this time either, which is very unusual.  I was practicing some serious restraint that day.

Here are some additional photos I took while wondering around:

Those display pieces on the right hand side of this photo are simply rectangular glass vases turned upside down.  They made the wood bases for them and stuck antique photos inside.  So simple, yet so genius!

Look at all of those dough bowls.  I bought something really unique from this vendor!

And these leather cuffs complete with vintage costume jewelry are made by a very talented lady who was nice enough to give me her card and now I can't find it.  Shoot.

If I find her card, I'll come back and give her credit where credit is due.

I will show you what I did buy at the market.  But not until later this week.  If I can't have control over my toddlers, I can at least have some control over this blog, right?  *smile*