Hitting the Vintage Market Scene for the First Time

On May 12th, The Vintage Vagabond set up our first vintage pop-up shop with Wanda, our 1981 Sunline travel trailer, at Whitesbog Village in Browns Mills, New Jersey at their first annual Vintage Market, Car, and Tractor Show.

After months of sourcing inventory, weeks of pricing and tagging items, and days of packing everything safely for transport, I was excited that the big day had finally arrived. Not even waking up to some pretty steady rainfall could dampen my spirits. I was ready to conquer my first vintage market even if it meant dodging puddles and raindrops to get the job done. Fortunately for everybody involved, the rain stopped right on cue and the ground dried up quickly. Our set up went very smoothly, and I am proud to say we were ready for our 10:00 start by 9:45 AM.

In addition to getting my first vintage market under my belt, I got to visit an amazing venue. If you're from the Delware Valley, and you've never been to Whitesbog Village, you should put it on your "Places to Visit" list. According to their literature, the Whitesbog Preservation Trust invites visitors to travel back in time to learn about the history of cranberry farming, life in a rural South Jersey company town and the individuals and culture that supported the farming operations and Elizabeth White’s efforts to cultivate the first highbush blueberry.

Vintage Day at Whitesbog included visitors in period costume, vintage tractors and cars, museum tours, gallery walks and not just one, but two jug bands.

And that wasn't even the best part of the day. More than anything, I enjoyed meeting some great new people. I got to talk to a young lady who purchased an English pitcher for her grandmother for Mother's Day and some binoculars for her grandfather. While we chatted, she explained to me how she lived on a nearby 47 acre blueberry farm with her grandparents. Then, there was one of the world's greatest grandmothers who bought a package of vintage marbles from me on the sly so she could spread them around for her grandson later in the day so he could "find some treasure". She also bought him a vintage telephone because he was having so much fun playing with it in my display. I couldn't help but think how lucky the little guy was. And that's not to mention all the awesome volunteers who work at the village, or my new friends, Jaclyn and Michael, from Merchantville Antiques and Salvage.

If this market is any indication of what I can expect at future markets and fairs, sign me up now. Being outdoors, visiting new places, meeting new people, and connecting customers with quality vintage wares are some of my favorite ways to pass the time. I can't wait to see where my next vintage market application takes me.

The Red Shed - The Vintage Vagabond's New Vintage Co-Op Space

Let the games begin!

Painters love a blank canvas. Sculptors can't wait to get their hands on a fresh lump of clay. Designers see beautiful gowns where the rest of us see scraps of fabric. Each artist or creator has a medium that ignites their passion and calls to their expressive spirit. And I am no exception. All I need to get my creative juices flowing, is a few blank walls and some empty shelves. I've always been drawn to visual arts like photography and scrapbooking, but in recent years, I've come to learn that I also love visual merchandising. I get deep satisfaction out of arranging (and rearranging) items to maximize space and create maximum visual impact for shoppers. That's why I was so excited when I was offered a new, larger space at Capt. Scrap's, the vintage co-op where I                                                                                     have some of my inventory displayed in                                                                                                  Woodbine, NJ.

The new space is three times the size of the spot I was previously occupying at the co-op, and I was inexplicably drawn to it the minute that it was suggested I could move there. At first, I had been offered the chance to move to another spot on the property, but I just wasn't feeling that space so I was dragging my feet about committing to the upgrade. Then, the idea of moving to the Red Shed was presented to me, and I was hooked.

You have to start somewhere. This seemed like a good place to me.

The move took a lot longer than I anticipated and stretched me to my physical, mental, and emotional limits, but I was determined to get it accomplished sooner, rather than later. Wall treatments were hung, floors were painted, furniture was repurposed, windows were washed, inventory was relocated, and new displays were created - all done on the weekends or in the evenings after regular work hours. Thank God for caffeine and adrenaline.  I also could not have done it without my husband's patience, support, and muscle. We actually make a pretty good team. I specialize in "vision", and he's the master of "execution". Lucky for me, he knows his way around a tool bag, and he's pretty handy with a paintbrush, too.

Much better.

Tackling the next obstacle.

Measure twice. Cut once.

It's starting to come together.

Whew!

I have let out a huge sigh of relief now that the lion's share of the work is done,  but I am not naive. I know there will always be more work to be done. And that's not a bad thing.  If the retail gods smile down upon me, I'll be rotating new inventory into my space on a regular basis to replace all the goods and wares that are flying off the shelves and the walls. Getting to design new displays on an on-going basis is one of the best parts of visual merchandising. If you are constantly seeking to satisfy the creative impulses emanating from the right side of your brain the same way that I am, then you'll understand how grateful I am for this opportunity and how much I really need it. So, if you happen to be in the area, please stop by and see our handiwork for yourself.

I predict that train case will not be around very long.

So, if you happen to be in the area,

please stop by and see our handiwork 

for yourself.

That cabinet, though!

Left side.

Never underestimate the impact your walls can have.

Camping in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest

Cabin 1

On May 12th, I was a vintage vendor for the first annual Vintage Day at Whitesbog Village at the Whitesbog Preservation Trust in Pemberton, NJ. Instead of leaving from Philadelphia at the crack of dawn to get to the destination in time to set up, I decided to head to the area a couple days early and do a little camping. My husband and I stayed in a cabin on Pakim Pond in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. For $65 a night we had electricity,  two sets of bunk beds, a fireplace, a dining table with benches, two chairs, a full kitchen, a half bath , and a dock on the pond. We were a two minute drive from the bath house where the amenities were clean, the shower pressure was great, and the water temperature got nice and hot. These first few photos are pictures I took for myself. They're the ones I want to save to remember the trip.

 

There's something to be said for a good Adirondack chair.

There WILL be a fire in here tonight.

Bring your own candle. The cabin smells like A CABIN!

These next few photos are for you, anyone who found this blog because you are interested in camping in the cabins at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. The photos are unedited and a reliable representation of what it looks like inside Cabin 1.

Our drinks were cold.

The burners got hot.

I've slept in less comfortable beds than these.

I just kept looking around and thinking how easy it would be to glamp this place up.

My workspace for the weekend.

You get the point.

In addition to the three cabins on Lake Pakim, there are eighty two tent and trailer sites in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, all located a convenient distance from restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Additionally, there are three yurts available, each featuring a lockable wooden door, and a pair of bunk beds to sleep four.

Once you're out the door of your cabin (or the flap of your tent), you won't be disappointed. You'll be staying in 34,000 of protected forest lands in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The camp sites are situated in a diverse forest of pine, oak, maple, sweet gum, and Atlantic white cedar trees. It really is a beautiful rustic locale. 

Pakim Pond

Our site

I mentioned that we were at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest , because I had the Vintage Market at Whitesbog Preservation Trust, but you don't need to have an excuse to visit. The park's trails (25 miles of them) offer hiking, nature trails, horseback riding, biking, mountain biking and the well-known Batona Trail. You can also hunt and fish in designated parts of the forest. We also saw visitors riding dirt bikes which I understand must meet very specific state regulations. On our trip, there was a group of horse owners staying at one of the group camping sites for a competitive nature trail competition. We also saw signs for organized activities at a Nature Center. It's the perfect destination for anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates natural beauty. You can make your own reservation HERE.