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.

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.