My husband and I used to go “antiquing” regularly. It is one of the few kinds of shopping that he doesn’t mind. We both enjoy looking at old things. We don’t do it often anymore, partly because we have less discretionary income, and partly because at this stage, we really don’t need anything.
But, it is still something we enjoy doing occasionally. Saturday afternoon, on the way home from visiting my mother-in-law about an hour away from where we live, I suggested stopping at Fiddlesticks Antiques Shop, an old building “out in the middle of nowhere” kind of place. We had passed it coming and going many times, but never stopped before.
It was my favorite kind of antique place . . . the kind where numerous individuals have areas where they display their antiques and collectibles.
When I walked in, I immediately noticed the display of vintage hats on hatstands on a large display counter at the front of the store. I have a collection of antique hats hung in my guest bedroom, some belonged to my grandmother. I was pleasingly surprised at the prices, much lower than ones I’ve seen anywhere else in the past year. I tried on several. Even if they are going to hang on my wall as decoration, I like to know I could wear them if I wanted.
I decided to decide on my way out about the hats and went looking through the nooks and crannies of the rest of the store. Several “booths” had a good number of blue cobalt glass bottles which I collect, also priced at about half of what I would expect. At the good prices, I was tempted to buy it all, but I picked out several pieces which I knew were a different size or shape from any I already have.
As I wandered through the store, I was amazed at how reasonably lots of things were priced. Towards the back of the store I found a large enamel tub that I decided to get and will use as a planter. In my laundry/pantry room, I have a number of white enamelware pieces on top of the cabinets. I didn’t need another one, but the price was right.
Although he enjoys looking, my husband rarely makes any purchases. But when I got back to the front to look at the hats again, he was admiring an antique snuff sign. He isn’t remotely interested in snuff, but the sign was primarily yellow with a large bee hive and bees. It was originally used to advertise Honey Bee Snuff, sweet as honey. He didn’t want to pay the price, but when the owner told him she could knock off 20%, I told her we’d take it and I bought it for him. It will go on the wall in Bee Pond cottage where he does his honey work.
I did decide to get one hat, and then another. The first was was a summer baby blue with brim. The straw was in layers that looked crocheted. The second was a black winter material, but had an opening at the crown. it was very unique, and it FIT. Without being asked, the owner knocked about 25% off the hats that were already a good deal.
As I was putting up my change from paying for my new found treasures, I noticed an antique cobalt eye wash cup under the glass at the counter. Couldn’t resist that either.
When we got home, the two new hats prompted me to totally rearrange my hat collection. My sweet husband got ladder, hammer and nails and did the hard work while I supervised. He only commented once or twice about more holes in the wall. 
I moved all the summer hats to the outside wall and a small section of wall near the front of the room. Then, I rearranged all the black and navy hats on the inside wall.
Antiquing . . . my favorite form of recycling.
I too enjoy wandering through antique stores even if I don't buy anything. It is fun to spot something I already have and see what they are asking for it.
What a great display of hats Betsy, I particularly like the wall of black hats.
Darla
Posted by: Darla | April 05, 2005 at 07:13 AM
As a hat collector and a hat wearer I loved seeing your hats on the wall. Such a timely post for me as I in the process of moving all my summer hats from an upstairs wall to a hallway downstairs to hang there.
Walking through antique shops, looking for collectoible or whatever might catch the eye from yesteryear is also something I enjoy so I thank you for the pleasure of taking me with you through your words to Fiddlesticks Antiques.
Posted by: Carolyn | April 05, 2005 at 07:15 AM
Betsy, it's hard to say what I'm enjoying more: your writing or photographs of your lovely home and property. I have some wonderful old hats that I bought at an estate sale for an elderly neighbor who had passed on. Thanks for sharing all this with us.
Posted by: Loretta | April 05, 2005 at 08:15 PM
CAIRO — Several thousand women demanding the end of military rule marched through downtown Cairo on Tuesday evening in an extraordinary expression of anger over images of soldiers beating, stripping and kicking female demonstrators in Tahrir Square.
http://www.womens-bags.org thank you1 http://www.lclongchamp.com thank you2 http://www.karenmillenkm.com http://www.raybans-rb.com more infomation infer to http://www.underwearmall.net
Posted by: Calvin Klein | December 21, 2011 at 12:27 AM