Gathering of Friends Antique Show and Sale Union IL July 28-30

Our next show is a doozy!!  Sponsored by our friend Lynne Eltrevoog on her fabulous farm in Union Illinois.  Here is an article that I submitted to the local papers.

Union Farmstead to Host "Gathering of Friends Antiques Sale" July 28-30

The Eltrevoog 1858 historical farmstead is the location for a new antiques show and sale July 28-30 in Union Illinois.  The antiques sale is an event held in conjunction with the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest sponsored by the McHenry County Historical Society.

Lynne Eltrevoog,  owner of the historic farm, is a lifelong collector and has sold antiques professionally for 18 years.  Known best as "The Hat Lady", Eltrevoog is currently manager of On the Square Antiques in Walworth Wisconsin.  Her business name is Cat's Meow Antiques and she formerly owned Main Street Antiques in Woodstock.

The farm is located at 15113 Marengo Road in Union and was homesteaded in 1858 by a family named Rugh.  Eltrevoog has owned the farm for 34 years and has been stuffing the barns full of antiques ever since.

I have been collecting since the age of 16 and don't think I've ever considered buying new furniture," said Eltrevoog.  "I used to spend every weekend attending local auctions," she added.  Eltrevoog admits she is a compulsive hoarder, but loves the joy of seeing someone else's face light up with a really great find.  "Sometimes it is hard to let things go--but I do it," she laughed.

As a member of the McHenry County Historical Society, Eltrevoog says she is participating in the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest and having an antiques sale as part of the summer long festival.  It is an opportunity to show off the three wooden barn quilts on the barn and open her property to several friends who are quality dealers, she said.

Joining Eltrevoog in the three day sale are veteran antiques dealers, Little Bohemia Antiques from Wayne Illinois, Kris and Mark Hutson from Harvard, Jim Konz from Sharon Wisconsin and Maryann and Lou Loennecke from Walworth.

The sale will be held in one barn and in a large barn courtyard.  Garden antiques and primitives will be spread throughout the yard that is peppered with historic buildings and perennial gardens.  There is a large mowed field for plenty of parking.  Items for sale will include garden things, farm primitives, jewlery, glassward and pottery, Victoriana, kitchen items, artwork, plants both fabric and newly painted wooden barn quilts and furniture.  "There will be plenty of barn finds in the sale," Eltrevoog said. "Who knows what we will drag out even after the first selling day?" she added.

The Gathering of Friends Antique Sale is free and open to the public.  Hours are 7am till people stop coming (probably 6pm) Thursday through Saturday July 28-30.  There are no early sales.

Our Own American Pickers Episode

This past weekend, Dear Husbola and I were eager to fill a warm July Saturday with a good estate or farm auction.  I check www.auctionzip.com a few times a week.  It is a great site and easy to navigate.  You insert your zip code and how many miles you want to travel from home--and all the auctions are listed--most with auction bills and pictures--a great way to pinpoint an auction near you.

Late last week--a good auction was listed--and only 40 minutes from home.  The description of the estate items and location were both winners for us.  We arrived a bit over an hour before the start of the auction--got a great up front parking space--and starting looking over the wagons.

It was one of those fooler auctions.  At first blush--you think there is nothing there--but at closer look--we found many items that were of interest.  Prices were all over the place--somethings very low and some things higher--but nothing was out of resale range--so we settled in for a good day.

As the auction was approaching the last wagon--the orginal auctioneer who was being relieved by another auctioneer walks by me--and starts talking.  He tells me that the items sold were owned by an old man now deceased--and his son has decided to sell.  He says that this was "just the tip of the iceberg" and there are buildings and buildings full to the brim. WHAT????????

Let me tell you--there are no words more sweet to an antique dealer than "there will be more of this and the nut has not even been shelled."  Then--even more interesting to my ears--the auctioneer asks, "Would you like to see in the big building??"

Yehaw!  Where is Dear Husbola?  In the porta potty?  Getting the car?  Dear Husbola located--we are let in by key to a huge building by a friend of the son owner--and that is where we stepped into the American Pickers episode.  The building was dark and a bit damp and cool and LOADED.  LOADED with you name it--a miniature town of pretend building storefronts--blacksmith-pharmacist-school room-grocery store--and each storefront jammed with the right kind of items for that shop.  JAMMED. And the coca cola memorabilia collection--the huge huge huge barbed wire collection.  Toys-indian items-Harley Davidson items--JAMMED.  The American Picker boys would trade in their nice white Sprinter van to get into this place.  We were joined now by the Son Owner.  Our next question was--"so when are THESE things going to be auctioned?"  "Well--I sold a few things and the wife and I took a trip to Alaska.  I'd like to go to the Panama Canal--so I will have to sell some more."  "Maybe in a year or two," he added.

The Son Owner and Friend of Son Owner were in no hurry to move us along.  We enjoyed 20 minutes with them--and wished the American Picker cameras were rolling.  This is a rarely seen piece of midwest dealer scene--and certainly never experienced by Dear Husbola and me.  This antique scene is grand!!!

Remembering Kane County Flea Market

It was 28 years ago this summer that I went to the Kane County Flea Market for the first time.  In 1983 and the pickings were fabulous. Primitives, pottery, great painted furniture--you name it.  

I went with several friends and we spent a full day trying to cover the entire fairgrounds that was chock-a-block with dealers and vendors from all over the country.  I bought a blue Hall China ball jug which graces our kitchen to this day.  I remember that the fairgrounds was a dizzying display of vintage and collectable and antique. One of my companions was looking to furnish his new home with antiques--I remember he had a good buying day. Great times.

Yesterday Dear Husbola and I decided to go to the Saturday opening of the market--we have not been in years.  The fairgrounds has seen many improvments in recent years--new buildings and footpaths and we wanted to check out the booths.  It is the Independence Day weekend--and the weather is dray and warm.  Estate auctions have been slim this summer--and we need inventory.

Gosh--let me tell you about the  booths we saw.  It might just be easier to make a list-sunglasses, juju bees and gummie bears in tubs, tee shirts, purfume, knockoff purses, furniture stripping supplies, small kitchen drawer gadgets, new metal garden ornaments, funnel cakes, dried flower displays, new painted metal garden widgets--my head is swimming.  Oh yes--bras and panties in three packs--big sale TODAY!!

We stayed 55 minutes.  I came home and looked at my blue hall pitcher on the shelf in the kitchen and remembered fondly that sunny day in the summer of 1983.