The Occasional Saler

Lucky in SW Minneapolis

by sue Posted on March 24, 2015

Desk/cabinet at Your Lucky Day — Desk/cabinet at
Your Lucky Day

Your Lucky Day is celebrating spring in oh so many ways ~ spring plants, Easter eggs and bunnies, and fresh, attractive decor. The “shades of blue” corner is bright, the pale blue desk/curio cabinet is alluring and dishes, baking, & cooking items shine. Everything feels fresh, clean and uncluttered even though there is a good selection of home furnishings and decorative items. Your Lucky Day is open Thursday-Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 12-5 at 4159 Grand Avenue South in Minneapolis. Coffee, lunch and treats available next door at Royal Grounds Coffee Shop. Happy saling!

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South by Southwest

by sue Posted on March 19, 2015

How Quaint, Shakopee — How Quaint,
Shakopee

Laurie's Trunk, Bloomington — Laurie’s Trunk,
Bloomington

Linda's Cellar, Chaska — Linda’s Cellar,
Chaska

Farm Girl Junk, Carver — Farm Girl Junk,
Carver

The Nature of It, Carver — The Nature of It,
Carver

Signs of spring were in the air and in the shops today. Green plants, fragrant hydrangeas, and bright daffodils welcomed shoppers. Painted signs were also evident in several stores. Linda’s Cellar is celebrating three years at the current location in Chaska with yummy treats. Rekindled Co. has great bargains before closing their Carver store and moving to Chaska. It’s not too early to look for garden statuary and patio furniture at The Nature of It, Ms. Mac’s Too, and Laurie’s Trunk. A sure sign of spring. Happy saling!

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Painted Pieces: Buy or DIY?

by sue Posted on March 17, 2015

Painted furniture is all the rage and with good reasons. Vintage furniture is usually of high quality and well crafted, but the finishes and surfaces show wear or have lost their appeal. Refinishing the wood stain is one fix. Another solution is to paint the wood a subtle or vibrant color to match your color scheme. There are many products available to help you create a new look, most of which require little or no prep. There are chalk paints, milk paints, paint powders and custom mixed paints – a few are shown below. If you have an old piece which you want to freshen, many occasional shops sell paint and offer classes.
Perhaps you’d rather discover a treasure which has already been transformed. That’s a fun way to add a unique piece to your home’s decor as well. No muss, no fuss. Whichever you prefer, the local shops will offer you plenty of choices.

Pot de Creme paints at The Middle Sister

Chalk Paint Powder at Linda's Cellar — Chalk Paint Powder
at Linda’s Cellar

Studio H’s Own
Brand of Paints

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Clever and Classy in St. Paul

by sue Posted on March 15, 2015

The Middle Sister offers a mix of cleverly re-purposed items and classic traditional furniture. Who wouldn’t love a magnetic board with a map of France for inspiration? Covering dresser drawers with the same fabric as the seat of a chair makes a definite style statement. It’s fun to see creativity like this. Yet leaving a handsome piece of vintage furniture alone shows an appreciation for good style too.
See these pieces and more at 416 Snelling Avenue South today from noon to 5 pm. Happy saling!

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Sunny Saling

by sue Posted on March 11, 2015

What a splendid day for occasional saling! Judging from the busy shops, I wasn’t the only one to enjoy the fine weather and fresh vintage goods. There were abundant bargains at Flamingos at 3404 Cedar Ave. S. which always has something for everyone’s taste. Urban Cottage at 5157 Bloomington Ave. S. was filled with the usual tasteful pieces plus some very nice upholstered furniture from their newest vendor. Cookies and treats were on offer to keep shoppers energized.
If you’re planning a later tour of south Minneapolis today, remember that Sophie Bleu is open from 6 to 8 pm with Wine Wednesday. That may be the perfect end to a day of occasional shopping.
Hours for all the stores can be found under This Month’s Sales. Happy saling!

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Spring Forward Today

by sue Posted on March 8, 2015

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Sun, blue skies, and puddles are sure signs of spring outdoors. In the shops today, you’ll see spring flowers, birdhouses, and bunnies. Garden Party Gallery in Hopkins is open noon to 5. Crowned Cottage and neighboring Old Hotel Market in Elko New Market are open 11 to 4. Hidden Treasures in North Branch is open noon to 6. The shops of Buffalo and on the Minnehaha Mile in Minneapolis are open this afternoon as well. Enjoy the day and happy saling!

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No Rush Hour Traffic

by sue Posted on February 25, 2015

Forget about traffic jams and parking ramps; take the city streets to your favorite local shops this weekend! Start at Sophie Bleu for some relaxed shopping and refreshments from 6-8 today. The shop is open again Thursday-Saturday from 10-6. You’ll find touches of glamour among the repainted dressers, dishes, glassware, home decor and vintage furnishings at 3002 East 50th Street, Minneapolis.

If it’s the last weekend of the month, it must be time to stop by Your Lucky Day which is open 9-6 Thursday-Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. This month the girls have staged a Rummage Sale with bargains and choices galore! Check it out at 4159 Grand Avenue South in Minneapolis.

In St. Paul, The Middle Sister is open on Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5 at 416 Snelling Avenue South with a wide variety of furniture, housewares and accessories. For more information, see This Month’s Sales. Happy saling!

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Classic Style with European Flair

by sue Posted on February 20, 2015

You might not expect to find classic furniture, chandeliers, and garden statuary in a Bloomington strip mall, but you will when you stop at Laurie’s Trunk on Lyndale Avenue just south of 90th Street. Laurie specializes in that classy, decorator look which is perfect whether you want to furnish a whole room or just have that one exceptional piece. Laurie’s hours have changed so please make note: 11 to 5 Sat. and 12 to 4 Sunday. Happy saling!

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Hints of Spring in Carver and Chaska

by sue Posted on February 20, 2015

Ms Mac's Too, Carver — Ms Mac’s Too, Carver

Rekindled Company, Carver - SALE — Rekindled Company, Carver – SALE

Today’s warming trend is just one reason to head out to the shops of Carver and Chaska. You’ll find many hints of spring like the soft blue dining set at Ms. Mac’s Too and the abundance of home and garden furniture at The Nature of It where the fragrance of jasmine was delightful. If you’re looking for bargains, go to The Rekindled Company where everything is marked down before their April move. The photo shows just a small portion of the $1 room! New goods (as in, newly acquired) await you at all the shops. Some vendors at Linda’s Cellar are already thinking ahead to summer with vintage items for the cabin.
All shops in Carver and Chaska are open Friday and Saturday 10-4 and some are open for limited hours on Sunday as well. Check This Month’s Sales for more information. And don’t be shy about mentioning The Occasional Saler when you’re shopping. It’s great to know you follow us. Thank you and happy saling!

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Beyond Minneapolis

by sue Posted on February 12, 2015

The Middle Sister, St. Paul — The Middle Sister,
St. Paul

There are many great shops ready to welcome you this weekend beyond the Minneapolis city limits. A random sampling on view starts at Picket Fence Gals where you’ll find furniture, accessories and Valentine decor. The French Flea is filled with curvy, white pieces, accents of fleurs de lis, burlap and lace, and lots of luscious green plants. Antique Alley has a nice assortment of tables, chairs, cupboards and smalls. 2 Birds Vintage & Antique Emporium mixes furniture, kitchenware, and cabin furnishings and supplies. And, last but not least, The Middle Sister offers children’s furniture, occasional tables, jewelry, china, books, and more. Any of the shops might have that special item which calls out to you. Valentine cards, gifts, or fun treats await this weekend. Hours and addresses can be found by clicking on This Month’s Sales under February 11-15. Happy saling!

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