Lynn in NM - There's a fabulous store on Campus Corner called Antique Garden. They have the most adorable coaster sets with photos of Norman, the university and campus corner. I have every series (I think it's up to 5 now ... with four coasters in each series). The soonermagic sign above my kitchen window came from there. They have posters of old football programs that are nicely done. These are on hubby's wishlist for the gameroom. They have great custom upholstery ... I'll be getting the dining room end chairs there sometime soon. And, I've purchased a rug there. Walked to campus corner for lunch, and hubby had to walk the four blocks home with a sizeable rug thrown over his shoulder. Most of our accessories, however, are picked up on our travels.

Thanks, Mojo... I'm finding it's kind of hard to get folks to respond, though. I don't know if there just aren't a lot of people from my area online in the forums, or folks just want to keep their favorite fleas, antiques places and thrifts their own little secrets. Their choice, of course-- but most people have very distinct taste and collections anyway-- so it's not like sharing will really make it harder to find stuff personally. Oh well. I'll continue to do detective work and try out these places on my own. Ah, the joy of RandMcNalley! :-) Have a good one, Jenn http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/

The Perkiomenville Auction is still going -- every Monday year round. There are still dealers and the auction part. There are far fewer dealers than there used to be -- I would recommend if you are going to have a far drive to go on a holiday weekend like memorial day or labor day as that is the only time the auction is really hopping anymore. (Though the first few nice Mondays of spring are also bound to be crowded.) The deaers also don't seem to start as early as they used to -- used to be most dealers were there and set up by dawn. Now if I get there at 7 or 8 it is still empty -- people are rolling in to set up when I am leaving at 9. Again, though, the holiday weekends are an exception -- best to be early those days. I did figure out the auction tables thing - yes, you can pick through things left behind. Technically, though, I think you are supposed to offer money to the woman collecting money for the auctioneer for what you take -- I have seen her yell at people. But there are always a ton of people taking stuff and not being very subtle about it (they bring boxes and tote bags and load up) and no one seems to pay. I'm pretty sure that what gets left behind gets tossed unless the consignor comes back to get it (and most of it is like mildewy clothes and moldy books, etc. that you know no one is coming back for) so I guess it is better that people take it than it goes in a landfill somewhere. I have also bid on things at the auction - it is exactly like I described above - a crowd of people standing around an unorganized pile of stuff, while the auctioneer holds something up. Bidding usually starts at a dollar. The winning bidder hands over cash and puts his new item in a pile -- by the end of the auction, there are piles of people's wins all over the place. I have seen some really nice furniture go for very cheap (most of the other bidders are dealers looking to buy low for a profit, so it is not hard to outbid them if it is something you want for yourself.) But I have also seen them auction TOTAL junk -- furniture that is moldy or falling apart, broken glass patio tables, etc. In fact one day they auctioned a plastic covered cat litterbox that still had litter and cat poop in it. No, I am not kidding and no it did not sell LOL! I think they literally load the truck up at a house cleanout and bring it directly to the auction as is -- thus the litterbox full of poop etc. At one point, I was waiting around to bid on one oak schoolhouse chair that matched my kitchen chairs. The lot before it was 4 kind of ugly folding chairs from the 40s. When those didn't get bids, the auctioneer added my oak chair to the lot. I was the only bidder and got all 5 chairs for a dollar. I had no use for the 4 folding chairs and when a guy next to me saw that I was planning to leave them behind, he asked if he could have them and I gave them to him. I ended up with another chair for my kitchen table for the sum total of $1 and he ended up with 4 free folding chairs. So anyhow, that might be more than you wanted to know but there you go.

Annie, love the pics. Really like the background colour above the stone and fireplace too...a little inspired by how well it works with black and white...hmmm We do have flea markets and garage sales - sadly they aren't very promising mostly. I go to flea markets and thrift stores all the time but you are more likely to find a velvet purple Elvis picture with plastic frame than anything else! Australia doesn't have a lot of history the way the States and UK do. Big cities like Melbourne and Sydney are different and better but pricey for anything nice. Gringe huh? Sounds like a Dr Seuss colour! And you are right, maybe a little muddy for me. I think I am liking a colour a bit like Annie's! Maybe a bit lighter as it such a big space and I have strong colour in all the bedrooms. Thanks again! Will try the rug too. Off to the shops feeling inspired! Will report back