No, I had an adventure in central Ohio, a mere 90 minutes north of my home. I went to the Homer Laughlin Fiestaware Sale on the grounds of the Ohio Expo Center and Fairgrounds. This is the first time they've had a sale like this outside of West Virginia and it was a blast!
My older son and his bride along with my younger son took me there on Friday as part of my birthday present. We had to wait about an hour to get into the sale but it was so worth it. During that hour you could see the dishes and watch other people pawing through the crates and the anticipation was palpable. Lucky for me, my daughter-in-law loves Fiestaware too and we both did quite well for ourselves.
This is my haul... I got a lid for a casserole dish ...I broke it years ago... price... a mere $4. I got another lasagna pan...I use the one I have a lot...price...$20. I forget the prices on the rest of my treasures as they were a gift from the kids but they were a bargain... I think that chip and dip bowl in the front was around $15. The prices were great. Now this is "seconds" and you had to look through the crates as some pieces were better than others. And my goodies do have a few flaws but they are on the bottoms of the pieces and unless you are washing them or putting them away you'll never see them.
They are now residing with the rest of my collection here...
and here...
and here...
and in several other hidey-holes in my kitchen...and to be perfectly honest...when I took these pictures my dishwasher was full of dirty Fiestaware... it is a colorful obsession!
And after that adventure I was able to pop into Cross My Heart a wonderful stitchery shop in Columbus, and snag 6 cuts of lovely hand dyed linen for my cross stitch stash...one must replenish one's stash now and then!
And after that my sons drove me to see this building...
the Longaberger Basket Building in Newark, Ohio. This building is 7 stories tall and it shaped like a classic Longaberger Market basket. Years ago I collected these baskets and I still have a bunch of them. They were a hot item in the 90's, not so much now. The company has had some rough years and from the articles I read online, they only occupy 2 floors of the building. When we were there the place looked vacant. There were NO cars at all in the parking lot and while the grass was cut in front of the building, there were weeds growing out of the curbs in the parking lot on the side. Kinda sad...but it was on my bucket list of places I wanted to see. I got a selfie with my boys but I can't seem to get it from my phone to my computer tonight so I used this stock photo.
Soooo... I'm not a great adventurer but I sure did have a lovely day! The boys finished the day off getting me dinner at my favorite restaurant and we were all tuckered out at the end of the day. Thank you Chris and Nick and Jenny for an absolutely wonderful birthday adventure!
For now, this homebody is happy for the memories and the new soup bowls!
happy stitching-
carol fun
I've been to the Longaberger basket building. It's so cool! :0)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun weekend!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad about Longaberger. I see them often now at yard sales/flea markets going for a fraction of what they used to. I try not to buy since I already have quite a few, but if it's one I'll actually "use" I often break down and buy it! :)
When I was growing up Mom hosted Longaberger parties all the time and I always felt so special when I got to hang out with the grownups and purchase my own basket! I still have them in my home, and Mom has them too!
ReplyDeleteI only have one Longaberger basket. I was a "secretary" for a Longaberger rep over twenty years ago. :)
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds like a blast!! Just looking for good pieces of Fiestaware would be enough - but going to the fabric store and then on to the basket building. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI went to the tent sale in West Virginia last year when I was visiting family in Columbus. Two weekends ago I was in Columbus for my class reunion and my sister tried to convince me to stay a few days longer to go to the Columbus tent sale. But alas, I had to return home. I love Fiestaware, too. That's very nice of your family to do that for you.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that was a wonderful adventure. Some of the best ones I have are close to home. Plus I think you have such great sons (the new DIL too). What an impressive collection of Fiesta Ware.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! What a fun trip! I love Fiestaware, but don't own any but my paternal grandmother did and I always, always loved hers. I have been to Longaberger Central in the late 90's and that building was something else!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!! Nice food at affordable price!!!nice blog and thanku for this chowringhee in satya niketan
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure Carol! Love Fiestaware and the baskets too. The building is great.
ReplyDeletesuper cool about the basket building and i agree with you that it is kinda sad. isnt it amazing how this happens from time to time, It being a hot item, but only for a short while, I know tons of people who had them a long time ago, and I NEVER EVER hear about them anymore. I am so happy that you went to the tent sale, I AM SO SO EXCITED to go to a tent sale (hopefully the next one that they have!) and get all my fiestaware for my new house
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