And Now The Madness Begins..........

This is the weekend!!  This is our anniversary sale weekend and we have been working hard all week to bring in new and unusual merchandise just for this.  Lots of vendor tents have been set up in the field next to the mall and they are packed with treasures!  We have both new and returning vendors so the selection will be terrific!  Everything inside and outside the store is 10% off with many vendors offering even deeper discounts.  The sale runs Saturday through Monday so there is lots of time to come out to Aurora and enjoy the sunshine and great deals!

Happy Birthday To Us!!!

Well, it is getting closer!! Memorial Day weekend marks the 13^th anniversary of South End Antique Mall!  We always mark this occasion with a “bang up” parking lot sale.  If you have never been to one of these, you have to start this year!  The entire store is at least 10% off all merchandise with some vendors giving even deeper discounts.  We not only have what is inside the store, but we open up the parking lot and the field next to the store for vendors to put up tents and display the treasures they have been gathering for months. You will find everything from fine antiques and garden décor to ”rusty crusty” treasures.  The merchandise is already beginning to arrive and it looks like it will be another great sale weekend.  Don’t forget to mark your calendars for May 27^th, 28^th , and 29th.   Make your way out to Aurora and help us celebrate our birthday! 

The Lowly Retro Chic Apron!

We are quickly approaching Mother’s Day and what better symbol of mother than the apron!  Now, these garments have been worn since ancient times as something to protect the clothing and to indicate status, but they could also be very decorative.  The word “apron” actually originates from the French word “naperon” (small tablecloth).  Well, they are back in vogue and are considered retro chic!  Remember the TV moms of the 40’s and 50’s?  Donna Reed would never have been caught in her kitchen without an apron on!  These little garments can be sturdy and functional with lots of pockets and a full bib top or sheer and frilly if you were playing the role of a “hostess”.  If you were taught to sew, this was probably one of the first projects

 you ever worked on.  They are pretty straight forward as far as construction goes but can be embellished in so many different ways.  Those perky little gingham aprons with “chicken scratch” embroidery patterns on the front are fun to collect and display.  I love any aprons with hand embroidery on them.  When was there ever a time when a bunch of women did not take something pretty basic and functional and add artistic flair!  This is our heritage from our mother’s and grandmother’s and I love to find them!  They were decorated with rick rack, bias tape bindings, ribbons, hand crocheted patterns, etc.  I love finding children's aprons but they are a little harder to come by.  They got a lot of use!  You will find great examples of all of vintage and contemporary aprons at South End Antique Mall.  Bring your mother to Aurora this weekend for a Mother’s Day treat!

This is an example of bias tape and hand embroidered embellishment

These sweet little aprons were hand crocheted with ribbon trim

This is so cute with its sheer apron and polished cotton pocket!

Another example of a gingham apron with a chicken scratch border

Rick rack was a popular embellishment for mid century fashion

A nice pineapple design crocheted apron with perky red ribbons

This is what I need!  Something that covers me from top to bottom!!