Farm to Table

 The first “farm to table” enthusiasts were our ancestors; farmers and housewives.   Making their own food fresh as it was produced was a healthy choice and a necessity back in the day.  No grocery stores! Today, it is a choice some of us are getting back to.  This is where our mother’s and grandmother’s accessories become very useful today.   You can find newer, more modern butter churns on the market today, but, there is something special about using a vintage tool that still works.  You can find glass, metal and wood butter churns at antique malls today. South End Antique all has some great glass and metal pieces that work beautifully.  Grab a few old wood butter paddles while you are at it!  Butter making is a great activity for children.  It would be a perfect project for 4H groups, school classes, and more.  There was one more method of making butter.   A farmer would pour warm milk into a goatskin and tied it to the side of his horse as he rode for miles.  When he got to where he was going, he had butter!  I think I will pass on this method!

 

                                                                                                                                                        

Follow Your Heart to Aurora for a "Sweetheart Sale"

Our first sale of the year is just one week away!   February 11^th – 13^th is our “Sweetheart Sale”.  This is a storewide sale where just about everything in the mall is 10% off.  Some vendors offer even deeper discounts.  You never know what you will find!   Aurora is the place to be this weekend.  “Follow Your Heart to Aurora” is a city wide event happening on the 12^th and 13^th.  Make a purchase at any of the participating shops and you will be given a ticket to enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate you can use in Aurora!  It is a win win situation; have fun shopping and possibly get a $100 to shop even more!  It will be a fun couple of days shopping, eating, and candy sampling. South End Antique Mall is ready for you with great treasures that our vendors have been bringing in for this sale.  You don’t even have to have a sweetheart to attend!  We are a participating store so, once you’ve made your purchase, be sure and ask for your ticket to enter the drawing! 

For the Love of Quilts!

 

A quilt is a symbol of warmth and artistic ingenuity.  This is so indicative of those items made by our ancestors as a necessity that was turned into a work of art.  I look at quilts as works of art!  If you are lucky enough to own a quilt made by an ancestor, it is a history lesson for you on what fabrics, dyes and prints were available during their lifetime.  The patterns had specific names and designs that were shared across generations. Quilts not only provided warmth but also, for a time, served as a signal of safety and direction for escaping slaves.  The slaves were taught to memorize the patterns and what they meant.  The quilt served as a mnemonic tool to make their escape safely. Quilts served as a means for women to gather socially when they did not have much time to themselves.  The women would gather to quilt together and share local news and family milestones.  They would often collaborate to make a quilt as a gift for someone moving from the community.  They would each make a quilt square with their name stitched into it.  They would gather together to construct the quilt then present it to the family leaving them and a memento of their time together.  I love the fine stitching you find in quilts.  This was tough as you were stitching through three layers of fabric at a time!  Not all quilts were patchwork.  There were those that had embroidered motifs on them or had the layers held together with knotted strings.  I especially loved those old crazy quilts that did not have any rhyme or reason to the quilt patch and had lovely hand stitched embroidery on each of the seams.  Quilts are pieces of history for us and should be cared for and conserved.  You will find a great selection of vintage and antique quilts at South End Antique Mall so be sure to stop by and check them out!

This is a patchwork quilt

This one has hand embroidered redwork motifs 

This is a patchwork piece; love the diamond!

This is the "Basket" pattern

This is a great example of a tied block

Wishing You a Wonderful New Year

 So we find ourselves at the end of another year.  Boy, they go by fast!  We here at South End Antique Mall have been so blessed to have met all of you this year.  New and old friends have passed through the mall and we have enjoyed all of you!  We can’t thank you enough for continuing to return time after time.  We constantly hear “this is my favorite mall” from so many of you.  We are entering the new year with the best group of vendors ever! They work hard at bringing in the unusual and the beautiful; constantly working at keeping our mall “your favorite”.  If you have not yet visited, please don’t hesitate to drop in soon.  Our next store-wide sale will be our “Sweet Heart Sale” February 11^th – 13^th. Don’t wait till then to visit! We look forward to the new friends we will meet this year.  We all wish you a very Happy New Year!

Last Sale of the Year!

 

The last big sale of the year is November 26^th – 28^th!  This is a storewide sale with a minimum of 10% off everything!  Mark your calendar for this one.  Our vendors have gone above and beyond to bring you beautiful vintage and contemporary Christmas items for you to enjoy.  Our  horse “Ambassador” is all decked out in his Christmas finery.  Notice the socks!  He is ready for your visit and, possibly, a “selfie” with him.  December 4th & 5^th is the “Wine and Chocolate Walk” in Aurora.  South End Antique Mall will be participating in this so make sure you get your tickets now!  This event has a limited number of tickets so don’t put it off.  Great local chocolate and wine will be featured.  Visit this website for more information https://aurorawineandchocolate.com/.  Visit South End Antique Mall today for 1^st dibs on great Christmas items before the sale rush!  We have what you need for entertaining and decorating so make sure you visit soon.

Warm Your Home for Fall

This is an exciting time of the year when it comes to decorating with all those beautiful fall colors.  I find that antique and vintage pottery fits the bill perfectly!  Deep browns, tans and pale greens.  These beautiful pottery pieces are timeless!  They display well with sprigs of fall leaves, gourds and nuts.  South End Antique Mall has a beautiful selection of antique and vintage pottery and fall themed linens for your decorating ideas. Bring the kids in their Halloween costumes to Aurora on October 31st from 3-5 p.m for some safe "Trick or Treating"! Merchants will have free treats for them at participating shops.  South End Antique Mall will be handing out treats so be sure to make your way down to our end of town! The North Marion Community Library will also set-up next to the American Legion Veterans Hall and will give a book to each child. 

When the Old is New

 

We have a new vendor!  We love celebrating our new vendors and highlighting their booths.  This vendor, #8772, is located in our upstairs area.  She has an extensive collection of china, glassware and just plain beautiful stuff!  Very nice furniture and unusual collectibles can be found.  Don’t miss your chance to be one of the first to shop this special space!  While you are here, take time to visit all our booths.  You will find hints of Halloween and Christmas making their way into our inventory.  We always have a wide range of inventory for just about anyone's taste! Stop by and check us out!