heavenly shopping
I really don’t need an excuse to visit my daughter, Marissa, in San Francisco. I’d be happy to go anytime and as often as she’d have me.
But this visit was scheduled around the once monthly Alameda Point Antiques Faire held across the bay and over the Oakland-Bay Bridge on Navy Way in Alameda. The first Sunday of each month brings more than 800 vendors and over 10,000 shoppers to the huge sale. I first learned of the Faire through my favorite blog, Vignette Design. Interior designer and blogger extraordinaire, Delores, loves the Faire and has written of it often. Her favorite vendor is Big Daddy’s Antiques, so naturally that would be our first stop.
crated demijohn, industrial cart, and so much more!
I was beside myself with anticipation when we arrived at about 7:30 AM (the gates open at 6:00). We made a beeline for the Big Daddy booths in aisles J & K. (the aisles run from A – Z). I was delighted by every item in the Big Daddy booth, but also heartsick that there was not even one thing that was small enough to fit in my suitcase. The photo above and the next 7 photos were taken in the Big Daddy booths.
turbine exhaust fan – turned hanging light
a chicken feeder also turned into a hanging light
big cleaver cutting board
Marissa testing the cleaver
another crated demijohn and a wonderful scale
great crates
The one thing at Big Daddy’s that I really wanted to buy was at least one of these vintage olive harvest buckets. As we walked through the faire, I’d see people with them and be so jealous and sad that I couldn’t get one home. Those UK flag chairs in the background are pretty great too!
So after oohing, ahhing, and drooling, we went back to aisle A and began our 6-hour shopping palooza. Yes, Six Straight Hours, non-stop! We did not sit down for even a minute, just booth to booth to 800 booths. And not one complaint from either Marissa or my obviously very patient husband, Dave!
How about a few more photos of things we saw and loved!
numbered brass tags everywhere
plenty of cool antlers and skulls
birdcage and bottles
lots of bottles!
I actually already have one of these rolling canvas bins that I purchased here in Phoenix. Think I’ll turn it into a table (with storage!) by finding a great piece of wood to put on top. There are ideas everywhere you look.
doll heads and body parts were around each corner – which kinda freaked Marissa out…
..although she did like seeing all the preserved baby shoes
vintage French grain sacks
… and grain sack pillows.
if you need old hardware, this is the place to find it
little gems – watch parts, typewriter keys, cute trinkets
what a lovely mix of goodies
I already have a window frame turned chicken wire message board, thanks to Peggy who made one for me, just like this one!
pretty signs from old window frames were there too
and oh all the Mason jars – one of my favorite things
So what did I purchase that could fit in my 20 x 15 x 7-inch carry-on suitcase? I will share that tomorrow!
4 comments
Oh My Gosh!! I am SOOO jealous! Don’t you also have an industrial cart like the one pictured in the first photo from a trip to Chicago area? Or am I just pipe dreaming?
Shelia – YOU would LOVE this place! We need to just fly there, rent a U-Haul, and drive it all home. Actually, Big Daddy is also located in L.A. – so that may be more realistic – just a thought! And, NO, I don’t have one of those carts – once again because I couldn’t figure out a way to get it home from, yes, Chicago. What you’re remembering is me asking you and Sydney about freight companies to get it here… but it was too expensive – Sad Face!
Looks fantastic. Love the cart, and the antique windows and the grain sacks and the brass key tags (there’s a mosaic project in there) and have to agree with Marissa on the doll parts — freaky!
Oh my G! That looks like shopping ~~~~NIRVANA~~~ (I sang that part). So jealous.
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