I discovered Fresh Vintage, our blog of the week, through Delight, and with summer here, who can resist a flea market/yard sale junkie addicted to the thrill of the hunt? Colleen Allison, who lives just outside of Philadelphia in Chester County, PA, writes Fresh Vintage, a blog and business she started along with her two sisters, Erin and Heather. This is truly a labor of love since their work extends far beyond the blog she pens. Their little traveling company sells vintage finds at antiques markets, eBay, and via porch sales that, get this, they host at their own homes.

At first glance, I thought this was a store, but it’s porch transformed into a vintage market for a one day sale. She can live the dream of shop ownership this way, but with more freedom and far less overhead. And I love how she arranges everything, what a pretty way to present a tag sale. Classy. So many yard sales I drive by are so ugly – everything tossed on blankets, dirty and broken. Those are great for people that can see the potential in the unloved, but I think some just want to shop a sale where the potential is a bit more obvious sometimes! Good presentation makes such a difference. I would pay more to attend a sale like this. And side point: Aren’t those vintage yellow/white toile drapes gorgeous? I wish she had more, I want them.

I love all of her sweet little vignettes, especially the bar cart, and the obvious care she put into creating them. Isn’t it great to see creative people living their dreams in often the most unexpected ways? Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Let that thought take you into the weekend. It’s a strong statement because it involves being proactive and challenging yourself, not settling on what you have, shaking off limitations, looking at things that seem impossible and thinking of a new road to take to reach the goal you thought impossible. Maybe you’re just on the wrong road.

(images from fresh vintage)