Vintage Pieces Make the Best Souvenirs!
April 5, 2012 by Aimee • 36 Comments
Our next stretch of road led us to Ashville, North Carolina — home of the Biltmore Estate. We rolled into town at 4pm…turned right onto the road that would lead us to the estate…pulled in and jumped out of the car to purchase our tickets. Total bummer to hear that you can’t purchase tickets after 3:30pm. I was totally disappointed until I looked over and saw my boys on the floor tackling each other – laughing hysterically. Second thought, this would be much more fun if I were to leave my sweeties with their grandparents and leisurely explored America’s palace on a long weekend overnight, just me and my hubby!
As we all stepped away to take a restroom break, my hubby, seeing my disappointment inquired at the ticket desk for an antique store that would lift my spirits. I had NO idea…and when we rolled up to the Antique Tobacco Barn with a large door open for me to sneak a peek…I could hardly contain myself I was so excited and totally surprised. I’m still having dreams about this place…it was more than I could have ever imagined!
This had been an old Tobacco Barn and the facility stretched for 77,000 square feet and has over 75 dealers. The mall is a haven for those who love searching and hunting through an eclectic mass of furniture, architectural salvage, collectibles, and accessories! This girl LOVED every second of the hunt!
I’ve been contemplating what I should do with my original garden planter…I’m thinking a little paint and then a bit of distressing needs to be added to my “to do” list!
About this point I was trying to decide which would have a higher value, taking one of these home or having the third row empty so my kids could get a little “personal” space when they needed!?!? My kids of course totally won out…I was tempted though.
A tea cup to add to Little B’s collection…she’s funny…she likes English tea cups. She tips the cup over and double checks as she’s making her decision.
Little B also, fell in love with this sweet apron. She asked every night in the hotel if I’d pretty please hand wash it in the sink…I held off until we got home because we never had time to leave it up for the day to dry. No worries…it’s clean now and she has used it every day since.
An old candelabra, also found here. A super old green tin toolbox for Big B to hold his knife collection someday. He’s a cub scout and counting down until he can take the test and get his first knife. This box totally made his day!
And a beautiful conditioned quilt with super fun colors for $20. I’m thinking I may have to go this route for Little B’s room!?!?! Afterall, the girl won’t let me paint her desk or her hope chest! She likes the both in their original state.
One of my favorite antique places. I need another trip!
I love the Tobacco Barn. My mom and I try to hit it at least once per summer.
You’re so close to me!!! I live about an hour south of Asheville in Greenville, SC. Come visit!!!
wow, what a great place! I’ve been enjoying your trip photos. I remember a trip my family made to Williamsburg when I was 6. I’d really love to go back, and then there’s this great place too! Have a wonderful Easter!
That is only about a hour and a half from my house, but I have yet to go there….sad, I know. Next time you’re in NC, be sure to go about 2 hrs east to Concord, NC and leave the husband and kids at Great Wolf Lodge and go spend the day at The Depot at Gibson Mill. Supposedly, it’s the largest antique mall in NC. Look for them on Facebook. ;o) Sorry you missed Biltmore. At Christmas they have night tours, but I guess they don’t stay open late year round.
Okay, this is so funny. I know you live in the DFW area, where I lived for two years & my hubby’s family lives. And you were just in NC, where we just moved to! We went to the Biltmore for our 5 year anniversary in December! Haha, small world.
Kathryn
destinationcraft.blogspot.com
I want some of those jars…the blue green glass is great!
When my parents lived up there, every chance I got I was spending hours in that store. In fact that is where I found my tobacco basket!!!
Ok, I was just freaking out! Look at all that vintage stuff!! So love vintage! Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful Easter weekend
Well, you know I love NC, so this is a great post for me! We have yet to visit Ashville, but plan to very soon! That store looked amazing, I would have spent too much money there.
I have a weakness for card catalogs and old wooden spools. Enjoyed all the great photos!
I live in Charlotte and Asheville is one of our new favorite places to go. (Savannah,GA is another). We were just there a few months ago and went to the Tobacco Barn. I love that place!
We have a place called Atiques and Trash near us that is pretty similar- it is where I got my old window
What a fun day! It’s sweet that your little girl likes to hunt for treasures, too!
Apron and teacups – I miss my little girl! She’s a junior in college now.
What a little lady.
We still enjoy shopping together.
-Revi
What a great trip. So many unique finds! Sure wish I lived closer!
Love this post! I live in Asheville and was just at Tobacco Barn the other day. There is another great antique/salvage place in Asheville that I love called The Screen Door. Biltmore is wonderful. We were there last weekend and they had thousands of tulips in bloom! Just beautiful!
What a fun way to remember your trip to Asheville! I think Little B’s teacup is my favorite, though.
That sounds like my idea of heaven! I’d love to go there!
Oh wow! What could be more fun than a visit there! Loved my tour. Thank you and Happy Easter!
I am sorry you did not get the big tour you anticipated but I think you got the better tour in the end.
It was fun going along with you in this post.
It’s been years since I’ve been there but what a fantastic place! That tea cup is so pretty! I wish I could go back. You need a good long time to look around!
I Love Junquing in these types of places… Thanks for taking us along!
Dawn… The Bohemian
Sounds like a wonderful day! This place looks awesome-I sure wish I could find a place like that near me!!
Hi
A Carolina girl here (South Carolina, that is). I dearly love going junking so much so I started a blog about it. This place sounds like something I want to plan to visit. So many treasures! Your photos are gorgeous – I have been collecting pictures of turquoise and hope to pin at least one of yours. If you make it to South Carolina, visit Metro Hwy. 1 Flea Market (Columbia) on Saturday or Sunday.
Looks like a fabulous store!
So very very very lovely – what a thrill you must have had walking in that barn doorway. Lovely picks too.
This place looks amazing! We plan to visit the Biltmore next year, so we will definitely have to check out the Antique Tobacco Barn! Thanks for a great post!
I wish I lived there so that I could visit this store!!! It looks like heaven
Wow, that sounds like my kinda place, what fun!
I live in Wilmington, NC!
I have a cub scout, too, and I’ve never heard of a test for a pocket knife! I would love to know more about that, because my son wants one, and I don’t think he’s ready.
That must have been so much fun! I wouldn’t have known which way to turn first.
I bought a blue Mason jar last year in Ohio and found out it was made around 1896. It holds knitting needles in my crafts room. I also made something cute with some vintage spools I bought. You might like the idea. You get one of those wooden plaques from the crafts store and paint it in whatever colors you like. Put some picture hanging hardware on the back. Then glue three spools evenly across the front. Voila, you have a cute place to hang things!
you made the top 5 this week! http://brassyapple.blogspot.com/2012/04/top-5-link-ups-refashionsewing.html
I lived in North Carolina when I was a child and I just loved it. Such a beautiful state and rich history. That looks like a great place to browse around. Great finds!
Dear God, I’d be there every week and go broke. I have several stores that I check all the time around my home but lots are missing that type of feeling that store envokes in the pics.
Great finds and good decision not to tackle Biltmore with young kids. I love the aqua mason jars you found and the sweet little apron.
That looks like an amazing place. Congratulations on your finds. Great thinking on your husbands part, too, to surprise you with that place.
Great place!Fantastic post!
Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)