Shipshewana Flea Market Blog

Antique Gallery Vendor Profile

2010-02-05T14:13:00.002-05:00

Every so often we will feature a different vendor from the Antique Gallery. It is simply a brief conversation to help us all get to know our vendors a little better. This month we have chosen to feature Terry & Jan Hartzler. They are located in spaces 121 and 122 in the Gallery.

Gallery: How long have you been in the antique business?
Vendor: Right around 35 years.

Gallery: How many other malls are you in and where?
Vendor: We are in two other malls besides the gallery, The Creamery in Middlebury, IN as well as Heart’s Desire located in Elkhart, IN.

Gallery: Do you do shows, if so how many and what’s your favorite show?
Vendor: We do about 10 shows a year and all of them are our favorite show.

Gallery: What’s your specialty or what do you like to feature in your booth?
Vendor: We started out in oak furniture, but now do a little bit of this and that. Quality speaks to us. We also feature what we like to call man stuff, lodge type stuff.

Gallery: What do you like to collect?
Vendor: A little bit of everything, whatever looks nice in the house. We don’t have a million of any one thing.

Gallery: Do you have hobbies outside of antiques?
Vendor: We follow our local high school basketball team, like yard work and vintage cars, especially vets. I’ve owned several over the years.

Gallery: How did you get interested in antiques?
Vendor: When my great uncle passed away we went to his auction and he had a lot of antiques. That’s how we got started.

Gallery: What do you like about our mall?
Vendor: We have fun with everyone there. It’s a quality mall.

Gallery: What do you see in the future in the business of antiques?
Vendor: We have to work harder to make the money. The younger generation seems less interested in antiques than us old timers. We have to change our business to include their interests.

PAJAMA DAY SALE!!

2010-01-29T13:10:00.002-05:00

Come shopping in your pajamas to receive discounts throughout town, some shops open as early as 5am! The Trading Place Antique Gallery participates by being open from 8am - 5pm. We offer you a wide variety of discounts by participating vendors as well as free cookies, donut holes and coffee! Enjoy a day of shopping in Shipshewana in your pajamas! Store hours throughout town will vary, please check with each store for their hours that day. For more information and a listing of the store specials visit www.Shipshewana.com.

Introduction to the Auctions

2010-01-22T13:56:00.004-05:00

What is now one of the most popular destinations in the Midwest started in 1922 when six pigs, seven cows and several head of young cattle were sold at the home of George Curtis during the very first auction. Today, livestock, horses and antiques are sold every week year-round.

On Wednesdays you can come hear the cry of eight to ten auctioneers selling a vast array of antiques and collectibles. Every week we have people in attendance from all across the country. Many of our customers are here every Wednesday, both buyers and sellers, while every Wednesday there are people in attendance for the very first time. Move from ring to ring catching the best deals on every type of merchandise you've ever imagined.

Also on Wednesdays farmers from Michigan, Ohio and all over Indiana join us each week all year round to buy and sell pigs, cows, goats, sheep, hay and straw. Whether you are buying, selling or just here to experience country life, your time here is sure to be enjoyable.

Every Friday horse lovers from all over the United States join us for our weekly auctions of driving, work, saddle horses and ponies. Don't miss our two special yearly sales scheduled for Good Friday and the Friday after Thanksgiving. These are our largest sales with up to 400 or more horses.

Check out our website for more details and starting times. www.ShipshewanaAuction.com

What do YOU love to do in the Shipshewana area?

2010-01-18T13:09:00.002-05:00

The Shipshewana Retail Merchants Association is collecting ideas on the things that locals and visitors actually tell their friends and family to do when they visit the area. We’d love to know YOUR favorite activities, including things to do with families, things to do in the evenings, things to do outdoors, special events, and favorite foods and places to get them.

In your own words, what do YOU share with others when you tell them about the great things to do in the Shipshewana area?

Either comment here, or send your response to info@tradingplaceamerica.com.

Thanks for your help in sharing special things to do only in Shipshewana.

Ice Festival 2009

2010-01-08T13:40:00.012-05:00

2009 was a great year for the Shipshewana Ice Festival. Complete with 30 ice carvings, including 4 large sponsor carvings, 6 competition carvings and 20 block carvings. For the first time ever, there was a chili cook-off with 13 participants and snowmobile grass drag races. Fun was had all around as hundreds of folks came out to experience the events and to shop the great discounts throughout Shipshewana. What a great annual event!

Here at the Shipshewana Auction, we also joined the fun and sponsored 3 ice block carvings. Participating was: the Farmstead Inn, the Antique Gallery and the Auction. Here is a photo of our cow sculpture located outside of the Auction Restaurant.

Fall in Shipshewana

2009-09-30T13:06:00.008-04:00

It’s one of my favorite times of year…FALL, and it has officially arrived in Shipshewana! The leaves are beginning to change colors, the air is brisk, and the scarecrows are out! Yes, that's right, scarecrows are scattered along store fronts all throughout Shipshewana for our annual Scarecrow Showcase! The Trading Place is participating this year with 4 scarecrow displays – Wash Day in the Country at the Antique Gallery; Wilma the Waitress at the Auction Restaurant; Old Lambright’s Farm at the Farmstead Inn; and Jabbering Jack the Auctioneer in front of the Livestock Auction Barn; plus there are 25 other scarecrows out and about Shipshewana. Join us the weekend of Fall Crafters Fair (October 8, 9 & 10) and vote on your favorite scarecrow with pocket change. Proceeds will go to the LaGrange County Clothes & Food Basket.
Visit http://www.fallcraftersfair.com/ for more information on the Fall Crafters Fair.

Quilt Garden Update

2009-07-13T09:54:00.002-04:00

Our quilt garden received a "make-over" on Friday with 6 yards of fresh mulch! Check out the photos here...the darker mulch seems to really make the rose colored flowers "pop".

As you can see in the photos, the white vinca have taken off and have left the rose colored ones behind. We hope the hot weather this week will help boost them along.

Come out and see it for yourself, along with all the other gardens along the official Quilt Gardens Tour.

BEFORE

AFTER

Shoofly Quilt Garden

2009-05-22T08:11:00.004-04:00

The Shoofly Quilt Garden in front of the Farmstead Inn has been planted! We spent most of the day Wednesday digging in the dirt, creating a Shoofly Quilt out of vinca. We had a total of 24 volunteers helping over the course of 7 hours.

The official Quilt Gardens Tour opens Memorial Day through October 1. There are 32 sites along the tour (16 gardens and 16 murals). Don't miss this FUN, FREE and FANTASTIC experience! www.QuiltGardensTour.com

Bring on the Dirt!

2009-05-15T09:31:00.007-04:00

They have begun hauling in dirt to create the platform for our Shoofly Quilt Garden! We estimate it will take over 25 dump truck loads to create the 12% grade. The goal of the hill is to enhance the pattern's viewability.

Next week we will begin preparing the area for planting, and if the weather cooperates we will plant the 4,900 annuals on Wednesday. Hope you can come out and see it in full bloom this summer!

New Vendor Update

2009-04-30T14:10:00.005-04:00

We've had several people asking what type of merchandise the 70 new vendors will have at the Flea Market this year. Here is a listing of a few of the items you can expect to see:
TVs, DVD players, Stereos, Speakers, etc…, Oil Paintings & Murals, Custom Denim Jeans, Miche Bags, Jumbo Jelly Beans/Taffy/Hard Candies (from Wakarusa Dime Store), Hydroponics (All in One Garden), Inflatable Pool Toys & Accessories, Golf Shirts & Accessories Liquidation, Jose Madrid Salsa’s (over 20 flavors), Longaberger Items, Rhinestone Flip Flops/Belts/Wallets

70 New Flea Market Vendors!

2009-04-22T10:06:00.007-04:00

The temperature is warming up and the sun is shining today in Shipshewana. We have a few vendors set up outside today and they are excited about the upcoming flea market season. We are just two weeks away from opening day, and I was just informed by Michael, the flea market manager, that we are up to 70 new vendors for this season!

At home in Shipshewana

2009-04-21T09:40:00.003-04:00

I went to Boston this past weekend to watch my husband run the Boston Marathon. We traveled all around the city on public transportation – it was a beautiful city with friendly people, but I can’t deny that I was thrilled to get back home to Shipshewana! Because in Shipshewana there are no overcrowded buses or trains; no crosswalks to wait for the signal to say “walk”; no excessively large crowds of people to attempt to filter through; and no traffic jams. (Now I realize those of you that have been here on a Tuesday or Wednesday during peak tourist season, are thinking – I’ve seen traffic jams and large crowds in Shipshewana - but believe me, it doesn’t compare!) I’ll take a slow moving line of vehicles at the four-way stop, or getting behind a buggy any day over a traffic jam and confusing streets in a large city. Plus the pleasant sounds of buggies clip clopping past and the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the country definitely beats honking horns and busyness of the city streets.
It’s fun to experience new places, but when it’s all said and done, there is nothing like coming home to Shipshewana! Familiar faces around every corner and a small-town feel you just can’t beat.

Quilting Retreat at Farmstead Inn

2009-04-17T13:03:00.006-04:00

The Dear Jane quilters are in town and appear to be having a wonderful time! They are staying at the Farmstead Inn. I came across a slideshow one of them made this week while she was here. Click here to see it.
You can also view her blog here.

Spring is here!

2009-04-15T13:55:00.002-04:00

The daffodils are in bloom and the tulips are beginning to come up. It's spring in Shipshewana! This is one of my favorite seasons, but it is also a busy one, as we prepare for the opening of the Flea Market. May 5th is opening day this year, and there is a lot to do to get ready! They have begun setting up tents and canopies, we even had one vendor set up outdoors today.

Today, the new Shipshewana RV Park opened it's gates for the season. We turned on the electric and are ready for the campers! http://www.tradingplaceamerica.com/rv.php

If you like gardening, antiques, art or are concerned with being "green" our first annual Outdoor Garden Show will interest you! May 2nd vendors will set up on the lawn of the Antique Gallery for this event. There will be lots of activity in town this day as it is also our annual MayFest celebration. Kid's games, a road run, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, a parade, open stage featuring local entertainment, awesome food and much more! It's hometown fun at it's finest. http://www.shipshewana.com/page.php?page_id=390

As you can see we're busy getting ready for your visit to Shipshewana...we hope to see you soon!