Archive for May, 2010

Bigger & Better Monthly Multi-Vendor Yard Sale
2nd Saturday of every month from 8am
Click on ‘ABOUT’ tab for details

Ilona of Port St. Lucie was the lucky winner of
a Laura’s Emporium reusable tote.
Thanks for shopping with us!

Join us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Fort-Pierce-FL/Lauras-Emporium-Fort-Pierce-FL/121222021236463?ref=search&sid=100000028426721.1006108596..1

Bob caught the ‘bug’ at the early age of 13, when he began accompanying his uncle, an antique dealer, to auctions.  He was hooked when he purchased a maple kitchen table for $1.00.  Bob and Pat moved to Port St. Lucie in 2002 when he retired from teaching.  They began doing antique and collectible shows at Reninger’s in Mt. Dora and expanded to others in Florida.  During July and August each year they return to their cabin in the Adirondacks in New York and spend time acquiring more items at auctions.  They also do shows in Washington County and Tupper Lake, NY.

They have merchandise here at Laura’s and at Maggie’s in Jensen Beach.  Pat specializes in linens, aprons, hankies, vintage clothing, etc.  Bob does a lot of Pyrex, Fire-King, kitchen items, etc.  They also carry many collectibles and glassware.  Among their finds have been an egg chair, 50′s cigarette machine, 70′s driftwood lamp and other unusual items.  So be sure to check out Booth #47 to see what’s new.

Oh, the table that Bob bought for $1.00 way back when?  He’s still got it and it serves as a computer desk.

When Andi came shopping for primitive pieces, she told us they were for her salon/spa/boutique, which opened June 2009.  Curious as to how she’d used them, as the roving photographer I was sent to find out.  Field trip!  Located on the ‘almost hidden’ Atlantic Avenue off Second Street in downtown Fort Pierce, it was well worth the search.  Small, unique, indiviualized rooms cater to all your beauty needs.  Not a stack-em-up and push-em-thru salon, but a relaxing, personalized experience.

Andi graciously took the time to show me around while I snapped some pictures.  Keeping to the primitive look, she’d painted the widow frame cabinets in colors coordinated with the rooms in which they were hung.  Holding various supplies and potions, they’re easy to get to, yet out of the way.  I loved what she’d done with the free-standing white cabinet.  Combining a sleek modern computer with wood and chicken wire was an eye-catching inspiration.

Studio 207 is an intimate salon and spa including a boutique with an artist’s touch.  Besides hair, nail and skin care, Andi carries beautiful handmade gifts by talented local artists.  Thank you, Andi, for sharing your creativity with Laura’s Emporium and our website visitors.

[ed. note:  Studio 207 is located at 207 Atlantic Avenue in historical downtown Fort Pierce.  772.468.3005]

If you’ve created a great display for your collectibles, or used an item in an imaginative way ~ we’d like to not only see it, but to share it with visitors to our website.  We want everyone to know what we already do – how amazing our customers are.  So take a few minutes to show off what you’ve created and inspire others!

It’s easy to participate – simply compose an email with the subject:  SHOW OFF.  Write a description of the item you purchased, how you’ve used it and don’t forget to add a little bit about yourself.  Attach a photo or two and send to newsletter@lauras-emporium.com.

For those of you who collect carnival glass (or wish you did), the go-to website for information is David Doty’s Carnival Glass Website at http://www.ddoty.com/index.html.  No registration or membership required, David graciously shares his information with all.

Over 1600 pages and 4000 photographs covers more than 1100 patterns including estimated prices.  Indexed by name, shape, motif, and maker, the chances are you can identify your piece even if you start out clueless.  Using the Google site search, you can quickly narrow down specifics from even the vaguest beginning.

Overlapping categories make navigating this site a breeze.  Besides the indexes mentioned, a comprehensive list of categories can take you right to information you need; back patterns, maker marks, edge treatments, colors, tumblers, vase identification, lighting, ashtrays, common geometric patterns, novelties,  rarities, whimsies, oddities, and a whole lot more.

What’s a swung vase?  The Illustrated Glossary can answer that and more.  New to Carnival Glass?  There’s a special section just for you.  History of carnival glass, how it’s made, contemporary carnival glass, fakes, price trends, upcoming events, and even helpful information on buying a digital camera.

The photos are excellent – close-up with all the detail.  A great deal of the information within this site can be used as reference for any type of glass.  Visit http://www.ddoty.com/index.html and consider making a donation.  For less than the cost of a carnival glass book, you can help keep this website going strong, continually providing more and updated information.

Visit, see and learn.  Tell ‘em I sent ya.  ~ Victoria

Starting in JUNE and through SEPTEMBER
Laura’s Emporium will be
CLOSED on MONDAYS
Hours remain the same for the rest of the week

You may have noticed on our chalkboard “the next dealers night is …” and wondered what it meant.  Roughly once a month the dealers who form Laura’s Emporium get together for an after-hours social and work night.  It allows us the time to clean, rearrange, and bring in new items for our booths.  It’s a potluck affair that gives us the opportunity to eat and drink, catch up with what’s happening, share recipes, show off our grandchildren, meet our newest dealers, and basically have one heck of a good time.  Here’s some photos from our May 3rd dealers night.