Florence,Colorado: Build It, And They Will Come

Today a nice antiques store browser told me that I should contact HGTV (Home & Garden TV) about Florence, the antiques capital of Colorado.

The browser told me this spontaneously, as she was happily treasure hunting, having no idea--I just might take an interest in her idea.

Actually HGTV did visit Florence about two years ago for an edition of House Hunters that featured Svetlana and Gunnar Piltingsrud and their historic Victorian house. You can read a previous blog post about it here: http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2015/08/florence-colorado-svetlana-gunnar.html

But this visitor today was saying that Joanna and Chip Gaines of the HGTV hit show, Fixer Upper, should be fascinated with Florence since there are so many antiques and collectibles that fit with their renovations.

I'd actually never thought of that--but excellent idea. I know the town will welcome them (or anyone) with open arms. It sounds rather fantastical--but it's not really. As I've noted on this blog, people come to Florence from all over the world. Not that many--but enough to surprise me.

And we have many people who own shops all over Colorado and come to Florence, because the variety is stupendous and the prices are usually lower than in other parts of the state.

A Denver-area customer told me the other day that shopping in Denver's antiques district is pleasant, but the prices and selection aren't as good as Florence.

Florence has built it and they will come. They've already come. But more and more visitors to Florence are expressing opinions that there is something special about Florence and think more people need to know.

I agree!

As blog readers know, Colorado Life magazine people were in town last week and a story and photo spread is in the works.

We also know the Netflix movie, Our Souls At Night, starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, was partially filmed in Florence last fall. Millions of people will be likely watching the movie and wondering where it was shot. And yes, many of the props were purchased right in Florence's antiques district.

Yes, many people are working tirelessly to get Florence the recognition it deserves.

Florence is one of the most quirky and interesting towns in Colorado. For years, its been a slight secret, but word is getting out.

And Florence isn't just about antiques. The picture above is just a sampling of all the outdoor art visitors can experience for free, just by strolling residential areas or taking a short drive.

You can tell the townspeople care about art and beauty. One would be happily surprised at all the homeowners turning stumps into works of art with the help of Fremont County artist, Sheldon Roberts.

Art and whimsy is in almost nook and cranny of our fair burg. I love this delight in front of the Blue Frog Gallery on Florence's Main St.

Some day I'll have a "tour" on the blog of all the outdoor art there is in Florence.

And some day we'll get the word out, even more, about all the delights in Florence, to more print media and television.

But in the meantime--remember, people have built it in Florence and they will come.

Will we find YOU next in Florence, walking the streets filled with art, antiques, eateries and friendly people?

#FindItInFlorence --I Found A Colorado Life Magazine Writer And Photographer In Florence, The Antiques Capital Of Colorado

Today I found Colorado Life magazine staff writer, Lisa Hutchins and Joshua Hardin, the magazine's photo editor, in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado.

Every day is a good day in our fun burg, but today was one of the best days ever.

Front row: Joshua Hardin, photo editor and photographer; Lisa Hutchins, staff writer; Elsie Ore, co-owner of Heartland Antiques and Heartland Boutique; Florence mayor Keith Ore and co-owner of the Heartland stores. Back row: Rena Pryor, manager of The Loralie Antique Mall and owner of Bizzy Bee Honey Farms: Peg Piltingsrud, co-owner of Fox Den Of Antiquity and pioneer in Florence's Antiques Capital Of Colorado status.

I've been a subscriber and admirer of Colorado Life magazine for many years. Refer to my March 2016 blog post about this remarkable magazine--written way before I knew the magazine was honoring Florence with a photo spread and story. http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/colorado-life-magazine.html

In that 2016 blog post, I mention the world-class writing and photography and commitment to digging deep into the real Colorado. After spending an afternoon with these friendly and professional magazine folks, I can say what I wrote over a year ago, is even more deeply felt today.

For those readers who don't live in Colorado, it might be hard to imagine that a state with so many wildernesses, geographical divides and diversity of people and scenery are tight-knit. It's true. As we were all chatting around a table at Florence's Aspen Leaf cafe, what came to the forefront is that all of us love the towns we live in, but love Colorado as a whole and it binds us together.

It's the love of Colorado that Colorado Life magazine captures perfectly in each and every issue.

Check out the magazine's website at: www.coloradolifemagazine.com

You heard it here first: What happens in Florence--doesn't stay in Florence.

We rarely let anyone leave Florence without a parting gift, even if it's simply the memory of a fun and friendly welcome they can take home with them. But Joshua and Lisa were treated to some jars of Bizzy Bee Honey Farms raw honey, compliments of Rena Pryor.

We took a leisurely tour of Florence's many shops and galleries and also at the 1923 Rialto Theater on Florence's Main St. Pictured above is,  Keith Ore, Peg Piltingsrud and Joshua Hardin discussing the fact that the partially-restored Rialto is one of Colorado's few existing theaters that have the original fly towers intact.

I know a fair amount about Florence's history and attributes, but today I learned almost as much about the town in a few hours than I've picked up in the last five years since I've chosen this town as home.

I'm not sure when the Florence story will appear, but when I know, I'll post it. In the meantime, those wishing to experience Colorado Life magazine, information on subscribing is at its website, or single issues are available at the check stands at the Big D Supermarket in Florence.


And I know when Colorado Life's Florence story hits the stands, I'll learn even more about our town. Best day ever!

So, will we find YOU in Florence next?

#FindItInFlorence -- I Found The Kissing Camel Women's Club In The Antiques Capital Of Colorado

So who did I find wandering the quaint streets of Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado, this time?

I saw a Grayline tour bus park on Main St. We don't often see tour buses in our fair burg, so it piqued our interest.

There was a sign on the side of the bus that read: Kissing Camel Women's Club. Kissing Camel is a community in Colorado Springs located close to the stunning red rocks and scenery of Garden of the Gods.

Naturally I was wondering about the club and why they stopped in Florence, when Ginger Hanson, the club's outgoing president, dropped into ye olde antiques mall, after a delicious lunch at the Aspen Leaf.

She said the club is simply a group of neighbors devoted to friendship, education and culture. The club was formed in 2009 to share community, friendship and fun and now has over 150 members.

 The club recently decided to enjoy short day trips to Colorado destinations and chose Florence and Canon City as one of their first adventures.

Hanson and fellow club member, Nancy Vessel, took a trip down memory lane in many of Florence's antiques stores--before heading off to tour the Abbey Winery in Canon City.

                                       Nancy Vessel and Ginger Hanson: Browsing In Florence

We're thrilled that some of the neighbors and friends that form the club decided to visit their neighbors to the south in Florence.

More information on the women's club can be located at: http://www.kcwomensclub.com/

#FindItInFlorence: We Found YOU In Florence, Colorado--Gary & Pam Holder of Pueblo

Florence is the antiques capital of Colorado. The town has the slogan: #FindItInFlorence.

I like to do a little twist on that and see if I can find YOU in Florence. You never know when or how I will pop up with my high-tech $29 cell-phone camera and a piece of scratch paper and ask you what YOU found in Florence and what you are going to do with what you found.

This time I was fortunate to find a lovely couple, Gary and Pam Holder of Pueblo shopping in Florence.

The Holders purchased a porcelain knob with SUNDRIES painted on it with a patent date of 1890. They told me they were planning on putting on their pantry door for a unique vintage touch.

Within about 10 minutes of leaving the store (in their car on the way home) they called ye olde antiques mall and asked if I could ask the antiques dealer who owned the other porcelain knobs to give them a deal if they purchased them all.

No problem. Everyone in Florence works to make visitors to our fair burg happy.

The Holders returned today and purchased the rest of the knobs to use on their kitchen cabinets.

The antiques hunters thought this would be the perfect conversation piece in their open concept home, where the kitchen can be see from many other rooms.

Now we don't kiss and tell on this blog. But the price of these antique knobs was fairly reasonable. Besides the great price and the wow factor--there was yet another reason the Holders wanted this unique find. "You simply can't find them!" Gary said.

They searched the web and a few had surfaced, but already sold and none others were available or the knobs had writing on them that wasn't as compatible with a kitchen.

I asked what the availability and prices were on reproduction knobs? Yikes! I don't condone reproductions, but I was just asking.

 OK, I was fishing around to see if Florence has the real deal for less than reproductions.

According to Gary the price for the real deal in Florence was significantly cheaper than reproduction knobs.

And these knobs are genuine apothecary knobs. Pretty cool.

Yet another example of the creative and knowledgeable shoppers we meet in Florence all the time--and yet another example of how if you #FindItInFlorence the price and uniqueness of many items here beat what's in the online venues.

And I always offer all the folks featured in We Found YOU In Florence, Colorado, the opportunity to send a picture of their completed project done from items found here. And then I'll post it on the blog so all can see the clever ways folks come up with make antiques and collectibles a part of their home and life story. And even if I didn't find YOU in Florence and you want to share what you did with an an item found in Florence, fell free to send a few pictures and a brief description for possible inclusion on this blog to: FlorenceColorado@yahoo.com

So, will we find YOU in Florence next?

Fremont Victory Quilters: Sewn With Love For Our Veterans

Most of us can agree that there is hardly a greater love and courage when a person is willing to lay down their life for their country.

And many quilters in Fremont County are showing a great love for our veterans.

Twice each month, quilters from Fremont County meet at the Elks Lodge in Florence to construct quilts for veterans, as part of the national Quilts Of Valor outreach, which also reaches out in Colorado. More information on that non-profit group is at: www.qovf.org

Every time a quilt is sent to a veteran, the Fremont Victory Quilters send a letter to their vet. The veteran is unknown to them, but is invited to drop a note (if they wish) and tell the group a bit about themselves.

The part of the Fremont Victory Quilter letters that literally brought tears to my eyes is: "All of are of different faiths, have varied political beliefs and have strongly differing views on this war, but we united in agreement that our Service men and women should be treated with dignity and kindness. It is with this goal in mind that your quilt was created."

And these quilts are not just any quilts. They are practical and comforting--but also works of art as you can tell from the picture.

More information on the Fremont Victory Quilters is at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fremont-Victory-Quilters-1418383188481606/?hc_ref=SEARCH

If you want to see just a few of these lovely quilts, that will eventually be gifted to veterans, take a stroll to 109 W. Main St. in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado. There is a window display dedicated to these quilters and the veterans in honor of Armed Forces Day.

The Loralie Antique Mall and Boutique is a sponsor of the Fremont Victory Quilters. Loralie Harris, owner of the antique mall and boutique is a well-known textile designer and donates fabric.

And the mall has set up a donation jar at the mall. So feel free to donate some pocket change (or even a more significant cash gift) to the quilters, so they can keep on giving back to the veterans.

Florence, Colorado: What's Worth More? Bakelite Bracelet or Littonware Microvave Casserole..

Such fun. One can opine and guess what the trends in antiques and collectibles are. I work in an antiques mall, so I can see in real time what some of the trends are.

But it's much more entertaining to me to see what actually sells for more online to see what the trends really are.

So, what's worth more? A tested bakelite bangle bracelet with hand-painted flowers OR a four-quart Littonware microwave casserole? Huh? OK, I didn't even know what a Littonware microwave casserole was until I started digging deep to see what the current trends are. I was raised in the era where microwaves were some new-fangled things that were a Death Star in disguise. Sure, I use them--but with extreme caution and suspicion. And I never suspected older microwave cooking vessels were something that great.

So, let's start with the bracelet.

Pretty. Real bakelite. Hand painted flowers.

And now, the contender.

A four-quart Littonware mictowave casserole. I know nothing about microwave casseroles and even less about Littonware. But I'm guessing Littonware is circa 1970s or 80s. This puppy has a chip in it. The bracelet does not.

And which item is worth more?

The casserole of course. It sold for $45.

The bracelet, a mere $29.

You'll Flip Over FLIP SISTERS VINTAGE MARKET!

OK, you all know I like it when antiques, collectibles and vintage goodies all meld with a sense of humor.

And I can see the Flip Sisters are having some fun!

Now that is dedication!

I happen to have a soft spot in my heart for dumpster diving. Not that I've ever done it. One reason is I'd probably get stuck in the darn thing with all my creaky bones. But one day when my husband and I were coming out of Hobby Lobby he saw a dumpster that called his name. The only thing I heard calling my name, was a voice telling me to be the lookout for the cops or Hobby Lobby employees.

Turns out that dumpster dive netted us a vintage fishing creel that netted us nearly $100.

But I digress, because the really exciting news here is that on May 19, 20 and 21 starting at 10 a.m. the Flip Sisters Vintage Market will kick off at the Cliff's Edge on 103 Main St. in Westcliffe.

The market will also be happening again from July 1 to the 4th.

Now being the inquisitive person that I am--I've been to Country Woods Designs Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Country-Woods-Designs-407956789278974/

Be prepared to be amazed and awed!

And if you want to be inspired with world-class interior joy again, go to: www,countrywoodsdesigns.com

I imagine their repurposed items are just the tip of the iceberg and people attending the Flip Sisters Vintage Market will be thrilled!

See, there's talent all over southern Colorado--and it's always my pleasure to highlight it even when it's a few scenic miles down the road from Florence, the antiques capital of Colorado.