Vintage Goodness Found in Michigan

I have passed through Schoolcraft, Michigan (seen here in a photo from the Kalamazoo Gazette) on US 131 monthly for 15 years, usually at about 6:30 a.m. on Mondays or Tuesdays or about 6 p.m. on Wednesdays or Fridays, all times at which the many antiques shops along Main Street are closed.

Recently I came through on my way home from my office at a decent time on a Friday afternoon and was able to stop at two shops I had been eyeing for years. The red brick shop Abby's (see photo) had a beckoning window display, and I bought the two vintage bathing caps right out of the window. I had one like these when I was about 12, and later in high school when we were required to wear them for swimming lessons during gym class. County Living magazine recently did a feature on beach house decorating and noted bathing caps as a hot collectible.

I also got the household labels book, nearly intact, and a children's book printed on linen and supposedly dating before the Civil War from the owner, as well as the vintage Q-tip box (with Q-tips inside). We talked a lot about antiques because she had many things in her shop that reminded me of not only my childhood but of the years spent working in my brother's antique shop--something I did from about age 12 to 18. So there was a lot of deja vu for me at Abby's.

The other goodies above, including the rubber stamp set, I found on the other side of the street at an antique mall, Norma's, I believe. The cool stamp set in an open case was only $15, a true steal. I also found the vintage medical tins there, the child's paint set, the pink gloves, and several more little treasures to put to use in my altered art and mixed media creations.

There were many more shops. So many goodies, so little time.