Melinda Daubitz has one of my very favorite booths at Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days. As you will read below, I have made some pretty awesome purchases from her in the past. We are very happy to feature Melinda and Sparrow Antiques in our latest edition of the Vendor Spotlight!
First off you should know that I LOVE your booth. One year I bought two antique beds from you and I was in the market for exactly zero beds. Dana, we remember that year…lol, you also bought a mailbox that you were going to turn into a library in your yard. We had so much fun watching you shop.
Tell us all a little bit about yourself, where you are from and what Sparrow Antiques is all about. Sparrow Antiques is a collection of treasures from the past. I am originally from the Chicago land area. I relocated in Eau Claire WI with my 4 children about 18 years ago as a single parent. I started to collect stuff, mostly broken. I would repair and repurpose and then have little sales to supplement my income. My love for collecting never stopped and my hobby became my second career. We love yesteryear and just buy things that speak out and I think others may enjoy.
How do you go about collecting items to sell? Is there a particular style that you focus on? We love to shop small towns, estates and auctions. Nothing like a good/full dumpster and a little sidewalk surfing! Our style is ever changing, we watch trends and colors and try to find things that we love and others might. Many things I have bought, I bought for myself…..LOVED and then sell. My house is always changing with my mood.
How long have you been coming to DOGR as a vendor and what keeps you coming back? I have been coming to Oronoco for maybe 15 years, I am in love with the small town feel. I love that the entire town becomes a mecca for shoppers. Shoppers who love character, old stuff that tells stories of the past. The food is amazing and the great venders. We look forward to seeing everyone, every year. It feels like our little community for the weekend
We all have our favorite foods at DOGR – what are yours? The food is amazing! We really love the home-made ice cream sandwiches and the fireman breakfast is a favorite activity.
Do you ever get a chance to shop around DOGR? If so, what is your favorite DOGR purchase? We don’t have a lot of time for shopping, but we do always seem to find a treasure for ourselves. May it be an old bear, a handmade quilt from yesteryear or that one of a kind chippy paint piece that must go on the porch
What kind of advice would you give to a new flea market shopper? Well, we do like to give a deal! It never hurts to ask if we can do better! I personally hate when someone rips on a piece, pointing out all its flaws…..for a good deal. Our things are old and often imperfect that is what we loved about it and wanted to share it with buyers. Also, I love when buyers want to know the story about a special piece….many things have been bought and someone told us the story, or who may have owned it. Ask about the story, it makes each piece even more special.
What can we expect to see at your booth in August? Do you have anything you are saving just for DOGR? We are on the hunt right now, we have some medium sized chippy furniture. Kitchen stuff is always popular and the colors are bright. We are saving some wonderful carnival stuff, like a ferris wheel seat. We like a few unique pieces to get folks to take a peek. We usually have a little bit for everyone and our prices are great!
We are so excited to see you again in August. Who knows, maybe I’ll leave with another antique bed! Until then, where can we find you? We are so excited to come. Truly our favorite place to be in August!! Our new shop is in Eau Claire Wisconsin…just a hop and a skip away. Sparrow Antiques, 767 2nd Ave in Eau Claire WI is a shared space with Vintage Junkies. We work many shows, helping each other out!
A follow up about the mailbox mentioned above. I was shopping with my sister when she bought the mailbox from Melinda. She did turn it into a little library for her yard and it is adorable!