There is something special that happens when we find something that catches our eye...
A bit of magic perhaps...
I have always been a collector of beautiful things... I grew up in a magic land all of my own, always fantasizing and playing pretend. Some of the things I became fantasized with were mythical creatures; fairies, elves, princes and princesses from faraway lands, castles, heroes, dragon
s, and anything else containing a bit of magic... I grew up in a very small town which could contribute to the usefulness of the imagination because quite simply, there was nothing else to do, but to READ. Ah there was nothing better…
This took me to a place that I could escape and here is where I could always go and be safe, I could put my nose in a book and be lost for the time being. It was delightful... I began finding little things that I liked, trinkets, rocks, bits of broken jewelry maybe; things that no-one else probably wanted, but to me they were my treasure. Books became one of my biggest collections and my favorite things to keep, because I could always go back there in my stories and revisit these lands and characters anytime I wanted. Books continue to be one of the things most difficult for me to let go of which is why I tend to own multiple copies of my favorites so that I can have available for my customers something that they simply must read. This is one of my many interests I have kept over the years, after traveling with my maternal grandmother Loretta, who was an antique dealer, I had seen and found many beautiful things on our many adventures, and learned lots of tidbits about treasure-seeking from her and it fascinated me. I began collecting but never thought twice with what I may do with these ongoing collections of items, or with this joyful experience I had discovered. Bags of seashells collected from vacationing with grandmother, boxes of pressed lavender put away for a rainy day, not sure for whatever use, but still have them...fancy Victorian soaps, turquoise jewelry, these wonderful things called nesting dolls, which I loved, and found while traveling on our many trips to flea markets and shows that we would help grandma and grandpa set up for and vacation after, always some terrific expedition of exploration of course as us explorers were used to back then; Pike's Peak, Robber's Cave, the round hills knows as the Potato Hills in Oklahoma and Sardis Lake where we collected the shells, this being the common route for antiquers to head to Texas; one of the largest flea markets in the US lied in Canton, TX; and what a place! Miles upon miles and rows upon rows of flea market! I was hooked from then on, at the age of 14. Sadly, my favorite mentor of artifacts contracted a terrible disease that there was no magic in the world that could destroy or rid her from this. This would be the cruel monster we call cancer and it took her away from me a few years ago. I wish I could have slayed the beast, Ah and I would have. She was my friend to call when I needed ever so badly to talk to, my shoulder to cry on; the one who understood, and would never dare judge me. As how could she, the daredevil life she had lived herself, who was she to think badly of her own genetic creation, who seemed to imitate the same art herself and also enjoy some of the same frivolous, unsuitable, unbecoming things in life. We’ll end that note right there…
I loved her and she loved me and that was that. I miss her terribly and always will. So on we go…
The idea didn't hit me at first; I had done several different things with my life, had worked in insurance as a licensed salesman for an unmentionable, evil, horrid insurance company, (that as many others of its kind, committed many multitudes of foul, downright rotten acts, including treason, deceitfulness, and highway robbery, to name a few...) I also performed various other corporate jobs of blah, blah, boredom, and this lifestyle just didn’t suit me. It was pretty much creative suicide and this, although profitable, "Did not make me happy." (The Last Unicorn.) I started school, which I loved; had three beautiful daughters who are magical and wondrous creatures themselves, and began to delve into some crafty ideas of my own...
My father paints, he loves to use his hands although his hands shake so bad sometimes he can't always do what he loves, but I know this is partly where I get this desire to create from... I decided to take what I had learned from my grandmother in the business world and my love for collecting and creating and put them all together and finally do what I love. This was indeed a creation of some kind of magic for me... I have always collected especially fairies and butterflies and they have followed me wherever I go in my drawings and books so that is where my name grew from. Everything in the shop may not be something related to fantasy or the mystical but there is a reasoning for where I get my ideas and inspiration and this had to be part of it all...
Some of What We Carry That Can Actually Be Summed Up: Vintage/Retro Furniture, Antiques, Collectibles, Pottery, Music, Dolls/Toys, and of course, Books, (a must for anyone with a love for imagination and wonder.) "Anything pretty, Anything from Our Past, Things That Have Class,” and a "Story behind It,” Store, and Oh So Much More! If we don't have it, we will make a point to try and help you locate it! We keep detailed records for our customers of the particular item they are looking for and we will contact you when we do.
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We love to pay tribute to history, and to our ancestors who traveled the Earth before us, our special ones, who we choose to commemorate, to carry in our hearts forever, and to cherish their memory, forever in our hearts, because that is what life is all about. Special items that make us remember; cherished parts of our past. Our primary purpose is to bring something to you that you used to love and may have lost along the road of life and reunite you with that special item. Sometime these things have no monetary value; simply sentimental, and those can be the most meaningful possessions of our life. There are always things, large or small; that we hold on to, because they remind us of the past, someone or somewhere, this is very important to us all. We may want to pass this down to a child or grandchild someday. It truly is the people that matter the most, but when they are long and gone, there is always a powerful feeling holding onto one of these cherished keepsakes that they may have once held; these special belongings remind us of our special one always living in our hearts. This is what gave me the purpose and motivation to begin what I do, and I am on a mission to help people find these items that are special to them, for sentimental value and to help recreate those memories had with the ones we loved and lost, or sometimes just a fond childhood memory, something we enjoyed fondly and want to enjoy again. What I Do:
I Refinish/Repurpose Furniture (Paint, Stain, Reupholster, Simply Redo) I specialize in the very popular Shabby Chic Style, also known as rustic, and my paint of choice is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which I will soon becoming a local Iowa Vendor so anyone and everyone can have access to this wonderful product in my booth at the I-80 Flea Market next to the Majestic Lion Antique Center in Des Moines, IA. Keep watching for further updates, but look for all of this to happen sometime towards mid-2012, and we will have ALL of the unique colors available for purchase. Majestic Lion Antique Center
Are you tired of wading through yard sale and flea market
merchandise in an attempt to find really good quality, rare antiques? Since 1996, Majestic Lion Antique Center has been voted Des Moines' #1 Antique Mall
for a reason. With 150 select dealers in more than 35,000 square feet, Majestic Lion
offers Central Iowa's largest and most exquisite inventory of quality antiques. Merchandise is displayed in a spacious, clean, well-lit environment;
shopping is easy and relaxed with wide aisles, accessible booths,
bright showcases, and comfortable temperatures. A professional
sales staff is happy to help you find that special piece of furniture
or collectible item of interest. Majestic Lion dealers stock the finest inventory of antique
and collectible merchandise in the Midwest, including:
-Victorian and Turn-of-the-Century Oak, Walnut,
Mahogany, Rosewood Furniture
-Mission, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's Furniture and Collectibles
-Elegant Glassware, China, Porcelain and Dinnerware
-American and European Art Pottery
-Over 300 Lighting Fixtures and Clocks
-Garden Art and Outdoor Decor
-Quilts, Primitives, Crocks and Kitchen Items
-Toys, Trains and Sporting Collectibles
-Collectible Coins and Jewelry
-Art Prints, Outsider Art and Statuary
-Architectural and Renovation Items
-Ephemera, Advertising, Rare Books,
Comics, Breweriana and Paper Memorabilia
Majestic Lion Antique Center
Contact Info:
POSTAL MAIL, SHIPPING, OVERNIGHT SERVICES: 5048 2nd Ave, Des Moines IA 50313
PHONE: 9am-7pm daily, Central Time: 515-282-5466, (515-282-LION)
EMAIL: click this link to send an email Majestic Lion Antique Center
The Majestic Lion specializes in Top quality Victorian antiques and accessories for home and office, carries a strong line of Investment grade American oak and walnut furniture, and has:
35,000 sq. ft.; 145+ dealers
They are Open from 9am to 7pm seven days a week. http://www.majesticlion.com/contactus.html
I-80 Flea Market (Right Next Door)
Contact Info:
5050 NW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313 515-282-1500
Hours: OPEN TUES-SUN 10-6
(515) 282-1500
We Carry Videos, Tools, New & Used Furniture, Household, Glassware, DVD's, Crocks, CD's, Book's, Antiques and Gifts, and much much more! What Jessi’s Fairy Things Will Usually Carry…
Antiques/Collectibles: (Such a WIDE Category!)
My favorite type of antiques tend to be of course any kind of old furniture, usually shabby chic style, the more rustic the better, especially if it’s unique looking and can be functional or decorative, If it was not old looking when I got it, it will be worked on by me to give it that type of feel; vintage linens, comic books, farmhouse, vintage, retro style, primitives, architecture, jewelry, vintage books of any kind, especially children’s, really any kind of vintage paper, valentines, pieces of books that didn't make it, anything chippy, vintage fabrics, anything repurposed, anything with a memory, Wizard of Oz anything, Raggedy Ann & Andy anything, anything blue, flowers, especially morning glories... and the list goes on and on..
