My Trip to the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck

I spent the loveliest day at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck last Friday.

My friend and fellow Newburgh Vintage Emporium vendor Cindy (Little Cherry Vintage) drove us up there in her shiny new CRV. My CRV is almost 20 years old and I absolutely love it, but it will be time to get a new one soon, and it was nice to ride in one.

We saw several tag sales on the way and as addicted thrifters it was really hard to keep on driving, but we were focused on getting to the Country Living Fair.

The weather was just perfect. We met up with Lynn, another Emporium vendor who is also a blogger (Fern Avenue), and we had a quick bite to eat first. I ate a yummy baked sweet potato with goat cheese and scallions. It was so good, I wanted a second one.

Lynn and I are actually going to the Haven conference together! That’s less that three weeks away, wow. I’m still in denial that L’s summer break starts in two weeks.

My first stop was Cari Cucksey’s booth, which was in the same spot last year.

I met her last year and we’ve been tweeting a bit, and it was great to chat with her about her new paint line before she had to dash to her presentation on the Main Stage I wanted to see.

After the presentation, this was the first booth that caught my eye. It was full of repurposed vintage containers that were made into mini gardens and fairy gardens.

How absolutely sweet is this? They sold fairy garden items, and I couldn’t resist and ended up buying these for our own fairy garden I want to put together.

I wanted about every one of these white items. And when I see this kind of collection, I have to tell you it so makes me want to have my own booth at the Country Living Fair.

So many of the things I love and buy are exactly what the Country Living Fair crowd also loves, and it would be so much fun to have a booth there for three days.

Last year, when I was visiting the fair, I felt so at home and such an urge to sell vintage items there. It’s hard to describe but you just know when you are surrounded by something that touches you, that ignites your passion.

The funny thing is that I do get to sell vintage items now, at the Emporium. So in a way a wish has come true, and I get to do it year-round and not just at a fair. Although a fair is obviously a whole other deal, with all those crowds you get to interact with. I don’t get to do that at the Emporium.

Many of the booths had lovely vignettes of items, and I took a lot of mental notes for my booth.

When I touched this vintage tablecloth, I couldn’t believe how soft it was. I wonder how many times it has been washed over the years, and who owned it. Now it’s mine and I have already used it once.

This was another booth that was filled with items I wanted to take home. How nifty is that potato masher bird feeder? Couldn’t pass it up, and now it’s on our porch.

Seeing these salt dibs, I felt the urge to start a new collection of them, but I already collect enough things.

Like vintage mason jars. Holy mason jar heaven. But I didn’t buy one of them — I’m very proud of myself.

This was a booth full of great vintage papergoods. I loved this idea of putting silverware and a napkin into a vintage seed box.

This booth full of printed burlap items was fun as well. I kind of wish I had bought four pieces for our dining room chairs I’m going to reupholster.

This is an idea I want to replicate and sell in my booth.

The fair closes and 5 p.m. and I wish it had stayed open for another two hours at least. I hope it comes back to Rhinebeck again next year — I plan to be there. As a visitor, or maybe even as a vendor. How much fun would that be?!

Did you make it to the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck this year? Which booth was your favorite, and what did you buy?