The Tin Barn Market

This summer after the sad news that a few of our favourite flea markets had closed, BFF Sean and I pulled out road maps, filled up the gas tank and sought out new territory to indulge in our all day Sunday, flea market and thrift shop bargain hunting marathons.

This is how we discovered the beautiful town of Almonte, about 30 minutes from Ottawa.  For a town with a population of about 5,000, it has a remarkable number of great antique shops and flea markets, and it's here where we bought some of our favourite vintage finds of the season.

Most of Almonte's antique shops are speckled along  picturesque Mill Street, and this is where Sean and I discovered The Tin Barn Market.

We both just fell in love with this shop and the gracious and welcoming  Errin.

Owners Errin Stone & Vicki Veenstra opened their charming pop up last year in a space that was formerly Baker Bobs who has moved his operation next door. Talk about good karma.

They've themed their shop, "Create. Re-purpose. Re-invent. LOVE again," and true to that, their shop is filled with unique and interesting antiques with new and  re-purposed items like soaps and jewellery sprinkled here and there.

Both Vicki and Errin seem to have a gift for finding just the right thing and when you poke around, you can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into the treasures they put on their shelves.  I want it all!

Whether it's the natural light in their shop or how the items are arranged, I find the shop somehow compellingly photogenic and soothing.

A few weeks ago they posted on their Facebook that their shop is no longer a pop up - it's now permanent - so who knows what goodies will make their way there and how their shop will evolve?

To quote the Michelin Guide,  it's "worth a special journey!"