Level & Plumb: Tooling With Life's Imperfections: Cline's Antiques, Mt. Pleasant, NC

The word "Antiques" is often misused...and in the case of Cline's, I'd say it's a real stretch!

Antique = 100+ years old

Vintage = 50-99 years old (it's actually a wine term that is misused)

Beyond that, the subgroup encompasses collectibles, knicknacks, new, old, used, pre-owned, junque, and gewgaws...typically decorative trinkets and baubles.

My cousin Chris and I drove about an hour from Charlotte to Mt. Pleasant, in search of Cline's. I'd heard it's a must-see, and was warned that it's dusty and that though not a lot is marked, Mr. Cline doesn't bargain on prices. Acres of stuff, in trailers, out on the grass left to weather, crammed into old barns. Chris remembered seeing an article about Cline's not long ago, in Country Living Magazine. We were on a mission.

We took some back roads...which I prefer to the highway! It's rural, for sure, and we both stopped to take photos along the way.

Moose Drug Co in Mt. Pleasant---GREAT old wooden sign! The "M" is about 6' tall.

Either add a "p" or leave off the "e!"

Arriving at Cline's, the first view is of rusting junk, and a big metal pig in a pickup truck. What were we in for?

Whoa. Trailers with rickety steps. I felt like I was on an episode of "Storage Wars!"

You just have to take your time and focus. There's a lot to see, and a lot to overlook. And there are no shopping carts. Red wagons would suffice...but, nope.

The dusty dirt paths had some broken glass, and there are fire ants in the grass out in the fields. It must be crazy in the rain. The don't sweep, or clean, or arrange or put prices on most items. "Salespeople" are non existent. A few guys were sitting around under a shady tree. I guess if you need help, just make your way over there. It's an oddly wonderful place.

Bring a wheelie cart, or an Ikea bag and then make a pile somewhere if you run out of hands. I was taking pix, so I kept having to put my "finds" down!

I got a bunch of unused flour sacks for $1 each and sent them to my sister. The colors match her kitchen, and she's going to make kitchen chair covers!

Showroom condition!

Probably a good idea to bring a flashlight!

Marketing genius...fire extinquishers and a rusty mantel in a big heap.

Furniture shopping would be a bit frustrating! There are a few signs warning shoppers not to remove latches, knobs or hinges. That's fair!

Little ceramic whales

Ceramic glove molds, circa 1980. I picked one up for $10.

Mr. Cline sits in a little air conditioned shack at the entrance, and you hold out your "finds" while he jots down what and how much on a little slip of memo paper. There's not a lot of conversation.

I'm "aware" of what's out there, so for $50, I know I got a bargain on things that cost more in shops that have overhead. The only overhead at Cline's is the big, blue sky. For example, the flour sacks were $1 each and I got six....

...20 minutes up the road in Concord, at The Depot at Gibson Mill...the sacks are $7 apiece ;-) The ceramic glove mold, chosen from a pile on a table, was $10 at Cline's, and the one below was marked $24-$35 by various vendors at the Depot ;-) Pickers do well at Clines...they scoop stuff up and double the price at their shop.

The glove mold in my bathroom--I use it to hold the jewelry I wear the most. Love it.

I already had a cast iron mermaid, but I picked up two hooks for a few dollars each at Cline's. I'll use them in my 'retro beachy' guest bath to hang robes and towels.

As an aside..different day, different sale: I could NOT resist these vintage sunglasses---my friend Lisa Marie put them on as a joke, at a tag sale a few weeks ago. Once I was 100% sure she didn't want them, I snapped them up for 50 cents (!) and they look awesome in the guest bath, perched on top of a poster I've had for years.

The enameled "Packard" pitcher and cups will be used as vases for fresh flowers. Daisies, sunflowers! My parents had a 30's-era Packard, which is a fun memoru for me and I liked the graphic design and the colors on these. Need? No. Like? Yes! $10.00 for the lot, said Mr. Cline...

It's a do-able day trip from Charlotte...drive an hour, spend some time meandering, grab a few bargains, then go to Concord to The Depot at Gibson Mill for a wider, more organized selection. Pretty good prices there, too...but you'll be secretly thrilled at your Cline's savings.

http://depotgibsonmill.com/

Gibson Mill has dozens and dozens of vendors, well-decorated stalls and a great cafe onsite called TJ's Diner.