Check out curios at Antiques Faire

Part antiques and curio shop, part estate sale, The Woman’s Department Club’s Antiques and Keepsakes Faire is one event that can’t be missed, and it only rolls around once every two years. With a wide range of prices and variety of offerings, it’s a treat for decorators, art connoisseurs and even fixer-uppers.

Held in the WDC’s stately Georgian brick mansion at Line Avenue and Margaret Place, vendors, dealers, collectors and the simply curious can wander from one exquisite room to another and view furniture, collectibles, jewelry, cosmetics, vintage clothing and art from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1.

Sherri Winseman, owner of Wilde Vintage and Handmade, is bringing her vintage purses and other items, beautiful jewelry and cosmetics to the event for the first time.

“I will have a variety of things to choose from including vintage clothing and accessories as well as high-end resale clothing and locally handcrafted essential oil blends, bath salts, lip balms, skin moisturizers and relaxation aids,” said Winseman.

Several vendors from Antiques on Gladstone will be at the event. “I specialize in small collectibles and jewelry and am partial to Native American jewelry,” said Meta Horton Bowen, owner of My Favorite Things and MFT Estate Sales. Mary Alice Bailey, owner of Map Made, will have handmade pottery and jewelry. Antiques, vintage silver, glassware, china and wood from Anne Bison’s The Eclectic Bison will also be there.

Vendor Alyce Labanics plans to have costume jewelry, vintage woven tea towels and evening bags. Betty Black will have art, scarves, furniture and jewelry. Katie Beth Winston of Bossier City will have vintage jewelry, china, silver, linens, glassware, English and French items, perfume bottles, beaded bags and sterling serving pieces. Linda Harris of Waskom will have cinnamon bread, sourdough bread and cookies.

Kristi Jones of Kristi Jones Designs and Darrell Chitty of Darrell Chitty Art & Design will have oil and watercolor paintings and prints. Libby Gleason will have jewelry.

Longtime Woman’s Department Club member Virginia Joyner started the event around 2000 as a way to help with the expenses of keeping one of Shreveport’s most beautiful buildings from deteriorating.

This is the tenth Antiques and Keepsakes Faire, an event that has raised around $50,000 for the WDC.

“We collect money from vendors, and we also ask members to donate things for an upscale estate sale event in the bargain gallery,” said Joyner. The funds are used to maintain the historic building and support the programming that makes the WDC a unique contributor to the intellectual and social life of the Shreveport community.

“The needs of the club regarding the money raised is overseen by the board,” said WDC President Roxanne Bosserman. “It has been used for painting, equipment and other capital improvements.” The building has a long history as one of Shreveport’s most elegant venues for private and public events.

“The WDC was formed in 1919, and the building was built around 1925,” said Bosserman. With two graceful staircases in the foyer, high ceilings, spacious rooms, extensive crown mouldings, mantels and a large commercial kitchen with several dining areas, the mansion is an ideal setting for weddings, receptions, musical events and style shows.

“Our chair for the Antique Faire and Keepsake fund-raiser is Sandra Harrold. Sandra has worked diligently to coordinate our fund-raiser for the WDC,” said Bosserman.

“The WDC offers ongoing educational, art and music programs to the Shreveport community,” said Harrold. “The women in 1923 built the house out of love and hard work. The house will be soon turning 100 years old. We women at the club view the keeping of the doors open as a torch passing process for the future generational and historical meaning of all women of Shreveport.”

“The admission is free for both days.

Anyone who loves antiquing, tag sales, estate sales, etc., will enjoy the WDC Antique Faire,” said Bosserman.

– Kathleen Ward

MORE INFORMATION:

For more information on the Antiques Faire and other upcoming events, call 222-4186 or visit www.thewomansdepartmentclub.com.