Fleaing South Florida

Took a little, much needed, PTO and flew to Deerfield Beach/Boca to see my baby sista. We always have a high ole time and my visit coincided with her 55th birthday.   We used to live a few doors down from each other, but she has since moved to South Florida and I miss her daily.  Thankfully, we Skype, email, IM and phone daily so we are always in touch, but there is nothing like spending time together doing the things we both love, the beach, the sea, antiquing and playing tourist.  

We dedicated one day to antiquing/fleaing and our first stop was at my favorite consignment shop in Deerfield Beach, A Summer Place Consignments.  Debra, the owner, and I never met but have been facebooking for over a year. It was great to finally meet her in person and she is every bit as lovely as her friendly posts.

A Summer Place Consignments is filled with gorgeous pieces and at prices that are so affordable, that this is truly a place that you buy it when you see it or it will most definitely be gone within 24 hours.

Sweet "Charlie" (girl) is the provides the shop security and is just too sweet for words.  She is a busy little thing climbing up the cage and sliding down the pole non stop and chirping away.  She watches everyone that comes in.

You will find every style of furniture period here and some pieces are just extraordinary.

Brilliant use of an antique, cast iron stove.  Has been converted to an electric fireplace so you can enjoy the look of a roaring fire without the unbearable heat in southern locales.  

Beautiful, mid century bedroom suite, screams Mad Men.

Throughout the many rooms you will find lovely decorative elements such as art pieces, antiques and amazing mirrors.

Lovely example of the many mirrors found within, I would have loved to taken this one home with me.

Now this gorgeous, Italian soup tureen did catch my eye and take my breath away.  The mother ship of all soup tureens, it has unique head handles and cherubs tossing flowers at the top. 

 I wrapped it in bubble wrap and carried it on the plane with me.  

So many beautiful pieces are always found at Summer Place Consignments that I must drive down to visit sis on my next trip.

Next stop, Dania, Florida, known for its antique row and Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlour.

Most of the true Floridan fruit stand and gift shops have fallen away and Alex's is one of the last that still survives. 

 Family built and owned since the 1930s, you will find fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juices at the counter.

Next stop was Akiba Antiques, nestled in the heart of Dania. Akiba Antiques was founded by Charles and Franceska Akiba in the 1980s in Paris, France before migrating to the United States in 1995.  The owners have painted the entire stucco/block building to look like a street in France. 

This magnificent iron gate and cherub guard separate the antique shop from the auction gallery.

Sis and I were greeted by Franceska, and this lovely woman introduced us to the magnificent treasures held within.  Like walking through a museum, the pieces were pure eye candy.

Rooms and cases filled with treasure.

Eye popping lighting, columns, statuary and art.  

Fell in love with the engraving of Napoleon in original frame.  Akiba is filled with so many marvelous historical pieces and Franceska was so kind to share their story with sis and I.  Truly a family business, Franceska told us that the two shops next store belonged to her son and her daughter.  

Her son's store (I apologize I had forgotten his name) was a lovely as his parents.  This amazing French doll house miniatures caught my eye.

Gorgeous religious icon, column and bust, and marble tables abound and I could have taken them all home.  From here we then moved on to the shop owned by their daughter, Sarah.

Sarah is a lovely as her mother and her shop offers a completely different flair from her parents and her brother.  Elegant simplicity with a unique marriage of organic pieces with antique decorative elements.  Sis and I fell in love with this lovely little space.

Beautiful lighting, I especially adore the prisms at the base of the lamps.

As everyone knows, I am weak in the knees for Edwardian whites and this tone on tone blouse is a beautiful example of hand embroidery white work and french fold techniques with fine lace.  Sarah gave me a great price and this beauty came home with me.

Antiquing works up an appetite for good ice cream so off to Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor...one of  the "must do" 50 places in South Florida.  The ice cream is all home made daily and is out of this world.  Only pure ingredients and the flavors are to die for.

It's a small building and always filled with hungry patrons.  The food is delicious and the wait staff friendly and attentive.  

Following lunch at Jaxson's, sis and I decided to walk around Dania to work off the lunch calories.  It was a splendid afternoon as we visited all of the many, tiny shops in Dania.  

We discovered Jimmie's Chocolates and Cafe and had to go in for a handcrafted chocolate or two or maybe three.

Yes, this sign was calling my name.  

Jimmie's Cafe offers Bistro style dining offering a Continental with a Latin flare menu.  We didn't get to eat here, but this is on my next visit list,  So much great energy about Jimmie's and the people are just so friendly and welcoming.

The "real aromatherapy" Jimmie's hand made chocolates were intoxicating and sis and I made a small purchase to enjoy with a glass of wine at the end of the day.

We spent the next hour driving back home on highway A1A which is the coastal road.  You never make good time on A1A but you really don't care because it is rich with the ocean on one side and lovely hotels and homes on the other.  All with people walking, riding bikes, skateboards, walking dogs, holding hands, laughing, conversing and rich with unique individuals only found at a beach setting.  

Sis and I had a marvelous day and we will make frequent trips to Dania Beach.  

Blessings to you and those you love, Sea Witch