07/18/2026
I have a story about the magic of Florida's Antique Mall.
Two years ago, while we were moving into our new house, my beloved set of three floral canisters accidentally ended up in the donate pile instead of the packing pile.
They weren’t expensive-they were thrifted actually- but they meant a lot to me. After a difficult event in my life I immersed myself in projects to keep my mind busy. One of them was painting all three of those lids copper. I accidentally let the paint run in one spot but it couldn't be seen from the outside. That tiny flaw became something only I would have recognized.
I was heartbroken when I realized they were gone and I figured I’d never see them again.
Fast forward to this week as we were setting up our booth at Florida Antique Mall.
After countless trips between our booth and the back of the store, I randomly decided to walk down a different aisle. A beautiful booth caught my eye so I stopped to look. On the top shelf were two canisters.
I thought, “Those look just like mine. I’ll buy them and paint the lids. At least I’ll have a pair again.”
I reached up and grabbed the first one.
Copper lid.
Then the second.
Copper lid.
I opened them…and there it was—the exact little paint run I had made years ago.
My heart skipped a beat! I yelled across the store for my husband to verify I wasn't seeing things.
There I was holding two of my three missing canisters.
When I took them to the register to pay, I told the manager what had happened. She and another vendor shared my excitement and said the booth owner was still in the store and she would send her over.
A little while later she came to our booth and I told her the whole story.
She said, “That’s amazing!" and then causally added "I have the third one at home. I’ll bring it to you.”
I just stood there, completely speechless.
She told me she had bought the canisters quite a while ago. They had sat for months in another shop without selling. Just three days ago she moved them to Florida Antique Mall.
If I hadn’t randomly walked down a different aisle…
If she hadn’t moved them just days before…
If they had sold at any point over the last two years…
I have no idea where those canisters ended up after they accidentally left my house. Somehow, Holly found them. Somehow, they stayed together.
Somehow, they waited until I opened my own booth just one aisle away.
Thank you, Holly, for making sure they found their way home.
Sometimes the smallest things remind you that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Every antique store has stories. But I have a feeling Florida Antique Mall has a little extra magic and this was its way of welcoming me home.
