Tin Fold Plus Antiques and Collectibles opens in Ewing

From the thrill of the hunt, to attending auctions and estate sales, Brien Ferguson has always enjoyed the adventure of buying for resale and always in the back of his mind was the dream of someday having his own shop.

Brien was bitten by the, buy, sell and trade bug after attending his first auction with his grandmother at a very early age.

“I started going to auctions with my grandmother Alline Ferguson, when I was around seven years old and if I wanted something she would bid on it, but by the time I was nine, she told me I had to do my own bidding, but she would still pay for the item,” Ferguson said. “The first thing I ever bought was a galvanized chicken waterer for 25 cents, that tells you how old I am, he said with a chuckle then added, “It’s been a while since you could win a bid for just a quarter.” “Over the years I went to more and more auctions. When I was about 16 I bought a stone jar and before I left the auction a guy offered me double for what I paid for it, so I thought, hey this is easy money, but soon learned it is not. One time I bought a smokehouse full of stuff from a lady and I thought I was flying high when I sold it all. Back then I just sold stuff out of my barn but I talked about a shop for years.

I went into the Air Force and was gone for several years. When I came back from the Air Force I became a fireman in Lexington. I still talked about having a shop and I was still going to auctions.

Some of the guys on the fire department would ask for stuff and I would find it for them.

About 20 years ago I started renting vendor space and selling through that type of venue.

Then one day I ran into Tammy Thomas and she asked me what I was doing these days, so I told her I was thinking of putting more stuff in a booth but would really like to have my own place. Tammy invited me to come out and see the retail spaces she and her husband Wally have at the old Ewing School. My wife Faye and I went and checked it out, so I told Wally to give me 48 hours to think about it, and here I am.”

Housed in the old Ewing Elementary School, Tin Fold Plus is an adventure into the past an antique shoppers delight. It is located at 210 Euclid Ave. Ewing, Kentucky.

The name Tin Fold Plus derives from Ferguson’s love of creating works of art with folded tin, the plus, tells shoppers he has more to offer than folded tin pieces.

Something for everyone can be found at Tin Fold Plus, from a tasteful blend of past and present to the old and new.

The shop is filled with primitive and antique farmhouse pieces such as a wrought iron plant stand, quilts, old trunks, and a charming vintage cook stove that works.

Brien said that local advertising pieces are some of his favorite items to offer customers who love nostalgia from their hometowns.

For example, you will find tucked inside the display case a metal shipping stencil for The Million Kendall Company that was a factory in Fleming County or some vintage produce labels from a local cannery, and even some tiny bottles that came from the Denton Drug Company in Bath County.

Furniture items are also available from odd chairs and chest of drawers to small kitchen tables and a bench or two.

Milk cans, tobacco sticks, baskets, glassware and some handcrafted items can also be found among the eclectic array of merchandise.

Van Briggle,McCoy, Nelson McCoy, By Bee, Burley, Hull, Hall, Roseville and Weller pottery can be found at the shop too.

To get better idea of all that Tin Fold Plus has to offer, a visit to the shop is a must.

Tin Fold Plus is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

You can contact Brien at (606) 748-1269 or keep up with items he adds often on Facebook.

A great time to stop by would be during the Ewing Christmas Fest that will take place Dec. 3.