Vendor Spotlight: Blue Cow Vintage
In a booth tucked within the heart of Village Antiques, a colorful and eclectic collection catches your eye. If you spot vintage postcards, green Depression glass, unique small decor, or vintage Barbies, you’ve found the right vendor. Welcome to Blue Cow Vintage, curated by longtime collector and dealer, Michelle Forth.
Michelle officially opened Blue Cow Vintage in June 2021, but her journey with antiques began long before. “I’ve been collecting my whole life,” she said. “The first thing I became interested in was McDonald’s Happy Meal toys. My family and I would go to this huge flea market in Hillsville, Virginia, hunting for the toys I needed to complete a set.” That thrill of the search never left her.
Though Michelle first discovered Village Antiques as a customer in 2012, it wasn’t until 2021 that she joined the team, and just three months later, she became a vendor. Before that, she sold primarily on eBay. Her finds gained a global reach, with memorable sales like a rare 1985 Strawberry Shortcake Plum Pudding doll that sold for $450 to a collector in Luxembourg. “I once bought a Barbie for $5 and sold it for $150,” Michelle recalled. “I used that money to buy another toy for my collection. It’s the thrill of finding something special and sharing it with someone who’ll appreciate it.”
Michelle’s booth stands out for its “small eclectic mixture” of items, ranging from the early 1900s through the 1990s. You might find vintage regionally-themed postcards, a hand-carved bottle stopper from Italy, Mid-Century smalls, or green vintage glass if you stop by today!
Beyond her booth, Michelle is a proud advocate for the broader Central City vintage scene. “I always like to let customers know about the wide range of shops on the street and the uniqueness of the items they carry,” she said. “There’s just nothing like it.”
And the name Blue Cow Vintage? It’s as memorable as her collection. “Because it’s catchy—and I liked it,” Michelle said with a smile.
