More Than Antiques: The Story Behind Caroline's Once in a Blue Moon

Written By Caroline Moes

People often ask me how I became interested in antiques. The truth is, I don't know if I can point to one single moment. Looking back, I think it began much earlier than I ever realized.

As a little girl growing up in western Nebraska, I spent countless hours playing "house" inside an old grain bin. My furniture wasn't really furniture at all—it was whatever odds and ends I could find. With a little imagination, old pieces of junk became tables, chairs, and everything else a home might need. I didn't know it then, but I was already learning to see possibility where others saw something ordinary.

That lesson stayed with me.

After I married and started raising a family, practicality became our way of life. Like many young families, we couldn't afford brand-new furniture, so our home was filled with hand-me-downs, secondhand pieces, and treasures we found along the way. What began as necessity slowly became something much more.

I discovered that older things have character.

They carry craftsmanship, history, and stories that can't be manufactured. As our home came together, friends often commented that it felt unique—warm, personal, and unlike anyone else's. Their encouragement gave me confidence, and before long I found myself attending estate sales whenever I could, always searching for the next special piece.

One person, in particular, changed the course of my life.

Marge owned a small antique shop on Main Street in Green Bay. One day she looked at me and said, "Caroline, you love these things so much. Why don't you start collecting now and, when you retire from teaching, open your own antique store?"

It was simple advice, but it planted a seed.

From that day forward I collected not only antiques, but knowledge. I began building a library of books on furniture, glass, pottery, jewelry, linens, paper, and countless other subjects. Every new discovery made me appreciate antiques even more.

After 37 wonderful years teaching kindergarten, retirement was approaching when my daughter, Naomi, suggested I rent a booth in a new antique mall opening in Green Bay.

That was all it took.

I was hooked.

Since 2000, I've spent more than two decades buying, selling, researching, and learning. Today you'll find me at the Peninsula Antique Center in Egg Harbor and at antique shows throughout Wisconsin, always looking for the next beautiful piece with another story to tell.

People often ask if I have a specialty.

The truth is...I love them all.

Jewelry, fine linens, vintage clothing, art, pottery, art glass, primitives, paper, and those wonderfully odd one-of-a-kind treasures that simply refuse to be ignored. Every antique has something to teach us if we're willing to listen.

What I enjoy most isn't simply the hunt.

It's watching an old object begin a new chapter in someone else's home.

A piece that may have been forgotten suddenly finds new life. A vintage bowl becomes part of a family gathering. A painting reminds someone of their grandmother. A simple piece of furniture becomes the favorite item in a room once again.

There's something beautiful about that.

I've often said, "We're all antiques—or we're on our way."

Like the pieces I collect, I hope we all continue to discover new purpose, fresh beginnings, and deeper appreciation for the gifts we've been given. Life, much like antiques, becomes richer with time.

My business is called Caroline's Once in a Blue Moon, and one of the greatest joys of this work is helping others learn more about the pieces they own or discover. Whether you're an experienced collector or simply curious about an old family heirloom, I'm always happy to share what I know—or point you in the right direction. (Questions about antiques are always welcome. Questions about your spouse...I'll leave those to someone else.)

In 2020, my daughter Naomi and a group of wonderful friends brought a new idea to life: Fine Art & Antiques at the Barn.

Together, we imagined a place where fine art, antiques, and the beauty of nature could exist side by side. The historic barns, the surrounding countryside, the artwork, and the antiques all speak the same language. They remind us that craftsmanship, creativity, history, and the natural world are deeply connected.

When we slow down enough to notice those connections, we begin to see the world a little differently.

And perhaps that's what this event has always been about.

Opening our eyes.