That strange little stretch of the calendar between summer and autumn has always been one of my favorite times of the year. You can still get a warm afternoon, but suddenly there are cooler nights, football starts creeping back into conversations, pumpkin everything begins showing up and people start thinking about flannel again.

If you're planning on joining us this Sunday for the very first Crafted at the Oak: Metal, Magic & Mystery Market at Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, there are a couple of things I want you to know before we get into everything you're going to find.

Collectors know that the thrill isn't just about finding something rare—it's about the hunt. Whether it's discovering a first-print comic book, uncovering a long-sought vinyl record, completing a trading card deck, or meeting the artist behind a favorite illustration, every collection has a story.