My Find of the Week

Finding a set of 6 matching antique chairs is quite unusual.  I don't normally buy antique dining chairs!

But...when I found 6 (only 3 pictured) with the original red leather seats I couldn't resist.  I got them at a great price.  Don't you love the studs!

They are going to Liberty Belle on July 1st! 

Hanky or Kleenex?

Which do you prefer?  Hanky or kleenex tissue?

I use both, actually.  But these hankies I'm showing you are my special ones - not to be used. 

The first three were stitched for an older woman by a relative in Ireland.  They were a wedding gift;  note the wedding bells on the first one.  The other hankies have beautiful cutwork and crocheted edges. 

 

More Little Pretties

Needle cases and a sterling silver thimble are part of my collection in my display case.  While neither has a lot of value, I love them still.

Also, there is this wonderful pink sachet holder (at least that's what I use it for) and it has this bright green ribbon running through the bottom and also used as bows.

From a dear friend, I bought this Victorian-era purse.  It has drawstrings.  I don't know the name for the style of lace.  It has tassles attached to the ends of the cords. 

Will I ever part with these pretties?  Probably not....

What does a dealer collect?

People assume that dealers of vintage junk and antiques are hoarders. 

On the contrary.

I keep my home rather sparsely decorated. 

One of my few collections is contained in a display case.  This case, which my Dad made just because he was bored, houses my collection of vintage sewing notions, hankies, and diaper pins.

I lined the back with some silk toile from Japan.  The bag I am showing you is very old.  This darling handmade bag says "buttons" along the side.  Hand embroidery adorns it and I love the nose on this critter!  It's a sewing hook!  It has buttons it that someone collected. 

Each day I'll show you a little more of the collection in this case.

Frog on a Bench

Sitting on the red bench on my front porch is a cement frog.  He is the kind of frog that holds a housekey, but I've forgone such an invitation to intruders...

I love flowers in the summer.  I find it's hard to keep them alive and lively when I'm out of town, even though there is someone at my home to water them.  I must water more than others.

Twig furniture is awesome, but more for looks.  While this chair, which I received many years ago for a birthday gift, is usable, it's not comfy.  I went to Pier 1 Imports for the cushion.  I love Pier 1 - it's like Anthropologie without the expensive prices and clothing.  The staging is not as good - but the inventory is great.  And they don't have the variety of Anthropologie. 

I must go - time to water my flowers...

Beach Toes

Beach vacations rank among my favorite things...playing in the water, reading, drinking mojitos...

I finished The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory.  I have read several of her books in this series - The Constant Princess, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Boleyn Girl, to name a few. 

I read The Shack.  So many people I know have read it and most love it.  Some hate it.  I found it monotonous.  Must've been my mood.  When I say some of my friends love it, they felt it was life-changing.  I don't get it.  I have a view of God that is pretty big and I know He is beyond my imagination, so maybe this is why I found the book dull. 

I also read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  It's one of very few self-help books I've read.  I was intrigued by her quest, as a happy-person, to become happier.  It really seems as though she just gained more self-discipline in the main areas of her life.  But it gave me some great ideas in approaching, methodically, my goals and prioritizing them.

The purpose of our beach vaca was to celebrate my 50th birthday there!  What a celebration, to relax with my family and get away from it all...now I'm off to junkin'!  Adios!

Change

Change is in the air...

Last week, I moved into the River Market Antique Mall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.  I have been on the wait-list for quite some time.  This is one of the best and best-known antique malls in the midwest.  I am on the 3rd floor and am thrilled.  It is an awesome space against a brick wall, half painted white. 

I am setting up this week for the Liberty Belle sale.  And I'll be vacating Nellie & Nico's.  All in a week's work!

Last weekend, I found this antique fainting couch - gold velvet!  I have some just-purchased items and some stuff I've had a while.  Try and look for the bookcase - it was reddish-plum on the last post but is now a clean cream color. 

Now I'm off to find new hardware for the dresser which is now cream, because I can only find 7 of the original 8 pulls.  Don't you hate it when that happens...

No one will share their secrets...

on their painting techniques for furniture.  I have casually conversed with many vendors who routinely paint furniture;  I can't say many have told me what paint they use.  Art and Genevra from Parkville Antique Mall told me several years ago that they used inexpensive satin paint from Walmart.  I truly cannot remember any other vendors giving up their painting secrets.  And when customers come into the shops and sales and ask what the technique is used and what paint is used, they are met with tight lips.  This has offended many vendors. 

I greatly respect missmustardseed.blogspot.com for sharing oodles of techniques on painiting and reupholstery and whatever else she might be working on.  This is a very generous gesture and "she who waters will herself be watered".

I have purchased paint (for furniture) from Walmart and Lowes and am rarely pleased with the results.  To really go on the cheap, I have bought many cans of "oops" paint. 

I compare my finish to other dealers and am embarassed when they see my finished work.  And some of the paint has remained tacky months after being applied. 

So I splurged and went to Sherwin Williams and bought Pro Classics water-based enamel in Roman Column.  I wanted a nice, light cream and want to settle on one cream for a lot of pieces.  I started priming and remembered to photograph my projects.  The acutal paint will follow when I get time, probably a couple of days.  I will update with the results and hope that I will feel proud and not embarassed of my painting.

Let me be honest...

I am over the chippy-painted-country look. 

It's out...can't un-ring this bell.

I was disappointed at the current issue of my fav "Country..." magazine.  All furniture on the cover was painted.

Can we not leave alone the beautiful patina of stained and beautiful walnut and oak? 

Imagine how different the following pictures would look if all the furniture had been painted.

 elle decor

elle decor

 house beautiful

Imagine how much less striking the upholstery on the chairs would be if the wood was covered with paint.

 house beautiful

house beautiful

The biggest dilemna I have, as an antique/vintage/home decor dealer is whether or not to paint good wooden furniture.  Beautiful 100 and 200 year old buffets of walnut and other woods are being slapped with coats of paint and distressed because that's what sells.  I am guilty of this!  No judging here. 

 I would so love to get over this era of painting all furniture. 

Sleek wood furnishings are beautiful.  And eclectic mixes are so interesting.  Modern is great.  Some country is great.  All is great...in moderation. 

Liberty Belle This Weekend

What do these things have in common:  Punch & Judy puppets, pair of rose lamps, Cortez statue, and a President Lincoln picture?  They're all in my space at Liberty Belle this weekend. 

Hope to see you all there, if you're in the area!  I will be working there Saturday afternoon.  Come by and say "Hi!"

The Fleeting Flea

Enjoy these pictures of The Fleeting Flea Antiques and More show in Overland Park, Kansas!  It was a fantastic show and I appreciate Dale and Angie for including me.  (From ReDeux and Junie C's, respectively.)