Vintage For The Holidays...

Looking for something different for Christmas?
Try shopping at your local antique shop for unique one of kind gifts that have timeless beauty and hold their value as well. What, your friend doesn't collect anything?? You can help them out with that by starting a collection for them with items that you think blend well with their decor or personality.

Do they like to entertain? Try a beautiful Early American Pattern Glass cake plate or pink depression glass relish tray. Are they more traditional? Then a traditional Fenton vase or old fashioned hanky might be just the right fit. Do they love to primp? Then this lovely girly-girl porcelain brush holder should be a welcome addition to their vanity.

The possibilities are endless...still not sure? Check to see if your local shop sells gift certificates! But most of all, have fun browsing for just the right gift for that special person on your list!

Flintstones, Meet The Flintstones...

Happy Anniversary to Fred and Wilma Flintstone - their animated life together in Bedrock began its run on television 50 years ago on September 30, 1960. I loved growing up with Fred and have fond memories of the show's quirky characters - one of my favorites was The Great Gazoo. Yaba Daba Doo, Fred!

A Cabinet Reclaimed

My obsession with radio cabinets aside, they really can be reclaimed as unique pieces of furniture when revitalized. They are relatively small and fit into those hard to decorate places such as bathrooms and hallways while adding storage space and a touch of flair. By using your imagination, you can change the look of a cabinet to complement your decor.

The key is to look for a cabinet with good structure and pleasing lines - then consider the possibilities. This cabinet caught my eye because it is horizontal in shape rather than the vertical radio cabinets that I typically find. That detail in itself held potential and promise - add in those wonderfully curved legs and it had me at hello.

Note this cabinet has a top that lifts open on hinges and a front door that tilts down - typical for this style of cabinet, however, problematic for practical use. The first act of business was to secure the front door and make it stationary - I did that by securing both ends with nails that will be covered by the finish coat of paint. By securing the front and taking out the tilting hardware from the interior, I have now created a blanket chest of sorts.

I then filled in the hole in the front where the handle used to be with paintable wood putty - there is no need for a handle that has no purpose. Next, I added a piece of trim to the bottom of the front board to hide where the hinges used to be (this was a piece of trim saved from a previous project so be sure to save odds and ends that might come in handy later) which added a nice detail of interest.

Next the interior was painted a satin black and the exterior a yummy milk chocolate brown. I chose to leave the original crackle finish intact that had been applied by the previous owner to give the final look a vintage texture.

The finished product can now be used as a blanket chest with shelf in a guest room, a storage trunk and shelf in a home office, or baby's room or towel storage in a bathroom - such possibilities!

Collecting Vintage...What's In Your Cupboard?

I have yet to find anything that I do not like about collecting and selling antiques, but some of my favorite days are spent working in The Shop. Yes, I'm surrounded by delightful things - each with its own special history - but best of all, I get to talk with the interesting people that collect and value their treasures as I do. Most of the folks I meet collect items for a specific reason - items that remind them of their childhood, parents, grandparents; items that are native to their home place; items that relate to their line of work - the list goes on and on, including the occasional collection of oddities - like old neti pots.

If you are thinking about starting a collection you might want to start with something easy to find such as vintage postcards from your favorite vacation spot or old hats you can wear to express your own sense of style. These collections will make great conversation starters and even give you opportunities to forge new friendships with fellow collectors!

Expect your collections to change throughout the years as your personal taste and life experiences evolve. My current collections lean toward vintage glass made by any WV glassmaker as well as a deep attraction to the Ohio art potteries. The pictured shelf above contains my childhood collections of my old Busy Boy clock, my Kanawha Glass mouse and Blenko owl, picture of Dad, doll made by Mom, Grandma's brooch, the handtooled leather belt of my bell-bottomed teen years, and most dear to my heart - Dad's diary - an obvious family theme that is steeped with my WV roots.

Happy New Year From The Creek...

The decade beginning in 1910 was a busy one...World War I, an influenza pandemic, and women's march for suffrage. On a lighter note, the "in" dance was the Foxtrot, pop-up toasters were invented and Nabisco introduced their new cookie - the "Oreo". New slang terms popped up in conversation, like "Something is not all it's cracked up to be", "No kidding", and "Down to the last detail".

So what will be said of 2010 in a hundred years? Your guess is as good as mine. But no kidding, I sure hope it is all it's cracked up to be... right down to the last detail.


Have a safe and blessed 2010.