It's All in the Photography

I often get compliments for the gorgeous photography in my etsy store.  I deserve no credit here.  My baby sister, Kati Mennett,  is an amazing photographer and she lends me her talents for Hydrangea Row.   I pulled some of my favorites of her more recent photos to share with you. 
These two remind me of the Twilight Saga...

These make me think of summer, celebration, beach bonfires with friends....

To visit Kati's website CLICK HERE

To see her blog CLICK HERE

The ABCs of Vintage: B is for Bakelite

Here is a little background on bakelite.  It was created by the Belgian chemist, Dr. Leo Baekeland,  in the early 1900s.  It was the first plastic made of synthetic components.  It was used in electronics, phones, kitchen accessories, toys, even machine guns.  It was even considered by the US Mint for use as the penny during WWII!!   
It had its hey-day in the 1920s and 30s when it was all the rage in jewelry.  Catalin Company was the most well-known bakelite jewelry-maker responsible for the creation of many colors and variations (such as marblization) that you find today in vintage bakelite.
It is no longer widely used because it is difficult and costly to produce, and it is brittle.  All of these factors combine to make bakelite a highly collectible vintage accessory.

Here are a few pieces from my collection.

Two belt buckles made of red bakelite:

A bakelite pencil sharpener:

Two bakelite shoe clips:

A bakelite bar pin and two lamp pulls (from an old hotel in NYC):

Four bakelite rings:

A bakelite umbrella handle:

Buyer Beware: I was so excited when I found these bangles for only $10 each at a local shop (they claimed they were bakelite).  I later tested the bangles to find that they are vintage plastic but not bakelite.  As an aside, the coordinating necklace that I found at a tag sale the same day, is, in fact, amber and high collectible in it's own right.  Oh well, you can't win them all!

**One of the easiest ways to check to make sure your item truly is bakelite is to spray Formula 409 onto a paper towel and rub the plastic.  If the paper towel turns yellow where you rubbed, it's the real deal.**


For more info on ways to test bakelite, CLICK HERE.

The ABCs of Vintage: A is for Art

This is the first in a series on vintage decor and accessories.  I could probably do an entire series just on art, but this is where I am starting.  What I love best about art is that is so subjective.  One person's art is another person's discards.  I am passionate about art of all kinds: sculpture, paintings, modern art, prints...my house is literally overflowing with art.  I don't own any Picassos, but that's what's great about art--it can fit into any budget.  Every single one of these pieces I found at estate sales, tag sales, or flea markets.  If you are willing to look, great art is out there.  Here are just a few that made the cut in my home.

Let's start with paint-by-numbers.  Now don't stop reading.  I know many of you are shuddering to think I consider this art.  I actually consider it more of a "craft", but if you can decorate with it, I guess you can call it art.  I hung these two ballerina paintings in my daughter's room.  Don't scoff, I know of many people, including big name designers, that will use paint-by-number creations to add a little whimsy to their decorating.

Then there is the folk art like this hand-carved whale mounted to an old board.  I like it because it looks like it belongs in one of the humble cottages that made up the beach neighborhood I grew up in on Cape Cod.

I don't think anyone would argue the fact that these 1920s oil paintings of two beloved dogs are lovely (and sweet) pieces of vintage art.

Here is another oil painting.  This autumnal landscape is from the 1950s and reminds me of  weekend trips to New England bed-and-breakfasts.  Wouldn't you love to take a stroll along that dirt road?  I feel relaxed just looking at it.

This is a picture of the mantle in my family room.  The center painting is not vintage.  It was made by my sister specifically for this room.  The print on the left is a figure study, signed and numbered.  The one on the right is a 1969 painting.  I tend to be drawn to circles (That's probably why I have a growing collection of globes in my home as well).  The two sculptures were cast-offs that I got on free-cycle.  Supposedly, they were created by a California artist, although the previous owners didn't know his/her name.  I couldn't allow them be thrown into a landfill.

Here is a very striking print titled, "Double Image".  It is an artist's proof created in 1960 by Leonard Besser.  It's one of my favorite pieces.  (Notice the heavy rock that I hauled from a beach in Sandwich, Ma.  One could argue that that is art too.)

This next piece is actually a wood block carving designed to make prints.  The artist used both sides. It was framed showing the flip side which wasn't very attractive.  I turned the piece over and found this stunning work of art.  I removed the frame and left it "as is".  I might try making some prints with it at a later point.

Here is another print, this one by Amen.

A small print of what I assume is Venice, Italy above my stove.

A gorgeous landscape of the Spanish Cliff-dwellings.

A Victorian-era pastel...


..

And, I leave you with this portrait of a "vintage" girl.  I love that you know what decade she is from just from looking at her.  Isn't she cool?

Favorite Finds

With the school year coming to rapid close (as a mom of two school-aged children), I've had less time to blog lately, but I thought I would share my favorite vintage finds from this weekend.
I love when organizations have tag sales to raise money.  I always find that there is a wide array of offerings all in one place (which means more opportunity to stumble upon a treasure).  This weekend there were so many of these sales, I could only go to three.  The first was held on the town green to benefit a youth group.  The sale started at 9 am, but I arrived at 8:15.  Many of the vendors were setting up and none of them minded me looking around.  I ended up buying quite a few pieces here without much competition.

This is a cigarette box from the 1930s.  It had belonged to the sellers aunt.  It is in near-mint condition.  Notice the box is cedar-lined.

If you follow this blog, you know I am frequently drawn to blue hues.  I bought the beautiful piece of hobnail glass in a "sea-glass blue" and the little brass cricket from the same woman.

I found this piece of pottery for 50 cents! 

As a former ball player, I couldn't resist this 1950s Spaulding glove.  The leather is still supple and aged to perfection.  I loved even more that it belonged to the female half of the couple selling at this tag sale.  The husband was all too happy to brag about the athleticism of his wife.  (The stories and the people behind the objects I buy and sell are my favorite part of being an antique dealer.)  This glove belonged to "Sue" when she was a young girl.  She said that she played with the boys and was better than them until puberty hit and the boys were physically stronger.  I admire these women who helped pave the way for today's female athletes.

Below are two pieces of art that I found at a third charity tag sale, this one to benefit a women's shelter.  I went last year and found some great art too, so I knew I had to stop by this year.  I arrived about an hour or so into the sale and left with these two pieces, both signed.

I'd call that a successful morning.  Some of these items will make their way to my shop, so be on the look-out.  Please feel free to share your favorite finds.  I always love a good story.

Take Time to Remember This Memorial Day

As many of us are celebrating the long weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and the company of family and friends, let us not forget what this weekend really means.  Take a chance to say "thank you" to a veteran and to remember those who have made and continue to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom. 
To those veterans that are still with us and to the families of our fallen soldiers: "Thank you.  No words will ever do justice to the feelings of  deep gratitude that I have for your sacrifices.  These sacrifices have allowed all Americans to pursue their dreams and to live in a country where our children have the opportunity to be and to do anything they choose.  I will try my best to a live a life that honors these sacrifices.  God bless America and God bless you!"


For information on the history of Memorial Day, visit http://www.usmemorialday.org/

Flea Market Finds From Brimfield

As promised, here are my purchases from Brimfield:

I found this vintage metal globe in the original box.  It looks like it was never used.  This will go into my etsy shop.

I bought this old silver-plated award because I liked the scale and the patina, and it was a bargain at 20 bucks!  I'll keep this to display fresh-cut flowers in.

I wanted to buy these horse ribbons from the 1950s, but my new pal, Barry, insisted I take them for free.  Thanks Barry!  I'll add these to my growing collection of vintage awards.  I hope to display them in shadow boxes in the near future.

I couldn't resist this.  It looks like a cool metal suitcase, but look--it converts into a pinic table with place-settings for four--how cool is that?  This will go into my etsy shop, too.

My find of the day.  I bought this gorgeous Van Briggle pottery for a mere $30!!  It's in my favorite color and will make its home alongside the rest of my pottery collection.

From Bats to Ballgowns: Brimfield Delivers Once Again!

Each May I make my annual pilgrimage to the largest flea market in the WORLD--Brimfield Antiques Show and Flea Market.  Brimfield is actually the small, rural town in Massachusetts that hosts this thrice-yearly event ( May, July and September).  The show,which began in 1959, consists of multiple fields on both sides of a mile-long stretch of Route 20.  Each field opens on a different day.  Some open for one day, others the full week and every combination in between. 
Perhaps the most famous field is May's.  May's opens on Wednesday and draws a loyal crowd due to the fact that dealers are forbidden to unpack before the gates open.  This allows equal-opportunity for all buyers.  (The dirty, little secret being that most real bargains are bought up by other dealers before the gates even open.) 
I never worry about that.  I believe that if you are meant to find something, it will be there.  I went to Brimfield on Tuesday just chat with the other dealers and enjoy the show and I ended up leaving with some great finds!

Here are just a few of the sights from Brimfield:

All seasoned flea-marketers bring a wheeled cart to haul their finds in:

As stated in the title, here are the ball gowns:

In the Vintage Textiles Tent you'll find these ladies (Linda LeBissoniere and Hillary Boris) selling everything Shabby Chic, pink, and floral.  I love how they got into the spirit and dressed head-to-toe in lace, flowers, and pink, pink, pink!
Linda owns Little M's Posies in Meriden, CT (203-237-8312).  Hillary is the owner of Tickled Pink in Seymour, CT (203-888-8898).

My friend Mary sells her fabulous art here.  She has quite a following, especially with B&B owners on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  http://www.marymaguireart.com/

Cocoa, I found out, is a seasoned flea-marketer and she certainly knows how to travel!

Barry and I had such a good time hamming it up, he gave me my vintage horse ribbons for free!  How's that for a bargain?

Check out this array of vintage buttons--and only 25cents a piece!

These sculptural objects were all sold out by 10am, and at hundreds of dollars a piece, I'd say this dealer was a happy camper!

The sets from the Brady Bunch & The Partridge Family found a home here:

 

As promised, here are the bats:

For my next post, I'll share my Brimfield Finds!

For more info on Brimfield, visit http://www.brimfieldshow.com/