Where do the days go?

I can not believe it is December already. I feel like I missed November completely. Well, for this blog I DID! I had so many ideas to share and new finds too but far too little time to post them out.

We have decided to pare down the general stuff in our house. So we opened the shop on ETSY for a controlled way of selling our vintage extra stuff. Today's goal was to list some Christmas things. The velvet reindeer are on the block. Sad to see them off to a new home but the little sleigh I had them with is no more. So here is a picture of the herd for perhaps the last time. If they don't sell - well guess I will be shopping for a new sleigh for next year. So it will be all good.

Funny how these things bring so many memories to mind. They make yesterday seem so close at hand. I am certain that is one of the reasons I so cherish vintage things. Today people scrapbook, an activity I can relate to and practice to a modest extent. Me, I will collect my vintage 'stuff' and remember all the yesterdays each time I use or just look at them. 

Vintage finds do not always mean well planned transport…

If you have ever found an ‘OH I have to have it’ item you understand this tale.  It did not start out as one of our vintage hunts but things happen.  So we went to meet a friend to pick up our 65 pounds of honey. Trip up was pretty uneventful UNTIL we passed the architectural salvage store.  To this day I remember seeing the trellis as we passed by and the OH I have to have moment but tempered with a rational thought of we should check that out on our way back. Thinking back this was most likely the first error in this trip. 

Honey pickup achieved now back to the salvage shop for THE FIND! A large fleur de lis trellis made of rebar – sigh!  Perfect for the garden – sigh.  Okay, the right price after a bit of discussion, which I am rotten at but it worked out.  Purchased – oh I bought a seven foot trellis over an hour from home and driving a ’04 Chevy Classic.  [hint – it does not fit – ANYWHERE].  No bungees.  No wrappings. No twine. So Rose is off to the local hardware store for transport stuff. I stay with the trellis.  Once she returns we strap it down and protect the car roof with the cloak and chair cover found in the car.  Head for home!!

Driving in the slow lane at about the minimum speed limit, we kept hearing a creaking. The images in my head were of lovely gouges in the roof of the car.  People passing us pointing and laughing. Hmmm, is it really so odd to have something tied to the roof of a car? Suddenly we noticed that the point of the fleur was no longer visible – which would mean a slide of over a foot – oops.  We pull over and put on the emergency lights. Timing is everything I have long believed it but never really appreciated as much as I did on this day. 

This being near Halloween, a local corn farm has done up the corn maze and has an inflatable giant that people can walk through. Our roadside stop happened to be right next to the giant inflatable – well – sleeping giant.  Once out of the car what did we discover?  The true reason that all those people were pointing and ;aughing at my poor little Chevy – it looked like it had been crowned – literally.  Did you know that rebar creates a fairly simple frame that will bend when it hits the highway air flow?  The fleur part of the frame was bent into a 45 degree angle like a crown on the roof.  WOW!  Remove the trellis from the car.  Rose is carefully bending it back into position while I explain to the nice State Patrol Officer that we are not stopped to take pictures of the giant but that we bought a trellis that won’t fit in my car and seem to be having issues.  He laughed – me not so much.  Slow speeds down to the very minimum we can with getting killed and made it home. 

It does really fit into the garden perfectly. It’s story of how it came to be there is finally entertaining rather than embarrassing. Lesson learned. We now carry tarps and bungees in the car ALWAYS.  Better that than have to pass on a treasure we have to have.

Appreciating Art in Threads and Yarns

I have made an effort of learning crochet. I can make a heck of a chain. I just never got past the chain part. It is mostly due to the fact that I can not remember the starting steps to save me.  I know I'm a sad case. I do, however, love the results. I am currently attempting to learn bobbin lace, time permitting. Work has not been cooperating this summer but with any luck after the 1st of the year will allow for more dedication of time.

We recently listed on RetroVintiques some doilies that are so delicate and and I admit to being torn to see them go. They are not quite colors that are easily used in our home so they are offered.

The workmanship that go into these handmade doilies are so amazing. Delicate, precise, and perfectly even. My hats off to these artisans for their patience and for sharing their art with us. These works are made to last and to be shared with those who appreciate them; and especially for those of us that can't seem to manage the talent.

So here are a a couple of them to share their finery. Enjoy! If you do this type of work - Thank you! If not, join me in treasuring this ability's end results.

Vintage Valentines

While enjoying vintage cards is joy unto itself due the incredible art they provide. It means so much to hold in your hand a sentiment from a by-gone age. It seems to give you a connection and allows your mind to picture a romantic scene playing out when the intended received the card either by mail or by hand. Holding one that has a relatives name on it with a date opens not only the imagination but links you to a part of your relatives' life before you. Sometimes the names are sweetly endearing knowing that was from your uncle to your aunt or your grandmother from your grandfather; but occasionally there is a mystery. Who is this gentleman writing musings of love to your grandmother? Was she a heart breaker? Did your grandfather steal her heart from another? As we go through our found box of missives, we are enjoying the time travel to our families past romantic side.

Updates and the clock

Gradually going through the box of cards I mentioned yesterday. An amazing instant collection contained in that box - or a fabulous addition to our meager one! 

Updated the blog list, FINALLY figured out how not to have to post them one at a time! (hint - the help features works quite well) I did have to sort out some of the non-vintage blogs I follow but they are now listed. Sadly, I had to opt to not list several blogs I followed while they were active. 

Following a RSS feed, I never realized how long it had been since some of these bloggers had posted. It was sad to notice this.  Sure I realized that they were not updating but since I would and still do go back to favorite posts, I did not take the time to miss them. Now they are silent and I have missed my chance to thank them.

I gained information, had some laughs, shed some tears and drifted away.  I have had so many friends in my many travels that this is true for also. Time is our enemy, it seems to slip away so easily.  I lost friends I never knew and failed to miss them.

Box of Sentiments

Rose unearthed this very nice box but inside is the FIND.  A box full of vintage Valentine and other holiday cards. We have not had a chance to go through them yet.  But stay tuned I will share some special ones later.  I know that the larger top one has a seemingly fine condition honeycomb....I am so excited!!!! They look near perfect, but did not want to take them out too much in the garage. 

The things we can find in garages!

So Rose’s dad was a Model T nut, expert restorer, avid collector. When he passed away a couple of years ago, she got the joy of rediscovering all his treasures. We have both learned more about antique car parts than we ever expected. Our gentlemen friends are impressed so that is plus. 

Would you believe this is a headlight lens?  It is lovely! The starburst pattern is etched and it is a slightly concave lens. Now I hate to be greedy and I am already confiscating a radiator that was not in usable condition for a fountain, but this is just too pretty.  I am thinking sun catcher wrapped in a brass frame? Or maybe something with candles?  I just can’t picture this on the front of a car traveling down dusty roads at the break neck speed of up to 30 MPH.

Five down only three garages full of 'stuff' left to go through - who knows what we will find next!!

 

Thrift Store Amberina Find - SCORE!

Okay glass is one of our guilty pleasures.  I am an Army Brat and proud of my Dad. It afforded me lots of opportunity to see the world and experience life in many of our regional areas as well.  A drawback of the Army gypsy style life is breakables break. Sad but true.  So what is my end result – I collect breakables.  It was not planned, it just seemed to happen - I go to find a book and find breakables. I will endure the torture though. I am partial to Vaseline glass and Amberina. Now for sharing a thrift store find….a daisy pattern fairy light in Amberina.  Finding a treasure like this at thrift stores is not an everyday occurrence. First, you need luck not once but twice lucky. The store did not realize the two pieces were part of a whole so they were marked separately and several feet apart.  Second, you need to know what a fairy light is and that these two pieces are partners.  Third, you have to recognize Amberina at thirty paces. Finally, purchase said items and add it to your collection. 

Fairy lights are small covered candle holders. The flickering light tinted by the glass covering giving a delicate glow to its immediate surroundings. I appreciate the added warmth of the color Amberina affords the glow during the holidays.  They make wonderful centerpieces or accent lighting from a corner.  Check out The Fairy Lamp Club at  http://www.fairy-lamp.com for more info. They have history, information and an incredible array of examples. 

Amberina glass began in the late 1800’s when patented by New England Glass Works employees.  Amberina is created by reheating the top layer of glass which contains colloidal gold.  The reheated portion becomes red merging with the golden un-reheated glass.  Red top/gold bottom is Amberina while gold top/red bottom is reverse Amberina. Later examples of Amberina replaced the gold for selenium and cadmium sulphide.  The selenium glass made the ‘pressed’ glass of the early to mid 1900’s easier to mold.  The line in the sand for some collectors are those who decline to accept the selenium based glass as Amberina. Other collectors refuse the glass with the thinly coated with a layer of red glass ‘flashing’ as Amberina (guiltily raising my hand at this point). In truth the term “amberina” is now accepted as describing red/orange/gold glass combinations.  Some Amberina will also be florescent under blacklight due to the minerals added to the glass (usually uranium oxide). 

So now proudly sitting atop my shelf is a lovely Amberina fairy lamp, saved from a devastating separation of their other half and destined to flicker merrily for years to come (thanks to the stickum protecting its position from the feline shelf marauders.)

Our latest listing on RetroVintiques Etsy

We have added this fabulous light blue stone brooch.  The silver swirls around the center are so delicate and highlight the stones brilliamtly.  It is unsigned; once again proving that not possessing a signature stamp does not make a jewelry piece less a work of art. It is one of those 'atomic' starburst patterns that have very unique features around the middle circle of stone.  Jewelry of this type share a unique character within their design and are a beauty to behold.  Next time you see a circular brooch check out the detailing and the design. I confess that I am fan of this style of jewelry.  Modern pieces to me lack the small details reflecting the 'atomic' age touches. I confess to having more favorite pieces of Vintage jewelry that are unsigned than signed. 

Our 1st WHAT IS THIS....

We don't know what these are but we want to know.  Help us ID these beauties.  Regardless of the answer they are going to look great on the patio!!!!!!  LOVE THESE but sure are curious as to their purpose.  Description:  a single bulb so both arrows and dots on reverse side light up at once.  One side is red one side is green.  What the are they????

New Venture for Vintage Us

Well who know we would end up blogging?  Never saw this on our horizons but here we are.  We will most likely be posting to an audience of one for now but with any luck other Vintage Collectors will come on board and we will have tons of info and ideas to share.  We seem to find so many fun (read odd in many cases) things that we don't know anything about.  Yes, we collect jewelry, kitchen wares, to save time most things vintage but to be honest the kitchy stuff really draws our attention and it creates a need to know more.

We have a shop on Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrovintiques?ref=si_shop . We welcome window shoppers.  If you know something of the history of any of our pieces feel free to let us know.  It is part of the joy of collecting. Being Mid Century Modern ourselves, we appreciate the longevity of vintage items and that they still have purpose and beauty, if a bit worn around the edges.  Being cousins we have the family dynamic of seeing things from often different angles.  So please join us on our vinatge vagabond adventures.  We will be not be focused on any one tyoe of item but will drift where ever the curiousity takes us or as the odd finds occur.