Fall Vintage Finds

Unfortunately, due to selling our old house and getting moved in our new one we didn't make it to Todd Farm as much as we wanted this year.   However, we did cram in one visit in October after we moved in.

My favorite purchase was two owl andirons.   As soon as I saw them I was obsessed!  They are from the 1920's and made by the Rostand Manufacturing Company of Milford, CT.    Unlike many of their counterparts, ours are missing their glass eyes (which glow when the fire light hits them).   That was ok with us because I think they look almost more haunting eyeless.   We were able to snatch them up for $55 which seems like a pretty good deal since I have found many online for $250-1,000.   Even with the lack of eyes I think they are likely worth at least double what we paid.

We also found a beautiful handmade quilt.  After some research online, I believe it's a Cathedral Window pattern.  Best part was it was only $50.  It's amazing to think of the time it must have took to cut out and sew on each individual diamond shape.    Based on the fabric colors and patterns I think it would date from the 1960's but I'm not sure.    Since we have two rambunctious dogs who like to sleep on beds, we decided it would be best to display it on the wall in our 2nd guest room (future nursery one day) to keep it safe.    All we did was put up an extra long curtain rod and draped the quilt over it.   Now we just need new bedding for the bed. 

We also found a set of Pyrex Primary Color mixing bowls.   My mom has a set and I have always loved them (actually I pretty much love anything that is Pyrex).   The set was in great condition with no chips or major scratches.    The bowls are not numbered on the bottom which from what I have read may mean they are an earlier set from the 1940's.   We got them for $40 which I thought was bargain.

Lastly, we snatched up a $10 blue and white wool blanket and $25 cast iron Christmas tree stand (it came in handy with our two trees this year).   Counting down until it's flea market season again!

Spring's Vintage Finds

Last month I went to the opening weekend at Todd's Farm Flea Market.  Sadly, I have been busy almost every weekend since so I haven't been back.   I was on the hunt for a vintage, almost antique toaster.   Finally, my friend found one for me!  It was sitting on the back of a truck next to a white scale.     I asked the man selling it how much he wanted for it.   He responded that it was "near and dear to him".   My first reaction was "oh no he has some sentimental attachment to it, like it was his grandmother's, this is going to cost a lot".   He laughed after I paused for a moment and told me I could have it for $5 and he would throw in the scale.   Score!  And off I went with a toaster and a scale I didn't even know I wanted.

The toaster is from the late 1910's or early 1920's and is a General Electric Hotpoint.   Both sides open out so you can slide a piece of bread in.   It came with the original cotton cord, however I had my father in law remove it.  I found similar ones for $25 on Esty and eBay so I think I got a pretty good deal.  I still need to shine it up a bit but I love the deco style design!  I can't wait to find some more vintage toasters.

The little scale I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it at first.  I thought about trying to sell it but then I thought it would be a great plant stand, especially with a potted fern.   

I was able to find a unique looking fern on clearance at Home Depot.  Its almost moss like.  Here is how it looks together on my little round table in my living room.  I think it makes a perfect plant stand! I do still need my husband to remove the spring from the scale so the weight of the pot doesn't break it.

Bird Bath Project

I never posted this completed project from early fall.   In September we went to a local craft fair.  There was a vendor with some amazing bird baths made from table legs and old glass/porcelain bowls and dishes.

Here is the one we bought.

The vendors had a witty little sign that said "Yes, you could make these, but will you?".   I guess we saw that as a challenge.  The next day when we were at Todd's Farm we headed to the $1 junk yard section and low and behold there were table legs and crates overflowing with dishes.  Nick said to me, well we could make some bird baths!

We bought 4 table legs and 4 bowls.

This one is my favorite... how perfect is it!

And here are the finished bird baths:

Buy now, no regrets later...

Read a sign at Todd's Farm this past weekend.   I wish I had followed it.  There were two Witney Point wool blankets, a mint green and pink one, in excellent condition.  I saw them as soon as we drove in and knew I had to stop to  see how much they were.   The woman was selling them for $125 for the pair (she wouldn't split them up, "they belong together" as she put it).   My husband didn't quite understand why I was so obsessed with the blankets and didn't think it was worth spending the money.   Until later when I was showing him Witney Point blankets online for $150-200 a piece.   By the time we were ready to leave I had convinced him we should buy them... and sadly they had sold.    So here I sit regretting not buying the blankets.

Here is the same pink one for sale on ebay...sigh.

The day wasn't completely filled with regrets.  We did find buy a few items inspired by a bird bath we bought at a craft fair over the weekend.  Here is a little preview of our project.    

Nick had bought some vintage car advertisements from LIFE and LOOK magazine as well as a very cool Christmas themed Master Charge ad.

We also bought an oil painting by an artist named Jacallo, all I can find on him is that he was a German Expressionist painter.   I loved it and my husband thought it was "cool".  He told me that it reminded him of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, which I'm not sure is good or bad.  Its a little dark but I really like the colors in it and the subject matter.  We saw it originally the day before but decided to think about it.  Luckily it was still there today (I really need to learn my lesson to "buy now").   We might hang it in our foyer or in the hallway heading into the "man cave". 

Sunday Morning Antiquing - July 15th

Last Sunday we went over to Todd Farm, in hopes of finding two more dining room chairs.   We left empty handed as far as chairs but did find this mint green shabby chic shelf with two ornate cast iron brackets.   I actually found the same brackets on ebay for five times what we paid for the shelf so I think I got a pretty good deal.

After Todd Farm we stopped at another nearby flea market/ antique store.  One of the vendors was having a 40% moving sale in the antique store so we scored two great finds.    We also saw a chair there that would have been perfect for our dining room table, it almost matched the style of the other chairs we have purchased - plus it was only $8 on sale!  Unfortunately, there was only one not two so we passed.   

My husband really loved this metal and glass lantern.  Not sure where we can put it yet, we were thinking of taking the outdoors in and hanging it in our guest bedroom.

Lastly, we purchased this sweet little rocking horse wooden hanging.  I think it would be so charming in a nursery someday.  I was even thinking you could paint the baby's name on it.

Brimfield Antique Show 2012

I have been wanting to go to Brimfield the last few years (ever since I found out it existed),  unfortunately in past years we have always had prior commitments on the weeks it was held.   This year I was bound and determined to go.    We took off 2 days of work but was disappointed when I saw the forecast of torrential rain for Tuesday.    We decided to stay inside and work on our upstairs bathroom renovation (before and afters coming soon!) and go see the Avengers (which I actually really liked, except for when the 3-D effects made me a bit motion sick!).     I kept my fingers crossed that Wednesday it would clear up.   The next morning it was overcast but the percent chance of rain was down.   We headed off with extra clothes and umbrellas packed.

It worked out perfectly going during the week on a rainy day because it was probably far less packed then it would have been if it was a beautiful sunny day.    I was completely overwhelmed by how much amazing stuff was at the show.   It was probably a good thing since it stopped me from spending a ton of money.    I kept wanting to see more before I made any decisions,  what if there was something every more exciting at the next vendor?

We did manage to come away with a few things:

This really cool square glass jar lamp which we will be putting up over our sink in our kitchen

The metal buckets actually have a hook on the back so you can hang them over a fence post.  Can't wait to find some beautiful overhanging flowers to put in them.  

Porcelain drawer knobs for the desk we are refinishing.  We bought 2 of each color (green, blue and cream) since each drawer on the desk has 2 spots for the knobs.   The blue one is my favorite.  The best part was they were only $5 for all 6.  

A new dining room table!   We do love our current table and its only a few years old, the problem is its height.   It is a pub table and we have noticed how difficult the chairs are to get into for our older relatives.   Plus normal size chairs are too low so we can never have more than 6 people at the table at any given time (there is a hidden leaf so it gets much bigger than in the image below).  

We really loved the white distressed look of the new table and the detail on the base.  Plus it has 2 leaves instead of 1 so we should be able to fit 8 or more people easily.   Now we just need to find some chairs... a lot of chairs.  

Sunday Morning Antiquing

A couple of weekends ago we visited Todd's Farm for the first time this year.   I was so excited to return, wish it could stay open all year.   It is the best flea market on the North Shore, in my humble little opinion!    A few vendors in we found our first and best find of the day.   We have been looking for a while for a hutch for our dining room.   The room is very small and we need something that wouldn't take up too much space.  I also wanted something where I could display the glassware I had, ideally I wanted glass cabinet doors.   My husband spotted the yellow hutch and as soon as we saw it we decided it was perfect for our space.   The tag read $135 however the vendor quickly realized we were interested and said we could take it for $100, we agreed (when it comes to flea markets I don't tend to negotiate if I think the vendor is offering me a fair price).    It was the perfect fit in the corner of the dining room and I love the sunny yellow color.    Now I just need to find some more glassware!

Inside there is a beautiful paneled arch.

We also bought from the same vendor a Revereware copper kettle (probably from the 70's or early 80's) for $8 and a Old Cabin Still barware bottle for a whopping $1!   The kettle and Old Cabin Still bottle are to add to the shelf in my husband's man cave.

Can't wait for my next trip there!