We've come a long way from the days when your paint choices were mainly oil or water...or perhaps you know it as enamel vs. latex. But long before the first sealable paint cans were patented in the 1860s, people formulated their own whitewash solutions from salt and hydrated lime, and milk or casein paint from milk proteins. Suffice it to say, pigment plus minerals have been a winning combo that have stood the test of time.

So which paint is right for your project? Let's take a quick look at both milk paint and chalk mineral paint.

The obvious answer: you haul it home, of course.

If you know me, you know I have a thing for anything with drawers and cubbies - the more, the better. (And a rather serious vintage mixing bowl fetish....but that's another story.) I've traveled hither and yon across the mid-state for card catalogs, usually just the 18-drawer stacking cabinets. hefty, but manageable, especially if you remove the drawers.

​Last week, a grand-daddy of a cabinet came my way, and to be honest, I'm still not sure how two of us actually loaded it in my Armada. Adrenaline, baby.

Now the question is, what to do with this 400-pound beast?

Once you're through painting or staining a piece, the last step is to seal it with the right top coat. Should you use wax? Or a water-based polycrylic? Or maybe an oil-based polyurethane? It's not exactly a secret that we are HUGE fan-girls of General Finishes products, including their top coats. Here's a rundown of their water-based sealers, and some recommendations on what-to-use (and how.)

It's January, and that historically means "white sales" on linens. There's something to be said for starting the new year with fresh, crisp new bed sheets and soft fluffy towels. But there's also a place in our hearts for vintage linens - from aprons and tea towels, to crocheted doilies and hand-stitched quilts. Often these mainstays come to us with some stains and tears, but they've stood the test of time. Here are some tips for cleaning and refreshing them so they can continue to serve us and the generations that will follow us. 

We know there's still a week until we raise a toast to usher in the new year, but there's no time like the present to consider your goals, intentions and resolutions for 2020.  And we'd love to hear them!

In the South, things heat up early and stay blistering hot for a long time. Midsummer is typically recognized as the start of summer, but this week marks the midway point through summer.  No matter what you call it, we're still a long way from true fall weather.

Welcome to the hot "dog days" of summer. We know the term actually references the position of Sirius (the dog star) in the sky, but we're going to celebrate our furry friends with stylish doggy decor ideas, and invite you to help us with a pet project.

At least once a week (and sometimes more), someone asks us if we have any space available in our little log cabin. Most of these inquiries are from customers who are inspired by what they see, and dream of having their own space in a shop...someday. If you're dreaming of having a vintage business, here are a few tips we've learned along the way.