If you've seen American Pickers, you know how Mike and Frank scour the countryside for vintage and antique finds. Their travels have taken them to far-flung places across many states. In case you didn't know, Mike has become a bona fide Tennessean, with a residence in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee and he's often spotted hanging out with our friends at Blue 32 in Columbia. So how did Sherri and I get started picking? And do we pick like the American Pickers? And where can YOU find great picking spots?
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Valentine's Day conjures up memories of grade school: blunt-tip scissors, pungent paste and a classroom of children cutting and pasting paper doilies onto construction paper hearts under the watchful eye of our teacher, and proudly depositing those handmade Valentines into brightly festooned shoebox "mailboxes" for each other.
Paper and crocheted doilies have been around since Victorian times. The introduction of mercerized cotton thread made it possible to gussy up napkins with beautiful, intricate embellishments. Even if we aren't from the era that made our own doilies by the dozens, we have all seen them in our mother's or grandmother's homes, protecting furniture and cushioning delicate baked goods. But don't keep those keepsakes in a box or trunk - break them out and let them have a new life in your home. Here are some ideas on how to collect, care for and repurpose crocheted doilies. 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? Last month, we explored the fabulous world of vintage drinking glasses - from swanky swigs for your morning juice to tumblers and goblets gracing your dining table. Barware encompasses some very specific and fanciful glassware, as well as other fun accoutrements like shakers, stirrers, measuring jiggers and zesters.
Whether it's the novelty or nostalgia drawing you in, it is hard to resist the allure of a freshly made drink measured and poured by your favorite mixologist. As we ring out the old year and welcome the new one, we're resolving to make 2021 a year filled with more festivities and reasons to celebrate, make great memories, and share more joy and laughter. This article was originally published by the Busy Bee Trader in their January 2021 issue. We are proud to create articles and advertise in this long-running guide to antiques and boutique stores in the mid-south. Whether your heart melts over the soft sweet pastels of Depression-era glassware, or your eyes widen at the bold, bodacious colors of carnival glass, it's a guarantee that somewhere out there is a style that suits your tastes and maybe brings back childhood memories. In this first part of a two-part series, we'll explore how to collect, use and care for everyday glasses and stemware, then next month we'll turn our attention to fun barware, just in time to ring in the new year. Vintage glassware runs the gamut from gossamer-thin, delicate crystal to chunky and hefty midcentury and atomic-era glasses, from tiny juice glasses to oversize goblets and tumblers. This article was originally published by Busy Bee Trader in their December 2020 issue.
We are all about old school. Or vintage...whichever you prefer to call it. But this time of year, "old school" encompasses an array of memorabilia that brings up memories of school days' past. From vintage globes and maps, to felt pennants and vintage lunchboxes, we can remember and relive the best recollections of our childhoods with a few simple additions to our home decor.
This is the time of year we let our patriotism fly....in buntings, banners, and flags. Whether your home boasts a brand-spanking new flag, or a faded heirloom one, there's much to be said for properly displaying, storing and using flags in our decor while still honoring and respecting what they represent.
The following article was originally published in the Busy Bee Trader (July 2020 issue.) We proudly advertise in this publication and offer copies of it free for the taking in our shop. It's true that heirloom sets of delicate china are no longer in vogue. Brides aren't putting china on their gift registries, and all those place settings that were hand-washed with care, lovingly displayed and protected are no longer worth much, by and large. But that doesn't mean there isn't a market for certain pieces, namely teacups, silver teapots and spoons, and delicate linens. Here are some ways to use your existing pieces, or create a sweet collection of mismatched pieces that bridge the gap between the past and today's tables.
Do you love wrought iron settees and tables? Or maybe you hanker for a metal glider or rocker like you sat in as a kid at your grandparents home. Even concrete statues and planters from days gone by can add a touch of unique style and grace to your outdoor living space. Here's a quick rundown of what to look for when shopping for vintage outdoor pieces, and how to care for them to prolong their life.
Will the real McCoy please stand up? Or maybe it's Shawnee, or Roseville or even UPCO planters that grab your eye and heart when you're out hunting through antique stores or estate sales. Some of us gravitate to a particular color, others are interested in specific figurines, such as birds, lambs, dogs or baby boots. Then as now, these little planters make a great foil for a tender indoor plant. And this time of year, everyone could use a little promise of spring, in the form of a fern or cyclamen or African violet. Tucked in a vintage planter, it's the bees' knees.
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WHO WRITES THIS STUFF?I'm Terry Lea, owner of Re-Invintage Home, a vintage home goods shop just south of Nashville in Murfreesboro, TN. A lifelong passion for vintage picking led me to open a shop with my picking pal, Sherri in 2017. Come see us! Tags
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