New York Swank meets NC Quaint!

Welcome to Catchpennys! One of my favorite stores, located in Warrenton, NC, is a fabulous combination of punk, funk, rhinestones, lace, and everything in between. Bobbi Corker, the proprietress of this fabulous establishment, is an artist in every sense of the word. She has some of her original artwork displayed alongside vintage goodies and antique pieces.

Vintage clothing, ranging in period from 1920 to 1975, is her specialty. She also has the accessories for sale to complete your olden days attire... A perfect place to find just the right dress for that night on the town. You can be sure that no one will be wearing your personal couture creation!

If it's fabric you're hunting, look no further- She's got loads of it. Yards of vintage fabric line her original general store shelves. Patterns are endless- stripes, boats, birds, planes- Bobbi will have a piece which truly makes your heart go pitter-patter.


Located in Downtown Warrenton, NC, Catchpennys is a must see. Open Wed-Sat 11 to 5, Sun-Tues By Chance ...

***I'm still holding my giveaway in honor of Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist. Just leave a comment on my blog between now and July 1st and you'll receive a free gift! Please leave your email so I'll be able to contact you for your mailing address ... Cheers~!***

Cheers to A Fanciful Twist!

"Hear no evil, speak no evil - and you'll never be invited to a party"
- Oscar Wilde

Just a fun little post to congratulate one of my favorite blogs- A Fanciful Twist (www.afancifultwist.typepad.com). Vanessa is celebrating her 200th post by hosting a fabulous blog party! Whopee! Be sure to visit her blog to see the list of participants. Each guest will have a little something extra special posted on their blog ...

My fun happening in honor of this celebration is a give-away. Everyone who leaves a comment on my blog between now and July 1st will be sent a wonderful little prize- Just leave your email, and I will contact you for your address. Also, all individuals who have commented on my blog up until this point will also receive a gift of appreciation:) I'm not sure what the keepsake will be yet but rest assured - It will be grand! Perhaps a fabulous old photo- perhaps a trinket of shiny silver- Who knows? The possibilities are endless~!

Come One, Come All to the Gresham Mall!

I've been promising updated pictures of my booths ... So, here are a couple of shots showing my newest items and displays.

Madame Mozelle (the lovely mannequin) was a thoughtful gift from my dear friend Bobbi at Catch Penny. Mozelle is swathed in a beautiful vintage kimono - Fabulous lounge wear! Also visible in this picture is a Victorian lace bodice - truly a treasure worthy of display. The hand work on this top is breathtaking. At least 7 different types of lace and trim were used to create a visually stunning textile masterpiece.

I love tiny things, and I've realized a great way to display these items is in old printer's trays. These special little ditties are fantastic for jewelry as well as mixed media and other art and craft projects. I search for unusual trinkets, including coins, baubles and buttons, which make excellent accent pieces for art work.

Another specialty of Flotsam and Jetsam is notions, particularly old lace. The colors really move me- And I find I'm not alone in this fascination with the vintage pieces. I decided to display my textile wares in an antique trunk - This setting helps to convey a sense of time and keeps the pieces somewhat organized. I attempt to use soothing beige and white tones in the trunk but sometimes I slip up and put a few rose tinted pieces in it as well.

As you see in the overall shot of one of my booths, I sell a variety of merchandise. The large white case contains some of my most precious treasures, including vintage dolls, antique jewelry, and beaded purses. As a new dealer, I'm trying to build my inventory - This means carefully selecting pieces that I both love and can sell. Sometimes I make a mistake - but that's all part of the process. So far, this purveyor's journey has been an amazing blessing from God. I am thankful to have the chance to work with objects and share them with clients who love them as much as I do!

Orange You Glad You Stopped By?

Bright colors, like orange, yellow, and red, are fabulous! I'm trying to incorporate them into my decorating scheme... But it's a little difficult.

For instance, I love these British Tube vintage posters I found at Catch Penny ... They are so vibrant, so different... I'm just trying to make them work in our place. If you've got some suggestions, send me an email or leave a comment on this post. I'm all ears for how to bring color into our home.

So, I thought I'd continue on this theme of bright colors and show some images of my favorite vignettes with great hues. The top one shows an Art Deco travelette cosmetic box. Richard Hudnut designed the box- I absolutely adore the graphics... So creative. I gathered additional small boxes and tins along side the Hudnut piece ... Small, dainty items create beautiful groupings. The aqua round tile is a new item for me. The color - gorgeous!

The next pic shows a Jennifer Murphy cutie (http://www.jmurphybears.com/home.html). Mr. Piggy by Ms. Murphy was a Christmas gift from my sister Shannon. Then, you'll see additional button cards as well as a little wooden cricket. His name is not Jimmity but he is still just as cute... The last object I'll spotlight is the small little boy cup. The dealer thought the piece was possibly Schafer and Vater. If you've never heard of this company, do a general Google search and view a couple of their pieces- Really fabulous, whimsical stuff. Take this little guy for instance - He's adorable! His face is so realistic and fun. The detail is amazing - And to think, he's probably almost 100 years old (how does he stay so young looking?) hehe...


Well- have a great week and be sure to bring some color into your own life:)

Pretty as a Pitcher ...

Sorry to overwhelm with talk of majolica today; however, a dear friend wanted to see an additional picture of this piece. Since Blogger seems to have figured out how to size pictures so that they don't take hours to load and attach, I thought making an additional post would be the easiest method. In the background of this image, you'll see other items from my booth at Gresham ...
Stay tuned this week for updated images of my booths as well as pictures of some of my favorite shopping haunts, including the Raleigh Flea Market and Catch Penny's!

A Little Majolica Lesson

This post is just a little FYI for my readers. I worked several years at a fabulous French antique store called Sparrows (www.sparrows.com). While there, I learned about a variety of French and European antiques. For instance, majolica is a very collectible form of ceramic art.

While at a recent auction, an Onnaing French Arts and Crafts pitcher came up for bid. I kept the faith and won the piece. I did a little research upon returning home and confirmed that the item was indeed authentic. After my glorious win, I did notice, however, that a hairline crack was visible on the lip - but so it goes in the world of old.

I am enjoying having the pitcher on display in my case at Gresham Lake. While Onnaing is not considered the highest quality of Majolica (refer to Marilyn C. Karmason's book Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey pg. 184), it does have a charm all its own.

If you're interested in learning more about majolica, visit www.sparrows.com. Also, reference the aforementioned Karmason book for a scholarly and brilliant study of the subject.

Oops!

Just a quick addendum to my last post: The 2 gamecocks are a gift from my Dad. The University of South Carolina is my undergraduate alma mater and our mascot is the gamecock... So, thanks Dad!

Masculine Motifs

I promised a masculine vignette this post and I've been sure to deliver- 2 images in fact! As you can see in the background of both, I am a book collector. My favorite are Victorian children's picture books but anything 19th c. or older will do (and early 20th c. isn't too bad either!)...

The ivory miniature painting was a gift from my dear friend Beth, the owner of my favorite antique bookstore, Osiris Books. Osiris is located in Kensington, MD. I worked over a year at her shop but never seemed to bring any money home- I always spent it with her! She also gave me the Elizabethan Miniatures book pictured.

Alongside the painting is a small wood carving from Germany. Though not an antique, this little figure is a treasure. The detail is exquisite. A pair of old glasses in their case as well as a painted rock are additional objects.

One item deserves its very own paragraph- the carved coquilla nut snuff box. The fabulous design on top intricately combines arrows, hearts, a quiver, bow, and tassels. I often wonder who made this item- Perhaps a sailor longing for home? Or a soldier thinking of his bonnie lass?

The next photograph has a humorous label which states the rules for the library; I'll include a few lines: "No scholar shall select more than one book at a time, and having made the selection, must keep the same one week." ... "No scholar shall be allowed to go to the Library during the session of the school." Very different from today!

The dapper young fellow in the postcard is H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. I sold a number of cards from this same Royal series but couldn't part with this particular piece ... The Prince just looks so suave!

The stereoscope view is another humorous little item- the title states: The "New Woman." At a close inspection, you'll see a liberated female complete with her bicycle, stripped stockings, and morning newspaper. Behind her, a gentleman looks awkwardly at the wash board and laundry in front of him!

A friend gave me the calling card for "Elise and Joan, Exclusive Costume Designers / New York". I don't know who they are (which I should research) but I thought the card was an intriguing piece of history.

The velvet green case holds some of my tiny treasures. A Catholic medallion, an antique monk button, a WWII pair of wings, an owl stick pin, my mother's high school lapel pin and a skull and key fraternity tac. This last item is one of my most fascinating! My friend Laura, co-owner of the Lady and the Librarian (http://www.rubylane.com/shops/ladyandlibrarian), found the pin. Its forehead has "ONE" written on it; the eyes are green cabochon stones. Keys are crisscrossed beneath the skull chin. "T.N.Webb / '98." is inscribed on the back. The mystery of this object is palpable - Who was Webb? What organization is this affiliated with? What secrets lie behind the skull's sinister grin? Sounds like the premise to a murder mystery novel perfect for reading on the beach:)

As you can tell from these last two posts, objects are my passion. I love to consider the history behind- their "past life" shall we say. I plan on continuing this foray into my love of treasures, and I'd love to know what you're passionate about in the world of antiques and collectibles.

Intimate Vignettes

For the next couple of posts, I'm going to talk about some of the tiny scenes around my house. I create vignettes with my trinkets, books, and other treasures to make our home more interesting and personal. Perhaps you will be inspired to do the same in your intimate spaces!

This image encompasses some of my favorite objects. The Pierrot clown was purchased from a dear friend of mine, Tim Green. He is also an antiques dealer and has an online shop at http://www.trocadero.com/greenlion/. He sales the most magical, whimsical items. Tell him Stacey sent you!

Displayed around the trinket dish are Czechoslovakian glass Art Deco buttons on their original cards! These treasures were found at CatchPenny, a fabulous store in Warrenton, NC. Bobbi Corker is the owner and a dear friend... Her artistry is revealed in every inch of her store.

Another outstanding item is the polymer clay girl house pin. This handmade brooch was bought through Esty. Mamazakka is the username- so, the website is www.mamazakka.etsy.com

Right at the little feet of the house is a fabulous button that I just found last week in Hawaii. It's a metal Bavarian button with a delicate hand painted mushroom scene. So adorable! The dealer I purchased this from told me about the National Button Society; I took her advice and joined immediately upon returning home. If you're into buttons, check out their website: http://www.nationalbuttonsociety.org/

On the far left corner of the photograph is a tobacco card with a rather risque "circus" girl. In today's standards, she seems quite tame, but we can assume this photo would have been buried deep in a gentleman's bureau. I purchased this little ditty at the Raleigh Fair Grounds Flea Market. This venue is a great resource and I encourage all collectors to visit! I find a unique tresure each time I go:)

In the upper right hand corner is a stereoscope image with a little girl studying. What really caught my eye were her fabulous stripped stockings! How lovely and whimsical:) Once again, the lovely Bobbi of Catchpenny was the purveyor of this fabulous piece!

Last but not least is the postcard displayed in the upper left hand corner. A Victorian image of a little girl bundled against the cold holding a squirrel. He seems rather chipper on her bright red glove. As I've mentioned previously, ephemera is a big obsession of mine and postcards are no exception. Mr. Squirrel and Friend was found at the DC Big Flea several years ago. A fabulous show held 5 times a year in Chantilly, VA. I'll be there with bells on this July for a buying trip!

Well, that's it for this little scene. I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about my quirky collections...

I'll be back next time with a masculine vignette in honor of Mr. Flotsam and Jetsam.

Fabulous Finds!

Hi All-
Well, the vacation is over now. Ben (the hubby) and I arrived home on Tuesday night. Fun times! I'm finally getting back to my normal routine- The body's still a little off. Between Hawaii and here there's a 6 hour time difference - ugh.
But on to today's blog topic- Fabulous Finds!

First on the list is Mr. Buddah. He is a vintage string holder- you pull the string out through his belly- too cute!

Next we have two Faith Austin vintage handkerchiefs. One has a butterfly motif and the other a pink kitty cat pattern. I was really excited to find these- They sell for between $25 and $30 (so00... my customers are getting a steal at the $12 I've marked them for!).

For myself (and currently wearing) I found the great glass Egyptian Revival necklace. Can we say fabulous? Probably 1940's Czechoslovakian. I'll let you know when I get bored with it:)

The last item in this shot is a really cute wooden Asian shaker. Really cute - I've never quite seen one like it. Much like a Russian nesting doll in its form.

The next picture shows a wonderful grouping of vintage finds. My personal favorite is the resin carousel horse- probably piece of a lamp or something. Whatever it is it's pretty cool.

Next we have a pair of stallion bookends. The quality of these is really amazing. I'm not sure exactly what they're made of - but once again they look pretty cool.

Then there's this unique child's shoe form... I've collected a few of them and they make really interesting accents.

And what about the pretty saucers? Saucers are such great things- So useful. You can use them for jewelry, soap dishes, beads ... They make great gifts with luxury soap. Just use a hanky around the saucer and soap; then pull the hanky up around the top and secure with ribbon. Great idea, huh?

Well, the piece de la resistance is the Madonna planter. She has amazing crazing... And the hand painting is really great. I'm really excited about putting it in my booth. I hope someone will give her a good home...

Well, that's it for now. I found some awesome smalls today- I can't wait to show you this fabulousness. Stay tuned!

Here's a list of the places I found this booty at:
Gresham Lake Antique Mall-Raleigh NC
Guardian Angel Thrift Store-Fuquay-Varina NC
SuzAnna's Antiques

Be sure to find your own "tinsel and treasure" at these wunderkammers:)

Vacation!

I didn't get a chance to take new pictures today b/c I was hurriedly preparing my booths for long term (i.e. 1 week). My husband, Ben, and I are traveling to Hawaii on vacation! Whopee! So, the booths will be a little messy in a couple of days- But that just makes the hunt more interesting for you fellow antiquers!
The image I've included in this post is one of my very favorites. While traveling in London this Spring, this adorable little girl passed us by on Portobello Road. Surely she will grow up to love antiques and vintage goods- Just look at her little metal carriage and fuzzy rabbit!

New Beginnings

Well, I've finally decided to write a little bit in the land of blog. I plan to concentrate on interesting antique finds - hopefully, each post will include pictures and a little research. For this first post, I'll talk a little bit about my antiques business, called Flotsam & Jetsam. I have 3 antiques booths and I also consign items to a fellow entrepreneur. My main venue is Gresham Lake Antique Mall, located in Raleigh, NC. I am number #41 (just ask the front desk for directions:)). I also have items at SuzAnna's Antiques, also in Raleigh. Bobbi Corker, the owner of Catchpenny in Warrenton, NC, is a friend who allows me to display items in her fabulous store. So, I keep myself pretty busy. I've included some images of my booths on this post. I'll try to take additional pictures tomorrow so I can so the ladies and gents of blogland my displays and treasures.