October, damp and cold this year, made lighting the boiler last week a heralded and longed-for occasion. I began mixing rye bread dough this morning at 4:30 just for the joy of baking it. One grey day I stopped … Continue reading
October 2017
Category Archives: Vintage Finds
Frank’s Kitsch Collection Arrives at Fox and Finch
A veteran of the Korean War brings his collection of 1945-1958 Asian figurines to the shop. Continue reading
Autumn Apples plus The Princess & the Pea Project
“The stripped and shapely Maple grieves The ghosts of her Departed leaves. The ground is hard, As hard as stone. The year is old, The birds are flown. And yet the world, In its distress, Displays a certain Loveliness” – … Continue reading
Since I’ve Seen You Last
This gallery contains 2 photos.
The heavy child’s chair and footstool, which some may remember, sold today. I think I had it for over a year which is too long for a space this small. I could have sold it many times, but no one wanted … Continue reading
A Long String Flies High
Saving string during the Depression proves to be advantageous to heirs of the thrifty. Continue reading
Parade of Art
The Eternal Art Exhibits at Fox and Finch Antiques Continue reading
When They Can’t Take It With Them – Garage Sales
I found a carton of 100 bars of black pumice soap for 2.00 at a recent sale. Last night, I rubbed a bar on the dried milk paint on my blue jeans and the paint came out. The pumice is very fine. It … Continue reading
Assemblage Art: Florida Vintage 1940s Motel Door and a 1930s Toy Circus
I spent part of last week working on a couple of assemblage art projects. I used old parts and old artwork and some vintage linens to create a 1940s Florida motel door and a make-do child’s circus toy. Whether these … Continue reading
A Sister is a Life-Long Valentine
This gallery contains 15 photos.
“You may be as different as the sun and the moon, but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as she needs you..”– George R.R. Martin I received a treasure box from my sister this week. … Continue reading
An Apron Mystery and A Dog’s Day
This apron was a mystery to me. I thought someone made it, but didn’t complete it. There are no neck straps or ties. Then I saw this pattern and the purpose was clear. It was a style of apron that went … Continue reading
Left Behind
A small stack of paper sits on my desk today, all found after the removal of drawers from several pieces of furniture. An old recipe for a coffee cake. Three tiny cookbooks probably picked up at a grocery store. Two are from the 1920s; the Domino Sugar … Continue reading
Quick Autumn Decorating with Vintage Rakes
Here are just a few examples of the many vintage metal rakes I decorated this week to sell in the shop. I ask 12.00-15.00 for them and when a customer decides to change to something new they get a strong, good old-fashioned metal rake. … Continue reading
How to Clean Vintage Clothing
Have you ever wondered how vintage clothing dealers present such perfect examples of 100 year old clothing? I’ll share a wonderful stain remover recipe with you. Stain Remover One Cup of Cascade Dishwashing Powder and Two Cups of BIZ to Five Gallons … Continue reading
Happy August Days ~ Painting and Gardening
I’ve painted and sold a lot of furniture this month. It looks like I forgot to put the handles on this one before I took the photograph. I was lucky to find this piece with all the original Eastlake handles still … Continue reading
July Auction Finds
This antique rocker with a fancy double steam-bent seat and face of the mythical Pan detail was a recent find at an auction in Wisconsin. Rocking chairs aren’t in fashion now but if you have a front or back porch they are wonderful for old-time comfort. … Continue reading
Using Glass Cloche Domes to Display Collections
A favorite way of calling attention to groupings of “smalls” in the shop is to cover them with a glass cloche. Here are a few vignettes I had the fun of putting together today. Bell jars are perfect for putting small mementos and collections out in … Continue reading
For the Love of a Midwestern Barn
Last week, my busy and private friend, Margaret Cox and I got together for a day that started with cappuccino at her beautiful home near Rockton, Illinois. Margaret and her husband, Kevin Darrah, own a company, Darrah Barns, that installs barn … Continue reading
A Sign of Spring
Yesterday, the sun shone brightly and most of the day’s sales were for antique cement garden sculptures. These two 1930’s stone lions were kind of hard to let go. Aren’t they gorgeous? I like the way the paint wore and … Continue reading
Upstairs Vintage
Living above my shop is all pros and no cons. I don’t have to drive to work and I can bake oatmeal raisin cookies and offer them while still warm to people who come in on a winter day. The … Continue reading
Vintage Squirrel Finds for Autumn Table Centerpieces
This gallery contains 7 photos.
One of the fun things I do when I have a dining room table in the shop is create centerpieces from some of my favorite finds. Here are some centerpieces with “Squirrel” motifs that I put together today.
Fox and Finch Antiques in Richmond, Illinois 