I can’t believe it is August!

Published on August 2, 2008 :: One Comment

Wow – time really can fly!  July is gone, and I am not entirely sure where it went.  The back-to-school displays in the stores are starting to feel relevant to my life instead of just annoying.

Oh well, moving on…we spent yesterday in the shop in Hudson, and boy, was it a hot and steamy day.  But we got a lot done, bringing in some new merchandise and completely overhauling the window display (long overdue.)  Steven and one of our partners, Dave, completely emptied the window.  Then they ran around the shop, laughing and  looking for just the right items, and put together an artistic and eyecatching grouping, eclectic and yet minimal at the same time.  They utilized a gorgeous wood and iron wheel from the 1800s, a crazy oil painting, a mid-century modern glass and resin cocktail table, a funky hanging light shaped like a light bulb, two painted country tables and a giant shutter — can you picture it?  We took some photos, although we were challenged by bright sunlight.

Additionally, we brought in some fun crusty metal storage cabinets, a great vintage wood and aluminum office chair, and a giant art deco mirror.  We also brought in this sexy lucite and chrome-based, glass-top coffee table, but Steve accidentally chipped the edge of the glass top while setting it up.  He literally fell over on the floor for a moment, but then rallied.  These things happen, and we can get the glass cut down – it will be fine. 

Saturday shopping trip

Published on July 13, 2008 :: No Comments

We enjoyed a truly beautiful upstate NY summer Saturday today — sunny, hot but not unbearable, with a breeze that felt lovely if you were standing in the shade.  You might say it was a perfect day for a picnic, or a hike in the hills, or a visit to a historical site.  And you would be correct.  Steven and I, on the other hand, saw it as the perfect day to go lawn saling!  (Remember what I said in that previous post about Saturday being a prime workday if you are an antique dealer.)

So we awoke bright and early and headed off for a town-wide garage sale day about 40 minutes away.  (One of the joys of country life – nothing is close.  Sorry, sarcasm.)  Our hunt for the GREAT THING started off slowly, but by the end of the day (and by that I mean 11:00 am) we had a van-full of stuff!  A bonus today was that we had a family member staying with us, so we did not have to take the kids along.  Consequently, we filled their seats with booty as well.  We don’t do that if they are with us — we only joke about tying them to the roof rack, we would never actually do it. 

As usual we came home with a wide assortment of items, united only by opportunity combined with our quirky taste.  As we unloaded the van at home, Steve created a couple of vignettes on the lawn and we snapped some pics.   This one shows a fun sign with a dog (there is precious little dog stuff that we can resist.)  A set of four grungy aluminum chairs surround a fun folding metal cafe table painted blue.  The oversized andirons are Hudson-bound on Monday, for sure, along with the giant light fixture!

I am in love with the large ironstone urn or spill vase shown in the top pic, along with a fun vintage tablecloth.  The ironstone is stained quite badly, but the discoloration lends character and patina without detracting from a wonderful form. 

I did find some interesting jewelry and small items today – my fave being this ceramic and cherry-juice bakelite fish.  To give credit where it is due, Steve actually found this little charmer.  The cold-painted eyes and lips show wear, but hey – find another one! 

So this is a taste of what we acquired today.  Some will go into our shop, Warren Street Antiques, in Hudson, NY.  Other pieces will find their way to ebay, and still others will be offered up at antiques shows in the next few months.  And next Saturday we will be back on the hunt for more treasures. 

We took some new stuff to Hudson today

Published on July 12, 2008 :: No Comments

Steve spent today in the shop in Hudson (Warren Street Antiques), and took in some interesting new items.  Sadly he did not take the camera so I have no pictures tonight, but I will be back there on Monday, so…  

We added some industrial light fixtures (a set of five), a great double shutter painted green, a cool long modern bench or coffee table, and a print by reknowned artist Karel Appel.  Steve also brought some fun small items – a mixed metal Mexican scorpion inlaid with abalone, a fabulous pair of vintage malachite cufflinks, an Italian glass decanter covered in leather with the face of an Asian man.  It sounds a little bizarre when I list it off like that, but it really is fun and quirky stuff. 

We have sold some nice things in Hudson recently, including a pair of alabaster egg bookends, a knock-off Vladimir Kagan table, a great crusty old handmade ship model, some Kosta and Orrefors crystal.  Again, a mixed bag, but that’s the way we like it. 

When people ask us what we specialize in, we have a tendency to look at them blankly.  We like to deal in everything from rusty metal objects to fine Victorian jewelry to mid-century mod-ness.  Not to mention country painted wonderments, folk art, Scandinavian silver, rugs and textiles, and a dozen or more categories I cannot think of right now.  I have to believe that all of it is tied together by our eye, our taste.  It has to be tied together by something, right?  With a very few exceptions, we buy and sell what we like, and often what we love.  The majority of what we deal in I would happily bring home and integrate into my house (except of course I would need a new and bigger house!)

This has not been an inspiring shopping week – the best things we have bought so far are the aforementioned green shutter (which is pretty cool), some fun Victorian costume jewelry and a sweet old composition elephant.  But there is always the weekend … I’ll let you know what we find!