garage sale girly

Eclectic Avenue

A few months ago, the hubby and I were invited, thanks to my amazing Uncle Brian, to meet the owners and take a tour of this 1955 brick Cape Cod in Dayton, OH.

We had heard the stories of this home from him over the years. My Uncle has his own construction company and has helped the owners lovingly restore and renovate so many intricate aspects of this home.

Little did the hubby and I know that this charming exterior would house such an array of original and pristine 1955 home features not to mention an extensive collection of antique and vintage furnishings and home decor.

Upon entering the home our tour guides/home owners, Mr. and Mrs. Malone informed us that their decorating style would be considered eclectic. They bought and decorated with items that they loved and they could tell me a story about each piece. (this was going to be right up my alley) I only wish that I had taken notes. There was so much to see and take in....

Get ready for a wild and wonderful ride...

I am going to start your tour with some of the artwork that I loved.
In the foyer was this captivating piece. (my favorite painting in the home)
According to Mrs. Malone this was one of her favorites also and it has always had a prominent location in any of their homes.

Another beautiful painting that got my attention.

Cool vintage string art upstairs.
Everywhere you looked there was something new and exciting to see and learn about.

So this little piece of art pottery cracked me up.
It tool me back to an auction that I went to last summer.
I stayed until the very last lot, to bid on this...I was the only bidder on this item and the auctioneer looked at me like I had two heads.

You may have seen this in one of my previous blogs.
I was so pleased to see that someone else shared my eclectic and slightly eccentric taste.
Mrs. Malone had a really great idea to use her panther planter to hold remotes.

Mid century marvelous lamps and light fixtures for me to drool over.

Furnishings all around the home span many eras and styles. They don't discriminate....

Here are a few of the pieces that caught my eye throughout the home.

What a chair!

So may lovingly restored pieces.

Did you notice the bathroom? Be patient, I will get to it. Just a few more things I want to show you first.

Now that is a serious sideboard.

They have even repurposed many items creating functional furnishings as well as unique conversation pieces.

This is an antique radio that has been turned into a nightstand. This is actually the back side of the piece! They loved the look of the makers mark on the back and wanted to show it off instead of putting it against the wall.

Ladies you might be able to guess what this piece was originally used for. Please note the stirrups (the clue that gave it away to me). Oh those Victorians knew how to make a stylish exam table. Mr. Malone chuckled and said he enjoyed serving drinks off of this piece to guests and asking them what they think it is...

This is a great way to put that antique pram to work. Yes, a bar. Great idea!

What to do with that old fire alarm...

make it into a lamp of course.

In the basement...

Mrs. Malone's family once owned a general store and they have retained and carefully restored many of the displays and items that were once in that store.

Doesn't the package for the Buccaneers candy bar look like a Three Musketeers package?

So impressive!

I loved this display for sewing notions. I was just itching to get crafty with those buttons!

This is a working scale that was once in her family's shop.

It is a good thing that I am an adult and can practice some restraint...

although the thought did cross my mind to serve the homeowners a box of wine and have a turkey dinner a la Seinfeld.

Does anybody really know what time it is?

The Malones informed us that this beautiful working vintage sign from a train station will someday be donated to a museum.

I am going to take you back upstairs to see some of the original features from this home.

I know this is just a vent but I found it quite impressive that it is original, in perfect condition and still in working order.

A built in wet bar on the second floor that can be tucked away by some pocket doors.

Dining room built-in china cabinet.

More original built-in cabinets line the wall of their breakfast room.

Also notice the cork tile flooring.

Now try and hold back your excitement upon viewing each one of their five very vintage and colorful bathrooms.

This is the powder room in lovely powder pink.

Each bathroom retains most of its authentic details except the counter tops. Sadly the original vinyl started to crack and curl a few years ago so they had to all be replaced. The bathrooms are so fab original vinyl or not.

This is the grey bathroom.

I think the shower door has some chrome-tastic detailing!

Bathroom built-in shelving. Even the storage is stylish.

Don't you hate watching those shows on HGTV where they completely gut perfectly good vintage bathrooms? It makes my hubby and me cringe. We were overjoyed that the Malones have done all that they could to "keep it real" in their home.

Another peek into a pink paradise.

If you love vintage bathrooms too, you should check out this blog the hubby and I love. It is so appropriately named Save The Pink Bathrooms.

Calgon take me away!

Maybe you can help us out on this one.

If you happen to be a connesieur of vinatge bathrooms you may be able to tell us what this little "thing" screwed into the tile by the bath tub is. Even the home owners are stumped. I would love to know.

Aqua.

The last bathroom on our tour is a color I would compair to chocolate milk.

Love those toilets. There is some serious flushing power in that bad boy.

Finally,

my favorite room in the house was the kitchen!

Those cabinets are to die for! Believe it or not the previous owner of the home actually took down these original uppers and replaced them with some lovely (sarcastic) 1980's wood ones. He thankfully kept all of these in the basement to use as storage. When the Malones moved into the home they had my Uncle restore them to their rightful location.

If you love retro renovations and restorations as much as we do you may also enjoy this blog: Retro Renovations. (it is written by the same person who writes the "Save the Pink Bathrooms" blog)

I really hope that you have had as much fun taking a peek into this home as we did! The hubby and I couldn't stop talking about it for days after we had visited. We were so lucky that the homeowners were so welcoming and gracious to take us on such an extensive tour. (and let me take pictures everywhere)

You can tell that they are very proud of this home and they should be!

Their personality and humor can be seen in every room.

You definatly can't buy this kind of individuality at Crate and Barrel.

How I deck my hallways

The gifts have all been wrapped, the cookies have been made, and the house has been decked out with amazing Christmas kitsch. Now I can write a merry little blog that takes you on a tour of all of my vintage holiday treasures...

Remember Santa is watching... and dancing. Plastic, flocked and fabulous!

Here is my tree.

I am not such a purist that I only decorate with vintage. It is decorated with a crazy combination of new and vintage ornaments. I think it looks so cozy and captivating. (if a tree can actually look cozy) Folks that visit say they love looking at all the different ornaments on my tree. I could tell them a story about almost every ornament.

I do have some great vintage ornaments on my tree. My hubby has given me most of them over the years. This one cracks me up. Santa as the bubble boy.

Check out my new tree skirt. I have been asking for a vintage tree skirt for a few years for Christmas. I guess Santa wasn't sure which one to get so I bought one for myself this year.

How swell is this Lefton Japan candy tray? It is way too cute to fill with candy because you wouldn't be able to see the little painted Santa faces.

So how do you fill your china cabinet? I have a bit of a bulb bonanza going on here...along with a few other bits and bobs. Some may say overkill, but I say festive.

I have a few vintage Shiny Brite Stencil Ornaments of my own that were given to me from a family friend one year. I like to give them pride of place amongst the tinsel and "vintage look" mica houses.

Do you love Shiny Bright ornaments too? You could get your own set from The Unique Bird to display next year in your home.

Click here to see the listing.

You may have see some little Santas just like these for sale in my etsy shop.
They are vintage Japan cocktail picks! I bought a few for myself too while at Brimfield. If you would like to pick these up to stuff in someone's stocking next year you might want to check out this listing. Click here to see!

Sitting on top my cabinet are these two snowmen that I got from the hubby a few years back.

I think this one looks kind of drunk...and it's not even New Year's eve!

"O" how sweet is this angel candle holder. I see her on my kitchen window sill. I hope to find the "J" and the "Y" someday while on one of my treasure hunts.

I have always wanted one of these little angels and was giddy when I picked her up at a tag sale in Dayton a few weeks ago. Sadly she lost one of her wings. I think maybe she had a bit too much eggnog.

The perfect way to display my Haeger planter is with a poinsettia. I am so happy I haven't killed my pretty plant yet. It just has to last until our New Year's Party. (fingers crossed)

I framed a vintage paper ornament/ greeting card that I also got at that tag sale and was very pleased with the results.

My make-shift cork board tree is also decorated with amazing greeting cards/ornaments by Norcross New York U.S.A. I have similar group listed for sale in my shop. I have also trimmed this ribbon outline tree with vintage metal curtain tie backs. (those things are very useful and nice to look at!)

This is another new addition, she is plastic and flocked to perfection in her lovely blue dress and shiny gold paper wings.

Doesn't this plush red and white deer put a smile on your face? (kind of like the smile he is wearing on his face)

Here is a crafty little creation that I devised to display our holiday cards. I used to just tape the cards to strips of ribbon that I hung in my entry way, but the cards were always falling down. So the hubby and I had a little brainstorm and came up with a nice magnetic system that I can re-use every year. Did you notice the lovely vintage fabric bows? I had to spice them up.

Here are two pillows that I had started to make for myself that are made using my favorite Christmas fabric. Too bad there were no little elves that finished them while I was fast asleep. Maybe they will be finished for next Christmas. You know what they say, "God rest ye merry Gentlemen because the women have too much to do!"

I hope you have enjoyed the Christmas Kitsch tour and I hope that you have a Very Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best in 2010!!

Girly giving some props

Hi all! Garage Sale Girly is back again.
I know It's been a while but I have been a busy little birdy posting new items on my web page http://www.theuniquebird.com/ for the holiday season.

I am going to brag a little about my super smart sis right now, so bear with me while I give her props.

Recently my sister Katie, one of the Specialists at Cowan's Fine Art Auctioneers and Appraisers, attended a Daguerreian Society Symposium in Philadelphia. I have to admit to being a bit jealous.

For those of you that were not in Mr. Thom Meyer's photography class at Fairmont Highschool, you might be interested to know that the the daguerreotype was the first practical form of photography invented in 1839.

They are having a big American History auction in December at Cowan's that not only contains many historical photographs but also a historical nugget. Here is a little YouTube video, that my sister is starring in, to plug one of their lots, from the California Gold Rush, in their upcoming auction.

As you my have heard, I love a good back story and tracking down the history of an object. I love getting the inside scoop about the the historical items that they have at auction.

Katie also recently wrote an article titled "Props add value to historical portraits". This article talks about "the early images of often unidentified individuals do not draw as much interest or money at auction, unless, of course, the sitter is posing with a prop...In many cases, props not only add historic value to early photographic portraits, but also increased monetary value."

This article got me thinking about all of the vintage photos that I have hanging around my house (many of my father's side of the family) and the "props" that appear in the photos. The photos that I have may not have any historical value but they do make me smile every time I think about what the heck they were doing. That is what makes them priceless to me.

"Go fish" is what I would title this photo.
The man in the center is my great grandfather George and he apparently had a good day out on the lake.

This is a favorite photo that I have of my Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jean. The props in this photo would indicate to me that this was taken around Christmas time. I know, I should be an expert.

This is not a family photo. I found it at a flea market. My hubby & I couldn't stop laughing when we picked it up. Seriously what the heck is going on here? The prop would be a tall wooden pole. The inscription at the bottom says "at home Aug. 4th 1918". I think I need to get the History Detectives on this case.

I recently discovered this photo while going through one of my Grandpa Bob's old photo albums. This picture also brought a smile to my lips. Who was this domestic goddess? This woman is posed with her props, the oven and the pie, and is apparently no relation to me that I know of. I later discovered the inscription on the back of the picture that reads "Trixi in the kitchen with the pie she didn't bake". HA! That part made me laugh out loud.

This is also one of my Grandpa's photos featuring the front of their department store "Lockwood's" in Jamestown, NY. I wish I knew enough about cars to date this picture, but from what my father told me this photo was the store's original location on Third and Cherry and it later moved to Fourth and Cherry.

This photo shows my Grandpa Bob (on the right) standing in front of the camera department at Lockwood's. Please notice the props in the window, an Argus camera display.

My Argus.

I have discovered these are quite common (produced between 1940 - 1954) but that doesn't make me love it any less.
I have accumulated a few props of my own, like the ones in the window of the camera shop above. I am not really sure why or when it started, but the hubby and I have accumulated a pretty good collection of vintage cameras that decorate our home. Not only do they look awesome, but I love showing them to my father and asking him about the history of the pieces, because he always seems to have the inside scoop. Maybe he knows so much about cameras because growing up he worked in the camera department at Lockwood's and later went on to work as a camera buyer for Elder Beerman's department store. He even met my mother while working at a camera store in Dayton, OH.

That will be a story for another day...

This is another one of my little lovelies.

The Whitehouse Beacon made in the 1940's.

I can be quite a nuisance with these things. They can be found all over my house.

This is the Kodak Pony 135 c.1950.

You oughta be in movies...

This is the Revere- Eight model 77, 8mm movie camera from 1949.

I found this website that has loads of vintage 8mm movie cameras for sale. I have never purchased from this site but It is a great place to get some information on them.

We found film in this one...

I wonder what could be lurking in those photos?

The Flash Brownie was Made in the U.S.A and was orignally sold for $6

Here are a few that the hubby got from his father.

This one is very special to us. A very close family friend gave it to me and the hubby because she knew that we had a few vintage cameras and we would love it and take care of it as she did.

The back story on her "Hit" camera was that, while on vacation in Washington D.C. with her parents, she was disappointed that they had a camera and were taking all of the pictures. They bought her this mini camera on the trip and she used it for years. As exciting as it was to add another vintage camera to our collection, we were also touched that she gave us this tiny memory from her childhood.

Look how little it is!! You know me, I love a good back story! We will never part with it.

While flipping through the December 09 issue of Teen Vogue I found something in the "Gift Guide" on page 168, that I thought was really cool...

It's an actual new film camera that is styled to look vintage. You can go to http://www.lomography.com/ to check it out .

and then I discovered these in a recent Urban Outfitters catalogue.

One of the cameras is a Lomography camera and the other is a Vivitar camera that is digital yet looks vintage. Both are sold at http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/