Books Worth Reading

from my shelf to yours

Vintage Chalkware

Antiquing in Cape Cod is wonderful fun and during the off-season great finds and prices can be had.   So on our yearly jaunt to Chatham for lunch at the Chatham Bars Inn, we pulled into a shop that had stuff spilling out on all over the large ront porch.  My hunt and peck was in full motion.  After exhausting myself moving a massive concrete planter, I see the great reveal:  Jacque and Jill.  The conversation went as follows:  Me: "Wow Cindy, look at these are old chalkware lamps".  Cindy: "Niki, those are hideous, look at their eyes, they're creepy".   Me:  "Well, I can paint over the eyes, maybe repaint the entire lamp."  Cindy:  "Seriously how are you going to get those home?".    By the end of the day I had them boxed up and shipped back to Virginia with enough bubble wrap to sink a ship.   

Chalkware figurines were either made of sculpted gypsum or cast from plaster molds and painted with watercolors.  They were made first beginning in the late 18th century, ending by the beginning of the 20th century.  Chalkware again picked up popularity during the Great Depression which is probably about the time Jacque and Jill were made. 

Quirky, kitschy, creepy ... I can't wait to transform these into chic decor.

Ready or Not ....

We are in the mode of Autumn and here are 10 decor picks that inspire.

Love these kernals, and if you could husk the Indian corn for a varigated look, even better.

Everything here looks fabulous to me.  Check out the tapered candles placed

on the glass cake stand.  Perfect still life arrangement that keeps your eye moving.

Just the simple branch of fall foliage speaks volumes.

A modern twist to the traditional pumpkin decor.

Well just about anything would look good on this house, but again, the simple

branches and the square wreath make a big statement.

I've been collecting the real antlers but Pottery Barn now offers faux and see how cool

they look in the table scape below.

Vintage is always a holiday favorite, like this paper wreath from old book pages from

The Pickwick Papers

Decoupage plates from An Altered Affair

And this space with its Autumn palette on a blue sky day just inspires, year round!

Patina Perfection

Out one Saturday in a neighborhood yard sale, my partner in crime Ellen Mosher eyed a pair of brass over the top ornate marbled based lamps.... well lets just say we could see why they weren't selling.  But with a quick side glance at one another, she scooped them up for a song.  Ellen's background in copper work has taught her how to bring aged patinas to varous metals and these babies didnt know what was about to hit them.  I'm in love with the results .... an aged bronze with hints of copper and rust.  Patina perfection!

The before and in the early stage of rework



The after .... some added bling, and bye-bye marble



So cool!!

Friday Vintage Sightings "Syroco"

You've seen them around, maybe in your grandmother's decor, or rummaging thru the flea markets.  Syroco was named for the Syracuse Ornamental Company founded in the 1890's by an Austrian woodcarver, Adolph Holstein. Initially the Company produced ornamental carvings for the embellishment of coffins and furniture, as well as in the Governor's mansion in New York.  As demand increased, a molding technique was developed where Syroco could create perfect replicas of their original carvings. Their recipe of wood flour, waxes, and resins combined with compression molding created an inexpensive, but high quality product.  Later they integrated polymers into their molding process and then moved entirely into plastics production.  Production ended in the 1960s.  These vintage pieces are seeing popularity in what is being called "Vintage Hollywood Regency".  Look for them in pairs.

Molded plastic, love the details in this pair of sconces



An early pair of wood compositewall brackets





Nature themes were common in their early designs



Paul Revere in the House

Some of you will cringe at the mention of silverplate Revere Bowls.   Popular in the 70s and 80s as wedding and anniversary gifts, they were often inscribed with that special date then stored out of sight in the buffet.  But when it comes to table-top accesorizing, these vintage bowls have become my go to resource.  With a bit of polish these vessels produce a brilliant mirror shine, contemporary and chic, perfect for showcasing all kinds of love. So the next time you're at your mom's house, open up the buffet and see what you find.

Faux Leather Upholstery... The Good and the Bad

Faux leathers have been around a very long time, remember pleather and naugahyde?  Today's fauxs are more innovative and in many cases, hard to tell from the real thing.  But seek a knowledgeable opinion when selecting a faux for your furniture as they don't all perform the same.  Problems like flaking or delamination can often occur if the right product isnt selected for your project.

Courtesy Trend Fabrics