Category Archives: Vintage

Flea Market Finds: Linens

22 Monday Apr 2013

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One of my usual searches at flea markets is for vintage linens in good condition.  I get especially excited when I find unused vintage Irish linen napkins with the original label still attached.  Linen lasts forever and washes beautifully in the machine.  For tough stains I pre-treat with Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap.  We use the cloth napkins at mealtimes and the dish towels for drying the dishes afterward.  I find that if we have paper towels and napkins at our house that we use a ton of them.  The linens save paper and make dinner seem a little fancier.  I found these napkins and Ireland dish towel at the Brooklyn Flea this weekend.  The booth owner even washed, pressed and tied the napkins with twill tape.  All 11 napkins and the towel came to $20.  Bargain!  Ebay has some pretty vintage napkins here and dish towels here.

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Charcoal Water Purifier

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Likes, Organizing, Vintage

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I have been trying to escape our habit of keeping a Brita pitcher on the counter.  It makes our water taste better, but the unattractive plastic container hurts my eyes.  I came across this Kishu Binchotan Charcoal at Dry Goods in Brooklyn last weekend.  (See my post about my new favorite store Dry Goods here).  This charcoal is actually just a piece of ceramic-like burned wood, charred at super high temperatures.  The charcoal absorbs impurities in the water and makes it taste much better.  The Brita and many other filters use the same charcoal technology.  But these Binchotan sticks look better and don’t come ground up and housed in disposable plastic.  (Technically NYC water is safe to drink without a filter, and we had ours tested to be sure there is no lead in our old pipes.  But I grew up with well water and I like ours to have that similar taste).  I boiled the Binchotan Charcoal for ten minutes per the directions, dropped it into my vintage ice tea pitcher and let it sit for a couple of hours.  I was thrilled to find that the taste is as clean, and even better than water from the Brita.  This glass pitcher is a welcome addition to our countertop.  Ebay has a great number of inexpensive vintage glass pitchers here if you want one of your own.  Cheers!

Flea Market Finds: Ironstone Pitchers

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Vintage

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The city is working on some water mains down our block and has shut off our water during “working hours” for the next week.  The working hours seem not to fit the schedule of those of us who work at our houses, but oh well.  It feels a bit like pre-indoor plumbing days around here and we have pressed some of our large ironstone pitchers into service to hold water reserves for the day.  We have been using them to water plants, flush toilets, and wash hands.  Every household used to have at least one set of a similar large pitcher and basin for washing hands and faces before faucets spouted instant water.  I have always been drawn to the smooth white shapes of these vessels at flea markets.  (These two happen to be from the attic of Chris’ grandparents).  Sets of ironstone pitchers and basins can be found for relatively low prices these days. We tend to separate the two pieces and use our basins for toy and napkin storage, as well as for hand-washing linens.  The pitchers make perfect large vases and are especially lovely filled with peonies.  You can find your own ironstone pitchers here on Ebay and Etsy.  (Hopefully you will have water from your own sink to fill them with).

DIY Bubble Playsuit and Pinafore

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

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SunsuitViolet1 SunsuitViolet2I love Simplicity’s vintage pattern #9395.  It is from the 1970′s and I am sure I had a similar outfit when I was little.  I made this version up with some vintage violet fabric I found for less than $1 per yard at an antique shop.  You can find similar fabric on Etsy here, and on Ebay here.  Be sure to check yardage and ask about fabric condition when buying vintage fabric.  We used ric rac from M & J Trimming in Manhattan, (one of Ada’s favorite places on the planet).  The buttons are vintage mother-of-pearl from our stash. You can find similar sets of buttons here.  This bubblesuit and pinafore can be worn together or separately and the busy fabric can disguise stains from even the busiest day on the playground.

DIY Apple Surprise Ball

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Inspiration, Projects, Vintage

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I love surprise balls!  There is something magical about the simultaneous combination of unwrapping and disappearing and discovering.  Last week I wrote about some beautiful and inspiring surprise balls made by paper artist Anandamayi Arnold.  I had fun making this surprise ball for Ada’s Easter basket last year, but really wanted to make the initial package more beautiful this year.  I decided on an apple shape, complete with apple blossom, leaves, stem and bud.  (Yes, I know this does not occur in nature).  Ada’s apple is red and Josie’s will be green.  My finished apple does not come close the the amazing fruits by Anandamayi Arnold, but I was happy with the results.  I followed directions to make leaves and blossoms from this vintage book of crepe paper flowers.  (My mother-in-law gave me the 1922 version and it is one of my prized possessions).  To make your own Apple Surprise Ball, follow the directions from our Easter Egg Surprise Ball here.  I used washi tape to attach layers of crepe streamers this year.  Try to make your wrapping more of an apple shape as you go, and finish with a red streamer.  Follow directions for blossoms and leaves in the above book, or cut out your own shapes from crepe paper.  Glue on stem and wrap with red streamers to finish.  I filled the apple balls with the following inexpensive toys for the girls:

*Marble Pouch (I stitched this up from our box of fabric scraps.  I will post directions soon)

*Pom-Pom Bobby Pins by the Belle Company, Brooklyn ($4 for 2 at My Brooklyn Baby)

*Beaded Necklace Kits (I made these up from thrift store pony beads and vintage sequins inside plastic pouches.  Under $.50 each)

*Basil Seeds (Free packet came our Myers Clean Day Dish Soap)

*Wooden Bird Whistle ($2 from My Brooklyn Baby)

*Sunmaid Raisin Box

*Marbles (50 for $.99 at the dollar store- These are more fun to unwrap if you open the package and cover one marble at a time with crepe paper)

*Garden Tattoos ($5 for 12 at My Brooklyn Baby)

*Wikki Stix ($.99 for package at Party City)

Have fun wrapping and Happy Spring!

DIY Child’s Smock Dress

04 Monday Mar 2013

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This smock dress is a variation on a vintage McCall’s pattern, #3470 from 1972.  I have had this dog print fabric for years and finally made it into a dress for Josie’s birthday last week.  (The dress was immediately trumped by Daddy’s gift of green pjs from Baby Gap).  Josie is at the age when a dog spotted on the sidewalk is extremely exciting, so I am hoping she will like the dress more as she grows into it.  The pattern is fairly easy and includes variations with pants and a jumper top with short ruffle sleeves.  (See our version of the ruffle sleeve dress here).  I love the short smock dress because it can be worn as a dress and then a top as the girls grow.  You can find your own pattern #3470 here, or search Etsy for other vintage patterns.

Happy Birthday Josie!

01 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Party!, Shop, Vintage

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It is hard to believe our little Josie is already two!  It seems like just the other day when Chris and I were planning our last weekend alone and my water broke two weeks early.  Josie has been sweet and kind and funny ever since her unexpected arrival.  Thank you for always making us smile Ms. Josie.  We had a little party this weekend and celebrated the actual day yesterday with cupcakes and berries and a pair of footie pjs from Daddy.

* Party Decorations.  Balloons from Bargain Balloons and silver and white lanterns from Tail of the Yak.  Heart Garland How-To Here.

*Coconut Cake from Ina Garten’s yummy recipe.  Beeswax number candle from Clothes  Pony/ Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins, CO – The Best Toy Store!  The Jadeite was an amazing Craigslist score.

*Bathroom hyacinth in a favorite Swanky Swig.

*Josie’s yearly Birthday Crown.  Cape by Wovenplay.

*Gift Bag Contents.  (I used to be anti-giftbag.  We never had these when I little, but kids love them and Ada insisted on making these).  Straws from Shop Sweet Lulu, mini fans and spirals from Pearl River Trading ,tape from Target.

*Cherry Vanilla Birthday Ice Cream.

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

Flea Market Finds: Wall Sconce

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Shop, Vintage

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We have been searching for a sconce for our downstairs hallway for a while.  The fixture that came with the house was so awful it landed in the trash before I could get a ‘before’ picture.  (It involved some orange cubes that looked like Legos badly hot-glued around a bulb).  We found this wall sconce a couple of weekends ago at this shop in Saugerties, NY.  We usually hold out for a major bargain when we shop for house things, since we have so many things on our list.  This light was less expensive than city prices, but not as cheap as we usually go for.  We decided to buy it anyway and Chris hung it up as soon as we got home.  It turned out to be perfect for the spot and I am so happy we found it.  We are trying a new method around here: Instead of keeping our finds boxed up in a closet until our house is perfect, we have begun hanging up lights on our less-than-perfect ceilings.  It is nice to enjoy things now even if the plaster isn’t what we want it to be.   Some day our renovations will match the fixtures, but for now we are mixing perfect with not-so-perfect and getting on with living in an old house.

You can find your own vintage and antique wall sconces here on Etsy and here on Ebay.

Our Etsy Shop is Open!

12 Tuesday Feb 2013

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EtsyBanner2Our Etsy shop is open!  We have been working hard to get the final details finished and I am happy to say we are open for business.  You can find our Headband Feather Crowns at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jeannerondeau.  The crowns are made in adult and kids’ sizes and my girls like to wear them for dress-up.  All of the pieces are made by hand using vintage fabrics, beads and sequins and each crown is one-of-a-kind.  We also do custom work.  We will continue to add more items to the shop, so please visit us often!
 
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Flea Market Finds: Vintage Down Pillow

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Vintage

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PillowThis pillow is one of my favorite vintage finds in the kids’ room.  It is stuffed with feathers, covered in pretty vintage stripes, and the perfect size for a little head.  I throw the whole pillow in the washer and dryer as needed.  This vintage find is much nicer than most child-sized pillows I’ve seen, and it was only $10!  Etsy has some pretty examples here.  Sleep tight.