The Vintage Crafter Strikes Again.

Despite what’s happening outside today, I see signs of Spring inside.

 

The thimble flowers are blooming.

And I’m surrounded by my favorite kind of roses, the Barkcloth Rose.

 

Just wanted to share these sweet gifts from my talented friend, The Vintage Crafter Magpie Ethel.

Hope you’re having a cozy & creative weekend.

Let’s do this.

Happy New Year!

My 2012 vintage to-do list has finally been notarized, stamped & sealed. In no particular order and subject to change without prior written consent, I present to you:

Things I Hope To Do More of In 2012 and Perhaps Some of Them I Can Also Improve Upon While I’m At It Including My Constant Use of Run-on Sentences and Sketchy Grammar

1. Sew.

I wasn’t even aware it was happening but after sewing non-stop for years, I slowed and then ground to a halt last year for no reason other than I needed a little break.

But now I have pages of sketches, a fresh perspective and lots of vintage fabric bookmarked on etsy.

( My fabric de-stash plan is so 2011. )

2. Junk-related travel.

I love a road trip and I’m that person who stops at every odd roadside attraction to view the life-size dinosaur made of cheese or the world’s largest talking knife & fork.

Add a little junking to it and it's a great day.

This is the 'before'

3. Paint more furniture.

 I like to paint things. Maybe it's the paint fumes talking.

I’m going to try making my own chalk paint as well. I’ll report back.

4. Sell at vintage events.

Luckily, I had nothing but positive experiences as a vendor last year so this year I’m ready for more. 

Not to mention The Garage Where Cars Can’t Park is still filled with everything but cars.

a vendor at Monticello Antique Mall

5. Sell in an antique mall again.

And not in the unofficial one currently going on in my garage where I’m my only customer. A real antique mall.

I have my name on the very long waiting list for a particular antique mall in Portland, OR. The wait could be a year! 

Er, Plan B…?

6. Learn some new tricks.

Upholstery, maybe.

 I already have an electric staple gun and a very sad chair.

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Do you have big plans brewing? I hope 2012 holds new adventures for all of us and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens!



Pin to Vintage

Maybe by now you’ve had a chance to check out Pinterest, the website where you can ‘pin’ photos from the internet to your personal ‘pinboards’.

Occasionally you might even come across photos from your very own blog!

WARNING: I have found Pinterest to be extremely addictive and now know it should not be viewed unless one is prepared to abandon all previously scheduled activities and perhaps be willing to skip a meal or two while under its spell.

 If you want to see if a photo has been pinned from your blog, replace the xxxxxx with your blog's name:  http://pinterest.com/source/xxxxxx.blogspot.com/

For instance, to see what’s been pinned from Into Vintage, I would use this: http://pinterest.com/source/sointovintage.blogspot.com/

One photo from this blog that’s been pinned is this vintage ornament tree I made last year.

And yesterday another vintage-loving blogger, Charlene, emailed me to share her version of the ornament tree:

I love it! And she was so clever to do this on a real door – why didn’t I think of that?

See all of her photos on her blog, Willow & Paisley.

Now I’m wondering…are there more of these vintage ornament trees out there?

In other news, the exciting Third Annual Academy of Vintage Christmas Ornament Arts and Sciences Award Ceremony (um, does that name get longer every year?) is underway over at Oodles and oodles.

This year’s winners have been announced including the highly anticipated “Best Christmas Ornament Reminiscent of a Joni Mitchell Song.”

You’ll see.

PS You can click HERE to see what I’ve ‘pinned’ onto Pinterest.

I’m going to stop saying ‘pin’ and just say pin now.  Pin.

A vintage tablecloth winner and even more giveaways I think you’ll love

Thanks to everyone who entered the vintage Christmas tablecloth giveaway!

Lucky comment number 57 was randomly selected and congrats go to artteachergirl!

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While traveling the internet, I came across several other giveaways you might want to check out. Click the caption below each photo to go to the giveaway.

Fiona & Twig is giving away Vintage Rescue Squad’s 2012 Junking Calendar

How about a $50 gift certificate to Post Road Vintage?

I think this photo says it all. Made by GeorgiaPeachez.

Maybe some vintage holiday décor for your person?

Or a little holiday R & R (reading & relaxing) over at Oodles & Oodles?

... and Le Creuset for the holiday meal!

Good luck!

A Vintage Christmas Tablecloth Giveaway

Subtitle: From My Drawers to Yours.

Did you see this coming?

Somehow I’ve ended up with more vintage Christmas tablecloths than I need or can possibly use so perhaps you’d be willing to give a good home to this colorful, old friend?

It measures about 48 x 60” and looks lovely layered over a larger, solid-colored tablecloth or maybe it’s just the right size for you as it is.

I would show it to you on my dining room table but have you seen it lately?

Neither have I. It’s buried under shopping bags, tissue paper, jigsaw puzzles and serving pieces that were last used on Thanksgiving day.

I know. Thanksgiving.

If you’d like to enter to win, just leave a comment.

I’ll draw a name on Tuesday, December 13. This is open to anyone, anywhere in the whole wide world.

And while we’re waiting for Tuesday to roll around, I’m going to introduce this tablecloth to my iron!

Happy Holidays.

xo!  -amy



In my drawers

There’s a new addition to the vintage Christmas tablecloth drawer and I’m especially happy about it because:

It’s one I don’t have and it’s one I’ve never seen before and (this is always the deciding factor for me) it was a really great price.

I have achieved vintage Christmas tablecloth nirvana.

As long as we’re in the Christmas tablecloth drawer, let’s look around, shall we?

My all-time favorite. 

 Somehow I’ve ended up with four (!?) of these which might mean there’s been a breakdown in my Vintage Tablecloth Inventory System.  Or I’m hoarding. Or both.

 I really don’t know exactly what went wrong here.

My second all-time favorite.

Which I guess explains why I have only one.

Instead of four. (!?)

Do you iron before you store yours?

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t.

 I’m random like that.

None of these fit my table but I like to layer them over a big, plain white tablecloth.

That way no one gets left out.

Or in. The drawer, I mean.

Christmas comes but once a year.



Vintage Christmas with a Pinch of Kitsch and Glitter

Ever the multi-tasker, I was fortunate to time a recent errand in Portland, OR with the opening day of Monticello Antique Mall’s Vintage Christmas Show.

Their Christmas show is always an amazing visual experience.

And I just enjoy spending time with others who are vintage-Christmas afflicted.

Except when they’re heading to the cash register carrying something I wish I had found before they did.

To the lady holding the vintage wood sap bucket with that beautifully-perfect aqua patina:

I’m mostly sorry I stalked you. I only did it to make sure you were really serious about buying it.

You were.

I moved on.

Lots of holiday inspiration, everywhere.

You can see the rest of the photos here.

By the way, did you see where this fellow turned up?