Vintage Feature – Revamping the “About” Page

This past week I have been working on my new website. One page I have wanted to change and update is “Our Story.” So after researching effective “About Me” pages, I hit on this idea.  The page title is simply “About.”

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 Hello, I’m Shelly.

I’m the owner of Southern Vintage Table, a vintage tableware and decor rental business. After two years of scouring thrift stores, estate sales, antique shops, auctions, craigslist and even my own home, I have collected lots of vintage china, glassware, flatware, serving dishes, linens, and accessories. Many things have been generously shared by friends and family. Our collection spans the 20th century and everything is available for hire.

Here are a few things about me – in no particular order.

~ I’m an optimist, like my mother, and believe things have a way of turning out okay. Maybe not in the way you envisioned but perhaps how it must.

~ I’m a retired middle school teacher, wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, and friend. I am a twin with 7 siblings and have two children. I met my husband in the 6th grade.

~ My alma maters include Orange High School, Western Carolina, and UNC-CH. I have a masters in education and earned National Board Certification.

~ My last teaching assignment included a video/news program class called MNN, a web graphics course, and yearbook. I taught 6th, 7th and 8th graders and sometimes had a student for all three years, which always delighted me.

– Whenever I can afford the time, I take the scenic back roads. Thankfully, I usually have the time.

~ I especially love candlelight, potted plants, flowers, pretty china, and wooden boxes. My hobbies have included sewing, playing tennis, making mosaics, and rearranging furniture.

~ As the owner of my business, I have learned how to drill holes in china, get rid of stains in china and linens, and – gasp –  properly set a table. And, I love setting tables!

~ When I go thrift store shopping, I’m not necessarily thinking about what the item is, but what it can become or how it can be repurposed. Sometimes I can see it right away, and other times I buy it knowing the vision will come eventually.

~ I’ve started reading a few pages of a book before I go to sleep. I’ve almost finished “Bossypants” by Tina Fey, which I highly recommend. Witty and profound.

~ I’ve written a country song I want Miranda Lambert or Kelly Clarkson to sing and have a movie I want Reese Witherspoon to produce. I’ve messaged the cosmos to help me with these two projects. Hey, it can’t hurt and it just might help, right? That optimism my mother gifted to me is kicking in here.

~ I love meeting new people and listening to their life stories. I especially enjoy hearing the names of their children, parents, grandparents, and even further back. Makes me feel like I’m time traveling with them.

~ I am so grateful for my friends and family. Their wisdom and stories have infused my life with joy and love.

~ I’d love to talk with you and promise our Southern Vintage Table collection will create a memorable, lovely affair for your special guests!

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Let me know what you think about my new “About” page.  If you have any ideas, suggestions, or additions, I’d love to hear from you. Really, I mean it…

New website is well on its way – should be unveiling it soon!  Here are some photos I took this past week for it.

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – 3 Goals for the New Year

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

A new year is the perfect time to set a few goals and we have three major ones on our list at Southern Vintage Table. Here they are!

~ Goal 1 – Develop a “Table Decor” package ~

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCWe have collected all kinds of cool, wonderful vintage doo-dads and small linens – tins, vases, books, postcards, coasters, votives, doilies, hats, gloves, small purses, small stands, candle holders, small frames – to use as table decor.  Our next step is to put together a “per table” package so clients can customize their own vintage look for their guest and serving tables.  If I haven’t checked this off my list and you would like to know more, please let me know! I’ll get right on it!

~ Goal 2 – Work on assorted DIY projects ~

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

This one may be the most fun goal of the three but figuring out which ones to tackle first will take some time.  For instance, I found two 3-paneled dividers but both of them need a little work – one needs embellishing and the other needs to be repaired.  We also have a few wooden items that would look so much better with a distressed look and a couple of trumpets just waiting to be upscaled into something unique. Just waiting for some cosmic inspiration…

~ Goal 3 – Revamp our website and Pinterest Boards ~

H-u-u-ge job, I know, but it’s time for a fresh look and we now have lots of terrific photos from this past year to showcase. I will be moving my business site to Wordpress but I have a lot to learn about how to do it.

Okay, my goals are out there which means I better start checking them off.  In the meantime, sending you wishes for a wonderful, happy and prosperous new year from
Southern Vintage Table!

Happy New Year

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Hot Off the Press!

Faith Teasley Photography

Yesterday a wonderful surprise came in our Facebook mail – a post from Faith Teasley Photography.  Ashley’s spring wedding was featured in a prestigious online publication, The Every Last Detail, and photos of Southern Vintage Table‘s beautiful china and table settings are highlighted in the photo essay.

Feast your eyes on this gorgeous wedding captured by Faith Teasley in Soft Pink & Pale Blue Vintage Garden Wedding. Thank you Ashley, Faith and The Every Last Detail!

Faith Teasley Photography

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

 

 

Vintage Sieves in Display

Vintage Feature – A Blissful Wish for All!

vintage graters3I’ve been working on an upcoming new Pinterest board featuring vintage kitchen ware decor and created this lovely holiday vignette using three vintage candlelit shredders. Although I’m not quite ready to unveil my board and post, I thought this photo would be perfect for my holiday wishes to all our friends, followers and fans of Southern Vintage Table.

 ~  Wishing you all a blissful holiday and new year ahead!  ~

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Southern Vintage Table Event – A Toast to the Holiday!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Good friends, good food and good wine – three basics for a great gathering. Add a donation to a silent auction with proceeds going to a local charity, it becomes a grand occasion!

The auction item Rowena won was a wine tasting sponsored by Wines for Humanity.  The auction, organized by TerraVita, raised funds for one of their favorite causes, Table NC. The mission of this organization is to “provide healthy, emergency food aid every week to hungry children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.” Wines for Humanity’s donation to the auction was a wine tasting which included a wine advisor, and 6 bottles of their favorite offerings of white and red wines. To our delight, Southern Vintage Table was invited to help with the holiday table settings and decor.

With wine tasting as the focal activity Rowena and Doug planned their festive holiday gathering. The holiday color theme was white and green accented with silver and clear glass. Southern Vintage Table’s collection of clear candle holders added sparkle and flair throughout. To add an organic touch, we filled small vintage silver trays, vintage goblets and vintage silver coasters with moss and a candle. With the lovely floral arrangements, the final look was so pretty! (One note about using moss and a candle – make sure the moss is very moist to prevent a fire.)

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

As a unique touch to the wine tasting, a small tree was decorated with cork ornaments and a strand made from cut cork pieces. Red berries and bows made from raffia added the final touch to this one-of-a-kind holiday tree which was perfect for our gathering.

Cork Tree Decorations

With a delicious assortment of cheeses, chocolates and dishes made by guests, the wine tasting was both educational and fun!  Deb, our wine advisor from Wines for Humanity, helped us learn not only about the 6 wines we enjoyed that evening but also a few basics about selecting and enjoying different wines. As the saying goes, a good time was had by all and all for a good cause, too!

If you are interested in hosting a wine tasting, contact Wines for Humanity for more details and, of course, Southern Vintage Table would be happy to help!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Got it! I’ll bring popcorn and breakfast parfaits per Louise’s request. See you Friday! Shelly

Vintage Feature – The Purity of Vintage White

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Vintage Stoneware Tea Pots & Creamer

This week’s post is simple  – one photograph of three vintage white pieces. The story is so much more but I couldn’t pull it all together this week because sometimes, as I recently have been reminded, life happens.

In a future post, I want to tell you more about these vintage white teapots and sugar dish a dear friend shared with me, as well as other pieces in our collection at Southern Vintage Table. In the meantime, I’m certain you will see the pure vintage beauty in these three.

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Southern Vintage Table Event – Anne of Green Gables’ Photoshoot

“It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Last month Bekah, owner of Ardent Darcy, invited Southern Vintage Table to help with a photoshoot – how exciting for us! Bekah and photographers Anna and Brent Deitrich of Live View Studios were inspired by the classic story, Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maid Montgomery in 1903. With purples, pinks, a delectable cake, handcrafted stationery, a lovely farm venue and vintage tableware from our elegant collection, the shoot was a magnificent success.

Be sure to see more of these artful photos posted on Live View Studios’ blog, Anne of Green Gables Inspiration.

Vendors who contributed to this shoot included:

Bekah, Wedding Stylist and Floral Design: Ardent Darcy
Anna and Brent Deitrich, Photographers: Live View Studios
Shannon Fox, Owner of Venue: Iron Horse Events
Randi Smith, Baker: Sugar Euphoria
Molly Gaither, Stationery: Ply Studio
Shelly Heath, Vintage Table Rentals: Southern Vintage Table
Kristal Cloer, Vintage Rentals: Farm & Filigree

Live View Studios
Notice the carrots in the gorgeous bouquet designed by Bekah of Ardent Darcy!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – Pretty, Delicate & Vintage Pope-Gosser China

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Oh, my gosh – I absolutely love this floral vintage china pattern!  It’s a creation of the Pope-Gosser China Company, an American company once located in Coshocton, Ohio. The Pope of the company was I. Bentley Pope, a master potter who immigrated from England and the Gosser was Charles Gosser, a jeweler from the area. Their company, Pope-Gosser China Company opened in 1902 and ended production in 1958.

During their five+ decades of production, Pope-Gosser made beautiful china. They earned a reputation for making elegant yet durable china, creating a market beyond the shores of America. According to the Ruby Lane Blog, some of their artful pieces are displayed in the British Museum. The company survived the Great Depression by joining the American Chinaware Corporation which lasted for only two years. After its bankruptcy, the Pope-Gosser China Company reorganized and began producing some less expensive dinnerware patterns that were marketed in dime and hardware stores. Finally, in 1958, Pope-Gosser China Company closed it doors, partly due to the influx of cheaper china from post-war Japan.

Alas, after searching online, I couldn’t find the name of this quintessential vintage pattern. The only clue about its age was the mark on the back. This passage indicates it must be from the late 1920s – 1931.

“In 1920, the lettering on the mark was changed again to ‘POPE-GOSSER CHINA’ in all capital letters. Pope-Gosser began including “MADE IN U.S.A.” in the late 1920s through about 1931.” – Ruby Lane Blog

Pope-Gosser China markSouthern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

We also have a pattern in our Southern Vintage Table collection from Pope-Gosser China’s final decade. Although I don’t have the exact date of its production, again the mark gives a hint, “Futura.” Ironic foreshadowing, I’d say, as it was most unfortunate this company’s future ended soon after in 1958.

These lovely, vintage Pope-Gosser China patterns are available from our Southern Vintage Table‘s china collection!  And, we’ll be on the lookout for more from this vintage American china company!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

A Vintage Adventure – It Was Thrift Store Heaven!

Southern Vintage China Vintage China Rental NC

This past weekend I went to the opening of a new thrift store, TROSA Thrift Store, in Durham. (Thank you, Linda, for sending that text!) For me, this may be one of the most exciting events I can imagine!  I realize some folks would just shake their head in amusement at this declaration but there are many others who totally get the magnificence of a thrift store, especially a new one. And, this place is huge – housed in a once-vacant box store – with so much to see and admire. More about this terrific organization, TROSA, at the end of my entry.

I claimed my cart and made a beeline to the houseware’s department. Of course, I get that one annoying, thumpidity-thump-thump cart but by the time I realized how bad it was, I couldn’t turn back and pushed it onward to the back of the store. Even though there weren’t gobs of plates on the shelves, I quickly saw there were many patterns I had never seen. I stood there and took a deep breath because I knew I had arrived at thrift store heaven!

Trying to act as nonchalant as possible so as to not attract attention to my little goldmine, I began pulling plates off the shelves. For most of the patterns I found only one plate, which makes them even more special, but some had a couple and I did find four dinner plates in one pattern. There were also some Blue Ridge dessert plates, definitely a find, and a few more of one pattern I found early in my collecting but hadn’t seen since. What a joyful rush!

My cranky cart, filled with vintage china plates, was now clinking and squeaking as I moved through the other departments in this vast store. This store has everything – clothes, toys, housewares and books – but I think the best stock is their furniture. If you are in the market for shelving, chairs, tables or desks, this is the place to look.

After I checked out all of the departments and made one last inspection of each plate to check for chips, I paid for my treasures. Although there was a bit of line on this busy opening day, it was very organized and the staff quickly helped their customers. This is one consistency about my encounters at a TROSA event or store – the folks are polite, helpful and very appreciative you are there.

Here’s a look at six different patterns I found that day. From muted to striking, each of them has its own unique history. Two patterns were made in America, four are from England and collectively they span decades.

Made in the USA

These two American patterns have a soft, gentle look. The first one is called Classic Flower Vernon Ware by Metlox of California. This pattern dates from the 1970s and has an understated beauty about it.  I love the textured rim and the center design is very pretty.

The second pattern is Foliage by Canonsburg.  This lovely fall-inspired pattern was made in the Canonsburg Pottery kilns in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.  This china company was founded in 1900 and closed in 1978.

Made in England

These two English patterns are strikingly beautiful. The first one, Spodes’ Tower-Blue, is gorgeous with beautiful details. In this lovely outdoor tower scene, there are birds, cows and even a couple of fishermen. This pattern, made from 1902-1970, also has a textured rim known as gadroon, which means decorative edging.

The second pattern, Historic America by Johnson Brothers, was produced from 1930-1974. I only found this one plate but when I looked it up, I discovered it’s a multi-motif pattern which means each piece of the pattern features a different scene. The dinner plate is called “View of Boston.” Don’t you think it’s a bit ironic this American historic series was created by an English china company?

The third English pattern is Tintern by Royal Doulton.  Manufactured from 1935-1960, this creamy pattern is colorful and dramatic. I was thrilled to find two of these!  According to Wikipedia, Tintern, a historic village in Wales, is known for its natural beauty and the ancient 12th century Tintern Abbey. Interestingly, Tintern and another historic village, Chapel Hill, have merged to form a larger province.  Perhaps a cosmic message for me to visit, huh?

The final one from England, also a Spode pattern, is called Primrose-Blue and Yellow. With its scalloped edge, textured rim and colorful center motif, this lovely pattern was produced from 1954-1969. Wish I had these for my daughter’s wedding party with our blue & white with yellow color scheme!

As you probably figured out, I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon finding these treasures. One shopper, after taking a look in my cart, commented to me, “You have quite an interesting collection in there!”  “Indeed, I do,” I replied.  Interesting, lovely additions to Southern Vintage Table‘s elegant and casual vintage china collections, now available for your next gala event.

Southern Vintage China Vintage China Rental NC


More about TROSA –
TROSA, Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, is a highly successful non-profit organization that supports people who want to make a positive change in their lives.  They have several different businesses to help with job skill development including two thrift stores, holiday tree lots, lawn care and moving services. Each time I visit their work sites, I am impressed by these folks who are always pleasant, hard working and appreciative.  Take time to visit TROSA’s website to learn more about their mission and work.

China pattern dates – Replacements, LTD

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Amanda & Nathan’s Lakeside Wedding

http://www.amyallenphotography.com

Amanda contacted Southern Vintage Table early July about renting our vintage china for her October wedding. She loved the look of our elegant collection and thought it would be perfect for her lakeside wedding in Four Oaks.  Along with our vintage dinner and dessert plates, our vintage tiered stands were featured on the dessert table as well.

Of course, her vision was so on the mark!  We weren’t present at this lovely affair, but thanks to her talented photographer, Amy Allen, here are a few beautiful photos featuring our elegant china collection at Amanda and Nathan’s fall lakeside wedding.

http://www.amyallenphotography.com

“I have to say your dishes absolutely MADE the wedding!! They were the perfect touch!!”  Thank you, Amanda!  We definitely agree. See more of this beautiful affair on Amy’s blog!

Best wishes to you, Amanda and Nathan and thanks again, Amy for sharing your photos!

http://www.amyallenphotography.com

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC