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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – Setting the Vintage Table with the Kindness of Friends

“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Since I opened Southern Vintage Table, I have been heartened by the excitement of my friends and family for the concept of this business. Folks love the idea of finding, collecting and bringing together the collage of vintage china and tableware patterns! Many have also generously gifted me with their personal family treasures and I have loved hearing about their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In this post, I want to honor the family dinner table pasts of four women – Mildred, Grandmother Björk, Edna and Lillian.

Mildred, who recently passed away, lived in the NC mountains all her life. She and her husband of nearly 70 years dearly loved each other and their family. Her son and my brother-in-law, gave me her set of amber Whitehall glasses by Colony Glass. I do love this vintage amber pattern but I mostly love that they were once part of the Webb family’s happy dinner table for so many years.

I got a call one day from Nancy that she was cleaning out cabinets and had some things she wanted to share with me. Along with the vintage glass, silver items and decorative aluminum trays, she had a set of 12 gorgeous vintage placemats made by her husband’s Grandmother Björk. Nancy remembered that Grandmother Björk loved to crochet and even when she was almost blind, she was still sewing and edging linens. With their delicate, perfect design and their classic ivory color, I can easily envision Grandmother Björk carefully stitching these to use at her family dinners.

My friend, Priscilla, sent me a message that she wanted me to come over for a visit. She showed me all around her happy home and I reveled at the beautiful nature displays. (She and her husband both taught science.) Our tour ended in a room where she had stacked items she thought I could use with my business. Among the many treasures were two boxes of vintage silverware and one was from Edna, her husband’s mother. Edna, the wife of an agriculture professor and the mother of two PhD boys, loved to cook fresh vegetables from her garden. Everything about this visit filled my heart with gratitude, especially this lovely vintage silverware that Edna lovingly set around her family dinner table.

Southern Vintage China Vintage China Rental NC — Edna’s lovely silverware came in the most charming box!

This week Carrie of Fernrock Farm and I made a business call to the Chapel Hill Carriage House. It turned out that the owner’s daughter was once a student of mine and I knew her sons as well. At the end of the tour of her beautiful grounds, Brenda asked me if I would like to have her grandmother’s china. She explained that it had been boxed up for years and she really wanted to share it with someone who would love using it as much her grandmother did. Her grandmother, Lillian, lived in Arlington near Boston and enjoyed serving big dinners to her family. Of course, I was both honored and thrilled!

The delicate blue and red roses against the cream background give this pattern that perfect vintage look. Although I couldn’t find the name of Lillian’s china, it does say on the back that it was “made expressly for Gilchrist – Boston”. Gilchrist, I discovered, was a major department store in Boston that opened its doors in the mid 1800s and closed them in the mid 1970s. Now, Southern Vintage China is the caretaker of Lillian’s lovely set of china, which probably dates from the 1920s-30s.

One final story about this week’s gifts. When I was visiting Priscilla, I met Becky, a friend of theirs who regularly goes on mission trips to tear down houses that need rebuilding. After Priscilla introduced us and told her about my business, Becky shared that she recently had been to her 90-year-old father’s home and had picked up a set of glasses that were now in the trunk of her car. The glasses, she explained, had once come packaged with tea and then she offered them to me. Wow – aren’t they incredible? They will be featured in an upcoming blog!

Sets of glasses, linens, silverware, china and more – all shared by the families of Mildred, Grandmother Björk, Edna, Lillian and Becky’s mother. How does one show her appreciation for such beautiful gifts? SimpIy and sincerely, I thank you.

Each time we set the table at Southern Vintage Table, we honor these women and many others who loved their families and the special time they spent around their family dinner table. Namaste.

PS – My to-do-list continues from weeks’ past. Something more interesting than ironing napkins and cleaning silverware always comes up! Thank goodness…

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Vintage Feature – New Pattern Inventoried and Goal 7 Checked Off

Two weeks ago I mentioned that I had picked up a beautiful vintage china pattern from the 1930s that I needed to photograph and inventory for Southern Vintage Table. Time to check this goal off the list!

This pattern was made in Japan by a company called Garden City. According to a leading china replacement company, Garden City had only 17 patterns. This one is known as GAR13 – pretty plain for such a delightful, bright pattern!

Normally, I don’t buy whole sets of china, but there is the exception – might be that the pattern is extraordinary or it’s an exceptional buy – and in this case, it was both. Here’s the set I purchased.

What I saw in this pattern wasn’t necessarily how beautiful it would look at the dinner table but how well the florals of green, blue, yellow and pink would go with so many other patterns. With the distinct green rim, it is a perfect pattern to layer. Whether it anchors the place setting as the dinner plate or sits between the dinner and dessert, it makes a lovely presentation.

Starting with showcasing the dinner plate, here are a few gorgeous place settings!

The outer green rim sets off the trio of vintage patterns so beautifully in these settings with the Garden City pattern as the salad plate!

And, of course, two layers are simply beautiful as well!

China Garden’s GAR13 is now part of Southern Vintage Table‘s inventory. We can mix and match it with our other beautiful patterns for a charming, eclectic look your guests will love!

The continuing saga of my long list of goals continues. But first, I want to update Carrie’s ribbon count – she won 10 blue and 6 red! Her flowers are that beautiful! This week I’m focusing on painting and ironing with a marketing call in there, too. Thanks for checking in!

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Vintage Feature – How Did I Do with Last Week’s Goals?

Last week’s post was about setting goals for the week at Southern Vintage Table. This practice had the desired effect – it kept me focused, busy and feeling very accomplished as I checked things off. But I didn’t get to everything and, having been a teacher, I can’t help it – I have to give myself a grade. Here’s my personal evaluation of the week, starting with the trips.

Trip 1 – Nursery. Monday was a beautiful day for a country drive to the nursery with Carrie of Fernrock Farm! I bought 5 varieties of sedums, including my favorite – hens and chicks. Later in the week I drilled holes in 16 teacups/gravy boats/bowls that had small and even not-so-small imperfections, like cracks or chips. Now they have become sweet little sedum gardens. Imagine seeing one at your place setting with your name on it – wouldn’t you love it?

Trip 2 – State Fair. Carrie, Trudy and I went to the state fair Tuesday and had a marvelous time. We checked the outdoor garden area for ideas and then went through the Cut Flower competition Carrie entered her dahlias, a speciality of Fernrock Farm, into the fair competition for the first time and won 6 blue and 2 red ribbons. She’s now officially an award winning flower farmer! I, on the other hand, didn’t get to enter the Fine Dining competition because of the lottery, and when we found the display, we quickly realized why. There were only 7 tables in the competition. The tables were lovely and some were quite glamorous, but if I get to be in it next year, I do believe I’ll be adding “award winning table setter” to my resume!

Seven tables in the Fine Dining Competition — Seven tables in the Fine Dining competition

Bue ribbon for New Year's Eve — Bue ribbon winner for New Year’s Eve category

blueribbontable — Blue ribbon winner for the Wedding Reception category

Trip 3 – Mom and the thrift store. Mom, as usual, was delightful and loved the treat I brought her. I found two unusual things at the thrift store stop – a set of Tiara Glass Ponderosa footed tumblers and a stein ice bucket. Aren’t they great additions to our Vintage Bar collection?

Trip 4 – Merry Hill Farm. Three goals were related to Merry Hill Farm – the book, the special pricing and the vignette. Got all done! Thanks to feedback from Carrie, Trudy and Randy, I finalized the special offers to couples who book with Southern Vintage Table, Fernrock Farm and Merry Hill. The beautiful trio of venue, flowers and vintage china is the perfect package for a special event! Our book for Merry HIll arrived Friday – perfect timing for Saturday’s couples coming to Merry Hill. And, here’s the vignette I delivered and set up.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental — A sample collection of vintage wares available at Southern Vintage Table

Other goals. I cleaned 6 pieces of silver – got a full basket still left to do. I started measuring and taking photos of the lace toppers. As I put them on the clothes line, I noticed that I have some repair work to do on several. Sigh… but not a surprise with vintage linens I didn’t iron one napkin, didn’t take inventory of the new china additions nor did I paint and distress this week. I did put up a chalk board for blog ideas but need to add more.

With the beautiful weather ahead, I look forward to my work week at Southern Vintage Table and checking off my old/new list. As far as my grade, I’m giving myself an extension but so far, it’s looking pretty darn good!

PS – Here are Carrie and Trudy looking at the Decorated Cake competition at the fair. Yes, they were beautiful! Inspired us to go to our next stop – fried elephant ears. Can’t go to the fair and not get something fried, right? And, you have to see the giant pumpkins, too!

elephantears — It was hot and delicious!

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Southern Vintage Table – The Table Conversation Starts Here!

Our New Logo!

We have many beautiful vintage china patterns, glassware, linens, silverware and decor available for your next gathering!

Vintage Feature – My Week Ahead

One lesson I am learning as the small business owner of Southern Vintage Table is to set goals for my week ahead and create a schedule. This practice keeps me focused, busy and positive! Here’s what I am working on for this week- and probably into next week, too.

1. Write a blog and keep it real. (Working on this goal right now.) Publish Monday. Get an idea board for future blog topics.

2. Produce and order a photo book with Carrie from Fernrock Farm in collaboration with Merry Hill Farm. Deliver to Lynne at Merry Hill on Friday for Saturday’s appointments.

Here's a screen shot of our first draft — Here’s a screen shot of our first draft

3. Finalize special pricing packages for Merry Hill clients. Print copies and get vintage china vignette ready for Friday delivery.

4. Visit nursery with Carrie to pick up indoor sedums to plant in china teacups for Merry Hill vignette and future clients. Drill holes in teacups and plant sedums.

5. Visit the NC State Fair Fine Dining exhibit. (Yes, they have a competition for table decorating but there is a lottery for entrants. Unfortunately, I didn’t not get selected but I’m going to do a little research and be ready for next year! I’m working on an idea that uses one of the vintage trumpets I won at the auction as a center piece.)

6. Plan with Carrie our next marketing strategy (wedding planners and caterers?) and set appointments.

7. Take photos of recent china pattern purchases for inventory book and for upcoming blog. (I picked up a beautiful pattern from the 1930s that I can’t wait to share!)

8. Measure and take photos of lace toppers for inventory book and upcoming blog.

9. Paint and distress recently purchased frames. Buy blackboard, have it cut and mounted in each. Take photos and inventory.

10. Clean recently purchased silverware. Take inventory. (I may try a new technique for cleaning off tarnish that uses baking soda, aluminum foil and boiling water.)

Beautiful pattern! Can't wait to reveal the sheen of the silver underneath that tarnish! — Beautiful pattern! Can’t wait to reveal the sheen of the silver underneath that tarnish!

11. Iron and sort vintage napkins.

12. Stop by a couple of thrift stores on my way to visit my mom. (Love this part of my job!)

LOTS to do, but after years of teaching, planning and grading papers, I LOVE that my work schedule includes trips to the state fair, a nursery and a few thrift stores! Work is fun and fun is work!

Southern Vintage Table Event – Julie and Wayne’s Wedding Day

After months of planning, their wedding day was here. Julie and Wayne were ready to share this special life event with family and friends and Southern Vintage Table was delighted to be a part of their celebration.

Jami and I arrived early to get the tables ready. The weather was cool and overcast – and though sunny weather would have been nice – it was going to be the perfect wedding day!

With pink and blue vintage dinner plates and vintage stainless steel tableware from Southern Vintage Table along with beautiful flowers from Fernrock Farm, the tables were ready for the wedding guests.

After the barbecue and chicken dinner, guests were treated with wedding pies! With a vintage lacy overlay and a welcoming sign, the dessert table was adorned with an eclectic mix of vintage dessert plates and teacups. So lovely!

Southern Vintage Table will be delighted to help make your wedding day special for you! Congratulations and best wishes, Julie and Wayne!

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Vintage Tips – Transforming Old into New with Chalk Paint

Many good things come to and out of thrift stores. The causes many of them support are so worthy, from local hospices to homes for the less fortunate to schools. The shoppers benefit from the low prices, the donators know their goods will bring funds to help others and the stuff finds a new purpose in someone’s home. Can you tell I love thrift stores?

One creative event a local thrift store recently sponsored was a parking lot yard sale. Folks in the community could “rent” a space for $20, bring their stuff to sell and, at the close of the morning, the remaining things get donated to the thrift store. Definitely a win-win setup!

I decided to go late to this sale in the hopes of finding the extra-special good deals, right before the trucks come through the parking lot to pick up the unsold items. When I got there I found one lady who was packing up. She told me to look for anything I’d like to have and she’d give me a good price. Yes, I thought, just how I planned! I found some very tarnished silver-plated and brass items and some assorted glassware and piled up my stuff. I’m thinking it’s going to be maybe $20. She looked at the pile. “How about $5?” Wow!

I started cleaning as soon as I got home. The glass dishes went into the dishwasher and I began to wash the metal items. The silver-plated utensils and small dish shined up nicely with a little polish but the brass was hopeless.

bucket before — Here’s a shot of the brass things on the bottom of the bucket they came in. Yuck!

That was when I decided to see if anyone had painted brass with chalk paint – bam. There it was – a once-brass-now-painted-white deer looking so clean and crisp with a coat of chalk paint.

I started painting. I had already mixed up some chalk paint with a recipe I found on the Internet. Mix 2 1/2 tablespoons Plaster of Paris with 1 1/2 tablespoons of water until there are no lumps. Add 8 oz of matte paint with primer and mix till smooth. That’s it!

plaster paint — Both of these came from Home Depot. The paint is an 8 oz sample bottle that cost less than $3!

Tried to polish this tray but this was as good as it was going to get. Time to pain! — Tried to polish this tray but this was as good as it was going to get. Time to paint!

picture stand before — This stand needed updating!

These dated wooden candle holders needed help! — Wooden and blah…

I painted all of these in one night. The next day I added a light coat of wax, buffed them up and voila!

Oh yeah, I also painted a brown briefcase and a frame. Don’t they look terrific?In a previous blog, I touted Annie Sloan paint and I still believe she’s got a great product. But, it’s very pricey. With my slim budget, this is a great alternative. So, support a thrift store and find something that’s interesting – wood, brass or even silver-plated. Mix up a batch of chalk paint and transform it!

These rescued and updated vintage items are available at Southern Vintage Table!

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A Vintage Adventure – I Love Auctions but Thrift Stores are Still My Number 1

Recently I ventured outside of the thrift store arena to attend a couple of auctions and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I got some things that you probably can’t find at a thrift store today, like a butter churn and washboard. But, for basic vintage bargains, the thrift store can’t be beat. Whether it’s one topless sugar dish, a vintage ironing board or a set of beautiful gold trimmed bar glasses, thrift stores have it all – not all at once or at every store, but that’s part of the fun – you have to go out and find it. And, you have to be a frequent visitor.

Here are some of my latest thrift store finds that have been added to the Southern Vintage Table collection.

After visiting my mom I usually stop at a thrift store closeby. On this last trip there was a set of the coolest highball glasses sitting on the shelf! They were all in perfect condition with their intricate, delicate gold trim. While I was inspecting them, the thrift store employee put out these small lovely blue vases. With the vintage glasses, vases, blue drawer, sign and decanter, the bar is open!

I found this vintage ironing board at one of the junkiest stores in town – it’s so packed you have to move furniture to get to some of the items. Needless to say, I love stopping in. This vintage wooden ironing board was sitting behind the door with a split down the middle. After some wood glue and clamping, it’s ready to be part of your vintage decor. Whether it’s a dessert table, welcoming station or drink bar, it will be charming!

At one of the thrift stores nearby, they have an outside area with bins filled with left overs from estates. Some broken, dusty and dirty, but good stuff to look through. For $2, which goes into a fund to help local folks with the upkeep of their homes, you get to fill a box. Sometimes there are also larger items nearby, which is where I found this vintage typewriter. I have to say this is one of my most favorite finds – the color, the condition and the look embodies the spirit of retro vintage.

Another favorite thrift store is close to my home and I stop in pretty often. The prices are usually very low and folks appreciate it, so if you see something you like, or even think you like, you better get it that day or it will be gone. I found this silver-plated shell dish for under $2. It was very tarnished and a bit unsightly, but I took a chance it would shine right up. It did – I almost can’t believe how beautiful it is. Looked this one up – it was made in England and valued at about $50.

This collection of items all came from various stores. I love the old tins and the two candle holders, once tarnished and encrusted with wax, now gleam. The teapot didn’t have a lid and I even found the candles on the shelf. When I think about where each of these items have been and how they ended up with me, it’s like an adventure story!

So, will I go to another auction? You bet – the energy, the variety of vintage items and the people make it very exciting. The gambling atmosphere is a little risky (at least for novices like me) but certainly fun. However, the everyday thrift store is still my favorite place to hunt. For the unexpected, and usually, very inexpensive vintage item, thrift stores are where it’s at.

All of these wonderful vintage items are here at Southern Vintage Table and we would love to share them with you at your next gathering!

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A Vintage Adventure – Oops, I Did It Again… At My Second Auction

Recently I went on a working day trip to a local auction house to check out a few items I wanted for our vintage decor collection at Southern Vintage Table. My list included a butter churn, blue mason jars, a washboard and a suitcase.

I drive into the parking lot and quickly notice there aren’t many cars. I start thinking, this is a good omen – not too much competition for the items I have come to bid on. Hah – little did I know that those items are on other folks’ lists as well as mine. Phooey…

I sign in, get my number and mosey around the place for the next 10 minutes before the auction begins. So many interesting old things – jewelry, signs, musical instruments, furniture, doo-dads, glassware, wooden boxes, magazines, books and much, much more. Some in pristine condition and others dusty, musty and soiled but definitely vintage.

I sit close to the front and, after settling in my seat, I check out the other folks nearby. A lady down the aisle starts pulling things out of her bag and I notice she’s got snacks, a drink, a book. The guy in front of me has his computer in his lap. Wow, I’m thinking, what a fun way to spend a Monday! I get my pencil and paper ready. This was lesson 1 from my first auction experience – always write down what you buy and how much you spend.

One of the early categories was cowboy stuff – nothing I was interested in so I felt pretty safe to listen and figure out the pace of the bidding. Quickly I realize that folks were holding tight to their money and starting bids were dropping low – some all the way down to $1! Somewhere in there I win a cowboy dinner bell that I didn’t know I had bid on and a signed Gene Autry photograph. After bidding $2 on Gene Autry, the auctioneer says to me, “Ma’am, we are sure glad you came today.” You can translate that anyway you want…

The blue mason jars come up and I sit up straight, thinking and hoping that folks were going to let these go low – well, no such luck. The bid gets high really fast and I have to back out. A bit later the butter churn comes up. Unfortunately, others also want it but I stay in this one and get the highest bid. Ditto with the vintage suitcase – win that, too.

The featured items come up soon after – an array of vintage musical instruments from guitars to trombones. They are lined up down the center aisle for everyone to inspect before they came up for auction. Again, starting bids are low and I just can’t resist bidding $5 for a trumpet … or two … or three…and a guitar or two…and a saxophone…and two empty banjo cases…and…

Somewhere in there, I forget to write down my items and my card is full anyway so I start getting a bit nervous about my total bill. I’m thinking that I should pay up at this point, which may be one of the best decisions I make that day. Lo and behold, it is well over my spending budget!

After loading up my loot, I decide that I better not go back in even through there were three hours left. Heading home I recount the adventure in my head and ponder what lessons I learned this time.

First, remember Lesson 1 – write down everything you win and how much you spend. Lesson 2 – bid on the items you come for and maybe pay more than you think you want to. Lesson 3 – only bid on other items if they are truly exceptional and suit your purpose, not because they are a good deal.

Now I wish I had saved some money for the blue jars and not bought those trumpets but I’m working on a vision for those, too! But, I am glad about getting the banjo cases and the vintage radio – they are perfect additions!

So, oops, I did it again by winning something I didn’t know I was bidding on, but I’m with the auctioneer, I am glad I went that day. Not only did I learn more auction lessons, but I ended up with some wonderful vintage items. These and other cool vintage decor are available at Southern Vintage Table!

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Vintage Feature – The Feel of Vintage Glassware

Armed with nearly a hundred receptors in each, your fingertips perceive your personal environment – soft or hard, cold or warm, pain or pleasure. While pain receptors help us know when we are hurt, receptors also help us feel pleasure – like when you pick up a textured vintage goblet or glass.

One distinguishing feature of many vintage patterns of glassware is texture – it can be cut or pressed glass, bumpy, or cubed. Vintage colors span the rainbow, with greens, yellows, blues, pinks, reds, and clear. There are many, many patterns and here are some of our favorites of amber, green, and blue glassware at Southern Vintage Table.

I call this crinkle glass and have seen it described as lava glass, bark, or bumpy, but two official pattern names are Milano, manufactured by Anchor Hocking, and Driftwood by Seneca. Both patterns come in varied colors and Southern Vintage Table has many in green, gold, blue, and clear. I love the way this glass feels in my hand and how the light shines through it.

Both the color and texture are noticed in these beautiful blue vintage glasses. The first pattern is Tartan by Anchor Hocking and the other goblet is Facets by Libbey/Rock Sharpe glassware. The pattern names of the two circular tumblers are unknown. Wouldn’t these all be lovely with vintage blue and white plates?

One of my favorite patterns is Whitehall Colony glassware. It’s heft and cubed texture make it just perfect to sip any cold beverage. The colors are also varied – harvest gold, amber, avocado green, light blue, emerald green, and clear.

This happy vintage pattern is called Country Garden made by Libbey/Rock Sharpe. Discontinued in the mid 1970s, this embossed flower pattern embodies the saying “flower power.”

One style of glassware that fits perfectly in your hands has a “thumbprint” indentation. Colony’s Crown pattern is one and we have this lovely glassware in green, gold, and blue. We also have goblets in green and bowls in amber.

Imperial Glass has several patterns that use the thumbprint feel. Two are Provinicial and Williamsburg. Their green and amber colors are rich and the feel of the glass is impressive.

The final set of featured goblets are our most recent additions. I found them at a thrift store and both the owner and I had never seen these! They are very substantial and unusual with the coolest feet and pedestal. The citron green goblet was manufactured by Franciscan Crystal in the 1970s and the pattern is called Madeira. I cannot find the dark green goblet with the bark-like texture but I haven’t given up just yet! It’s full of details and I’m certain I’ll eventually find out more. Any help out there identifying is welcomed!

The sparkle on the table is the glassware and vintage glassware patterns give you much more – texture, heft, deep colors, and history! These patterns and more are available at Southern Vintage Table for your guests’ pleasure and enjoyment!

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