Vintage Rental China Chapel Hill Archives - Page 2 of 2

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Tips – Three Cleaning Products for Thrift Store Vintage China (and other stuff, too!)

When I first started my vintage china collection for Southern Vintage Table, I labored over removing the stickers, tape and permanent marker prices. I would peel, scape and soak every dish to get that mark off! Now, I use three products that make cleaning thrift store vintage china a breeze!

1. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This product is fantastic – it will quickly remove the permanent ink some thrift stores use for pricing and easily takes care of sticker glue and tape residue. It also does a terrific job of cleaning the bottoms of plates and other china so that when you are finished, the plate looks almost brand new! Do be gentle with some china patterns, especially if they have gold layering. I also use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for other cleaning tasks. Today I cleaned the outside of two vintage suitcases and removed most of the scuff marks. They both look amazing all cleaned up and are now ready for my next event!

2. Eucalyptus Oil. This stuff will also remove sticky stuff on dishes. Sometimes the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser won’t get the mark off so I’ll dab some eucalyptus oil on a paper towel and wipe it off. It also smells nice and clean.

3. Very fIne sand paper. Some of the older china that’s crazed or china that’s unglazed on the bottom will soak in the permanent ink pricing. Using a very fine sand paper and lightly sanding can sometimes do the trick. Be gentle. I have also sanded down chips or sharp places on glass dishes and some china so that the imperfection is almost imperceivable.

Hope these tips work for you. If you have any other hints or advice for cleaning thrift store finds, please share!

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A Vintage Adventure – Sold to Number 268!

The seemingly small place was packed – with stuff, people and lots of chairs. I signed in and then made my way up to the front to take a look at the box lots. The items I came for were listed to go first so I wanted to make sure I was ready. I sat down, listened and absorbed all the sounds and sights of the auction house. A gentleman sat next to me in a chair that was marked with his name – definitely someone who knew what he was doing – and I would be quickly thankful he did.

My hats came up. I raised my card with the number 268 but the auctioneer didn’t see me at first. Some of the folks at the front got worried for me so they let him know I was there. The rest was a bit of a blur, but I did end up winning the bid. I wish I had a picture of my face when he said, “Sold to 268”. I bet it was hilarious! My friend then advised me to let them take the stuff to the side room so I could pick it up when I was ready to leave. Good advice.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental — Classic red and black with a little veil

He then showed me on the ticket where you could keep track of the items you won. He said it helped him keep from overspending his budget. Yep – more good advice. My hands were shaking as I wrote down my first auction win.

I was a quick learner and started bidding on the other items I had seen in the box lots. The pace is fast and you’ve got to have quick reactions. I was so quick that I ended up with something I didn’t mean to win – don’t know how that happened – but I was thankful it was only $7.50. I also learned that you don’t go back in the room to pick up your stuff but you have to wait outside the door – that lesson came a bit harshly but the lady brought my stuff to me with a somewhat apologetic face.

In addition to the hats, I also got a box lot of miscellaneous china and glassware – well worth my $5 bid, a chair – which I didn’t mean to win, and a $5 wrought iron aquarium stand that I’m going to turn into something cool.

I decided to leave before the big ticket items came up. Baby steps, I thought. It was my first auction, and undoubtedly, won’t be my last. As I was leaving with my arms full of hat boxes, another gentleman said to me, “I could see you were having a good time in there!” He must have seen my face…

These hats, plates, bowls and cups are available for your next tea party or family dinner at Southern Vintage Table!

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A Southern Vintage Table Event: A Family Dinner

The Riley’s celebrated Jamie’s life with his family at their home with his favorite meal.

Jamie was a dear friend of my sister’s husband. They had been best pals ever since they were toddlers and had remained friends through their teenage years and adulthood. They were at each other’s weddings, coached their sons’ baseball’s teams together and played golf on weekends. When Phil heard that Jamie had passed away one morning, it was a life changing moment.

In a flurry, Jamie’s boys were coming home with their families and arrangements had to be made. My sister wanted to pay tribute to her husband’s best friend and his family in a way only she could do – prepare her home styled meal she had made for Jamie every time he came for dinner. The menu was meatloaf, pinto beans, squash and biscuits. She asked me to set the table for her special guests which I really wanted to do, especially for Marie. You see, Marie, the mother of Jamie’s three boys, helped our family through our most challenging months when my twin brother passed away last year. As a masseuse, Reiki master and family friend, Marie’s healing methods helped all of us cope, including my brother, Mike. We will always be grateful for her calming guidance and spirituality.

Sharon prepared the meal, rented the tables and chairs and we set the table for her guests. This evening will be forever remembered by Jamie’s family as a time of deep sadness yet also of beauty and love, as their family begins their path to healing after losing someone they all dearly loved.

A Southern Vintage Table Event: RSVP Events’ Office Luncheon

RSVP Events invited Mary from CE Rental to meet with them at their country office in rural Orange County. Southern Vintage Table set the table and Saladelia Cafe provided the delicious assortment of salads and desserts. Many ideas were explored and discussed as the two businesses strengthened their connections.

A beautiful table can open up the table conversation!

Whether you are meeting a new client, celebrating a colleague’s accomplishment or brainstorming ideas for your next project, let Southern Vintage Table set your table for a productive working luncheon. Good food, a beautiful table and the shared experience will spawn positive synergy and build strong business relationships!

A Vintage Adventure – A Collection Builds One Piece at a Time

It was our annual beach trip to Louise’s condo and all the yayas (Jami, Louise, Mary, Pat and me) were coming except for Cis, who was caring for her mother. (Cis, we missed you!) This tradition is something we all look forward to each summer – hanging out with each other, cooking a seafood feast, talking school talk, watching a movie and sometimes even going on the beach. For this trip, Jami and I added another diversion – thrift store hopping – although a few of the stores were anything but thrift, but they did have some beautiful vintage things that inspired us.

Our first stop was incredible – it was like a huge, dusty museum of vintageness. Most things didn’t have a price and were covered by a thick coat of dust and grime. The aisles were tight, the shelves were high and the piles were deep. In other words, perfect – well, almost. The dust did get a bit obnoxious.

We were there for nearly 3 hours – looking mostly for china but marveling at all the cool stuff there, too. Jami was on the hunt for the perfect tureen for her succulent garden. We took our finds up to the front counter and quickly a pile was started. In our collection were plates, teacups, glasses, a hat and a tureen without a lid. (Oops – that’s what happens when your hands are full and you have to move 10 things before you can get to what you wanted to see. They weren’t going to make us pay for the lid but Jami got the bottom for $2 which was the best deal we got!)

In the end, I got a few things, including some pink rimmed luncheon plates and two glasses.

So, I started two collections (green thumbnail tumbler which goes perfectly with the amber ones I already had and the square luncheon plates) and added to my Big Top Peanut Butter goblet collection. A fruitful adventure, indeed!

These treasures are available at Southern Vintage Table for your next gathering!

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News! News! News!

August, 2013 New Vintage Decor Board added on Pinterest

We have just added a new board to Pinterest featuring Vintage Decor items to enhance your vintage gathering. From vintage purses to a distressed hat rack to a vintage radio, we have lovely items that will get the conversation started!

June, 2013 – Southern Vintage Table is now on Facebook and Pinterest!
We now have a presence on Facebook and Pinterest! Visit us there for more information and photos. Comments and “Likes” will be greatly appreciated!

Southern Vintage Table Facebook Page

Southern Vintage Table Pinterest Boards

A Vintage Adventure – The Vintage Treasure I Almost Missed

I love to go to the thrift stores. It’s a modern day treasure hunt – you never know what might be there. Routinely I look for wares for my business, Southern Vintage Table, and I have gotten pretty savvy over time as to what’s vintage and what’s not.

Well, one day I saw a collection of pretty dishes. The gold details were prefect and the flowers looked hand painted, but to me, the pattern just didn’t have that “vintage” look. I must have studied them for some time, trying to figure out what to do. My collection was growing and I wanted to be smart with each and every investment. In the end, something told me to pick up a few pieces, just in case, because they won’t be there tomorrow if I changed my mind.

I chose a set of 4 plates, cups, saucers as well as the creamer and sugar dish. When I got home and unpacked them, I looked them up on the internet. Of course, you know the end of the story – they became my oldest pattern in my collection, discontinued circa 1918, according to a major tableware replacements company.

After doing a bit more research, the pattern, Azalea by Noritake, was also a give-away by the Larken Company for buying and selling their products. I also see some conflicting information about the pattern being produced through the 1930s. But, no matter, it’s vintage and beautiful!

I went back to the thrift store the next day to pick up the remaining pieces, but all were gone. Needless to say, that’s the tricky part of thrift store buying that many of us know and love.

Lesson learned that day for me – I’ve got alot more to learn!

This beautiful pattern is available at Southern Vintage Table!

Southern Vintage Table Event: Stock-the-Bar Wedding Shower

Kelsey’s and Joe’s themed Stock-the-Bar wedding shower was a huge success! For the beautiful brunch buffet and dessert table, Southern Vintage Table featured our elegant vintage collection. Our mixed and matched vintage dishes and platters were stacked high with mounds of homemade sweet potato biscuits of ham and turkey along with two warm quiches. The fresh fruit salad looked delicious in the milk glass compote and milk glass footed bowl. Smaller compotes were available for guests to fill with the fresh fruit.

We added the perfect touch to the lovely vintage table scape with quaint doilies, table runners, and fresh flower bouquets in green and milk glass vases.

The vintage stoneware china was great with the four flavors of wings, cheese and crackers, and beer at the kitchen counter station. Guests loved this collection, especially the vintage green and gold glassware.

The yummy desserts were displayed on a cupcake tower with extras placed on a beautiful vintage platter. Mixed and matched tea cups were ready for coffee or tea to help finish off a fun family gathering honoring Kelsey and Joe. Here’s an interesting china story that came up: One of Kelsey’s relatives shared that one of the china patterns on the dessert table came free with a box of detergent. Now, that’s pretty cool!

See more images from Kelsey’s and Joe’s shower on our Facebook page. Special thanks to Scott Faber Photography for these beautiful photos!)

Kelsey and Joe! — Kelsey and Joe sipping from vintage amber goblets!

Southern Vintage Table would love to talk to you about your next affair!

A Vintage Adventure – On the Road to an Estate Sale Looking for Vintage Hats

Lately we’ve been looking for vintage hats to go with the vintage gloves collection for Southern Vintage Table. (By the way, we now have a great assortment of gloves including red, pink, brown, black, blue, yellow, white and off-white. They are precious!) We figured that to complete the authentic vintage look, we needed some chic hats as well! As I searched online, I came across an estate sale listing nearby. One of the pictures showed a bed full of ladies hats. I knew I had to go.

As soon as I arrived after driving an hour, I went straight upstairs to find that bed. There they were – a treasure trove of vintage hats. As I inspected each and every one, I tried to channel the previous owner, Mrs. Turner. I imagined what she might have been like, why she choose to buy each of these hats, where she went wearing them and how beautiful she must have looked. As people came passing through that bedroom, looking at the furniture and the other stuff, I was deep in thought, studying these very personal and revealing items of Mrs. Turner.

I selected 6 – one covered in feathers, a blue one covered with beads, one with a big orange bow, a orange one with a veil, a pink hat with lots of netting and a gray felt hat with a big feather. I love every one of them and you will, too!

Honor Mrs. Turner by booking a tea party or shower package with Southern Vintage Table – gloves and hats are included! Be sure to check out more of our vintage hats and gloves on our Pinterest boards!

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New Additions…Well, not all are new, but we have added some new ones because we love doilies!

Doilies – those delicately crocheted thingies you saw on everything at your mother’s or grandmother’s home – on the back of the couch, the kitchen table, the entrance hall table, the coffee table, the dressing table, the arms on the chairs – all sizes – all colors but mostly white or off white – shaped like circles, stars, ovals, squares, triangles, rectangles, flowers. Well, no matter how big, what color or shape, I love them, all of them.

Southern Vintage China Vintage Rental China NC — The pink doily is the perfect compliment to the pinkish teapot,

I’ve never met a doily I didn’t appreciate, especially when you can imagine a lovely woman, sitting in her comfortable chair, thinking about all the wonderful people in her life and trying to solve all the problems of the world. I recently was talking to my brother-in-law, Phil, about doilies. He was at an event we were setting up for and picked one up at the table. He told us that he fondly remembers his grandmama Lillian Earl crocheting doilies with tobacco twine. Although he doesn’t have a doily of hers, he does have a beautiful crocheted blanket she gave him when he and my sister got married. What a treasure!

(This doily is particularly special to me. It was once in a frame in my daughter’s room when she was just a baby. She’s now in her mid-twenties.)

Southern Vintage Table has an extensive collection of doilies and adding to them all the time, because, as I confessed, I love them! There’s pure love in a doily and they always are ready to showcase anything you put on the table for the people you love. More of our doilies have been pinned on our Pinterest Board.

Here’s a clever article I found on the web about doilies!