Vintage Rental China NC Archives - Page 19 of 21

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

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.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental — Here’s a teacup that had a a chip but was too beautiful not to use on the table. So, it now has hens and biddies!

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!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – Layering with Square Vintage Plates

Square vintage plates are now high on my list of favorites here at Southern Vintage Table. Whether it’s a dinner, salad or dessert plate, glass or porcelain, the unexpected shape is a sweet surprise! They look terrific layered and also make fabulous serving dishes.

One classic vintage square plate pattern is Madrid by Federal Glass, manufactured during the early 1930s in Columbus, Ohio. This is the only Madrid dinner plate I have found on my adventures and will be a lovely serving plate for sweet treats or hors d’oeuvres.

Classic blue and white – a look we all love. This white swirl salad plate by Johnson Brothers between the two vintage blue dishes makes this place setting distinctive.

This setting features a square plate with a Godey print. The image comes from a publication called Godey’s Lady’s Book which was popular in the mid to late1800s. Here’s a link to the site, Accessible Archives, with articles from this vintage publication – very interesting material!

This final layered settings are for that high drama look. These vintage china patterns featuring gold and flowers and beautiful by themselves but layered together, wow!

Square is in – at least for vintage china place settings. They can be center stage or the backdrop pattern but two things are for certain – they will add pizzazz to your table and Southern Vintage Table is ready to help!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A Vintage Adventure – Thrifting with a Kindred Friend is Twice the Fun

I really do enjoy looking for vintage items for my business, Southern Vintage Table and actually like going solo. I don’t have to consult with anyone about where I’m going, how how many times I walk down that same aisle of china or whether I want to stop at just one more store. But, no doubt about it, it’s tons more fun when you get to share the experience with someone, especially if it’s a friend who loves thrifting as much as you!

Last Friday, Jami and I explored my favorite haunts in Burlington and Mebane. At our first stop we found some vintage wheat china and Jami’s keen eye spotted a beautiful blue and gold china pattern. At the next store Jami found a pair of Golden Wheat glasses and I mulled over whether to pay $15 for a vintage school desk. As far as the desk, I decided that I’d keep looking.

We toured a used furniture store and then went to the place where Jami would find the best deal of the day – the child’s metal school desk – for only $5. It’s perfect for displaying a bouquet of flowers, a potted plant or even a sign. I got a few other things and Jami bought her major purchase of the day – a $1 plastic container with a lid for her paints. Talk about thrifty!

Clay Street in Mebane was our last stop and after eating a late lunch, we walked through Melville’s Trading. I knew Jami would love this place and she did. It has a little bit of everything with different vendors renting spaces throughout the building. I left with a vintage file box but also with visions for future projects.

It was a great afternoon – exploring, admiring and finding treasures – with my kindred friend. Thank you, Jami!

Check out Southern Vintage Table for beautiful vintage rental china as well as unique vintage decor for your next event!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A Vintage Adventure – Vintage China, A Cup & A Business Friendship

This vintage china rental business is a perfect fit for me. I love vintage stuff – love the smell, the feel, the look, the beauty, the energy encapsulated in it, the history. I also love to go hunting for it – what a thrill when you find something interesting and imagine sharing it with others.

One day I was looking carefully at each piece I had placed in my shopping cart at a Durham thrift store and an attractive woman approached me. She commented about the array of dishes in my cart and I mentioned to her that I was looking for china for my vintage china rental business, Southern Vintage Table. We chatted a bit and she went back into the china aisle. A few more minutes later she returns with more pieces of the same pattern I had showed her. The kindness of strangers – don’t we all love that!

The next time she came back to my cart she was holding a coffee cup with “Terry” on it. It turned out to be her name.

Now, here’s the beautiful, eerie part – as she’s showing this cup to me, she’s explaining that it must be a message from the cosmos to talk with me about Southern Vintage Table. She shared that she had worked as a consultant with some prominent local companies in the area, which certainly caught my attention, My cosmic antenna was also up that day and I deeply felt this was not just a chance encounter. We exchanged names and numbers.

Our fateful meeting turned into a wonderful business collaboration for which I am very grateful. Her insight, experience and expertise helped get my business up and ready. Thank you, Terry Melville, for understanding the message in the coffee cup!

Southern Vintage Table is ready to help you with your next event – birthday, shower, anniversary, wedding reception, dinner party, tea party and any other gathering – with beautiful, interesting vintage china!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – Three Vintage China Patterns and their West Virginia Connection

As I have researched the vintage china patterns I have collected for Southern Vintage Table, I have also learned about the companies that designed them. Here are three wonderful vintage china patterns with variations of lovely pink flowers. The three patterns were produced near West Chester, West Virginia by three different pottery companies, none of which are in business today.

Rosebud Bouquet by Harker Pottery Company

I remember the first piece of Harker Pottery I found years ago when I was collecting plates to break for my mosaic projects. The pattern was teal green and had this rope design around the rim. I fell in love with it, and even though it had obvious defects, I could never bring myself to break it. Since then, I have collected more Harker pieces and still marvel at their story. Touted as the oldest pottery company in the United States, Harker Pottery started in a log cabin in 1840 in East Liverpool, Ohio. In the 1930s, it moved to Chester, West Virginia and remained in business until the early 1970s. This pattern, part of a series called Royal Gadroon, was popular during the 1940s-1950s.

Green Arbor by Continental Kilns

This lovely hand painted pattern was one of the first pieces I found for my vintage china rental business, Southern Vintage Table. I love not only the raised design but also the pink and green color combination. Continental Kilns was based in West Virginia and operated during the 1940s through the late 1950s.

Appalachian Heirloom by Taylor, Smith & Taylor

I remember the day I found a set of this china pattern at the thrift store. They were dusty, dirty and priced to sell. When I brought them home and washed them, the stunning beauty of the pattern emerged. The company, Taylor, Smith & Taylor, existed from 1899 until the early 1980s in Chester, West Virginia. I couldn’t find the date of this pattern but I believe it’s from the 1950s.

Three beautiful vintage china patterns, all produced in West Virginia by three different pottery companies, are part of our dinner table past. Pieces from each of these vintage patterns are available for your next gathering from Southern Vintage Table!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Tips – Pinterest Tip for Rearranging Pins

One of the key web tools for sharing inventory of my vintage china and accessories is Pinterest. I love this site! It’s easy to import, or pin photos, and organize them onto boards. Plus, the presentation is professional and, with great appreciation, free!

When I first started using Pinterest, I uploaded photos from my website, Southern Vintage Table, and from my computer. I wasn’t thinking of the order of my uploads because I thought I could later reorganize them on my board. As I added more photos and looked back at the board, I realized there were large clusters of the same type of photo and I wanted to mix them up a bit. When I looked up how to do this, I discovered you can’t rearrange pins within a board.

But, I found a semi-solution that helped break up the clusters. I chose a pin within the clusters and reassigned it to another board. (Click on the pencil/edit icon in the upper right of the photo. Next to the board field, scroll to find a board to temporarily pin the image.) Then I opened the new board with the moved pin at the top and re-reassigned it, pushing the pin to the top of the original board. With repinning to another board and then re-repinning to the original board, the end result is a better mix of photos and an overall more attractive board.

Using this technique, you change the order of an entire board. Just start a new empty board and repin your photos from the original board in the order you want them to appear for your viewers. Remember to think backwards with the pin you want to be seen first being the last one you move.

(FYI – Pinterest lets you easily change the order of boards. Just click on the board and drag it to the new position. Hopefully, they’ll make it just as easy to move pins!)

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •