katyelliott.com » vintage finds

Recent Finds: Wardian Case, Camel Back Sofa, and Stool

Katy Elliott — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:18:07 +0000

I had a major score moment this weekend! I found a glass terrarium (Wardian case) with a stand at Grace Sales in Marblehead for $85. I’ve spotted them at fleamarkets before but they were usually rusted, had broken glass or newer versions that used plastic rather then glass for the walls. When I was in Brimfield this spring with the design*sponge team we saw a few but they were really pricey ranging from $500-$800, yikes!

Below a photo of the terrarium showing how the top open ups. Update: I filled the case with beautiful ferns and mosses. See here: An Antique Terrarium For My House.

Below a camel back sofa my mom gifted to me. The sofa is for our first floor living room which we haven’t even starting renovating. She’s renovating her house and needed to get rid of it. I’m thinking of reupholstering it in a ticking stripe (my inspiration photo here) or maybe a simple menswear plaid wool?

At the very bottom a stool I also picked up at Grace Sales over the weekend too. I don’t know what I am really going to do with it but I liked the lines and it was a great shape for the price. For now it will probably become a little side table.

Grace Sales Co.
185 Pleasant Street
Marblehead, MA
781.631.0046

New Find! Blanket Chest

Katy Elliott — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:08:08 +0000

I really haven’t bought any furniture since we bought the house. I’m trying to keep the rooms clear so it’s easier to renovate. But when I do find pieces that I like and can afford I’m starting to pick them up. I spotted this piece at my friend Katherine’s letterpress studio in Marblehead. The box came from her mom who is an amazing collector—you would die with envy if you saw all the amazing antiques Katherine has in her house.

Katherine’s mom says it’s a Blanket Chest. The small box inside the chest is where the deed was kept. We found some writing inscribed on an inside panel. I’m not quite sure what it actually says but it was so cool to find. Maybe a love note?

I’m not sure where I’ll put the piece but it would be great as an extra table in my living room or at the end of my bed. Now I finally have storage for my wool blanket obsession.

New Finds: Table, Marble Bowl, and Oil Painting
New Find! Vintage Steele Canvas Basket
Antique Seth Thomas Mantel Clock

Brimfield 2010

Katy Elliott — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:30:31 +0000

I’m back from Brimfield, tired, not broke and a little sunburned. Overall feel? Eh, I didn’t find anything amazing that I needed. Well expect for an old watering can, kinda lame but it’s perfect. Maybe I’ve gotten picker? I did check out a lot of tilt top candlestick tables, chairs and beds. But honestly I thought everything was too pricey and nothing was really outstanding. I am looking for more and better examples of early american furniture in beautiful cherry or maple wood.

I had a lot of fun looking. I met up with the ladies of design*sponge. Check out a cute photo of Amy Merrick, Amy Azzarito and Grace Bonney below. And I bumped into fellow boston twitter friend and blogger Julieann of CreateGirl. Having some girltime was the best part.

I think auctions might be a better bet for me. Leave me a comment if you know of any good ones coming up in New England.

p.s. see a photo of me and the girls over at d*s including some of Grace and Amy’s finds.

Upcoming Antique Shows in New England

Katy Elliott — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:00:52 +0000

On Sunday I went took a very early drive up to Todd Farm in Rowley. I scored a few vintage textile pieces. Textiles are my weakness. I can’t help but imagine them as beautiful pillows, runners and napkins. Below a list of antique shows and flea markets in New England starting in May. Would you like to add one to the list? Send me an e-mail or leave a comment.

Sage Farm Antiques
Monthly antique show on the grounds of a 1780 colonial
May 7-9
North Hampton, New Hampshire
sagefarmantiques.com

Vintage Fashion and Textile Show
Collector quality textiles and vintage clothing
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
May 10
vintagefashionandtextileshow.com

Brimfield Antique Show
Thousands of dealers at one of the largest flea markets in the world
May 11-16
Brimfield, Massachusetts
brimfieldshow.com

Trade Secrets
Event features rare plants and garden antiques including garden tours
Sharon, Connecticut
May 15-16
tradesecretsct.com

Rhinebeck Antiques Fair
Focus on American Antiques
May 29-30
Rhinebeck, New York
rhinebeckantiquesfair.com

Todd Farm Antiques & Flea Market
240 vendors from around New England
Every Sunday through November
Rowley, Massachusetts
toddfarm.com

For a full list of antique shows around the country visit antiquesandthearts.com to download the 2010 list of events.

Farmer’s Diner & Antique Mall

Katy Elliott — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:42:17 +0000

One last post about my Vermont weekend. Sunday morning it was still freezing cold. I had planned for us to go snowshoeing but I was being a baby—8 degrees at 10 am is just too cold to be outside. We headed over to The Farmer’s Diner for breakfast. I was totally impressed with their homemade english muffins. I would love to try making my own.

Next to the diner is a Cabot cheese store and Antique mall. I sampled a few cheeses but it was hard to get them down because I was so stuffed from breakfast. Greg kept telling how disgusting I was for even trying to fit anything else in my belly. But it was cheese and I love cheese. We poked through the hundreds of booths admiring all the treasures. I was amazed how patient Greg was being. I didn’t really find anything I needed but I did snap a few photos. So many perfect still-life compositions.

The Farmer’s Diner
Quechee Gorge Village
5573 Woodstock Rd. RT 4
Quechee, VT

The Vermont Antique Mall
Quechee Gorge Village
5573 Woodstock Rd. RT 4
Quechee, VT

Sage Farm Antiques

Katy Elliott — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Greg and went up to New Hampshire yesterday afternoon. We stopped by Sage Farm Antiques to check out their monthly 3-day antique market. I got the tip off about the market from some local Marbleheaders. I picked up a vintage embroidery and an old wood mirror. The embroidery is my favorite. I hung it above the bed in the guest room. The prices were super reasonable. I had a hard time resisting their large collection of small wooden tables and vintage plaid blankets. The next 3-day market is in early December 2009. I can’t wait to go again.

Sage Farm Antiques
5 Exeter Road (Rt 111)
North Hampton, NH
603-964-3690
sagefarmantiques.com

York, Maine: Withington Antiques

Katy Elliott — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:36:00 +0000

On our drive up to Portland, Maine we stopped at Withington Antiques in York. I found the store via Martha Stewart’s blog. The store carries a range of European antiques and garden ornaments. I’ve been on a marble kick the last few months so I was pretty excited about the store’s large collection of marble accented pieces. The prices were reasonable but where geared toward a higher end buyer. I would have bought the marble topped console below if it had been a few inches longer. Greg loved the marble faux bois garden stands found in front of the store. A fun place to stop and explore interesting and unusual pieces. The shops is right off the highway at exit 7 just north of Kittery, Maine.

Withington Antiques
611 Us Route 1
York, Maine
(207) 363-1155

Vintage Marble Sink Top

Katy Elliott — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:44:00 +0000

The last few weeks we’ve been working on our first bathroom renovation. We’ve purchased a drain kit, carrara marble 1″ hex tiles for the floor, subway tiles for bathroom stall, and now a marble top sink! I found the sink at Old House Parts in Kennebunk, Maine over the weekend. I got it on sale for $400. We need to decide if we want to build a vanity for the top or use metal legs? Closet space is non existent in the house so a vanity seems like a smart option. Greg likes the metal legs. Below the tiles I choose for the floor.

Wiscasset Cottage Antiques

Katy Elliott — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:59:00 +0000

Wiscasset is a coastal village famous for it’s antique stores. Stores are curated nicely representing folk art and early American style furniture. I checked out a few shops and took a few photos at Wiscasset Cottage Antiques. Sometimes looking and taking photos is a hard thing to juggle. Smaller pieces were affordable with a New England flair. The main cottage is decorated with folk art (I wanted them all!) and interesting objects like trunks and wood boxes. Walk back to a smaller cottage to find stacks of rugs, wooden model boats, and decoys. A few pictures from inside the shop above and below.

Wiscasset Cottage Antiques
16 Middle Street
Wiscasset, Maine
(207) 380-2605

Wiscasset, Maine: Elliott Healy Books & Prints

Katy Elliott — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:02:00 +0000

I think the main reason I went into this shop in Wiscasset was because it shared my last name. It’s not that often you come across another Elliott with two t’s! The store situated off just off the main Rt 1 drag is filled to the brim with antique children’s books. In the back corner of the store are a few maps and prints.

You’ll find books shops like this all over Maine. I remember even more as a kid. Most the prints you’ll find were removed from old books and are now sold individually. I have dreams of finding an undiscovered book still bound and filled with etchings. Probably won’t happen… Botanical prints will run you $25-$100 each. I had to resist buying a few because I’m trying to limit my spending till I’m really ready to decorate. Cute store and helpful staff.

Elliott Healy Books & Prints
53 Middle Street
Wiscasset, ME
207-882-5446