Thingy Thursday: My Collections

To kick off the first "Thingy Thursday" I will begin with my own personal collections.  If this is your first time to the Vintage Laundress blog, "Thingy Thursday"  is a new weekly post that will serve as a vehicle to showcase collectors and the "thingies" they collect.  The plan is to begin with my own personal collections today, followed by Lynn Goldfinger-Abram of Paris Hotel Bouique next Thursday, with many others to follow.

But before we begin, I would like to preface the following information by stating the fact that owning a vintage business is just slightly less expensive than being addicted to crack.  And besides that, you can get the same physical appearance without all the drug use.  It is important to note that when I go thrifting for pieces to add to my collections, my attire and personal appearance makes the following statement, "When I'm not in prison, I enjoy a day of looking homeless."  This lack of attention to my appearance is not really integral to good treasure-hunting, so, I would just like to apologize in advance, in case you happen upon me at a thrift store, a garage sale or estate sale.  Also important to note is that the "wide-eyed-crazy-cat-lady-half-a-second-away-from-taking-hostages" look on my face is harmless - I will not hurt or maim you - it's just the adrenaline and excitement of the hunt.

Okay, so here we go . . . .

What was your first collection?

My first true collection began about ten years ago with vintage printed textiles.  I began collecting printed tablecloths from the 40s, 50s and 60s because the graphic quality of the geometric designs and the simple classic beauty of the florals appealed to the graphic designer and illustrator in me.  For years , I've fooled myself into believing that I could quit collecting vintage textiles whenever I wanted. I promote the myth that I am in control. Even as my burgeoning collection of linens colonizes on the lounge, the dining table, my desk, and every inch of space in both my linen closet and coat closet, I refuse to admit I have a problem - it's for my business, I keep rationalizing. I feel a little bit like Markie Post or Meredith Baxter Birney in one of those Lifetime movies about the perils of addiction - "Unraveled: The LeAnn Stephenson Story"- in which I rob from the kids chore money fund and pawn my pancreas to get one more shopping fix.  I'm fortunate that my husband, Scott, went selectively blind and deaf approximately 24 hours after we said our "I dos." He has never complained about the piles of linens that litter our home and, as a matter of fact, he helps me add to them now.  Da Hubbs has also brainwashed our children, Olivia and Noah, into thinking that their mother is 'adorably eccentric', as he puts it.  I think that makes them all enablers - don'cha think?!

How did this collections come about?

When we first moved to Austin, we immediately discovered the City Wide Garage Sale.  It is a flea market slash antique show slash junker's haven held on a monthly basis.  Da Hubbs, the kids, and I began attending regularly as customers, until one month I decided to participate as a dealer.  Being held captive in a place with a that marvelous vintage stuff and da Hubbs there to sit my own personal booth made it very easy to quickly find a favorite booth.  My dear friend Michael, owner of Ahab Bowen, a marvelous vintage clothing shop in Dallas, Texas, comes and sets up at City Wide with tables and tables of vintage linens, scarves, clothing, aprons, etc.  This is where I discovered vintage printed tablecloths and the rest as they say, is history.

How many vintage printed tablecloths do you have?

Too many!  I'm seriously afraid to count.

Do you use, display or store them?

I use my linens everyday, especially the napkins. My collection of vintage white Damask tablecloths are used as curtain panels for my windows.  My damaged printed tablecloths are re-purposed into fabric for my line of Vintage Laundry Originals like aprons and pillows and such.

What is the most you've paid for a vintage printed tablecloth?

I'm extraordinarily cheap - I've probably never paid more than $8 or $10 dollars for a tablecloth.

What is the least you've paid for a vintage printed tablecloth?

There are times that I purchase large lots of linens, making each piece cost me only a few pennies.

What is your favorite vintage printed tablecloth?

This is akin to asking a mother which of her children is her favorite - I simply cannot choose, I'm afraid.

Any tips for collecting vintage printed tablecloth?

Don't let stains frighten you away from purchasing vintage textiles - holes, yes - stains, no.  I use a mixture of Oxy Clean and either Dawn dish soap or Era laundry detergent and let the linens soak to remove the stains.  There is a product called Wink Rust Remover that I have a lot of success with for rust - another thing that works on rust is lemon juice and salt on the rust and then place the cloth out in the sun.  Use peroxide for blood stains and hair spray for ink stains.

What other collections are you building?

It might make a shorter reply to cite the things that I don’t collect. However, I try to focus on vintage textiles.  I have a huge girl-crush on Vera Neumann, vintage chandeliers, vintage clothing and lingerie (1940s -1970s), vintage aprons, vintage handkerchiefs, and those great brightly-tinted Christmas ornaments.

Would you sell or pass on your collections?

Absolutely, I sell lots of my collections on my Etsy site.

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Want It Wednesdays: Emerald City

Photos courtesy Shrimpton Couture, 1stdibs, 20th Century Interiors, Ebay and Camelot Glass and Collectibles

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The Great Retro Redo Snafoo of 2010

I've been told by trained professionals that my digital point and shoot camera is about to be sucked into "old, crappy, on-their-last-leg camera hell."  "See that right there?" one of 'em said, pointing to the silver duct tape holding it together.  "That there's just tragic."

Evidently, duct tape is the international indicator that it's time for a new camera - Who knew?

My camera made a kinda wounded-R2D2 sound followed by what I swear was a backfire noise and crumbled out of my hand onto the floor.  So, in short, this event, "The Great Retro Redo Snafoo of 2010," kinda makes showing you my most recent redo photos completely impossible.

So, instead, I have decided to go with a shameless plug for my Etsy site and would like to show you some photos of the new stuff I listed yesterday.  Go check them out here and here and see what you think.

See you tomorrow with a new Want It Wednesdays.

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The Laundry List

Thingy Thursday

I admit freely, easily, even, to anyone who asks: I'm a collector slash hoarder slash "if-you-don't-want-it-I'll-take-it" kinda chick.  If someone put it in a garage sale, I bought.  If someone trashed it, I dumpster dived it.  There is not a minimalist bone in my body.  I come by this green-recycler-obsessive-compulsive behavior, not because I abhor overflowing landfills (which I do,) but because I'm neurotic - and I'm only sorta kidding here.

So, to make myself feel better about all that, I've decided to add a new weekly post to the blog beginning in May.  It will be called "Thingy Thursday" and as the name suggests, it will serve as a vehicle to showcase collectors and the "thingies" they collect.  The plan is to begin with my own personal collections next Thursday, followed by Lynn Goldfinger-Abram of Paris Boutique Hotel, Stan Williams, author of The Find (aka The Elegant Thrifter) on the following Thursdays.  Others that have agreed to share their "thingys" are Victoria Smith of sfgirlbybay, Diana Durkes of Fine Diving Chicago and Jessica Enig of Such Pretty Things.

If you would like to play and show off your "thingies", just email me and I can send you the profile questions. 

See you next Thursday!

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Want It Wednesdays: Citizen Cane

Photos courtesy 1stdibs, The Antique and Artisan Center, vandm.com, L.A. Goods, WorthPoint

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Olivia's Mad Hatter Half Birthday Tea Party

I'd like to begin this post with a story about my aunt, my mom and my daughter, Olivia.  Olivia has many fans, her great aunt and grandmother being two with the title of "The Biggest."  One is her NanNan, a 68-year-old connoisseur of all things luxurious with whom she shares a passion for haute couture, poetry and Rod Stewart.  The other is her Grandmommy, a 78-year-old giver of hugs and kisses with whom she shares the love of baking, good family stories and Gone With the Wind . . . . other than her brother, Liv would rather be with NanNan and Grandmommy more than pretty much any two people in the world, including me.

The result of this bond results in lots of wonderful gifts and experiences being given to both of my babies - the most recent of these being a "Mad Hatter Half Birthday Party" at the Tea Embassy here in Austin thrown by Olivia's NanNan and Grandmommy.  Along with our marvelous teas, we had delicious morsels to nosh on from Austin Catering.  And as you might expect, since I'm the Mommy, I reaped the benefits of their generosity and I would like to share some photos of our time - I hope you enjoy and get all inspired and junk! 

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The Laundry List

Image courtesy lifehack.org



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Want It Wednesdays: Gilt (y) As Charged

Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Cupboards and Roses Swedish Antiques, One of a Kind Antiques, vandm.com and Jones & Cole MJH Design Arts

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Our Man Stan Is At It Again

My house does not have an official mudroom.

You could, however, call the space just inside and to the left of my front door a muddy mess.  I am not sure when or why we appointed this little 3' x 3' space as the designated place to remove shoes, drop all belongings, and act as if we have a mudroom, but we did, and it is.  This area, our "muddy mess," is the bane of my existence.  But, as fate would have it, our man Stan, author of The Find, has come to save the day with a great piece he has produced about none other than, you guessed it, mudrooms for This Old House.  For more marvelous info and photos check it out here.

Photos courtesy This Old House and Helen Norman

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Want It Wednesdays: Just My Type

Photos courtesy The Old Cinema, vandm.com, East Market Street Antiques Sandra Mackintosh, and The Old Cinema

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86,400 Seconds Times Two

There is this song by Kris Allen that has lyrics that suggest that since there are only 86,400 seconds in a day we should make every second count and live like we're dying.  Nobody is dying, I just have some family business that needs my attention.  

I'll be back with a Want It Wednesdays in 172,800 seconds.

See ya Wednesday!

Image courtesy Jeff Canham

When LeAnn Met Mr. Holmes

I have two words for this past week - OY VEY!!!

I've been washing, ironing, pressing, painting and upholstering everything that doesn't move out of my way - such a glamorous life I lead, I know!  Da Hubbs and I leave today for the spring Antiques Week in Round Top, Texas.  I'm not ready - not gonna be ready - never ready -  I've been contemplating faking some sort of psychosomatic episode - one of those curl up in bed and suck my thumb and rub my blanky against my cheek, kinda deals.  But, alas - the junkers and antique-ers call, so I must press forward . . . .  Get it, "press" - I slay me!

So, instead of continuing the "Yikes -I'm-freakin'-out-cuz-I'm-a-chronic-procrastinator-dance," I have a story . . . .

Ready?

Last week I made a new friend.  I elected to change her name in this story for various reasons.  This is mainly out of respect for the fact that most people don't make new acquaintances in order to appear later in a blog post.  I've made only one exception to this self-imposed policy of anonymity.  Mr. Holmes really is named Mr. Holmes.  I wanted to use his real name because it is integral to the story.

This friendship was formed during . . . . Wait for it . . . . . . BINGO NIGHT!!! . . .  I new it was only a matter of time before I was wheeled down to the senior center to play "the bingo", but I suspected I had a few more years before this happened.  I've decided to call my new friend Jo Betsy Greenberg - she's one of those lilting southern ladies - only with quite a colorful vocabulary and a really quirky sense of humor.

Any-who, we arrived at BINGO NIGHT and were being taken around to meet the other folks at the party.  Within a matter of seconds, she was there - her hand held out and ready to shake.  She introduced herself as Jo Betsy Greenberg and then said, "My husband's the Jew - I just converted for the jokes." 

You love her yet, or what?  Wait, it gets better . . .

She, motions toward the sofa where her little yip-yip dog is perched and says, "That little horn-bone over there is Mr. Holmes."  I didn't get it until later, when it hit me that she was referring to John Holmes, the 1970s porn star.  It hit because Mr. Holmes proceeded to sexually assault my left leg for the next 30 minutes.  Finally, Jo Betsy said, "Just fake an orgasm and he'll quit."  So, I did - all Meg Ryan-like from When Harry Met Sally fame and he stopped and went over to his little dog bed and shot me "call me later" glances, punctuated occasionally by little squeaking noises that sounded like air being released from a balloon little by little, to which Jo Betsy would say, "Poor Mr. Holmes - he's got "the gas."  By the end of the evening, the air in her apartment was visible and smelled of rotten eggs, dead body and a tinge of Ben-Gay, which dilated ye old olfactory nerve, making the stench summon tears and my gag reflex repeatedly!

Okay, so that was gross, but I had to share and continue my lot in life as the "Too Much Information Giver." 

So, now I must be off to Round Top for the next 8 days to sell some vintage goodies - so wish me luck!  Keep checking in though, cuz I'll occasionally post updates, pics and more stories.  And unlike Vegas - What happens in Round Top does not necessarily stay in Round Top!

If you are planning on attending Antiques Week this spring, I would love it if you would come by and see me at my spaces at Vickie Davis' wonderful venue, The Texas Rose Antiques Show, located across from Marburger Farms, 2075 South State Highway 237.  You can find directions here.  The show begins Saturday, March 27th, and runs through Saturday, April 3, 2010.

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Blog It forward: Inspiration

Thanks to The Sweetest Occasion for passing the baton on to me during the Blog It Forward - made possible by Victoria from sfgirlbybay - Thanks so much!  And on Tuesday the blogger mash up  continues with The Wandering Writer.

I have many sources of inspiration that might give insight into the way I work. My passions are many and various: from art, music and books to flowers and gardening to family and friends. So here is what inspires me:

COLOR

PATTERN

Along with Vera,  Tricia Guild and Florence Broadhurst provide constant inspiration.

 PRINTED TEXTILES

STORIES 

Sites and podcasts like Selected Shorts, The Moth, and The New Yorker Fiction Podcasts

MY GENE POOL

FUNNY PEOPLE

As Erma Bombeck said, "If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it."

Photos courtesy Erma Bombeck, Haven Kimmel, Sloane Crosley, David Sedaris, Amy Sedaris, and  Simon Rich.  Logos courtesy Selected Shorts, The Moth, and The New Yorker Fiction Podcasts.

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Girl Friday: Carmen Natschke

I'm all flush and the room is kinda spin-y because the marvelous Carmen Natschke has profiled The Vintage Laundry on her blog called The Decorating Diva.  The series is called Inspired by Home Decor Store Design and can be found here.

Natschke is an award winning designer and co-founder of Room In A Kit and The Decorating Diva online magazine. She has received many accolades for her outstanding retail design and merchandising skills and her design and trend forecasting expertise is sought by many industry giants, which makes this profile of The Vintage Laundry all the more flattering. 

Carmen thanks you so much for this lovely feature and a long over due thanks for an earlier listing of my Want It Wednesdays blog posts in your Best of the Web Series.

Logo courtesy Decorating Diva

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City Wide Garage Sale This Weekend!

This week I've been painting, upholstering and washing myself into a full fledged frenzy preparing for this weekend's (March 13th and 14th) City Wide Garage Sale at Palmer Events Center here in Austin. My booth is #217 near the red skirted info desk. There is a $7 charge to park in the garage or there is a free parking lot at One Texas Center on the Southwest corner of So First and Barton Springs, as well.

Saturday morning between 8:30am -10am City Wide offers early shopper passes for $10 each.  This allows those who choose to have early access to the show and get first dibs on vendors merchandise before the general admission customers enter at 10am.

I hope you get a chance to come and see me, cuz I have some really marvelous goodies this show!

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Want It Wednesdays: Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana

 Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Swank Lighting, Lavish Home and Found for The Home

So, That Happened

The other day I was sitting on the sofa with my leg slung over the arm simultaneously watching NCIS, flippin' through my new Coastal Living Magazine, and munchin' on some Bugles - multi-tasking equals power, people!  The Bugles that I hadn't eaten yet were perched on the tips of my fingers posing as Lee Press-on Nails, when, all of sudden, like out of nowhere comes da Hubbs and little did I know, but I was about to have one of those, "I -love-you-you-are-perfect-now-change" conversations.

Da Hubbs walks in and sits on the floor beside the couch and says, "I'm gonna do some sit ups . . . . You want to join me?"  I said, "No," and continued, "I have crossed and uncrossed my legs several times this afternoon and I'm pretty sure that move is classified as an intermediate to advanced yoga workout . . . . it's true, I heard it on Oprah!"  "U-huh . . ."  he grunted.  Then, I followed with, "I'm doing my Kegel exercises right now anyway."  "Kegel exercises?" he questioned. "Yeah, you know I'm flexing my pelvic muscles . . . . Like internally like . . . . .  Its supposed to strengthen my core,"  I said, as I ran my Bugle adorned fingers over my stomach region.  The Hubbs kinda shot me a sideways kinda look and said, "Okay, well it doesn't look like you're doing anything but having a snack.  "That's the beauty of this particular exercise," I shot back, "you can do them anywhere, without anyone knowing!"  So every time he looked over at me, while he was counting out his sit-ups, I would kinda scrunch up my face and tilt my head heaven-ward and squeeze my right eye shut to imitate physical exertion.  To be honest, I mostly just looked like a was about to sneeze or like a bee had flown up my nose - either that or like I was constipated and needed some of that yogurt that Jamie Lee Curtis eats.

I felt like I had escaped the "Fitness Forest" unscathed and could breathe easy. But I was wrong, because 20 minutes later he decided to go for a jog and invited me along.  I had to go this time cuz when he asked me I was caught in the act of polishing off a Haagen-Dazs Bar.  As we ran, I was trying to keep up and look all in shape and junk, when I got a huge stitch in my side and had to come to a screeching halt on the trail.  The Hubbs started jogging in place while trying to encourage me to push through it and continue.  What I wanted to say was, "Listen up, Triscuit, I'm fairly sure I dropped my uterus back there, and all this sweating is making my mid-life acne worse, not to mention that, at this precise, moment my underwear is wedged up somewhere close to my cerebellum - so back off!!"  What I did do was a little different - all that I really could think to do at that moment was throw up or cry, but I couldn't decide which one to do first.  I decided I should throw up first and get out of the way so when the uncontrollable sobs and snubbing started, I wouldn't suffer from a 1960s-rock-star-type-death.

I have to tell you, barf really comes in handy when you are trying to get out of doing stuff - just ask my Mom or my 1st grade teacher!  Da Hubbs just wrapped an arm around me and told me to hang on and quickly took me home and tucked me into bed and handed me my magazine and got me a Diet Dr. Pepper.

That's it . . . that is my big segue into this month's episode of "SO, THAT HAPPENED AND NOW LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN COASTAL LIVING."

No, really, look what I found! 

One feature I was particularly taken by was the piece by Steele Thomas Marcoux on Manhattan Beach designer, Jill Johnson, and her labor of love.  She converted a 1922 one-bedroom shack into a four-bedroom beach bungalow, nearly doubling the cottage’s size without enlarging its original footprint.  Johnson shares how she remade a rental mess into her dream cottage, one room at a time.

I'm all inspired now . . . where's that paint brush?!

Photos courtesy Coastal Living and Grey Crawford.
 
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Mr. Selby I Presume

I'm sure most of you know about The Selby already, but just in case, I'd like to introduce you.  The Selby is like porn for home design lovers.  Fashion and interiors photographer Todd Selby's idea for his blog, The Selby, is simply to show images of artists, designers, musicians in their studios or working environment - kind of a voyeuristic peek into the world's creative types.  And, as luck would have it, a  256 page hardback book filled with unique, never before seen spaces of acclaimed individuals all around the globe called The Selby Is in Your Place drops April 1st and is available for pre-orders at Abrams Books and Amazon.

Like Mr. Selby, I love to see how personal style is reflected through interior design in private spaces of other people - I believe that particular level of curiosity is also known as being nosy - one of my most prominent personal traits, I'm afraid.  Unlike Todd, however, I don't have acquaintances like Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler, Karl Lagerfeld, Andre Walker, and Olivier Zahm, who are featured in his book in glamor-rific locations like New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and London.  And to add to his marvelous-ness, a big honkin' congratulations is needed because he was just named one of the top Fashion/Style bloggers by this month’s Vogue magazine. Bravo sir - well played - well played, indeed!

I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna miss out on this jewel, so...... I'm headed over to pre-order right after I get this post up!

Photos courtesy Todd Selby and Abrams Books.

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Want It Wednesdays: Blue Blazes

Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Moss Antiques, Ruby Lane, Butler and Butler Gallery, V and M, Sultan Chic

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