freshvintage

Grow Basil in an Antique Mason Jar + Craigslist Fun

I was tired of buying basil at the grocery store, so I decided to get off my ass and just grow some. It is probably the easiest plant on earth to grow. You just can't kill it. And I'm a notorious plant murderer.

An antique (or new) mason jar was the perfect size for my sunny & narrow kitchen window sill. I waited a month, and voila! 

I can't believe I even took a before picture. I never do that. I must have been drunk that day.  Anyway - go grow some basil, dammit!

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On a totally different topic....

If you've ever posted ANYTHING on Craigslist, you know that you get a ton of random emails saying, "Is it still available?" or "Is this in good condition?" with no name or phone number. I became a little annoyed at those automated responses one day, and decided to indulge in some random "person" (or robot) who inquired about our awesome Pennsylvania Tack Box. My responses are in blue, and I highlighted by favorite line in yellow.

On Wed, June 6, 2012 at 10:23 PM, <gXXXXXX@gmail.com> wrote:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid:  wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info:  http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

IS THIS  IN GOOD CONDITION?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/atd/3109213973.html

 

 On Wed, June 6, 2012 at 10:25 PM, freshvintage <info@freshvintage.com> wrote:

Yes, it is in GREAT condition. But I need to warn you that it has two zombies locked inside. Is that okay? You are safe as long as you don't have a brain. They love to eat brains. And Honey Nut Bunches of Oats. With Almonds.
 

 On Thu, June 7, 2012 at 6:47 AM, Richard Miller <sXXXDOUCHE@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello

Thanks for the swift response to my mail, as the item is still available, I will send a certified check to cover the cost of my purchase as am completely satisfied with the advert. I will need the details of whom & where to mail the draft. It will be delivered by the United Parcel Service within 2-3 days. Please note 'United Parcel Service' do not deliver to P.O.Box addresses.

    1. Name to be on the check
    2.Home address
    3.Mobile #

Kindly delete the advert on Craig's List as am totally committed to buying from you to save me cost, My mover will be coming over for the pick up right only after the payment as been delivered and I want you to understand that, I would have love to call but am a deaf , So please send me an email only.

Thanks for your time.

On Thurs, June 7, 2012 at 2:25 PM, freshvintage <info@freshvintage.com> wrote:

Hello again!

I am so glad that you will be buying the tack box. Most people are scared off by the zombies trapped inside. It is nice to meet someone so inclusive and so open to making  new friends, even if they are undead.

Terribly sorry about your hearing impairment. Since we can't talk on the phone, I need to make sure that you are a real person. Can you send me a picture of yourself? I have attached a picture of me, so that you know I am real, too.

I would also like to take a picture of the zombies, but I am a little nervous about opening the box again (that is why I look so worried in my photo). I already tried it once, and they ate my neighbor's cat. I had to tempt them back into the trunk with a bucket of live voles and some ground turkey meat that I crudely formed into the shape of a brain.

Anyway, please send me a photo so I know that you are real.  In the mean time, here is the information you requested:

1. Tyrion Lannister

2. 110 Casterly Rock Rd, Westerlands, PA 19332

3. 867-5309

What time and day will your mover be coming? Please be sure to warn him about the contents of the box. I would hate to have to clean your mover's innards from my front stoop. 

Bestest,

Tyrion

I was so disappointed that he didn't write back. I had a whole thing planned where I was going to send him a picture of my kids in last year's halloween costumes.

Oh, well. I'll just have to post some more stuff on Craigslist to see if I can find a new hard-of-hearing, certified-check-loving pen pal.

Summer Kick-off

Thanks again to Mary Kay Andews for choosing freshvintage as a stop on her national book tour for Spring Fever. Some of her fans drove more than two hours just to meet her! It was a great time....we laughed, we laughed some more, and then my husband did some kind of a weird booty-shaking dance for Mary Kay. And scared away some paying customers.

Here's Mary Kay with some fans that Chris did not scare away:

Congrats to the five winners of the Spring Fever Book Giveaway: Alissa, Meghan, Heidi, Shara, and Kelly!

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So, Highland Orchards is hopping! The strawberry-picking season was in high gear for the past few weeks, and now it's time for blueberries, raspberries and yellow peaches. If you are too lazy to pick, just buy some pre-picked fruit. Or pies. It's all fresh - you can't go wrong.

Yeah, I know, most of you can't come here and pick fruit and witness Chris' booty-shaking. So, I'll share a few pics just to keep you quiet:

 

Chris scored a few Light n' Lively Milk posters. I love the one with the baby in the backseat. This milk was made by Sealtest. Yes, everything comes back to Sealtest...

My friend Mary from Vidalia's Vintage scored these old watchmaker's cabinets. They once stored hundreds of watch crystals, but now they would be great for jewelry-making storage or crafts or office supplies or just as cool industrial decor in your home.

Also from Vidalia's Vintage, a beautiful antique book cabinet with glass doors, straight out of a local judge's office (she totally stole it and is doing hard time now). Why buy Billy when you can have the real thing for an even better price?

Yes, that's a SIGNED copy of Summer Rental. Only one left, so get here quick!

A BLUE Kodak Junior, which I may need to keep for myself. I want to amass a collection of "rainbow" cameras like this guy. I don't think I've ever felt such pangs of jealousy.

Some beachy finds...  

And our tribute to red, white and blue:

Happy Summer!

Spring Fever Book Giveaway

Sorry, this giveaway is closed! Congrats to winners Alissa, Meghan, Heidi, Shara, and Kelly!

If you can't make it to the Mary Kay Andrews book signing at our shop on June 10th, we are bringing the book to you! The publisher of Spring Fever, St. Martin's Press, has generously offered FIVE books to give away to freshvintage readers.

Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a copy of Spring Fever, which was just released yesterday. I finished my preview copy last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Romance, second chances, backstabbing, family secrets...all written with Mary Kay's signature wit and details that make it so easy to imagine every person, room and situation. And I love that the main character, Annajane, works in marketing. That's my "real" job. Anyway, it is a fun beach read. Or lake read. Or patio read. Who cares where you are...it's just a great read!

The deadline for the giveaway is midnight EST Saturday, June 9th. Make sure there's a way for me to get in touch with you when you leave a comment. Sorry - this is limited to readers in the US.

You are eligible to enter, even if you are coming to the book signing on Sunday. If you are in the Philadelphia area, this is your big chance to meet Mary Kay. She isn't doing a signing in Philly...she is coming to freshvintage in West Chester. I know! I am still pinching myself. This would make such a fun girls' day out. There are lots of antique shops in the area and great restaurants. Depending on where you are coming from, you could stop at a few wineries for a tasting (and I'll have some at the shop, just in case). I'll even have a special gift for anyone who buys a book at the shop. Send me an email if you need any advice on where to stop on the way to the signing. I would be happy to help.

Fly Traps, Boxing Babies and Ham Sticks

This is a post about the stuff laying around our house that needs to go to our shop. Strangely enough, the shit all over our dining room table isn't making us any money! Weird.

Lots of floral frogs, in all shapes and sizes: 

A cement scottie dog: (I love a dog that doesn't shed, bark or poop. Might need to keep this one.)

Vintage golf and bowling trophy parts:

A fly trap:

It's a BIG STINKY FLY TRAP. The makers of this thing don't mince words. 

A few brass faucets:

Another Infant of Prague statue. This one has clothes, unlike the other ones I shared on my Facebook page. And it doesn't have eyes that make you wish for a quick death.

A big lab timer:

A World War II-era Navy pilot tin toy gun:

Bottle openers and wine/liquor pourers, some American and some German. The plastic chicken pourer is the best. Seems a little childish for a wine bottle, doesn't it?

A bunch of bottles from a Philadelphia soda maker, Esposito:

Yes, that one on the left features a diapered baby in boxing gloves. "The Champ of Thirst Quenchers!"  

Nope - not creepy at all.

We also have hundreds of photos that we bought from someone who cleaned out a local estate. If you compare these photos to those from normal families, you would find that this group has a wildly disproportionate number of random people holding ham products.

And they needed captions.

 

 Feel free to leave your own captions in the comments below!

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Don't forget - Author Mary Kay Andrews is coming to freshvintage for a book signing on June 10th. This will be a great event, with PRIZES for visitors and fun treats. Don't miss it!

And congrats are in order for Mary Kay - she just announced that her paperback of Summer Rental will debut on the New York Times Bestseller List at #18 next week. Yay for you!

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One more thing - we'll be selling again at the Vintage Garage Sale on June 1st in West Chester, PA. We had a great time in May, so we're coming back with more cool finds. There will be some new vendors this month (including Lisa from Brandywine View), and a few of the same from last month. There are a few spots still open, so visit the website for more info.

Mary Kay Andrews Book Signing at freshvintage!

The one and only vintage-loving, flea-market-shopping, curbside-picking, New-York-Times-bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews is coming to freshvintage for a book signing! 

Join us at freshvintage on Sunday, June 10th at 2pm to meet Mary Kay Andrews. She'll be signing her new book, Spring Fever, which will be released on June 5, 2012. I was lucky enough to get a preview copy, and I am loving it so far!

If you don't have a book already, you can purchase one at freshvintage - Chester County Book Company will have Mary Kay's books available for sale at our shop.

And, in case you need a reason to join us, may I present... 

Top 10 Reasons to Meet Mary Kay Andrews at freshvintage:

1. Duh, you love her books and you want to meet her in person.

2. So you can check "Meet a New York Times bestselling author" off your bucket list.

3. You want to talk to Mary Kay about her antiquing adventures all over the country. (Look at her latest junk haul!)

4. You have a sister, friend, cousin, mother, co-worker, or daughter who loves Mary Kay Andrews' books and you want to give that special person the WONDERFUL gift of a personally-signed book.

5. You want to take a beautiful drive in the country, and stop at some fabulous antique shops and restaurants along the way.

6. Strawberries should be ready for the pickin' by June 10th! Ain't nothin' better than reading a book and eating freshly-picked berries.

Photo by Bill Miles

7. She is a long-time fan of freshvintage, so you know she must be totally awesome. (She commented on my blog a few times before I realized it was really her, and then I sent her a silly, gushing email.)

8. You want to meet the woman who decorated the most adorable cottage on Tybee Island, GA. It was even featured in Better Homes and Gardens! (Read my blog posts about my family's trip there.)

9. You can't survive another day without knowing what Weezie and BeBe are up to.

10. You just finished Fifty Shades of Grey, and want to read a book that you don't have to hide in your underwear drawer.

 

P.S. If you are planning to come, feel free to RSVP on my Facebook page.

Join Us at the Vintage Garage Sale on Friday, May 4th!

Join us this Friday night, May 4th, from 4pm to 9pm in West Chester, PA for the very first Vintage Garage Sale! Yes, it's actually in a parking garage. We'll be there with some great local vintage vendors, a cupcake truck, a jazz duo and fresh finds from my recent buying trip to Lancaster County, PA. 

The event takes place during West Chester's First Friday, so shops will be open late. Get a bite to eat at one of the many great restaurants in West Chester, and then come and see us in the Chestnut Street parking garage.

Visit the Vintage Garage Sale Facebook page for up-to-the-minute info. The event is rain or shine. The freshvintage shop will close at 2pm on May 4th in order to prepare for the event.

Here are a few items that we'll be hauling to the sale. (And be sure to check out some of the industrial finds that Vidalia's Vintage will be bringing.)

An nice-sized antique shoe rack and shallow woven basket with a hand-painted peacock:

 

A Corona "Personal Writing Machine", dating from the 1920s. It starts like this...

And folds out to this...

My porch is once again packed with last week's finds:

This antique aqua demijohn (wicker wine bottle) will be difficult to part with. It even has an "S" stenciled on the front. Sauvignon Blanc? Sangria? Sherry?

I prefer "SUPERWINE"...to the rescue!

Join me on Friday night, and maybe I'll share some.

Springtime at Clover Market

Yes, it's that time of year again...we are selling at Clover Market on Sunday, April 15th from 10am to 4pm. Our shop at Highland Orchards will be closed that day because we can only keep one ball juggling in the air at a time. Don't hold it against us, please.

There are ONE HUNDRED vendors signed up for this opening day! That's pure insanity! Definitely worth a drive, even if it takes you a few hours to get there. This is the only spring sale at Clover that we'll be participating in. So catch us while you can! 

 

And for those of you who are too far to drive to Pennsylvania, here are a few pics from the freshvintage shop to keep you satisfied...

 

And, of course...

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We will also be participating in the Vintage Garage Sale in West Chester, PA and it's actually IN a parking garage. It coincides with First Friday in West Chester and runs from 4pm to 9pm. The first one is on Friday, May 4th. They are still taking vendor applications, so apply as soon as you can! It will be a fun evening, filled with vintage, food, music and revelry! More info to come...

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In case you missed it on Facebook, I was the Featured Blogger last week on the new Philly Social Media Mom's website. Find out how different my life would have turned out if I ended up doing what Second-Grade-Colleen-Burke wanted to do when she grew up.

Cubbie Crazy

Chris went on some kind of mad cubbie shopping spree last week. And I am totally fine with that.

The long skinny ones in the back left are the perfect size for displaying the Rewined candles in the shop. (The seasonal Mimosa-scented candles just came in and they are delish!)

The one on the right has an old Nail Chart tacked on the side.

The Philadelphia tri-state area is also known as the Delaware Valley (as in the Delaware River, which divides PA from NJ). I might need to keep this crate for myself.

This is my favorite of the bunch. It was probably used in a post office - it has little metal plates with names of Lancaster County, PA towns like Lampeter, Millersville and New Providence.

More cameras. The two Brownie Hawkeyes have already sold since I took this photo last week, and Chris brought six more vintage cameras to the shop today. He just called an hour ago to tell me that one of those sold, too. I wish I could manufacture vintage cameras. Or at the very least, create a time machine and buy up all of the cameras between 1900 and 1950 and stash them in a bomb shelter for safe-keeping until I can retrieve them in the present time.

I'm glad Chris bought this megaphone. He probably remembered that I found one a few years ago.

I don't know why they are wishing death on the poor Schnitzel.

I googled the Die Schnitzel Bunk Jug Band, and immediately found an ad in a 1933 Reading, PA newspaper.

Sounds like a fun night, doesn't it? For a quarter, you get a Hoe Down with a jug band, a bunch of Amish hill billies and the chance to win prizes. I wonder if they had bottle service back then. Oh, wait - 1933 is the end of prohibition, so that place must have been CRAAA-ZEEEY. 

Anyway, here are some deer antlers lovingly mounted on a handsewn stuffed fabric heart. 

My late grandfather played football for Franklin and Marshall back in the 1930s. That's when the football players wore safari hats instead of helmets. Back then, they didn't have goal posts - they just used a pair of giraffes. They played against lions and tigers, which was good on one hand, since big cats can't catch a football for shit. But bad in that most of the players lost at least one limb by the third quarter.

Okay...I don't know why the hell this safari hat has an F & M label. But my granddad really did play there.

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We had a blast at our Grand Opening and we're very happy to report that our Square got a lot of use! Here we are, in a pic taken by Sue.

Our customers and guests ate lots of yummy cake pops, made by Cakes and Candies by Maryellen in West Chester, PA. 

A few guests had a taste of local wine (we had lots left over, which is never a bad thing).

So many friends and family members came to see us, including my mom, grandmom, two aunts, an uncle, a cousin, lots of neighbors, co-workers, siblings, nieces, nephews and some very supportive local antique dealers. Here's a pic of me with Allison from Nannygoat Antiques & Vintage Style and Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad (here's her recap). I am holding a lucky horseshoe (a gift from Allison) and a bottle of Bitch wine (a sweet gift from Sue).

Thanks to everyone who came on March 10th, and those who have visited us since then. We were recently cleaned out by a big-time dealer, so we've been bringing in lots and lots of new inventory. 

My in-laws will be visiting for the next week from Yakima, WA and they will be working their little butts off. I don't care if my Father-in-Law, Jim, has a new hip and shoulder - he will be carrying purchases to customers' cars whether he likes it or not. And probably drinking all of the leftover wine, so please be cautious while driving in the parking lot.

freshvintage shop photos & update

We are gearing up for our Grand Opening on March 10th! If you are in the Philadelphia area, please join us for some sweet treats and local wine from the vineyards along the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail. Highland Orchards will be sampling some of their yummy products as well. We'll be there from 10am to 5pm, and if you are lucky, you'll get to meet my mom and 92-year-old grandmom. The shop will also be open on Sunday from 11am to 4pm, when the celebration will continue. But only if there are leftovers.

Thanks to all of the blog readers, friends, family and neighbors who visited the shop during the past two "practice" weekends. It was so nice to finally meet some Facebook commenters in person.

We've only been open for a total of four days, but we've already had to do some re-arranging after selling a few BIG items, like a set of lockers and a couple of card catalogs (don't worry - we have more of each, waiting in the wings). 

My friend Mary is responsible for the card catalogs and many more primo vintage finds. She already has a booming Etsy shop called Vidalia's Vintage, and will be selling at the freshvintage shop, too. Here she is, helping us set up shop a few weeks ago (I promise, we were not showing stag films on that aqua projector screen).

Mary's vintage biz is a little side project that feeds her addiction to old stuff - she is actually the founder of The Town Dish, a local network of foodie websites, and Dish Trip, a cool food/travel site in partnership with Southwest Airlines. She'll be dishing on all of the fun fresh food news at the Orchard. 

My sister, Erin, will also be selling her vintage finds at the shop, just like she does at Brandywine View Antiques in Chadds Ford. She and her husband, Doug, will be at the Grand Opening. If we twist his arm just a little, I'm sure he would do a reading from the infamous blog post about his famous ancestors.

For all of you far, far away readers, I promised some photos...

Our medical cabinet that lights up when you open it (my most favorite thing in the store):

Vintage-style reproduction dish towels:

Tool cart-turned-bar cart:

Mason jar vases:

Antique mason jar soap dispensers (the jars are old but the stainless steel top is new).

HUGE globes and vintage sex ed books (that contain pictures of huge globes).

Vintage metal bed with matching bedside table and adorable floral chandelier. Oh, and Jesus. Can't forget him!

Cardboard signs from funny Pennsylvania towns, including Blue Ball. (I don't know if "2" refers the distance in miles, or the number of balls in question.)

More cool stuff:

Even more cool stuff:

Antique fruit crate used as shelving, and a Brownie camera:

Wine-inspired candles!

It was tough to pick a line of candles to sell in the shop, but I fell in love with Rewined Candles after I saw them on this design website. The deal was sealed after I smelled the samples that they sent me. I particularly love that they are clean-burning soy, are made in the USA and poured into hand-cut recycled wine bottles. Perfection!

If you are planning to visit the shop for the Grand Opening (or any time we are open), I would encourage you to visit some of the other antique shops in the area. Make a day of it! These are all within 15 minutes from freshvintage:

• Cottage Home
• Little Shop of Hoarders 
• Milkhouse Antiques
• Creekside Antiques 
• Pearl's Market
• Malena's Boutique

And, if you are looking to get a meal after your day of antiquing and donut-eating, I recommend Four Dogs Tavern for a few beers and plate of calamari and a flatbread. And sit by the cozy fire. (And then when it gets warmer, sit outside on the patio). For even more restaurant recommendations, take a look at West Chester Dish.

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A big thanks to my friend & neighbor, Erin Klimas, for taking most of the above photos. She also takes beautiful family portraits (in the Philly/Delaware areas). Thanks, Erin!

freshvintage at Highland Orchards

If you been following my hints on Facebook during the last month, you may have surmised that a freshvintage shop was in the works. Well, you are right! 

My husband, Chris, and I are opening a real live brick-and-mortar freshvintage shop! It is located at Highland Orchards in West Chester, PA. Highland Orchards is a family-run produce market, bakery and pick-your-own farm. Families drive from miles around to visit the orchard for their 200 acres of cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, apples and much more. But, they are probably best known for the unbelievable apple cider donuts!

Fresh vintage and fresh produce - can it get any better?

The space we are renting was formerly a gift shop, and when the previous owner retired after 14 years, we quickly snatched it up as soon as we saw the listing. We've been working for weeks to get the shop in shape for our grand opening on March 10th. You are welcome to stop by before then - we'll be open on weekends, starting this Saturday, February 25th.

Here's Chris in the big window (and our friend Rich, actually doing the work).

I'll be taking more pics in the coming weeks, so you can get a better look. But here's a peek:

This is a big step for us (especially Chris, since I am keeping my day job), and we are so excited to finally announce it to you. I know that many of you aren't in the Philadelphia area, so I will try to keep you far-away folks updated with lots of photos.

Stay tuned for more details about our grand opening on March 10th!

P.S. Yes, we still have our space at Brandywine View Antiques, so be sure to stop by there, too.