2GoodPoniesVintage Antiques and Collectibles

Old Cigar Box, $29 at 2GoodPoniesVintage on Etsy.

Today's featured interview is with Etsy vintage shop "2GoodPoniesVintage" .  They  sell vintage and antique items - home decor, pipes, hats, jewelry, dolls, sewing novelties, Japanese kimonos and more.

Vintage Macrame beads at 2 Good Ponies Vintage on Etsy, only $24.

When did you start collecting and why ? 

I started collecting My Little Ponies when I was 3. I learned from my mother and she is the collection queen! Even after moving all over the world, she still managed to collect loads of stuff. As she is the queen, I am the princess and love to hit the local flea markets on Sunday morning. It is the only time you will find me up early.

Vintage clothing can be found in this shop, too! This "Peacock" suit is simply stunning!

What your favorite vintage items are or what you collect?

I still collect My Little Ponies and have a room full of them. I also restore, transform and sculpt MLP. I collect other things too, like my 1960's dentist chair and medical exam light. I tend to like mid-century kitsch.


Anything currently in your shop with a great story?

Recently I did sell a brass chalice to the property manger for Kevin Bacon's "The Following". It has been exciting watching for it appear on the show!

2GoodPoniesVintage on Etsy minimalist vase $28.

Any particulate items you will hate to see go?

My dad's pipes and ties always make me smile and I hate to part with them. But he wanted to sell them.

Find them on Etsy at 2goodponiesvintage  
Connect on Twitter:twitter.com/2goodponies

TheIDConnection Vintage Curated By Roland Dressler

Vintage angels / cherubs, German, $20.00 at  TheIDConnection on Etsy

Roland Dressler has a successful vintage shop on Etsy, called TheIDConnection.  The shop opened in 2008 and has done well. Roland has over 1700 followers!  People are watching his every find, and he's built up a loyal fan base.   I am glad he gave me an opportunity to interview him!

Vintage Scottie Brooch $18 at TheIDConnection on Etsy

Q: Why do you think you are so successful on Etsy?

A:  First of all, I believe in doing business the old fashioned way. My shop is from Galveston, Texas  My customers are important and I give great customer service .  (Note: Roland even offers that if you are ever visiting Southeast Texas near Galveston Island he knows where all the gems are--the great little Thrift Shops & Resale Stores are located ... Mom & Pop stores with the unique Texana relics you're looking for, and he will help you find them!)

Q: When did you come to Etsy and why? 

A: I opened in 2008 and this stems from collecting antiques, primitives and vintage.

If you think this tractor's sexy....for only $125 you can snatch this seat up!

Q: What are your favorite vintage items?

A: Hmmm my favorites are, jewels, clothes and collectibles!


Q:  Anything currently in your shop with a great story?


A: I've sold many of my items to production companies in LA & NY. All my items have a story. I once sold an alligator purse to Courtney Love!

Gurley Candles : The ID Connection

Q: What item will you hate to see go and why?



A:   I love the art deco styling on this piece.   (Roland is referring to a 1930's bronze metalware piece featuring cranes. It's very well made and normally you see the older 60s and 70s knock offs done in plastic, but he's somehow coveted the real deal circa 1930's.)

TheIDConnection metal crane, circa 30s

Q: What else do you want readers to know ? 

A: You will find a huge SELECTION of Art, Jewelry, Sewing Pattern, Holiday related items, Supplies, Buttons, Vintage Paper, Millinery Flowers, Hats, Swimsuits, Clothing, Post Cards, Black & White Photography, Camera’s and more!

Tons of Salt and Pepper shakers in TheIDConnection's Etsy shop!

How to get in touch with Roland :
Etsy
Twitter
Pinterest
Roland Dressler

Smile, Suzie thanks you....

Vintage Lace : Jewelry Bridal Fashion Needlework Sappho By Kim Smiley

Vintage Lace an gemstones hand sewn adorns these designer earrings by Kim Smiley, on Etsy.

If I didn't know better, I'd think all of these creations were vintage from the medieval days. They are so finely handcrafted they remind me of the intricate silver and gold once fashioned for Knights, Queens and Kings of ancient times. The jewelry that adorned their weddings.  Similar designs in Tibetan jewelry, Celtic wire wrapping and some fancy Paris' couture jewelry.  These stunning creations are from the hands of Canadian Artist Kim Smiley, owner of SapphoByKimSmiley.  I had a chance to catch up with her and ask her some questions!


Q:  What inspires your creations to be so intricate yet appear so vintage styled?

A: I've always been attracted to vintage photographs, books, letters and lace. I think it's because I love history, and vintage objects always have a story, a legacy. I like that the legacy is untold so I can fill in the blanks with my imagination. When I create a painting or a piece of jewelry with a vintage object, I like to contemplate who owned it and imagine if they cherished it. Vintage objects are often so heavy with memories; reusing them in works of art makes the art more meaningful. 

Gorgeous Breast Plate is so intricate, it would look great for a Renaissance wedding or a Lord of the Rings style wedding for the Elvin Princess, stones include lavender quartz, chalcedony, moonstone, aquamarine, tourmaline, rose quartz!  Stunning, but in actually, it's for every day people like you or I!

Anyone can wear this gorgeous jewelry, and it seriously creates a unique look.

Q:  How did you come up with this concept?  I've not seen jewelry like this before!

A:  My jewelry line naturally evolved from a series of paintings I created using archival portraits of children from the 1950s. I integrated antique lace into the paintings to compliment the whimsical nature of the children in the photographs. One day, I had this urge to put the painting on - to wear them - they were so feminine. Instead, I started to experiment with vintage lace as jewelry, sewing into bracelets, necklaces and rings with metallic thread and gems.

 

The Silver Lace Cuff is hand sewn and adorned with Jewels. .

 Q: The items are so lovely, and multifunctional. Yet you can wear them with every day clothing which means they can dress YOU up or dress YOU down. This is stunning. Why are there some poems hidden within your Etsy shop listings? 


  A:   Sappho as a platform to promote poetry. Every piece in my collection is named after a poet, famous or emerging. When you purchase a piece of jewelry - we call them wearable works of art - you receive a poem as a bonus.

SapphoByKimSmiley on Etsy allows you to decide if you want to dress up, or wear them down.

Q: I see you are growing your brand online in various ways, not just Etsy.  This must take so much time. Who helps you in your creative process? 

A: My company creates employment opportunities for women who live below the poverty line.  I'm teaching them how to sew the pieces and then pay them a Living Wage to help me stock up on my designs. I oversee everything and continue making new designs.  


Kim's designs are upscale and trendy. I hope she will go far!
You can visit Kim's unique creations:
On Etsy
On Facebook


  

It Survived : Old Buttons and Buckles Book Belongs in Museum Waterbury, Connecticut

Check out this cool old buttons and buckles book from the Patent Button Company, of Waterbury Connecticut which Google Books has references dating back to 1886. It's available at SushipotParts, the sister shop of artist Suzanna Scott's Sushipot. It displays lovely old buckles and sew-on buttons used in the early 1900's, and is surely of the Victorian era. Some are aluminum!  What I noticed most was this (see photo above) talking about "ebonide."  Now this "ebonide" is not to be confused with "Ebonite" as in bowling balls or "Ebonyte" plastic dinnerware by Kaye Lamoyne. So just what is ebonide?

Photo Courtesy of Commercial America Volume 16

Ebonide was a type of button manufactured by the  Morley Button Sewing Machine Company, Boston, and Google books goes back to 1887 in reference to this company. They made shoe and shirt buttons back then.  They claimed it was a fiberous material and an alternative to vegetable ivory buttons--probably because over time vegetable ivory became brittle and cracked.  Later I found mentions of Ebonide being a special paint or lacquer from another company, but think this came years later after the buttons were gone.  So it's neat to chase an item's history. How on earth did this book make it to Kansas? 

This obviously was a salesman's door to door book or sat on the counter for customers to order buttons and buckles from.  It is amazing it's in such good condition for it's age. 

So the book tells us that the Patent Button Company of Waterbury, Connecticut obtained buttons wholesale other companies such as the Ebonide and Milonite styles from Morely Button Manufacturing of Boston, Massachusetts and offered them to it's customers.  One has to wonder, who was their buckle supplier? It would be safe to say that this button book is worth it's weight in gold for such a unique item and would look great in the Waterbury Connecticut Historical Society's collection maybe at the Mattatuck Museum!

 All Button Book Photos Courtesy of Sushipot Parts. 
Go there to View it Now.

Vintage Sewing Collectibles : Patterns, Needles, Tape, Thimbles, and Dress Forms

This one, $10, from OpalsOwlVintage!

Here is more of my favorite Etsy sewing collectibles. I'm big into vintage ephemera, and you don't have to sew to appreciate fine graphics and good artwork.  Old needle books and sewing patterns have the best graphics! 

Old Needle Books contain the best graphics. Frame them or use them in art projects such as collage or scrapbooking. $10.50/both TheVintagePineapple

This pattern is $16.95 from SloCrafty, the dresses are fab. You can obtain patterns on average from $5 to $20 on Etsy.  If you don't use them in sewing, use the graphics in art or frame them, and use the inside templates for something cool and fun....

I made pendants out of some using dress patterns and poker chips.  

Sewing tape and old thimbles are both lovely and fun. You can use tape as a ruler or for repurposing old old picture frames, or for use in collage or artwork. There's some really fab plastic measuring tapes in bright reds, whites and blues, but my favorite tends to be the shabby old cloth kind! Thimbles are cute and adorable, and perfect for a mini collection in a small curio!

This only $4 from HarvestQueenVintage!

Start a mini-collection, thimbles all 7 for $10 at EndlessC!

Old dress forms serve as functional pieces, or decorative accessories to the home. You can use them for display, or for dressing up for the holidays. I used one for a coat rack for some time. You can find them in all shapes, sizes, and conditions on Etsy. Fixer uppers can be had at a fraction of the cost, but expect to pay more for near mint examples.

Needs some TLC, $75 RetroChalet

FrenchByDesign offers this lovely form for $255 near mint!

 You May Also Like: 

Vintage Basket complete with goodies, only $25 at EstateHound!

(Read Part One of this Series if you haven't already!)

Vintage Sewing Collectibles: Machines, Bobbins, Spools, and Buttons (Part 1 of 2)

Sewing Case, by Vendange, $32.50

In this two part series, you'll see all my Etsy favorites and hopefully get some new decorating ideas also!I hate to admit I can't sew, but I love vintage sewing collectibles. Vintage sewing machines look so industrial and work as great display pieces in your retro home.  Some machines still work , others, will serve as functional display.  

This Singer "SPHINX" is one of the most decorated machine's I've ever seen, $395 at GeorgiesWarehouse.

Gorgeous old machine makes a great conversation piece, sold  by claireferrante of Little Dog Vintage.

Sewing Machine Drawers are pretty and functional, this pair only $27.95 from oldohiofarmfinds!

Bobbins are one of my favorite things. With or without string. The old wooden textile bobbins are so industrial and shabby, they look lovely in small collections.  With thread can be so lovely and colorful, they look great in a basket.  I use the string to tie up my packages, then save the wood bobbins when I'm finished.

Vintage Bobbins so industrial ! Set of 3, MiaLucci, $19

These, $9, look great laying in a basket, from OldBoldReadyToBeSold.

I've got to tell you, this vintage Star sewing spool store display cabinet has to be one of my all time favorite pieces. If I did sew, I'd have this sitting in my studio housing all my spools.  The best part is, imagining just how and when it sat on the counter of the local hardware or dime store selling spools in the past!

I love this! Back when these spools only cost 10cents each, comes this rare vintage Star Spool Cabinet $155, twentytimesi

There are others who see the beauty in such sewing collectibles - such as spools. Buy them to use the string, or just check out some of these art prints as "spools" being the subject! These two are among my faves. You should really visit the one below and ZOOM to see all the cool writing on the old wooden spools.  It's amazing it itself!

TheOldPaperShop sells this fine 5x7 art print for only $10, this is just amazing and would look great framed on the wall!

jmbarclay offers this great art print for only $11

Vintage and modern threads are available in all sizes, shapes and colors. You can find threads for that special product cheap here at Etsy, or buy a whole collection of spooled thread for cheap--then later reuse the wooden spools in an arts or crafts project!

One Dozen Wooden Spools from Regina'sStudio only $12.95

Buttons, buttons, and more buttons!  Vintage carded buttons can be had from $1-$8 on average, great for that special project or to match buttons you have existing on your garment.

These buttons from Primrose, blue (above) $3, Orange large bakelite (below) $7.50.

Lot of 100 Buttons, $5 from Penorus

Fun Decorating Tip:  Rick Rack glue gunned to the Edge of craft shelving looks lovely!

13 packs Bias and Rick Rack  for $15 from AuntNonniesNest!