Decorating with Avant Garde Podcast and Top Picks from Etsy

In my most recent podcast I talk about Avant Garde, just what it is and how to decorate and do it.  Mixing some color into your life may not be a bad idea.  I've always liked to break the decorating norms and glad to see other people doing it too. I like to discuss Avant Garde in my most recent podcast.  I apologize for the podcasting recording. I hope you learn something new!

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 In the meantime, please try these exciting finds on Etsy to Avant Garde up your life. 

Vintage books can really make a table pop. This stack $25 from RetroChalet

 1. Vintage books, in great colors look exciting stacked around your table!  Make a room pop with color and have a great display item. Not to mention a little color goes a long way.  Books can be reused for scrapbooking when done with them!

This hot pink radio is from RetroRadioFarm on Etsy! 

2.  Electronics, vintage style ones like this radio can really stand out on a table.  Notice how it pops on the white background!  RetroRadioFarm on Etsy has tons of radios in stock and this is a great way to add some color to a drab or discolored home!

Rainbow crocheted blanket will be a great addition to any home, find it at HappyInTheNest

3. Vintage afghans, handmade or retro blankets are another way to avant-garde up the home.  Adding color to a room is key by draping them over your favorite sofa or love seat is a great way to add color! AvantGarde up your bedroom!

Chalkware Pig Yellow Vintage would avant garde up the home at TheModWitch

4. Statues and figures can add color to your home.  Using a bright vintage chalkware statue you can make a statement on a table or bookshelf.  Use of color in the home is key when decorating for avant garde look. 

Kchoos offers this great chair, the pink colors would make any room POP!

5.  Kchoos shop offers this great mod chair with pink bubbles, a real victorian style chair has been repurposed with great retro fabric to add some avant garde into your home!  Using this chair or any furniture would be great for avant garde-ing up your life. 

Have a great day and make sure to subscribe to our podcast 

Retro Chalet : Living A Vintage Life (buzzsprout.com)

Turner Art Prints Glam Wall Decor from the 40's

My most recent podcast included tips and tricks on the The Turner Manufacturing Company made all kinds of housewares in the thirty plus years they were in business.  Many designs go unnoticed in thrift stores or second hand shops, even the local flea.  They were mass producing wall decor for the home such as wooden shelves, mirrors, and lithographs / art prints. The early designs of the 1940's depicted lovely French looking Victorian ladies in mademoiselle like dresses.  You'll find muted colors and even lots of fowl, flamingos, and birds in addition to greys, pinks, and cool hues that are pleasing on the eyes. 

This one from the RetroChalet Etsy shop.

Turner Art Prints have a Victorian feel to them and all are signed Turner at the lower right. But, sometimes this may be difficult to find if the owner had moved or rematted into a new frame.  Ultra rare are the turner designs on mirrors. My friend has one that is giant, 3'x5' with flamingos. I assume it's pricesless and has been hanging in his home for years.  Happy Collecting!

Listen to the podcast:

Vintage Shabby French Post Cards from Paris Collector's Dream

A stack of 30 postmarked only $28 at RetroChalet on Etsy

Post cards from Paris, yes, they are real and old.  A post card collector's dream. If you love shabby ephemera, or collecting post cards, these stacks of retro cards are for you.  Maybe it's just me, but I was a bit nosy trying to read what they say. Perhaps the fact of romance from days gone by never gets old.

Gorgeous Written letters just waiting to be had. @RetroChalet

RetroChalet now has many lots available from a huge French post card buyout: stamped, unstamped, written or unwritten.  It seems after taking French two years to be exact,  I cannot for the life of me read these.

How romantic that loved ones, friends and neighbors traveled on vacation to areas of  France sending back greetings and salutations. Many have old stamps or post marks which would look great in collage and scrapbooking.

Many collectors of post cards may find them interesting to read, they are in  dull used shabby condition.

Go see them here:
Paris, French, Collage..at retrochalet

KariBeth Vintage Archival Home Decor Items

Photo: Karibeth This etched floral decanter,  $30, would look great holding colored liquid (food coloring) for a statement piece in the home.

KariBeth is a jewelry designer from Nashville who uses upcycled and recycled parts in her work.  Her jewelry (such as compass necklaces and knife necklaces) has made a name for itself being sold direct in brick and mortar boutiques from New York to Tennessee and online sites as well. Her work has been featured in places such as Anthropologie and Roses and Rustics.   She also has a keen eye for good design relics for the home.

KariBeth's collection of vintage relics for the home are rare and astounding. 

 Her store online, Karibeth.com, contains a great page with vintage archival items.   These are curated items for your home and you will find things used for different purposes here. For instance, an etched decanter (above) could be filled with colored liquid, or the stopper removed to house fresh wildflowers.  The lovely metal double sided swan basket (below) can be used to hold an air plant or even house your remote controls for television and car keys.

Photo: Karibeth.com  This swan looks so art nouveau and would look great holding remotes, keys, or an air plant.

Unusual Decor: Brass Peacock with Rhinestone Eyes karibeth.com

See more of KariBeth's designs for the home here: https://karibeth.com/collections/vintage-archival-1

Please be sure to check out her jewelry as well!

Editor Pick: This Knife Necklace

KariBeth necklace includes a 2.5" vintage penknife found in travels.

Archival: Plant Stands Vases Home Decor

Editor Pick:  This plant stand looks great as is, or shabbied up with Annie Sloan paint. Find it, and other plant stands at Archival.etsy.com

Do you collect old planters or vases?  Etsy shop Archival has a huge offering of mid century plant stands and vases. The "Regency" style above was made out of cast metals. I used to see these all the time back in the 70's as a kind...but now finding them is getting much harder.

Round Geometric Plant Stand....Find it here.

Metal Mid Century Modern Plant Stand 

Look at this great mid century modern plant stand, above.  I assume many of the all metal ones were on people's sunporches or porches, and over time instead of being refurbished were thrown out. Now with their "rustic" look they look great in a foyer holding fresh or faux flowers. I would think also, you could repaint if you so choose, but I sort of like the vintage look.  Shipping will be fair, as it's a light item, and who would have thought it would look so great with wicker?

Wicker Plant Stand, Mid Century at Archival.

These wicker plant stands look fabulous in original condition. I have to admit, I used to turn down rattan thinking that it would collect dust. Not so, it's easy to dust and not to mention you can paint it.  If you like that whole "shabby vintage look" I've discovered a great trick  painting with milk paints. I've used Annie Sloan but others work well too. One quick swoop covers the item in most places and gives it a flat vintage look.  Now you can take a second look at wicker, and see that wood, wicker, or bamboo plant stands, planters, baskets or vases may be the way to go.

Visit Archival on Etsy.

Archival has been on Etsy since 2012 located in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Candiland Art Vintage Art Decor Upcycled

Candiland Art Find it here!

Recycling and upcycling vintage is something I've been preaching and living for years. Now it seems I am not alone!  That's exactly what Candiland Candice does with her Candiland Art  Etsy shop from Conroe, Texas. Her art is made of 100% vintage components.  On top of that, she sells vintage., so what's not to love?  Let's delve into her Etsy shop a little further.

Re-Art Horse...@CandilandArt

This horse has been upcycled into functional decor for your home. Va-va-voom that's real gold you are looking at....using snippets of paper has transformed something old into something new and functional again. A great piece of artwork for your home.

Mixed Media Assemblage "Temple of the Scorpion Goddess" $60

Assemblages also adorn this shop. This sculpture above is made in an antique drawer, mixed with vintage components and would look great hanging on the wall. A conversation piece at that.  You can find wall art, gift ideas and even posters of the art to boot!

True vintage can be found here as well. The following items are rare and worthy of mention.

Vintage Sinclair Lubricant Bucket $125

This Sinclair lubricant bucket is a rare fine, it's an early example of Sinclair Oil Company's claim to fame.  One of the oldest oil companies, it is family owned and been around over 100 years. Finding large buckets like this that aren't completely rusted out and with good graphics is hard. Note the small dinosaur logo on the front.

Samsung Phone not Iphone, but HiPhone! $59 here

Galaxy Flashback! Seems like technology is moving so fast it's hard to think of rotary phones and Samsung in the same sentence. More often than not when we do remember rotaries it's normally "Ma and Pa Bell" as in Bell System phones, those big clunky models.   Samsung was also in the running and making handset phones all these years.  This is an early Samsung Rotary Phone, rare in the sense that black and red is highly desirable among vintage and phone collectors and also on a joint note that it's called Hi-Phone most likely for "high tech" ......  

What are these? Vintage Horse Combs! Find them here.

Rusty and Crusty collectibles are a stable in this shop. A true artist appreciates the beauty in the old, worn and forgotten. Whether you browse for vintage finds for your home, or to use the items and repurpose into something else, it's worth a look see.  The collection of curry combs above were to groom horses, sometimes with the shedding blades used to rid the horse of excess hair that had grown in the winter months. Most today are a mix of plastic.

Find out more at CandilandArt on Etsy.

Pretty Poppies Vintage on Etsy Vintage Everything

Black Rotary Phone , $38.50 on Etsy here. 

Pretty Poppies Vintage 

As a vintage seller, junkie and collector I think there's one thing that most antique lovers will tell you. They adore other seller's shops.  Pretty Poppies Vintage is one of those shops I adore. Started by Amy over a year ago curated from St. Paul, Minnesota, you never know what you may find! Great prices and must-have item photos just lure you in.  Here are some of my favorite things...

Metal Lap Trays: Quilting Trays for Breakfast or Computer....Set $26 here

Editors Pick:  Metal Quilt Lap Trays above are a Great gift idea for the Quilting Queen in your life, these metal trays can hold your book, drink, laptop, or crafting supplies not to mention breakfast or lunch!  Love them and in my travels I have never quite seen anything like this pattern before!

Vintage Washing Machine Part Great Decor Idea $62 here

A sold-by-Sears gadget looks like a giant plunger but was made for agitating your washing machine back in the turn of the century. Would make for great conversation piece in a rustic or cottage home.

Cute shelf kitty, $7.00 here.

This shop has everything from shabby to cute, antique to chic, boho to retro, and a wide selection will keep customers coming back to check new offerings.  I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite things and that you will check our Pretty Poppies Vintage for more great finds!

Canoe Lovers Keychain , $7.00 here.

Find more at PrettyPoppiesVintage.etsy.com

Vintage Christmas Gifts Rainbow of Colors

From Etsy shop @VintageJane comes this vintage time teacher rainbow of colors $29

Top Vintage Picks for Christmas!

Have yourself a vintage Merry Christmas! Buying vintage items or antique looking items was never easier with this gift guide! We've decided to show you a rainbow of Vintage Gifts that are on the top of people's lists!

Above: Vintage Toys for Girls and Boys! Adults love having vintage toys around they may have had when they were younger or for a centerpiece in a vintage home.

Red Vintage Clock $30 at Grannysbox

Above - Red: 
Red vintage clock is working mechanical alarm clock from half way across the world, for $30 a good bargain, design by Jantar.

Below - Orange: 
This wonderful book collection by Julie's Store on Etsy makes for a great decor display or focal piece in your home.  Decorate with color and flair!

Orange Book Lot $24.99 from Julies Store on Etsy.

Yellow Bowls for the Kitchen at GrammysGoodys $90

Yellow - Above: 
Yellow can brighten up any kitchen, these yellow Pyrex mixing bowls are hard to find in a complete set for $90. Grammys Goodys has these and a bunch of other great retro kitchen items!

Remember the ugly Christmas sweaters? Now you can look retro tized in this one by Tabors Treasures!

Green - Above:  This crazy ugly green Christmas sweater is just what you need to show your silly side!  Price: $39 size: small medium at Tabors Treasures on Etsy. They have lots of retro ugly sweaters ugly and crazy for your needs! This vintage style bow makes this our favorite out of all the ugly Christmas sweaters we've seen.  Some are politically hilarious and good for the holiday season.


Turquoise- Below:

DeMiCasaCreations makes a lot of products using reclaimed wood, from benches to antique looking artifacts for your home, we love this blue bench!

Ford Reclaimed Bench $399 From DeMiCasaCreations

Purple -Below : 

Nothing says purple like rich deep rubies , this ring from KK Vintage is simply stunning set in Gold and purple stones, this ruby ring below was made in the 40's and is a royal combination of diamonds and rubies. Cost: British Pounds $399 which is about $593.95 USD.

Black - Below:
Nothing says man cave like these retro style decals! Peel and stick muscle cars, antique bikes , trains, planes or motorcycles on your wall and give a new look to a man cave room. Hundreds of designs in stock at Decal Trend on Etsy!

Muscle Car Decal $17.99 at Decal Trend

Have a happy holiday season from all of us at Vintage Chalet!

Vintage Orange Juice Pitchers and Glasses

Deal of the Century:  $14 gets you the pitcher and glasses at LemonHeadPress

Orange You Smart?

There used to be an old song on television when I was growing up as a kid. In fact, I found a Youtube Video circa 1982.  Instead of aren't you smart they did Orange you smart, which was catchy and a nice little play on words.  The parts I remember went like this :

 "Orange you smart, for drinking orange juice, for that clean and sunny sunny taste...orannnngeeeege you smart................"

Pitchers in the kitchen with glasses for breakfast didn't just happen in the 50's and 60's but into the 70's and 80's when I was a kid.  It was a big thing having a square breakfast before school. Up until that time mom's didn't always work and mine was home taking care of us making us eat our cereal and drink our juice. That was a lot of liquid let me tell you!  Now those days are long gone, most parents are both working.

LookBackVintage on Etsy has this set for $18

Perhaps the best thing about collecting is these look great on the table . Prices above are considered low and very fair to account for shipping charges.   Orange juice memorabilia can brighten up any retro kitchen.  The vintage milk caps below, even took time to advertise orange juice.  

A cute collectible, these milk caps, get all 40 pcs for $5 at VintageRescueSquad on Etsy

Caps could be fashioned into something fun for the kitchen or in craft projects.  I always thought putting a magnet on the back would make for very cute fridge magnets, or poking a hole and using them for adornments on a fruit basket given to a sick friend. Taking the kitchen decorating a step further, you could look for Florida merchandise. Associated with oranges, Florida was a great place to find kitschy novelties shaped like oranges.

These coasters are souvenirs of Florida, fromVeesVintage are only $6

Corny little oranges can adorn your whole kitchen and look cute in the process. Tons of salt and peppers are on the market for a few bucks.  Find retro orange aprons, tea towels and prints for the kitchen.

Find these at Mabel Street Miscellany, for only $7

Orange Slice Trivet from Etsy Shop WolvesAhead  $12

Boxes, Luggage and Trunks at TheGlossedAndFound

What a box, typography we love and this you can put your special things in. Only $25

How we love antique boxes, trunks and luggage! We found a great Etsy shop called TheGlossedAndFound which features trunks, luggage, bags, antiques, furniture and home decor!  We and had a chance to pull some of our favorite items while talking to the owner/curator Shelly from Boston Massachusetts.  Shelly is a transplant from Georgia and loves treasure hunting for the extroidniary !

 This way cool 9 is only 10 bucks that is, at TheGlossedAndFound

Q: How long have you been collecting vintage? 

A: I've been a treasure hunter since I could walk! I've always enjoyed seeing new and unusual things and it's really stuck with me. I have many fond memories of my great grandmother's house as a child. She was born in 1920 so you can imagine the wonderful decor in her Illinois home. I think that's where the wonder first began.

This farm trunk would make an interesting table.  GlossedandFound

Q: What are your favorite vintage things? 

A: I'm absolutely fascinated with steamer trunks. They're these gorgeous behemoths from the past that make fantastic coffee tables and storage chests. Then, once it's in your house, you imagine someone carrying this on a journey with them and being part of the industrial revolution... it just never gets old (no pun intended).

 Trunks like this are a passion of Shelly's. This one is for sale in her shop. 

Rare Asian Dowry Chest.  See it here. 

Q: What thing in your shop has the best story, or would you say is your greatest find ever?

A: We currently have a beautiful antique dowry chest, incredibly well-preserved, that was purchased in Southeast Asia over 50 years ago. Despite its near-perfect condition, this chest is estimated to be over 100 years old, sturdily crafted with daeng and teak and gilded with dovetail joints. The incredible craftsmanship and unique attributes of the piece, such as the hand-molded iron hardware, high quality materials and the unusual depictions of Buddha sitting lotus, suggest that it was produced in a remote locale by a wealthy groom’s family for his bride-to-be. 

 Simply Stunning and we must agree with Shelly, her Lacy Mannequin is our favorite thing too!

Q: What is your absolute favorite thing in your shop right now, the kind of thing that has a wonderful story and you will absolutely HATE to see go?  

A:  Oh gosh, I have that problem a lot. Right now I’m most in love with a lacy mannequin on an antique cast iron base. I’ve always wanted one for some reason!

Q: Anything special you want people to know? 

A: If there’s something in particular you’re looking for, let us know and we’ll do our best to locate it. We have new inventory weekly so be sure to check back often.

Authors Note:  We couldn't decide between featuring the awesome trunks and antique relics or the fashion items. Shelly has a lot of vintage handbags in her store, so if you are the true fashionista be sure to check them out!

 


Connect with Shelly:
On Etsy
Twitter
Facebook

Note: Updated 12.2.18 Shelly has closed her shop but her links above still remain.