for the love of the granny

So I remember this post from a distant past realizing that I do have a thing for granny; granny chic that is.  And I still do, a little, though my taste changes from time to time but I just love the colorful nostalgic look not to mention function of these vintage crocheted afghans, don't you?  Well, I recently thrifted a mountain of them just in time for the colder season.  And I already picked a couple for my sofa and my basement chairs and save the most colorful ones to list on my Etsy shop.  Most of them are in very good condition, uniqe and so warm...they are priced just around $30 or less.  You can check them out here.

recent thrift finds

Well hello there!
As you may have noticed, I have been absent here.  I've been unmotivated to blog lately partly because I've been busy scouting vintage treasures for my Etsy shop and also for Fab.com for the upcoming holiday season and also I felt like my 'thrift finds' posts has been redundant and I can't come up with fresh new topics to post, so instead of blogging here I have been instagramming my finds. I think I love it more for it's ease of use - I take a quick picture with my phone, add a cool filter and finish with a caption or one liner and done. Not much thinking or planning and over thinking whether to hit the publish button or not for everyone to see. So I've been loving instagram, and been posting my finds there lately. If you don't follow me there, the photos above are my recent finds in the last couple of weeks.  I will be using IG for now and will take a break from blogging so if you want to see what's happening you can follow there at @modishvintage of course.  Happy autumn everyone!

my vintage collection: porcelain ginger jars

It's been a while since I posted a vintage collection of mine. While I tend to buy bigger pieces these days, I also get super excited to find small collections of pretty treasures that strikes my fancy. These small floral ginger jars were an auction find this past weekend. It was the only small items I got and the rest of my finds were too cumbersome and too big to take pictures of.  I found some metal trunks, metal shelves and desk for my office and of course a few paintings, lamps and chairs.  You can find these sweet jars in my Etsy shop this week.

vintage salt and pepper shakers

A recent trip to the auction yielded a small collection of wacky salt and pepper shakers; I picked a few to photograph- here's my favorites...

 

my vintage collection: clear perfume bottles

These perfume bottles are not as fancy as these other ones, but they appear ten times more beautiful when placed atop the dresser next to a window while the bright sunlight washes over them. I won these a few months ago and they’ve been sitting on my dresser (I tend to hang on to some of my inventory, then when I get bored I list them), and the sun was out the other day so I opened my curtains for the first time since last fall (yes I like my bedroom dark at all times-it's my migraine thing) and my room had splashes of lights bouncing all around the walls, it's was very pretty... but my dresser needs some good decluttering and these has got to go…along with a huge stack of past due books from the library.  Look for them in the shop soon!

my vintage collection: blue medicine bottles

recently thrifted; still unsure if I should keep them, keep them for a while, or list them now.

coming to the shop...

...soon!

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Also if you would like to be added to our mailing list which will notify you of new vintage items and discount sales in the shop; type in your email address in the box located on the lefthand column of this page.  Thank you!

elephant parade

These adorable little elephants have made quite a trip so far; from the home of a collector or a consignor to last night's estate auction; they are now marching their way to the shop this afternoon.

three favorites...

...and here's an interesting Feng Shui principle about elephant decor  that I've read from Simplified Bee:

"For good luck, protection and strength to the household, place a statue of an elephant, or a pair of elephants, at the front door," advises Asian Feng Shui in an article on Feng Shui Elephant Tips. "When elephants are used in such a way, they are referred to as “Elephants of Many Blessings.” These elephants should have their trunks facing upwards as that represents prosperity, good luck and victory, although elephants with their trunks facing downward represent longevity and conception. The direction of the trunk can affect the chi within the space, so it is important to choose an elephant that will bring about the energy you wish to have in your household or office."

my vintage collection: decorative eggs

As you may or may not know, I loooove estate auctions, I'd go weekly if there's one around my area, but lucky for my bank account and for my small abode it's only once a month, otherwise I'd be broke with a house full of junk (read treasures).  But really where else would you find large lots of a specific vintage item available up for bids like these big crate full of antique notary seals, or a large tin can full of vintage thimbles and just last week a large basket of vintage decorative eggs?! Perhaps in your grandmas attic, certainly not on ebay or Goodwill.

The photo above is a small part of an egg collection; the set was too big so it was divided into five lots. I won one of the smaller lot.  The collection was from a consigner who’s not even a dealer but just a big fan of eggs.

Below is an arty photo of my daugher showing off the handpainted jade eggs.

They will be listed in the shop sometime soon.  Hope you're having an egg-cellent day! sorry I can't help it :)

my vintage collection: handmade Vintage Christmas ornaments

I hope you guys are not too tired of my Christmas decor posts yet (in November!) It's just that it's my most favorite time of the year and you know what, where I was born (Philippines), people actually start decorating as early as September 1st, which is why they're known to have the longest running holiday season around the world.  As soon as September comes, streets are decorated with colorful lights, trees and lanterns, as well as Christmas carols played all day long most especially in the big city (Manila).  As a kid growing up I remember getting that warm and fuzzy feeling as soon as the first day of September comes which means I can put the tree up and decorate it with my brother.  Writing this post just now, I can almost hear the sounds of the carolers and smell my mom's bibingka cooking.

Anyhoo, I will be listing this pretty handmade ornaments to the shop this week and also today is the last day of my Modish Vintage's Sale!

my vintage collection: B Welsh Pottery

These B. Welsh pottery collection is one of a few collection I have hang on for many years. I just love the simple design and the warm earthy tones and the fact that they were made by a Pacific Northwest artist more than five decades ago right here. I have actually purchased the whole lot (except for the pie plate bought from Goodwill) from an estate sale many years ago for about $20; back in the days when estate sale organizers are more laid back, no lines at 7 in the morning, when pushy collectible dealers were non existent. I miss those days…

[Bennet Welsh was born and raised in Gresham, Oregon and had a 50 year career as a potter that started in the 1940's. Welsh was the first potter in the Pacific Northwest to work with high temperature stoneware. He founded the ceramics department at the Portland Art Museum's school now called the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Welsh retired in 1984 and passed away in 1998. The company that he founded Pacific Stoneware is no longer in existence, which makes his pottery that much more collectible]

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P.S. I have re-opened my fabric and supplies shop and plan on adding more vintage fabrics in the coming days, I just can't pass up a cute fabric when I see one on my many thrifting trips.

my vintage collection: illustrated nutrition books

Can I just tell you that I ruffled someone's feathers by winning these... it’s a box full of vintage nutritional books from the 50’s sitting on a silent auction table.  Towards the auction closing there was this lady-a regular, "guarding" a section of the table- yeah I know your tactic, well I have a tactic too, it's called "excuse me, I need to go by here and check this box out, can I do that it's a free country afterall, thank you!" then I wrote my number while the auctioneer is doing his countdown.  You should have seen her face, awkward! but she probably won the rest of the things on table so I didn't feel bad....just a little...let me tell you it does get wild and crazy (and comical) in there during the last few seconds before the auction closes, it's a real adrenaline rush. 

This one is my favorite out of the whole bunch; the illustrations are so adorable and very colorful; it is about a little boy asking for his milk and the mom telling him the journey from the farm to his table. It’s a little book commissioned by the National Dairy Council in the mid 40’s. I have scanned the pages for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!