Sandra

Collections – My Vintage Chocolate Box Collection

It’s no lie that I have a sweet tooth and a huge love for all things vintage. Old candy boxes bring these two worlds together. I remember my best friend growing up Sandy C, her mom decorated the basement playroom with a few heart-shaped chocolate boxes she got for Valentine’s Day. They were hung up and used as wall art and I remember how much I loved that she did that. She elevated that box to more than just a vehicle to deliver candy. She turned them into wall art and I thought they were absolutely worthy. Truth is I often find that the packaging is more magical than the item inside.

 

I'm a sucker for a box pleat ribbon.
80's heart shaped valentine box
close up of vintage chocolate boxes

Ornately decorated heart-shaped boxes are my favorite, but I also collect tins and beautiful cardboard boxes. Candy and chocolate were initially sold by weight and were often just wrapped in simple paper. At some point in the early 1900s, packaging became more important. It started as a way to protect the candy but it was also a way to advertise the candy company.

 

vintage chocolate box

These are a few pieces from my small collection. My favorites are the heart-shaped chocolate boxes of the ’70s and ’80s. But a simple and beautiful box like the Thurston &  Johnson is just as beautiful to me.  I don’t keep them out all year as my neighbor did. I use these boxes yearly for my small Valentine’s Day vignette.

paper chocolate box
thurston & Johnson
schrafft's chocolate tin close up label
vintage metal chocolate box
Linette Reading PA

Candy boxes are one of the things that are always in the back of my mind when I’m out-picking. It’s not a popular collectible and it’s also a very fragile collectible so it’s taken me 15 years to amass this small collection I have. It’s taken me this long because I prefer to find these out in the wild, and by wild, I mean estate sales, yard sales, and flea markets. I know I can buy them on eBay (for a lot of money), but the search is a huge part of collecting.
I know that it’s what is on the inside that is most important but not in this case.

 

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large centerpiece graduation party books

College Graduation Party decor

I’m sharing some photos from a college graduation party that I did for a friend.  I helped with the overall look and decor.  So flowers, centerpieces, etc.  For her graduation celebration, she wanted a very sophisticated look and feel and I think we were able to achieve that.

red roses mercury glass

The starting point was her school colors, which were red and silver. On the tables, red roses were arranged in mercury glass vases in various shapes and sizes next to a pile of red vintage books tied with beautiful satin ribbon set on top of black tablecloths. I also used a small mercury glass vase to hold a votive candle.

 

It took some time to compile all the books we needed for this look.  I used about 5 books per table. The subject matter did not matter.  There were 15 tables, so we needed 75 books just for the centerpieces.  In total, we used about 100 books for the tables and accents locations like the bar and card table. Table numbers were also framed in a small silver frame. Each table was unique due to the variations in the vases and books.

table centerpiece red and silver
graduation centerpieces red and silver books and satin

The hors d’oeuvres table also featured a large showpiece arrangement.  I found a large mint julep-style vase at the goodwill that served as the most perfect vessel for this arrangement.  I also found about 8 large red vintage references for this table.  They needed to be large in scale to complement the large arrangement at the base and then accented with mercury glass vases with votive candles inside.

 

 

centerpiece detail books mercury glass
I used red roses, regular and spray. Curly willow for height, alstromeria, astilbe, some early fall hydrangea in a creamy pink, and lots of greens for texture.
large centerpiece graduation party books

I forgot to get a picture but the cardboard was a vintage briefcase, which turned out beautiful.

 

 

It was a beautiful sophisticated look, I loved how it turned out.

 

 

 

 

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schalk's beer bottle label

Found Items – Schalk’s Lager Beer Bottle

I spend countless hours on google researching items I find on my picking adventures.  Most of the time, there is very little information available.  I can usually find eBay listings with a little blurb, but not much else.  So I have decided to document those finds that I think are interesting, under Found Items.  I will add to the posts as I discover more about the item. If all I have to offer is images, which will often be the case, then at least there will be something, and maybe we can learn together.

 

antique beer bottle

So this is my first post on Found Items. This found item is an antique Schalk’s beer bottle. This is a hand-blown bottle made of beautiful green glass with a gorgeous antique orange label.  The glass is so thick and heavy I could drop this bottle on cement and it would be fine.  This is a cork top bottle, and the cork is still in the bottle dancing around with every handle. The label is not in perfect condition, but it’s in pretty good condition considering this bottle is from the late 1800s, being well over 100 years old it’s a true antique.

 

This Lager beer was bottled for the S. S. Pierce Company a Boston-based luxury grocer / importer that spanned 4 generations (1831-1972).    A very progressive company delivering quality and luxury items like wine, cigars, chocolates, teas, coffee, as well as general groceries as far as the north shore of Massachusetts. The label on this bottle reads corner of Tremont and Court (its first downtown location) and corner of Huntington Ave and Dartmouth Street (Copley Square) funny no street numbers.  Because of the two locations, I would date this bottle to the late 1800s. At one point they had a total of 4 locations. A great piece of Boston memorabilia.

 

If you are interested in learning more about the Pierce family, I highly suggest this lecture by Anthony Sammarco, “S. S. Pierce: A Boston Tradition”  I love history and Anthony delivers a wonderful lecture about this interesting family.

schalk beer bottle bottom
cork top antique bottle schalk

 

This lager was brewed and bottled for S.S. Pierce in NJ, by Schalk brewing owned by German immigrants Johann Nepomuk Schalk and his three sons Herman, Adolph, and Oscar. Schalk’s was founded in 1879, the Ballantine family bought the Schalk brewery for $110,000, which then was sold to Pabst, which was then sold….you get the picture. Schalk’s was one of America’s original beer companies.  It’s a great piece of history.

 

Wish I had a romantic story to tell you about how I found the beer bottle, but I don’t.  I was at a cleanout company’s sale and I found it in a box of random things up in the attic.  No other bottles with it, just random stuff probably from a garage. 

 

My mind was on S S Pierce after all my research. One day, while tidying up my booth, I discovered I had a wood box/crate from SS Pierce. Originally, this box held imported wine.  I am always drawn to anything Boston, but now it holds a whole new meaning for me.

 

Thank you for looking and if you have any more information about Schalk’s brewing co or S.S. Pierce please share in the comments.  On to finding more treasures.

 


 

 

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easter bunny in wheat grass

Growing your own real Easter Grass

easter bunny in wheat grass

I have wanted to grow grass for Easter baskets, and I finally did it this year. More importantly, it truly turned out beautiful. I have a long list of crafts and DIY projects. It will take me until I am 90 before I complete them all, but I am happy to say that I can check this one off my list. And I will do it again. What screams spring more than grass?

I could see it in my mind’s eye. A beautiful basket of lush green grass, with a lovely chocolate bunny nestled in the middle. I’m so happy that this DIY came out just as I had envisioned it. This is a great thing to do with kids because it’s easy and has beautiful and gratifying results.

wheat great easter decoration

Supplies:

  • Container of your choice
  • Wheatgrass
  • Organic Coco Coir Potting Soil
  • Plastic to lined container if needed
  • Scissors

How to grow your Easter Grass

This is the easiest thing you will ever do with the most amazing result. 

Step 1:  

soak wheatgrass seeds for 1-2 days.

Step 2:  

Prepare your container.  I had to line my basket with plastic.  And my metal basket was lined with a terracotta pot.  I could have also used a plastic liner, but the terracotta fit perfectly.  Once your container is ready, fill it with potting soil.

wheat grass for decor
tutorial grow wheat grass easter basket
potting soil for wheat grass

Step 3:

Sow the wheatgrass in potting soil and water (make sure to keep the soil moist), place it in a sunny location and wait.  That’s it.

watering wheat grass
mcm basket for decor metal

Because you have already soaked the wheatgrass, they are plump and full of water, ready to burst and take root. The seeds should start sprouting in about 3 to 5 days.

growing wheat grass for decore
wheat grass for decoration

then the magic happens

grow wheat grass dessert dish
centerpieces with wheat grass
wheat grass for table

Once it starts growing, it will keep growing, and at some point, your will need to trim your grass. Wheatgrass is full of nutrients and can be grown to eat.

growing wheat grass trimming
easter tablescape
Easter grass grown in dessert glasses on my Easter table.
easter bunny in wheat grass

I added a chocolate bunny and some eggs to the mcm metal basket.  Of all the containers this one was my favorite, it reminded me of a Martha Stewart cover.  It’s not exactly the same, but you can see the resemblance.  The shamrocks in Martha’s basket are amazing maybe I will try that next year.

martha stewart green basket

I’m so happy with the way they turned out.  Timing is everything for this craft, you need to give yourself 4 weeks to get these results, but they are absolutely worth it.

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antique trophy

Valentines Day Floral Arrangement with vintage silver trophies

Having worked as a florist for over 10 years, I can honestly say that red roses are my least favorite flower. Talk about predictable. There are just too many beautiful flowers in this world, why say I love you with red roses? Why not give a jewel-tone arrangement of orchids and lilacs or a pastel arrangement of tulips and peonies?  

I created two valentine arrangements for myself, and both are supermarket flowers, but more importantly, not a red rose in sight.

Romantic Pinks and Purples

On a recent trip to WholeFoods, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw these fantastic carnations. They had a bad wrap for a long time. They were considered cheap and common. But boy, have carnations come a long way. This carnation was a hybrid creation, two-tone fuchsia pink and dusty mauve. It is just so beautiful, and one of the best things about carnations is that they last a long time. Between the color and longevity, this was a no-brainer.

mauvy pink carnations

This grocery store flower combination was a bunch of carnations, some beautiful purple hydrangea, and a silver lambs ear. A simple and easy combination.

vintage trophy purple pink flower arrangement

I also picked up some pink heart meringues. Why? Not sure, but I felt like they would bring another texture and fun element to the arrangement. And it’s a fun way to celebrate love in a non-plastic, eco-friendly way. I am not perfect, but I try my best to celebrate without plastic.

 

I love how the cool tones all worked together.  

Hot Citrus Hues

valentine roses arrangement

This second arrangement comes from the flower selection at Trader Joe’s.  They really do have a fantastic flower selection, with excellent prices.  There is no reason not to go home with some beautiful blooms for your home.

Again I went with a silver-plated trophy vase, but this one is special.  This trophy vase has a cage flower frog top.  It’s comes with its own mechanics for your floral creations!  I went a vibrant selection of roses.  

I used gorgeous purple garden roses and peach and hot pink spray roses, all from my favorite TJ’s. I bought these 3 days before Valentine’s Day, and I was so impressed with the quality of the flowers.  Unfortunately, I underestimated the size of the vase. SOME MECHANICS WERE SHOWING when I was done because I needed more roses to fill this container, but I covered whatever mechanics showed with moss. And at the last minute, I added a little red velvet box pleated ribbon and let it trail off the edge. I loved how it came out.

red velvet box ribbon roses purple

So here are a couple of ideas for Valentine’s Day flowers. I hope you enjoyed and more importantly, I hope you are inspired to celebrate love with a different palette. Happy Valentine’s Day, no red roses here.

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adirondack pack on front door with greens

Vintage Adirondack Pack Basket – My Christmas Door 2021

I have been searching for a vintage Adirondack basket for years.  It’s been on my wishlist ever since I saw a reproduction in the pages of Ballard’s Designs catalog.  I clipped that picture and pinned it to my vision/idea board and there it stayed for what seemed like forever.  Well, it took me 3 years but I found one!

Adirondack hanging basket

One Saturday this past August, in the last hours of an estate sale, I hit the jackpot!  I found an Adirondack basket among other finds,  in near perfect condition and I got it for a song. Needless to say, I could not wait for Christmas to come this year.  This basket from my vision board was going to come to life!

The History of the Adirondack Backpack

I tried to do a little digging on the history of the Adirondack basket and I couldn’t find a definitive answer. This style of basket, pack baskets (large woven basket designed to be carried as a backpack.  Primarily for utilitarian purposes like traveling, hunting, and or gathering) is often attributed to native American people.  The truth is that you can find examples of this pack-style basket all over the world, for hundreds of years, each with its own twist.  The Adirondack pack style is adapted from the pack baskets used by native Americans in the region.  It has a definitive look with a cinch at the top and is typically made from ash  Other styles of pack baskets like the Maine pack baskets have a more rectangular shape. 

vintage adirondack basket 40s photo
I found this old photo from the 40's of an adirondack basket in action on a boys hunting trip.

I recorded a quick video showing you how I filled the basket.  It’s a large basket, a very large basket, and it takes a lot of greens to fill this basket.  So I filled the bottom of the basket with empty amazon boxes (tis the season). I bought a few different types of greens and berries.  I used Juniper, Magnolia. Fir tips and winter Ilex berries.  I layered the greens using mostly drippy cedar greens, but you can use whatever you want.  I love how it turned out. If you are looking for a unique way to dress up your door, I highly suggest a pack basket.  You can find vintage baskets on Etsy and eBay, but you can also find new baskets like this trapper Maine style basket on amazon on Ballard designs.

@vintage_bu_te_antiques Finally! Filled my antique adirondack basket with winter greens today. I am so behind this year with my decorating. #myvintagehome #antiquelover ♬ It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas - Michael Bublé
bells and adirondack basket

Truth is this basket deserved to be on display for more than one month! So, I decided to transform it from Christmas decor to Winter decor!  I removed the red berries and bow and added faux branches to fill it out and give it life. My favorite addition was the gold bells. Bells are a huge trend right now, and they were the perfect finishing touch for this winter Adirondack basket. I found my bells on amazon they were the perfect size for the basket and I love how it looks.

Christmas basket winter greens berries bells
My Christmas Door 2022
side profile adirondack basket front door

Update:  I thought that would update this post with a photo from my 2022 door.  This year I added the prettiest frayed edge velvet ribbon in cranberry red from amazon.  In case you are interested here are some links to the ribbon and bells.  I used a mixture of faux and real greens.  I recommend real berries, because the faux ones don’t do very well in the elements.  There is also a link to an new adirondack basket if you don’t want to hunt for a vintage one.

 

 

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Halloween Witch’s Broom – DIY Tutorial

For me, Halloween is a time to celebrate my inner witch.  And every year, I strive to transform my home into a witch’s den. I try to stick to a theme because I think that the look has more impact when you have a theme. You’ve already seen my Martha Stewart cutout witch, and she’s the centerpiece of my Halloween decor.

So this year, I wanted to play up the whimsical and use a lot of brooms and witch’s hats. When I looked I could not find a witch’s broom that I liked. It was a goldilocks scenario. Everything I found was either too small, not full enough, or plastic.

To get the look I wanted, I realized that I would need to make my own. I have created a quick video tutorial to show you how I made my brooms. This broom is purely decorative and is made out of a birch branch and twigs. I ended up embellishing the broom because it needed a little something extra.  

Here is what you will need:

  • Natural Birch Twigs – I bought mine through Amazon. This link is to a box of 4 bundles. Enough for two brooms
  • Birch branch for the handle – 48″ in length, 2′ in diameter, but you can choose to make your broom handle longer or shorter, and it doesn’t have to be birch.  Choose any branch that is long enough for the handle. I recommend going for a hike and finding your perfect handle.  The more bends and knots the better.
  • Twine
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Scissors/clippers

I started the first layer by gluing twigs to the lower portion of the branch about 6 inches from the bottom. After the first layer was glued down, I then wrapped it with twine and followed with another layer of branches and then wrapped them again with twine.  The key is to line up the ends of the branches so the it looks nice and neat.

 At this point, the broom is done, but I prefer a fuller look, so I glued individual branches to give it a fuller look. You can leave the broom plain like this, but I felt like it needed a little something.

I added cedar roses, end of summer hydrangea (that means is already starting to dry on the plant, great for dry arrangements), and a few sprigs of black sparkly branches from a Halloween pick. 

And even after that, I felt it still needed something. So I took a little chalk paint and lightly went over all of the edges of the pinecones, hydrangea, and the twine.

But then it was too dark, so I went over everything with a bit of gold gilding wax to brighten it a touch. The final result is a slightly gilded and aged broomstick. I’m thrilled with the way it turned out.  It’s spooky and pretty.

cedar rose pinecones on witch broom
halloween witch decor

Above is a shot of the broom in my booth.  I hung it above a fireplace mantle and love how it looks. 

This is another version of the broom I made, but in this version I added some sparkly black and orange Halloween picks from the dollar store.  It looked great on  it’s on, but what can I say I am sucker for anything sparkly.

I hung this broom in my portico, keeping with my witch’s den theme.  

I love my Hocus Pocus banners, the black and orange works perfectly with my theme and they are perfect over my sidelights. 

Thank you for stopping by, if you end up making your own broom be sure to share it on social media and tag me, I would love to see your brooms!

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Outdoor halloween decor

Halloween Decor – Dressing up my witch’s den!

Outdoor halloween decor

What’s your favorite holiday? I genuinely struggle to choose my favorite holiday. It is a very close tie between Christmas and Halloween, and if you ask me in October. Halloween is my favorite. Ask me again in December, and my answer will probably change. I love the theatrics of Halloween, I am not one for blood and gore, but I love spooky and spectacular. Hocus Pocus is one of my favorite movies because it speaks to my inner witch. So every year, I try to transform my home into a witch’s den.

 

Pumpkin path lights

Because I love witches, they are a big part of the overall theme. But, I also love to use pumpkins (spooky, not scary ones) and orange and purple is a big part of my design. I think sticking to a theme helps make the look stronger, rather than a little bit of this and a little bit of that, which can end up looking like Halloween threw up on your front lawn.

martha stewart witch silhouette

The show stopper is my Martha Stewart Witch silhouette. As a lover of Martha and everything she does, I had saved the witch silhouette idea for many years, and I was so happy to bring that idea to life. You can find instructions here. She comes out October 1st and assumes her place out on the front lawn. The little ones love her, and I think maybe as much as I love her.

I dress up the front door with this spooky black wreath made of torn-up trash bags. It’s a wireframe and dollar store trash bags. I love how it turned out because it almost looks like black crow feathers blowing in the wind when the wind blows.

halloween decor

The portico gets lots of pumpkins, cobwebs lights and draped fabric.  I recently purchased these Hocus Pocus banner for my side panels and I love how they look.   That movie is the inspiration for a lot of my décor.  I try to incorporate a lot of vintage items in my décor like these beautiful lanterns, I think that it levels up the whole look when you can find vintage pieces to incorporate into your décor.

I like to have the stairs dripping with spooky pumpkins, and I try to add a few more every year. One of these years, I will make a pumpkin arch, but I am going to have to find a few more to make that happen.

Mr Bones Trick or Treat Halloween decor

Of course, Mr. Bones come out to say hello to all the trick or treaters.

pumpkin the snow

These are photos from last year, when it snowed the day before Halloween.  Due to Covid, trick-o-treating was different.  I am looking forward to a Halloween that is a little more normal and sharing this years additions to my décor.

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my collection of flower frogs

Collections – My Vintage and Antique Flower Frog Collection

my collection of flower frogs

What is it about collections that bring us so much joy? Is the hunt for the next piece? Is it the thrill of finding that rare piece that you have been searching for forever? Or is it the appreciation for the collection itself? For me, it’s all these things. As a dealer, I have to admit that the hunt is exciting. The rarer the piece, the more exhilarating it is to find it, but I also love displaying them and using them.

I have a few collections (ok, maybe more than a few).  Truth is I have a quite a few collections. I collect vintage Madonna’s and rosaries.  I also collect vintage trophies, vintage Christmas cards, Santa’s, vintage coral, decorating books and my prized flower frog collection.

purple dahlia flower frog
metal japanese flower frog

Having been a florist for many years, flower frogs have always spoken to me. I still consider myself a florist and use my flower frogs all the time in the arrangements I make for my home. Of all my collections, the flower frog collection has probably been the easiest to build. As with all things, the passage of time makes things harder to find, but because most flower frogs are made of metal, they seem to weather the years gracefully. They get better with each year that passes.

In case you don’t know what a flower frog is. Let me explain.  A flower frog is a type of mechanics used to stabilize the stems of flowers in a vase or container.  

Nobody is certain as to why they are called frogs.  Except that they the do sit in water like frog do.

Flower frogs were used by flower lovers for centuries and were made in different sizes and shapes to accommodate various vessels and flower types. Until the 1950s, when floral foam was invented, and designers stopped using frogs for mechanics. Flash forward to today, people are starting to realize the environmental impact of the foam (which is essential plastic that does not break down), and they are beginning to turn back to frogs and cages for floral mechanics. So much so that they are even being manufactured again because of the high demand for an eco-friendly tool.

I thought I would go over the different categories of flower frogs and, along the way, show you my collection within each category. They range in materials from metal, glass, ceramic, lead, and plastic. Some are very practical in form and material, but older Victorian frogs can be very elaborate and sometimes whimsical.


What are the different types of flower frogs?

stacked vintage flower frogs

Metal Pin Flower Frogs

I think these are the easiest to find. If you go to enough estate sales or yard sales, you will find them pretty easily and often inexpensively. Often you will find round and oval frogs. It’s always fun to find the leaf-shaped and flower-shaped frogs.

Pin frogs are better suited for architectural designs. They are used in the ikebana style of floral design because they are rigid and help achieve the strong lines in ikebana. 

This is a close-up of the Dazey leaf-shaped flower frog. Made by Dazey Mfg. Co.

vintage flower frogs

The round metal frogs look great stacked, and I usually sell them in sets. I prefer to display them stacked. I love how each one has its unique patina, and stacking that patina all together makes them even more irresistible look.

Because they provide a weighted bottom and do not damage the cards like tape, I often use them to display my holiday cards.

group of metal pin flower frogs

 

Glass Flower Frogs

Glass flower frogs are the frogs that I get the most question about. Made of glass, they have wider holes and are almost always round in shape. People often struggle to see how they are used for floral design because the holes are so big. 

They come in different sizes and colors but are generally round, some are flatter, some are more domed in shape.  Sometimes people use them as pen holders, scissor holders or brush holders (makeup or art). I get asked about them so often that I created a tutorial on how I use them in an arrangement, you can find it here. I love using glass flower frogs for bulkier stems; they create a great structure for heavy and or thicker stems, like sunflowers or tulips.

The thick glass makes them virtually bullet proof.  They can withstand a lot of wear and tear.  While I do find them with chips, most of the time they are in perfect condition.

 

Hairpin Flower Frogs

Hairpin flower frogs are made of bent metal. Bringing the best of both worlds, this style of flower frog provides rigidness of the pin frogs and allows spacing for thicker stems like the glass frog. Created by Ida Sinclair one afternoon after listening to the frustrations of designers at her garden club meeting. Her first prototype was made in her kitchen, consisting of a lead base and hairpins. She patented her Blue Ribbon Flower Holder in 1936.

This frog became very popular until the 50’s when the floral foam was introduced. This frog allows you to achieve a fuller and more dynamic design. For some reason, these are not easy for me to come by. Only recently did I find a couple, and I have collected flower frogs for a while now.

metal hairpin flower frog
Vintage Hairpin Frog
holding vintage flower frog

Vintage Cage Flower Frogs  

Cage flower frogs are again made of metal with a wider, stiffer opening  compared to the Hairpin Flower Frog. The whole/spaces are not as wide as the glass but they are stiffer than the hairpin frogs. As a designer, I like to design with cages. Today they make reusable plastic ones, but I prefer metal. I think because of the weight. It does a better job of holding the overall arrangement in place and it’s better for the environment.

 

green vintage cage flower frog top view
Vintage Cage Flower Frog
holding vintage cage flower frog

 Decorative Ceramic Flower Frogs

ceramic woman flower frog

Now come the decorative ceramic frogs.  They are typically more ornate and often whimsical. Modern-day ceramic frogs are more simple and utilitarian.  Of all the frog options, these are my least favorite. They are similar to glass frogs but lack the weight needed for arrangements.  For that reason, I find these to be the least useful.

fish and turtle flower frog
underside of flowerfrog

My other issue with these frogs is although beautiful, they take attention from the flowers.  Vintage frogs of this type are most often used decoratively to highlight a few glorious stems rather than a beautiful arrangement.  Perfect for your prized picks from your garden.  

naked women ceramic flower frog
Nude on rock with turtle. This would likely have had a matching dish.

Ceramic frogs became popular during the early 20th century, becoming more and more elaborate.  The book Flower Frogs For Collectors, by Bonnie Bull, is the most complete and comprehensive compilation of flower frogs.  If you are collecting frogs I recommend this book.  It is no longer in print, but you can still find copies on Amazon and eBay.  

Decorative ceramic flower frogs are harder to find because of their fragility. Of the three in my collection, 2 have chips. I find them often, but very rarely do I find them in perfect condition. 

Lead Flower Frogs

flowers in flower frog
lead dragon flower frog
dahlias lead flower frog
purple dahlias vintage flower frog

This frog is just one sheet of lead rolled into itself, providing space for stems that can be manipulated as needed.

collection of flower frogs

The most popular and most coveted for collections is the lead chrysanthemum shaped frog.  With the individual leaves easily manipulated, it is not only beautiful, but functional.

chrysanthemum lead flower frog
Lead Chrysanthemum Flower Frog

Metal Flower Frogs


This is another frog that is a little harder to find.  Both of the frogs above would have been silver plated,  They have lost a bit of their luster, but they are still beautiful in design and weight.  These are not the easiest frogs to use because you are fighting with the constrains of the shape, but unlike the ceramic frogs.  These frog are heavy and will hold your flowers beautifully.  They also look beautiful on there own and that’s why it’s special day when you find one.

metal flower frog with flowers

 

That sums up the different categories of flower frogs.  I am happy to have a least one from each category.  My flower frog collection has taken me years to compile.  I love to display and use these beauties, and urge folks to return back to frogs vs floral foam.  When using the right frog, you can have the same level of control as you do with foam.  There are also lots of new designs on the market today, which is exciting to see things changing in the floral design world. Happy hunting!

Collections – My Vintage and Antique Flower Frog Collection Read More »

mauve cream and blue vintage plates

When it all comes together magically. Vintage serendipity!

mauve blue hydrangea

Part of what drives my creativity are happy coincidences.  Maybe happy accidents like Bob Ross would say.  

80 pastels

Happy coincidences like when you happen upon a yard sale and are attracted to a quirky set of 80’s place sets.  You buy them, you take them home, set them on the table next to the group of plates you just thrifted and the vase of hydrangeas you picked from your mother’s garden.  And you realize that the plates pick up the blue in napkins perfectly, and the mauve in the placemats looks like it was plucked straight out of the faded end of summer hydrangea. That kismet moment when a wash of satisfaction and happiness falls over you. All I can think is where my camera is. These are the moments that drive my creativity.  

Cavitt-shaw monogram plates

The plates are from the W. S. George Pottery Co., 1903 – 1960, in the ranchero style. They are the most perfect shade of pale yellow accented with a robin egg blue monogram with a simple, clean round shape.  The monogram might be my  favorite part.  If I ever get my Joanna Gaines moment and create a product line, a plate set like these would be on my list.    

mauve blue hydrangea

So I only found 11 pieces  of the Cavitt-Shaw dinnerware.  A full set for four would have been over 30 pcs. I found:

3 dinner plates

4 dessert plates

4 cake plates

 Let’s be honest though, that would have been a bit much for me.  I imagine that back in the 50’s one would have been upset to have a mismatched set of dishes, Today, I think it gives you the opportunity to make it better.  I would compliment this set with a blue bowl and maybe a patterned coffee cup.

vintage table setting with pastel hydrangea
late summer hydrangea in vintage blue glass vase
close up of late summer hydrange

This hydrangea is the gift that keeps on giving. It blooms from spring to summer and at all stages of growth, it’s just lovely. From the fresh chartreuse green in the early summer to the purple mid-summer blooms and now the gorgeous mauvy pink and green. Breathtaking! They will also dry beautifully, so you can enjoy them through the winter. That’s why they are one of my favorite flowers.

Classic and modern design is not an easy thing to achieve.  A lot of designers try few succeed, but these plates have achieved it perfectly.  Although these plates are from the ’50s and are over 70 years old, they would be perfect on a table today. 

 

These happy coincidences can only happen when you are in your process. That process, for me, is the continuous hunt. That is what brings me joy. The quest for unique, beautiful, and well-made goods. That could be furniture, art, textile, tools – I find beauty in so many things. What I appreciate is craftsmanship. Not that you can’t find quality crafted items today, because you can. It’s just that things made 50 years ago were made better. They were made to last a lifetime or longer.

I am always consciously or unconsciously curating collections. The more I look, the more I find. What amazes me is how these items come from all these different places yet come together so perfectly.  I think the magic is in the process. The magic that brings satisfaction and joy. I think they call it “getting into the flow.” I encourage you to follow your joy and find the magic and enjoy that wonderful synchronicity.

When it all comes together magically. Vintage serendipity! Read More »