Summer Sale, Current Projects and New Pics.

The following sale opportunities are now happening!  Take 10% off order in the etsy shop now through July 31st, use code PYREXSWAP at checkout.  madmodworldvintage.etsy.com 

Also you are invited to take 10% off all items in stock at my booth 2R09 at the  Fleetwood Antique Mall in Fleetwood, PA  I will keep this sale on through July 4th for sure.  Please note Mall hours are 10-6 Wed-Fri with SPECIAL HOURS during the Kutztown Folk Festival!  They will be open Monday and Tuesday that week, July 6th and 7th!  The Mall has also combined forces with Berks County icon GRQ Used Furnishings so you definitely want to pop by the mall and have a look!  Great eclectic shop with items from all eras, unusual finds and so much more.  I really love my mall so come take a look.  Don't forget, if you are close enough to visit the mall, I can have ANY of my online inventory there for you to pick up!  All you have to do is give me a few days notice and I will take what you want to see out for you!  My space is not that large, but I will do my best to accommodate!  

DINING SET- new pics, seats redone!

The Drexel set I have is all cleaned, touched up, new black sueded fabric on the seats and ready to deliver.  It really is beautiful!  Sad that I do not have the 4th chair, but knowing this seats 10 anyway, you can totally add a set of different chairs to pull off the look and I suggest something totally different like a set of Bertoia wire chairs.  I am sure if you continue to look a matching set will pop up but in the mean time, the mix up look is pretty hot right now and you can use that to your advantage!  If you know anyone searching for a set, please send them my way!  I have this priced very low under market value and would love to find it a great home.  etsy listing for pick up/delivery (REGIONAL buyers) please, Chairish.com/shop/madmodworldvintage for white glove shipping.  My chairish listing will probably be live in the next day or 2.  

Many touch ups, lacquer applied and new seat covers in sueded charcoal have been added.  Such a great set!

Heywood Wakefield restorapolooza!

I am in the process of sanding my first 2 tables of 6.  My stains are here and this will be the first time I am trying the wheat finish so am looking forward to that.  I have a lot of hand sanding left, but spent some time after work today using a sander on the larger flat table tops.  Plus I got some tips from my boss and coworker.  The beautiful tiered cocktail table is reserved and going to be refinished in wheat.  I will also do one pair of the floating top step end tables in wheat and they are up for grabs.  I will then do the 2nd pair of step end tables in champagne.  The corner table could go with either set so will do that one last to match either stain.  I am excited to make these pretty again!  Of all of the things I find, restore and find homes for, Heywood is what I choose to keep in my home and that is why I choose to save it. If you search back through my blog posts, you can find some recapping my Heywood restorations.  It is probably about a year old now!  It is amazing how many projects come and go in a year!  Click on the PAST SAVES tab to see pics and info from some of my prior Heywood Wakefield restorations.  

Pole lamp is serviced, brass polished and it is ready to use!

My husband got to go over the pole lamp and it is ready to use.  A word of safety advice on these things.  Both pole lamps had wiring issues.  You will not find them unless you take apart the pole and inspect.  My husband has test sets to check for shorts, etc.  Any loose fixtures were tightened.  I still would not leave any vintage light on unattended.  Please note with this light there is damage from a hot bulb on the gold shade.  Using LED bulbs can help prevent that in the future, but once again, keep a check on your vintage lamps so that you know they aren't getting too hot for the shades.  It is a real shame to find damaged items and surely you will not want to be responsible for that.  Many people used bulbs with too high a wattage, but in general, a light bulb gives off a lot of heat.  Be smart and stay safe!  

I just shipped out the adorable blonde record cabinet!  That beauty had some of the most views of anything I have ever listed on etsy!  Glad she finally got herself a home!  So many more awesome items are available!  I know I have been sourcing some higher end items lately and I do love being able to bring those things to my shop, but I am aware that they are not for everyone.  Thanks for following along in my adventures and please share my info with folks you may know in the design field, mcm enthusiasts and people looking to redecorate.  I appreciate the support and referrals!  

xo Malissa

Mid Atlantic Pyrex Lovers Swapaganza-MD

I am going to write this diary style and publish when it's all done so it my tenses are off, forgive me. 

FRIDAY MAY 20

i have spent a lot of time packing my Pyrex in bins over the last month.  I spent today loading up my car with tables, Pyrex and even threw in my picnic baskets and plaid coolers.  I figure this is a good opportunity to show how they can be used in an everyday setting.  It is fun to collect, but I really enjoy using my vintage!  

As the day is going on and attendees are getting last minute questions answered, you can tell this is going to be a great time!  Everyone is totally excited to shop, swap and meet the faces behind the keyboards!  I believe they expect about 70 shopper/swappers and over 100 guests including family and friends.  I asked Kenny to make a crisp in the Dutch oven and lots of attendees are excited to observe and ask some questions.  Although I would love to take the Vanagon, it is a 4 hour round trip and we are camping the holiday weekend, so leaving Vanny behind.  Going to finish up packing and racking my brain for items I may need or want.  SQUEE!!!! ✌🏼️ 

SATURDAY MAY 21

 Woke up early to finish a few last minute things before leaving.  We are on target to arrive at 11:45 am, which is just about when set up begins.  Our ride is 2 hours, not a bad trek.  It started raining as soon as we pulled out of our driveway.  But we knew the rain was coming.  

All packed and ready to go! 

We drove through downpours but arrived to nothing more than left over clouds with the occasional spritz.  my first impression of the park:  BEAUTIFUL!  The setting was just gorgeous!  Our 2 pavilions were close together and the set up buzz was already in action when I arrived. 

After an easy check in and brief meeting of a few of the ladies in charge, I started to unload and claim my space.   

Beautiful picnic area at Patapsco State Park, Ellicott City, MD

I claimed a space near the food but even more important, next to the stone fireplace!  Would have loved a fire!  We got set up, had some food and the event was rolling.  A fabulous give away, group photo and then we were off to deal!  

My great helper, Genevieve.  She and Trent helped me all day!  No complaints! 

The giveaway was first and a fabulous Kaleidoscope casserole donated by Jolene at JoRetro, Havre de Grace, MD was the highlight! 💕 

I believe the total of registered shoppers/traders was 80 plus family and friends!  Wow it was a large event! 

Got to shopping, swapping and selling but more importantly, making new friends, talking shop with other dealers and enjoying the massive selection of PYREX!  My husband even made some friends as he worked on cooking up some apple blueberry crisp.  

Kenny had some issues getting this going but when it was finished, it was delightful!  The men of the grill kept the burgers and dogs coming and the rest of the catered and donated spread was top notch! 

Me and my helpers. 

Pyrex art. 💖 

So what you really want to know is WHAT DID YOU GET???!!! 😜✌🏼️ 

Because of our current strike situation I had to restrain myself BUT if you have a nice stash of glass you can swap and end up coming home with nice things without spending a lot!  After all, we are there to trade!   

The stash includes a pair of Hazel Atlas Crinoline plates (fluted edging) in pink that I traded turquoise for, 5 yards of fabric and Dansk butter warmer I traded an Amish Butterprint fridge set and a snowflake space saver for, 4 divided pink plates to match my dinnerware set $10, federal glass covered dish $10, federal glass small bowl and white Hazel atlas vase trade for a friendship casserole.  I am thrilled with my take and I did sell some things so came home with more money than I left with so I call that a success! 

It was an awesome event filled with great people!  If you are interested in Pyrex and are in the region, please search for and request to join the Mid-Atlantic Pyrex Lovers Facebook group so you don't miss the next event!  I hear they may organize a fall swap!   ✌🏼️ if you are not in the area, please look for similar groups in your region and step out of your comfort zone and attend one of these great events!  You will have a blast!

xo Malissa

Setting up. 

This week- coming adventure in Pyrex Swapping!

Next weekend I am going to be heading to my first Pyrex swap meet in the Baltimore, MD area!  I am really excited to meet up with other collectors and their families.  Should be a fun time and I already have a few trade deals hammered out so will have lots to tell when i get back!  For those of you who are interested, I will definitely do a write up on the experience!  This is a nicely organized event and I believe they are expecting about 75 collectors/shoppers plus family and support!  I am pretty much all packed- Pyrex wise, and will add some other goodies of interest from my inventory as I pack the van. 

Not sure what is up the with weather this week but it is cold and yucky once again in the Northeast.  I have a list of projects to do but am waiting for warmer sunny weather to spend days in my garage working.  Before I start my next restoration, I have a few things to finish on items I have listed.  The chrome dinette chairs I just listed will be taken apart so I can clean the chrome underneath.  There was a lot of surface rust on them, but it cleaned right off with some tricks.  I can get the underneath better by taking the legs off to finish.  I try my best to clean things up and these were very labor intensive, but I want them to look great for their new home.  That said, I also found out about another rust removal product I would like to try on the vinyl.  One chair has some rust stains on it.  Hoping this might do the trick.  Generally they are in ok shape and the pattern on the vinyl is so awesome!  Here is a look.

Set of 4 Dixie Dinette chrome kitchen chairs in fabulous atomic vinyl!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!  <3 <3 <3  Close up of this awesome pattern!  Dark blue, light blue, grey, metallic gold and silver.  It is fabulous!

Diamond Chair update:  I have this chair listed in a few major markets because, well, I know it is not for everyone.  I received a message from a lovely woman, Mary Thorp, who found my listing and thought enough to reach out and let me know she approved of my restoration work.  It makes me truly happy for feedback like this.  This woman founded the Harry Bertoia Research Project, which catalogs known pieces of his work.  Ms. Thorp is a lecturer, aficionado and expert on Bertoia.  Knowing how much the artist and his works are loved and admired, I am very proud to have gotten a response out of someone who is an expert in this area.  If you are lucky to own any original pieces of Bertoia sculpture, you may register them with her page.  Mary is an asset to preserving the legacy of the artist and his works.  Fabulous!

I think things are starting to move again.  I have had some sales over the weekend and things are shipping out.  A little relief in a stressful time as my husband is still on strike…..we are 5 weeks into it and growing weary and poor.  Thank you for your support as every sale is much appreciated!  Have a great week and look forward to a great review of the swap next week!  

xo Malissa