Shopping and something new to restore!

Fall is getting underway, even though we are still battling unbelievably hot and humid temps here in PA!  I have been finding lots of goodies and am slowly trying to get things researched, cleaned, and listed in preparation for the busy holiday season.  In the mean time, I have been packing, shipping and delivering lots of cool things for folks!  Things are on the move now so if you are keeping an eye on my something in my shop, now is the time to commit!  Some of my last few items were sold to friends and I THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support!  I can tell you I now have a forest of CERAMIC CHRISTMAS TREES in the process of being touched up and repaired.  I plan on taking a few to my booth space to sell locally, but if you are looking for one, reach out and I can send you pics of what I have.  I just love them!  They make great heirlooms to pass down as well.  I sold 3 or so last season and they really are just great to have for your holiday decorating, in small spaces or in the office! 

Great chrome kitchen set!  That is RIGHT!  I found the perfect table to go with the atomic Dixie kitchen chairs I have!  Now they make the perfect little dinette set for a retro kitchen and feature dusty blue atomic print on the chairs, grey cracked ice formica top and lots of chrome.  If you are in the market for a dining set for a smaller space, this one is adorable.  The table also features 2 end leaves that store internally on spring loaded hinges.  A little bit shabby, this set can be used in any retro kitchen area, 50s theme or even shabby chic and farmhouse.  I consider myself more of a purist, but you do not have to be to work this stuff into your home! 

Restorations coming!  I am really trying to get through and list as much as I can so it is ready for the holiday shoppers.  That also includes working through a stash of items I need to restore.  I just ordered 5 yards of PURE WATER from Joybird which I plan on using on the Broyhill Brasilia chairs I have.  They need a bunch of structural work but I want to get them listed soon as many will be looking for chairs for their holiday tables!  Turquoise and Walnut is a divine combination!  I still have more Heywood tables to do and hope my life quiets down just a little so I can get through them!  Never enough hours in the day!  I also just picked up a super fabulous Eames fiberglass shell which I have determined to be a 2nd generation Zenith in the color Greige.  I am super stoked to tackle this and have just ordered the rocker base from modernconscience.com in black powder coat finish with walnut rockers.  I cannot wait to put it together and work some magic on the fiberglass.   If this goes well, I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for more shells.  Herman Miller is not the easiest to find in our area but this chair is such an icon and it is so cool to be able to bring this back and much improved.  It originally had an X base, which is common for a Zenith production piece.  There is one tiny crack on the edge of the fiberglass so I hope to be able to reinforce it as to not deteriorate any further.  Keep your eyes on the blog as I will definitely be writing about this process.  The chair will be living with me.....at least for the time being.  It is small enough, I hope to fit it in my living room.  My house is full of projects so much more fun to come. 

I am loving the walnut legs with this GREIGE seat and cannot wait to see them in person.  Greige is a made up word, or Portmanteau.  A hybrid of Grey and Beige.  Apparently this color type is picked as THE HOT paint and decorator color for 2017!  As always, I somehow find myself on the cutting edge of design totally by accident!

Expect a total revamp of the booth space in the coming weeks.  I'd love to work the chrome table set into it for the holidays.  I also have been picking up some fun kitchen items I'd like to feature in a fun little display. 

Bruno Mankowski update.  I added one of Mr Mankowski's bronze medals to my now collection.  Is it very heavy for a little thing and just gorgeous!  I am officially a collector of his work!  This medal features Asa Gray, a botanist.  Have a look!  Thanks, as always, for giving my blog a read!  I do get feedback from my readers and I am glad you are enjoying! xo Malissa

Fall Shopping Tips-Welcome to PA DUTCH COUNTRY!

Whether it feels like it or not, fall is on the way!  There are many great places to shop for unique treasures in my area and if you are lucky enough to be in day trip distance, I'd like to share some with you! I generally consider myself in a PRIMITIVE hot spot.  Farmhouse and shabby is plentiful in PA Dutch Country.  One great thing about my area is that work and spending ethics of the prior generations led many to hold onto their items so we are good picking for not only primitives, but MCM as well.  Some great fall shopping can start at the great flea markets and antique shows in the area.  Renningers Antiques (renningers.net) hosts 3 EXTRAVAGANZA's throughout the year and the final weekend is September 22-24. The Kutztown location offers Thurs-Sat shopping and Adamstown, about a 1/2 hour southwest is open Sunday.  Make sure your grab a $1 off coupon on their website towards admission!  The market is all outdoors and vendors bring all sorts of goodies. Be prepared to wheel and deal!  There is great food inside the farmers market to grab a cooler and take home some PA DUTCH delicacies.  Don't forget to stop by Fleetwood Antique Mall, fleetwoodantiquemall.com just south of Kutztown!  My space is on the 2nd floor, rear but there are a few others selling MCM so check them out!  The mall has a very unique selection of curiosities and it is a fun stop.  GRQ used furnishings is housed there at the moment as well so many nice things at reasonable prices. 

Another fun place to shop is Jakes Flea Market http://www.jakesfleamarket.com in Barto on Route 100 just north of Boyertown.  Open Sat and Sun, the earlier you arrive, the better.  By noon most vendors are packing up or already gone.  Also pop in Fensty's Flea Market http://fenstysfleamarket.com which is just north as you head into Bally.  This indoor market has just expanded and includes a bid board area, flea market and many vendors.  They have hours Friday-Sunday, with an anchor shop, Another Man's Treasure, having some weekday hours.  

My favorite Flea market has to be Shrupp's Grove http://shuppsgrove.com/ . It is in a wooded area and under the shade of trees.  It almost feels like a fair.  This market is open Sat and Sun and is in Adamstown, south of Reading.  Adamstown is full of retail antique shops and you really need a few days to get through them all.  You will need to pick to find great deals but the selection cannot be beat.  This is definitely a higher priced zone so if you are shopping on a budget, be prepared for sticker shock! 😜 

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some fall flea markets and I surely hope things cool off soon around here!  There is nothing like a good road trip and keeping your eyes peeled for thrifts and sales is so much fun.   

Not in my area?  No worries!  I ship almost everything in my inventory!  

Need more inspiration?  Please check out this great blog post on Invaluable, which even cites Bucks County PA as a top place to shop......I agree, but you need a fat bank roll.  It is a great area to visit and I usually hit the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, NJ just across the Delaware River,  a few times a year.  :)   http://www.invaluable.com/blog/roadmap-for-summer-antiquing-in-america/

SHOP NEWS

I have been working hard the last few weeks and things are moving out.  If you have your eyes on something, don't wait much longer!  I still have some beautiful restored chairs looking for homes and many fun lights.  Reach out at anytime with questions or to request shipping info.   

I am adding new items to the etsy shop often. Please check back.  My eBay shop (eBay.com/usr/madmodworldvintage) is featuring new items I get from my wholesaler, Primitives by Kathy. Very cute items I feel enhance my brand.  I just added a nice collection of cotton throw rugs/door mats I feel are perfect for home or camp!  The booth space is stocked with Halloween and I just sold some larger items so added some new pieces.  Getting ready to restore some ceramic Christmas trees and beef up my listings for the holidays! 

Xo Malissa

These beauties are still available! 

Check out the new items at the shop!  

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