Napping sofa, chalk painted maple frame, newly upholstered with vintage fabrics – just long enough for a tall sleeper, light weight, and small scale for petite spaces. Handmade shell boxes, mid-century lamp, vintage books and a bust all make for delightful accessories. Vintage purses anyone? …
Premiering in the new space is an over sized, deep seating, three piece wicker ensemble with settee, chair and rocker along with many wicker accent pieces. Along the back wall is a 50’s formica top pencil leg iron table with the original leaf and four ladder back chairs from the same era. Harkerware tea set, cocktail implements, picnic basket, fishing lures, art work, botanical and a few chalk paint accent tables round out the space and screams, “Eclectic with color!”
Across the aisle is a completely shabby table with oak pressed back chairs re-done with burlap padded seats. The amazing thing about the pressed back chairs is the carving on the back.
Being Irish, I recognized the face of the Green Man as seen in ancient churches used to represent new birth or spring. I have no idea how the chairs came to be here in Brenham, but it seems they were carved in remembrance of the old ways.
Introducing a new chalk paint color, custom mixed by accident, to achieve a deep rich peacock blue with my new favorite … gold leafing. This desk is solid as a rock with a few dents and dings from age that just adds character. Hmmmm, I could say that about myself…
Many things to see and enjoy. I hope you will join me on this antique journey and stop by The Irish Lady’s booth inside…
Vintage purses are becoming one of my favorite finds for my antique business. To begin with, I am enjoying carrying them myself which makes them not really for the business, hmmm I’ll think about that later. I used the black box purse, middle of photo, for a recent wedding. The wicker oriental purse will match a new dress. (Confession: I bought the dress to match the purse.) Best of all, the vintage purses are great conversation starters. After seeing one, ladies stop me and share their stories about the purse or the fashionable lady who carried one just like it. The memories these vintage beauties invoke are the best part.
My favorite designer is Enid Collins (not sure if she is a relation) of Texas, who began her business shortly after WWII. It was a family business, with her husband and daughter, also named Cynthia, started at the kitchen table on their ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Her first sales were to Neiman Marcus and later to Joske’s of Houston. I am intrigued by her designs and the fact that she incorporated her husband’s engineering skills, an artist friend’s silk screening abilities, and her own costume design talents to embellish her wooden and canvas bags with jewels and sequins. Below is a photo of her at work on new designs. The bags are no longer in production, but highly collectible.
