Happy Vintage Halloween!

Rare vintage paper Halloween decorations. They didn't always make it through the season!

We see vintage Halloween decorations like these German papier-mache Jack-O-Lanterns quite a bit. But this black cat was new to us! We think it is a luminary from the 1940s with transparent paper in the eyes, nose, and mouth to give off a creepy glow. We just looked on eBay and saw one with a "Buy It Now" price of $150. Now that's scary!

You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!

After spending Saturday shopping the antique stores in San Jose, we decided we were due for a bargain and hit the flea market Sunday looking for real deals.

 

Glad we don't have to wash our clothes with washboards!

We had seen a washboard craft where they hung it on a wall and added a shelf and hooks across the bottom. The hunt was on. We stopped at a booth that had an early washing machine with a green enamel washtub complete with agitator inside and clothes wringer on top. The dealer said it was supposed to have an electric motor, which sounded downright scary to us. Yours for only $750! The washboards leaning up against it suddenly looked like a better way to get your clothes clean! We each bought one for $14, $20 less than the antique store price. Jennifer also sprung for a $20 galvanized steel tub for beach towels by her back door. (In a pinch, she could use them both to do laundry!)


Kinda wish our own sewing machines had this beautiful look.

 

 Kitty found a box of wooden sock darners next to an array of treadle sewing machines. “My grandmother was always repairing socks. I just buy a new pair,” another shopper chimed in. We laughed at how easy we’ve got it. The sewing machines were beautiful, though—ornately decorated and more shapely than modern Singers. Kitty asked about a 1900s model in its original cabinet. Only $125? Something to think about. We shopped on and found another relic of the bad old days—a cast-iron iron. Jennifer grimaced at how heavy it was, at least 10 pounds. Kitty thought it would make a cheeky doorstop for her laundry room and bought it plus a bag of thimbles for $15.

 

Old fashioned irons weigh a ton!

 

If You Can’t Stand The Heat 

We’ve always been drawn to kitchenalia. We love how so many vintage kitchen tools can still do the job. In a stall overflowing with cooking utensils, Jennifer played with an $18 food mill with a green handle, saying she just saw one for $50 at Williams Sonoma. The vendor picked up a pair of giant ice tongs to show us. Can you imagine carrying around a block of ice for your icebox? That’s a tool we’re glad we’ve never needed! Jennifer went with an old school “Slap-Chop” for only $12, and Kitty scored a yellow Bakelite eggbeater for $9. Nothing better for fluffy scrambled eggs!

 

These old food mills still come in handy in the kitchen!

 

Rusty old ice tongs would look great hung on a wall in a kitchen.

Clean Sweep

We were stumped when we spotted a wall of large flat whisks with swirly designs that were way too big for mixing bowls. The seller told us they were rug beaters used until the advent of the sweeper and push vacuum in the mid-20th Century. He had two fancy rattan ones he found in an attic in Germany. Kitty remarked at how artsy they all look together. Time to start a new collection! Which one did she pick? A primitive beater with a wooden handle and a scrolling wire pattern for only $25. Beat that!

 

Antique rug beaters are like primitive works of art.



What a fun collection of vintage soap bars!

A Pillow With A Past

We just got back from A Room With A Past, a flea style home decor and furniture collective. Once a month the "Roomies" load up a warehouse space near us in Walnut Creek with cottage-style flea market finds. We always find great ideas for decorating (they do fabulous displays) and crafts, too.

We love this patchwork pillow covered in antique lace, buttons, and brooches. Why keep your collections tucked away when you can put them on display?!

A Little Birdy Sold Me

Spring is the perfect season for birdwatching at the flea market, so our latest Flea Market Gold column in Create and Decorate magazine is for the birds!

We love the Treasure Island Flea Market in the middle of San Francisco Bay because it combines our two favorite activities: birdwatching and shopping. When you’re into birding like we are, you can’t help but I.D. every bird you see, even when they’re collectibles! Click here to see what we found!

Decorate Your Bathroom With Thrift Store Finds

Drawer Buster: Create art that doubles as storage and storage that doubles as art. Find a mini dresser and a few old black-and-white snapshots. Mount the drawers on the wall and tack a picture in each one using photo corners. Use the drawers as shelves, or hang earrings from looped pieces of wire. (See more of this fun piece we did for HGTV by clicking here.)

Deck The Halls With Flea Market Finds

The flea market is our go-to place for bargain holiday decorating. Although Christmas items pop up year-round, vendors bring out the bulk of their decorations in September. On this trip to the flea market, we were on the hunt for Shiny Brites and other colorful ball ornaments to display in a glass bowl on a coffee table. Jennifer was on the lookout for pinecone elves to add to her growing collection, and Kitty was hoping to get a deal on a few Mercury glass ornaments (the heavy ones with mirroring inside) to showcase on ornament hangers on a bookcase. 

Although the Mercury glass was too spendy for our pocketbooks, we did find two-dozen Shiny Brites for $9. (They wanted $5 a box, but since we bought two boxes, we got a dollar off.) We found three pinecone pixies for Jennifer ($3 each!), and the vendor threw in a tiny bottlebrush tree that we admired. 

We also stumbled upon a bunch of hilarious old Christmas cookbooks. We think it’ll be a kick to set them out at our annual cookie party––we might even make some of the kooky cookie recipes. (What are Molasses Crinkles?!)

Crafters’ Delight

As crafters, we like to snatch up old craft books at the flea market. The methods are timeless, so we update the looks with modern materials and embellishments. This visit, we wanted holiday books with retro projects that are back in style, such as felt appliqué Christmas stockings. Jennifer found instructions for an old-fashioned pom-pom wreath that she plans to make in trendy teal blue with a lime silk shantung bow on top. 

We were thrilled to find a shoebox filled with vintage Christmas cards. We picked out a few with gold embossing, die cuts, and glitter accents. Kitty had the idea to cut the fronts off with pinking shears, punch two holes in the top for a ribbon, then tie them to wrapped presents. Jennifer thinks the cards will look great strung on a satin ribbon as a garland for her tree.

Hark! The Bargain Hunters Sing

We’re always looking for a big, unique item to turn into a conversation piece, and on this trip, Kitty was in search of some spectacular holiday find for her living room. We spotted a vintage store sign for Bennett’s Egg Nog Ice Cream that had a great holiday feel. And when we saw a neighborhood’s worth of lawn ornaments, from toy soldiers to reindeer, Jennifer toyed with the idea of placing one by the hearth as a focal point.

But the find of the day was a charming old wooden sled. We thought it would look festive leaning by the front door tied with a red velvet bow, or would make a great display for wrapped Christmas gifts. Kitty was careful to hide her enthusiasm for the sled before she knew how much it cost. (If they know you love it, the price will go up.) A cheerful gal in a cowboy hat said she was asking $38 for it, saying it was an authentic, vintage Flexible Flyer. We carefully looked it over and noticed the steering bar was broken and got the price down to $30. The sled didn’t quite fit in our cart, especially since Jennifer had just purchased a pair of giant illuminated plastic lawn candles (only $5 each!), but it was worth the extra trip back to the car!

Pie, Oh My!

The fall harvest is upon us and suddenly we have a hankering for pie. Pie collectibles, that is!

The flea market is the place for all things pie—from bake-off cookbooks to painted pie safes. Right off the bat, we found a pile of old pie crimpers, perfect for making decorative edges. Vintage pie crimpers can run upwards of $100 if the handle is made of Bakelite, but Kitty picked out a wooden-handled one and got the price down from $18 to $12. We also saw rolling pins by the dozens. Kitty fell in love with a marble one with red handles. It set her back $15, but it comes with the good blessing of every pastry it has ever rolled out!

Along the way, we saw some larger “pie” pieces, including a rustic sign that read “Mom’s Homemade Pies Baked To Perfection.” But the find of the day was a lemon-yellow pie safe with a wonderful weathered look. Pie safes are cabinets with chicken wire or punched-tin doors that keep the varmints out while the pies cool. The vendor was asking $325 for the antique one we found, but Jennifer bargained her way to $275. Easy as pie!

                      

Four and Twenty Blackbirds
Since Victorian times, professional bakers (and grandmas!) have used ceramic pie birds to funnel steam out of pies and prevent them from bubbling over. Blackbirds are the most common pie vents, but if you keep an eye out you might be lucky enough to spot a blue bird, a rooster, or even the elusive red cardinal. These little birds are bursting with personality so get yourself a classic crow for about $15 and place it in a niche as a whimsical objet d’art. But be warned, pie birds are so cute you may wind up with a whole flock!

Flying Saucers

No country kitchen is complete without pie tins, especially ones embossed with phrases like “Mello Rich Pie” and “Flaky Crust.” Back in the day, bakeries had their names embossed in the bottoms of their pie tins. A homemaker who reused the pan would be reminded how much easier it would be to buy a fresh pie from “Mrs. Smith’s.” Legend has it that college students used to play toss with tins that read “Frisbie’s Pies”—a game that led to the invention of the Frisbee! These days, Frisbie pie tins can sell for $50 apiece, but we found a “Py-O-My Ice Box Pie” pan for just $3!

Decorating A La Mode

Ice cream scoops look cheerful even when they’re not serving up sundaes, so why not add a scoop of fun to your pie décor with a few of these old-fashioned dippers? Collect ice cream scoops in turquoise, green, and yellow, then hang them on a narrow wall, one over the other. You can get scoops for as little as $1 at the flea market so pick up an extra one for your gadget drawer, and you’ll be ready to serve anything a la mode!

Expect To Pay

Ice Cream Scoops $1 to $20

Embossed Pie Tins $3 to $50

Rolling Pins $5 to $20

Recipe Pie Plates $5 to $25

Silver-plated Pie Servers $7 to $25

Wooden-handled Dough Crimpers $12 to $40

Pie Carriers $15 to $35

Pie Birds $15 to $75

Pie Safes $250 to $2500

Steampunk Chic is here!

It's here! It's here! Our new book just arrived! Hot off the press. The UPS guy just dropped off 2 big cartons full of Steampunk Chic: Vintage Flair From Recycled Finds. Whooo hooo! So exciting!

Our wonderful editor Pam Mostek would want us to tell you it's loaded with fun and funky steampunk crafts and step-by-step how-tos. Kitty's favorite is the mantel clock made out of a cigar box and Jennifer's favorite is the cupcake stand. Take a sneak peek!

Shaker Style

Give your décor a dash of fun and flavor with playful salt and pepper shakers!

Highly Collectible Campbell Soup Kids

Smiling California Oranges...Only $13!

For our Aunt Kay’s birthday, we wanted to add something special to her salt and pepper shaker collection. Our opera-singing aunt likes shakers with big personality, so we headed to our favorite gift emporium, the flea market. Once we started looking, we were amazed at what we discovered. Those whimsical figurines were everywhere! And they had themes ranging from pixie-faced vegetables to kooky zoo animals. This was going to be a hoot!

Our first contender was a pair of Campbell’s Soup Kids, but Jennifer noticed that one was missing some paint and its stopper. The vendor dropped the price to $12, but we knew Kay actually uses her salt and peppers when she has company, so that wouldn’t do. We stepped into a booth that had souvenir lobster shakers from Maine, flamingos from Florida, and cowboy boots from Texas. Kitty haggled her way to a couple of smiling California oranges for only $13. We could see why Kay loves these collectibles­­––they’re cute, practical, and affordable!

Treasure Craft Salt 'n Peppers

One dealer showed us a cabinet of salt and pepper sets he described as “nodders, huggers, hangers, and stackers.” He suggested some bobble-head pandas, but they weren’t quite right. Jennifer priced a palm tree with hanging coconuts that would fit in perfectly with her Hawaiiana. Only $15 for a mint Treasure Craft set? Yes, please. 

Diva Kitties!

As he wrapped it up, Kitty spotted some dramatic black cat shakers with gold details, and we had our winner. The cats didn’t have any identifying marks or stickers, but we didn’t care. Those felines were divine! The price tag was a steep $38, but we asked the seller for a deal, and he came down to $30. We can’t wait for our diva aunt to use them at her next cast party!

The Cat’s Meow

Holt-Howard Cozy Kitchen Kitties

We must have a thing for cats! When we see Holt-Howard cat salt and pepper shakers, we always smile. Maybe it’s the way these white kitties lean into each other with a sideways flirty glance, or knowing that each one had a noisemaker inside that meowed when you shook it upside down. These Cozy Kitchen Kitties were made in the late 50s and early 60s. The design was so delightful, Holt-Howard made a whole series of housewares featuring these Siamese cats. So if you’re smitten, be prepared to collect a matching cheese crock, jam jar, wall caddy, memo minder, napkin holder, and a string dispenser with the twine coming out of the kitten’s mouth!

Make a crafty tassel from an unpaired salt shaker!

Shake It Up

Have you ever found a salt or pepper that’s lost its match? We ran across a display of tassels made out of these widowed shakers. Genius! We took a closer look, and it seems you pinch ribbon with wire then run it up through the holes, and finish with beads on top.  We see a craft night in our future!

Mind Your Ss and Ps

If your shakers don’t have “S” and “P” on them, here’s a tip. According to the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Tennessee, the one with fewer holes is for salt and the one with more holes is for pepper. Good to know!

Prices We’ve Seen:

Treasure Craft “Hawaii” Fish $10

Campbell’s Soup Kids $10 to $30

Smiling California Oranges  $13 to $15

Bonzo Pup I’m Salt and I’m Pepper $14 to $20

Denton China Flower Pot Minis $15

Treasure Craft “Hawaii” Coconut Tree $15

Holt-Howard Merry Mice Noisemakers $20 to $40

Holt-Howard Cozy Kitten Noisemakers $20 to $60

Make Me Over!

Kitty found a set of these chairs for $10 at the flea market! Irresistible! We featured them in this article we wrote for Decorating Spaces. It's sort of a Chair Makeover 101. 

Cheers, J&K

Before: A Chair In the Rough

It’s rusty. It’s filthy. It’s fabulous! If you know what to look for, a ratty old wrought iron chair can become a delightful addition to your little garden oasis. Just take these tips picked up from the pros and get thee to a flea market to find that diamond in the rough.

After: Sweet Little Seat

A Chair In The Rough

This chair passes all the tests with flying colors: the rust is minimal, the seat pops right off, it has no real damage, and it’s loaded with personality. All it needs now is a little TLC. Start by picking a fun fabric for the seat and use a swatch to select your spray paint. Remove the seat and smooth the rough areas and rusty parts of the frame using medium, then fine sandpaper. Clean thoroughly, then spray paint the chair with primer and your chosen color. (To avoid runs, do several light coats.)

What To Do:

1. Disassemble the seat by removing the old vinyl, foam, and rusty staples.

2. Recover the seat with two-inch thick foam and your chosen fabric, folding carefully at the corners and stapling the fabric underneath.

3. Then finish your new treasure by reattaching the seat to the chair. Now you’re sitting pretty!

Tips:

You don't have to use oilcloth to make your outdoor chair waterproof—just cover the fabric seat with a layer of clear plastic.

When selecting a fabric for your outdoor chair, you don't have to stick to florals. Consider decorator fabrics with stripes, dots, or plaids, as long as the pattern matches the mood of the chair.

If you want to spruce up a plain chair with more than just color, try a spray-on finish like metallic copper, hammered bronze, or even natural rust. Yes! You can buy rust in a can!

Back To School Storage

Lunchboxes are a playful and portable way to keep the little things in your life organized. Think outside the box and use these clever containers in the car, kitchen and bathroom.

A lunchbox is the perfect size for note cards, postcards and envelopes, and it can hold your address book too. Look for a funky vintage lunchbox that suits your personality, whether you're Wonder Woman, Blondie or The Six Million Dollar Man. (Blondie © 1969 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE. Blondie created by Murat B. "Chic" Young.)

Today's recipes come in all shapes and sizes, from computer printouts to index cards. Update the old recipe box with modern silver lunchboxes. Use magnetic labels to separate the main dishes from the desserts, then stash your favorite recipes inside. That's a recipe for success!

If technology is supposed to make our lives simpler, why does it come with so many cords, cables and accessories? Get a handle on high-tech hodgepodge with classic printed lunchboxes. Use one for each gadget, and you'll never forget where your memory card is again.

Make houseguests feel at home with a charming display of travel amenities. Fill a sleek silver lunchbox with sample-size shampoos, lotions and soaps. Welcome your visitors with a note that says "Enjoy your stay." So cute, your friends might want it as a souvenir!

Keep idle hands busy in waiting rooms, on road trips and when you're stuck in traffic by packing a fun-to-go box for each member of the family. Think crayons for the kiddo, a Game Boy for the tween and Sudoku puzzles for Mom. Just grab the boxes as you head out the door, and turn cranky time into fun time.

A Flair For Chairs!

Chairs are super fun and super easy to makeover. You just need to start with a good makeover candidate. 

1. Check for Rust
A little rust is okay, but unless you're a big fan of sanding, skip a chair that is completely corroded. Look for a chair with only minor rust spots—no bigger than a quarter.

2. Check the Seat
Recovering a seat is a cinch, but only if it's easy to remove and reattach. Don't worry if it's decayed; the wood, the foam, and the fabric are all replaceable. Plus you can drive the price down by pointing out every flaw.

3. Check for Damage
Inspect the frame for serious damage. Watch out for broken legs, weak joints, or shoddy fixes (like duct tape!). Some repairs aren't worth the effort unless you like welding!

Chic Tole Candelabra

You don't have to call the electrician if a chandelier has bad wiring. We found a pretty floral pendant that had seen better days--the wiring was frayed and the glass globe was missing. But it was such a deal at $25 that we couldn't resist. And when we saw we could flip it over and stand it on a table, we decided to turn that broken castoff into a kooky candelier!

Directions

Step 1

Once you've found a chandelier with a level base, remove the bulbs.

Step 2

Unscrew the hanger and remove any light bulb sockets. Loosen and remove all the electrical wires, using snips to cut them out if necessary.

Step 3

Clean the entire chandelier with Formula 409.

Step 4

Take your chandelier with you to shop for the right size pillar candle for the center. (If your chandelier has multiple arms with smaller sockets, look for tapers instead.)

Step 5

Set your chandelier on the center of your dining table, fit it with your candle(s), and let there be light!

Before: A Pendant Lamp Missing Its Globe

Color Me Beautiful

If your bargain light fixture has a horrible paint job, simply spray-paint the whole thing! The shape of the flowers and leaves will really pop when they're all one color. Try a stylish hue, like Krylon's Blue Ocean Breeze or Totally Tangerine.

We Love American Style

Check out the flea market in the summertime and you'll see so much Americana your heart will burst with pride. From an authentic 48-star American Flag to a red, white, and blue vintage barber pole, flea markets feature an abundance of "star-spangled" accents.

Many decorator touches that celebrate our nation are dandy for a cottage that's country chic, but you can add a little patriotic punch to any design style. And don't worry about your color scheme, on an Americana accent, red, white, and blue stands on its own. A classic George Washington nutcracker makes a handsome addition to an Arts and Crafts Style living room. A Union Pacific Railroad sign makes a bold artistic statement in a room decorated in Mid-Century Modern. With so much freedom, infusing your home with a touch of American Style is as easy as apple pie.

United Crates of America

Fruit crate labels are widely available and are inexpensive enough to build a large collection. These bold graphics were used from the 1880s to the 1960s as mini mobile billboards on fruit and vegetable crates. Many from the 30s and 40s were patriotic in theme, featuring stars and stripes and names like "Union Asparagus," "Uncle Sam Apples," and "All American Northwest Pears." Frame them in a style that complements your decor. Then arrange the pieces on your mantel, overlapping the edges to add depth. Since many fruit crate labels cost less than $10, you can get a high-art look for a low price.

Lunchbox All-Stars

Lunchboxes make delectable collectibles and several from the late 60s and early 70s featured patriotic designs. Look for the domed classic by Aladdin Industries called Stars and Stripes. Both the box and the Thermos inside are festooned with Betsy Ross' famous flag design. The kitschy U.S. Mail lunchbox from 1969 introduces Mr. Zip and includes a spot to write your "new" zip code. Complete the lunchbox line up with the super stars and stripes of Captain America and Wonder Woman. Then display them all atop the cabinets in the kitchen for a funky way to show your pride.

LIFE, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness

Nothing better illustrates life in America and Americana in general than the original LIFE magazine. Vintage copies of LIFE magazine range in price from $3 to $100 and can be found at flea markets everywhere. Collect a few for your coffee table and, in addition to seeing what America looked like the year you were born, you can browse the beginning of the automotive age and revisit a time when people dressed up for air travel. Display them on your coffee table for a fresh conversation piece. Retro accents like a mini Texaco gas pump and die-cast model airplanes almost bring the images to life.

Red, White & Blue Plate Special

You never know what you'll find when you dig through the kitchenware bins at the swap meet! The boxes are loaded with stacks of mismatched china and flatware from stainless to sterling. It may be a challenge to find a rare gem like a 1969 limited edition Moon Landing Plate, but Bicentennial plates abound and make great accent pieces. You can place one on your coffee table, display one on a plate stand, or hang a grouping of them on a wall. Fenton's Patriot Red Bicentennial Eagle Plate is a beauty, and a steal, if you can find it for under $25. Press-molded carnival glass plates featuring images like the Liberty Bell and the Bald Eagle can often be found for less than $10. A glorious "Blue Plate Special" by Homer Laughlin may have lost its mates, but it is a treasure by itself on an entry table. This starry-edged plate will make a first-class homestead for incoming mail.

Major League Americana

There's nothing more American than baseball, and you only need one piece of nostalgic sports memorabilia to add a touch of America's favorite pastime to a room. While a felt Yankees pennant from the 1920s will set you back more than $200, a 1970s version at the flea market costs less than $20. A vintage popcorn megaphone featuring the Washington Senators' red, white, and blue logo adds a splash of color to an ordinary bookcase. You can pick up a well-worn catcher's mitt for around $5 and let it hold your keys and the remote, or more obviously, an autographed baseball!

Home of the Free

Common American folk art forms like whirligigs and birdhouses often have patriotic motifs. Whirligigs first appeared in the Appalachians in the late 1880s and continue to be popular today. A true vintage Uncle Sam whirligig with swinging paddle arms probably won't show up at the swap meet, but more recent handcrafted versions are available and still desirable. A hand-painted birdhouse is another affordable piece of folk art and would make a fine home for a family of American Robins. And don't forget to raise Old Glory herself! After all, that Star-Spangled Banner will bring more than just a little color to your home.