Friday Obsession- Vintage Street Signs

This week, I have been obsessing over vintage street signs. Not the type the decorate the walls of TGI Fridays, but instead vintage signs with a modern graphic feel to them. Here are a few of my favs...

I Heart Geraniums..

 

I recently stopped by the farmers market in Union Square to pick up some veggies. I hadn't been to the market in awhile and I was shocked that the mainly food market was now overflowing with plants and flowers for the summer.

I picked up a few geraniums to try in my apartment...

I love geraniums because they don't require a lot of attention. All they need is a little sun (about 3 hours a day), some water and an occasional clean-up. They come in so many varieties and some even have a delicious smell....

They're also perfect for small arrangements...

For those with a black thumb (or very little sunlight), Diptyque has a wonderful scented geranium candle. It smells almost as good as the real thing...

Photos courtesy of Octavia & Brown, Absolutely Beautiful and Diptyque)

Beach or Lake?

Growing up on the East Coast, I had my fair share of summer days on the Delaware and Cape Cod beaches and at the New Jersey Shore. Despite the dark seaweed-filled water and the sand flies that were vicious in the summer, I loved the hot weather, the soft sand beneath my toes and the bathtub-like water.

When I moved to San Francisco, everything changed as I became a lake girl. Summer days spent on the rocky shores of Lake Tahoe were fantastic. The beautiful, natural scenery was welcome change from some of the lively people watching at the beach. Hours spent in the water were quickly replaced by short dips in the frigid lake to cool off. The water was crystal clear, so I could see what I was stepping on which was a plus, but the rocks made it hard to get in and out of the water.

As we head into summer, which do you prefer the beach, the lake or staying on dry land?

It's BBQ time...

Memorial Day not only marks the start of summer (lazy days at the beach, clam bakes, etc), but most importantly the summer grilling season. This summer I plan to mix up the staples (hamburgers and chicken) with fresh fish, shellfish and corn on the cob.  I can't wait!

Here are a few things on my list for a retro inspired BBQ...

Orange stripes are unexpected and fun... 

How cool is this portable picnic set... 

You could mix up a large batch of drinks in this retro cooler...

Not your average folding lawn chair... 

My BBQ cheat sheet... 

This little piggy went to market... 

Corn on the cob is one of my favorite summer treats...

(Photos courtesy of Etsy Shops: Quietude Quilts, Mod Apple, Old Green Canoe, Architette, Brooklyn Rehab, You Like)
(Red Chair photo courtesy of yoygle.com)

It's All in the Details...

Last night a friend and I ate at NYC's Joseph Leonard. A cute West Village restaurant with a great atmosphere and delicious food, I have to say that I was most impressed with the bathroom.

Searching for a paper towel, I opened the mirrored cabinet door and much to my surprise, there was a selection of goodies available including Q-tips, altoids, baby powder, cotton balls and lovely scented lotion among other things. So cool! These little details go a long way in my book and something I will definitely consider adopting for my own guest bathroom (once I have one that is...)

Happy Monday!

What a great weekend! I hope you got a chance to spend some time outside, enjoying one of the last weekends of Spring before we officially kick it into high gear for the Summer season.

I'm already dreaming about Memorial Day barbecues...

(Photo courtesy of Domino Magazine)

Friday Obsession- Vintage Champagne Glasses

I have to admit, I never really need a special occasion to break out a bottle of champagne. Like using good china for a weeknight meal, I think champagne should be enjoyed whenever the mood strikes...

That being said, drinking champagne out of a nice glass is essential. I have been more than a little obsessed with finding vintage champagne glasses. I love the wide brim and the classic, refined look of these glasses. They're perfect for summer entertaining. Here are a few of my favs...

(Photos: Octavia & Brown, Shorely Chic, EthanOllie, Rustbelt Threads, AttysVintage, Diantiques, Octavia & Brown. All shops are on Etsy.com)

I heart peonies...

It's almost the end of May and I have started seeing peonies pop up at flower stands all around NYC. I love all the vibrant shades of pink! I can't wait to place a few stems in a beautiful vintage container or silver vase.

Just a few stems make a statement in a room... 

(Photos: Southern Accents, xJavierx on Flickr)

Packing... Shipping... Cleaning... Rearranging...

Phew! It's been a crazy morning. I have been cleaning and rearranging my apartment for my last load of personal items from California to arrive!

In looking around my apartment, I realize how cluttered everything has gotten over the last few months. I have not been following my own rule of one thing in, one thing out. I counted this morning and realized that I have 10 chairs in my tiny apartment (plus a couch!) I don't think anyone needs that much seating! Here are a few...

 Just purchased from Housingworks during to the Design on a Dime sale...

Needs to be recovered, but I love the shape...

This weekend will definitely mean a trip to Housingworks, my favorite thrift store in NYC, to donate a few of these chairs...

Feelin' Thrifty...

Last week, I took a day off from Brimfields to explore the thrift shops of Cape Cod. I was amazed to find a huge network of thrift shops that spans every church, breakfast mission and small town on the Cape. 

While thrift stores on the Cape carry books, clothes, music, furniture and a whole bunch of other stuff, I found that they're great for picking up smaller items such as glassware, candlestick holders, vases, etc to decorate and entertain on a budget. People usually drop off full sets of glassware and plates, as opposed to the miscellenous one or two glasses that you normally get in the larger cities. Be prepared to dig for treasures, as most thrift stores are packed with donations.

Additionally, people that rent out houses on the Cape for the season, as well as year-round residents, will usually drop off donations prior to and at the end of the summer season. These are the best times to score some larger finds such as couches, dressers, etc.

A few of my favorites finds from the day included several sets of vintage champagne glasses, a black and white fish-eye photo from the 50s, a Dorothy Thorpe creamer and sugar bowl, and a silver plate flower frog.

* A side note, thrift stores are also a way to meet some very interesting people from the Cape and get a few great stories, as most employees are part-time volunteers. 

To check out a list of thrift shops on Cape Cod, click here.

Home Again...

After a whirlwind week with very limited internet access on Cape Cod and at Brimfields, I am back...

For those who have never been to Brimfields, it is a must-see for every vintage hunter. The town of Brimfields swells from 3000 people in the off-season to nearly 30,000 people during the three times a year show. I was initially overwhelmed by the acres of vintage and antique treasures. It's impossible to see a fraction of the show in one day, or even two.

The show is divided up among several fields, with different markets opening on alternating days. Each market offers a slightly different feel with some focusing more on antique furniture and architectural salvage, while others offer industrial tables and lamps and mid-century finds. A few feel like a never-ending flea market of small treasures. My favorites of this show included Heart-O-the-Mart, The Meadows and Mays. 

A very cold, soggy start to the show, did not deter any of the buyers, flying in from up and down the East Coast. Stylists, interior designers, antique dealers and part-time vintage hunters all come for the great finds at the show...

Wearing my oldest high school sweatshirt and sneakers (to keep warm), I scoured rows and rows of glassware, picking up several sets of vintage champagne and wine glasses along the way. I also found several cool signs, industrial bins, old wire lockers and mirrors... 

Here are a few things I would have liked to have taken with me, if only I had more room...

More thoughts and pictures from the show coming this afternoon...

Chatham for a Day...

I'm back after a long travel day from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts yesterday. Currently, my mother and I are staying in the quaint town of Chatham, MA about 1 1/2 hours from Brimfield, MA on the "elbow" of Cape Cod.

Filled with adorable shingled houses and white picket fences, this coastal beach town is gearing up for the summer season.

Despite the small size, Chatham plays host to a number of great restaurants. My favorite is the Wild Goose Tavern. During the summer, a lively institution not to miss is the Chatham Squire.

Tomorrow we are off to Brimfields (I can't wait) and I will be sending updates throughout the day...