When Estate Sales Break Your Heart

Last Friday, my sister-in-law and I went to an estate
sale at a very old house; we didn't buy anything. 

But on Saturday,

Howard and I went back to the sale, because I wanted these:

Picture from the estate sale ad, by Jerry's Antiques and Estate Sales.  Jerry, by the way, is great fun to chat with.

Royal Copenhagan plates.

The "Flute Half-Lace" pattern, in green.

This pattern dates back to 1775, and is still made by Royal Copenhagen,

and by many other manufacturers under other names: Finlandia, Denmark, etc.

In blue.  These were green.  Green!  For about $20 for 11 plates, I wanted them.

But as we walked up the steps to the house, a gentleman walked

down the steps, carrying those plates.  Dang.

The thing about estate sales: You snooze, you lose.

But that's not the heartbreak part of this tale.

No, the part that broke our hearts is that this house is being torn down.

The new owners want a place with lots of glass.

This house, from 1806, is too old, they say.

Too old.  After all, who could bear to live with an entry like this?

When Howard and I last saw this front parlor, that beautiful fireplace was lying on the floor.

I hope it's headed for a wonderful new home.  It's not original to the house, but it's lovely.

If I'd had an extra couple hundred dollars (stop laughing, Howard), I'd have taken that mantle.

Gorgeous old wood.  I hope someone took it.

Yes, it is heartbreaking that a gracious, beautiful home,

that has sheltered families for many generations,

will be torn down because it is old.

Don't get me wrong.

I have nothing against new houses.  Believe me, living in an old

house often makes the thought of new construction very appealing!

But surely, surely, this couple could have found some empty land

on which to build their glass and steel dream home.

And not destroy this bit of old New Jersey.

Well, now that I've depressed everyone, I need to say goodbye.

My friend Emily and I are going shopping!

She is getting a rare day on her own, without her twins;

wonderful husbands are valuable assets.

Speaking of wonderful husbands, Howard and I did buy

something from this estate sale; I'll show you tomorrow,

and share the results of yesterday's jaunt to Philadelphia's Main Line.

Enjoy your Tuesday -- Cass

Link Party!

Visit Coastal Charm for Show and Share .... Click!

Confession: Those pictures of the house are not mine; they are from a real estate listing.

And In My Spare Time . . . .

Projects.
To-Do Lists.
Why are there always more of them, than there is
time in a day?  Or a week?  Or a month?

There ought to be a name for this phenomenon;

I don't think Cass Syndrome will catch on anytime soon.

My today project is this:

A Victorian settee, from an auction last week in Pennsylvania.

The fabric on it is intact and clean, but poorly done and cheap.

I aim to replace that fabric with something less poorly done.

On a side note . . . I have never done this before.  Could get interesting.

"Dear upholstery gods . . . help!  Amen."

There's a home dec fabric outlet shop nearby, with a clearance room out back,

where all the bolts sell for $5 a yard, and the trimmings are a buck a yard.

The settee was a very good bargain, so I didn't want to spend

a lot on new fabric.  I want to sell this at a reasonable

price to someone who will love it, so I need to keep the costs low.

In the clearance room, we found (okay, Anne found) a simple upholstery

fabric in a neutral green with a little quilted diamond pattern,

and a multi-colored gimp that tones nicely with the fabric.

The fabric and gimp together cost me $27.  Now that's what I call

a bargain, and I can pass that savings on to someone else.

Wave bye-bye, little settee.

I am about to do scary things to you.

********************************

After my whining over the weekend about not finding anything 

at that auction in Connecticut, I need to show you a recent

New Jersey auction find.  Nye and Company in Bloomfield

holds live online auctions, and during the last one I made a

ridiculously low bid on a late Federal (early 19th century)

turned maple rope bedstead . . . and won.

Bonus challenge:  Guess what I paid for it?

I picked it up yesterday.

It's lounging, wearing its original 200 year old dust, in my front hall. 

 I love the swoop of the headboard. 

Obviously, it needs a good cleaning and

a beeswax massage at the That Old House Spa.

Easy peasy.

Good sturdy legs.

Perhaps it played field hockey once upon a time.

And once upon a time it had pegs along here, below, to hold the ropes

that supported those lumpy mattresses of olden times.

Someone sawed off the pegs a long time ago, probably at the 

request of his wife who was tired of dusting between them.

Yowser! that's a lot of dust.

And that's all I can think of for today.

Except that my next project is an old Sheraton style washstand

in mahogany.  It weighs a ton, despite its slender good looks.

Must have an excellent metabolism.

I hope your Wednesday is as beautiful as mine!

New Jersey is showing off the last of its August weather. -- Cass

Drop Dead Gorgeous

What is it about old Drop Leaf Tables?
I'm nuts about them.
I think a lot of other people are, too.

They are so practical, modestly slipping their slim silhouettes into narrow spots in our houses,
but then bursting out, triumphantly, with their wings unfurled to pitch in at parties and shindigs.

They are the "We need more table space, stat!" heroes of the furniture world.  

The first thing I sold in my antiques booth

last November was a much-used cherry drop leaf table.

With a few issues.

But someone took it home, with all its scars and boo-boos, and I hope is still lovin' it.

I have an old cherry drop leaf table next to the sofa in our study.

Howard and I bought it many years ago in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, when we lived in Pittsburgh,
and it has served us as a kitchen table, a bedroom night stand, an entry table, a living room end table,
and now it holds a lamp, coasters, magazines and books in a cozy nook.

Upstairs in the Pink Bedroom, there's an Empire flame mahogany drop leaf table that I'm not yet sure what to do with.

It's got one large leaf, and becomes a lovely generous 5-legged square when that leaf is up.

It could be a card table, but I think it is a little large for that.

I have pink towels for overnight guests piled on the top, so I didn't take a picture of the whole table.

(Yes, we make our guests use a slop jar . . . . anything for antique authenticity.)

*********************************

There is a drop leaf table that I would love to

sling into the back of my trusty red minivan and haul home.

It lives in Virginia, and I saw it this past weekend at my niece Emily's antiques booth.

 

Square legs.  It has square legs, love them, and a drawer that just hollers "Empire!"
And fabulous wide board leaves.

But last week in Virginia, I already had a drop leaf table in my minivan,
one that I'd gotten at an auction Thursday night in Richmond at Alexander's auction house.
That one is still upside down in my minivan; it will be going to my booth, probably tomorrow.

You know, when I clicked "Auto Correct" in the photo program on the computer, I was hoping
it would mask out the wrapping papers and moving blankets scattered around the back of the minivan.
It did not.  Useless.

 I don't often see acanthus carved legs, so I really wanted this table.

 The wood you see behind that leg, above,
is the top to this, below, which is also reclining in the van:

Another auction "win" for me, but that's a whole 'nother tale.

*******************************

Anyway, if you are in Virginia and wondering what to do around Ashland, go visit

Hickory Creek Antiques on England Street.  Emily's booth, Ha'Penny Vintage,

is the second on the left as you enter. You'll know it because it's the nicest.  I am not at all biased.  Really.

Emily's Ha'Penny Vintage blog is here.

On this warm and sunny Friday, I'm off to Philadelphia with my sister.

Play nice while I'm gone! -- Cass

Link Parties to visit and love:

Feathered Nest Friday makes its home at French Country Cottage.  Click here!

The Charm of Home features Home Sweet Home on Fridays.  Click here!

It's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground.  Click here!
Miss Mustard Seed hosts the Furniture Friday Feature.  Don't miss it! -- Click here!

 

Death of a Camera, Birth of a Business

I knew it was coming.
For several months, its pictures weren't as sharp as they once were.
Its Macro setting would no longer Mac.
Its batteries lasted 12-and-a-half minutes before draining.


But on Sunday, when my little Canon Power Shot digital camera would not
take any pictures at all, insisting that every card I inserted was locked . . .

I knew it was time.

Goodbye, old friend.

And a temporary Hello to my nemesis, Howard's Nikon D3000, which I try my darnedest to use

like a simple point-and-shoot, because that's my level of expertise with cameras.

Admit it, that's one scary looking camera.

It's heavy, it makes me use the view finder thingy, it's cumbersome, it asks me to think . . . 

but it does make that nice, satisfying chunk-chunk sound when the shutter opens and shuts.

Like a real camera.

****************************************

 So, you say, what about this Birth of a Business stuff?

Well, you see, it's like this.

I really enjoy the hunt for old stuff.  Furniture, mostly, which is why right now there are way too many legs

in my sunroom, and only two of them are attached to me, and only four are attached to the dog.

The others are attached to oddball pieces of furniture that I brought home

because I couldn't not bring them home.

Does that make sense?

Dion DiPoochy, lower right, is not so sure about all of this.

 Last Thursday I went to Pennsylvania and brought home 3 small tables

and one old nursery rocker with a splint seat.

On Saturday, Howard and I circled New Jersey, and came home with a wrought iron patio table and chairs.

It's in storage now, but it will get fresh paint before Spring.  It is an old, very heavy set.

At that seller's, I spotted a huge and weighty old serving tray, silverplate, with gorgeous curves,

that had been painted white and was serving as the cover for their outdoor recycling bin.

The owner was very surprised when I wanted it.  Did I mention it was covered with mud when I spotted it?

Yes, it came home with us.  Wait till you see it; no pics yet, it's too gruesome.

Also found on Saturday: a small kitchen table, and four chairs that we are using

around the oak table in the Sunroom.  But that small kitchen table?  It's in storage, too.

On Sunday, we picked up some estate-sale leftovers.

Are you getting the picture?

From my PA trip -- a one-drawer stand with reeded legs.  Will be painted.

Also from PA -- a small table; it too will be painted,
but the top will be polished and waxed, left natural.

Not all veneer is bad veneer!

From PA - I love this table.  Arts & Crafts?  Asian?  Rustic?
Whatever it is, it's getting sanded and painted.  Black.

From the estate sale "dregs," a small trumeau mirror.
I can't bear to tell you how little we paid for this sweet old thing.

Yes, it needs a good cleaning, both glass and frame.
I will leave it in the old gold color - I think it suits.

Also from the estate sale leftovers - a professionally framed picture.
Ink and watercolor.  Just needs a bit of cleaning.

What brought us out spelunking for junk on Sunday was this table, found on Craigslist: 

 It's not often that my heart flips over for a Craigslist find, but this one was special.

It was listed at $25.  I called right away.

When I saw it, and realized that the top is just 3 wide boards -- one for each leaf, one for the center (although sadly

the top has a split for most of its length) -- and that it's got the wackiest pattern of use & abuse from decades past,

along with a fabulous color and patina . . . well, I had to have it.  This old gal is old.

"How much?" Howard asked.

"Ummm . . . twenty?" said the seller.

Sold.

I haven't yet turned this table upside down to get intimate with her and learn more of her story.

But I will.

Am I nuts that I love those old scars?

Don't answer that!  :-P

***********************************************

So, what about that business tease?

I'm doing what I need to do so as not to end up on an episode of Hoarders someday:

I am taking a booth at an antiques mall not far from here.

This means that I can continue to hunt and bag trophies, and choose to either keep them

or pass them on to someone who will love them, too.

I'll share my process and my set-up with you; right now I'm still figuring out

how much I can fit in a little 6-foot-by-9-foot space!  Howard just shakes his head.

Happy Monday; I hope yours is sunny and your only blues are in the sky!  -- Cass

Random Shots for Sunday Favorites

Ah, it is Sunday, this Blogger's Day Of Rest, thanks to Chari of Happy To Design, who hosts Sunday Favorites and lets us recycle old stories. And as you know, recycling is A Good Thing.

Two months ago, my computer was on the fritz,
and had flown home to the Mothership for repair. I improvised.

**************************************************

(July 21st, Somewhere In New Jersey) -- If you have read my last few posts, you know I have not been able to load new pictures onto my temporary computer -- which is really my daughter Anne's laptop. Very frustrating; I love posting pictures -- usually too many!

So today I went into my blogger pictures album and chose some favorites from past posts -- including the picture that started it all.

Now . . . let's see if I can figure out how to load these pictures . . .
Yes! I can. (I am ridiculously proud of this.)

So, let's flip through a very personal little album of favorite pictures of That Old House.

Ring our high-tech doorbell,

and come on in.

We'll just wander around a bit, ok?
Please excuse any dust -- remember it is a protective coating for fine antiques.

I think my favorite room of all is our parlor. I fell in love with this room, naked.

The parlor was naked, not I.

It's just got such good bones:

(Much nicer than mine, which considering the fact that I am 120 years younger
than this room, is rather humbling. I creak more than these floors do!)

I have pictures of this room, furnished, but it's not done yet to my liking,
and these are favorite pictures I am sharing -- so you get the naked parlor pictures today.

Not so the dining room, which wasn't such a beauty in its naked state:

That's piles and piles of heavy draperies and elaborate lace sheers on the floor. They were donated to a thrift shop, and I hope have found a happy new life. The light fixture went also, replaced by a crystal jobby that looked way bigger in real life than it had on the Internet.

It's a bit over the top, but you can do that in a dining room.

We certainly go over the top at Christmas; I love this room at the holidays!

I wish I had a picture of the rest of the dining room all gussied up for Christmas.

Next year I will take more pictures!

For summer, I had planned on replacing the gold draperies with lots and lots of sheer creamy white -- floaty and dreamy. But, life interfered, and that particular project didn't get done.

We use the dining room a lot; it's cool in the summer, and always tidy and rather serene,
which is more than I can say for the rest of the house!

But this is my favorite use of That Old House:

Packed with young people.

This was taken after our House Blessing party in March -- these are friends of our daughters, who hung on afterward, helped us clean up (bless them), and talked well into the wee hours in the conservatory.

Ah, yes, the conservatory.

The newest part of That Old House is only ten years old, and it's a people magnet. We all love it, and although I am not yet happy with its looks, I do enjoy this room. It's especially fun in the winter:

Great fun, watching the snow fall. Coming downstairs and finding thick ice on the windows...

not as much fun, but at least the ice is all outside, and it's warm inside!

At Christmas, I loved sitting in the study, and looking at the big fresh tree in the conservatory:

Among the favorite pictures I found while browsing the online blogger album,
is this one of the bed in our yellow guest room:

Doesn't that look inviting? Love the light coming through the window, and I wish you could see the glass, closeup. It's incredibly wavy and wiggly, as the glass has melted over the decades into charming patterns. I haven't been able to get good closeups of the wavy glass in any of the rooms. Any hints?

Well I could keep posting pictures till I ran out of them, but

I will close with the picture that started it all:

Back in March 2007, I was browsing through Internet real estate listings, and a picture popped open of an old yellow house, slightly abandoned looking, with crooked dark green shutters, some scraggly landscaping -- and my heart actually skipped a beat. It was love at first sight.

I told my husband that evening that I'd found "our house."

"Fine," said he, "but we've got a contract to buy another house."

Fate intervened, and 12 months after I first saw this listing, we bought That Old House. The honeymoon isn't over yet.

I think it looks a little more lived-in now, but we've got a long way to go:

end of old post

See you Monday! I'm hoping to sneak out to a rummage sale at a
local historical society today. Sshhh... don't tell Howard! -- Cass