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

This week- coming adventure in Pyrex Swapping!

Next weekend I am going to be heading to my first Pyrex swap meet in the Baltimore, MD area!  I am really excited to meet up with other collectors and their families.  Should be a fun time and I already have a few trade deals hammered out so will have lots to tell when i get back!  For those of you who are interested, I will definitely do a write up on the experience!  This is a nicely organized event and I believe they are expecting about 75 collectors/shoppers plus family and support!  I am pretty much all packed- Pyrex wise, and will add some other goodies of interest from my inventory as I pack the van. 

Not sure what is up the with weather this week but it is cold and yucky once again in the Northeast.  I have a list of projects to do but am waiting for warmer sunny weather to spend days in my garage working.  Before I start my next restoration, I have a few things to finish on items I have listed.  The chrome dinette chairs I just listed will be taken apart so I can clean the chrome underneath.  There was a lot of surface rust on them, but it cleaned right off with some tricks.  I can get the underneath better by taking the legs off to finish.  I try my best to clean things up and these were very labor intensive, but I want them to look great for their new home.  That said, I also found out about another rust removal product I would like to try on the vinyl.  One chair has some rust stains on it.  Hoping this might do the trick.  Generally they are in ok shape and the pattern on the vinyl is so awesome!  Here is a look.

Set of 4 Dixie Dinette chrome kitchen chairs in fabulous atomic vinyl!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!  <3 <3 <3  Close up of this awesome pattern!  Dark blue, light blue, grey, metallic gold and silver.  It is fabulous!

Diamond Chair update:  I have this chair listed in a few major markets because, well, I know it is not for everyone.  I received a message from a lovely woman, Mary Thorp, who found my listing and thought enough to reach out and let me know she approved of my restoration work.  It makes me truly happy for feedback like this.  This woman founded the Harry Bertoia Research Project, which catalogs known pieces of his work.  Ms. Thorp is a lecturer, aficionado and expert on Bertoia.  Knowing how much the artist and his works are loved and admired, I am very proud to have gotten a response out of someone who is an expert in this area.  If you are lucky to own any original pieces of Bertoia sculpture, you may register them with her page.  Mary is an asset to preserving the legacy of the artist and his works.  Fabulous!

I think things are starting to move again.  I have had some sales over the weekend and things are shipping out.  A little relief in a stressful time as my husband is still on strike…..we are 5 weeks into it and growing weary and poor.  Thank you for your support as every sale is much appreciated!  Have a great week and look forward to a great review of the swap next week!  

xo Malissa