Fall Shopping Tips-Welcome to PA DUTCH COUNTRY!

Whether it feels like it or not, fall is on the way!  There are many great places to shop for unique treasures in my area and if you are lucky enough to be in day trip distance, I'd like to share some with you! I generally consider myself in a PRIMITIVE hot spot.  Farmhouse and shabby is plentiful in PA Dutch Country.  One great thing about my area is that work and spending ethics of the prior generations led many to hold onto their items so we are good picking for not only primitives, but MCM as well.  Some great fall shopping can start at the great flea markets and antique shows in the area.  Renningers Antiques (renningers.net) hosts 3 EXTRAVAGANZA's throughout the year and the final weekend is September 22-24. The Kutztown location offers Thurs-Sat shopping and Adamstown, about a 1/2 hour southwest is open Sunday.  Make sure your grab a $1 off coupon on their website towards admission!  The market is all outdoors and vendors bring all sorts of goodies. Be prepared to wheel and deal!  There is great food inside the farmers market to grab a cooler and take home some PA DUTCH delicacies.  Don't forget to stop by Fleetwood Antique Mall, fleetwoodantiquemall.com just south of Kutztown!  My space is on the 2nd floor, rear but there are a few others selling MCM so check them out!  The mall has a very unique selection of curiosities and it is a fun stop.  GRQ used furnishings is housed there at the moment as well so many nice things at reasonable prices. 

Another fun place to shop is Jakes Flea Market http://www.jakesfleamarket.com in Barto on Route 100 just north of Boyertown.  Open Sat and Sun, the earlier you arrive, the better.  By noon most vendors are packing up or already gone.  Also pop in Fensty's Flea Market http://fenstysfleamarket.com which is just north as you head into Bally.  This indoor market has just expanded and includes a bid board area, flea market and many vendors.  They have hours Friday-Sunday, with an anchor shop, Another Man's Treasure, having some weekday hours.  

My favorite Flea market has to be Shrupp's Grove http://shuppsgrove.com/ . It is in a wooded area and under the shade of trees.  It almost feels like a fair.  This market is open Sat and Sun and is in Adamstown, south of Reading.  Adamstown is full of retail antique shops and you really need a few days to get through them all.  You will need to pick to find great deals but the selection cannot be beat.  This is definitely a higher priced zone so if you are shopping on a budget, be prepared for sticker shock! 😜 

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some fall flea markets and I surely hope things cool off soon around here!  There is nothing like a good road trip and keeping your eyes peeled for thrifts and sales is so much fun.   

Not in my area?  No worries!  I ship almost everything in my inventory!  

Need more inspiration?  Please check out this great blog post on Invaluable, which even cites Bucks County PA as a top place to shop......I agree, but you need a fat bank roll.  It is a great area to visit and I usually hit the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, NJ just across the Delaware River,  a few times a year.  :)   http://www.invaluable.com/blog/roadmap-for-summer-antiquing-in-america/

SHOP NEWS

I have been working hard the last few weeks and things are moving out.  If you have your eyes on something, don't wait much longer!  I still have some beautiful restored chairs looking for homes and many fun lights.  Reach out at anytime with questions or to request shipping info.   

I am adding new items to the etsy shop often. Please check back.  My eBay shop (eBay.com/usr/madmodworldvintage) is featuring new items I get from my wholesaler, Primitives by Kathy. Very cute items I feel enhance my brand.  I just added a nice collection of cotton throw rugs/door mats I feel are perfect for home or camp!  The booth space is stocked with Halloween and I just sold some larger items so added some new pieces.  Getting ready to restore some ceramic Christmas trees and beef up my listings for the holidays! 

Xo Malissa

These beauties are still available! 

Check out the new items at the shop!  

The Art of Researching Art

I am currently en route to Washington DC for a weekend of museum hopping, hotel lounging and city walking.  The family is focused on the fun but I am focused on all things Bruno Mankowski. Months back, I picked up a lovely sculpture from an estate clean out that featured a kneeling nude woman.   I was quickly drawn to her as my late Aunt would have loved her.  I put her crusty self in my pile.  It was not until I got her home and started to clean 3 years of vacant home filth off of her that I realized she was not a 70's ceramic project, but a signed original sculpture.  But the next question that comes to mind was.,...who is Bruno Mankowski?  After some web searching, I found out he was a WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) Artist.  FDR 's great contribution to keeping America working after the depression consisted of National Parks construction projects and art for public spaces like post offices and government buildings.  These working artists were commissioned to beautify our spaces.  Mankowski had the opportunity to replace an ailing sandstone cornice in the capital with his granite piece.  I hope to find it this weekend during our tour.  I also found out that he was known as a bronze medal sculptor.  This info was available searching the web.  I found 2 old auction listings with my nude lady pictured.  I really have no reason to believe they are the same one I have so he maybe cast more than one.  Apparently that is normal during the sculpting process.  One for sure has different toes than mine.  How many ladies are out there?  What is she made of? Why was she made?!  I also found, during my web searching, that upon the artists death (1903-1991), his records and catalog were donated to the American Art Archives in Washington, DC., by his dealer.  There are 200 photographs of his works, letters and other artifacts and they are available, by reservation, for free perusal!  Well, that is all I needed plus 2 kiddos begging to see museums.  So here we are, sitting poolside in the Embassy Suites, awaiting a day of fun and exploration!   My appointment is Friday at 9:30, I am headed there after breakfast.  I hope I can uncover some facts about her but most important, learn more about this man and help preserve his legacy by telling his story!  By the time you email folks get this update, I will be buried in my box of Mankowski or perhaps still being checked in and briefed!  Stay tuned for more but I will need to ask how to have my photos approved for publishing so that might delay my post a bit.  Enjoy some pics of our evening exploring the National Mall. 

Resting at sunset on the lawn by the Washington Memorial.  

Gorgeous but hot evening! 

The beautiful White House. 

The circus has already started, or maybe it never ends here! ?

Wish me luck! ✌🏼️  

Malissa

Hot Hot Hot new items.

A quick note that the sexy club chairs are SOLD and waiting for delivery.  The Heywood Cocktail table is complete and waiting for reassembly and delivery in a few weeks.  I have more Heywood to do.  The kids and I swapped some things around in the booth today and left this gorgeous new acquisition:  Broyhill Emphasis serving/bar on casters.  It's walnut with a matte black top.  Lots of storage and portable.  Even the back is finished.  Available in the etsy shop for regional buyers or those who want to arrange shipping.  I will deliver within 3 hours drive or so.  Reach out!  

Features drop leaves!  A real awesome piece!   Now on display at the Fleetwood Antique Mall!  Route 222 just south of Kutztown, PA

Also new in the Camping shop!  Pick up at the Mall or in the eBay shop, http://m.ebay.com/seller?sid=madmodworldvintage&nav=MYEBAY Cotton door mat (reversible) with 'Happy Campers Live Here' on one side and 'Welcome Where Friends and Marshmallows Get Toasted at the Same Time'. So cute! $20 (plus ship online)  

Party on the front, quick flip when the ranger shows up!  😜🍻 

Please stop by my new eBay shop!  I am still on 'probation' because I have not reached 25 sales and really need to reach that so things will run smoothly.  Right now, they are holding a large chunk of money from a sale I had 2 weeks ago and my buyer received the item last week.  I will not see the money until next Friday.  It's enough that I am disgusted they will not accept the delivery receipt as proof and release the funds immediately.  Their policy sucks and it won't go away until I have 25 sales. I have $10 items so come check it out.  HAPPY CAMPER kitchen towels are back in stock on eBay and at the mall!  They are great quality! 

Cotton kitchen towel.  Perfect for a vintage camper! 

Special!  I just picked up a few Kantha quilts at a SPECIAL price!  Offering $35 shipped or $25 local pick up,  (regularly $50 plus $10 shipping!) Please email me your preference by blanket number with your PayPal email and I will send an invoice. choices are here: 

Gorgeous, twin size.  Hand quilted in India of vintage Saris.  So pretty!  Take to the beach, pool, picnic, camper and so much more!  They are beautifully boho and so colorful!  Each side is a different blanket. 

Italian design is featured in this gorgeous pair of polypropelyne chairs by MaxDesign (Italy) designed by Hannes Wettstein.  Very stylish and in like new condition.  These chairs retail for $500 each and they are very well made for commercial or home use.  The white steel legs have great wood accents creating a dowel look, The seat is faceted and very comfy.    

In the eBay shop, European beauties! Not your average chair!  Sold by the pair, one moss, one white.

Follow all of my shops!  Etsy, EBay and Chairish! I cross list but there are items I can only sell in certain markets!  Thank you everyone for your support over the last few months!  Don't miss out on something you love!  Things are moving out now! Reach out for delivery arrangements, shipping quotes and more!  I will be in Washington DC next week and New Jersey (Newark and Philadelphia areas) the week after if anyone would like something delivered or can meet in the area. Keep cool! Xo Malissa 

Summer vacation research mission

If you remember earlier in the year, I picked up a fabulous sculpture at a vacant property and discovered she was an original piece.  Little could be found online but I do know the artist was a WPA artist and replaced a sculpture in the capital, was known as a bronze medalist and died in 1990.  I also found there are at least 2 other ladies like mine out there.  Well, I am happy to report that I just scheduled an appointment to view all records including catalog of works from Bruno Mankowski, housed in the Archieves of American Art, Washington DC.  The stop is being worked into a little vacation we are planning!  There are many free resources available to research items and this is the second time an art museum has housed something that I will be perusing.  Looking forward to learning more about this kneeling nude, as she is referred to. 

Kneeling Nude by Bruno Mankowski

My chairish listings are now live if you need shipping for the turquoise chair set.  They will arrange the shipper.  I cannot offer as cheap in that market, but I still feel I have this set priced under value.  It is totally fabulous!  Find the listings here: chairish.com/shop/madmodworldvintage  

Lots on the move as summer heats up so if you are eyeing something snap it up!  My diamond chair just found a home.  I will be inquiring about another in the area soon.  ✌🏼️.   My Heywood restorations are coming along but I keep getting sidetracked packing things for shipping and of course between my kid's swim schedule and my band rehearsals and practices, we are crazy busy this summer.  Here's a picture of the stain coming along.  I am ready for top coat and then need to sand the legs.  

All stained.  Ready for top coats! 

I had to take some more pics for chairish (they are picky) so here is a some new shot.  If you like Aqua, get in my etsy shop now as I have many cool things in your shade including the best pole lamp ever! ✌🏼️ 

Pair of club chairs now available on etsy for regional buyers, chairish for national shipping. See also the 2 PC settee couch and make an instant Aqua living room! 😍 

Xo Malissa