Managing Vintage Collections: My one rule

(Originally penned for the Metrolina Restore Blog…)

 In the short span of a few years I have gone from collecting nothing to collecting many things. Some of these collections were intentional, but a large number of them were accidental…as in, wow, I have 3 (or 5 or 15) of these…that’s a collection, right?! I have such a strong love for vintage but I realized in the last year especially that I have to be pickier about what I buy- because at some point you cross the line from collector to hoarder as my savvy and organized ReStore blogsister Jennifer Burnham from Pure and Simple Organizing often gently reminds me. How do you decide? It’s not easy, but  I think it’s much better to shop for vintage with intention, and this is a big part of it!

I am going to share the plan I instituted last year; it’s quite simple, really. My one main rule is this: if I cannot display it, I cannot buy it. This does two really good things for me. It forces me into some truly creative display and it also means I have to say no sometimes. As someone who adores all things vintage,  I’m sure you can guess which one is easier for me!

The creative display piece is fantastic- it means I get to come up with personal and meaningful displays and then add to them when appropriate. It means my walls and shelves are full of memories and this is what I truly enjoy. It means I get to scour and source magazines and Pinterest for clever display ideas and interpret them for vintage items- all things I love. Here are some examples:

Vintage Bar Trays, hung on wall:

 

 

Midcentury Bathroom Items in clusters on shelves:

Childhood Vacation spots:

Vintage Swans:

Saying no is harder. I have to say no to myself when I find a perfect object but know I have no space for it. I am also now approached quite often by people with vintage items to sell or even to give me. Saying no to someone who is trying to sell to me is definitely easier…the hardest thing of all is saying no to someone, a close friend or family member, perhaps, that offers me an item, or a group of items “because they know I like the 50s”.  Many people, myself included, just want an item to end up going to a home where it will be truly appreciated- so the intention here is always good and I understand that. And, don’t get me wrong, I have found many great items this way. But I can’t and shouldn’t have it all– some other people should be able to enjoy these nostalgic items too, right? Once I instituted my ‘must display’ philosophy this made saying no in these situations much clearer and actually a bit less painful.

Auntie Mame Mags and Books:

So far this is the plan that has worked for me. I allow myself one closet and some small storage areas inside my house- and that’s it. It holds me accountable to be sure I collect only the things I truly love and leave the others for someone else who will enjoy them even more than I would. And, I often swap out the décor inside my house, as I find new things or decide I will switch things around a bit  I know I can always donate items back so they will have a chance at another life with a new vintage collector that will appreciate it’s history or -best of all-have an actual nostalgic connection with the item.

How do you manage your collections and vintage hunting?

Quick Check Ins=Treasures

(Originally penned for the Habitat Metrolina Restore…)

People are always asking me how I am able to find such good deals at the Restore. One of the best ways to ensure that you are getting the best deals possible is to shop often. It makes sense; it’s statistical- the more you go, the more chances you have to find something special. But everyone’s really busy and it’s hard to make the time, right? I have the solution!

My shopping style typically is slow; I like to circle the store a few times and then really get in there, move things around and dig through for the treasure. But like most people I don’t always have time for that so sometimes I just stop as I am driving by and do a what I call a ‘quick check’. I allow myself  fifteen minutes to see what I can find, and that’s it! I walk in the store, set the timer and go. At the end of the fifteen minutes I head to the register with whatever I have gathered.

Here are some items from one such quick stop last week at the Charlotte Restore on Wilkinson Blvd.

These midcentury curved back club chairs and tufted sofa-all just waiting

for new fun upholstery:

The maple low side table, perfect for the chairs and couches of the time (like above):

That’s almost a whole living room for well under $200!

I gasped when I saw this fab-tastic Thomasville dining room set complete with 6 chairs and a leaf for the table- all in great condition:

Add this kitschy wooden carved fork and spoon wall art- perfect for every mid mod dining area:

There’s your dining room, also under $200.

There was a big exotic Asian influence during the midcentury as well. Check out this great planter which could easily be repurposed as a table centerpiece, perhaps on the above dining table  or could also double as a stylish catch all for TV remotes:

This beautiful ceramic tea set that could be used for either tea or home décor- or both:

That was a lot of value for a quick stop! Try the 15 minute quick check yourself and let me know what you find!

Vintage Gifting tips and ideas for Mother’s Day

(Originally penned for the Habitat Metrolina Restore Blog…)

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching- mark your calendars for Sunday, May 7th! Why not get a little creative and clever this year? Giving vintage is a great way to give a unique gift that shows you put real thought into the person and the item! What does your Mom like to do or how does she like to spend her time? Think about that and start shopping early- looking for something specific is always a bit more challenging when you are shopping vintage. Here are some great vintage gifting ideas to get you started.

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1. Does your Mom like to entertain?

ModB Gift Idea: Vintage Linens: tablecloths, placemats, and napkins.

2. Does your Mom enjoy fashion?

ModB Gift Idea : Vintage Jewelry and purses have been making a huge comeback for some time now and can often be found at the ReStores as well as this fab midcentury dish- perfect for storing and display of vintage pins and earrings.

3. Was your Mom’s sweet tea or lemonade the VERY BEST you can remember?

ModB Gift Idea: Spring Pitchers and glasses with a note that hers was always the best….

4.Does your Mom pride herself on baking?

Mod B Gift Idea: Vintage cake stand or pie plate to display her perfect dessert!

5.Does your Mom love to travel or have a favorite vacation spot?

Mod B Gift Idea: Vintage framed postcard or map of favorite travel destinations. (Check inside vintage books for great pics and maps of destinations as well!)

Hopefully this is enough to get your creative juices flowing…what are some of your creative ideas for vintage Mother’s Day Gifts?

Easy Holiday Vintage Gift Giving Ideas from Mod Bettie- all available at Vintage Charlotte

It’s time to start thinking about vintage gift giving and as usual, you have a long list, right? Let me pass along my top quick and easy and memorable vintage gifting ideas so you can check some of those names off your list- pronto!

1.Vintage Trays and Tins

Everyone loves to receive your baked goods around the holidays…why not gift them in or on a reusable vintage tin or tray? It makes a beautiful and more memorable presentation than tissue or bags and can be used continually throughout the holidays!

Vintage trays with a nostalgic image are perfect to deliver holiday treats!

2. Vintage Ornaments

Of course I love these for their traditional use on the tree but they make such a heartwarming presentation when attached to gifts, used at table place settings/ or centerpieces, around the buffet table or even given as party favors throughout the holidays.

Ornaments can be used to decorate gifts and add a vintage touch.

3.Vintage Mugs

These make an adorable presentation when gifted with tea, hot cocoa, candy or vintage linens. Vintage soup mugs can be gifted with gourmet crackers or bags of soup mix.

Dried soup with a vintage mug and vintage napkins makes a great gift!

Vintage Santa mugs and hot chocolate

 

 

4. Vintage Cocktail Glasses

Want to bring the best hostess gift at your next party?  Vintage Champagne coupes with a bottle of bubbly will do the trick, every time…trust  me! See also: vintage pilsners or mugs with a local craft beer, or some swanky lowballs with a favorite liquor- both an equally fab option.

Adding a bottly of bubbly to vintage chamapgne coupes makes you the most welcome guest!

So give the gift of fond nostalgia and give vintage for the holidays! Check out the Vintage and Craft Pop-Up Holiday Shop on November 15 from 11-6 at The Fillmore at the NC Music Factory for these and other great vintage gifting ideas from Mod Bettie and over 50 vintage and craft vendors; stop by and say hi at the Mod Bettie Booth!

Swank up your Style with Vintage Bar and Glassware

There are so many mod vintage bar treasures to be found at the Metrolina Habitat ReStores!

Check out my guest blog post here on the many different types of  mod bar collectibles and fun cocktail party gear that can be unearthed at your nearest ReStore.

Happy hunting and Cheers~

 

ModBettie’s Rules of Thrifting and The Universe: Patience is a Virtue (Arrggggh!)

When you make a decision that you are going to re-do your house in midcentury and vintage furniture in the way that I have chosen to do- at first it all sounds really great: the hunting around, chasing stuff down, finding and getting deals-what FUN!

You start to feel that things are shaping up and there are some really great areas in your house of which you are proud …maybe you even put them on Instagram and you think it would be fun to blog and share your finds. It’s all rolling along nicely and then–something happens.

Your parents or your in-laws call, and they want to come over and see ‘all the fun things’ you’ve done to the house. Or, maybe its the holidays- pick any one of them, it doesn’t matter, and everyone wants you to host.

Or, your boss or your spouse’s boss or the First Lady calls and wants to come over for drinks or tea—eeesh! These events can be all-of -sudden enough to send any of us (read: me) into a bit of an override. Why? Because the house, although “shaping up nicely” isn’t ready or  “done” –whatever the heck that means.

Furnishing your house with vintage treasures does provide a very specific challenge: if you are on a budget and seeking them out one hunt at a time it is naturally going to be a big waiting game.

Now this can be a huge part of the fun if you adore the thrill of the hunt as I do, and makes the finding of a long sough-after item that much sweeter, believe me! But the opposing side of this is that these midcentury items are scarce so unfortunately you cannot conjure the perfect item at the perfect price out of the air for your house at any given moment when someone is coming over to scout it all out!

You have to WAIT until it arrives and plops itself in your way and beckons you to purchase it. You have to WAIT to find that perfect vintage sofa, couch or table-because these vintage items are just not readily available, and frankly that is a big  part of what makes them oh-so-deliciously appealing! So having patience with your hunt becomes truly important, and to me, quite honestly, is a reoccurring lesson in itself, and a probably a good metaphor for life.

You have to learn to ACCEPT your house as it is at any given time in it’s evolvement –even when the Queen of England has decided to come over, it’s your turn to host book club, or whatever else it may be that is sending you into a personal meltdown. Because, after all it is about the journey, and vintage seekers are always going to have a great journey and a fab story at the end to tell…

Patience may be a virtue, but acceptance is truly divine: both in house decorating and life!

How do you deal with thrifting as you decorate your home? Is it ever truly done?

Swanky Vintage Gift Giving-Part 2: Getting Creative and Giving Vintage!

In part one of our vintage gifting series we told you the 3 secrets to making vintage gift giving more personal. But during the holidays we are often required to give gifts to people that we don’t know as well– this can sometimes make gift shopping stressful for many people. How do you give something that’s creative and unique while being both recycled and affordable? Giving vintage is your answer! And I am here to show you how to give vintage to everyone on your list this year. Giving vintage does require a little creativity on the part of the giver and so thinking ahead is key- but here are some of my very quick vintage gift ideas to help you check those items off your gift list.

Teacher’ Gift: Ceramic Apple or Jam Jar; copy of a vintage book or elementary reader (a’la Dick and Jane):

Hostess Gift: Vintage candy dish, vintage serving utensil or tray, vintage teacup & saucer, vintage thermos or insulated bottle (Some these may not be appropriate for actual use today, fyi, but still make a very creative gift!):

Travelsmith: vintage maps, vintage travel posters & brochures, vintage luggage:

Coffee or Tea Lover: vintage mugs, coffee cups and kitchen canisters:

Cook/ Chef /Baker: Vintage bakeware, vintage kitchen utensils, vintage cookbooks, vintage apron:

Fashionista: vintage bag, brooch, scarf, fashion mag, fashion poster, compact, sweater pin:

Cocktail/Party Lovers: vintage barware, trays, bar accessories:

Audiofile: vintage vinyl, vintage turntable or console, vintage speakers

and/or

Hipster: vintage ties, vintage watch, framed vintage album cover or retro ad from vintage magazine:

And, don’t forget the kids! What about a vintage board game, vintage toy or favorite vintage book from your own childhood to pass down the old-style family gaming/ bedtime story tradition? And teach them how to play it so you can win at something against them for a change-if you’re lucky:

So many of these items can be found for so much less than you’d ever pay for a current item at full retail, so I love the idea of adding in little extras to make the gift more fun and thematic. You can always personalize the gift by adding your favorite tea or coffee to the mugs or canisters, cookie or soup mix to any baking items or insulated jars, a coffee shop gift card to any vintage book and of course a bottle of liquor, wine or festive champagne to round out your barware gift if you are inclined to spend a little more!

So give MORE than just an average run-of-the-mill store bought ‘ole new gift this year…give a little piece of history by giving vintage! You’ll likely save money in the process, give a truly unique and memorable gift and have a great time shopping too–antique stores and vintage markets and are so much more fun for shopping outings and usually less crowded than the mall. So, have a fab fun shopping season giving vintage to everyone you know and share the ideas and pics if you are so inclined…I’d love to see!

Swanky Vintage Gift Giving: Part 1-Make It Personal

It’s that time of year again….time to start thinking about gift giving!

Too early, you say? Halloween is hardly over, you say?  Hey, unique gift giving requires some thought and planning, and Mod Bettie is here to help you figure out how to give a gift that is thoughtful, personal and has some authentic history wrapped in TO BOOT! Plus, if you’re giving vintage you may need a little extra time to plan trips to some of those secret outlying thrift stores to do your shopping!

Admittedly for this first group of ideas you may have to do some sneaky sleuthing to find out a few things before you start your vintage hunt for your beloved giftee, but being sneaky is fun, right? Here are a few ideas to get you going. In the end, you’ll win most creative gift giver of the holiday season!

ModBettie Vintage Gift Giving Tip 1: Use the dates to make it personal.

Many vintage items are dated, and if you can find out the birth year or anniversary year or any other important year to your giftee…the world of vintage gift giving will open up of you and you can personalize the gift using the date.

Easily found vintage items with dates that I love to own and to gift: tea towel calendars, calendar plates, figurines (look on the underside of the item for the date) and books! You’ll probably score a gift giver gold star for this one: a vintage version of a favorite book in a special year for the giftee.  The copyright dates for books are usually on first few pages.

  

ModBettie Vintage Gift Giving Tip 2: Keep family history and memories alive via items.

Have you ever been in a thrift or resale store, placed your eyes on an item and been immediately transported back in time to your favorite relative’s house with a fond memory? Whether it’s your mother’s china pattern, your grandma’s cookie jar or tea pitcher, that favorite book (Books again! Can you tell I love to give and receive books? ) your aunt used to read to you…the item is just the carrier and the memory is the true gift! A walk through your local thrift shop may be all it takes to find out this kind of info from your giftee…people typically can’t contain themselves when they see something from their past. Make mental notes and go back and grab!

ModBettie Vintage Gift Giving Tip 3: Locale is key!

Places hold history and personal memories for people as well. Many vintage items can be found with cities, states and countries on them that can hold significance for your giftee. Birthplace, hometown, formative years, college town, favorite vacation spot, favorite sports team…these can be found on vintage mugs, plates, glassware, postcards etc. A vintage map of a significant city or picture of a special place to the recipient can also be a great gift. This may be more of a vintage hunt to track down these specific items- but if you feel up for the challenge-just keep your eyes peeled and start looking-you’ll be surprised at what you can find!

Being a vintage gift giver is a unique and fun way to show people that you are truly interested in the things that are meaningful to them. It’s green, because you are recycling items and you are usually supporting a very worthy non-profit when you shop at most of the larger chain-type thrift stores–so you can feel good about where your money is going!  So get to your favorite thrift or resale shop and check some items off of your list!

Keep me posted on your great vintage gift ideas and finds and in the next segment I’ll cover some less specific but still very creative vintage gifting–so stay tuned!

Going off the Grid…or Out of Town, at least, for the MidCentury Treasure Hunt

(RePost from the Metrolina ReStores Blog)

I had a great opportunity yesterday to travel with my blog sisters on a ReStore field out of the Charlotte to a ReStore in Hickory, NC. I know in my thrifting heart that their are many BIG mod deals to be had in smaller towns-less people looking for them there, statistically-but truthfully,  my crazy busy schedule has prevented much travel outside Charlotte recently. Boy was I glad I went!

First of all, when we pulled up to the Hickory ReStore, there was a huge sign out front…a sign that makes all shoppers hearts immediately go aflutter: “50% OFF “….and that was on everything in the store that was over $1.  Yowza! We all practically burst out of the blogger van like Shopping Superheroes and ran in side to see what goodies awaited us!

You never know what you’ll find a ReStore, and this one had lots of stuff that I haven’t typically seen  in a ReStore–like large bolts of fabric and some very cool vintage vinyl from 50s 60s 70s and even 80s–Rick Springfield anyone? These were .25 each-all the time! I love to listen to them and use them for decoration in LP frames:

They also had lots of Holiday items out including Halloween items and costumes and I picked up some fab vintagey Christmas goodies:

In a case upfront they had these two beauties, unmarked headvases in the style of Lefton or Napco which I adore:

And a perfect midcentury amber genie bottle (far right) with finial  stopper to add to my existing glass collection:

And a sought after midcentury decor item I have really been wanting to happen up on for awhile:

A swank mid mod Samsonite round vintage suitcase! The inside is in great condition and it also had the key tucked away in a pocket —this almost never happens–score! All for 50% OFF the already low ReStore prices, so wowee, this really reinforces the travel-to-get-the-best-deals ideas. This wasn’t all I got, mind you…just a few of the most special items, so it was completely worth the trip.

So what are you waiting for? Get outta town, do some thrifting and see what you can find–I’d love to hear all!