Thursday, October 3, 2013

Bonus -- What are you so afraid of??

We love to do creepy windows at the antique mall, mainly for two reasons.  One, we love Halloween and it's that time of year again.  Two, well -- let's just say we love a little dark and quirky and odd in our lives.

Since we're such collectors ourselves, we were interested in showing what a room would look like of someone who collected phobias.  We did research -- did you know the fear of clowns is coulrophobia?  And the fear of clocks is chronomentrophobia? Or the fear of string is linonophobia?

We tried to find the creepiest, weirdest things to put in the window.  Like dolls with no eyes, a metal rat sculpture on a marble base, an old dangerous-looking hackle with sharp points, black cats, and poison bottles.  We labeled everything with their phobia names, using large, old-fashioned style manila tags with twine.

The background was a find at a thrift shop -- a 1970s gold crushed velvet bedspread -- picked up for $4.  We took the fluorescent tubes out of the ceiling so we would just have the spotlights; it set the mood instantly, changing the super bright overhead lights to dim, moody lights.  Our handy faux brick panel, usually used as flooring, worked to cover the nook, acting as another wall.  We love to change the space, and make it feel different with each window. 


The real star of the window is the display cabinet.  It's got just the right amount of quirk to fit in perfectly...


We found an amazing radio that filled in the last space near the end of the window -- it sold a day after we finished the window.  Then one of the hands sold.  We know selling the items is the point of it all -- but after we've carefully curated it all, it's hard to see something go.


And here's the whole thing all together...


On the Radar -- Tartan Take Two

Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren Jacket, Fall/Winter 2013
We've totally talked about plaid already.  But we've talked about wool blankets and 1950s picnic items and our Scottish Christmas window display last year.  You can read about that here, here, and here.  We haven't talked about plaid clothing...

And it's everywhere this fall.  I mean, EVERYWHERE.  And yes, I love plaids and tartans of every color and form, but I also think that instead of just spending tons of money on new plaid, people should also revisit vintage plaid.

So here's a round up of some new plaids I love, with a quick sampling of all the vintage plaid goodies we have in our shop right now.  Enjoy!

Moschino, Fall/Winter 2013
Blumarine cape, Fall/Winter 2013
Mulberry, Fall/Winter 2013
Vintage Wool Plaid coat, $55, in our shop here.
Pendleton Wool Tartan Shell, $55, in our shop here.
1950s bow tie, $15, in our shop here.
1980s Gay Boyer madras belt, $12, in our shop here.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Junk Love: Which Witch?

Halloween is one of the Blackbird girls' favorite holidays, and one Blackbird mother is even crazier about the day than we are. So, for the month of October, my junk love mind will probably wander to vintage Halloween stuff more often than not. Today's journey is about witches.

The witch is the Blackbird mother's absolute favorite character from this holiday. She has collected Halloween items for years, and she has LOTS of items, but she is downright passionate about witchy stuff. She has so many things that, in a lot of cases, it is really hard to find an example that she doesn't already own. I decided to make this my quest today, so here is a selection of wish-list items that will make her drool if she ever sees this post.

As a fan of paper ephemera, of course I looked for those items first. These are my two favorites, both of which I have never seen before. I really want this place card:
Vintage 1930s Gibson witch place card, From Etsy

I also especially love this 1930s die cut witch because she is double sided, and the crepe cauldron is still in great shape.
Stirring and stirring and stirring my brew..., On Etsy
This is probably the cutest candy container I have found. Yeah, she's got her broom, but she certainly doesn't need it to go fast (even though the $300 price might slow me down a bit)....
Vintage Rosbro witch on motorcycle candy container, On Etsy

We always look for vintage Halloween post cards as birthday or Christmas gifts for the Blackbird mother, and this is one that absolutely cracks me up (and it's another item that I've never seen anywhere before).
Vintage Halloween post card, From Etsy
And here are the budget-busters (yeah, the candy container is super-expensive, too, but these are special because they are incredibly rare). The first is a limited edition vintage Ouija-style game called The Salem Witch Board. The board itself is plywood, and has great graphics printed around the border of witches and other Halloween-y stuff (hehe..."weenie"). The instructions state: "The Salem Witch Board is a talking number board used in the attempt to contact the Spirit World through the use of 66 different numbers, each with their own meaning." This one is for sale on Etsy for $125.
Vintage Salem Witch Board game; On Etsy
The second is a very rare fortune-telling game from the 1920s. Even though I don't collect this stuff, I would be tempted to hang on to this if I ever came across it (Ssshhh! Don't tell....), but at $220, I'll sadly have to deny myself this one.
Vintage 1920s Fortune Wheel, On Etsy