It's been awhile since I've updated, and much has been afoot in that
meantime. We bought our first house last week! Things are crazy busy
getting ready for the move, work, and school. Thought I should stop by
and let you know that I'll be on hiatus from blog posting for at least a
few weeks. The shop will remain open as long as possible until we move
but then closed for a few weeks as well. When the dust clears from
this big undertaking I'll be back with more posts, and, of course, with
summer coming up quick, estate/yard/garage sale season promises *new*
vintage finds to share with all of you!
Photo: Our 1946 bungalow in Milwaukie, Oregon USA--isn't she a cutie? :)
Hope to see ya again in June!
ftvintage
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All items featured in this update are available now (or coming this week) to forrestina vintage. Our visit to the Oregon Coast at the end of March, and an estate sale trip around Portland this weekend brought us a bunch of *new* vintage treasures so be on the lookout for those as well! -
Tell us your name, location and something interesting about you.Good Day! ... My name is Martha Layton Smith I live in a little town about 30 miles west of Chicago as the crow flies and I am known among my friends as "McGuiver" because I can repair just about anything using random items!
How long have you been collecting vintage?I honestly think I was collecting Vintage finds before I even can remember. I still own my original tricycle, pedal car and all of the Barbie clothes and stuffed animals made by my Grandmother when I was a little one!
What got you into collecting and selling vintage?Seems I have been collecting forever. I saw a reusable purpose for things long before the reuse, recycle slogan was coined! After my father had passed in 1989... I happened to be driving past a newly established antique mall in my town. It was the anniversary of the date that my dad had died...I saw it as a sign...stopped in and from that day forward... I was hooked!
What are your favorite eras for vintage?I have to admit, I am all over the place with that. Every room in my home has a different theme. My kitchen is very 1930-40, dining room is Shabby Chic...white and chippy, My family room is Vintage travel and southwest...filled with kachinas. My main focus is industrial and retro. I have everything from old advertising signs to oil drums re-purposed as side tables in my living room. I love old globes, maps and vintage books! I have tons of Original Vintage art as well as oil paintings I have created. I love bright, bold graphics.
Where kinds of venues supply the majority of your vintage goods?I love a great flea market! My favorite is in Wisconsin.
Is vintage popular in the city/town where you live?Oh, yes. I was once the manager of a small home decor and Antique shop. I am now the assistant manager at Treasure house Resale Shop in Glen Ellyn, IL, as well as the curator of my own vintage booth at Lil' Red Schoolhouse in Warrenville, IL.
What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about your vintage business?The challenge is the lull between sales. I used to sell about 5 items daily. I have to admit, I have not been listing as much as I would like. My focus tends to be on helping others. I am team Captain for the Vintage Etsy Society Street Team (vestiesTeam ) on Etsy and that takes up lots of my time lately! ( not complaining at all... I love it!)
What kind of things are in your personal vintage collections?Vintage Children's books, readers, 30-40's kitchen items. Unusual globes ( love the colors in the old ones) I've just purchased, on Etsy, a wonderful art table from 1925 an Antique Chautauqua Traveling Teacher Art desk! I adore it! I love all vintage art, paints, brushes, Pastels and old tubes of oil paints in Art boxes!My Etsy Shop, my handmade shop, my fine art shop, on Twitter, my blog, and on Facebook.
Where can we find your goods and connect with you online? -
"America is my country and Paris is my hometown." ~Gertrude Stein
Buy 1 Get 1 Free -Paris...
$26.00
1950's DRAGON FRUIT...
$32.00
Lazy Sunday- 8x8 Origin...
$20.00
1960's TOWN & COUNT...
$135.00
UK Vogue 1958 Magazine ...
$10.00
Vintage 1940s White Eye...
$40.00
Vintage Round Mid Centu...
$45.00
Paris- Blooming- Origin...
$35.00
Four 4oz Travel Tin Soy...
$22.00
Prayers In A Pouch - Vi...
$6.00
Custom Storyville Kimon...
$250.00
Paris Chic Flea Market ...
$5.00
Vintage Madonna Creamwa...
$20.00
Pretty Pink Vintage Sui...
$100.00
Vintage Instant Collect...
$22.00
vintage Large Metal Doc...
$26.00 -
Tell us your name, location and something interesting about you.
Alexandra Keller, Tucson, AZ, and I used to dance in a Ukrainian dance troupe, Kashtan.
How long have you been collecting vintage?
Since college. It started with thrifting for cool clothes. I go in cycles where I collect a lot of things, and then clean house.
What got you into collecting and selling vintage?
I've always liked pieces with history. My family is from Ukraine, and we have treasures from the old country with all sorts of stories. Recently, the selling came from vintage jewelry I just couldn't take apart for Jewelry Recycled. Then I wandered into housewares one day. I purchase what I like, but I can't keep everything!
What are your favorite eras for vintage?
I used to be a shabby chic sort of girl, but now I'm favoring mid century modern.
What would be your ultimate vintage find?
The one yet to be found is a mint Chanel bag! My favorite find so far is this fantastic cigarette holder...
Where kinds of venues supply the majority of your vintage goods?
Mostly thrift stores and church shops. I've also been to some estate sales, but that's tougher with a toddler in tow.
Is vintage popular in the city/town where you live?
Oh, yes! I think a lot of older folks who have lived here held onto lots of great things. So there is a lot of vintage to go around.
What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about your vintage business?
I'm trying to keep my inventory at a more manageable level. I'm trying not to buy everything in sight! It's so hard to drive by a thrift store without stopping. The pull of thrifting is strong. I enjoy putting custom blocks together for people, and today I was able to sell a tin to a woman who had the same one as a child. I also really like to hear that customers liked the little 'extra' I may have tucked into their package, or that they liked the packaging. I try to make each purchase feel a little special with some ribbon or paper, more like a present.
What kind of things are in your personal vintage collections?
I have some great Vera Neumann blouses, a fantastic Halston handbag, and some mid century modern chairs which I had recovered. I have a thing for chairs, so I might sell some. But I'm sure I'll replace them with other chairs before long.
Where can we find your goods and connect with you online (include your links for Twitter, Facebook, Etsy, etc)?
Alex Keller Studio, Jewelry by Alex Keller, Vintage by Alex Keller, my blog, Twitter and Pinterest. -
Ingredients- Vegetable oil cooking spray
- 1 (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 cup (8 ounces) goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (see Cook's Note)
- 1 packed cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan
Cook's Note:Put an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Spray a baking sheet, liberally, with vegetable oil cooking spray. Set aside.
Mix the squash and onion together and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake for to 40 to 45 minutes until the vegetables are golden and cooked through. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
While the squash mixture is cooling, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water. Put the pasta, goat cheese and 1 cup of pasta water in a large serving bowl. Toss until the cheese has melted and forms a creamy sauce. Add the squash and onion mixture, the walnuts and the basil. Toss well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with Parmesan and serve.
To toast the walnuts, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly toasted, about 6 to 8 minutes Cool completely before using.
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