vintage haul
tiny treasures all destined for the shop. I'm terribly behind on adding my vintage finds to my Etsy shop. I hope to move many of the tiny treasures I'm hoarding from their perch on a vintage tray to their virtual perch on Etsy within the next couple of weeks.
two sterling silver bangle cuff bracelets, one diamond and 14k Victorian buttercup engagement ring, one pair of vintage clip on earrings, one set of sterling silver and garnet artisan made leaf earrings and brooch
two sterling silver bangle cuff bracelets, one diamond and 14k Victorian buttercup engagement ring, one pair of vintage clip on earrings, one set of sterling silver and garnet artisan made leaf earrings and brooch
giant photo enlargement under $5 / diy
I'd been trying to figure out what to hang over our bed.
we live in earthquake country so there's a rule that it can't be something in a heavy frame. there are so many beautiful pieces of art out there but I didn't want to invest much money into an unframed piece that we'd destroy quickly.
solution: OfficeMax's Oversized Printing option. This might be easier if done in-store but I chose the online option. It took a bit of work to trick the website into letting me print a photo in black in white on plain paper like an architecture print.
I uploaded a photo I'd taken with my iPhone -- nothing fancy. I found that if I clicked "Change Final Size" I could create a custom size of 20" x 30" -- the website interpreted this as a command to print as "Black and White Oversize - Single Sided."
I chose the option to pick it up at my nearest OfficeMax store and it was ready within a few hours
total bill: $4.24
result: we're beyond pleased with how it turned out
**update: I had another photo enlarged but this time I did it in person at the OfficeMax store and it was SO much easier. and they were super helpful. and I had sizing options. and they cut the borders around the photo to my specifications. and it took about 10 minutes. I'm hooked.
we live in earthquake country so there's a rule that it can't be something in a heavy frame. there are so many beautiful pieces of art out there but I didn't want to invest much money into an unframed piece that we'd destroy quickly.
solution: OfficeMax's Oversized Printing option. This might be easier if done in-store but I chose the online option. It took a bit of work to trick the website into letting me print a photo in black in white on plain paper like an architecture print.
I uploaded a photo I'd taken with my iPhone -- nothing fancy. I found that if I clicked "Change Final Size" I could create a custom size of 20" x 30" -- the website interpreted this as a command to print as "Black and White Oversize - Single Sided."
I chose the option to pick it up at my nearest OfficeMax store and it was ready within a few hours
total bill: $4.24
result: we're beyond pleased with how it turned out
**update: I had another photo enlarged but this time I did it in person at the OfficeMax store and it was SO much easier. and they were super helpful. and I had sizing options. and they cut the borders around the photo to my specifications. and it took about 10 minutes. I'm hooked.
vintage maintenance
filling our home with vintage treasures is a labor of love. vintage goods have had a lot of life but they've also seen a lot of use -- repairs are a normal part of owning a vintage piece
when J and I purchase a vintage chair, clock radio, table fan, we are making the commitment to have these things fixed, maintained, etc over the years. luckily, unlike newer household items in a similar price range, the older pieces were built to last and designed with the expectation that they would need to be repaired.
and, in contrast with having newer pieces repaired, the vintage pieces hold their value so nicely that the repairs often add value to the chair/clock/fan
I'm having the best time owning vintage pieces that occasionally need some fixing because the repair people who work on vintage treasures are generally exceptionally good at what they do. I've met an amazing jeweler, electronics repair extraordinaire, a seamstress so amazing I'm keeping her name secret, a custom cushion manufacturer, and an amazing appliance repair shop, just to name a few.
below are some two of the vintage pieces we've had worked on in the last month.
1. two mid century chairs: neither came with cushions so we went to Cushion Works in SF and they helped me choose the foam for the seat and back and cut them to size. they were beyond helpful.
2. a while back I mentioned that I rescued two clock radios from a pile of vintage plastic appliances while flea-marketing. at that very moment I happened to meet someone who repairs vintage clock radios and I made sure to take his information in case my radios were wonky. this Sylvania clock radio is back in action thanks to my flea market friend
not pictured: a ring taken into the jewelers to have a stone replaced, a mid century table fan having its innards cleaned so that the bearings don't make such a raucous.
when J and I purchase a vintage chair, clock radio, table fan, we are making the commitment to have these things fixed, maintained, etc over the years. luckily, unlike newer household items in a similar price range, the older pieces were built to last and designed with the expectation that they would need to be repaired.
and, in contrast with having newer pieces repaired, the vintage pieces hold their value so nicely that the repairs often add value to the chair/clock/fan
I'm having the best time owning vintage pieces that occasionally need some fixing because the repair people who work on vintage treasures are generally exceptionally good at what they do. I've met an amazing jeweler, electronics repair extraordinaire, a seamstress so amazing I'm keeping her name secret, a custom cushion manufacturer, and an amazing appliance repair shop, just to name a few.
below are some two of the vintage pieces we've had worked on in the last month.
1. two mid century chairs: neither came with cushions so we went to Cushion Works in SF and they helped me choose the foam for the seat and back and cut them to size. they were beyond helpful.
2. a while back I mentioned that I rescued two clock radios from a pile of vintage plastic appliances while flea-marketing. at that very moment I happened to meet someone who repairs vintage clock radios and I made sure to take his information in case my radios were wonky. this Sylvania clock radio is back in action thanks to my flea market friend
not pictured: a ring taken into the jewelers to have a stone replaced, a mid century table fan having its innards cleaned so that the bearings don't make such a raucous.
snippets
1. farmers market-ing in the Inner Richmond, SF / 2. new earring design © Cady Rose Jewelry / 3. gluten free french toast / 4. China Camp hike / 5. China Beach 4th of July / 6. China Beach view of the GG Bridge / 7. newly made moonstone ring, 14k gold filled © Cady Rose Jewelry
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