Hello Spring (apparently I missed Winter!)

Where have I been? It's been since the Fall that I've posted yet there's been so much going on! I'm pretty sure I can be forgiven, however, because with the big antiques market season opening in November, my focus has been BUY! BUY! BUY! followed by SELL! SELL! SELL! And believe me, I've been busy!

I'll share some photos of some of the fab finds that have passed through my hands (yes, came AND went) in these last months, and leave you with a promise to get back in the swing of weekly posts right away.

Fabulous old church sign

Modern wooden hat mold

French apothecary jar - so dreamy!

mid century long candle holder

set of horn and wood spoons - love!

vintage football trophy with a very modern look

I may be late for a new year's resolution but how about I just get right back in the swing of things next week. Maybe a personal style post first, then back to Find of the Week!

In the meantime, happy vintage hunting! - marilyn

Fast forward to Fall!

Heading into my favorite season! It's no secret - I love Fall, and I love to fiddle with decor in my home to reflect the changing season. Even here in Florida it's getting a little cooler, so I'm staying prepared and thinking "holidays" and "entertaining"! Some of my recent fave finds:

fab set of crisp white French oyster plates listed here

fun vintage double sided Geese sign listed here

beautiful victorian era mercury glass vase listed here

what a find! huge oval pressed glass dome listed here

coming to the etsy shop soon - huge and fabulous dough bowl

not just the riding boots - 

the wooden lasts too! coming soon to the etsy shop

So, Happy Fall, y'all! Keep up to date on my daily additions to the Etsy shop and follow me on Instagram - Sophisticated Vintage Florida!

Summer in New England (with a little Pennsylvania thrown in for good measure)

Nothing better than a loooooong road trip if New England is your final destination! I just can't resist the call to go picking my way up the East Coast to Vermont, Massachusetts, even Canada if I'm lucky! This year took us up the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland, over to Pennsylvania, through upstate New York and then to Vermont, base camp for future expeditions. Here are a few of my favorites found on the way.

Turn of the century straw fan with black lacquer handle - so Modern Victorian

An unmistakably Bjorn Wiinblad pitcher in his Eva or Flora style

Hard to resist antique juggling clubs - and a group of 5?!? Wow!

Each a little different, sold as a set of 5

And some fab modern glass grapes in the most brilliant turquoise - stunning!

A very modern take on a traditional classic!

As you can see, I've been having fun, and hoping to have a lot more soon! Follow my scores from our travels in my Etsy shop. I'm already looking forward to autumn!

Vive la France!

It will come as no surprise to any of you that I have a passion for all things French. Particularly vintage French. So you can imagine how delighted I am to have found some real treasures lately, freshly stocked in my Etsy shop. Feast your eyes on these goodies!

A pair of vintage French asparagus plates in brilliant blue! Listed here

A most wonderful vintage wire egg basket with a handle and fold down sides - I love it for kitchen storage, serving or even a little picnic! Here's a look at multiple views and uses:

Isn't it fabulous?!? Find it here

A set of 4 tin painted canisters - Cafe, Sucre, Farine & Pates, perhaps?

So charming - find them here

And how about this vintage linen hat or wig stand, whimsically updated by an artist:

Incroyable, right? A closer look here

And I'll leave you with this. A vintage painted tin tray - Present from My Heart. Wow.

It just doesn't get much better than this. Listed here

I'll be on the look out for more fab French and vintage finds on our upcoming road trip. Stay in touch for more goodies. I'll add them to my Etsy shop as we go, and don't forget to follow my adventures on Instagram. Au Revoir!

Finds for the Modern Home

If you've been following us, you know that "modern" means a fresh blend of things that appeal to you that together create your modern style. We're completely comfortable putting together a bit of a mish mash of recent finds like these.

A mid century play on the French Rebus or Riddle Plate
Listed here in my Etsy shop

A fabulous painted Indian large tea table - great as a low coffee table
Listed here in my Etsy shop

Add a bit of rustic charm with a tree branch frame - not faux bois, real bois - like this!

Can't even begin to tell you how much I love this!
Find it here in my Etsy shop.

Of my all time favorite things, the Dimitri Omersa leather animals in the paperweight size. Click through to the listing to read the history. No bull.

Fabulous, right? Read all about it here

And you know I love a good rustic Americana find. What could be better than this vintage Maine road sign for Route 125?

Authentic and worn! Listed here in my Etsy shop. And so modern, right?

And I couldn't leave you without this most recent fave. When you mix things with ease, an antique carved bread board becomes the new modern.

Our Daily Bread - a less often found carved bread board, here in my Etsy shop

I'm thinking it's perfect for wine and cheese! In fact, a glass of wine would be perfect right now! After all, it's 5 o'clock somewhere! Cheers - marilyn

You love what you love, right?

I'm contemplating my (now) annual upcoming trip to Pennsylvania for the Renninger's Kutztown Extravaganza next week, and already the "rush" of being in my old stomping grounds threatens to overtake me. I'm yearning for breadboards and redware, old dough bowls and trenchers - all the things that speak to my love of primitives that began in my earliest days of antiquing.

If I'm lucky I'll find some Victorian era wire hangers. I've fallen in love with the fabulous look:

Perhaps I'll find another dough bowl to rival the size of what was perhaps the biggest one I've ever had:

And when in Pennsylvania, I'm always looking for vintage carnival shooting gallery targets:

And of course wooden ware, particularly old farm pieces like these:

That ought to give you an idea of what's on my shopping list! Hope I'll come home with a pile of treasures, but I'm thinking I'm going to need a bigger suitcase!

A Case for Modern Victorian

From a fascination with natural elements (it was the age of Darwin, you recall), to a passion for detail and excess, the Victorian era had style galore in every aspect of life. With a utensil for every imaginable course and food at dinner, the Victorians knew how to set a table in style!

Marrying their love of nature with their love of eating utensils, we too have an passion for all kinds of pieces, from forks to knives.

pair of serving forks in my etsy shop here

set of 6 boxed knives in my etsy shop here

And let's not forget custard glass - this set of 6 tumblers by Northwood in the Louis XV pattern circa 1890 was a a particularly wonderful find!

charming with little bouquets for a beautiful tablescape! in my etsy shop here

It's lovely to see a revived interest in this period and all its elements. Hope you design your next dinner party with a bit of Victorian style!

We're out and about hunting for new treasures. In the meantime, Bon Apetit! - marilyn