Unidentified Chairs-Unidentified Floor Lamp-Finished Side Table Project

I picked up these four chairs exactly in this condition for $5.00 each, while they are a train wreck now I'm confident I can make them look good again. The only ID on them is Adam's Furniture which I think must have been a local retail store. The lamp was $5.00 at the landfill Re-Store, it's a tri-light and it works but the wiring is dried and cracked (scary) the base is brass coated cast iron and is heavy while the wood body has the original distressed black laquer (no it's not scratched or cracking) and the upper is also brass plate. It has some rust issues but I'm going to try a little Naval Jelly in an inconspicuous spot to see how the plating reacts otherwise I'll hit it with WD-40 and see how the rust comes off and hopefully it won't be to pitted to polish out the rest. Finally is the maple table that appeared in my post "New Projects" It had multiple layers of paint with a rag finish. I stripped and repainted parts of it only because I thought the two corners and top were damaged but once I got it to bare wood I realized it was the natural grain and outer layer (bark) of the tree when the boards were milled, unusual for a piece like this that I've seen in Toronto vintage stores made by the same company (Snyder's) and none of them had those rough milled characteristics. So instead of natural finish entirely I thought I'd highlight those parts and go with a "Primitive Vintage" look.

Star Wars-Pyrex

It's been an extremely slow and quiet week hence the lack of anything of substance in this post. I finished a project and am about to undertake four chairs that are currently a train wreck, posts for the finished and new chairs to follow soon. AAANNNYYY way I picked up these nice Pyrex bowls and while digging amongst a pile of used flower pots in a dark cabinet at a second hand shop I spot a glint of gold and a hand. A little careful digging and a whole 25 Cents later (yes .25) and I'm the owner of a 1978 12inch tall General Mills Fun Group C-3PO action figure (not doll), kinda cool in a geeky way.

Selig/Eames-Replica/Original

No description needed, most of us have seen and drooled over these even if they are knockoffs. This duo will be at an upcoming auction and while I shouldn't be, I'm on the fence on whether I want to attend. I think a decent auction price for the brown would be $150-$200 and the black $400-$500 so as to leave room for profit. My ears are on for anyone who wants to comment on this pair to either help me get off the fence or comment on the chairs themselves.

Paint It White ARGH!!!!

A very quick rant. I get so sick of hearing auctioneers telling people when the bidding is slow "if you don't like it now, paint it white". I almost blow my stack when I look around the room and people nod and agree. I see so much good and high quality antique and vintage furniture nearly destroyed with gallons of white paint, and it seems to be becoming and epidemic at the antique markets. If it's cheap (not solid wood) plywood than go for it but don't trash the oak, walnut, maple, teak etc pieces and lay off the heavy varathane and shellac there are better quality sealer's that will look 100 times better.

Group Of Seven Prints

I've always liked the Group Of Seven and it might be because I live in Ontario and have camped all over this province and country and reminisce when I see the artwork. I have looked hi and low for a Group Of Seven paint by numbers kit that I can carbon copy and transfer onto other media like a fence, mailbox or whatever my imagination can come up with. These are just prints one came from an auction that I feel I overpaid on and the other from Value Village that was a deal and would have bought regardless because I couldn't stand seeing it next to all the "PLAK-IT" Tony Montana, Miley Cyrus junk. I really want to find some nice frames and hang them soon. I have a bunch of other Group of Seven prints that came from another auction I paid $5 for, I don't think anyone new what they were because they were just piled with a bunch of other ephemera, there not the nicest and it looks like they were presented yearly to certain employees of a local steel mill in the 50's and 60's. I also have a pile of 1940s Esquire Magazine clippings that came from an old cottage in the Muskokas of birds that look like Audubons and I love them but they are so delicate....I just noticed something weird, in the mountian print it looks like letters near the middle but when you see it in reality there not there and it's not a reflection hmm. Must be because it's a print. Also lots of errors in the grammar on the attached document.

TIN WALL ART

Not my style but I'm seeing lots of art like this lately. $50 for the pair on Toronto Craigslist.

Coffee/Juice Mugs & Pitcher-Kitchen Cannisters

The orange mug and pitcher set is Italian, the blue pair are English. I'm not to fond of the wood grain cannisters I prefer the turquoise, chrome or white with the cake tin complete with french label being the newest addition.

Pine Side Table & 3 Drawer Dresser

Both pieces appeared in an earlier post, the side table is solid pine while the small dresser is plywood. Neither piece has particular value other than to someone who likes them i.e. myself. I think fresh paint has definitely up'd there appeal in a kitschy way. Possibly good additions for a kids bedroom or playroom.

Pyrex Coffee Pot w/Forman Ware trivet sleeve-Foundry Patterns-Chair I Passed On

I found a shipping container jammed full with different foundry patterns at one of my secret fav places to dig through, these are what I bought but there are many others. I think these will be nice yard art additions hanging off the shed or deck or fence. I've always had a pyrex pot around for brewing tea but never had one complete with percolator, now I have one with a neat Forman Ware aluminum sleeve. P.S. percolator coffee is the best I use one camping all the time. Lastly I saw this chair at another fav secret place with a white fitted cover and pulled it off to reveal this little gem, I walked away from it at $30. It needed a light steam clean and looks interesting but was not comfortable to sit in.

Medalta Pottery medalta.org/

On a road trip from Hamilton,Ont to Vancouver, BC in July 2011 my girlfriend and I stopped in Medicine Hat ,AB and checked out the recently opened but not completed Medalta Museum and tour. There were the two of us and three older ladies who took the tour, one woman's husband and another's father actually worked in the foundry which is now the museum. After the tour we stopped and talked to the curator, a wonderful lady who I'm embarrassed to say I cannot remember her name right now, this nice woman gave my girlfriend and I a private tour of the museum side and what an awesome history lesson that was. After the tour we exchanged emails and vowed to keep in touch if we found something on our travels that wasn't already in the museum collection. I only wish I hadn't got so wrapped up in the museum and had taken more photos, Medalta actually made a lot more than just stoneware crocks. Here are a few photos and a link to the museum.          medalta.org

Oils well that ends well

Recently I had made a statement on Mr Modtomics blog about using Mineral Oil (unscented baby oil) on wood eating utensils, salad bowls etc. I should have been more specific. This to be done on bare teak with no finish as on cheese boards and salad bowls etc, it is completely safe and actually suggested when reviving the appearance and extending the life span of the piece. It will not go rancid or get tacky to the touch which is why vegetable is not suggested, vegetable oil is obviously plant based and over time being exposed to air will decompose dry and get sticky to the touch. This is why so many teak bowls in second hand shops feel disgusting to the touch and smell bad. 

  (must not be any finish or paint on the teak)

Cleaning off all gummy residue first is important and if it won’t come off with a cleaner you may need to sand it lightly.

Pre heat your oven to the lowest setting which is usually around 200 degree.

Wipe down the piece with paper towel and mineral oil and place in the oven for 20mins.

By placing in the oven the woods grain will open and soak up the oil.

After 20mins take out of the oven and wipe down with a clean cloth.

Let the piece cool and then give a light wash.

If you are concerned about using mineral oil I don’t blame you I was too. I new before hand of its origins when most people don’t but when I looked at the alternative of decomposing vegetable/olive oil I decided salmonella was not for me.

There are different schools of thought on the use of mineral oil (which is baby oil) for health benefits. Read the WIKI on it and you’ll see. I decided it was ok and couldn’t be happier with the results.

I also used it on a teak lamp (no finish) minus the oven step you just need to use it sparingly and wipe wipe wipe till you can longer feel it on the lamp or whatever you try it on.

Final thought on vegetable oil. BAD for wind up clock mechanisms also. Use sewing machine oil instead.

Teak Lamp-Serving Dishes & other musings

Just hit Value Village on the way home from the 9-5 and scored some decent pieces. I have a lamp that I posted in an earlier blog that has the look of of a tulip but the shade doesn't suit it well so I'll swap it to this one and keep looking for a better match for the other. I'm not a huge fan of these serving dishes but it's green my fav colour. I'll be putting the polish on both these items and storing away with my growing inventory until the outdoor antique market in Aberfoyle,Ontario opens in May. I'm kinda pumped about trying out the market as vendor for one day (first time). Christie Conservation area is the big one twice a season but the two day space rental is crazy money for a rookie who's never done it. There's also the Locke St festival in Hamilton in the summer which I wouldn't even have to rent a space as my girlfriend lives only a couple houses in off Locke St which is a trendy vintage/antique/one of kind street in a very heavily foot trafficked strip so I could have a pseudo yard/vintage/antique sale of my own on the tiny postage stamp front lawn all while still being within distance of my own supply of cool beverages. LOL

New Projects

The small bed side table and small dresser aren't great quality (not solid wood) there plywood mostly but I like the look of them and am going to paint them something flashy. The step side table is solid maple and I can't believe someone painted it with a rag finish, I might leave the legs black and just strip and seal the top and the step. Gave the little white side table a light sanding to reveal solid pine.

Hazel Atlas Dinnerware or is it?

There is no identification on this set, it might be Hazel Atlas but I have my doubts. Either way I still like them.

Blue Horse

I'm not certain how old this is but it looks vintage to me, it doesn't have a makers name or stamp but it is good quality.

Barware-Atomic Amoeba and more-Anyone for a Cocktail

Glasses so many glasses, I'm a fan of vintage glasses and bar ware. While I enjoy a cocktail or cool bevy now and then on a hot day I'm by no means someone who drinks regularly but it's hard to not look cool when sipping or serving from an Atomic Amoeba or other vintage glass.