Vintage Bazaar at Pettengill Farm

Sorry for being so late with this blog, but I've been without a computer for 3 weeks!  Let's just say that MacBooks and liquids don't mix...

The above picture is a quick snapshop of my booth at the Fall Vintage Bazaar at Pettengill Farm in Salisbury, MA.  What a beautiful venue!  I had never been to this show as a buyer, but really wish I had!  Every booth was stunning!  My opportunities to browse were few...and I so wish I had been able to get some pics of the other booths...but what I saw made me drool!

I loved interacting with new customers and old, other artisans, and many great friends!  Thanks to all of you for your kindness and encouragement!

Here are a few more pics of my booth:

-industrial island/wine bar made from metal cart frame, garden trays and old door;

-old metal hardware bins stripped of rust and painted vintage green;

-unique French side table refinished with nautical collection;

-antique kerosene bottles in galvanized tray with branches;

-vintage card file, refinished, and old bird cage filled with white pumpkin and vintage crow print on dictionary paper;

-vintage watch crystal cabinet repurposed as K-cup holder;

-old horse muzzle displayed as cloche;

-vintage military collapsible water bucket used as ice bucket for bar;

-old agricultural trough turned buffet table/bar/sofa table/kitchen island/gorgeous one-of-a-kind piece;

-garden elements;

  -and lots of smalls...

This was a fun show!  Thanks again to all of you who traveled to Salisbury over the weekend.  I hope to see you again!

My next show will be at Sage Farm in Hampton, NH, in November.  In the meantime, I will be open for retail at my studio in the Waumbec Mill 9-3 every Friday and by appointment.

Birch Paper and Home

250 Commercial Street (Waumbec Mill)

Suite 2024

Manchester, NH

birchpaperandhome@gmail.com

See you soon!  Have a happy day!

Michelle

Studio Play Date

Yep, my space at Mill City is looking pretty sparse.  I should be working on new large pieces to bring in, but today I had a play date with my studio instead:-)

This table is my justification.  I built this piece and a desk over the weekend.  It was time to play with paper...

 But I have to admit, this table turned out gorgeous!  Six feet long, almost three feet wide.  Beautiful metal base with just the right amount of rust.  This table would be the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving gathering of family and friends!

First, I compiled these vintage stationery sets.  I've got a huge stash of old paper and have been playing around with different packaging options.  I need to take some better photos, but I'm loving this arrangement.  I discovered this "Art of Writing" series in an old (1800's) home encyclopedia.  I love it!  What do you think?

I have a good sized stash (no, not a horde...well...maybe) of vintage office supplies.  They always catch my eye and I pick them up at yard sales, flea markets, estate sales...wherever I can!  I had these adorable little notepads and was looking for a way to present them.  It dawned on me that I had picked up a bunch of tiny (and I mean tiny) pencils at an estate sale a couple of years ago.  I dug them up and they were the perfect companion to my mini notepads!  Seriously, these notepads are 1X2 inches!

I love old books...I have a few hundred or so in my collection:-)  Sometimes I come across books that are just too damaged to be of value, so I take them apart and use the pages for collage work or other art pieces.  I always keep the covers...I've collected quite a few at this point.  I have thought of turning them into unique journals but never had the time.  Well, I'm going to make the time because I think this one turned out fabulous!  I filled it with vintage paper (scraps from an old stenographers notebook).  Love it!

I have a stunning collection of antique, hand colored images of birds and eggs.  I just love old Natural History books!  I scanned this owl image and cleaned it up in Photoshop (sooooo love that app) then printed the updated image onto a vintage dictionary page.  Since my printer uses solid ink (super eco-friendly), the image really pops over the old text.  I have a series of different owl images for sale at Mill City.  I plan to list them on my Etsy site soon!

I tend also to collect antique penmanship samples.  These three images are from an early 19th century guide to letter writing.  I printed them on vintage paper for an authentic look.

That's it for today, though I did dabble in some other projects.  I'd have better photos but blogger isn't letting me edit tonight (why?  good question).

I plan to announce my weekly retail hours soon, as well as two upcoming show dates!  Stay tuned!!!

Create responsibly,

Michelle Cooke

New Birch Paper and Home Post

Brookline Street Studio is now Birch Paper and Home.

Start following my new blog, www.birchpaperandhome.blogspot.com, for more updates on my projects!

I've been VERY negligent in posting this summer, but life gets crazy when the kids are at home!  I'm fortunate to have had chunks of time here and there (yay camp!) to start setting up my new studio and shop.  My biggest dilemma has been how to separate the "work" space from the "shop" space.  And how much of the 500 sq ft should I dedicate to each?

So, this is my starting point.

I built this divider out of old plumbing pipe and a window from the Lake Street Mills in Nashua, where I had my last studio.  My plan is to incorporate birch branches and lighting into this divider...but this is where it stands right now.

This set of drawers may be my favorite project of the year!  It required a lot of scrubbing, sanding, and...um...fortifying.  However, it is a beauty and I would keep it for myself if I had the space!  I love the grey-blue paint, the open sides, the brass hardware, and the gorgeous patina on the refinished top.

Another of my favorite studio finds is this collection of antique shoe lasts.  100+ at last count.  I have them piled into an old industrial metal bin on wheels.  Perfect!

And this old watchmakers cabinet is...well...so cool!  All metal, still has many watch crystals (in original envelopes) in the drawers!  The pedal at the bottom activates a mechanism on top designed to gently "snap" all of the watch components together without breaking the crystal.  It comes complete with a series of dies for different sizes and shapes of watches.  I even have a mini version of this cabinet in my space downstairs at Mill City.

So...it's still a work in progress, but I expect to be up and running with regular "open" hours by September.  Keep checking in for more news!  Including a couple of shows in September...

Have a happy day!
Michelle

Setting up Shop

I've been VERY negligent in posting this summer, but life gets crazy when the kids are at home!  I'm fortunate to have had chunks of time here and there (yay camp!) to start setting up my new studio and shop.  My biggest dilemma has been how to separate the "work" space from the "shop" space.  And how much of the 500 sq ft should I dedicate to each?

So, this is my starting point.

I built this divider out of old plumbing pipe and a window from the Lake Street Mills in Nashua, where I had my last studio.  My plan is to incorporate birch branches and lighting into this divider...but this is where it stands right now.

This set of drawers may be my favorite project of the year!  It required a lot of scrubbing, sanding, and...um...fortifying.  However, it is a beauty and I would keep it for myself if I had the space!  I love the grey-blue paint, the open sides, the brass hardware, and the gorgeous patina on the refinished top.

Another of my favorite studio finds is this collection of antique shoe lasts.  100+ at last count.  I have them piled into an old industrial metal bin on wheels.  Perfect!

And this old watchmakers cabinet is...well...so cool!  All metal, still has many watch crystals (in original envelopes) in the drawers!  The pedal at the bottom activates a mechanism on top designed to gently "snap" all of the watch components together without breaking the crystal.  It comes complete with a series of dies for different sizes and shapes of watches.  I even have a mini version of this cabinet in my space downstairs at Mill City.

So...it's still a work in progress, but I expect to be up and running with regular "open" hours by September.  Keep checking in for more news!  Including a couple of shows in September...

Have a happy day!
Michelle

Junk Jackpot Part Two

Yes, indeed.  I had to rent a truck for this haul!  And a second storage unit...  But, hey, when junk calls, I have to answer!

So, I got a call from the gentleman who sold me my last truckload-o-junk.  He was finishing his storage unit clean-out and wondered if I would be interested in taking a look at what he had left.  Hmmm...let me think...yes please!  Here are a few pics of this truckload...

1) I grabbed this great cottage piece for my talented friend and kindred spirit, Kris, of Cricket Acres Studio.  Follow her blog to see how she transforms this piece.  I know it will be gorgeous!

2)  I loved this old work table.  No top, but hey, I can build one!  Great bones, nice and sturdy, and beautiful chippy cream paint.  What's not to love?

3)  This cupboard is a great size and in sturdy condition.  It needs a little patchwork in the back (good thing I save EVERYTHING) and a serious scrub, but it's a great, basic storage piece.  I can see this as a bookcase, pantry, bar....

4)  This little dresser is a beauty!  I love the chippy blue paint (though the pink underneath is making me think it may be a candidate for citri-strip).  It's missing one drawer pull, but I have a matching one in my hardware collection (again...save everything).  But the next image is what sold me...

Do you see the detail on these drawers?  This type of joinery is called a Knapp joint, or, more commonly, a scallop and dowel joint.  Knapp joints were used for only a short period of time, from 1860 to 1890.  This is a really solid form of joinery.  These drawers are just as square and true as the day they were made.  Craftsmanship.  This is what I love about old furniture.

5)  I didn't get a great pic of this piece.  It is HUGE!  I love the original hardware and moldings.  This piece was clearly an upper cabinet, but it's about 4.5 feet high, so it would make a great floor cupboard, as well.  I'm thinking of constructing a low base...  And the paint is a great grey-brown-beige color.  Perfect!

6)  A cupola!  I love it!  Can't wait to clean it up and bring it in to Mill City Antiques!

7)  LOVE this mantel!  Look at the blue and yellow paint!  It is solid, with simple farmhouse lines.  This piece would make a heat headboard, focal piece, or...well...mantel!

8)  I also love this dresser.  I am thinking of covering the drawers in vintage ledger pages.  Hardware?  Not sure yet...

9)  This old toolbox is a keeper.  It's going to get refinished and live in the new workshop.  I know my boyfriend will love it!

10)  LOTS of cool windows and doors...

11)  Don't you just love the WBCN bumper sticker?  Yeah, this piece needs some work, but I love the lines of Empire dressers.  Plus, the antique glass knobs are awesome!

12)  This old trunk is the perfect size for a coffee table.  Lots of storage, great condition, just needs a little lavender oil to remove the musty smell.

 13)  This is a TALL old cabinet.  It barely fit in the truck.  It needs a new back, but the other door is there and it is otherwise in solid condition.  I'm not inspired yet, though...not sure what the future holds for this piece...something beautiful, though, to be sure.

 

What great finds!  Thanks so much TM for thinking of me!  I promise to make every one of these pieces stunning!

Keep following to see how I transform these pieces...

And look out for a new business name and look...I am so excited!!!!

Happy hunting,

Michelle