Our Vintage Etsy Shop is Freshly Stocked!

My Mom, Mummu and I have been running our hobby vintage Etsy shop, Minden Shop, for years.  We expanded to selling vintage wares locally, on Instagram and we've even dabbled with eBay.  I really want to get into doing some local antique shows because seeing and touching vintage items in the best way to buy them.  Etsy is a great substitute, though, if you can't find what you want locally.  Running the shop is a lot of fun (and, surprisingly, a lot of hard work!), but it's been really rewarding.  We enjoy connecting with fellow vintage collectors and seeing photos of the goodies we've sold in their new homes always makes us smile!  Plus it's something the three of us do together.



I let the store get pretty empty this spring while we decided what to let go of and sell locally.  We don't want to be those people that hang onto something for years, waiting for the right buyer, so we did some local sales, slashed prices and sold a lot of inventory.  It helps keep things exciting for us!  Recently I photographed some fresh finds and have re-stocked the shop.  I'll be listing more and more, but the nearly 50 items we have now is a pretty good start.

We enjoy running the shop, but we're not sure how much longer we'll keep it open.  We kind of waffle between going all in and adding tons more vintage finds, or switching gears and finally selling the handmade items we intended to?  But then life gets busy and we think, maybe closing up while it's still fun and not stressful is the way to go.  Quit while we're ahead.  We're going to just have fun with it this summer and fall and see where the road takes us!  We'll reevaluate in December and see what the new year has in store for us (pun intended). 

For now, here's a peek at what's new - including some of my favorites.

I love this set of Butterfly gold vintage Pyrex Cinderella mixing bowls (UPDATE: SOLD) but I've seriously downsized my Pyrex collection in the last couple of years.  I had some big sales on Instagram and sold a lot locally.  I'm hoping to find this set a new home!  I also have some fridgies for sale.

When we spotted this pair of Lotte fiberglass and jute lamp shades we were so thrilled.  Once we got them home, we realized they're too small for my yellow Lotte lamps!  Womp, womp, womp.  I know these will make some Lotte lamp collector VERY happy, although I'm so, so nervous about shipping them!

With the living room Besta dismantled, my vintage McCoy pottery collection has been displaced!  The pinks went to my Mom, the creams are currently in the basement, and I'm slowly spreading the turquoise ones around the house.  A few pieces, including these green basket weave planters and also a gorgeous yellow McCoy planter, have found their way into the Etsy shop!  There MIGHT be some really great turquoise ones that find themselves in need of a new home, so favorite the shop to be the first to know.

Do you remember the start of my FAB trays collection?  I loved the history of these kitschy Canadian-made resin trays.  I ended up collecting quite a few, but since moving to the lakehouse I find myself short on space!  Any new trays I find are shop-bound and even the aquas and blues (gasp) are up for grabs...like this one!

We'll be listing some more jewelry, too - including a stunning Baltic amber necklace.  Ack, it's so gorgeous.  But these huge Lapis Lazuli earrings (UPDATE: SOLD) are pretty darn stunning too - look at that gorgeous veining.  Drool.

SO shocked these Caribbean themed high ball glasses have not been scooped up yet (UPDATE: SOLD).  They are one item I could not part with in our big spring purge.  I am seriously in love with them and every day I'm tempted to deactivate the listing.

This aqua vase was made in Canada!  I just love the subtle glaze at the top - it pairs so well with the soft, minty-aqua hue.

We have vintage dollhouse furniture for sale!  I always meant to make a cute vintage dollhouse so I scooped up some pieces from a local antique seller.  But really, the kids will be asking me for help applying to university before I get a dollhouse done.  With so many folks making them these days, I thought I'd release these back into the wild.

I've got a pink bathroom dollhouse set for sale, retro plastic dollhouse arm chairs, plus a brass miniature dollhouse furniture set with a birdcage (UPDATE: SOLD) - complete with mini bird inside.  The last photo of this listing for dollhouse kitchen appliances (UPDATE: SOLD) has a photo with the set in use - too cute!

I lowered the price on this green Red Wing pottery vase (the design is Tropicana Bird of Paradise).  I love this vase so much - the emerald green interior is so clever, because it hides discoloration from flower water.

Somehow we ended up with quite a few petite figurines, but they're all so adorable!  This little goat would look so cool tucked into a larger planter or terrarium for a little quirkiness.

Check out the rest of the shop inventory here, and favorite us on Etsy to get a first look at the new things I'll be listing soon!  If you collect anything or are on the hunt for something special, let me know because I'll be happy to keep my eyes peeled for you - just leave me a note in the comments with your wish list.

How to Clean Black Marks + Baked on Grease from Vintage Pyrex, Plus Tips for Bringing Back Shine to Dishwasher Dead Vintage Pyrex

I didn't always have a massive turquoise Pyrex collection in my kitchen:

I got my first piece of vintage Pyrex (a butterprint fridgie) when I was a teenager.  My grandma and I were yard-saling and she scooped it up.  Conspiratorially, she told me it was special.  It was aqua, so I was sold!  After that, I bought a few more pieces here and there, normally at yard sales for a really good price.  In 2011, my vintage Pyrex collection was actually still pretty small:  

I don't know how I moved from just buying pieces we needed to starting an official "collection," but by 2013, I had a lot more turquoise Pyrex in my collection, plus an overflow cupboard of other colours:

Now I have a kitchen designed around my collection, which has largely stopped growing.  I have splurged on a few rare pieces online, largely because I can no longer find any vintage Pyrex in thrift stores or antique shops - it's so rare to find any locally these days.

I started buying non-turquoise vintage Pyrex (like these) and I've even started buying imperfect pieces (something I never did before).  I've begun experimenting with bringing dishwasher dead and filthy vintage Pyrex back to life.  I've tried a number of tricks for cleaning vintage Pyrex, from Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (awesome!) to Coke soaks (didn't do a thing) and I thought I'd share my Pyrex cleaning results - for fellow Pyrex collectors.  Even if you don't collect Pyrex, I've got a trick for cleaning utensil marks off china - I made my worn-out cereal bowls look brand new again!

Getting Rid of Black/Grey Metal Marks on Vintage Pyrex

What causes these black marks on Pyrex?  I see them often.  I've read that they're metal marks but it's peculiar so many pieces have them on the outside.  My best guess is that they're from nesting bowls inside each other, shelf wear, or maybe from sitting inside of metal pots and pans.  Utensils create similar grey/black striations, but they're found inside bowls.  In my experience, I've found that Bar Keeper's Friend - the powder, not the liquid - gets most, if not all, of these black marks off  Pyrex, but it can also take the finish off coloured Pyrex.  I accidentally made a piece look a little dull by scrubbing too hard, but a gentle touch with the barkeeper's friend can help remove what soap, scrubbing or even Magic Eraser cannot:



I've also used Bar Keeper's Friend on my cereal bowls to remove utensils scratches and within seconds of scrubbing they looked brand new.  It took a little bit of elbow grease, but all four bowls took me fewer than fifteen minutes to clean!  In this case, there was no wear to the finish at all but the utensil marks were 100% gone.

Restoring DWD (Dish Washer Dead) Vintage Pyrex Pieces

Dishwasher dead Pyrex pieces make me so sad.  Sometimes the pattern has been washed clean off, other times the finish is gone and the piece looks dull and matte.  I found a set of four turquoise mixing bowls at the thrift store and my heart leaped out of my chest when I spotted them.  Then it fell to my toes when I saw the damage - and the outrageous Value Village price!  I just couldn't leave them behind (plus I had a coupon), so I took them home and worked some magic.

First I tackled the black marks.  Each piece looked like this:

I let them soak for a good long time in hot, hot, hot soapy water.  They were severely dishwashered and had lots of grey scratches so I went to town cleaning them with my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, then Bar Keeper's Friend.  This combo took off not only the marks, but also some of the dull white residue making them look more dishwashered than they were.

Sometimes the opacity on DWD vintage pyrex is from a built on film (often from hard water), not actual damage.  In this case, there was damage beneath the film but scrubbing still helped reveal the colour hidden beneath the grunge.

Once they were cleaned, although they were a little less dull and hazy, the dishwasher damage remained - it's irreversible.  Upon the advice of some fellow collectors, I grabbed some coconut oil and rubbed a tiny bit onto the surface and really worked it in with my fingers - much like I would work it into my skin.  It worked like a charm to revive the dishwasher dead Pyrex bowls!  The pieces are a tiny bit slick to the touch (but only barely so, because I really worked in the oil).  Once they're oiled, a Pyrex piece should no longer go in the oven but you can definitely use it for mixing, serving, or display.  After a bunch of washings, the bowls could use another oil but I haven't bothered because they still look leaps and bounds better than when I bought them.

I think that, if I'm being honest, the oil is best for pieces on display or those that are rarely used, but it's nice to see that dishwashered pieces can be somewhat revived.

Here's the difference: on the left it's oiled and on the right (toward the bottom), it's still dull from the dishwasher.

The difference shows up more clearly on this piece, where the oil has been applied to the right:

Now my little thrifted set has been revived and looks awesome on my shelf.  I'm eager to try the oil on some other dishwashered pieces, although part of me hopes I don't come across any more of them.

One thing I noticed: the oil didn't make a difference on white pieces with coloured pattern (like my butterprint fridgies) - the best results were on solid pieces or those with a lot of colour (like my bowl above). 

I went a little nutty and, in a stroke of good luck, picked up a few more aqua mixing bowls (two from an antique shop and another thrifted one) and tried to revive them as well.  Sadly, one lost its finish a bit, but the other two cleaned up perfectly.  I really have to go easy with the Bar Keeper's Friend - something I learned the hard way.

How to Clean Baked on Grease + Grime from Vintage Pyrex

I found a turquoise snowflake space saver at a local antique shop for a steal ($6!), but it was in rough shape with caked on grime that was burned into every nook and cranny.



I soaked it in hot soapy water a couple of times, for a few hours each soaking.  I scrubbed with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser but it did little.  I scrubbed gently with Bar Keeper's Friend and some came off.  I soaked some more.  With these steps I was able to remove quite a bit of the goo, but there was still more to tackle:



I picked at parts with a toothpick and removed what I could that way.  I opened up a pack of dishwasher liquid and let it soak in that, which helped a bit.  Desperate, I soaked it in Coke, which seemed to do nothing, even though I've read rave reviews from other collectors.

Finally, I grabbed some glass stovetop clean and a soft scrub pad and that worked.  The combination of the soaking, the Bar Keeper's Friend, Magic Eraser, some picking and elbow grease, and the stove top cleaner worked to get most of the grease off, without damaging the finish at all (it had some paint loss when I bought it).  I was lucky that after all that rubbing it stayed as shiny as when I bought it.  I didn't get 100% of the grime off (it had worked itself into the texture of the design), but it was at least 80% improved.  It was a good way to experiment with different methods, and I'm happy to have scored such a pretty piece for such a good price (although I doubled the price in Coke, I'm sure).

I'm going to have to keep experimenting because buying imperfect Pyrex is totally new territory for me.  I'd love to find a way to get off the black marks without jeopardizing the finish, but Bar Keeper's friend seems to be popular among collectors (see more of it's magic here).  I've also read some other tips for getting the baked on grime off.  I need to track down some more supplies, and muster up some more energy, and then maybe I'll tackle the last bits of grime on the snowflake space saver.

UPDATE: After some fellow collectors and commenters (see below) suggested it, I tried oven cleaner for that really baked-on-won't-scrub-off grime.  Here are the details, but, long story short, it worked really well!  I just popped the offending Pyrex into a bag, sprayed some cleaner on, let it soak and then rinsed it off before giving it a good, soapy wash.  I did hear from one person who said oven cleaner left a hazy film on her Pyrex, so perhaps save it as a last resort or test on a small area first?

Please feel free to share your tips and tricks in the comments below!  I love hearing advice and picking up tips from fellow collectors, so feel free to link to your own blog posts or Instagram pages so we can ogle your vintage Pyrex collection and soak up your vintage Pyrex cleaning advice!

Looking for more cleaning tips? 

Here's my tip for how to make chrome and stainless look (and stay looking!) brand new and gleaming.

This is how I clean lampshades without a vacuum (it takes two seconds).

Cleaning my glass fireplace doors used to be a nightmare, until I discovered a product that cleans brunt on soot in minutes! 

And, if you're updating a space, find out how I turned worn our lacquered brass into bright, brushed gold with one magical ingredient and two easy step!

Last but not least, here's how I wash ( and de-pill) dry clean only cashmere and wool at home - great for laundering delicate vintage woolens and even pretty wool rugs from the thrift store (because who wants to spend $30 dry cleaning  a $3 find?).

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Vintage Rugs 101 with Old New House

I'm so excited to introduce you to Melissa + Dave, the couple behind Old New House, a shop specializing in treasures - new and old - for your home.

photo source

You might recognize Old New House as a featured Etsy seller in 2012.  Now you can also find the beautiful wares from their New York-based shop on their own website in addition to their Etsy shop.  I'm so thrilled for the success Melissa and Dave have enjoyed because they are so hard-working and talented.  A nifty little tidbit: LargeRugsCarpets.com, my first blog sponsor, is Dave's family's business!  I'm so touched that they're long-time fans of Dans le Townhouse.  I'll be celebrating their shop, highlighting my picks for the next few months, and kicking things off with an interview today.  I took the opportunity to pick Dave's brain about vintage and antique rugs and learned a LOT.  Read on for the full scoop.  

Your store, Old New House, is gorgeous.  Tell me a little about it.

We sell antiques, vintage and new original creations of our own design.  The Old New House shop represents us and is our very personally curated collection of unique items with a focus on antique and vintage rugs, as well as wall art and custom furnishings.

What's around the corner for Old New House?

At our core, we are artists.  The plan is to delve further into our ONH originals section and run with the ideas we feel are ripe.

Eames Chair

Melissa, you have such a great eye for finding amazing vintage pieces - especially your incredible luck finding unique chairs.  I am salivating over your Eames First Production PAW chair.  What is your favorite piece in the shop right now?
  
Thank you, and I have been salivating over it myself ever since we acquired it and I just really love old chairs. We take them for granted because they are everywhere but they are such design staples of everyday life. Right now I am really feeling wall art also and as a photographer, I have been completely smitten with the insanely awesome antique DR Peretti Griva bromoil transfer collection we have in the shop – it is a process of photography print that I had never heard of before and the dreamy ephemeral effect is timeless and captivating.

Large Antique Kilim Pillow

Your rug pillows, especially the Antique Kilim Pillow, are so stunning and I think it's a great way to preserve a piece of rug that may have damage or only be a fragment.  What inspired you to start creating these one-of-a-kind pillows?

When my husband and I first started acquiring rugs, I found myself gravitating towards the old beat up, worn and end of the road type rugs – ones that a collector like Dave doesn’t really want to deal with because they are fragile and just not in good shape. I like feeling like a savior to them in some way, because after all, the pieces that are left are quite beautiful! Rug fragment pillows are nothing new but I like finding the diamonds in the rough, the best and most unique rug remnants I can get my hands on. I don’t want just any old fragments, I hunt for spectacular pieces and I mend them very lovingly with nice fabric and luxurious kapok filling, so that they can be like new again and ultra special to boot.

Dave, you're a 5th generation rug man with an impressive family history.  It's incredible to think that your family has been manufacturing, designing, and importing rugs since the mid-1800s!  Rugs are something I know nothing about and I'm sure my readers would love to learn more too.  First things first, which rug in the Old New House shop is your favorite and why?
 
I am very fond of the 4x7 Kashan.  If we had a large enough area to hang it I would prefer to not sell it! It is a very rare pairing of rug type and design. 

Antique Mohtashem 4x7  Kashan

What is the most unique rug you've come across?
 
I always thought this antique silk Heriz was a super unique rug.  Especially with the armorial theme atop a gentle soft blue field, it always sort of intrigued me, although there are a lot of carpets that are quite unusual and linger.

What should someone think about where they are trying to find the perfect size rug for a space?  Do you and Melissa have any guidelines?

For many years the rule of thumb was to buy the largest possible rug.  There are many instances where this is the right way to go, however, we like to urge people to buy the smallest rug, or several small rugs, if appropriate for the space.  It’s a fun way to diversify your investment and also have more versatile decorating ability down the road. 

Antique Farahan Sarouk Persian Rug

What makes a vintage or antique rug superior to a newer one?
 
I don’t know if someone could really make the claim of superiority of old rugs vs. new, but consistently antique and vintage rugs deliver a flash of history a new rug can simply not emulate.  I believe many of the vintage and antique rugs we offer in our shop may be considered proportionately better values than many new rugs made today.  There truly is something so special about an item with a story that comes with it and that is what certainly makes an old rug more charismatic than a new one. 

What qualities make for a good vintage rug?  What should buyers pay attention to when they're shopping?
 
A good vintage rug is one that you find yourself connecting with.  It is satisfying to your eye – the rug will evoke a feeling or emotion.  Perhaps you are unsure of why exactly you like it, but you realize that you do.  All of the carpets we offer are individually hand selected and acquired only if they meet specific criteria - which is authenticity, amazing aesthetic, great tone-on-tone or excellent contrast, or unusual yet desirable character.  Our collection is carefully assembled to make it easier for our customers to shop and find the connection to their future rug.

What sort of factors impact the price of a rug?
 
Often the most common factors influencing price include: age, rarity, condition, origin, aesthetic, and at times, size.  Going deeper, provenance of ownership or traceable production may reinforce saleability, which in turn may increase the value.

Blue Vintage Rug

What kind of care do you recommend for a vintage rug?  Can they be used in high traffic areas or in homes with pets?
 
Care is very easy.  Vintage rugs are very compatible with everyday life, and a well taken care of vintage rug will pay aesthetic dividends for years to come.  A vintage rug should be professionally washed at a washing plant every 2-5 years, or as needed.  Vacuuming should be performed once a week in a moderate traffic area, or on an as-needed basis.  Delicate rugs may simply be vacuumed with a suction vacuum or shaken off outdoors.  Small spots or spills can be dabbed up or scraped off and we suggest you go with as mild a cleaning treatment as possible.

A fine hand knotted rug is meant to last many, many years.  It’s not uncommon to see carpets that are 40, 60, 100 or even 120 years old or more still being used in moderate traffic areas of the home.  Be cautious of pets that scratch at rugs; while hand knotted rugs are certainly resilient, under repeated agitation from sharp claws they will likely sustain damage.  Pet stains are also particularly difficult to remove from a rug, so roll up the rug for the new puppy!

Antique Persian Runner

This last question will definitely reveal my naiveté.  Can you give me a crash course in understanding vintage and antique rugs?  I don't know what a Caucasian rug or Persian Hamadan rug is.  I see your beautiful rugs and think just that, "they're so beautiful."  Are they identified by pattern or region?  I have no idea how to classify or identify rugs - help me be a little more savvy.

This is actually a very important question.  Carpets are primarily named after:

1. The town, city or larger region woven.  As some attributions are estimations, it’s not uncommon for a rug to be identified by a more general designation.  For example, a Caucasian carpet would be a carpet woven in the Caucasus.  Going further, a Dagestan rug is a type of rug made in the Caucasus.  This rug may be conveyed as a Caucasian or Dagestan rug.  Each rug has it’s own character and unique attributes. Often, the more precise the identification, the more relatable to other rugs of that type the carpet may be.  In the larger scope of rugs, this can enable comparative analysis – how rare or common is the rug for its type.

2. The tribe or people who weave, or the firm who contracted the weavers.  The Qashqai for example are known in history as a nomadic pastorialists – a traveling people tending to their flocks, moving north to south in Iran based on the time of year.  Although now largely sedentary, their weaving is not exclusive to just one city, town or region – Their rugs are often simply called “Qashqai rugs”.

3. The type of style, motif or general classification of carpet. This is tricky since a carpet can be called a Persian ____ - but the real question is does the description align with the actual origin of weaving.  It’s not uncommon to find a Persian design made by Pakistani weavers and you may find the tag to indicating Kashan.  Kashan is a city in Persia, and while the rug may have a Kashan design, if it is made in Pakistan it is not a Persian rug.  If there is ever question, ask for clarity.

Although certain types of rugs may have a solid reputation, this does not mean across the board that type of carpet is superior to another.  You should always purchase what you are drawn to! 

A huge thanks to Melissa and Dave for answering my questions.  If you want to ask them anything, feel free to leave a question in the comments below, or drop them a line: md@oldnewhouse.com.  

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