Treasure Hunting Report + Etsy Shop Re-Opening!

I have really slowed down my vintage buying in recent years.  Actually, I've been trying to buy fewer things overall. 

I'm in the process of an epic de-cluttering here in the lakehouse, but I will always love beautiful things.  I love finding the perfect piece for my home, or helping someone else find the perfect piece for their home.  Sharing vintage finds with people through my Etsy shop has been such an interesting way to connect with people.  Happy customers have written to me and explained why they bought a certain item, and so often it's because something reminded them of a loved one or cherished memory.  I've sold Pyrex bowls to complete sets handed down by a grandmother, replaced a family heirloom that was broken, and helped complete collections started by loved ones.  Many times I've sent a purchase directly to someone's friend or family member as a gift - I've even wrapped gifts and written accompanying cards with the touching words relayed by the sender.

Even though right now I'm struggling to find that balance between the stuff I love and too much stuff, I will always relate to how things can connect us to people and memories - and make us smile!

After a loooooong hiatus, my Etsy shop is open once again and I'm so excited for the stories I'll hear this time around.

The shops is smaller than usual, but I'll be adding many more listings in the coming weeks.  There are some major changes to the shop: I'm no longer running the shop with my Mom and Mummu.  I decided to go it alone because it was just way too complicated to figure out who I owed what to, and it was difficult for them to help me with photographing, listing, packaging, and mailing items because I live so far away.  We might join forces again in the future, but for now the Etsy shop is all mine.  Another update: I accept many more forms of payment now - pretty much anything, in addition to PayPal, which used to be the only method of payment I accepted.

I have only just started listing items, so be sure to follow the shop for updates.  I'll be trying to list 5-10 new pieces a week.  I'll be sharing sneak peeks occasionally here, but mostly on Instagram (I love Instagram Stories for that).  

As always, there's never any pressure to buy anything and I'll keep the shop updates to a minimum, but if something does catch your eye, remember that readers always get 15% off - just use the coupon code "DANSLELAKEHOUSE2018".

Some of the items in today's Treasure Hunting Report were purchased for the shop, but I did nab a few things for me!  If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw this mid-century modern lamp update: I finally found the perfect Lotte fiberglass shade for my yellow Lotte lamp!  When I purchased the lamp, it didn't have a shade so I added a simple white drum shade.

When my Mom and I traded the two blue Lotte lamps in my living room for my three yellow ones, Mom didn't love my shade selection and ended up packing the yellow lamp away.  Determined to help her love it, I found the exact shade we needed on Kijiji - but in Waterloo, ON!  Luckily my sweet Aunt and Uncle were kind enough to drive an hour to pick up the shade and then mail it to us.

The lamp is now reunited with its proper shade and looks amazing. 

I also found a vintage Melitta coffee pot for myself!  (Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz invented the coffee filter in 1908).  I had always loved my Mom's vintage Melitta porcelain pour-over coffee brewer because the coffee pot has a clever slit in the spout which prevents dripping.  I even spent $60 on Amazon buying a new version (of course it's a lot less expensive now, harumph), only to discover it no longer had that unique spout design!  So imagine my glee when I found this beauty for $2 at the Sally Ann.  I have never, in all of my thrifting, come across one and this is in mint condition.  I've been stockpiling the cones for years in case mine breaks, so I have a spare for this coffee pot.  I hate when my hoarding is rewarded.

I also scooped up a turquoise Fiesta tray - I think it goes under the cream and sugar?  I had been on the hunt for a turquoise plate to photograph food and treats for the blog and this will be perfect.

It's also my one and only piece of Fiestaware.

For the shop, I found the prettiest Melitta cream and sugar set, made in Germany, with a stunning indigo blue design, plus a Rosti Denmark kitchen utensil set in cheery yellow - these melamine utensils are no longer made in Denmark so this was a rare find, especially because they appear unused.

Just a few cute finds last week, but I have been secretly stockpiling shop goodies so this is just a taste.  You can see the rest of my current listings by clicking here, but stay tuned for more!  I'll be listing a lot more vintage finds, including some pieces from my own collections...

Here's that coupon code again, just in case: DANSLELAKEHOUSE2018.

Treasure Hunting Report: My Recent Vintage Scores

It feels like I haven't done a Treasure Hunting Report in ages!

My treasure hunting really slowed down this year because I've been increasingly picky about what I buy - plus the deals have been few and far between - so I haven't shared treasure hunting reports like I used to in years prior.  But as I was cleaning over the weekend, I realized that I have scored a few gems so I wanted to share.  (I can't be the only person who lovingly admires my treasures while I dust...?) 

Here are the vintage finds that made the cut and found their way into the lakehouse recently.

First up: I enjoyed a major win at the Salvation Army auction - which is something I rarely muster up the motivation to do, because you need to sit through the ENTIRE thing to pay and it can take hours and hours.  This time the bidding went crazy high (I'm talking $500+) on some items, so it was an intensely entertaining evening, plus my Mom came with me which makes everything way more fun!  We could not believe the bizarre things that elicited a bidding war. 

Anyway, you're probably thinking, "get to the goods - what did you BUY?" 

Okay - but first I need to share a back story, so you realize why I was so excited about this particular auction and why I was willing to let my butt go numb on a grubby chair for hours on a beautiful summer evening.  Ten years ago I found an ice cube shaped Iittala crystal votive candle holder at a yard sale for a buck.  Hubby and I had just moved 1500km and were living in a strange city so we loved to yard sale with friends on the weekend to explore.  Plus we were all broke and looking for deals!  I've treasured this little candle holder ever since because it always reminds me of our life in Kingston.  I'd always wished I had a pair, but I could never find one online because I had no idea what it was called or when it was produced.  I even asked around at the local Finnish boutiques, to no avail.  So imagine my surprise when I spot one in the Sally Anne auction case, in a lot with other Iittala.  After a decade of searching! 

The lot was a real hodgepodge: the ice cube votive holder I wanted (which is simply referred to as the Ice Cube and was produced in the 1980s), three Ultima Thule shot glasses, a pair of two ring Festivo candle holders, another Ultima Thule candle holder and an Ultima Thule plate - which was, sadly, chipped.  I ended up winning the bid for only $41 CAD - the Festivo candle holders alone are worth $60-100!  Plus my Mom had an uneven set of Ultima Thule shot glasses so I happily gave her the trio (although I wish they'd been a more practical size, like the Highball Glass or the Old Fashioned glass).  But I suspect this is the universe telling me I need to go to my Mom's place more often and drink liquor.

;) 

I planned to sell the Ultima Thule candle holder but it's so pretty that I might just keep it.

Iittala is my weakness.  All told, that's a lot of $$$ worth of Finnish crystal - but I would have paid that just for the pair to my mystery cube.  I'm so happy!

Plus my Festivo collection grew that tiny bit more... I often get asked where to buy those gleaming crystal candle holders but most of my collection was gifted to me and the rest I have bought through the classifieds or thrifted.  You can find them on Etsy, Chairish - this is a GREAT deal on a massive 6-ring pair that would make a gorgeous statement - or eBay.  Local Finnish boutiques sell them but I think Bed Bath & Beyond does too.

I just love adding to this collection, it's just a thrill when I can scoop up another one (or two).  Is it greedy to hope that one day I can find a pair for my Iittala bird?  He gets lonely, I'm sure... I'm obsessed with this dusty blue one but this dreamy white one is a favorite too.  They're SO expensive though, I can't even imagine what a Sally Anne auction on one of those would be like.  Madness, pure madness.

Anyway, that's my most recent score.  But there have been a few other lucky breaks.

Way back on my birthday in June, my Mom and I went for a little day trip to celebrate because I feel like my birthday is as much a special day for her as it is for me.  So we went to Grand Marais, a little Minnesotan town nearby, for lunch and some shopping and we hit up my favorite antique shops, thrifts, and flea markets.  At the flea market, I scored another Krenit bowl (here's the same one - I think - on Etsy) for a cool $7.  A bit more than the $2 I paid for my bigger one, but still a ridiculously good price.  It's funny because I had JUST said to Hubby, maybe two days earlier, that I wished I had a pair because sometimes we have so much fruit the one bowl isn't enough.  Plus I think by now you've realized I like pairs of things... 

It's in nice condition with some light scuffs that pop up way more on camera, but no chips or staining - plus it still has a "Made in Denmark" label!  I'm so happy with this birthday score.  If you're pining for one, this Etsy listing seems like a sweet deal, although if you happen to have $500 lying around this turquoise one needs a home, lol.  The new ones are a bit spendy too, but I have loved my Krenit bowl for years and years so even if I had splurged, the cost per use would be so low.  For a similar look, this Project 62 enamel tray is a steal at $10! 

I love that I have two now and the different in shape/height is perfect.  Plus I can always use this one for salad (its intended purpose I believe - I just need the matching salad tongs).  I really enjoy the special memory attached to it as well.  My Mom and I had such a lovely, peaceful day together so I am really glad to having this little memento.

That same day, I also picked up a pair of petite Cathrineholm bowls which I had planned to sell but just keep hanging on to!  I hadn't ever seen a design (in person) that wasn't the classic lotus pattern.  They're too cute and their blue/white and black/white combo is begging for some kind of Halloween treat, no?

Wandering around an antique mall in town one day, I found a mug that looked awfully familiar.  Hubby's Aunt and Uncle are both talented potters (you might remember these beautiful mugs his Aunt mailed us, on which will forever remain my happiest mail day).

For awhile his Uncle made these East Coast island mugs.  We had one already so imagine my surprise to see his very distinctive mug at an antique shop 2000+ km away from where he made and sold them!  Seriously, what ARE the odds that it ended up here, for me to find?  Of course I bought it!  I can't link to them because I'm fairly certain there are none in production anymore but here's a handmade turquoise pottery mug I love on Etsy, in case you're now needing a blue mug after seeing my pair (the struggle is real, I totally understand). 

These scores stretched out over four months so it's really not a lot, but I'm so happy with these finds because they're each special in their own way.  And looking back, I feel kinda lucky! 

Have you found any sweet treasures?  I'd love to know!  Or tag me on Instagram so I can come snoop - I just really enjoy seeing the neat things people find.     

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How to Re-String (or Make) a Necklace

A few summers ago, I found this coral necklace at a yard sale for a buck!  I loved the length, but hated that the coral was strung on a ratty cord that ended in a knot.

It didn't look polished and even though I gave it a good wash, I totally grossed myself out thinking about how much neck sweat was trapped in that cord, so I never wore it.  I finally decided to re-string it and add a clasp.

Here's how to re-string a necklace (it's super easy!):

Supplies:

• Necklace to re-string (or beads for a new project)
• Beadalon brand coated wire
• 2 crimp beads
• Clasp (this magnetic one is cool)
• Crimp pliers (a good investment if you'd like to make your own jewellery)
• Wire cutters or scissors
 

Steps:

String a crimp bead onto the coated wire and then add one end of the clasp.  Thread the wire back through the crimp.  Using the small indentation in the crimp pliers, bend the crimp into a "C" shape.  If you don't have crimp pliers, you can buy a small crimp and just squash it flat with needle nosed pliers, but using the crimp pliers creates a tidier, more secure closure.  Occasionally, a squashed crimp would fail, which is why I finally invested in this tool. 

Using the larger indentation of the crimp pliers, fold the "C" shaped crimp bead onto itself, clamping it tightly.

Then, simply string on your beads, burying the end of the bead wire in the necklace.

When you get to the end, thread on a crimp bead and the other half of the clasp.  Pull the coated wire through a few beads and pull tightly.  Trim the end of the wire and bury the tail in the necklace.

Repeat the process for securing the crimp bead, and you're done!

With this simple technique, you can make striking necklaces and bracelets from scratch, or re-work pieces you own, in minutes! 

A note about coral: Coral is a marine invertebrate that lives in colonies.  These colonies form a hard skeleton and the skeleton of this sea creature is what is used for coral jewellery.  Coral is important to marine life but is being harvested indiscriminately, which is a serious problem and could lead to depletion.  This is why coral jewellery can be unethical to wear and I was conflicted about purchasing this piece.  Truthfully, I'm not sure if my necklace is real or faux, but it seems a waste not to enjoy it.  I bring this up because the use of coral is problematic, so to ignore this issue would be irresponsible on my part.  If you're interested, you can read more about coral here.   

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Eames Dreams Realized

When I opened my Instagram account a week ago, I decided that it would be a fun place to share thrifted treasures and vintage finds.  But my most recent find is too juicy not to share here as well! 

I was trolling kijiji last week and spotted a pair of chairs described as "retro-style plastic chairs".  From the picture they looked just like Herman Miller Eames DAX fibreglass chairs, but there had been 98 views and the ad had been up for 16 hours.  I thought it unlikely that they were the real deal but, if they were, I figured they had been snapped up already (especially for $15 each).  Just in case, I sent the seller a message saying I'd love to buy them and could pick them up at her convenience.  Surprisingly, they hadn't sold.  

When I arrived at the seller's house, it was apparent the chairs were fibreglass, not plastic.  So, yay! 

They were in excellent condition (just dirty and smudgy), except some of the plastic feet were missing and mismatched.  I handed over the cash and we scurried off with them.  She told me 10 other people had expressed interest, but no one else had been willing to drive through the snowstorm to pick them up.  As we loaded the chairs into my truck, the Herman Miller embossed logo (along with paper labels) were abundantly clear - along with the distinctive shock mounts and H-base!

This is ALL dirt . . . blech.  Cleaned up nicely now!

This might be my best find to date (although the velvet chair and krenit bowl are close contenders).



I've done a little sleuthing but I still know so little about these.  The one on the left has the Herman Miller embossed logo, a double triangle (not pictured), as well as an embossed flame.  I haven't been able to figure out what the flame means (others also seem stumped).  I believe the triangle signifies the manufacturer - Summit Plastics.  The paper label has patents, with the last one issued in 1958.  It's translucent, but the one on the right is not.  The right one also has the Herman Miller embossed logo, the double triangle (not pictured), and an S inside a circle.  It has a stamp that reads, "Summit, 3, Prime".  So they both seem to be manufactured by Summit.  The paper label has a piece missing, so I can't see the last patent to Google what year it was issued. 

My uneducated guess is that these are from the (late?) 1960s, most likely the 1970s - they look a lot like these and a little like these these on Ebay.  I read on a forum that Zenith Plastics was the first manufacturer (which I knew), that Cincinnati Milicron was the second, and Summit Plastics the third (before Vitra), but I haven't been able to find info on when each company produced these chairs.  What I do know is that this pair came from a hospital that closed down awhile ago.  My heart hurts thinking about how many others there might have been, just waiting to get taken home (for free, or next to nothing, I imagine).  I wonder how many ended up at the dump . . . try not to think about it.  At least these ones have a good home (and by "good," I mean mine).  They've been given a preliminary cleaning, but they need a good clean, the metal needs a little polishing, and I need to order new feet.

I'm so thrilled.  The snow that fell last week wasn't a dusting, it stuck around and I'm just so over winter.  It was funny after the fact, but when I first got my truck stuck in the snow I burst into tears of frustration (it took three hours of shoveling, I went through a lot of emotions).  Ridiculous, I know, but other people I've spoken to feel really beaten down by just how much snow Thunder Bay and area have gotten, and how it's still falling.  I really needed a silly little pick-me-up, and these fit the bill.  You know, I'll happily put up with copious amounts of springtime snow if it means I can scoop other treasure hunters. 

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