National Cherish An Antique Day 2013

Kathy Delgado shopping the marche aux puces in the South of France

APRIL 9 is CHERISH AN ANTIQUE DAY, an actual holiday created by Vintageweave Interiors' founder, Kathy Delgado.   

In honor of this holiday, take 

15% off any vintage or antique accessory!

10% off any furniture piece

The only requirement is it must be old (not a reproduction)

That's 10-15% off!** 

** Orders over $25 before taxes/shipping)

ONLY  now through 4/9/13 midnight PST. 

• Stop in the boutique: public hours 4/9 noon-4pm

• Order online at vintageweave.com and all you need to is mention "CHERISH AN ANTIQUE" in comments section when ordering online. Your discount will be manually applied within 24 hours. Confirmation also within 24 hours.

Vintageweave Interiors

7928 West 3rd Street  

(5 businesses west of Fairfax near The Grove and CBS Studios)

Los Angeles, CA 90048

www.vintageweave.com

323.932.0451

e: vintageweave@aol.com

European Wall Sink Mania!

Design jobs in Malibu and Hollywood are keeping me hopping. LOTS and LOTS going on!
 I can not believe how crazy busy we are with...

design jobs, your fabulous phone orders, the inordinate amount of wonderful online orders, gift baskets galore, and all those dropping in the boutique to outfit their homes with something special....

We're having a blast helping everyone sneak some wonderful treasures into their homes, and while we have little time for tea breaks (or potty breaks for that matter!), we're loving that our busy plate has seamlessly rolled into the holiday crazy busy platter of a season! The gift basket portion of the business has been in full swing (ok, when isn't it??), but lately we've had several clients who have wrapped films and turned to us to create some magical "thank you's"....more on these later!

 Will be back soon to share a bit of this and that....Also, look for weekly new items online now through the end of the year!

In the meantime enjoy these:

We have had an unusual number of requests for European Wall Sinks. So on the extreme hunt we went for these antique lovelies!  Hailing from France, England and Hungary,   we have over 15 in stock right now (after selling over 25 in the last 2 weeks!).
 Classic styles with simple, straight lines run $295 - $350.
Elaborate styles with scrolling detail (as those shown here) run $600-$725.

French Hospitality from a Stranger

On one of my trips in France, I was walking through the 15e looking for an obscure junkyard based on a tip from a fellow dealer. I had left my pied-à-terre at 5am as this was said to be the witching hour to locate the best of the best at the treasure trove of a metal yard. About an hour into the walk I realized to my horror that the jet lag from the previous night's landing was more severe than I had originally thought: I had on two different pair of boots! Given that I had on a knee-length skirt, the mistake was glaring! Faux Pas enough in the States, but in Paris?! Quel Horror! I wanted to crawl away and hide, but was too invested in the thrill of the hunt.  To make matters worse I had dribbled coffee all over the front of me...ok, not so much dribbled,  as much as SPILLED.  A frumpy American stared back at me at every turn of each window shop's reflection.

Lost and confused on winding one-way streets unfamiliar to me, I focused on enjoying the opportunity to discover a part of Paris as if opening a vibrant, perfumey pomegranate. Layer by layer, each pod revealing a bit more of the bounty. Each seed offering a variety of color and shape.

An hour or so had passed and  I soon stumbled upon a wonderful petite stone house surrounded by several pockets of lavender bush. The faded grey stone had a magic patina to it and ironically seemed just perfect upon realizing this sweet home doubled as a hardware store. Gingerly walking in so as not to disturb or create glare over my garb, I approached the sweet silver-haired Madame and asked for assistance in my very best {broken} French.

To my disappointment: unknown dialect. The communication couldn't have been more missed.  I quickly pulled out a wrinkled napkin from my tote and drew out a makeshift map. After several minutes, the woman abruptly got up, rushed the only patron out the door, shouted something to her husband, and grabbed me by the hand. With three of us now walking towards the door, they turned the sign hanging to read FERMER (shut/closed) and proceeded to walk me towards my intended destination all the while clutching my hand....

Despite my obvious lack of understanding her million-miles-a-minute French, Madame jabbered on and on without pause. Monsieur interjected nods and "hmmms" when he felt it warranted. I smiled, laughed,  looked agreeable and frowned in solidarity when I felt it warranted.

"Ok, Kath, how much longer can you fake your way through this one-sided, intense conversation? Did I just laugh inappropriately? Oh good, she's smiling and nodding so timing was right.  Wait, WHAT was that word? Did this sweet little woman just say......Oh God she DID, didn't she?! Oh my, did she just use that word again? I just know I'm blushing. How juvenile of  me"

It was exhausting and funny and charming all at the same time! After many turns lefts and rights,  the chain link fence surrounding the infamous junk yard stood before me.
"Viola Mademoiselle!"...and a bunch of unrecognizable other stuff"

Warm hugs were exchanged, and this girl practically ran through the gate to see what metal objects could be unearthed. 

Tell me now. Really. Can you imagine any merchant in the States actually closing their doors in the middle of the day just to help in a similar situation?

75 vintage Champagne buckets and various pails later, I remember thinking:

French Rudeness?
Severely blown out of proportion.
French Hospitality?
Like No Other.
..........................Magnifique!

French Tea Towels

I'm a sucker for vintage tea towels, especially those that hail from France or England in the white and red hues, with a touch of monogramming from the family of years long past who so lovingly used them:

Dried dishes with them....
...... Carried hot pots with them..... Wrapped bread in them...
...as part of their every day lives....

Vintage homespun with red monogramming varieties ABOVE (Style HS2 $66/ea)

Vintage with touches of red and yellow or sometimes green (Style RC3 $25/ea)

Vintage white with uneven monogramming probably sewn by a loving grandmother whose eyes were starting to go (Style WW1 $25/ea)

Burlap with the right touch of red. Newly crafted by our friends at Cote Bastide in Aix en Provence (Style CBBurlap $22/ea)

When combined, a lovely creation is born:

Vintage French tea towel patchwork pillow w/down insert ABOVE($300); 18" square made from vintage French tea towel w/down insert BELOW($80)

All available now at VINTAGEWEAVE.COM

French Bottle Carriers

"Does this hunk of metal really work for you??"

This was the question posed to me during a flea market excursion by some passerby. I had to laugh. Sometimes MEN just don't get it. Ok, to be fair, sometimes PEOPLE just don't get it.

One night while preparing the living room for a hosted movie night at my house, I had a boyfriend ask once about an amazing rare black French armoire* that had just the right chipping in all the right places....

"Um, are you ever planning on painting this thing?"

Hmpf!
Poor thing didn't stand a chance after that.
(The man, that is, not the armoire!)



Hot off the container, an assortment of antique wine bottle carriers. Especially unusual hunk of metal offerings in TEN BOTTLE carriers--rare, rare, rare! All in great condition with no missing rungs.

$90-250 at vintageweave.com or 323.932.0451

*Armoire has since sold to a dinner party guest one late January when I was feeling a "new look" was in order....

Fairytale Provence B & B

On this important day in American (er, WORLD) history, we give you a respite from the sad remembrance.....



There once was an old olive oil mill who lived in the heavenly village of Moustiers Ste.-Marie, PROVENCE FRANCE....

...along came gracious Joel who followed beautiful Genevieve down the hill. Fell in love whilst taking in the lavender-infused air (and who wouldn't??). Married her and together transformed the infamous mill into a luxury b&b which would be coveted by those who travel from far away lands to rest in one of the most picturesque settings in the world.

Alas, the ultimate hosts now spend their days preparing breakfasts and dinners from the organic bounty their gardens magically offer (Jack and his ol' beanstalk are given a good run for the money, honey). Lounge and eat local olives, cheese and freshly-plucked eggs here:

What to do besides relax, hit area marches aux puces (because antiquing is a must and a given, nest' ce pas?) and eat crazy good food and wine?

Oh...I don't know...perhaps hike in the lavender fields of Provence (just to say YOU DID)....

..... swim and canoe in the bluest of blue waters in Ste. Croix Lake, allow your venerable hosts to teach you a thing or twelve about traditional Provincial cooking, meet your neighbors and get invited to harvest grapes....you know, the UUUSH...


Fairytale Excursions now being accepted:

La Bouscatiere in Provence

Chemin Marcel Provence, 04360 Moustiers Sainte-Marie
A mere 3 hrs train ride from Paris to Aix en Provence

French Antiquing and Modern Technology

Because my home design and set design schedules get so crazy at times, I often can't just jump on a plane anymore to attend last-minute alerts of antique fairs/sales popping up throughout France.

But I only take on projects I love with clients I adore, so I have no complaints....(modern technology affords me this attitude, I can not lie!!)

As an antique dealer I'm often invited to "private" estate sales throughout the beautiful French countryside which, to no big surprise, are my most favorite of treasure-hunting expeditions!! Thank goodness for my two trusty ROCKS --one of whom lives in Marseille and another right outside Paris. They are amazing assets to Vintageweave.

With technology the way that it is and my being a gadget freak, it's so easy to get up at 2am...
make a pot of coffee...
light a few candles to set the "tone and mood" (if you've been to the boutique you know I'm all about the ambiance 24/7. I like lit votives even at a breakfast table)...
slip on a pair of comfy slipper socks...
fire up the Mac....
and go shopping! My ROCKS, coupled with their state-of-the-art cell phones, walk the antique sales, snapping, texting, snapping, texting...

Many dealers/business owners have "pickers", those folks who buy on their behalf because they feel they know the preferred style/era etc. This could never be for me. Instead, I have "alerters", dealers/private parties who alert me when they have something they feel I will like, but never ever buy on my behalf.

My needs change, my clients' needs change and let's face it, I'm a self-confessed control freak ---hmm, isn't this a core trait of an entrepreneur???---so I do 100% of my own buying. Yes, that's 100%. (If you've been to the boutique you will know what a job this is) For my business needs, investing in these phones for my ROCKS was a no brainer. It is a way of getting me to these fairs while accomplishing all my other lofty goals in any given week. As much as I love the past, I LOVE MODERN TECHNOLOGY! Juxtaposition: I'm walkin' it, I'm talkin it.



Usually it's big pieces I'm purchasing, but in the wee hours one morning I set the alarm for 1am, got up, made a pot of coffee with warmed vanilla soy milk, spread some fig jam on my toast, lit a Mariage Freres Rouge candle, jumped online and WENT SHOPPING!....Pascale sent photo after photo of delicious finds and I'd give thumbs up or down while he walked the fair. It was an intimate estate sale full of wonderful smalls which left me drooling. His camera phone took some of the photos and others were on his 35mm, and still others of the goods as they were unpacked here in the States...



Some of the items arrived today...So now you can drool, too!


Flower/coal carriers from the early 1900's....Enamel Coffee Biggins....



Lots of mini bibles and books...


And my most favorite....fifty-five antique French lunch pails from the early 1900's!$48/ea


None of these are yet online but contact us via email if interested: vintageweave@aol.com.

Ohhhh, who am I kidding?? Control freak, clients' needs, blah, blah, blah...none of that amounts to the REAL reason I do 100% of the buying: I LOVE SHOPPING.

To quote my dear friend J.....
....... "I LOVE SHOPPING. I WANT TO MARRY SHOPPING".

I'sle-Sur-La-Sorgue

One of the most picturesque, medieval villages is this little beauty in the Provence region/Cote d'Azur....follow me on the path tour, won't you?

The Sorgue River hugs this ancient village, with meandering river beds flowing through and along the narrow streets...and past the many working (and non) windmills...

With over 300...yes I said 300!....permanent antique and vintage stores, it's an antique hunters dream town. Every August 15, there is a very wonderful and large puces where the treasures abound. As this year's fair approaches, I am reminded of a lucky antique dealer who has a home in this village. Maybe she'll let me rent a bunkbed, n'est ce pa??? Here is a peak at her heaven on earth:


Oh to be able to whip up rosemary chicken and lavender rice pudding in this farmhouse kitchen....

And then to serve and eat it on this heavenly veranda....






I'm asking for this luscious outdoor spot. I'm hoping she'll take a trade of Dodger Dogs...

(home photos: Maison Cote Sud)

Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue
(Cote de Azur)
Easy train ride from Avignon
Market Days: Sun and Thurs mornings or all day during summer
Flea Market/Puces: Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! or at the big August Fair

French Periodicals As Art

Vintage periodical prints and advertisements make the perfect art! While the prints themselves can be found relatively inexpensively at a variety of French Flea Markets, or puces, the type of frame you choose can really set it apart from being a flea market find to flea market CHIC. We've paired some with moderately-priced frames and others with luscious antique frames. Either way they represent a beautiful bygone era where there is no photoshop, iphoto or fancy computer to enhance the hand drawn sketches.

There's a particular vender who used to sell stacks of these beauties at Puces Vanves (Metro stop Porte de Vanves off Metro 13). As early as 6 years ago you could fetch these for around 5-15 Euro or $5-$15. Now they go for around 30 Euro, which these days......well, let's just say "our dollar ain't what it used to be"! i just love the detail of them.

The black and white news feature ones are a particular draw. {Offered at Vintageweave on occasion for $35.}

Vanves is is one of my favorite markets in Paris proper....small and selective with a great variety of quality items. As you turn the bend on Porte de Vanves you can smell the food vendor with his perfectly-brewed cafe au lait and decent croissant. The energy is fast and furious and half way through making your way, the market width narrows to a single file for about the length of 10 vendors. Of course everyone ignores this fact, pushing and forging ahead as if they haven't noticed there is less room. This is France, after all, a country whose people famously detest rules and restrictions. As a visitor it can be daunting, but just remember, you are in France, eating a so-so croissant that is far better than any croissant on its best day back home, and there are treasures upon treasures to be had at every turn. And did I mention? You. Are. In. France. Life is Good.

Luscious Linen

My mom and I went to an antique fair/flea market recently and discovered these luscious vintage linen string rolls. Can you just imagine all the possibilities? French linen material was a fabulous discovery that day, too. Also in our bounty: vintage French ticking, antique French music sheets, antique miniature bottles, pewter candlesticks, and an amazing artist who creates jewelry incorporating antique papers and love letters (look for them for in the boutique and on the website this week).
I'm pretty fast in scouring a flea market, scanning each vendor's wares and making quick decisions, which contributes to the success of scoring the best merchandise for Vintageweave and our clients.

We met lovely people and loaded the cart with treasures upon treasures...