There's a lot to love this Fall at Antiques on Cannon & Recycled Goods. We LOVE our new recycled earrings made from old maps, sheet music & Chinese newspaper! We ADORE our new wine bags, baguette purses & totes made from recycled newspaper! We are HIGH on all the ways in which we can be eco-friendly.
But you know my true love is antiques. And the beauty of being a dyed-in-the-wool antiquer is that sooner or later the things you love and have searched for for years appear. And if you are really, really lucky you can make them yours. Or you can create the opportunity for someone else who loves them to have them. Even luckier.
And this time the shopping in Brimfield was golden. Now, don't get me wrong. I walk away from far more things than I buy; price is an important factor in the decision, since we at Antiques on Cannon & Recycled Goods are committed to offering quality items at prices that are within the reach of our customers. So when I find something on my wish list that's affordable, it's truly a wonderful day.
Over the last few years there has been a reappearance of furniture with mirrored surfaces - a return to the glamour of the Hollywood Regency period. When I was a child my parents' living room furniture (Italian Provincial - think 1950s) included a gold veined mirror-topped tables. Though the coffee & end tables are long gone, I still have the nested set, and they are perhaps the root of my love of the style.
I occasionally see mirrored furniture for sale. And it is always so pricey that I can't even bring myself to buy a piece for my home. It's beautiful and fragile, which explains its pricing. But my first find at Brimfield this month was a little mirrored table - a console or a vanity / dressing table - that proclaimed itself mine(at least temporarily). Imagine my delight when I found a robins egg blue leather slipper chair - and don't they look divine together. Without a doubt, we LOVE them.
Those of you who are on our mailing list (and if you're not and you want to be, just email antiquesoncannon@comcast.net and we'll add you) will be receiving our Fall Fashions card in the next few weeks. You'll see the little caned French provincial chair and Italian ladies desk we are MAD about. You'll see the black Bertoia diamond chair that makes us VERY HAPPY. You'll see some of our most favorite ever nautical finds, including a huge loving cup from a Bermuda-Lisboa boat race - LOVE IT!
And still to come. . .a wonderful mahogany pedestal table; the coolest Danish modern vanity, along with dining and occasional tables; a cozy-comfy swivel bucket chair; a breathtaking teak corner bar; wardrobes in oak and burled maple - the list just goes on, and they are each and every one our FAVORITE - we just can't choose!!!
And no worries, if we haven't gotten it into the shop when you arrive, we'll have it in a notebook you can look at - just to tempt you, of course!
And even though I still haven't told you about the wonderful people who made it all happen, I'll do it next time. Because there's always a next time, and another treasure around the corner.
Be happy
marilyn
Friday, September 12, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
We're Back and We ROCK (if we do say so ourselves!)
Holy cow has it been a week!!! We are back from Brimfield and it was better than ever! We just couldn't stop buying - we filled a 12-foot truck and a cargo van AND still had to hire a truck to bring the rest. WOW!
We kept everyone's comments in mind - that you love how we mix it up and have so many different periods and styles represented. We bought Empire mahogany, exquisite burled Art Deco, fabulous Mid Century teak and rosewood, caned French Provincial, Mission oak, Hollywood Glam, bamboo, retro blonde maple - my head is just spinning from these fabulous finds.
And this week - it's photo time - and I'm bringing in my favorite first: a turquoise leather side chair and a little mirrored console table. So very sweet - ooooooh! Look for photos on the website soon and check in to watch it roll in the door!
Next time, when I'm not so tired and I can catch my breath and collect my thoughts, I'll tell you about the wonderful folks we had the privilege of working with this trip. Every one of them played a part in getting these treasures in the door. For now I'll just leave you with this phrase I learned from one of them -
peace out
marilyn
We kept everyone's comments in mind - that you love how we mix it up and have so many different periods and styles represented. We bought Empire mahogany, exquisite burled Art Deco, fabulous Mid Century teak and rosewood, caned French Provincial, Mission oak, Hollywood Glam, bamboo, retro blonde maple - my head is just spinning from these fabulous finds.
And this week - it's photo time - and I'm bringing in my favorite first: a turquoise leather side chair and a little mirrored console table. So very sweet - ooooooh! Look for photos on the website soon and check in to watch it roll in the door!
Next time, when I'm not so tired and I can catch my breath and collect my thoughts, I'll tell you about the wonderful folks we had the privilege of working with this trip. Every one of them played a part in getting these treasures in the door. For now I'll just leave you with this phrase I learned from one of them -
peace out
marilyn
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Going, Going, GONE!
It would appear that Going, Going, Gone! is our theme for the week.
First to be Going - it's Last Call for Mimosa Thursdays, this Thursday, August 28. We've had lots of fun with this summer treat (as have our customers!), but good things sometimes come to an end, and we bid Adieu to summer with this final mimosa celebration. Join us if you can - see the News & Events page for more info.
Next to be Going - the Back Room Sale! We started cleaning house with downtown Chestertown's Crazy Days Sale in July, and we've kept it up with 50% savings in the Back Room. But now it's time to make room for new and exciting finds, so it's Last Call for Back Room Bargains this week as well.
And then there's Gone - and all I can say is "WOW"! I feel a little like Sally Fields back when she accepted her Oscar for "Norma Rae" (nothing like showing my age!). Her happy comments became a saying for the era "You like me! You really like me!". We are similarly thrilled at Antiques on Cannon that you have "liked us" so much this past season!
Just last week I brought in a few terrific finds - a giant school room chalkboard that was hip and chic and so much fun - and it is GONE, GONE, GONE, just like that! And then boom - another new find flew out the door - a wonderful mid-century upholstered grey chair that looked like it had just walked out of the Crate & Barrel catalog. It didn't last long enough to really be appreciated!
But here's the good news: There's one more Brimfield Antiques Market left to go this year (www.brimfieldshow.com) and we're heading up on Monday with a 14 foot truck and a mini van to boot. We're just itching to fill it up with more fantastic finds and fun things!
We've got a few treasures tucked away that will make their way into the shop this weekend, and then look for the Brimfield treasures to arrive mid-September.
So keep us on your radar, and get it when you see it, 'cause it won't last long!
On the road again -
marilyn
First to be Going - it's Last Call for Mimosa Thursdays, this Thursday, August 28. We've had lots of fun with this summer treat (as have our customers!), but good things sometimes come to an end, and we bid Adieu to summer with this final mimosa celebration. Join us if you can - see the News & Events page for more info.
Next to be Going - the Back Room Sale! We started cleaning house with downtown Chestertown's Crazy Days Sale in July, and we've kept it up with 50% savings in the Back Room. But now it's time to make room for new and exciting finds, so it's Last Call for Back Room Bargains this week as well.
And then there's Gone - and all I can say is "WOW"! I feel a little like Sally Fields back when she accepted her Oscar for "Norma Rae" (nothing like showing my age!). Her happy comments became a saying for the era "You like me! You really like me!". We are similarly thrilled at Antiques on Cannon that you have "liked us" so much this past season!
Just last week I brought in a few terrific finds - a giant school room chalkboard that was hip and chic and so much fun - and it is GONE, GONE, GONE, just like that! And then boom - another new find flew out the door - a wonderful mid-century upholstered grey chair that looked like it had just walked out of the Crate & Barrel catalog. It didn't last long enough to really be appreciated!
But here's the good news: There's one more Brimfield Antiques Market left to go this year (www.brimfieldshow.com) and we're heading up on Monday with a 14 foot truck and a mini van to boot. We're just itching to fill it up with more fantastic finds and fun things!
We've got a few treasures tucked away that will make their way into the shop this weekend, and then look for the Brimfield treasures to arrive mid-September.
So keep us on your radar, and get it when you see it, 'cause it won't last long!
On the road again -
marilyn
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
In the Company of Greatness
Heads up! "Top Design" returns to Bravo TV on Wednesday, September 3!
No, that was not a paid endorsement. But I am excited. This is the second outing for this show - the last one resulted in my redoing the entire house! More design and less reality keep me tuning in, along with the chance to learn from the comments of the professional hosts and judges.
First, in the role of mentor, designer Todd Oldham. He is endearing beyond belief, but what I discovered some time later about him was his rediscovery, friendship and promotion of mid-century artist and illustrator Charley Harper www.CharleyHarperArtStudio.com. Those of us of a certain vintage will recognize Mr. Harper's signature style from tomes such as The Giant Golden Book of Biology. His wonderfully whimsical interpretations of the birds and wildlife surrounding us connect us to them through shared expressions of joy, anger, curiousity. Oldham and Harper collaborated to produce Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life, an enormous coffee table book that you can get lost in.
And then there's the panel of judges: Designer/Decorators Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler, and Margaret Russell, Editor of Elle Decor magazine.
You've seen me wax eloquent about Adler and Wearstler before. Their styles are almost exact opposites on the spectrum - Adler: loud and happy and big; Wearstler: chic and sophisticated and tailored. But they both deliver a knockout punch that stops you in your tracks. It's a treat to observe design through their eyes.
That's a part of what we bring with us to Antiques on Cannon - what we learn from the professionals. Another part, just as significant, is what we learn from our customers.
I've had the opportunity several times recently to visit some of our customers' homes. They are as diverse as Adler and Wearstler, and each one teaches me something new about style.
I'm not talking about iconic stuff. It's not that we have to be "magazine-ready" to be stylish. On the contrary - we just have to let our decor be a stage for self expression. Whether that's through color, texture, style, minimalism or "maximalism" (a favorite Adler term). I often hear people describe themselves as eclectic - and they are almost apologetic when they say it, as if they think not committing to a certain style is in some way flawed.
Truthfully, the most impressive places I've seen are the ones that express the whole range of someone's character. Can you like both ice cream and pie? Thai food and Italian? Well, of course. And the same is true of fashion. Imagine a modern bedroom with a dangly chandelier. A traditional dining room with a French provincial table and Hollywood Glam/Danish modern chairs on a blue Oriental rug. If that's not spectacular, I don't know what is.
We've moved a lot of furniture in and a lot of furniture out in the last few weeks. After the "shoppe re-do" of my last post, we did it all over again this past weekend. Good thing I'm heading off on another buying trip soon! Come see the fabulous new finds that have already arrived, and look for even more fabulous-ness to come this Fall!
Too busy to write more - I have to go shopping!
marilyn
No, that was not a paid endorsement. But I am excited. This is the second outing for this show - the last one resulted in my redoing the entire house! More design and less reality keep me tuning in, along with the chance to learn from the comments of the professional hosts and judges.
First, in the role of mentor, designer Todd Oldham. He is endearing beyond belief, but what I discovered some time later about him was his rediscovery, friendship and promotion of mid-century artist and illustrator Charley Harper www.CharleyHarperArtStudio.com. Those of us of a certain vintage will recognize Mr. Harper's signature style from tomes such as The Giant Golden Book of Biology. His wonderfully whimsical interpretations of the birds and wildlife surrounding us connect us to them through shared expressions of joy, anger, curiousity. Oldham and Harper collaborated to produce Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life, an enormous coffee table book that you can get lost in.
And then there's the panel of judges: Designer/Decorators Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler, and Margaret Russell, Editor of Elle Decor magazine.
You've seen me wax eloquent about Adler and Wearstler before. Their styles are almost exact opposites on the spectrum - Adler: loud and happy and big; Wearstler: chic and sophisticated and tailored. But they both deliver a knockout punch that stops you in your tracks. It's a treat to observe design through their eyes.
That's a part of what we bring with us to Antiques on Cannon - what we learn from the professionals. Another part, just as significant, is what we learn from our customers.
I've had the opportunity several times recently to visit some of our customers' homes. They are as diverse as Adler and Wearstler, and each one teaches me something new about style.
I'm not talking about iconic stuff. It's not that we have to be "magazine-ready" to be stylish. On the contrary - we just have to let our decor be a stage for self expression. Whether that's through color, texture, style, minimalism or "maximalism" (a favorite Adler term). I often hear people describe themselves as eclectic - and they are almost apologetic when they say it, as if they think not committing to a certain style is in some way flawed.
Truthfully, the most impressive places I've seen are the ones that express the whole range of someone's character. Can you like both ice cream and pie? Thai food and Italian? Well, of course. And the same is true of fashion. Imagine a modern bedroom with a dangly chandelier. A traditional dining room with a French provincial table and Hollywood Glam/Danish modern chairs on a blue Oriental rug. If that's not spectacular, I don't know what is.
We've moved a lot of furniture in and a lot of furniture out in the last few weeks. After the "shoppe re-do" of my last post, we did it all over again this past weekend. Good thing I'm heading off on another buying trip soon! Come see the fabulous new finds that have already arrived, and look for even more fabulous-ness to come this Fall!
Too busy to write more - I have to go shopping!
marilyn
Sunday, July 27, 2008
On the trail of the unexpected
Forgive me if, in this post, I am a little all over the map. We just wrapped up our annual sidewalk sale in downtown Chestertown and it's been a busy few days! And today, to fill in the holes where things were sold, we did a "shoppe re-do", as my friend Susan likes to say.
And I have to say - Thank heaven for girlfriends! My friend Edie is a real trooper - she has appointed herself the unloader, hauler & re-organizer. Her tirelessness in the face of my constant "Let's put that here. No, wait, let's move it there! That's it. Well, no, maybe it was better where it was before" - to date she has neither thrown anything at me nor snuck out the back door. What a pal!
And before I launch into my point - I just have to give our staff credit, because it is sure due. Kara, Pat, Debb, Alice - and Kurt by proxy - are just about the best crew anyone could ask for. They make the shop (and me) look good all the time - a rare group indeed!
But what I want to talk about today is two-fold. Today we brought in some of the things I got on my most recent buying trip - a Danish Modern draw-leaf table, a great Lane mid-century server, a sweet Heywood Wakefield dining table, a charming little Hollywood glam chartreuse chest of drawers. All sweet stuff - the kind of things our customers like to find in the shop.
And I also brought in a killer piece - a turn of the century mahogany rudder - over 3 feet tall - mounted on a stand. The patina is buttery rich, and the total effect is a "LOOK AT THAT!" moment.
It did not come cheap. It is always a challenge for me to "buy right". Mediocre things are in abudant supply; quality items are difficult to find; and unusual things command a price. It requires knowing when to walk away and when to take a risk. One of the greatest compliments I receive is when someone says "You've got a great eye". Learning to trust my eye and recognize the things it's worth paying for are the most important assets I take with me on the road.
So I've developed two criteria those really great items must meet before I'm willing to take the risk. The first is the "Find another one" criteria: Have I ever seen one before, or one of such caliber? How likely is it that I will find another one, and what would it take to do so. I've been antiquing since my early teen age years - it takes a lot to "wow" me.
The second question I ask myself is: "Will I regret it if I walk away from this?". I find this an invaluable tool when I am at a big antique market where there is a lot of merchandise available and I have to choose wisely where to spend my money. So far this strategy hasn't failed me. I've been able to walk away from things and not look back, and also recognize when something is worth taking a risk on.
I was mulling this over on my last buying trip and was reminded of one of Interior Designer Kelly Wearstler's philosophies: Create the art of the unexpected.
The unexpected distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary. It is the "LOOK AT THAT" you get when someone sees something so totally unexpected that it takes them completely by surprise. It sets a tone. It becomes a signature. It creates an excitement that keeps customers coming by. And THAT makes it worth my paying the price. I may have to hold onto it for a while until the right customer comes along, but while we're waiting, there's a lot of WOW going on.
One of the things I realized over the last few days of the sidewalk sale is that Antiques on Cannon has created that kind of buzz. There are a lot of people who keep us on their radar. Often I'll be wrapping something up for someone and they'll say "I've been looking at this for a while and I decided I just have to have it". And I didn't have a clue they'd ever given it a glance.
But I couldn't be happier. It means we're doing what we set out to do - give our customers a fun experience in a no-pressure, friendly environment filled with terrific, unforgettable things, and sometimes even make their day in the process. It's heady stuff. But we love it.
here's to making your day, unexpectedly
marilyn
And I have to say - Thank heaven for girlfriends! My friend Edie is a real trooper - she has appointed herself the unloader, hauler & re-organizer. Her tirelessness in the face of my constant "Let's put that here. No, wait, let's move it there! That's it. Well, no, maybe it was better where it was before" - to date she has neither thrown anything at me nor snuck out the back door. What a pal!
And before I launch into my point - I just have to give our staff credit, because it is sure due. Kara, Pat, Debb, Alice - and Kurt by proxy - are just about the best crew anyone could ask for. They make the shop (and me) look good all the time - a rare group indeed!
But what I want to talk about today is two-fold. Today we brought in some of the things I got on my most recent buying trip - a Danish Modern draw-leaf table, a great Lane mid-century server, a sweet Heywood Wakefield dining table, a charming little Hollywood glam chartreuse chest of drawers. All sweet stuff - the kind of things our customers like to find in the shop.
And I also brought in a killer piece - a turn of the century mahogany rudder - over 3 feet tall - mounted on a stand. The patina is buttery rich, and the total effect is a "LOOK AT THAT!" moment.
It did not come cheap. It is always a challenge for me to "buy right". Mediocre things are in abudant supply; quality items are difficult to find; and unusual things command a price. It requires knowing when to walk away and when to take a risk. One of the greatest compliments I receive is when someone says "You've got a great eye". Learning to trust my eye and recognize the things it's worth paying for are the most important assets I take with me on the road.
So I've developed two criteria those really great items must meet before I'm willing to take the risk. The first is the "Find another one" criteria: Have I ever seen one before, or one of such caliber? How likely is it that I will find another one, and what would it take to do so. I've been antiquing since my early teen age years - it takes a lot to "wow" me.
The second question I ask myself is: "Will I regret it if I walk away from this?". I find this an invaluable tool when I am at a big antique market where there is a lot of merchandise available and I have to choose wisely where to spend my money. So far this strategy hasn't failed me. I've been able to walk away from things and not look back, and also recognize when something is worth taking a risk on.
I was mulling this over on my last buying trip and was reminded of one of Interior Designer Kelly Wearstler's philosophies: Create the art of the unexpected.
The unexpected distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary. It is the "LOOK AT THAT" you get when someone sees something so totally unexpected that it takes them completely by surprise. It sets a tone. It becomes a signature. It creates an excitement that keeps customers coming by. And THAT makes it worth my paying the price. I may have to hold onto it for a while until the right customer comes along, but while we're waiting, there's a lot of WOW going on.
One of the things I realized over the last few days of the sidewalk sale is that Antiques on Cannon has created that kind of buzz. There are a lot of people who keep us on their radar. Often I'll be wrapping something up for someone and they'll say "I've been looking at this for a while and I decided I just have to have it". And I didn't have a clue they'd ever given it a glance.
But I couldn't be happier. It means we're doing what we set out to do - give our customers a fun experience in a no-pressure, friendly environment filled with terrific, unforgettable things, and sometimes even make their day in the process. It's heady stuff. But we love it.
here's to making your day, unexpectedly
marilyn
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Today's Vocabulary Lesson
If you don't already know these words, they are soon to become part of our daily vocabulary: Upcycling and Trashion.
When I checked my email this morning I found an article from the Baltimore Sun reporting on a New Jersey company that is taking consumer product packaging waste and transforming it into new products - umbrellas, shower curtains, tote bags and so on. It is apparently a concept whose time has come, as several major retailers have signed on to carry the products.
The process is called Upcycling, a term created by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things". Essentially it means to take something disposable and transform it into something of use and value.
Funny how that leads us straight to "trashion" - a marriage of (you know where I'm going, don't you?) trash and fashion. So now carrying a change purse made from a snack food package is fashionable, hip and eco friendly.
We knew it all along. And if it's good enough for Target, well, it's good enough for us too. So next time you visit Antiques on Cannon you'll find some upcycled goods - wrapper change purses, watch part jewelry - and our very popular game board journals and tin can animals!
signing off with a little help for the planet -
marilyn
When I checked my email this morning I found an article from the Baltimore Sun reporting on a New Jersey company that is taking consumer product packaging waste and transforming it into new products - umbrellas, shower curtains, tote bags and so on. It is apparently a concept whose time has come, as several major retailers have signed on to carry the products.
The process is called Upcycling, a term created by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things". Essentially it means to take something disposable and transform it into something of use and value.
Funny how that leads us straight to "trashion" - a marriage of (you know where I'm going, don't you?) trash and fashion. So now carrying a change purse made from a snack food package is fashionable, hip and eco friendly.
We knew it all along. And if it's good enough for Target, well, it's good enough for us too. So next time you visit Antiques on Cannon you'll find some upcycled goods - wrapper change purses, watch part jewelry - and our very popular game board journals and tin can animals!
signing off with a little help for the planet -
marilyn
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The past is the future
The other evening I had the television on and saw an interesting ad for Saturn, the automobile company. The focus was on being green and being mindful of the footprint we leave. Next thing I see is an antique shutter being used to display photos, and other vintage objects being reused and repurposed and recycled. Wait a minute! Isn't this a CAR commercial?
Well, yes it was, but the message coming from every direction right now is that reusing vintage objects in creative ways is a very eco-friendly way to live. Couldn't agree more. We've been advocating it for quite some time.
I've already told you about our Sea Bags and record album purses, and bags & totes made from vintage Oriental weavings. We just keep finding more and more wonderful recycled things to offer here at Antiques on Cannon. Our latest additions:
Game board journals
These are just too cool! Vintage game boards like Monopoly and Scrabble - complete with charms and spelled out words - cut down to journal size and bound. They are great fun!
Typewriter jewelry:
A super stylish use for keys from old (I mean really old manual typewriters) - transformed into earrings and bracelets! They look just sensational, and are terrific gifts for the young and young at heart!
Recycled Can Animals:
I met a gentleman at a street fair recently who is making charming animals out of tin cans - lions, giraffes, elephants - they are whimsical and fun and terribly charming! He learned the craft in Zimbabwe where they have been practicing this ingenious form of recycling for years. Just delightful.
Vintage flash cards:
Perhaps my personal favorite! I stumbled on a real find with these vintage cards that have a super clean look - old style typefaces in black type on ivory cards - with words: "enjoy", "always", "luck", "turtle", "yes"; and phrases "cookies, cookies", "did not", "with you" - and the one that makes me smile every time "will not hop". Enclose them with a gift, use as a bookmark, express a sentiment, display on a bulletin board, or sprinkle them around the house for a little whimsy - they are nostalgic, sentimental and inspire a smile all at the same time. That's a lot of bang for your buck.
So go green with us - reduce, reuse, recycle - find new joy in old things. Or, as the flash card says: "yes".
marilyn
Well, yes it was, but the message coming from every direction right now is that reusing vintage objects in creative ways is a very eco-friendly way to live. Couldn't agree more. We've been advocating it for quite some time.
I've already told you about our Sea Bags and record album purses, and bags & totes made from vintage Oriental weavings. We just keep finding more and more wonderful recycled things to offer here at Antiques on Cannon. Our latest additions:
Game board journals
These are just too cool! Vintage game boards like Monopoly and Scrabble - complete with charms and spelled out words - cut down to journal size and bound. They are great fun!
Typewriter jewelry:
A super stylish use for keys from old (I mean really old manual typewriters) - transformed into earrings and bracelets! They look just sensational, and are terrific gifts for the young and young at heart!
Recycled Can Animals:
I met a gentleman at a street fair recently who is making charming animals out of tin cans - lions, giraffes, elephants - they are whimsical and fun and terribly charming! He learned the craft in Zimbabwe where they have been practicing this ingenious form of recycling for years. Just delightful.
Vintage flash cards:
Perhaps my personal favorite! I stumbled on a real find with these vintage cards that have a super clean look - old style typefaces in black type on ivory cards - with words: "enjoy", "always", "luck", "turtle", "yes"; and phrases "cookies, cookies", "did not", "with you" - and the one that makes me smile every time "will not hop". Enclose them with a gift, use as a bookmark, express a sentiment, display on a bulletin board, or sprinkle them around the house for a little whimsy - they are nostalgic, sentimental and inspire a smile all at the same time. That's a lot of bang for your buck.
So go green with us - reduce, reuse, recycle - find new joy in old things. Or, as the flash card says: "yes".
marilyn
Thursday, May 29, 2008
mimosas on a Thursday afternoon!
Yum! It's Thursday afternoon at Antiques on Cannon and we are welcoming this luscious sunny weather with a new tradition - Champagne Mimosas every Thursday afternoon from 1 to 4! Stop by and add a little fizz to your day!
And there's plenty to celebrate after our Brimfield adventures! Stacks of aluminum luggage! Asian pottery tiles, jugs and jars! Some wonderful Danish and Mid-Century Modern pieces - WOW!
And our latest additions - fabulous Sea Bags totes made from recycled sailboat sails, and our Bagitude purses made from vintage record album covers! Even better, pick up a Downtown Chestertown Coupon Flyer, featuring savings from our local merchants, and get a discount coupon for our bags!
If you can’t get to Chestertown for mimosas during the day, be sure to visit us every First Friday of the month when downtown Chestertown stays open til 8 p.m., serving up refreshments and hospitality in downtown style. See you on June 6! Check out the many activities going on in our area and take advantage of all we have to offer at www.chestertown.com. Music in the Park starts up again this Saturday night!
Hope to see you soon downtown!
marilyn
And there's plenty to celebrate after our Brimfield adventures! Stacks of aluminum luggage! Asian pottery tiles, jugs and jars! Some wonderful Danish and Mid-Century Modern pieces - WOW!
And our latest additions - fabulous Sea Bags totes made from recycled sailboat sails, and our Bagitude purses made from vintage record album covers! Even better, pick up a Downtown Chestertown Coupon Flyer, featuring savings from our local merchants, and get a discount coupon for our bags!
If you can’t get to Chestertown for mimosas during the day, be sure to visit us every First Friday of the month when downtown Chestertown stays open til 8 p.m., serving up refreshments and hospitality in downtown style. See you on June 6! Check out the many activities going on in our area and take advantage of all we have to offer at www.chestertown.com. Music in the Park starts up again this Saturday night!
Hope to see you soon downtown!
marilyn
Saturday, May 3, 2008
We're going to Brimfield!!!!
Ok, first things first - let's get this out of the way. It's been a while, I know, since I've posted. I apologize. We've been a little busy here in Chestertown with our 1st Annual Taste of the Town which was held Sunday, April 27. We at Antiques on Cannon are proud to have played a role in making this fantastic event happen - and so many people have stopped in this week to say "We heard about your shop at Taste of the Town and we just had to see it"! Well, fabulous! We definitely had some great silent auction items, thanks to our dealers - a handsome swan decoy from dealer and carver Captain Vernon Bryant, an exquisite coral necklace from our antique jewelry dealer, a wonderfully whimsical found object necklace from jewelry artist Anne Quinlan - plus an Antiques on Cannon gift certificate and tickets for two on our annual bus trip to the famous Piers Antiques Show in New York City. Suffice it to say everyone went home happy!
But back to the topic at hand - WE'RE GOING TO BRIMFIELD!!!! Maybe you can guess I'm excited. I won't go so far as to say it's what I live for but, man, is it close! If you don't know about the Brimfield antique market, have a look for yourself: www.brimfieldshow.com. It is perhaps the most amazing week-long open air antique market around. If it exists on the planet, you can find it at Brimfield.
Here's the routine. We get up before dawn, since the selling fields open at daybreak. Out the door with many layers (at daybreak the temperature in Brimfield can dip below 30 degrees, though the high can reach 70) and pulling those big wire grocery carts. In the course of the day we'll make many trips to the car to unload, and have a list of larger items we'll drive back to pick up. We do this all week long, rain or shine, hot or cold. There are always treasures to be found, and the thrill of the hunt is exhilirating.
I got my first taste of the open air markets two weeks ago at what I think of as "opening day" for the spring markets - the Renninger's Extravaganza in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. All of us antiquers are happy to be able to be out and about hunting for great things, and Kutztown heralds the beginning of the season.
You'll find a few terrific things from that excursion: a pristine set of stacked leather luggage that is just breathtaking; a fun little butcher block; a fabulous burled wood side table; a great little wicker corner chair for your porch; and an absolutely fantastic retail display oversized high top sneaker!
Come see for yourself! With Spring's arrival there are new treasures arriving all the time!
happy hunting
marilyn
But back to the topic at hand - WE'RE GOING TO BRIMFIELD!!!! Maybe you can guess I'm excited. I won't go so far as to say it's what I live for but, man, is it close! If you don't know about the Brimfield antique market, have a look for yourself: www.brimfieldshow.com. It is perhaps the most amazing week-long open air antique market around. If it exists on the planet, you can find it at Brimfield.
Here's the routine. We get up before dawn, since the selling fields open at daybreak. Out the door with many layers (at daybreak the temperature in Brimfield can dip below 30 degrees, though the high can reach 70) and pulling those big wire grocery carts. In the course of the day we'll make many trips to the car to unload, and have a list of larger items we'll drive back to pick up. We do this all week long, rain or shine, hot or cold. There are always treasures to be found, and the thrill of the hunt is exhilirating.
I got my first taste of the open air markets two weeks ago at what I think of as "opening day" for the spring markets - the Renninger's Extravaganza in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. All of us antiquers are happy to be able to be out and about hunting for great things, and Kutztown heralds the beginning of the season.
You'll find a few terrific things from that excursion: a pristine set of stacked leather luggage that is just breathtaking; a fun little butcher block; a fabulous burled wood side table; a great little wicker corner chair for your porch; and an absolutely fantastic retail display oversized high top sneaker!
Come see for yourself! With Spring's arrival there are new treasures arriving all the time!
happy hunting
marilyn
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Everybody's Saying Antiques Are Green!
Tonight was the debut of the HGTV Green Home - a home built on green priniciples, up to the Gold Standard of the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in the Energy and Efficient Design for Homes Program (LEED for Homes). For more information about the HGTV Green Home and their building standards, go to www.hgtv.com.
But construction was only one element of the home. The furnishings are really striking - particularly because so many of them are either vintage or recycled.
Again and again the project coordinators and designers stressed the importance of using vintage furnishings as part of "living green" - giving old pieces new life and repurposing them for new uses. An old bakery counter becomes the dining room sideboard. An old wine tasting table is cut down for a coffee table. If you look closely at the mirrors in the master bath you will see they bear a striking similarity to the machine mold and recycled paper mirrors we have at Antiques on Cannon.
Throughout the home are wonderful vintage pieces - from bamboo and wicker shelves repainted and used from the living room to the bath, to chairs and lamps from the Hollywood "Glam" Regency period of the 1940s. All intermingled with contemporary green furniture. Recycling is one of the principles of green design.
We encourage you to find your inner decorator and go green with fabulous vintage furnishings. Fun outdoor furniture and accessories are arriving every week - think Spring and think green!
marilyn
But construction was only one element of the home. The furnishings are really striking - particularly because so many of them are either vintage or recycled.
Again and again the project coordinators and designers stressed the importance of using vintage furnishings as part of "living green" - giving old pieces new life and repurposing them for new uses. An old bakery counter becomes the dining room sideboard. An old wine tasting table is cut down for a coffee table. If you look closely at the mirrors in the master bath you will see they bear a striking similarity to the machine mold and recycled paper mirrors we have at Antiques on Cannon.
Throughout the home are wonderful vintage pieces - from bamboo and wicker shelves repainted and used from the living room to the bath, to chairs and lamps from the Hollywood "Glam" Regency period of the 1940s. All intermingled with contemporary green furniture. Recycling is one of the principles of green design.
We encourage you to find your inner decorator and go green with fabulous vintage furnishings. Fun outdoor furniture and accessories are arriving every week - think Spring and think green!
marilyn
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring has arrived!
Ok, maybe we're a little bit over eager but. . .Dare we say it? Spring has arrived - at least here at 306 Cannon Street in sunny Chestertown!
It blew in this morning in the form of a rattan patio group - couch, chairs, side tables, coffee table - and it promises more to come. . .birdbaths, benches, concrete swans - oh the joy of it!
We love the colors, the brightness, the exuberance of things blooming - it inspires us to usher in the new and reflect all that brightness inside as well. Turquoise, chartreuse, yellow, orange - these are the colors that embody the mood of spring accessorizing!
And we like to think that fashion took its cue from our signature zebra stripe but maybe it's just that great minds grasp the same trends - look for black and white to be HOT, HOT, HOT! We'll be bringing that in soon enough - or come see us at the Kent County Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show on Saturday, April 19 - for more information go to www.kentchamber.org!
It's Spring! It's Spring!
marilyn
It blew in this morning in the form of a rattan patio group - couch, chairs, side tables, coffee table - and it promises more to come. . .birdbaths, benches, concrete swans - oh the joy of it!
We love the colors, the brightness, the exuberance of things blooming - it inspires us to usher in the new and reflect all that brightness inside as well. Turquoise, chartreuse, yellow, orange - these are the colors that embody the mood of spring accessorizing!
And we like to think that fashion took its cue from our signature zebra stripe but maybe it's just that great minds grasp the same trends - look for black and white to be HOT, HOT, HOT! We'll be bringing that in soon enough - or come see us at the Kent County Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show on Saturday, April 19 - for more information go to www.kentchamber.org!
It's Spring! It's Spring!
marilyn
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Leather and toile - together again!
Where has February gone??? On this snowy day in Chestertown I am wishing the answer was "far, far away".
So here's the reason that Winter is particularly hard for us in the antiques business - without the open air markets that serve as wholesale venues for us, it's really, really hard to find great merchandise at reasonable prices. The competition at auction is tougher, and the "finds" are still tucked away, waiting for Spring and the thaw that comes from conversation and bargaining.
So I was really happy to discover a couple of wonderful pieces on my travels this week. and it's a good thing we moved in ALL THAT FABULOUS NEW FURNITURE before the snow hit!
Two major pieces, so phenomenal we had to do a total shop makeover - a fantastic mid-century leather club sofa - pristine! - all of 7 feet long and sink-right-into buttery tufted leather. Fantastic!
On the other side of the spectrum - a sweet little French provincial couch, 1940s-50s, newly upholstered in fabulous red and white toile with a new cushion that reverses to a gingham check! WOW!
They are just fantastic - leather if you want to snuggle down with a good read to ward off the winter weather - toile to welcome spring into your home.
safe travels and happy hunting!
marilyn
So here's the reason that Winter is particularly hard for us in the antiques business - without the open air markets that serve as wholesale venues for us, it's really, really hard to find great merchandise at reasonable prices. The competition at auction is tougher, and the "finds" are still tucked away, waiting for Spring and the thaw that comes from conversation and bargaining.
So I was really happy to discover a couple of wonderful pieces on my travels this week. and it's a good thing we moved in ALL THAT FABULOUS NEW FURNITURE before the snow hit!
Two major pieces, so phenomenal we had to do a total shop makeover - a fantastic mid-century leather club sofa - pristine! - all of 7 feet long and sink-right-into buttery tufted leather. Fantastic!
On the other side of the spectrum - a sweet little French provincial couch, 1940s-50s, newly upholstered in fabulous red and white toile with a new cushion that reverses to a gingham check! WOW!
They are just fantastic - leather if you want to snuggle down with a good read to ward off the winter weather - toile to welcome spring into your home.
safe travels and happy hunting!
marilyn
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Love & Groundhogs Sale!
That pesky groundhot Punxatawney Phil may say there's another 6 weeks of winter, but here at Antiques on Cannon we're starting our spring cleaning early! Out with the old, in with the new - that's our motto this month as we kick off our 1st Ever Love & Groundhogs Sale!
From Danish modern and retro to traditional wing chairs, dining table sets, coffee tables, great art, decorative accessories - the whole gamut - we're anxious to make room for the new, colorful, fresh look of Spring!
Come see us soon (beat that winter weather yet to come!) for your new favorite treasure!
marilyn
From Danish modern and retro to traditional wing chairs, dining table sets, coffee tables, great art, decorative accessories - the whole gamut - we're anxious to make room for the new, colorful, fresh look of Spring!
Come see us soon (beat that winter weather yet to come!) for your new favorite treasure!
marilyn
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The look of things to come
Happy New Year, everyone! After a whirlwind of a week - getting our very best dealers moved in and celebrating with a phenomenal First Friday, we are looking like a million bucks and feeling like it too!
Toy soldiers, jewelry and cameras are proudly on display in their cases. Silver and pottery and glassware and china are settling in together, along with those fun and funky favorites you always search out. It just all works together like a dream!
So in the few minutes we had last week to breathe, we opened one of our favorite hip home furnishings catalogs and POW - the colors, the looks, the furnishings just blew us away! Painted Asian furniture, boldly colored decorative accessories, classic and modern lines in wing and occasional chairs. A great look.
And in a stunning AHA moment we realized - "Hey, that's OUR look!" - and went about assembling a fabulous setting chock full of vintage painted Asian benches, tables, consoles, stands and accessories, intermingled with knocked out eye-popping colorful vintage accessories - including a chartreuse lamp (my signature color!)! On a gray day, it's a burst of sunshine for your home.
New year, new looks, new ideas - classic, modern and vintage - new you!
And yes, I did make some new year's resolutions. They revolve around two words:
Kindness and Fearless -
peace
marilyn
Toy soldiers, jewelry and cameras are proudly on display in their cases. Silver and pottery and glassware and china are settling in together, along with those fun and funky favorites you always search out. It just all works together like a dream!
So in the few minutes we had last week to breathe, we opened one of our favorite hip home furnishings catalogs and POW - the colors, the looks, the furnishings just blew us away! Painted Asian furniture, boldly colored decorative accessories, classic and modern lines in wing and occasional chairs. A great look.
And in a stunning AHA moment we realized - "Hey, that's OUR look!" - and went about assembling a fabulous setting chock full of vintage painted Asian benches, tables, consoles, stands and accessories, intermingled with knocked out eye-popping colorful vintage accessories - including a chartreuse lamp (my signature color!)! On a gray day, it's a burst of sunshine for your home.
New year, new looks, new ideas - classic, modern and vintage - new you!
And yes, I did make some new year's resolutions. They revolve around two words:
Kindness and Fearless -
peace
marilyn
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