Vintage Style Tags and Post Cards

The American Tag Company produces a line of reproduction tags and postal cards. The tags are designer tags featuring art deco ladies and fashions. The postal cards come in two styles. One features international postcard designs. The other American designs. These are great for crafting, gift tags, and actual postcards. Another Made in America product.

Designer Tags • Set of 4 • $3.95

Postal Cards in American Designs • Set of 8 • $9.95

Postal Cards in International Designs • Set of 8 • $9.95

Handcrafted Christmas Tree Ornaments

One of the things I love about the Holidays is decorating the Christmas tree with unique ornaments. At home we have a lot of ornaments that celebrate events or travels we have had. Some are vintage ornaments or family treasures of Christmases past. Others are just simply beautiful. Then there are the handcrafted ornaments ... special ... one of a kind ... unique to our tree!

Every year we have both vintage and handcrafted ornaments at Vintages. Susan hand makes a variety of ornaments every year. Take a look at some of what we have in the shop.

We also have a selection from a creative artist we met earlier in the year, who makes these little bottles filled with treasures and enhances traditional glass ornaments with tinsel, beads and doo-dads.

When you want something unique, handcrafted or vintage to decorate your holiday tree, wreath or centerpiece, Vintages probably has it.

The Maxfield Parrish Poster Book

Maxfield Parrish (July 25, 1870 – March 30, 1966) was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the 20th century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery.

...Wikipedia

Understated! Maxfield Parrish was one of the most influential artists of the early 1900s. His work covered so many subjects and genres, that he is difficult to classify. Neo-classical ... yes. Arts & Crafts ... yes. Magazine cover illustrator par excellence ... absolutely. Master of color ... without a doubt.

In fairness, Wikipedia does go on to say: 

Parrish was one of the most successful and prolific of the illustrators and painters of the Golden Age of Illustration. He was earning over $100,000 per year by 1910, at a time when a fine home could be purchased for $2,000. Norman Rockwell referred to Parrish as "my idol." Parrish, although unique in his execution and never duplicated, exhibited considerable influence upon other illustrators and artists, an influence which continues through the present.

I have always loved his work, from the innocence of his "girls on a rock" images, to his compositions of people framed by fantastic architectural structures, to his whimsical knaves and princes. We have this book titled The Maxfield Parrish Poster Book. This is a later (1974) publication of his poster art ... each piece in the folio ready for framing. OK, these are not originals, but the price is right and the execution of the prints is quite good. 

Printed and published in the USA by Harmony Books (New York) in 1974 with an Introduction by Maurice Sendak. The book contains 21 independent prints, plus the introduction and a chronology. Nice find. ($49.00 in the shop.)

Antique Yellow Ware Bowls

 

Yellow Ware Bowls and other American Primitives in the front window of Vintages

Yellow ware was a staple of every family's cupboard from the mid-1800s to around 1930. While bowls were the primary item found, all types of kitchen vessels as well as decorative items were made using yellow clay. The earlier pieces were made in England, but by the mid-19th century American potters entered into production. 

Collection of Yellow Ware from Found on the Eastend

Another collection from Frog Goes to Market

Yellow ware has been highly collectible for years and we have several wonderful bowls for you here in Vintages, along with other American primitives. Take a look.

These bowls are all from the early 1900s and range from 10 inches to 14 inches in diameter. Priced from $65 each.

Magnifier Necklaces with Vintage Beads

I recently put together these magnifiers with some vintage beads and hung them off of black satin cord. Each of these is a neat little glass magnifying optical lens with one yard of black satin cord and a black organza bag. Perfect to hang around your neck or keep in your handbag. Great little item to use so you can see your project a bit better, to read the fine print or dinner menu, or to inspect jewelry or silver antiques.

We have these priced at $24.95 each. No two are alike. Handcrafted here in our own studio. Available in our Los Gatos shop or at Pretty Ribbons, our Etsy shop.

New Creations from Norma Dice

We introduced jewelry by Norma Dice in 2009. Norma is now 92 and still creating beautiful jewelry from her studio in Santa Cruz, California. Norma and her late husband Jim spent many years searching for treasures of the earth. They bounced around in their Jeep wagon, traveling all over the West digging for rocks. Norma and Jim shared their finds with the community -- at local fairs and in their back yard. Polished stones, geodes, agates and other precious finds. 

Norma taught herself to make jewelry from those treasures and still enjoys creating these little works of art a couple of decades down the road. To quote her: There is a whole lot of love that goes into each piece of jewelry. I like to look at it for a little while then pass it on. We are proud to offer a new collection of her one-of-a-kind pieces here at Vintages.

Our latest selection emphasizes the beach ... why not? Norma is from Santa Cruz, the ultimate Beachtown USA!

Abalone Necklaces and Earrings ($99.00 & $29.00 each)

Wire Wrapped Shell Pendants ($45.00 each)

Peas-in-a-Pod Pendants ($69.00 each)

Carved Cat's Eye Scallop Shell Pendant ($45.00)

Gorgeous Wire-wrapped Lapis Lazuli Pendant ($75.00)

Wire-wrapped Antique MOP Gaming Token with a Pearl Drop ($89.00)

Antique MOP Gaming Tokens (from $10.00 each)

Most of the Norma Dice jewelry pieces are available online, with more available in the shop.

2015 Calendars are in!!!

We have received our shipment of desk calendars. These 2015 calendars feature vintage images in a number of themes. Made and printed right here in California! These cost just $12.95 each and supplies are limited ... last year we ran out by the end of the year. So get them while you can.

The images are printed on quality card stock and are suitable for framing or use in mixed media art or crafting projects.

These are only available in the shop ... but you can email us to purchase any of the calendars we have in stock and we can ship it to you.

Vintages is Los Gatos' #1 Antique Shop ... again

For the fourth straight year, Vintages has been voted as the Best Antique Shop in Los Gatos. Thanks to all of you who voted for us, shopped with us and recommended us to your friends.

Felix Doolittle's Amazing Bookplates

We just got back from the National Stationery Show in NYC where we ordered a dozen designs of bookplates made by the amazing watercolor artist Felix Fu. Felix Fu is an artist and visual storyteller who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Now living and working in Newton, Massachusetts, Felix creates tiny watercolors that capture the joy, beauty and essence of life. Charming and whimsical, his images have a nostalgic feeling that reminds one of a simpler, more magical time. Perhaps it is the flavor of the English influence in Hong Kong blended with New England tradition and a dash of child-like enthusiasm. Felix Doolittle stationery is unlike any other - each piece is like a miniature work of art.

Bookplates have been around for centuries. They have evolved through family crests and personal coats-of-arms to whimsical statements and verse. Felix Doolittle bookplates, like Felix' artwork, harken to times when we pasted a label on the inside cover of our prized books, letting anyone who perused the volume know that the book was mine! I guess I am still old-school. While I am content to read the "newspaper" and my news online, I like to hold a real book, curl up on a couch in the family room or lounge chair under the shade of a tree and enjoy the stories and adventures conjured up by my favorite authors.

The bookplates should be in stock soon, but we couldn't wait to show them to you. Feast on the images, and email us if you want to be notified when they arrive ... or come by when they are in stock. These are all printed on premium self-adhesive, acid-free paper stock. They measure 2.03" x 2.85". These little works of art are sold individually for $2.25 each. Here are some of our selections.

New Creative Offerings Handmade by Susan

Susan has really been feeling her creative muse lately and has created a couple of new lines of pendants and magnets. These are examples of her newly created pendants and charms. As with all of the pendants Handmade by Susan, they come with your choice of coordinating ribbon or cord and we will put it in a gift box or a lovely colorful organza bag.

Susan will also create custom pieces for you. Just ask.

These come in a variety of sizes and are priced from $12.95 to $24.95 depending on size and design.

Above is Susan's latest line of magnets. These are wonderful images, with thoughtful or whimsical sayings ... and they make ideal gifts. The square tiles are about 2-inches and are priced at $9.95 each. The watch faces will vary in size and are also priced at $9.95 each.

These are not yet online, so call or email us if you see something you would like. Better yet, come on in and see the entire selection. Most of these are one-of-a-kind, and while they may be "duplicated", they are always "different" because they are each handmade.

Bookbinding Kit

Have you ever thought about making your own bound book from scratch? Here is your chance. In the spirit of handmade wares and a near-forgotten craft, this bookbinding kit not only offers a journal to fill with words and scribblings, but also teaches the art of bookbinding by hand.

The kit includes: 1 length of thread, 1 bookbinder's needle, 2 linen binding tapes, 10 4-page signatures (40 pages), 1 instruction booklet and 1 sheet of illustrated steps printed upon vintage paper which also serves as the inside wrapping. Final book measures 4-1/2 inches tall by 3 inches wide.

Glue is not included, but wheat paste is easily created by combining one part flour to four parts of hot water. Bleached flour is best to use. The sewing process of bookbinding is the first step to master in making a sound book and there is a nice video available below to illustrate how to make this book. 

We have these kits in stock priced at $32.95 each.