2013 Fall - VintageKC Magazine

VintageKC

Fall 2013

Home. Fashion. DIY.

vintagekcmag.com

Mid-Century

Made Modern

More Design Ideas

OLD WORLD CLASSIC COZY COTTAGE STYLE

PLUS

11 ideas for tea towels Lights with style A classic tea party Modern furniture painting Vintage boys’ fashion VintageKC / Fall 2013

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Contents

Fall 2013 • Volume 2 Issue 2

Features 14

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Vintage Spaces A cozy, adorably shabby home in Roeland Park steals our hearts Vintage Spaces Mid-century (his) and old world (hers) meet function in rentals Vintage Fashion We can’t resist the cuteness in vintage clothing for boys

Columns 05

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08

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Our Favorite Finds What’s new in the world of online vintage sales?

Design Book HGTV Design Star Jennifer Bertrand’s easy-peasy design tips Buy & Sell Tips for locally shopping through the world wide web of Etsy Stores We Love Vintage Mission and Lone Elm Antique Mall Vintage Memories Recollections of the cider mill by children’s book author Danna York

Do-it-yourself 10

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DIY Furniture Easy, modern painting techniques DIY Events A classic birthday tea party DIY Crafts The versatile world of the tea towel

VintageKC / Fall 2013

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from the editor

Staff

Publisher/Editor Erin Shipps erin@vintagekcmag.com

Heirlooms

Editorial/Fashion Assistant Calli Green calli@vintagekcmag.com Copy Editor Angela Snell

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hen I married my husband 10 years ago, his quiet, sweet, loving grandmother gifted us a set of embroidered tea towels. These white flour sack towels were adorned with an initial for each day of the week and pictures of what chores to accomplish that day. And while I am sure I haven’t kept up with the daily cleaning expectations of the towels, they have been well-used and loved in our home.

While piecing together this issue of VintageKC, my husband’s grandmother passed away, and suddenly every towel, every card, every handmade quilt (we have three, the last of which was for my 3-year-old son and she declared, “That’s my last one!”), are a daily reminder of her love for us, her sweet smile and strong hugs.

My husband plays his grandpa’s old acoustic guitar all the time. It sat in a barn for years, but plays more beautifully than many modern guitars. My son sits on a stool my dad’s mom hand painted for me when I was 2 years old. My mom’s grandma’s chrome table sits in my dining room and her Singer sewing table holds my sewing machine in my office. Every Christmas, I pull out a box of handmade ornaments from my mom’s dear mother, who was a wicked wheat weaver in her day. As her health has been failing in the past few months, I cling tightly to the gifts she has made for me and the lessons she has taught me.

There is a generation leaving this world who broke their backs as farmers, sat down at the dinner table for homemade meals every day, and held on to the values of faith, hope and love.

These people loved us unabashedly, and when they are gone, the physical items they leave behind can remind us of their amazing lives and bring them close when we need them.

This issue is full of inspiration from years gone by. From furniture and light fixtures given new life, to a sweet, classic tea party and — an idea my husband’s grandma would have loved — new ideas for custom tea towels.

We take a sit-down in Haley Williams’ cute, cute, cute Roeland Park home, filled to the brim with charm and style. We also take a look at designing in the small, temporary spaces afforded to young renters — one an art student and the other, our very own Editorial/Fashion Assistant Calli.

Each space features heirloom pieces mixed with their own unique style, from retro industrial to a classic, worldly aesthetic.

I think we can all agree there’s not a single piece of modern furniture we’d love more than our heirlooms, whether they once belonged to our family or someone else’s. These pieces served a generation well and will live long after we’re gone, carrying our legacy and our love to the next generation — a love for family, history, stories, memories and, of course, all things vintage.

Contributors Kim Antisdel Jennifer Bertrand Michael Fry James Fry Jamie Kaczmarczyk Megan Kapple Rachel Kauffman Audrey Kuether Abbie Marshall Amy McCarter Kristen Paulson Dawn Thibodeau Deborah Vogler Quinn White Haley Williams Danna York

P hotography

William and Jill DiMartino Layne Haley Photography Bill Mathews Kara Venzian Photography VintageKC volume 2, issue 2 is published quarterly by Erin Shipps in Overland Park, KS. Copyright 2013, Erin Shipps. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Printed in the U.S.A.

VintageKC

Fall 2013

Home. Fashion. DIY.

vintagekcmag.com

Mid-CentUry

MAde Modern

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More Design Ideas

oLd WorLd CLASSiC CoZy CottAGe StyLe

xo, Follow us!

VKC

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Erin vintagekc

vintagekc

PLUS

11 ideas for tea towels Lights with style A classic tea party Modern furniture painting Vintage boys’ fashion VintageKC / Fall 2013 1

vintagekcmagazine

On the Cover

Mid-century lines meet industrial cool.

Photo: William and Jill DiMartino.

Cover design: Audrey Keuther.

our favorite Etsy finds All of these shops can be found on etsy.com, an online retailer.

Hip Huggie: Vintage Tru Scale 891 chippy red toy tractor, die cast from the 1950s: $49. Vintage tin black rotary toy phone, most likely from the 1940s: $49. Vintage Acme cowboy boots, size women’s 9C (8-9): $299. hiphuggie.etsy.com

Just Claudia Style: Vintage french shoe clips: $38. Vintage brass tag pendant embellished with Swarovski crystals: $10. Vintage event ruffle apron: $38. Free shipping in the Kansas City area. justclaudiastyle.etsy.com

Vintage Chocolat: Vintage lime green electric and portable hand mixer by General Electric: $22.50. Vintage luggage, Hartmann Suitcase blue hard case: $45.50. Vintage writing journal diary, never used made by Westab Corp: $8.50. vintagechocolat.etsy.com

Little Blue House Mod: Vintage Carter’s baby boy romper in red knit, size 6 months: $10. Vintage classic blue and white saddle shoes for baby boy, size 2: $15. Vintage blue seersucker sunsuit for a baby boy, lined with plastic, size 3 months: $12. littlebluehousemod.etsy.com

Abate Arts: Set of two vintage hand painted Dutch dolls: $30.

50th Anniversary Wizard of Oz set of dolls from 1988, created

by Multi Toys Company: $230.

Vintage copper tea kettle made in Portugal: $25. abatearts.etsy.com

VintageKC / Fall 2013

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design book

LightyourUp world

Ever wonder what an HGTV Design Star winner would say about designing your space? Lucky you, we’ve got one!

By Jennifer Bertrand | Photos by Bill Mathews

H

elloooo again everyone!

Now that the kids are back in school and you have a little time to spare for something fun, let’s chat about vintage lighting!

Lighting does to a room what a pair of Laboutins does to an outfit. Not that I have a pair, but I did once try on a pair of Dior shoes and I will never forget the loveliness.

Many of you know my personal mess of Chris and I losing our house in the midst of medical madness with our son, Winston. I find it hilariously ironic and just part of our bizarre journey, and luckily we had a fabulous support system. I am very open about the situation because I feel like it doesn’t define us. It only defines a small moment in our lives. The reason I bring this up is because this led me on a journey of vintage

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lighting transformations as we were trying to find affordable lighting while creating a new home on a very, very tight budget.

I like to say that design is a luxury in life and a “first world problem.” The great thing though, is that design can impact your soul by loving your environment. So let’s look at your lighting!

Step One: Your home should have a lighting story that flows throughout your home. I will be the first to admit that my lights are a work in progress. I am not happy with the lighting story completely because it is still disjointed. But like some of you, I have to accept budgets and I need to work with what I have. Creating flow as you find things through random sources means you have to make them flow through color or material.

The consistent materials in my lighting story are vintage brass, Lucite and white paint. Doesn’t that sound like a fabulous 1980s “Miami Vice” condo?!

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Step Two: Take the time to paint lights well and right. Prime metal fixtures first, then spray paint. There are now paint-and-primer-in-one paints, which you can find almost anywhere.

I often joke that if clients saw my own home, I would never be hired because they would think I can only design kooky. However, I’m lucky I’m a chameleon in design and can change styles. But when designing for our own home, I choose to design happy and eclectic. I look at our house through the eyes of our son, Winston. He’s 4 years old and I know he will grow up with color and humorous risk-taking design moments. Now let’s look at my lighting and it’s okay if you don’t like them!

1. Breakfast Hearth: I find this fixture very polarizing ... people either love it or hate it.

But whether you like it or not, there are some teaching moments there. For example, notice the bulbs. Round white bulbs can make the most traditional of fixtures have an edge.

Example two: When looking at fixtures, try to look past the color and see if you love the silhouette. I had actually seen a kitchen online that had two of these antler fixtures painted a coral red and I was hooked.

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design book

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2. Bedroom Lighting: Please ignore the popcorn ceiling ... remember our home is a work in progress! What this can teach you is that you can contrast styles (I have an 80s fixture with a Bali bed), or even break the planes of elements by having the light hang down into the bed space.

3. Dining Room: Oh Liberace, I promise I am not trying to copy you! I actually plan to have four lights that harmonize together into a light installation. So I am still on the search for the perfect two lights that will harmonize with these two Lucite fixtures. But remember to

play with scale and don’t be scared to go really large. Also, the bottom of the light should hang 32”-36” off your table.

4. Outside Lantern: I like to say these Asian pagoda sconces are one of my best Craigslist finds ever! They are the only lights on the front of our house and you can’t miss them. Don’t be scared to use a color. You don’t have to go as bold as I did, but you could do a charcoal, a linen, an apple green — whatever your heart desires!

5. Bathroom Light: This light makes me happy. It was my cost-efficient ode to Jonathan Adler’s Meurice Chandelier. When I painted this bumblebee yellow, my lovely husband thought I was nuts! But as soon as he saw it up, he loved it.

I had to remind him there was no natural light shining on the light and that all of the walls were

white in the bathroom so it was okay to punch the color. Yellow is one of my happy colors that I bounce throughout the home. So figure out what your happy color is — even if it’s khaki!

So, hopefully this will inspire you to take a few risks and have some fun with your lighting. Please share your photos of your fabulous lighting finds.

Huge hugs and happy designing!

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Jennifer Bertrand is the winner of HGTV’s show “Design Star” season three, and cohost of “Real Life Design” on cravingtalk radio.com. She resides in Weatherby Lake, MO, with her lovely English husband Chris, her happy son Winston, and has big plans in life to conquer the design world … again.

Email pics and questions to Jennifer jblovesdesign@gmail.com Instagram hgtvdesignstarjenniferbertrand Facebook Jennifer Oldham Bertrand Twitter jblovedesign

VintageKC / Fall 2013

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buy & sell

Buying Locally Online qwertyuiop asdfghjkl zxcvSHOP It’s not an oxymoron, it’s easy and fun!

By Rachel Kauffman

From the Brown Button guys: Friends, we’ll be back this winter with more buying and selling advice. For now, here’s some advice on buying from Etsy courtesy of Rachel Kauffman at Moth Eaten Deer Head. See you soon.

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ometimes you just don’t feel like driving around the city searching through thrift stores and antique shops or pushing through crowds at estate sales to find great vintage pieces for you or your home. Scrounging and digging have their place, but buying locally online can be just as fun and exciting, and you can even do it your pajamas!

About local Etsy sellers There are many reasons local Etsy sellers choose to sell online rather than in a brick and mortar shop. First, the start up costs are minimal compared to opening a store front or renting an antique booth. Second, having access to national and international customers means greater sales and profits.

For many local vintage dealers, selling on Etsy can be a wonderful way to have a flexible, paying gig doing what they love — scouring thrift stores, antique malls, and garage sales for treasures and offering them up for sale.

Selling on Etsy not only requires a love for all

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How to find local Etsy sellers On the lower left side of the Etsy home page there is a section titled “More Ways to Shop” and under that you will find a link to “shop local”. Simply click on the link, enter your city, and what you are looking for. If you are just browsing, try entering “vintage,” “mid century,” “antique,” or whatever era or style you want explore. Just like that, a list appears of local shops that carry some of the best vintage wares in Kansas City. Also, check out the “Our Favorite Etsy Finds” section in this magazine for a selection of great vintage items available from local Etsy sellers.

Add any sellers you like to your favorites list to see new items they post for sale.

at local shops and restaurants. This helps keep our local economy happy.

Another benefit of buying from local Etsy sellers is that you get to see the item before you buy it. Many of us have been under whelmed by purchases made online. Sometimes the descriptions are vague or misleading and photographs can be deceiving. When you shop from local Etsy dealers you may have the opportunity to meet up and see the item before purchasing.

Shopping locally on Etsy might also save you some dough. Shipping costs can sometimes make or break a decision to buy online, especially for larger and heavier items. By buying from local sellers, you may be able to pick up the item and avoid the shipping fees.

Just click on the “contact seller” link and shoot them a message before you check out. Etsy sellers are usually pretty nice folks and will be glad to save you money and make a sale.

Now you know how and why to buy locally on Etsy. What are you waiting for? Go find that vintage industrial desk lamp, the perfect antique brooch, or that tufted sofa that completes your living room! Happy browsing!

The benefits of shopping locally online We all know that when we shop locally, the money not only helps support local individuals, but it is more likely to stay in our community. The local Etsy sellers’ profits are spent

Rachel Kauffman is the owner of Moth Eaten Deer Head on Etsy. Her shop features an eclectic array of mid century, modern, and Hollywood regency vintage housewares and accessories. She can be found at www.motheatendeerhead.etsy. com and facebook.com/motheatendeerheadshop.

things vintage, it is also a lot of hard work.

Sellers comb through aisles and basements to find treasures. Next, they clean, photograph, research, measure, write descriptions, pay fees, and package and ship the items. It is all worth it when a customer finds the exact piece they are looking for or falls in love with an item and just has to have it.

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buy & sell He said . . He said

What estate sale items do you never get tired of selling?

Part of the excitement of working for an estate sale company is the discovery of the unique, the unusual and the valuable. While it is always fun to find the unexpected, most of our business consists of selling everyday household items like dishes. It may sound funny but I really like dishes. My mom had a set of dishes for every occasion and I have inherited her appreciation of fine kitchenware. Most estates have a set of fine china (or two or three). Some have been barely used and are still complete, while others are chipped and worn from hundreds of family dinners. I always wonder what stories these dishes could tell. Kitchenware is unique because there is a gadget for every possible kitchen task (avocado slicer), a dish for every possible meal (fish platter) and we have seen them all in one sale or another.

Michael

Mid Century designer furniture is a category that certainly never gets old for me. We’ve had furniture pieces in our estate sales designed by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames, Hans Wagner, and George Mulhauser. Not only do they create lots of interest in our sales, but I’m continually impressed with the level of creativity it took to take something as everyday as a chair and make it stand out like a piece of art.

Antique hand sewn quilts also invoke a high level of appreciation in me. At least half of our estate sales contain quilts crafted nearly a century ago, meticulously sewn by hand. The sheer amount of time spent to produce just one quilt makes it hard to write them off as blasé. Each one shows off its own unique qualities and the incredible craftsmanship of its creator.

James

VintageKC / Fall 2013

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diy furniture

Art Made Easy Choosing the perfect color for your beloved thrifty finds can be difficult.

So why settle for one? Use this artsy technique to bring lots of color into your home.

Before

By Abbie Marshall

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his geometric design can easily be applied to multiple surfaces on many different pieces of furniture. You could add this design to the front of doors on a credenza, to the face of dresser drawers, or on top of any table.

Paint colors (all by Behr) clockwise from top: Spring Stream, Ultra Pure White, Kumquat, Poinsettia, Creek Bend, and King Fisher.

Supplies

 Sand paper, wood glue and filler for fixing and prepping  Two 2.5” paint brushes, one for base, one for lacquer  Small artist brush in 1/2” for design  Roll of 1” Frog tape for delicate surface (yellow tape)  Measuring tape or ruler  One quart of base paint  Sample size paints for design  One quart of a clear lacquer finish

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Step 1: Prep and sand Fix and fill any cracks or chips, sand entire surface that will be painted, and dust and clean the piece really well.

Step 2: Painting base color (Your piece may already have a base color and if that is so you can skip to step number 3!)

Paint entire piece of furniture with your chosen base paint color. I prefer paint and primer in one. Let dry completely, about 1-2 hours and then apply a second coat. Let paint dry for another 1-2 hours.

Step 3: Taping the design After the base paint color has completely dried, it’s time to start taping. Using your yellow Frog tape, you will start at the left

diy furniture

edge of your surface and work left to right vertically placing the tape 1 inch apart. Start by placing the edge of the tape with the edge of the surface, then using your measuring tape, measure 1 inch over and place the second vertical strip of tape. Repeat this action until the entire surface that you want painted is covered.

The second part of this step is impossible to mess up, so relax, it’s easy! Be creative, and by eyeballing, tape off at varying slants and lengths to create different sized trapezoids, rectangles, and squares. Remember that whatever the tape is covering will remain the base color.

Step 5: Painting lacquer finish After the pattern has completely dried, using your clean lacquer brush, lacquer the surface to give it a protective finish. I like Minwax fastdrying polyurethane in clear satin. Always use a really nice brush, which will help minimize brush strokes for a very smooth finish. I prefer a Wooster Pro nylon/polyester brush.

One to two coats will do the trick and let the protective finish cure for 24 hours before using.

Step 4: Painting the design Using the small artist brush and your sample paint colors, you will paint the trapezoids, rectangles, and squares. Do this one color at a time, and use a polka-dot approach, this way you will end up with a balanced design.

Let first coat of paint dry and then apply a second and third coat of each color if needed.

Once you are finished painting the design you will want to immediately remove the tape to ensure you get crisp, clean lines. Start be removing the small pieces of tape and then the long verticals. Let the pattern completely dry (1-2 hours).

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Abbie is an Interior Designer and owner of Ecolectic, a home furnishings boutique in Olathe offering a fun and unique approach to color and design with amazing oneof-a-kind pieces. Ecolectic began as a hobby while Abbie finished her BFA at Chicago’s Harrington College of Design. After relocating to Kansas in 2012, Ecolectic officially opened for business. Through her work, Abbie wants to inspire others to live life in color! Find her at ecolecticKC.com and on Facebook.

VintageKC / Fall 2013 11

diy events

An American Tea Party

By Dawn Thibodeau Photos by Kara Venzian Photography

v M

y daughter is a huge AmericanGirl doll fan and has loved tea parties since she was tiny. She also shares my love of all things vintage, so together we decided to host a tea party for her 9th birthday.The party was for her girlfriends and their favorite doll.

Crafts Each girl designed and made their own fascinator hat in the spirit of English fashion. I bought headbands and hot-glued felt circles to each as the base for the girls to embellish with flowers, gems, feathers, tulle, etc.

The girls also designed hats for their dolls.

I purchased doll-sized straw hats at Hobby Lobby and had an assortment of ribbons, flowers, gems, etc., to choose from.

Lastly, the girls made necklaces for themselves as well as their dolls. I purchased ball

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chains in fun colors and silver jewelry backs that had a hook to slide onto the necklace. I found old vintage buttons and the girls hot glued these buttons onto the silver bases.

They could then embellish those buttons with more buttons, rhinestones, etc. They really did turn out cute!

Food We set up a table in the backyard with full china settings. The centerpiece was a large mirror which held several assortments

of flowers (some in teapots) and cake stands holding pictures of the birthday girl. I collect china plates, tea cups, etc., and love the mismatched, look so it was a big assortment! We served scones, brownies, fruit, quiche and Madeleine cookies. Instead of birthday cake, we served fabulous tea cup and flower sugar cookies from Boulevard Bakery. Drinks were lemonade, tea and a sherbet punch.

We also set up two tables where the dolls enjoyed their tea.

diy events etc. The girls answered for themselves as well as for their dolls.

I printed the invitation on blue paper, attached that to a larger pink paper and decorated each with flowers. The invitation requested each girl come in “tea attire.”

I had several lace tablecloths to cover the tables Left: Guests and their dolls both received the royal treatment as well as an assortment of at this tea party. Above: Doll hats are adorned with flowers, ribbons and gems. sheets and fabric. I also cut strips of fabric from a sheet DIY items to make sashes to tie around each girl’s chair.

I painted a few older frames blue and pink I made flag bunting from a variety of materiAlong with the crafts above, each girl took and then had each girl pose for a photo with als, pillow cases, tablecloths, etc. that I purchased home a teacup/saucer filled with candy as a their dolls while holding the frames. at various estate sales, vintage shops, etc. I was party favor.

Near the party end, we did a fashion really pleased with how they turned out! I did show where each girl and her doll answered several that were traditional flag shaped (cut Dawn is the mother of two amazing kids, Mike questions and then posed as their answers with sheared scissors and again mismatch but and Maddie. They share their Fairway home were read to the group. Questions included coordinating material) as well as some bunting with three cats and a turtle named Quincy. She what’s your favorite animal, favorite singer, with strips of materials/ribbon/etc. We’ll be able loves all things vintage, particularly jewelry and china, and has passed that love down to her kids. what do you want to be when you grow up, to reuse these at future parties.

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vintage spaces

All in the Family Haley William’s comfortable Roeland Park home makes us want to cuddle up with a good book and get crafty!

By Kim Antisdel | Photos by William and Jill DiMartino

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aley Williams’ affection for antiques is, for lack of a better term, downright adorable.

Her quirky personality and easy-going attitude fit perfectly with the extraordinary world of all things vintage. From the delightful cottage ranch she and her husband have tastefully decorated to her craft room that inspires her original bridal veil and fascinator creations for her business The Yellow Peony, Haley simply oozes individuality.

And it shouldn’t be a surprise, considering she was genetically destined for vintage greatness.

Haley’s cozy living room is colorful and functional. The distressed cabinet houses the television, and the coffee table was handcrafted by her husband Joey.

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vintage spaces

Haley’s grandmother still operates an antiques booth in Jefferson City, MO, and her mother is the current owner of Good Company, a vintage boutique in Merriam, KS. It’s only fitting that Haley would follow in her family’s footsteps by working as a full-time marketing manager for the boutique, as well as occasionally selling furniture.

“I definitely get my love for this culture from my family genes,” Haley said with a smile. “I grew up going to garage sales and auctions all the time. It’s that feeling of warmth and originality that just got into me. You can see it everywhere in my life.”

The most obvious demonstration of Haley’s shared family passion is in her own house. In the winter of 2012, Haley and her husband Joey set out to find the perfect home and were fully prepared to dig in for the long haul to find the right fit. They

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Top: The fireplace in the entryway is the perfect balance of color and character. Above: Shabby accents make this house a home. Opposite page: A quaint sitting porch offers a bright spot to read or drink coffee, while also giving the living room a buffer from the street.

Joey and Haley Williams

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didn’t have to wait long. After a one-day search, Haley and Joey struck gold, finding the perfect three-bedroom ranch nestled in Roeland Park.

Built in the late 1940s, the home features an open floor plan, arched doorways and wood floors that Haley fell in love with. She even loved most of the colors the walls were painted, leaving more time for the fun stuff, like decorating. With her family connections at Good Company, Haley knew she’d have no problem finding great pieces to fill the home.

“Having a mom who runs a boutique is basically awesome,” Haley said. “It’s like having my own personal piggy bank of stuff to go look

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through. I’m always in there looking around for my next find.”

Even though she has an antique store constantly at her fingertips, don’t mistake Haley for a lazy vintage shopper. Many of the finds in her eclectic home — and even the clothes on her back — have come from places that even the most experienced seekers sometimes avoid: estate and garage sales.

“I love estate sales,” Haley gushed. “I always say yes to those opportunities. One of the things I tell my friends is they have to put the time in. You might find absolutely nothing at 90 percent of the sales,. But

vintage spaces

Left: The pass between the dining room and kitchen fosters the beckoning view to a bonus room at the back of the house, which features a sitting area and a cheerfully painted piano.

Above: The small home doesn’t skimp on kitchen space with room for a breakfast bar, an island, and lots of natural light.

it’s that one time that you happen to stop in and find that one piece that makes it all worth it.”

One example of those finds is the heavy, gilded picture frame that hangs on Haley’s yellow, chevron-inspired kitchen wall. It’s a thick, gnarly, square frame that any antique shopper would drool over, and Haley found it for $5 at a garage sale. Amazing discoveries like this are what keep Haley on the hunt. And over the years, she’s learned a few tricks of the estate sale trade. One of those tricks?

Start in the garage.

“I’m not excited about the pieces that most people are looking for inside the house, like a Victorian loveseat,” Haley said. “I want the stuff the family tossed into the garage and forgot about.”

If the garage fails to produce anything gasp worthy, Haley heads down to the basement, where she can usually find pieces that have long since been tossed aside. But Haley’s one, unmovable rule never changes.

“Whatever I buy, I have to love,” she explained. “And it doesn’t have to follow any sort of rule of design. I don’t want something just because it’s old; I want it because it’s cool to me. If it’s in my home, I want it to be cool.”

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vintage spaces

Haley’s Sale Hints:

1. Never say no. If you see a garage or estate sale, stop in. You never know what you’ll find.

2. Bring the green. Usually everything is priced to move with cash, so if you have to leave to get some, you might miss out on a great piece.

3. The more you spend, the more leverage you have to barter. Find several great pieces and ask for a discount. The worst they can say is no.

4. Go to an estate sale on the last day. A lot of times prices will be cut in half!

This page: Make the most of smaller items and multiple textures by stacking them together. Opposite page: Haley’s office/craft room is full of creative inspiration for her Etsy business The Yellow Peony, for which she crafts bridal acessories.

What designates a cool piece is certainly different for every individual, which is one of the greatest parts of antique and vintage decorating.

But for Haley, if the piece has a story, the coolness factor takes a giant step up. The piano in her family room has a story that she loves to tell.

Haley plays the piano, and her husband wanted to buy one for her at a local sale. As it turned out, the woman selling the piano had been a piano teacher for 20 years and was selling it to clean out her home after the death of her husband.

“With tears in her eyes, she told my husband he could have the piano for free because she really wanted it to go to a good home,” Haley explained. “So not only does it have a great story, but it was completely free. But of course, I painted it blue to truly make it fit in here.”

Joey completely supports his wife’s design endeavors and even shares a bit of her creative thread. The kitchen island and coffee table in the Williams’ home were built by Joey, and he designs and creates unique headboards for clients as well. Haley also uses her creativity to benefit others, designing original bridal accessories,

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vintage spaces

From custom headboards to stacked wooden boxes, Haley’s master and guest bedrooms are filled with charm and loads of great storage.

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such as veils and flower fascinators. The couple sells their creative wares on Haley’s Etsy store, The Yellow Peony. And of course, the room in which she develops her creations is just as eclectic as the pieces she designs.

“My craft room is a garage that was changed to a room by the previous owners. It’s definitely organized chaos,” she laughed. “Now that my Etsy business is starting to take off, I’m working on redesigning it to allow for clients to come in.”

One piece that will likely remain in the new room design is the cabinet that houses most of her raw materials like ribbon, tulle and silk flowers. The cabinet was a Good Company find for $75, and though she didn’t realize it at the time, it has become an integral part of Haley’s design process.

More than anything, Haley considers her home and her business a direct result of the passion and love for design passed down by the exceptional generations before her. Her family continues to provide her with encouragement and inspiration to do what she loves, and to always take risks, one piece at a time.

“There’s a misconception that you can decorate a home with cool pieces in a few weeks,” Haley says. “I’ve been at this a long time, first as a child and now as an adult. I make mistakes and I change my mind all the time, tweaking this and that. But it’s all so low risk, and I love that. If you mess up, you can always just start again.”

^

Kim is a writer, interior designer and sales rep. She is also a complete klutz that can crank out a killer cartwheel on demand.

Her favorite place to write is curled up on the couch with her weiner dog and two cats fighting for a spot on her lap.

Follow Haley’s Business Website theyellowpeony.com Etsy theyellowpeony.etsy.com Pinterest pinterest.com/halze Facebook facebook.com/theyellowpeony Instagram instagram.com/theyellowpeony

Ask a Pro

Deb V ogler

My space is so small. Can I still give it big attitude?

S

ome of my readers have written to me expressing they experience a certain paralysis at the thought of decorating their small space. They either give up part way or don’t know where to begin. My first piece of advice is to accept that your small space is just that — a small space. As challenging as the task may be, you can really maximize your space with some time and effort. Think of all the things you have said when you walk into a friend’s home that made you feel good: How comfy. It’s so cozy. This is so quaint and charming ... kind of like getting a big hug. Wouldn’t we all like that feeling as we walk into our home. A little planning can go a long way toward getting a giant reward from your tiny space.

Remember that function is your best friend and multi-function takes the relationship over the top. You don’t have to sacrifice style either. In my own home my dining room serves as a triple threat.

The table is a farm table I’ve dragged from town to town for 25 years, and I still love it. The obvious use is where we eat and entertain. A sofa sits along the back side of the table with a small child’s school desk at one end and a book shelf at the other end, both stacked with books. With just the right lighting, my dining room just became my library. Even my grandchildren love to sit there and read. Lastly, I’m from a big family — that sofa just became a comfy, cozy spot for one more overnight guest. Think outside the box!

A few tips: 1. Large furniture and fewer pieces: A few larger pieces can actually make the space look much bigger than having lots of small pieces.

2. Show legs on furniture: It feels less heavy than skirted furniture.

3. Light: Use as much natural light as possible, plus good lighting and mirrors.

4. Give an airy feel: Use lighter colors or tone-on-tone color.

5. Visual barriers: Room dividers, decorative screens, tall, open bookshelves and rugs can all break up a space.

6. Storage and organization: Find storage in everything and the organization takes care of itself.

7. Don’t be afraid: With a plan you can make that tiny space your own oasis in a storm.

-Deb

Deb Vogler has been creating her own brand of Comfort by Design for more than 15 years. She deals with all aspects of design, from budgeting, to floor plans (renovation or new construction), to furniture, to color at her full-scale design firm. Have a designing question for Deb? Send it to erin@vintagekcmag.com.

VintageKC / Fall 2013 23

vintage spaces

This mid-century-inspired loungey living room is open and inviting for friends and conversation, undoubtly talking about the history of these pieces.

His I & Hers

By Calli Green and Erin Shipps | Photos by William and Jill DiMartino n every issue we feature spaces designed and decorated by homeowners, but what about those who lease? Making a home in a restricted space (for square footage and modification issues alike) can be challenging, so much so, that many people accept their temporary status and choose to adorn their abodes minimally.

And when you’re just finding your roots, often you don’t start with much. However, as the low-cost vintage market reaches younger crowds, we’re starting to see great inspiration come from those not yet ready for homeownership. Here, we’ll look at two small spaces in KCMO, one belonging to art students (his), the other to our editorial/ fashion assistant (hers). Combine their creativity with the greatly restored old buildings in Kansas City and it’s a recipe for a home sweet (ephemeral) home.

In this living room, asymmetrical clocks whimsically surround the television, industrial elements stay true to loft style and old world pieces supply class and sophistication.

24 VintageKC / Fall 2013

The bright, industrial dining room is enhanced by lightly painted walls, the cool feel of metal furniture, and the clean lines of mid-century style.

His Story L

arry Fulcher’s space is a perfect mix of industrial and 1960s1970s vibe against the clean, open backdrop of his Kansas City, MO, apartment. A Joplin, MO, native, he grew up in a home full of antiques, crediting his style and inspiration to his past.

“I was always tagging along with my mom as she hunted for chippy paint and rusty metal things to put in our house,” Larry said. “My job was to carry the heavy stuff as I got older, but I learned a lot, and found that items from the 60s and 70s were my favorites.”

Larry currently attends the Kansas City Art Institute with his roommate Sam. They moved into their apartment in May, and Larry knew there was no question that they would fill the space wall to wall with vintage.

“When you decide to go vintage, your design is usually dictated by the pieces you find. The straight, clean lines of modern are still present in industrial, but you can’t help but smile at the unexpected twist vintage throws at you,” Larry said. “Sometimes you have to change your direction to make things work. Sam and I are really happy with the direction it took us.”

That direction was helped along by Larry’s Grandma Bev, who had stored many things over the years, even pieces that once belonged to his great-grandparents. Some of those items include the living room trunk (which still bares his great-grandpa’s handwritten name R.W. Crockett down the side), walnut end tables hand-built by his great-grandpa, the industrial dining room table, and an antique clock.

“I have been told the clock on the table always sat on my great-great Aunt Nellie’s TV. It hasn’t worked for years but I don’t think it matters.

It’s one of my favorite pieces,” Larry explained.

While some pieces are heirlooms and better left alone, other items received a fresh makeover. Larry’s bedside table, an old tool chest found in rough shape at a garage, was repainted to match the original color. Larry and Sam also removed the living room chair skirts for a more modern feel. The lamps in the living room were purchased from Cowtown Mallroom, and the shades were added from some of Grandma Bev’s old lamps.

“The shipping/receiving desk and stool [in the dining room] were found by my mom, originally for her store,” Larry explained. “It started out with some major rust, but was painted by a local body shop and given a new shiny exterior. It’s perfect for working on school projects and a fun alternative to a normal desk.”

Some of Larry’s favorite places to find vintage pieces include Funtiques and Urban Market, both in Springfield, MO; 410 Vintage in Fayetteville, AR; and Riverview Antique Mall in Ozark, MO. Locally, he hits up Cowtown Mallroom, Sentimental Journey, River Market Antique Mall and the various shops in the West Bottoms. When looking for accessories, he always checks out HomeGoods first for a modern twist.

His sofa came from 410 Vintage, which he describes as an amazing store with incredible vintage furnishings and accessories. The

VintageKC / Fall 2013 25

vintage spaces

price was $475. The Eames-style chairs were purchased in two different locations. The white ones were found in Joplin at Rangeline Antique Mall for just $60 and the orange set from Urban Market for $90. Larry just couldn’t pass up the large orange ice cream cone can from Rangeline Antique Mall; he loves the graphics on the lid, and with it being priced at only $25, he could only describe it as a must-have.

Larry and Sam spent approximately $2,000 finding the perfect pieces to decorate the apartment. It does help that both roommates are artists, so any empty space could be filled with artwork they created. It has only taken two months to find what they have, but like all vintage hunters, who are never really “finished,” there are still a couple of projects in the works before their place will be complete.

Larry and Sam say the fact that they don’t own the space was never a problem.

“We just worked with what we had,” Larry said. “There is always going to be some issue whether you own the space or not. So, you work your design around it.”

The only bump in the road was the three flights of stairs leading to their apartment, especially given how heavy vintage furniture can be and hard to maneuver around somewhat tight corners. They got over the bump by purchasing a sectional that could be taken apart.

Larry said, when deciding to go vintage, it all starts with an item or two. The living room chairs and furniture from his previous home and school dorms set the palette in his apartment.

“Whether it’s a piece of furniture, an accessory or something you

26 VintageKC / Fall 2013

love, just start there and run with it. The dining room table and desk added the industrial element we were looking for in the space, and the search began for the rest. We tried to balance styles in all the rooms keeping everything as practical as possible.”

Larry and Sam agree that their apartment is a fun place to come home to and that by designing with vintage, they can look around and see that each piece has a history, which makes things much more interesting.

^

vintage fashion

Opposite page: Large light bulbs make an industrial centerpiece for the dining table. A dresser makes a storage-filled television stand flanked by a large industrial can and vintage orange, striped chair. Larry and his roommate Sam, both artists, saw this high industrial desk as the perfect place for sketching as well as surfing the Web. Service for three in the dining room includes melamine trays, vintage mid-century plates and vintage-style soda bottles. This page above: Larry’s bedroom features a vintage bedspread that had never left its packaging, a refurbished tool chest as a nightstand and clean, mid-century furnishings.

Right: Sam’s bedroom is the perfect mix of feminine and rustic with light curtains, ruffled pillows, string lights and an old door as a headboard.

VintageKC / Fall 2013 27

vintage spaces

B

Her Story

eing a single, entry-level career woman doesn’t really give room for shopping sprees at furniture and home furnishing stores, but when you don’t mind sorting through rusty junk and digging through garages for the perfect pieces, you just might be in business.

When walking up to the large brick exterior of Calli Green’s loft building, it doesn’t exactly scream “Welcome home!” But the renovated loft space inside, from a previous food storage building, says something different.

Calli’s 200-year-old table doubles as a desk and a place to eat nestled next to her kitchen. Mirrors by the window reflect the abundant natural light.

28 VintageKC / Fall 2013

Calli has created a hodgepodge of vintage that she best describes as a mix of industrial French and colonial-meets-ornate old Greece.

“The rooms in my home are all very different, so I like searching for all kinds of diverse vintage items,” Calli explained. “I value a vintage piece for what it is, and if it fits in any of my spaces, then it is a bonus. If I can restore it and make it fit in, then it’s even better.”

Calli was a small town girl, raised in Higginsville, MO. But the city beckoned and she now lives in Kansas City, MO, and rocks out the fashion shoots (among other duties) as VintageKC’s editorial/fashion assistant. Though she’s a city girl now, she hasn’t lost any of the values she learned growing up.

“My mother has taken me ‘junking’ ever since I can remember,” Calli said. “I fell in love with vintage years before I knew it would ever be a trend. I was a little girl being taken in and out of antique shops and thrift stores out of necessity — with a house full of six people, secondhand became second nature. There’s no way I would’ve made it through college without ‘junking.’ It’s always been a way to get what I’ve wanted cost-effectively and know that it’s unique. It’s a connection I have with my mother and my past that brings me joy.”

Calli didn’t inherit or start with much. She did, however, inherit her 200-year-old dining table from her great-great-grandparents. She was also given the cedar chest that sits at the foot of her bed, originally owned by her great-great-aunt. Aside from some other items like her old wooden crate boxes and an old picnic basket given to her by her mother, she started from scratch.

Above left: Large windows draw lots of tenants to loft living in Kansas City. Calli’s Craigslist chair and ottoman let her bask comfortably. Top and above: A narrow entryway didn’t stop Calli from welcoming guests with style. It also serves as a library.

VintageKC / Fall 2013 29

vintage spaces “I walked into my loft with a mattress, box springs and a 32” TV I bought on Black Friday — that’s it. I only spent around $700 decorating and designing my home. When it comes to creating anything, I am a huge planner, which works well when designing on a budget,” Calli said. “While I was hunting for the perfect space I was putting together ideas for each room of my loft, so I got the feel of pieces and style I wanted long before I even saw the place I would be renting. Then it all just happened to fall together when I found my building.”

Calli likes to have the perfect formula when combining vintage with modern pieces. Her living room furniture was a Craigslist find, not a vintage find, but she loves it all the same.

“The only way I can explain mixing vintage with modern and making it work is finding the right mix,” she said. “I think of vintage as the main attraction and modern as the side shows to pull off the entire performance.”

Calli loves conversation starters, anything that is a little off, that someone might claim “interesting.” She loves Ruth’s Treasures and The Running Rabbit in Higginsville, and Those Were the Days and Highway 13 Antiques and Collectables in Warrensburg. Locally, she also enjoys Good Ju Ju, Hickory Dickory, River Market Antique Mall and Bella Patina.

Sentimental Journey ANTIQUE MALL

14,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Monday-Saturday 10-6 • Sunday 12-5 913-768-8088 • 907 S. Chestnut, Olathe

30 VintageKC / Fall 2013

Left: Quirky knicknacks rest in all corners of Calli’s loft, like this Emerson fan, leopard print coasters and animal horn magnifying glass. Opposite page: Calli’s bedroom is all girl with shoes, white accents and sparkle.

Since she has high ceilings, she hung the crystal chandelier from a vent pipe.

Calli’s favorite finds for her place are her bed frame from Bella Patina that she snagged for $75; an old military trunk coffee table from The Running Rabbit for $20; kitchen table chairs from Good JuJu for $30; and a unique magnifying glass from Ruth’s Treasures for only $12. Besides the bed frame and living room seating, she didn’t spend more than $40 on a single piece in her place. Pretty impressive!

“I draw inspiration from making something out of nothing. Some pieces are great left untouched, and if they are a perfect fit in my house and for my bank account, I’m all in!”

Calli said. “But, if it can be painted, glued, glittered or all of the above, I like the challenge. I can see the finished product before I ever make the purchase. My dresser was $12 at Hello Sailor. I sanded and painted it, and then bought mismatched knobs for it. I spent maybe $40 tops, from start to finish.”

Calli wasn’t that fond of renting a place with a wall color that couldn’t be changed and said it is never really easy to design a place you don’t

Bill Mathews

PhotograPher Experienced commercial and interior photographer 913-649-4934 bill@billmathews.com www.billmathews.com

own. But other than that, she was willing to take on the challenge. She got lucky with the historical architecture of the building, especially with the exposed ceilings and original columns, so she didn’t have much to complain about.

She still has some projects to do and pieces to be found before she can say her place is finished. She says she will probably never stop adding, tweaking and changing her vintage dwelling. But that’s where the fun lies.

“Vintage is art to me. It tells its own story without saying a word. In my opinion, you can’t get that with only modern pieces. Vintage makes designing your ideal space exciting; it’s the thrill of the search and the gratification of the find!”

^

Comfort By Design

by Deb Vogler, Interior Designer

Elevate your house to a home 14111 W. 95th St., Lenexa, KS debvoglercomfortbydesign.com 913-522-2860 As seen in VintageKC magazine

VintageKC / Fall 2013 31

vintage fashion

, Let s Hear it for the

Boys

Styling | Erin Shipps and Calli Green Photos | Layne Haley Photography Hair | Lotus Beauty

L

ast year we stumbled on a treasure trove of vintage boys’ clothes at a Blue Tape estate sale in a box in the basement. It included labels like Oleg Cassini, Ruddock Bros, Danny Dare, IZOD Lacoste and a whole mess of Health-Tex. We couldn’t resist taking a break from our usual adult fashion to bring you all this adorableness. The estate sale clothing we bought for a steal on half-price day and probably amounted to $0.25 each. That’s a small price to pay for “little” fashion.

On Faizan: Vest, Danny Dare, estate sale; shirt, H&M, $14.95; pants, model’s closet.

faizan

32 VintageKC / Fall 2013

On Tennessee Rex: Sweater, Health-Tex, estate sale; corduroy pants, Health-Tex, estate sale.

On Dash: Shirt, HealthTex, estate sale; pants, no label, estate sale; jacket, L.O.G.G., H&M, $24.99.

tennessee rex

vintage fashion

dash

VintageKC / Fall 2013 33

vintage fashion

On Merit: gray shirt, L.O.G.G., H&M, $12.95; marine shirt, Durable Press, estate sale; vest, Chasser, Vintage Vogue, $14; pants, Health-Tex, estate sale.

On Hartley: Turtleneck, Health-Tex, estate sale; sweater, handmade, estate sale; knickers, Health-Tex, estate sale.

merit

hartley

34 VintageKC / Fall 2013

On Elijah: Mock turtlneck, Health-Tex, estate sale; IZOD Lacoste overalls, estate sale.

vintage fashion

elijah

VintageKC / Fall 2013 35

price

vintage fashion

enzo

caeden

36 VintageKC / Fall 2013

On Enzo: Shirt, Old Navy, $5.49; jean jacket, Levi Strauss & Co., Vintage Vogue, $18; pants, Oleg Cassini, estate sale.

vintage fashion

On Caeden: Shirt, Juniors, Vintage Vogue, not priced; 1950s suede jacket, Sportswear of Distinction, Vintage Vogue, $38; pants, Oleg Cassini, estate sale.

On Price: Hat, H&M, $9.95; shirt, Ruddock Bros, Vintage Vogue, $12; jeans, Denizen, Target, $21.99.

On Lucas: Poncho, Creative Touch, Vintage Vogue, $12; jeans, H&M, $17.95.

lucas

VintageKC / Fall 2013 37

p vintage crafts

The Plain White Teas

Perhaps the most stylistically versatile kitchen accessory, tea towels can bring simple character to the hub of your home. We asked our fab team of local bloggers and creative people to design their own towels using inexpensive materials and various methods anyone can pull off. Dry these on for size!

"My style is a mix of eclectic, modern and vintage. For this project, I wanted something bright, cheery, and simple that shows my KC pride."

Audrey from Oh So Lovely ohsolovelyblog.blogspot.com

"I tend to lean toward neutral colors and rustic finishes in my home, but have fun in the details. I stamped these tea towels with checks and added a little bit of burlap ribbon trim."

Amy from Buffalo Roam buffalo-roam.com

38 VintageKC / Fall 2013

Get these state templates on Audrey’s blog!

"Pops of color, clean lines and beautiful shapes highlight my vintage style. Tie-dye is a fun, kidfriendly activity and applique is a great fabric de-stash project to use up your favorite fabrics.”

Jamie from Kolorize kolorize.etsy.com

This modern tie-dye method uses just Sharpies and rubbing alcohol!

Find these patterns on Quinn’s blog!

"I am still defining my personal style — a process that is accelerating quickly with the purchase of our first home this year.

I love to add charm and comfort with handmade goodies in mostly earth tones.

I decorated this flour sack with several different knitted textures and designs.

Quinn from Ktog ktogether.wordpress.com

TLC Thrifty Boutique

e e Two locations

50,000 SQ. FT.

River Market Antiques

Downtown Overland Park’s Vintage Haven

8025 Santa Fe Hours Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-4

Always looking for new vendors!

Call Teresa at 913-461-3779

T y ail

nD

e Op

816.221.0220 115 West 5th Street Kansas City, MO 64105 facebook.com/RiverMarketAntiques

. to .m a .

10 .m 6p

i a ntral 600 Ce ues Antiq

816.471.9541 600 Central Avenue Kansas City, MO 64105 facebook.com/600CentralAntiques

g Find your Own Look by Recycling some amazing Lifestyles from the Past For information contact: recycledretailmanagement@gmail.com

VintageKC / Fall 2013 39

Love Kristen’s sense of humor?

There’s plenty more in her Etsy shop.

di Nicole Photo gra Bran by ph to y o h

vintage crafts "I am a medical social worker by day and stitcher by night. Much of my anatomical designs are inspired by my work in the medical field. I love a good play on words. The liver and onion design has become a huge hit for kitchen decor.“ Kristen from Hey Paul Studios heypaulstudios.etsy.com

P

q

Junkfest Studios t Studio moved to the West Bottoms!

0

Fun, creative classes Painted furniture Custom work

Robin Hammond, owner 913-210-4444 • junkfeststudios.com facebook.com/JunkfestStudios Paint and furniture also available at Lone Elm Antique Mall

40 VintageKC / Fall 2013

One block west Antiques & Collectibles 20 S. Gold St., Paola, KS Open M-F 10-6 & Sat 10-5 oneblockwestantiques.com dconeblockwest@gmail.com 913-294-8499

"I love incorporating my kids’ creativity into home decor. It allows them to take ownership in creating a home they love, and preserves pieces of artwork that their little minds think up. On the right, I used my daughter’s fairy drawing to create this easy embroidered dish towel. She is so proud of the little masterpiece that we both helped make! Below I used freezer paper and fabric paint to create a DIY stencil.

I love this method of stenciling because you can customize almost anything. It’s great for personalizing gifts!“ Megan from Homemade Ginger homemadeginger.com

Find DIY instructions for these on Megan’s blog!

VintageKC / Fall 2013 41

vintage crafts “I love being transported to another era, time and place by decorative details. You can accomplish a practical, fresh take on vintage by incorporating antique accents into a new item or vice versa. I love old fabrics and lace trims; I pick them up anytime I find them and add to my stash. I love the rustic look of these vintage lace trims against the clean white flour sack towels.”

Haley from The Yellow Peony theyellowpeony.com

"My house was built in 1940 and the kitchen is smaller than most people’s closets. But, I love mid-century style in the kitchen and painted the walls bright green. These easy, happy fruit-stamped towels fit right in.“ Erin, editor VintageKC Magazine

Try the cut base of a celery stalk for a rose stamp or cut okra for a small f lower stamp!

As Time Goes By

Antiques ~ Collectibles Vintage Home Décor

816-366-0545 On 150 Hwy. Greenwood, MO 64034 Visit Greenwood’s 7 Shops

As Time Goes By at 605 W Main 42 VintageKC / Fall 2013

vintage crafts

Not crafty by nature? We love these glamping-inspired towels for sale at TLC Thrifty Boutique in downtown Overland Park!

Pinterest

Our tea towel inspiration doesn’t stop here. For more great ideas, visit our Pinterest page: pinterest.com/vintagekc/tea-towels.

And while you’re there, check out all the fun stuff we’ve pinned — everything from offices to kitchens, from weddings to fashion, from lights to do-it-yourself projects — if it’s vintage or awesome or funny or helpful, we’re pinning it. Come join us!

Help us out!

Are you crafty and have an online store or blog? We’d love to see if you’ve got what it takes to be on our panel of creative experts. Do you have a craft idea you’d like to see our locals tackle? Are you just the chatty type?

However you roll, just drop us a line at erin@vintagekcmag.com.

Now Presenting

Silver-Schnauzer ANTIQUES

Antiques | Needlework | Estate Sales | Art Gallery 10912 W. Winner Road, Independence 800-256-3029 | 816-336-1595 silver-schnauzer.com facebook.com/SilverSchnauzerAntiques

VintageKC / Fall 2013 43

stores we love

Vintage Mission Mission

Men and women alike will find a funky mix of quality treasures at this new Johnson Drive hot spot VKC: How long have you been into vintage?

Dan: My wife and I have always chosen to furnish our home with unique items that were built to last or had history attached to them.

It might be a table made from an old sewing machine pedestal, the clock our son made in high school shop class, or the rolling pin that my wife’s grandmother used to make pies.

VKC: How did you decide to open a business?

Dan: I always dreamed of owning my own business and we had explored other ideas such as a restaurant or coffee shop. I have retail, sales and financial experience. We’ve lived in Mission for 25 years, like the small town atmosphere and knew we wanted to do something close to home.

We had filled up our basement and a storage locker with goods. When we saw all the excitement around vintage and a storefront for rent on Johnson Drive, the time just seemed to be right.

VKC: What are your favorite pieces to buy?

Dan: I look for items that are well made, functional and can be brought back to life with a little bit of attention. It’s always fun to find a totally unique item that can be used in a different way, like a white enamel pharmacy cabinet

44 VintageKC / Fall 2013

or a church pew. Our checkout counter is a bar from the 1970s, covered in blue and white vinyl. I enjoy buying old musical instruments and albums. Our customers like the selection of vintage costume jewelry and purses.

VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your store?

Dan: We have a funky mix of vintage furniture, artwork, household items and personal accessories. Men and women will both find something interesting and we carry a mix of small items and large furniture pieces.

VKC: What’s the most unique item you’ve sold?

Dan: We bought a solid wood end table at an auction, but the top was in bad shape.

Instead of traditional furniture refinishing, we covered the surface with craft beer bottle caps and clear resin to make it one-of-a-kind. It’s probably in someone’s “man cave” now!

VKC: What is your business philosophy?

Dan: Our goal is to offer a continually changing flow of fun items that our customers won’t find anywhere else, at a fair price.

VKC: What experience do you hope your customers have in your store?

Dan: We want our customers to have a friendly, comfortable and relaxed experience. We hope they take time to explore, enjoy the music, have a piece of chocolate from the counter and discover something new every time they visit.

VKC: Why do you continue to do what you do?

Dan: The people and the stories are the most fun! I love it when customers tell the story behind the item they selected. Maybe the vase they just bought looks like the one that was always on their grandmother’s kitchen table, the women’s lace handkerchiefs are part of plans for a vintage wedding, or an old album reminds them of a special time. We even had a surprise marriage proposal happen in the store because the brideto-be loved shopping for old books and journals!

VKC: What else do you want people to know?

Dan: I always appreciate feedback from our customers about things we can do to make the store better. If they’re searching for specific items, I’ll make a note and keep my eyes open for it at an auction or a sale.

VKC: Name three stores you love.

Dan: Good Ju Ju, The Ridge Antique Mall, and Bitterman’s Eye Candy

stores we love

Lone Elm Antique Mall Olathe

Great finds and pure fun are going on at Lone Elm — they recently featured a “Duck Dynasty” display VKC: How long have you been into vintage?

Jana: Forever it seems — I caught the bug early on.

VKC: What got you started?

Jana: Setting up an apartment led to my first auction experience.

VKC: How did you decide to open a business?

Jana: We had always talked about it in passing, but when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped.

VKC: What advice do you have for amateur pickers and sellers?

Jana: Buy what you like with a vision on how the customer will enjoy the items.

VKC: What are your favorite pieces to buy?

Jana: I have always been drawn to more primitive items that have charm, but can also work with other chic things.

VKC: How do you select vendors for your store?

Jana: You kind of get a feeling from just talking with them, hearing where they like to shop, what they like to buy, if they’ve been located in other shops, and seeing pictures always helps.

VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your store?

Jana: We have a wide variety of styles throughout the shop: antique, classic, midcentury, industrial, re-purposed, etc.

VKC: What is the most unique item you’ve sold?

Jana: A 5-foot 1950s lifelike girly car hop on roller skates. She carried a hamburger on her tray, was very colorful and really made a statement.

VKC: What is your business philosophy?

Jana: If you truly love what you do, think it can be done — try it! Listen to what others say, apply what you need and stay current.

VKC: What experience do customers have in your store?

Jana: Most of our shoppers spend a long time in the shop and return often. They laugh, have fun and leave with things that make them smile.

VKC: Why do you continue to do what you do?

Jana: We love to see how antiquing, collecting, junking, thrifting and reusing have all come together for so many people in one way or another.

VKC: What else do you want people to know about your store?

Jana: We think our store is enjoyable and pleasant with an array of items. Both men and women, young collectors or the most avid should always be able to find that prefect something.

VKC: What stores do you love?

Jana: Bottoms Up has fabulous eye candy, Primitive Treasures in Ottawa, Treasures Estate Sales, and the Greenwood shops.

VintageKC / Fall 2013 45

vintage memories

To the

Cider Mill

Author Danna York shares memories of taking her children to the place where the sights, sounds and smells of fall culminate: the cider mill.

By Danna York

T

he colorful Kansas City fall season is the perfect time to venture out to a cider mill. The moment you step inside, the scent of cinnamon donuts fill the air and the first taste of cider is the perfect hello to autumn and goodbye to a hot summer.

It is like a trip back in time two when things were simpler. Friendly faces greet you, delicious jams and jellies line the shelves, and folks are leisurely sipping cider.

Every September, my husband and I would take our children to Dunn’s Cider Mill in Belton, MO. The little red mill sits snug under the blue sky. It was always a great start to the new homeschool year for us. Our children easily forgot about the summer break as soon as they had their first cider and donuts. As the swirl of autumn wrapped itself around us, we would begin to see all the treasures of the new school year. We would meet friends at the cider mill to watch a play about Johnny Appleseed, go apple picking with cousins, or just sit alone with our sketchbooks to draw the orange surroundings.

The owners of the mill were family friends, and over the years it grew into a tradition to work there during the fall. My father-in-law would help with the cider pressing, and the children would flock to see him and help wash the apples. Later, their father worked on the weekends, helping make the sweet cider. They loved observing the squashed apples go through the cider press and watching the golden drink pour out. They always said cider was like drinking an apple — a true compliment.

When the children got older my sons worked at the cider mill helping with the cider making and doing outside chores, following fast in the family tradition. My daughter found

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it very rewarding to have a part-time job over several seasons serving hot spiced cider to customers.

Becoming an author When I was a child, an author visited my elementary school. I just loved the illustrations, and it started my journey of becoming an artist.

I also loved going to the library and choosing the same books over and over. I was truly inspired by Beatrix Potter, Maurice Sendak and Arnold Lobel. Their work has followed me around for years.

The old-fashioned joy of the cider mills I visited gave me the inspiration for the book “To the Cider Mill.” I wanted to capture everything I love in one place: fall, cider mills, art and kids.

The book is a short poem about visiting a cider mill and all the things you see. There are illustrations to color, pages to draw on, ideas for activities to do during cider season and a bit more. Drawing tall sunflowers, an apple tree to climb and a cat or two, brings a child’s creativity to life. Their artwork is what makes this book a keepsake to treasure for years to come.

I sat in the mill during many busy days observing children overflowing with excitement as they watched donuts being made, apple cider pressed, and chose a fat pumpkin to take home. I really had to surround myself with all the sights and smells to see where it would take me. I would listen and draw everything I could, seeing it through a child’s eyes. It led to a sweet, simple poem of a cider mill visit and the things that hug our hearts.

The book has allowed me to keep a beloved memory alive of our days at the cider mill and the best time of my life raising my children. They are forever young, climbing trees, chasing leaves, and building scarecrows.

To this day we all still go to the cider mill and have our first cider and donut together!

“To the Cider Mill” is in more than 30 cider mills from California to New York, and locally at the Nelson Art Museum, KD’s books, Deanna Rose Farmstead, Dunn’s Cider Mill, Louisburg Cider Mill, Mariam’s Memories, and Stack’s Depot. On my author visits I love meeting little artists and drawing with them. Their smiling faces are the best reward and reminds me of my own journey. So if you stroll through a cider mill and see a lady drawing an apple, you’ll know that’s me.

^

Danna lives in Belton, MO, with her husband Tim. She teaches drawing and art to children and homeschooled her own three kids, Timothy, Emily and Samuel.

She is a member of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators and a former Kansas City model. Contact her through Facebook @To The Cider Mill ~ Danna York author.

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