VintageKC Home. Fashion. DIY. lIFESTYLE. SPRING 2018 | Vol. 7 Issue 1
“Some things are better with age” Appraisal Sell Trade Washing Restoration Again “THE KNOTTIER THE BETTER” Knotty Rug Co. Kansas City’s Largest and Most Reputable Showroom 4510 STATE LINE RD. 2 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
KANSAS CIT Y, KS 66103
(913) 677-1877
WWW.KNOT T YRUG.COM
Contents
SPRING 2018| VOL. 7 ISSUE 1
28
12
learn
44 SPRING GARDEN Start Gardening
do
08 DIY Room Spray 22 VINTAGE RECIPES Gourmet Glamping 42 VINTAGE TEA PARTY Treats & Decor
22
inspiration 08 36
12 24 40
VINTAGE SPACES Modern Farmhouse VINTAGE FASHION The Art of Fashion VINTAGE DECOR Double Take
community
06 MAKERS Barrels 10 VINTAGE DINING Leavenworth Kansas 28 HORSEBACK RIDING Sunset Trails 36 MAKERS Iron Art 38 MAKERS Maggie’s Corner VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 3
^ from the publisher
Our ‘spring’ edition
W
e had a great year in 2017. As we reflect back, we’re most thankful for all the everyday extraordinary people we’ve had the privilege to meet, come to know and interact with. Whether it was a shared story of their dream coming to life with the opening of their very own brick and mortar shop or that they just successfully completed a DIY project which they now proclaim as their “new favorite hobby”. It’s a shared win and joy we were happy to be a part of. Moving into 2018, we’re optimistic and hopeful of an even greater year. The team is settling into the Lifestyles aspect of VintageKC. It’s our goal (and challenge) to introduce to each of you a fun, and perhaps new, activity (some with a nod to tradition, like horseback riding – see page 28) for you, family and friends to enjoy within our communities. We encourage each of you to support all the many local businesses and events KC has to offer. In our feature story, the owners describe their design style as simply Modern Farmhouse – well that’s their opinion. We say “Gorgeous! And when can we move in?” We think you’ll agree. With our Spring issue, we’re most proud to introduce the premier of our The Art of Gardening section. VintageKC stands for local in everyway, so it is quite fitting for us to partner with Colonial Gardens of Blue Springs. Colonial is ready to educate and engage our readers. The staff is there to help you, it’s more than a job, it’s their passion. I love the back of their business card “Gardeners Inspiring Families to Grow Together”. We’re ready to grow, are you? Next, we bet you’ll take a double take on another feature beginning with this publication, Double Take. The concept: highlight a vintage find in two unique design styles. Variety is the spice of life and everyone has their own flair. So, stay tuned with us on Double Take. As always, it’s our desire you find this issue of VintageKC entertaining, and it inspires a less stressful and more joyful life in each of you.
staff
Advertising Cheri Nations, marketing & sales cheri@vintagekcmag.com Joe King, advertising rep joseph@vintagekcmag.com Art Direction Emily Bowers emily@wearerivet.com Design Emma Willcockson emma@wearerivet.com Emily Smith aew2000@centurylink.net Patti Klinge artdirector@discoverypub.com Publisher Bruce Rodgers publisher@vintagekcmag.com 816-474-1516 Cheri Nations, co-publisher cheri@vintagekcmag.com
contributors Maggie Bonanomi Corbin Crable Adrianne DeWeese Leigh Elmore Charles Ferruzza Abby Byrd Keri Lauderdale Olsen Lauren Hedenkamp Rachel Kauffman Felecia Morris Cheri Nations Sarah Teresinski
photography Leigh Elmore Charles Ferruzza Gabriel Grosko Patti Klinge Margaret Mellot Sarah Teresinski Savina Vallacqua
Cheri Nations co-publisher
VINTAGEKC VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY VINTAGE MEDIA, LLC, IN KANSAS CITY, MO, AFFILIATED WITH AFFINITY ENTERPRISE GROUP, COPYRIGHT 2018, VINTAGE MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN PART OR IN WHOLE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
Follow along! VKC
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4 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
(cover) A work of art by the son of Brenda and Mark Kilgore sits atop the couple’s fireplace mantle in their rural Kansas City area home, which they share with their rescue dog Blue Belle.
Cover photo by Patti Klinge
1st Thursdays: Alive After 5 (5-8pm) April 5: Appetizers & Aperitifs May 3: Cindo de Mayo June 7: Summer Wine Walk
Leavenworth Antique Mall 505 Delaware • M-Th 10-5:30 | Sa 10-6 913-758-0193 • lvantiquemall.com
OUT OF THE BARN Make Something Beautiful
Repurposed Furniture • Home Decor • Antiques General Finishes Paints • Group Classes
421 Delaware St Leavenworth, KS
913-333-7063
Midwest’s largest selection of British foods, gifts and teas! More than 170 blends of loose teas and a large selection of bagged teas, tea accessories and necessities
510 Delaware St. • Leavenworth, KS 913-680-1899 • QPTea.com Mon-Fri 10-5:30 • Sat 10-3
VISIT THE 1ST CITY OF KANSAS! 25+ Eating and Drinking Spots in Historic Downtown
28 Blocks of Vintage, Fashion, Art, Gift, and Craft Boutiques
Leavenworth AMERICANA leavenworthmainstreet.com
Daily Happy Hour Drink Specials! HAND-PATTIED BURGERS • PANINIS • SALADS STEAKS • SEAFOOD • HOMETOWN FAVORITES
529 Cherokee • 913-651-1010
AMERICANA “ Much more than a furniture store”
pre-owned furnishings & antique mall
719 Delaware St • Leavenworth, KS
Restaurant Hours:
Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm ~ Fri & Sat 11am-10pm
BAR OPEN LATE
Find us on Facebook!
913-682-2477 • johnlemke@att.net
412 Delaware St.
Leavenworth, KS
410 S. 2nd St. Leavenworth, KS 913-683-8051
913.250.6757
www.NibbitWorks.com Celebrating local artists who give beauty to function! Handmade guitars, drums, spirit flutes, blown glass, furniture pieces, lighting, baskets, custom woven textiles and MORE!
Wide variety of dishwasher, microwave, oven safe pottery!
Hours: Thurs - Sat: 10-5 Sun-Wed: by chance or appt
• Refinished • Repurposed • Recycled • Uniquely Creative!
History
C.W.Parker Carousel Museum Carroll Mansion Museum Fort Leavenworth
sunflowersistersvintagelv.com VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 5
community ^ makers
Plying the Cooper’s Craft - One Barrel at a Time Doug Bratcher has become the Midwest’s best-known barrel maker. Words and Photos LEIGH ELMORE
I
n this day and age if you say the word “cooper” most people are likely to think that you are uttering a not-so- uncommon surname. Many family names passed down through the ages bear a direct relationship to the profession of a long lost ancestor: Smith, Painter, Weaver and so on. Yes, Cooper is a fairly common name, just as common as the profession that it describes – a maker of barrels. That profession was once much more common that it is today. Hand-made wooden barrels were the state of the art in storage, packing and logistics for hundreds of years up until the mid 20 th century, when cheaper and quicker means were devised and most goods began being shipped on trucks. One person could easily roll a fully loaded barrel, rather than having to lift it with other workers. So 150 years ago a good supply of wooden barrels was necessary for most commerce. They could hold any number of goods from nails to pickles, sealed against the elements. Barrels traveled in horse-drawn wagons, on trains, on steamboats and could display goods ready for sale in retail stores – think pickles! These days, wooden barrels are still vital for the wine and spirits industries, but rarely used in everyday life except for decoration and historic displays. And in Liberty, MO, one devoted craftsman, Doug Bratcher, continues to ply the cooperage trade, one barrel at a time. Operating with his wife, Jan, from Bratcher Cooperage and Gifts, Bratcher can be seen going about the cooper’s trade, something that he has done since learning to make barrels and going professional in the late 1970s.
An Ancient Craft
Barrel making is an ancient craft dating back to 4,000 B.C. Wooden barrels were found in the pyramids, Bratcher notes. It’s hard to imagine that something as commonplace as a barrels required the use of at least 30 different hand
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tools to build and form them, including several knives to create the final shape; not to mention the strength and dexterity required of the cooper himself. Bratcher experienced a serious hand injury in 1997 and, “I had to relearn how to hold my tools,” Bratcher said. “I would get cuts and scrapes all the time and that didn’t stop me. “Sticking your hand in a table saw stops you.” With some limited mobility in his left hand, Bratcher soon returned to his trade and has been coopering along ever since. For the last 40 years, Bratcher has worked as the featured cooper at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, returning to Liberty for a couple of days off each week. He’s a very popular attraction for the theme park. You might have seen his smiling white-bearded visage on a billboard or two advertising the Silver Dollar City’s annual Fall Festival. Bratcher’s current line of products, barrels of various sizes, kegs, buckets and churns are sold commercially, and many are used at historic sites and museums around the country. Bratcher made barrels are on display at the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, Fort Smith in Arkansas, Fort Scott in Kansas and Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, NC. He also lent a hand at preserving the barrels found aboard the sunken steamboat Arabia and built barrels for displaying some of the recovered cargo at the Arabia Steamboat Museum. He also created barrels as props for several motion pictures including Ang Lee’s “Ride With the Devil,” “Far and Away,” “Geronimo” and “Sometimes They Come Back.” Bratcher got interested in making barrels with a friend, Dale Kirby, his long-time partner at Silver Dollar City. They grew up in Kentucky and would acquire used whiskey barrels from a distillery. They began taking their barrels to a cooperage in Indiana and traded for new ones. Along the way they
picked up the skills necessary to make barrels from scratch. All it takes is some good white oak and the know-how.
White Oak Rules
Barrels built to contain liquids such as beer, wine and whiskey often are made of white oak from Missouri. Bratcher explains that the pores of white oak contain tyloses, a membrane-like growth that plugs the hardwood and makes it naturally watertight. It also increases resistance to rot and decay. “The wood lets air exchange into the barrel, but it doesn’t leak,” adds Bratcher. In making a barrel, Bratcher obtains wood from a stave mill already dried and cured. He then sets the staves on end and bands them with a steel hoop at the head and foot of the barrel. Bratcher cuts the hoop from a large metal coil, rivets the steel into a ring, and uses a hammer and hoop driver to fasten the hoops into place and compress the wood. He lights a fire with pieces of wood at the bottom of the barrel to soften the staves and make them more pliable before driving the hoops further down. Once the hoops are set, Bratcher puts the barrelhead onto the cylinder. The walls of Bratcher’s workshop are filled with the tools of his trade – saws and augers and other devices. He uses hand tools such as a howell and croze, types of radial planes that cut grooves into the barrelhead so it fits into place. A champer knife shaves a chamfer, or cut that produces a sloping edge, along the top of the barrel.
Opposite: Doug Bratcher displays a barrel in progress at the Bratcher Cooperage in Liberty. Top Right: The often-used tools are within easy reach above Bratchers workbench. Bottom Right: Bratcher shows how the chamfer knife, makes an angled cut around a barrel’s rim.
Working one barrel at a time Bratcher can vary his routine and switch off to other projects, such as a bucket or ice cream maker. He doesn’t try to compete with the barrel factories that provide wood barrels for industry. Bratcher is just trying to show how it was done during a slower time. You can put a name and a face with his product. A face you just might see on a billboard. Doug Bratcher’s products and other types of gift items are available at Bratcher Cooperage and Gifts, 109 S. Water St., Liberty, MO. Find more at www.bratchercooperage.com.^ VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 7
Diy
diy ^ room spray
ROOM SPRAY Words and Photos by RACHEL KAUFFMAN
I
f you aren’t already hooked on essential oils, this DIY room spray project will have you jumping on the “oil” bandwagon. You’ll fall in love with this delicious smelling alternative to artificially scented room sprays! The recipe is easy to follow and you can even improvise to create your own scents. People have been using essential oils for millennia. Today, most essential oils are made by using steam distillation to remove the essential oils from plants and mechanical expression is used to extract the oils from citrus fruits. Essential oils smell wonderful and some people claim that they also have therapeutic benefits. For the purpose of this DIY project, we will ignore the potential therapeutic benefits and focus on the olfactory pleasures that essential oils can provide. And, who is to say that wonderful smelling things can’t make us feel a little bit better?
Directions: 1. Pour 3.5 oz. distilled water into a liquid measuring cup Since essential oils are so potent, they need to be diluted with distilled water for room sprays. You can find gallon jugs of distilled water at most grocery stores for less than a dollar. Distilled water is more pure than regular tap water and will help your room spray stay fresher longer. 2. Pour 1 tsp. vodka or witch hazel into the measuring cup The vodka or witch hazel will help preserve your room spray. 3. Add 50 drops of the desired essential oil/s into the measuring cup Essential oils are not cheap, so go to a natural grocery store and use the samples to test out some scents before you buy them. Even though the price for a tiny bottle of essential oil may seem steep, you only need to use a tiny portion for this project.
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Supplies 3.5 oz. Distilled Water 1 tsp. Vodka or Witch Hazel Assorted Essential Oils Liquid Measuring Cup 4 oz. Glass Bottle Label
Basic Recipe 3.5 oz. Distilled Water 1 tsp. Vodka or Witch Hazel 50 Drops Essential Oil *This recipe can be divided or multiplied as needed
4. Carefully pour the mixture into a 4 oz. glass spray bottle You can find glass spray bottles near the essential oils in most natural grocery stores or online. Glass bottles are recommend for essential oil mixtures because the oils can cause plastic to breakdown. Amber or cobalt glass bottles will help protect your oils from sunlight and will extend the shelf life of your room spray. 5. Label the bottle Use a sticker or string and a tag to create a label for your room spray. I used mailing labels to label the cobalt bottles and some old cardboard from a box of tea and twine for the clear bottle. Include the ingredients on your label, and feel free to create special names for your unique recipes. *Shake mixture before each use
Recommended Recipes: Lavender & Lemon 25 drops of Lavender 25 drops of Lemon Energize 20 drops Lemon 15 drops Basil 10 drops Rosemary 5 drops Spearmint Happy 20 drops Lavender 20 drops Lemon 10 drops Rosemary Focus 30 drops Spearmint 20 drops Rosemary
About the Author
Rachel Kauffman is vaguely interested in everything, but she is particularly obsessed with finding and collecting (and occasionally selling) vintage artifacts. When she’s not admiring and curating things that dead people have made, Rachel can be found making stuff: room sprays, tomte, pressed flower art, rugs, and whatever else she impulsively decides to try to make. She lives with her family in an adorable midcentury ranch in Prairie Village, Kansas.^ Email: rachelannekauffman@gmail.com Instagram: @racheldeerhead
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 9
community ^ vintage dining
Vintage Dining: Leavenworth
The city of Leavenworth, Kansas – population roughly 36,000 – has never been known as a culinary Mecca … but it should. Words and Photos by CHARLES FERRUZZA
Breakfast is served all day.
The Romanesque Revival style of the The Depot
I
t is, after all, the location of the grand mansion once owned by 19th-century British-born restaurant entrepreneur Fred Harvey – creator of his namesake Harvey House lunch rooms, restaurants, souvenir shops, and hotels, which served rail passengers on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, the Kansas Pacific Railway, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, and the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis. Harvey, famous for his spotlessly tidy dining venues with consistently good wholesome food and attractive, trained waitresses, was the forerunner of iconic American restaurateurs like Howard Johnson and Ray Kroc (who built the McDonald’s burger chain); if there hadn’t been a Fred Harvey, someone would have had to invent him. 10 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
Leavenworth is also home to one of the last remaining outposts of the once-celebrated NuWay sandwich shops (famous for crumbly loose meat burgers and homemade root beer) founded in Wichita in 1930; there used to be several operating in the Kansas City metro. And for a final note of nostalgic noshery, there’s still the 87-year-old Homer’s Drive-In (formerly a root beer stand with male carhops wearing long-sleeved shirts and ties) at 1320 S. Fourth St. The carhops are long gone and so is most of the “drive in” business (although the staff will run out the front door with your call-in order), but the cozy diner still serves burgers, homemade chili, Frito pie, shrimp baskets, and deluxe plate dinners: fish, ham, beef brisket, turkey, country-fried steak, and catfish for $8.49 In Leavenworth, there’s only one restaurant
that has serious vintage credit – and at least one ghost! – The Depot, tucked inside the 1887 Romanesque Revival rail depot at 781 Shawnee St. Formerly the passenger depot for the Leavenworth, Northern and Southern rail line, the handsomely appointed dark pink sandstone building originally offered separate waiting areas for male and female travelers, a station manager’s office, rest rooms and woodburning fireplaces. Opened in 2015 by Mike and Mary Nachbar, The Depot was a dramatic facility for a fastgrowing small town and even after the space no longer operated as a train depot and the venue stood empty, local entrepreneurs bought the historic building as a future asset for the town. The building, with its shiny wooden floors and amber glass mullioned windows, deserved to be saved. But for what?
Leavenworth was anything but a genteel hamlet when the train station initially opened; there were already 200 saloons within the city limits. Over a century later, there are still a fair number of drinking establishments in town, but the most troublesome patron seems to be the Depot’s resident ghost that employees call “Kathleen” who has been known to move things in the building (hiding neatly arranged tools is a particular favorite of hers) and occasionally pull one of the waitresses ponytail. “Kathleen” has a long history of playing tricks, including locking a waitress inside of a bathroom stall – and laughing. “We don’t know where the name Kathleen came from,” one of the veteran waitresses told me. “But someone came up with it and it stuck.” There have been several food service establishments inside the old depot over the last three decades, including both a barbeque and Mexican restaurants, but the current incarnation of the facility serves old-fashioned home cooking, including rib-sticking breakfasts – the “Super Chief ” features chicken-fried steak with gravy, two eggs any style, hash browns and toast – all served on oversized platters offered each day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Depot gets very good reviews for its “stick-to-your-ribs” dishes and enjoys loyal, repeat customers. It’s gotten excellent ratings on tripadvisor and the Nachbars tout their resident chef every chance they get. The serving staff is friendly and gracious at the Depot. The resident ghost, “Kathleen,’ is mischievous, but good-natured. But definitely not a Harvey Girl candidate. ^
KEARNEY'S COZIEST BISTRO,
A cross between charming cuisine and locally sourced home décor merchandise, The Reserve is proud to serve guests a unique experience in an unbeatably tasteful atmosphere. Stop by and enjoy a one-of-a-kind meal - artfully designed and crafted by our chefs - and browse our selection of carefully curated finds to decorate your home.
SPRING OPEN HOUSE MARCH 15-17
Featuring daily decor deals and bistro bites!
An inviting and warm interior greets diners at The Depot.
103-B S. Jefferson St. Kearney, Missouri 64060
ReserveOnJefferson.com 816.635.2335
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 11
^ vintage spaces ^vintage spaces
The kitchen of Brenda and Mark Kilgore’s farmhouse features vintage touches, such as a wooden sign above their sink flanked by early stoneware. The Kilgores added a sun room right off of the kitchen shortly after they moved in 25 years ago.
12 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
FARMHOUSE
COLLECTION Keeping the past alive
In Missouri farmhouse, every antique has a story to tell Words CORBIN CRABLE • Photos PATTI KLINGE
A
ntique collecting and dealing isn’t just a hobby for Brenda and Mark Kilgore – it’s their very livelihood. The proof of this is present in every room of their home. Look around their cozy farmhouse in the rural Kansas City area and you’ll see knick-knacks and bric-a-brac from decades and centuries long gone, lovingly displayed for visitors. The proof also lies in the intangible, such as the friends Brenda and Mark have made as they continue travelling America, buying and selling antiques at shows both big and small. It lies in the hours upon hours of hard work the couple put into repurposing old items and readying them for sale. It lies in the love of vintage items that they have passed on to their adult children. Brenda and Mark have both shared a love of antiques since long before they met each other. But he, a country boy who enjoyed the solitude of living in a rural area, and she, a city girl who relished the hustle and bustle of a larger burg, obviously had their differences when it came to their idea of paradise.
From big city to quiet country
Twenty-five years ago, living in Excelsior Springs, MO and desiring a change of scenery, Brenda and Mark took on the mammoth task of finding a new place to live just one car ride away. “It was like pulling teeth to get her out of the city to start with. I was raised in the country, and I tried living in town for a while, but I just couldn’t take it,” Mark recalls, chuckling as he sits with Brenda in the living room of their home on a sunny but chilly afternoon in early February. “I missed the quiet, the privacy. “We had a beautiful house in town, but you could look out your window and see your neighbor doing their dishes. “We were just out driving one day – we went out every weekend to drive and look around – and we found a house for sale over that hill,” Above: Natural light from a late Sunday afternoon pours into the living room of the Kilgores’ farmhouse, where Brenda says she enjoys watching the sun rise and set every day. Surrounded by many of her favorite antique pieces gathered throughout a lifetime of collecting, Brenda Kilgore says she enjoys the peace and quiet of rural living.
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 13
^ vintage spaces
Here little details were preserved from the previous owners, such as the ornate woodwork on the side of the staircase.
A well used brush is given its own stage to shine under a glass dome.
he says, pointing behind him. “We were looking at it, but then we walked on top of the hill and saw this little farmhouse sitting there. We asked, ‘What’s that?’” It was a house that belonged to a recently deceased family member, and had yet to be listed for sale. The couple took a peek inside the small, four-bedroom, pea green farmhouse and instantly fell in love with its charm. But there was work to be done — the
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house had no bathroom and no plumbing — and the Great Flood of 1993, which inundated parts of Missouri and threatened great swaths of land surrounding cities, didn’t help matters. Brenda recalls crying with her husband as she feared their dream basement would never come to fruition.
Another kind of retirement
Another trait Mark and Brenda share — their
strong work ethic — helped them see the house’s renovation step by step. Some parts of the original house, they kept, including a wooden support beam that stands at the center of their living room, as well as the original wood floors, painted the same stunning, clean white as the walls and high ceilings. “The floors were all natural wood,” says Brenda. “Over the years, they turned pumpkin orange, and it’s taken us a couple of years to paint them. “We did most of the work ourselves, but we splurged on windows. We wanted to see why we were here — nature and all of that,” says Brenda, adding that only one room in their house has curtains of any kind. For two people who have made antiques their life’s work, the hard work wasn’t unlike Mark’s former career in construction, from which he recently retired. “I stay busier now than I ever did in my old job,” he laughs. When they’re not repainting, rewiring, reupholstering, and renovating antiques, they’re loading up their RV and driving throughout the
Vintage and rustic furnishings can be found in every room of the Kilgore farmhouse. Old books sit atop a large wooden primitive cabinet. Above is a repurposed wooden livestock salt block holder which displays Brenda’s collection of printer’s brushes.
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 15
^ vintage spaces Antique wooden cabinets and containers are plentiful in the Kilgore farmhouse, where they’re both used practically and as arranged as art pieces.
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country – to shows both big and small, where they hope to sell their wares and find a few treasures for themselves, too. The couple employs pickers who are dispatched throughout Kansas and Missouri to search for what Brenda calls “scores,” or purchases. They travel to one or two large shows every six months, she says, and when they’re not on the road, they’re in their barn behind the house, where much of their prep work is done. If the weather is uncooperative, as was the case during this winter’s harsh cold snaps, they simply take their work indoors to their house. After all, the show will arrive, whether or not they’re ready.
A wooden crate is used as the coffee table in the Kilgores’ living room. Inside a large, polished, wooden bowl are items either gifted to the couple, or items they have found on their peaceful walks through the adjoining woods.
Home a homage to a bygone time
Drive up the winding gravel roads on the way to the Kilgores’ farmhouse and you’ll see it clearly — the small, picturesque house on top of a hill. The entrance to the property is marked with an old wagon wheel, and on your right is a small pond. Get out of your car, and you’ll see the small barn where Brenda and Mark do their renovation work — in warmer months, at least. Vintage metal signs adorn the exterior of the structure (Brenda says Mark has a special spot in his heart for vintage advertising). On your left, a small stone path leads up to the farmhouse’s front door. Enter it and you’ll be in the small sunroom where vintage planters hold a colorful array of plant life. The couple added the sunroom when they moved into the house, and it’s attached to
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 17
^vintage spaces The many mirrors in the cozy guest bedroom confirm Brenda’s love of vintage mirrors.
White enameled pitchers are displayed in the guest bathroom.
Light floods the airy sunroom off the kitchen in the late afternoon.
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the kitchen, splashed in elegant, clean, white paint. The appliances there are modern, but the vintage touches still exist, such as a wooden sign above the sink that reads, “Wm. J. Fry Dried Herbs.” Directly off of the kitchen, an open room has at its center a small table flanked by small, twisted-metal chairs, the kind you might see in a 1950s malt shop. A series of small hand brooms are precariously stacked on the wooden tray of a chalkboard hanging on one wall of that room. Keep walking, and you’ll marvel at an entire wall of the dining room, which features floor-to-ceiling cabinets, also painted white. Their glass doors reveal all manner of ceramic cooking vessels utensils stacked neatly inside. At the dining room table, in the place of cloth or plastic placemats are slabs of slate. Natural light pours into the high-ceilinged living room, where Brenda says she enjoys watching the sunrise and sunset each day. On the coffee table, a large, wooden bowl holds a ball of string as large as a grown man’s head. Across from the coffee table, a big block
of wood resembling a tree stump has been polished smooth and is used as an end table. It’s the large pieces, like the coffee table that appears to once have been a big wooden crate that Brenda likes best. Upstairs in the Kilgores’ home, ceramic jugs are stacked atop a wooden icebox in an open area Brenda where Brenda does her paperwork for the couple’s business. The guest room, meanwhile, is small but cozy, with a much lower ceiling; a bed with an iron frame is the centerpiece, and hanging next to it and above the nightstand is a series of small mirrors and frames.
At the antique shows, furniture is the biggest seller for the Kilgores. “We had amazing hardwood cabinets the last time, and the time before that, we had a 50-foot counter. Two people came to our booth and said, ‘Ralph Lauren needs that for his store!’ And we’d go, ‘OK, do you have his number?’” Brenda chuckles. Every merchant at every antique show has
a centerpiece to their collection, the one piece that draws the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of the crowd. “You have to have an ‘Oh my god!’ piece,” Brenda says. “For instance, once, we had an oyster shucking table, and it was beautiful. It had black legs. You always want that ‘Wow’ piece, that piece that makes you go, ‘I’ve got to have that!’ Usually, it’s furniture.”
A few keepsakes here and there
Yes, the mirrors are ever present in most rooms of the house. Though they make their living in selling antiques to collectors, there are a few pieces in their own home that Brenda and Mark say will always be priceless to them. One such piece, a larger, white, framed mirror, hangs in the couple’s guest bathroom. “That mirror is one of my favorite items. It belonged to my grandpa,” Brenda says, adding that she grew up going to auctions with her father. “When I was 13, I asked my dad if I could have it, and he told me to go and ask my grandpa. Of course, he gave it to me, but I was scared to death.” Another item, a large, wooden room divider,
A repurposed vintage wooden tobacco basket enjoys a second life as an art piece adorning the wall of a storage room next to the Kilgores’ kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling white cabinets with glass windows reveal more vintage finds.
VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 19
^ vintage spaces
20 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
was originally to go on the road to be sold, but Brenda found she simply couldn’t part with it. So, it remains a permanent fixture in the corner of the farmhouse’s living room. “We put it in that corner until it was time to take it to a show,” she explains, “but we loved it, so … ta-da!” That love of gently loved items won’t pass on anytime soon, thankfully. Brenda and Mark say their sons, though once disinterested in antiques, have adopted their parents’ passions. “They hated shopping at flea markets,” she recalls. “Whenever we would stop at one, they would hurry me up and push me through. Now, one of them is actually in the business, and he made a piece for me. The other son, he always needs stuff. But back then, they hated it.” In the same way that their sons have acclimated themselves to life around antiques, so, too, have the Kilgores settled into their life of peace and quiet, surrounded by the things they love, both at home and on the road. It’s a life of hard work that they relish, and the two wouldn’t have it any other way. “This is it,” Brenda says, shrugging and smiling. “This is our life.” ^ Corbin Crable’s retirement plans include renting an RV and driving around the continental U.S., so he’s certain he’ll bump into Brenda and Mark Kilgore at an antique show in Texas someday. You can e-mail him at ccrable@jccc.edu.
Above: The original support beam is functional, and adds a level of character and natural beauty to the open living space. Opposite page: The bare vintage chalk board awaits a message of what the day’s schedule will be, while keeping the unique whisk broom collection under wraps.
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vintage recipes decor ^vintage
Gourmet
GLAMPING
Words LAUREN HEDENKAMP Photos SARAH TERRANOVA
S
pring is the season to bring the glamper out of storage, dust it off and get outside in the crisp spring air. With the weather warming up its nice to enjoy lighter foods that incorporate spring vegetables for color and flavor. These fresh and bright spring recipes take a chic, trendy twist on vintage classics. The pea and couscous salad is more exciting option for a traditional pasta salad, while the radish toast rivals an open faced sandwich. Both recipes use fresh ingredients such as tomatoes, peas, and radishes, which integrates the feeling of spring signifying growth with every plant blooming after the winter frost. These fresh spring inspired recipes can be enjoyed for lunch, or as an afternoon snack. To mirror the food, create a vintage inspired atmosphere, like in the 1971 Swiss Colony glamper by designing a tablescape with a vintage floral apron, just picked wild flowers in an old tomato can, and vintage sterling utensils. ^
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Cooking Note: THE GLAMPER MUST BE CONNECTED TO GAS AND POWER TO COMPLETE THE RECIPES.
Lauren lauren@leftpagecommuntications.com Twitter @artsykansascity Instagram laurhedenkamp Sarah sarahterranova.com sarahterranovaphoto@gmail.com Twitter @cucina_camera Instagram cucinaandcamera
Pea & Couscous Salad: INGREDIENTS: 1 Cup Cooked Couscous 1 Cup Peas 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts 2 Small Tomatoes diced 1/2 Cup Feta
Honey Dijon Balsamic: INGREDIENTS: 1/4 Cup Oil 1 Tablespoon Honey 1 Tablespoon Dijon 1 Tablespoon fresh Chopped Parsley Salt & Pepper to taste UTENSILS: Pot Wooden Spoon Knife Cutting Board Bowl & Whisk (for dressing)
Step By Step Instructions: 1. Cook the Couscous according to package instructions. 2. While couscous is cooking, rinse and dice tomatoes. 3. Once Couscous has cooled, place in bowls. 4. For a pretty presentation lie the peas, walnuts, diced tomatoes, and feta in vertical lines, next to each other, on top of the couscous. 5. In a separate bowl combine ingredients for dressing. Whisk until all ingredients come together. Add salt and pepper to taste. 6. Drizzle dressing on top of the couscous salad and enjoy!
Radish Toast: INGREDIENTS: 1/2 Package Cream Cheese 1/2 Tablespoon Fresh Chopped Thyme 1/2 Tablespoon Fresh Chopped Rosemary 3 or 4 Radishes Farm to Market Sliced Bread
2. Rinse radishes and slice thinly. 3. Slice fresh farm to market bread and toast in toaster oven until golden brown. 4. Spread cream cheese mixture on toast and place the thinly sliced radishes on top. 5. Garnish with additional Rosemary and enjoy!
UTENSILS NEEDED: Toaster/Toaster Oven Knife Cutting Board Jar Spoon
Step By Step Instructions: 1. In a jar combine cream cheese, chopped thyme, and chopped rosemary.
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^ vintage fashion
ARTof Jacqueline Corzine, a local Kansas City fashion illustrator who in the 1950’s through 1970’s rendered advertising illustrations for local department stores, Wolf Brother’s and Herzfeld’s. Corzine
later taught fashion illustration at Johnson County Community College through the 1990s. These illustrations date back to the 1960’s. Ms. Corzine’s vintage illustrations shown here are courtesy of the fashion department at Johnson County Community College. Our search at a vintage clothing shop turned-up similar styles (shown in the photos) of vintage apparel that echo Ms. Corzine’s designs. Completing the fashion cycle, you may find these same trends current today on the spring 2018 runway. ^ 2018 Runway Designs: Céline, Trench Dressing Gucci, Jumpsuit Christopher Kane, Checks
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fashion 1. CHECKS
Fashionable ladies of the past would most notably have worn this Harzfeld’s check coat to the office, church or informal evening outings. Today’s trendy gal is bold and follows her own sense of fashion; whether it’s a casual girls night out or maybe a shopping adventure.
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^ vintage fashion
3. JUMPSUIT
2. TRENCH DRESSING
26 VINTAGEKC SPRING 20182018 26 VINTAGEKC SPRING
Fashion: Cheri Nations Photorapher: Gabriel Grosko Model: Ally Delmar Vintage Apparel: Nostalgia Vintage Apparel & Accessories
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community ^ sunset trails
SUNSET TRAILS Story Adrianne DeWeese Photos Patti Klinge
A
s a young child, Maggie Everson’s father often told her that horses make great listeners. Today, at age 27, Everson said that lesson is one that she continues to take to heart – and she is hopeful that she, too, will instill the belief in others. “It’s awesome because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a bad day or something hasn’t gone right, and you can just go cry on your horse’s shoulder,” Everson said from the office of her family’s longtime business, Sunset Trails Stables. “It can just make you feel so much better, and it’s just awesome to have that and to really embrace that.” At 2100 S.E. Ranson Road in Lee’s Summit, the 39-acre Sunset Trails Stables is just one mile from James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, or a mere eight-minute drive from downtown Lee’s Summit. Everson’s family has owned Sunset Trails for 17 years, and she described the property as “a unique little oasis, being close within the city limits of Lee’s Summit, but we have our own little farm here without being
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a hundred miles out.” Born and raised in Lee’s Summit, Everson’s home sits adjacent to Sunset Trails Stables. She started riding horses at age 3, and Everson later advanced into competitive rodeo, barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping, in addition to participating in 4-H from ages 8 through 18. One of the horses at Sunset Trails, 25-yearold Cash, is among the last horses still alive from Everson’s competitive riding days in high school. While Cash is now retired from competition, he is still used at Sunset Trails in riding lessons. “It’s definitely in my blood,” she said. “It’s something I’ve done my entire life and is something that I really enjoy. “When most kiddos were watching TV during the summertime or something like that, I’d wake up and my friends and I would pack a lunch, and go across the street and ride horses all day, and then come back and trade out horses.”
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community ^ sunset trails
Returning from a riding lesson.
The Relatable Bond Found Withing Horse Riding
Kara Cairnes can certainly relate to Everson’s experiences: Growing up about five minutes away from Sunset Trails, Cairnes began riding at age 3. Now 21, she works full-time at Sunset Trails, teaching several horse riding courses. On a rare day of sunshine and 56-degree weather on a Saturday in January, Cairnes responded to a mother’s request to take her daughter for a trail ride. Cairnes described horse riding as an emotional outlet for life’s tougher days, as she can ride for several hours at a time and not worry about outside responsibilities. As she teaches Sunset Trails’ adult horsemanship class, Cairnes often hears from her students how they are fulfilling a childhood dream that they – at one time – thought had passed. As others get to know Cairnes, she said, she enjoys explaining to them why she rides horses and why she wants to ride for the rest of her 30 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
life. She describes the history of horses and how it has evolved, saying that horses are still very useful and still serve a purpose in the 21st century, “at least in my life.” “Sometimes, I think it’s a bit of a dying sport,” Cairnes said, “but every now and then, people surprise me in wanting to know more about the animals.”
A Lifelong Dedication: The Next Generation at Sunset Trails
After graduating from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 2013, Everson returned home to run Sunset Trails, where today she is responsible for the daily operations and management, including the leadership of a team of horse riding instructors from ages 16 through mid-twenties. While studying at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Everson would be away from home and Sunset Trails for several weeks at a time, but upon returning home, she immediately felt at ease because of the nostalgic and peaceful sights and smells. She described the comforting process, especially in the fall, of taking a step back and turning off her phone to
go for a trail ride. “It really is something that can feed your soul,” Everson said. “You’d be surprised how many moms bring their kiddos out here during the day, just to feed carrots to the horses and see the animals. It’s something fun that is not an expensive outing – you can come have a picnic out here and just enjoy some fresh air.” Everson dedicates her life – “24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” she said – to ensure that Sunset Trails Stables runs successfully. Her father, Glen, has entrusted a great deal of autonomy in allowing her to run the business, as she handles everything from website management to payroll to replacing light fixtures and fixing plumbing issues. “Working at Sunset Trails, you learn so much more. It’s not just teaching horse riding lessons or supervising camp,” Everson said. “You’re learning about problem solving, customer service, public speaking. You’ve got to think on your toes, and you’ve got to be friendly when you’re in the nature of dealing with livestock.” But, Everson also emphasized, she has a dedicated team comprised largely of staff members who started in riding lessons as young children at Sunset Trails before advancing into employ-
Riding instructor, Gabby Beckham, returns from a ride and takes saddle to the tack room inside the barn.
ees, including 18-year-old Kate Davis. Davis, who also grew up in Lee’s Summit, started beginning horsemanship lessons at age 5, with Everson as her teacher. By age 13, Davis was volunteering with smaller events at Sunset Trails, and at age 15, she was hired on as a horseback riding instructor. “It’s always been like my go-to place. Whenever I am having a bad day, I just want to go to Sunset (Trails) and see my horse,” Davis said. “When I was a kid, I always dreamed of being like Maggie and teaching horseback lessons, and now I am getting to do that.” While most of the supporting staff at Sunset Trails Stables started out as riders, riding instructor Gabby Beckham’s story is a bit different: She grew up riding horses from a young age in the Kingsville, Missouri, area, and as her first non-family-affiliated job, she decided to call Sunset Trails to see if the business was hiring. Beckham now teaches in the beginning horsemanship program at Sunset Trails, and she said she enjoys seeing the progress that children make as they begin horse riding and then advance through their programs. Beckham, 19, has now worked at Sunset
Manager, Maggie Everson visits with Apollo, one of many horses at Sunset Trails Stables.
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community ^ sunset trails
The event space at Sunset Trails features a party room and a viewing area overlooking the indoor riding arena.
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Addie Berg rides Georgia bareback, in the indoor arena.
Trails for three years. She agreed with Everson’s sentiment about the shared culture and interests that are abound at Sunset Trails – and Beckham tries to teach children the importance of taking in the nature that surrounds them as they are horseback riding. “When you’re out here, to me, it feels like time slows down,” Beckham said. “When you’re in town, or if you’re at school, it just seems like you’re always busy. Here, I just get on my horse, and it’s just a way to really focus your mind. It’s a time when you can just sit there, think about it, and be in nature.” For those who are interested in learning more about agriculture life and its many facets, including horseback riding, Everson said her advice is simple: Keep an open mind. “There’s so much to learn, and there’s so much that we have to offer out here,” she said. “I know horseback riding can kind of be intimidating to some people. We are so blessed to have an incredible equine team, and everyone here is really friendly and really willing to be supportive and teach people about everything. “If maybe horses aren’t your thing, it’s still great to come out here and learn about goats, sheep, pigs, or chickens. We’ve got little brothers of lesson kids who like to collect chicken eggs or some people like to just sit in the grass and play with the barn kitty. That can really brighten your day.” Riding and caring for horses requires a great deal of responsibility and mindfulness, but learning those skills also then transfers to broader aspects of life, Everson said. “You can think about horses and agriculture,” she said, “and there are so many things in that you can pull from that and in broader aspects of what it teaches you about life in general.” ^ VINTAGEKCMAG.COM 33
community ^ sunset trails
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Above: Goats are just one type of farm animal, besides horses, that are kept at Sunset Trail Stables. Opposite page, inset: Student riders, Brooke Wathen (left) and Addie Berg pose with Georgia after grooming her before a ride.
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makers ^ fossil forge
Forged in Lee’s Summit Design company adds color, style to downtown area Words CORBIN CRABLE Photos MARGARET MELLOTT
O
ne of the projects of which artist Dave Earnes is most proud will be remembered for generations of Lee’s Summit residents. The time capsule in front of Lee’s Summit City Hall, crystal in shape and constructed for the city’s sesquicentennial anniversary, reaches for the sky. The sculpture of Earnes’ own design has sat in front of the building since 2015, and every night after the sun sets a warm blue light from below illuminates the piece. It’s one design that Earnes, owner of design and fabrication company Fossil Forge, won’t soon forget. Like many of his pieces, the steel-and- glass sculpture is composed of elements both old and new. “I just love taking old things and making them into something different,” Earnes says between customers at his shop on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon in downtown Lee’s Summit. Fossil Forge works in materials both tangible and intangible. Earnes and his small
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crewdesign logos and websites, as well as metal signs; neon signs; metal artwork; ornate railings, gates, and trellises; metal and glass garden sculptures; and even little free libraries. “I enjoy building those, but I really love seeing them used, too,” says Earnes, who has lived in Lee’s Summit with his wife and four children for several decades. Most of Earnes’ professional life has been dedicated to creating art for others, and his working space serves as a testament to his busy life as an artist. Shelves are crammed with old coffee cans containing scrap metal, nuts and bolts. A large, wooden door sits horizontally on a sawhorse in the middle of the room, a saw sitting on the edge, ready to slice into it. Come in on any other day, and you’re liable to see sparks flying as Earnes carefully crafts his next metalwork. The exterior of Earnes’ shop is just as eyecatching as the interior and features works that include repurposed materials and scraps he finds throughout the area. A metal tree
with blue bottles at the end of its fanned-out branches greets customers and visitors at the front door. Behind it, a red newspaper distribution box glows – it’s been repurposed as a small fire pit. “Here’s a piece we did for the eclipse,” Earnes notes, pointing to a sculpture of a metal sun partially blocked out by an approaching moon and surrounded by flowers. “It’s a fun piece, and it’s a piece we can change out, too. I love gardening, so as many plants as we can keep around, it’s good.” Walk behind the building, and you’ll see that Fossil Forge’s reach has extended beyond its walls and into the seemingly unremarkable alley out back. Several small, colorful locks dangle precariously from tree branches in a small lot across the way – it’s the ‘love locks tree,’ as Earnes calls it, similar to the trend of couples leaving padlocks on bridges to show their commitment to each other. The back wall of the building features any
Top: With Fossil Forge located in Lees Summit, Missouri, little signs with the word “home” and a heart can be found across the building. Middle: Earnes uses safety gloves and face protection while using grinder to smooth the metal. Bottom: Pieces of metal can be found in every corner of Fossil Forge — there’s even an entire shelf near their work bench dedicated to little pieces of scrap metal.
number of sculptures that Earnes and his team switch out depending on the season. One of the most popular – a bouquet of balloons that appear as if they’re being lifted into the air – have attracted plenty of attention from Lee’s Summit residents and downtown visitors alike. “I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of people holding onto those balloons and posing,” Earnes chuckles. “It’s doing what we hoped it would. It’s engaging people.” Earnes is excited to take that unremarkable alley space and transform it into something extraordinary – something that is uniquely Fossil Forge and Lee’s Summit. “We’re friends with the neighbors around here, so we plan to make this alley a true public space,” Earnes says. “It still has the dumpsters, it still has all of the things that alleys have, but we’re connecting all of our neighbors.” Whether they are near or far – Fossil Forge has customers as far as away as Washington State and Massachusetts – Earnes’ goal is to make the world a little smaller through art, and to encourage individuality through art. “Don’t just run with the crowd. Be yourself,” he says. It’s a philosophy Earnes says he has tried to live by, and one by which he continues to manage his business. He’s proud to do it, too; after all, Fossil Forge isn’t just a business. It’s his passion, and after all these years, it’s still just plain fun. “I’m grateful to be able to do this,” Earnes says. “This isn’t just a job for me. I’d do it no matter what. And the fact that we can give back to our city, our community — that’s the icing.” For more information or to place an order, visit Fossil Forge at 317 B SE Main St. in Lee’s Summit, call 816-785- 3280, or visit www.fossilforge.com. ^
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makers ^ maggies corner
Old jam and jelly jars become hanging lanterns with a bit of wire and a tealight.
Go Fly a Kite! If we had no winter the spring would not be so pleasant - Anne Bradstreet, poet, 1612-1672 Words MAGGIE BONANOMI Photos PATTI KLINGE
W
e have had some pretty cold weather this winter and not much snow to speak but I can say for sure it’s good to be able to get outside and do some fun things. I don’t usually get to say, “Go fly a kite” but hey, why not? This was once a normal thing for kids to do and there are so many types of kites it might be fun to find one or make one, and get out and fly it. My luck with kites is a little like Charlie Brown in the comics but I do like to see them flying! While outside why not do some chalk drawings on the sidewalk? While temporary for both kids and adults, having such an “art show” might reveal a budding artist. As you head outside gather up a ball, Frisbee and some of those bubbles the kids love, or even a hula-hoop — get the kids involved or just be a kid yourself. Spring brings along Easter and a time for coloring eggs. Our house always smelled like vinegar that was added to the food coloring for the egg dye. We had fun dying eggs, two tones, wax crayon designs, cute decals sometime adding rick rack or other glued on decorations. We always enjoyed “helping the Easter bunny” and had our favorites picked out ready for our baskets that were filled with shiny cellophane Easter grass, which was found around our house for ages afterwards. Other best things about the holiday were lots
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of jellybeans and maybe a chocolate bunny. Look for some fun vintage Easter decorations; there are candy containers that look like rabbits and hens, old baskets, chicks and ducks. If you prefer a simpler style of decorating find some natural colored eggs at the farmer’s market, add some carrots with their tops still on and maybe a potted pansy from your local garden center, and you have a perfectly good centerpiece for your table. Oh, another thing, when I was little, girls always had little white gloves and patent leather shoes, my brother had short pants and wore a little bow tie, thank goodness fashion has changed! May Day is May 1 st and it used to be the time to make May baskets, these were often made out of construction paper, filled with candy and some flowers. I have used what I had on hand to make mine — peat pots, some tissue and crepe paper, ribbon and a bit of floral wire for a handle. Traditionally, they were hung on doorknobs or set by the door before ringing the doorbell and dashing off so the recipient didn’t know who brought it. What a fun way to surprise someone with a little gift of candy and flowers or some other little treat. You certainly can tailor a basket for a friend, maybe a little container of old buttons or a few art supplies, bits of old textiles or even tickets or a little gift card, all tokens of friendship creating a
Chalk and sidewalks make for great outdoor art shows.
sweet surprise. I have been collecting old jam and jelly jars as well as old canning jars; love the look of them filled with buttons or sewing supplies but the smaller one I have found make perfect hanging lanterns. With some wire around the lip of the jar, you can hang these in your trees of on the patio or balcony, even inside. I find that the battery tea lights and votives make this safe for indoors but outside you could use the real thing. I added some rock salt in the bottom of the jar because I wanted it white but sand or something else could be used as a base for the tea light or votive. Be sure to vary the length of wire used to make the handles so the lanterns hang at different levels. Using the same idea, cover the wire with a bit of ribbon and make a hanging vase. Some old jelly or jam jars have designs pressed into the glass making them a pretty decorative lantern for a spring evening. I hope in the warmer weather you find time to eat outside, whether a picnic or just out in the back yard or balcony. Find a great old tote or other container to set up your supplies of napkins, plates and even a beverage. You could actually create a “bar” or beverage station with one; there are plenty of tool carriers or other totes to find and organize when the time is right. However you spend your springtime, enjoy some of it outside doing things that get you away from work and technology for a bit while enjoying some of these “vintage” pastimes. ^
Above: Easter bounty - vintage baskets filled with colored eggs and jelly beans.
Top Right: Easter decor fresh from the farmers market. Bottom Right: New life for old jars.
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^ double take
Double Take: Traditional Style and Contemporary Style Words CHERI NATIONS & FELECIA MORRIS Photos PATTI KLINGE
H
ave you ever been out-and-about when you come across a piece of furniture that speaks to you and you do a double take? You carefully eye it top to bottom and finally say to yourself, after much contemplation, “I have to buy this beauty. It’s the perfect fit for the open space in the living room!” You further justify the purchase with logic your mother taught you, it provides storage and is a wonderful decorative piece. Then that little voice in my head whispers “but it’s not really my style”. Well today’s style bends yesterday’s decorating rules and allows for many different layers of style telling a story or showcasing your personal unique style. So if you love it, go for it! Antique buffets are readily available in today’s market as I have chosen to feature today. Here the buffet is decorated in two variations, there’s no right or wrong here. Which style are you? ^
Contemporary: The vibrant original art in this vignette sets the tone for a unique modern take. The chrome retro lamps give the space an unexpected fun twist. A tray with ice bucket and martini glasses invite you to gather with the oversized jacks as a whimsy conversation starter. Lastly the furry acrylic ottoman adds texture and extra seating to the room.
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Traditional: In the traditional version, the pair of antique brass lamps are accented with elegant black shades, inlaid in gold, and regally flank either side of the buffet. The art is slightly understated, yet provides a simple pop of color to draw you in. An oversized decanter, silver orbs in a dish along with a pair of vintage pheasant figurines brings an element of nature to the party. To complete the look, a simple round upholstered footstool adds function, balance and focus to the space.
Footnote: Felecia Morris has a passion for design as seen in her shop, Iris Interiors. Felecia’s love for vintage and new allows her to design a room, loft, house or office that is stylish, unique, and creative yet comfortable. Irisinteriorskc.com
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^ vintage tea party
How toHost a Vintage Inspired Tea Party
by the Gourmet Glamping Girls Words LAUREN HEDENKAMP Photos SARAH TERRANOVA
S
pring is party season! The temperatures rise, while the sun and rain rival providing growth and greenery, inspiring creativity! Many events are hosted in spring time such as baby showers, bridal showers, and mother’s day, where a vintage inspired tea party theme can provide an extra level of glam and fun for your guests. In order to host a vintage inspired tea party there are few key factors that must be incorporated to make the theme a success such as the food, tea, vintage utensils, and presentation. If you follow these few suggestions then guests will feel the thoughtfulness from the host and enjoy themselves even more!
The Food:
When it comes to a tea party its all about small foods that can be enjoyed while talking and drinking tea. The traditional tea recipes always include a cucumber sandwich, scones, and something sweet. To create a twist on the classic cucumber sandwich, find some nice pumpernickel bread slice it into four triangles by cutting an X into the bread. Then spread boursin cheese on the bread, top with a sliced cucumber and some fresh dill. This cucumber sandwich not only has a beautiful presentation but also tastes delicious and is easy to hold while drinking tea. The next menu item that is a must is
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croissants or scones. These are traditionally enjoyed with clotted cream and jam. Lastly, the menu should include some kind of sweet. It can be chocolate or just some pre-made small bakery items. Keep the menu easy for yourself so you can have more fun with décor.
The Tea:
Typically for a traditional high tea the tea that is consumed is either Earl Grey or English Breakfast Blend. These are great black teas that are usually universally enjoyed. If you want to change it up find a tea that contains some floral notes such as hibiscus or lavender. If you decide to do that make sure to have a label on the teapot so guests know their tea options.
The Vintage Teapot:
Beyond the menu, the most important décor item to host a tea party is the vintage teapot. Find as many as you can through your family and friends. If you run out of luck there, check out any vintage or antique shop, there will definitely be a teapot. Pick up four or five, depending on the size of your tea party. You will want the variety so you can use them in décor along with having them to serve tea to guests. Create floral arrangements inside the teapots
and set them around the room, where points of conversation will be had, and use the largest teapot as a centerpiece with the food.
them, teacups can also be used in décor with floral or putting mints inside for guests to enjoy as well. Get creative!
The Vintage Teacups:
The Tiered Presentation:
The next décor items to acquire are vintage teacups and saucers. Mix and match with many different patterns and designs. That way if you don’t have a full set from your grandmother it doesn’t feel like you’re falling short. Beyond drinking tea from
The last trick for creating a vintage inspired tea party is through a tiered presentation. Traditional high tea incorporates a three-tiered arrangement to showcase the three key menu items, sandwiches, scones, and sweets. Finding or owning a three-tiered
piece does not matter you can get creative and find old vintage plates or cake stands. Stack the plates with glass, silver or teacups between them to create a tiered effect. The tiers do not have to add up to three it can be smaller. This will showcase the menu items creatively, while continuing the tea party theme. Follow these small and easy tips, be creative, and have fun with the décor and menu and your vintage inspired tea party will be a success! ^
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do ^ the art of gardening
Top: You can grow beautiful vegetables no matter what the Midwest weather throws at you! Bottom: The experts at Colonial Gardens teach all levels of classes - for beginners to experts, we can help you plan your perfect garden!!
Spring into Planning Your Vegetable Garden Words ABBY BYRD & KERI LAUDERDALE OLSEN Photos SAVINA VALLACQUA
T
he gray days of winter are dissipating with every streak of pink and red in the early morning sky. The world is starting to bloom again with bursts of color peeking through the newly green grass. With the warm spring air comes visions of summer and the thoughts of enjoying fresh vegetables picked from your own backyard. Now is the time to start thinking about what, when and where you are going to plant. Here are some of the top questions people ask when they are planning their vegetable gardens. 44 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
‘I don’t have space for a garden… what is above ground gardening?’
Many gardeners are finding containers to be a great way to overcome difficult gardening locations. Poor soil conditions and confined spaces are often cited as reasons for gardening above ground. The biggest advantage to both raised beds and container gardens is the ability to provide a proper potting media for the plants. Vegetables do quite well in both systems. Containers allow gardeners to bring plants to a deck or closer to the kitchen door for easy access. Think creatively when designing containers — attach a theme like a salsa or pizza garden. A container will never have the same characteristics as native soil, therefore topsoil isnot recommended as a media. A basic potting mix will provide good moisture retention as well as adequate drainage, important for containers. Topsoil can be used in large raised beds. Plants will develop adequate pore space as roots develop through several seasons of gardening.
‘Do I need to fertilize the soil before I plant?’
Yes, you should fertilize! How much, how often and what kind are all more challenging questions. Each crop you grow will have unique needs throughout the growing season. Consult a trusted resource when planning fertilizer needs. Applying most of the recommended fertilizer before or at planting is suggested. Use the remaining portion midseason as a top dress and work into the soil. More is not better with fertilizer as too much can be detrimental to plant health as well as a waste of money. Some nutrients can be washed away through leaching and erosion, so only use what is recommended. Many choices are available for organic and conventional fertilizer. Whichever you choose, look closely at the fertilizer analysis and adjust your application rates accordingly. Generally, organic sources require a larger volume of fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients.
‘What’s the difference between Hybrids and Heirlooms?’
Vegetables (including tomatoes) are usually
Top Right: Above ground beds allow you to garden in big or little spaces. Top Middle: Hybrids or Heirlooms - it’s a matter of taste.
classified as being either hybridized or openpollinated. Hybrid simply means that two varieties have been cross-pollinated to produce a specific desired trait. These new cultivars may provide better flavor, more disease resistance or higher yields than the two parent varieties. Hybrids target the strongest qualities of two individual varieties to make one stellar plant. Hybrid pollination occurs manually by breeders, whereas open-pollinated vegetables are pollinated naturally by wind or insects. Both can be grown using organic or conventional methods. Seeds from heirloom plants can be saved and planted the following year yielding the same variety. Hybrid seeds are not true to type and will likely revert to one of their parent varieties, therefore new seed stock must be purchased each season. Heirloom plants are open-pollinated and reach all-star heirloom status by being at least 50 years old. There are heirloom varieties of flowers, herbs, and vegetables, but the biggest demand is for heirloom tomatoes. They are thought by many gardeners to have the richest flavors and can sometimes be identified by their unusual colors and shapes. Some popular varieties you might recognize are Black Krim, Cherokee Purple
or Brandywine. Heirloom varieties can have inconsistent shapes and lower total yield because they have not been bred for perfection. Whether you are planning a small herb garden on your deck or a prize vegetable garden, proper preparation of your soil will ensure success! Planning your garden is half the fun … experiment and try something new this year. Here’s to a tasty summer filled with fresh from the garden goodness!^
Colonial Gardens is a premier garden and event center in Blue Springs. We offer a variety of classes and workshops where our experts love sharing their knowledge about vegetable gardening! You can check out our class schedule at www.colonialgardenskc.com. Follow us on Facebook @colonialgardenskc for more tips and find everything you need to grow your perfect garden at our newly renovated Garden and Event Center.
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Crybaby Farm Gifts & The Lavender Tea Room
A bountiful selection of gifts, home decor, vintage finds and jewelry. Come shop and savor an elegant lunch with friends, then relax in the afternoon with a ‘spot of tea’ or glass of fine imported wine and our ‘to die for’ desserts!
900 N. US 65 Highway • Carrollton, MO (Located one hour East of Kansas City) Groups Welcome! Call for Reservations: 816-808-9899
Wed. 11-2 (reservations required) Thurs.-Sat. 11-2 Tea Room Drinks & Desserts Tues.-Sat. 2-5
Like us on Facebook
Tues.- Sat. 10-5:30
crybabyfarm.com thelavendertearoom.com
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Ferris Wheel Antiques
Wheatland Antique Mall Country • Victorian• Primitives • Collectibles • Art Glass Quilts • Pottery • Jewelry • Linens • Consignments
2905 SW 29th St, Ste A • Topeka, KS
• Gas • Oil • Advertising • Soda Pop • Memorabilia • Hours: 5201 SW Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS Tues-Sat • 9:30-5:30pm • Gas • Oil • Advertising • Soda Pop • Memorabilia • Sunday Treasure • 12:00-5:00pm 785-862-8850 of The Past business card_PRINT.pdf 3 11/28/17
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Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat-Sun 10-5 • 785-272-4222 9:02 AM
www.wheatlandantiquemall.com
Antique Mall
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(Brookwood Shopping Center)
Washburn View
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Tea Room Lunch -
205 E. 14th Avenue North Kansas City, MO 64116 816-207-5255
Hours Sunday: 12pm - 6pm Monday-Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Over 12,000 Square feet of Fine Antiques & Collectibles
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Antiques • Collectibles • Furniture “Exclusively For You”
1507 SW 21st, Ste 109 • Topeka, KS
Mon-Sat 10-5:30 • Sun 12-5
785-233-3733 washburnviewantiquemall.com
KC FASHION WEEK
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