Irish Eyes R Smiling

 

Perhaps I should have titled this entry - Irish Eyes R Droopin.  After the trans-Atlantic flight across the "Pond" over and back, I am truly droopy.  There is no doubt that it was WORTH IT !

Ireland has been in my top five places to visit, and I would visit again in a heartbeat.  Before I tell of the antiquities I spotted I will share a few photos to set the mood.    



In Ireland, they say everyone is Irish on St. Patty's Day - while I was not there on THE day - it was close enough. The shops and town folk were busily readying their stores, pubs, and polishing the tea carts for the 17th of March.   







I was not aware that tea in Ireland was such a mainstay. So a "Tea" I had to try. A lovely tea it was.      

  I was now ready to explore Dublin and the Antique shops I'd researched. But wait ....,  I maneuvered through the cobblestone streets and alleys orientating myself to the grid- system, and learning to look a little higher on the building corners to find street names. Signage is in Gaelic and English (thank goodness).  My first stop was at the Grafton Street shops.  I was delighted to find so many shops in one location. Browsing the first few shops I enjoyed the complete organization and neat rows of antique china, statuary, jewelry, hats, stoles and vintage clothing..., but no furniture.  Around the corner I made my way to some more shops, and spied a small curved chair - ornate in design; velvet stuffed seating and backing - THIS I surmised was the place I'd been looking for  - alas- its the ONLY chair in the shop - but it was adorable.  I carried on weaving my way around corners and on the "Lift" taking me to the second floor of the Powerscourt shops. Aha ! Furniture !

                   MASSIVE FURNITURE

Taller than me - you can't tell it, but I was standing waaaaay back and using my zoom to take this picture. Maybe that's why Ireland calls them the "little people" - the furniture is so BIG. But it is

beautiful. Just look at the intricate detail on this piece   Loved shopping in Dublin - but really no luck with furniture. 

On to Killarney.

   Not much furniture in the shops, but I did chance upon two antique cash registers in perfect condition.  A small stool caught my eye, but alas, the proprietor informed that it wasn't for sale.  Euros in hand, tale tucked, I did what any red-blooded American gal on a shopping trip would do ...., I headed for the pastry shops.     

 

 

excerpt from;  IF Not For You     by Joanna Fuchs

                                                                If not for you, I’d be adrift;
                                                                  I don’t know what I’d do;
                                                         I’d be searching for my other half,
                                                                 Incomplete, if not for you  

I will be strolling along the Liffey as I meander around Dublin's quaint antique shops. Perhaps I'll chance upon a matched pair of Irish occasional tables like these.

In my research preparing for this trip, I have learned that very few pieces of furniture made before the 17the century survived because of  pillaging and burning of homes by invaders of the Irish isle.
Irish furniture made during the early eighteenth century can be identified by low relief carvings of eagles' heads, rosettes, winged birds lions' masks, goblin heads, scallop shells and baskets of flowers.Shell motifs are common on chairs, settees, and tables. Plainer Irish furniture and the more elegant type existed concurrently.
By the late 18th Century, when Irish furniture followed London fashions closely, mahogany and satinwood that was brought over on ships from the West Indies to Ireland. The Irish Georgian furniture can be spotted by the deep carvings of masks along with hairy paw feet.

As I pack my bags, and organize my selection of antique shops and museums to visit while in Dublin, I am certain to "chance upon" additional locals - let's hope the luck-o-'the-Irish prevails.

A Note to my varnish stain handed husband:  DDUP  xxx ooo

                                                 If not for you, I’d never have
                                                  The pleasures of romance.
                                                I’d miss the bliss, the craziness,
                                                  Of love’s sweet, silly dance.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrrr - baby it's cold outside.  One of our favorite songs for certain, but truth be known the temps have been so frigid the barn door lock has been frozen on several attempts to open. When we had it built it was late spring and we (silly us) gave no consideration to the winter shadow that cast with no sun overhead to warm the front entrance. So, sorry to say..., work will be stalled until Phil sees his shadow or hopefully doesn't see it. Winter IS a time for rest, inside cleaning and project planning.

Thank goodness our wood-work awaiting us doesn't require feeding or watering.

2012 Look Back

Winter snow has settled on the barn where furniture has now nestled down for a " long winters nap". We can see 2012 in the remnants of wood shavings, slightly used sand paper; a tossed-aside rag speckled with paint and stained with varnish; cans of wood putty and stripper stacked neatly in the corner - all saying" job well done" - take a well deserved rest.

This year we traveled a little more in search of unusual finds - and we certainly did accomplish that which we set out to do. Some of our favorite pieces are quite unique if I do say so myself.  The search took us to little villages and out of the way shoppes -  When the day grows long and our hands weary of the nooks-n-crannies of old wood carving we're reminded - THIS is why we do THIS.

Each piece has it's own personality - and we find ourselves asking " I wonder what kind of home this was in before we found it" - or what story this piece has to tell. With some loving care and a little help from the "master restorer" we rest assured the pieces will find good homes throughout the upcoming year.

We hope 2012 brought good antiquing to you, and we look forward to the upcoming year as we continue business friendships, and search out pieces you personally request.  When you are in town, stop by the "Barn" there's always a cup of coffee ready to brew and undoubtedly some yummy something on the pantry shelf or the pie safe to satisfy the sweet tooth. Or just come browse and see whats in progress for 2013.

Here's a little peek......................,

Happy New Year to you ! May all your "old stuff" find good homes. apg12

Chasing Fall through Antiques

It starts from the farthest point north, First the golds, then the oranges peek through and finally the blazing reds burst into view and the Leaf Peepers mingle about the forest, woods and glens chasing Fall as it migrates south.  And so our autumn antique quest began with the turning of the leaves.

The Adirondacks - Small villages dot the Lake George and Lake Champlain landscape. Tucked away in the upper corner of New York these villages and towns host numerous lovely antique shops. One particular spot took us four hours to meander through. It had multiple levels and was so nicely organized almost what seemed like by decades of the past.

Here's a couple snapshots from this location;

Vermont - Always my favorite place to spend a day jaunting about the Norman Rockwell countryside - BTW, we did stop at his museum for a tour. The antique shops are such a quaint variety from the smallest cubby hole of a shop to outdoor Flea Markets. Some has are part of coffee shops while others host local artisans wares.

My favorite -

Maine - Such different finds in this area. Of course the nautically-inclined antiquary will just love stepping into the shops filled with seafaring antiques.  I particularly like the multi-use of seashells; they can be found everywhere and adorning so many items I would have never thought of. Here are some of my "best places" that we shopped.

 

 On this particular street you could exit one shop and enter right next door into another, and so, and so on for several blocks. Of course each block was short with a nice cobblestone street between.