Rust and Feathers

There's a new shop in the town of vintage shopping, Lucketts, Virginia.  It's a little bit of rust--AKA industrial, and a little bit of feathers--AKA soft and frenchy, with some chippy sprinkled around.  It all blends well in this multi-vendor shop with something for everyone---Rust and Feathers           

I've known the owner, Syd, for a while.  Not only does she maintain a booth and the shop, but she is also an incredibly talented upholsterer.  She's known for her meticulous work and her eye for fabric selection.  
She's the one to go to when you're in need of some fabulous furniture or if  your furniture is in need of a fabulous fabric update. 

Syd, owner, Rust and Feathers

Please enjoy the shop tour.

Please stop by if you're in the area.  You're sure to find some treasures.

Kathy

Rust and Feathers

14928 James Monroe Hwy (Rte. 15)

Leesburg, VA 20176

703-737-6700

Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10-5

Sun 12-5

(Closed Tues and Wed)

Please visit the Rust and Feathers blog for inventory updates here.

Or, follow on Facebook here.

I've written about another local shop owner/friend, Mable, who owns Le Petit Marche in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
If you missed her shop tour, go here.

Wineries, Shopping, and Thomas Jefferson

Recently my husband and I spent a long weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.  It was a weekend of wineries, shopping, delicious food, and Thomas Jefferson. 

You know me though, I managed to squeeze in a vintage store we found just outside of Charlottesville in Ruckersville, Virginia.  It was the kind of shop where you have to get down and dirty and be ready to dig for your diamond in the rough. 

Country Store, Ruckersville,VA

They weren't kidding about thousands of books.

Here are some of the finds I was able to uncover.

Side Board  Great details only $95

Bamboo Chair with Fabulous Fabric $75

Oars with Elephant Detail $35

I loved the iron garden chairs.  They were only $18 each.  The sign was great but too pricey at $58.



And, for all my Mid-Century Modern readers, there was a room filled with 50's icons.

Chrome and Vinyl Chair (part of a set) and Starburst Clock

Herman Miller Chairs $150 Each

There were many other interesting shops in the area, but I have to admit the majority of my time was spent wine tasting.  We were there at the same time as the Wine Bloggers' Weekend.  We also were in awe of the Jeffersonian architecture, and if it hadn't been 105 degrees, we would have hiked in the Shenandoah Mountains and climbed Rag Mountain for its fabulous view.

Hope you all had a great weekend.
How have you tried to beat the heat?

Kathy


Info for shop:
Country Store Antique Mall
Ruckersville, VA.
434-985-3649
M-F 11-4
Weekends 10-5

Frugal Framing

  I'm always coming across vintage prints--botanicals, architectural prints, or other ephemera.  While the prints are relatively inexpensive to purchase, the framing can cost ten times the price of  the prints.  What works for me is to find an empty frame I like that is larger than the print. 

I then take the print and the frame and have a mat cut.

 Here's an example of how this worked for me.

Last Fall I went to The Big Flea in Chantilly, Va. on a antiques shopping trip with Eddie Ross and 

Jaithan Kochar. What fun and so informative. I always look forward to reading his blog.  He has so many talents and one of those I totally relate to is the way he shops vintage and then creatively makes vintage work for today's style.  You can find out about all his creative accomplishments here. 

Sorry, back to the post.  While shopping,  I found some fabulous old book plates of shells and fossils.  

I knew that they would be perfect with some vintage frames I had found in the summer.  I purchased the frames with no particular plan in mind for them, which unfortunately is how I frequently do things.  I fell in love with the snakeskin and the mini red leather border and knew I would eventually use them.

Pretty wonderful.

I took the bookplates and the frames to Michaels, selected a mat color, and had them cut a mat to fit the artwork and the frame.  Each mat was only $16.00.  I know the frames had their flaws, but they were so unique that I wanted to use them. 

Here's how they turned out after matting and framing.

I think they fit in perfectly with my other shell stuff.  What do you think?

I'm working on styling some shelves in a cabinet that I just updated with paint.  Make sure you stop by next week for some tips you can use to give your bookcase a designer look.

Kathy