An Artistic View

This photo was taken earlier this spring and Photoshopped by Michael Sprincis of Iola. Thanks for sharing, Michael!!

So...What's New at Wellers?

Green glass, baby....


Green Satin...



Light Green & Vaseline...



Forest Green...




Tons of it!





Wait until you see all the RUBY RED glass that's coming in soon!

JUNE GIVEAWAY!!

I'm back from vacation and the store is open 7 days a week. Summer is starting to swing! I'll be posting pictures as soon as the dust settles. In the meantime, here's a giveaway from my sponsor, UPrinting, to get things started for the month of June.

The giveaway prize is 100 4X6 postcards - standard postcard size - that you design yourself. There are templates on the website to make things easy. Use your own artwork or photos to create something special. 14pt cardstock gloss with 4 color printing on both sides. Free shipping.

Simply add a comment to this post and tell me what you will do with the cards if you win. June 16th is the deadline for entries (UPDATE-THE DEADLINE IS EXTENDED UNTIL MONDAY THE 21st as I won't be on-line until then) and I'll randomly pick one lucky winner. The winner and I will both receive the giveaway prize. I'm going to make my postcards with a picture of one of the old Yankee homes in Rural.



The giveaway is limited to US residents only who are at least 18 years old - GOOD LUCK!!

Business Card Giveaway! Free shipping!

My March giveaway comes from Uprinting again! Here's the scoop...

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner (and me, too!)

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (slim card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Check out the great Business Cards Online and the Promotional Printing that Uprinting has to offer.

How to enter:
After checking out the Uprinting website by clicking on one of the links above, leave me a comment about Uprinting. For 2 additional entries be a follower or become a follower of my blog. For 2 more entries become a Weller Store fan on Facebook. Leave separate comments for each.

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, March 31st at midnight Central Time.

Post Card Giveaway!

I have a very generous sponsor, UPrinting, who is offering yet another giveaway to me and my readers! Here's the scoop...


100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner (I get some, too!)
Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)

I can think of a lot of ways to use mine! Invitations, thank you cards, note cards... maybe I'll make some sale announcements for the Weller Store! With these cards you use your own design so I can use pictures of the merchandise and add my logo as well!


How can you enter?

* Leave a comment on this post describing how you would use the post cards if you win
* Follow this blog publicly (see the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so (if you already follow, that counts too! Just leave a comment)
* Tell some friends about the giveaway and ask them to stop by and enter. You can blog about it (leave a link!), or send out an email. Just let me know what you did!

Please leave separate comments for each!

The winner will be drawn on October 28th.

PS - you also have until the 28th to enter the banner giveaway in one of the posts below!

How to Remove Tarnish from Silver – The Easy Way!

We just got in some nice old silverware at Weller's - some of it matches and some of it is a very eclectic mix of patterns. I'm starting to get the urge to bend, cut and drill on them! Check them out in the Junque Shoppe next time you're in Rural!

While there is something really lovable about the patina that silver takes on with age, eating with tarnished flatware is not something I’m fond of doing. And, though I also love the look of silver when it shines, I’m not very enthusiastic about getting out the silver polish. Ugh!

I recently read somewhere that you could actually soak the tarnish away so I decided to give it a try with some silver that has been in the family for awhile and will soon become my daughter’s. It’s now her favorite color (shiny) and ready to pack in its case.

All it takes is an old brownie pan or similarly wide but shallow old piece of bake ware. I used an old, beat up one that was aluminum. Line the bottom with a piece of aluminum foil and lay out the silverware on the foil. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over everything and then fill up the pan with boiling water.

The baking soda will react with the foil and you’ll see some gentle bubbling for a few minutes. Let the pan sit until it cools and “voila!” your silver is ready to rinse, dry and use. It’s that simple. Easy-Peasey!

Ta Da! August Giveaway Winner!

The winner for this month's giveaway is libbyquilter at Paper Napkin Poetry! Congrats!! Please send me your address and I will get your package out to you soon. Can't wait to see what you do with these goodies - I hope you will share some photos of your work!

This was so much fun! I think I'll do some of these more often! Stay tuned!

Eileen

Giveaway Update!

Only 9 more followers and I get to add another prize for another winner! I'm thinking that perhaps the lovely butterfly cup and saucer below would make someone happy. If there are two prizes, the first person whose name is drawn will be able to choose between them.

Your friends are welcome to follow and enter so pass it on and good luck!

New Arrivals at The Weller Store!

Not a day goes by when something "new" doesn't come through the door at Weller's! Very often some nice items get priced and reach the shelves only to quickly fly out with a happy customer within the next few days. The oldies but goodies shown below were photographed late this afternoon and are still available. If you can't get to the store and would like some information about an item, please contact me by email or call the number listed on the website for me.



The old wooden pulley on the left is new to the Junque Shoppe this week. We also just got in a pulley that has been decorated with greenery.

This delicate tea cup and saucer is both lovely and unique. The butterfly wing shaped handles are precious! (The linens and doilies you see in the photos are also for sale.)

Were you born in 1973? 1968? We have calendar towels for those years and more. I especially love the shade of blue in this towel.

Here is a lovely service for 12+ in absolutely perfect condition! There are 12 full place settings plus additional cups and saucers. The set also has many serving pieces. (I saw at least two creamers in the box.) A complete matching beverage service with large pitcher and three sizes of tumblers is also included.
Retro frogs for the bath! This wooden wall decor would look great in a 1950s or 1960s setting.

A sweet little vintage piece for mother.

The owner of this picture carefully removed it from a tattered vintage scrapbook and gave it a wonderful home in this lovely old frame.

A vintage embroidered pillow is still very vibrant and colorful.

We've taken in a few pieces of vintage clothing recently. This handmade slip ties at the waist and is in excellent shape.
I love the lace on these bloomers! The lace fibers have taken on an aged patina over the years while most of the rest of the garment remains white. It's so lovely!

Hey! Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the post below! There are only a few days left before the drawing! Remember, if there are 40 or more blog followers, I will add a second drawing from among the entries!

AUGUST GIVEAWAY!!

In previous posts this month I gave you a peek at some of the things in this giveaway. We're always getting new things in at The Weller Store so you never know what else I might add to the package but, as of now, there will be lots of ephemera, vintage photos, linen cutter pieces and more! If my list of followers swells to over 40 I will add another prize for a second winner from Weller's large selection of vintage glassware!

Here's what you need to do to be entered:

1) Visit the Weller Store website and pick a favorite item from the (partial) catalogue. Comment about it on this post. 1 entry. After doing this you may then,

2) Be a listed follower of this blog - or click on the follower icon on the left and become a public follower. Comment about it on this post. 2 additional entries.

3) Become a fan of The Weller Store on Facebook - click HERE. Comment about it on this post. 2 additional entries.

A winner will be chosen at random from all the entries on September 1st. The winner (or winners) will have 48 hours to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen. Be sure to give me some way to contact you when you post, if your info is not already filled in.

Good luck!

Cutters for the Giveaway!

What are cutters? Cutters are those vintage linens with problems that still have life in them. You know, those pretty little embroidered baskets and flowers that are too wonderful to throw away - even though there is a big hole in the runner or a bad stain in the tablecloth.


So, what do you do with all those hours of hand stitching that Aunt Lizzie labored over so lovingly? Put them in a box or a drawer somewhere and let your kids worry about what to do with them when you're gone?


They're cutters, silly, so you cut them up and make magic with them!


Embellish the pocket of a plain blouse or skirt with some lovely blooms, use pieces of the design in collage work, add some color to your journals or altered books, add buttons, bobs or bits and mount it in a frame, or make some fabric brooches - the possibilities are endless.


A nice old chenille bedspread can easily become a pillow, a stuffed bear or a pair of girly pajamas.



I'll be tucking some nice pieces of cutters into the giveaway package. See the next post for details on how to enter the giveaway. If enough people enter, I may even add another prize for another winner!

More Giveaway Goodies!

Since we have a very good supply of ephemera at Wellers, I thought I would add some to the giveaway pot. Here is just a small sample of the vintage milk caps we have. I'm going to pick out some nice ones for the giveaway package!

What's New This Week at Weller's??

All kinds of goodies!



My favorite new item is this gorgeous caned sewing rocker! It seemed appropriate to place it next to the beautifully carved cabinet of the American treadle sewing machine.



Another lovely piece received this past week at the Weller Store is this decorated decanter from France.



One of the most interesting items we have at the moment is this hand made radio circa 1920s. The top of the cabinet lifts up to reveal the inner workings of the radio and it's tubes. A great conversation piece or addition to an antique radio collection!

Perfectly Pink!

Pink Swirl by Fire King is soooooo pretty! You gals with the "princess gene" are loving this set, aren't you? Just in on consignment this week is a partial set of these lovelies, including sugar bowls (2) and creamers (3).

UPDATE! All that remains of the Pink Swirl are two creamers and one sugar bowl (no lid!)


One of the sugar bowls even has a lid!



There are other sets of Fire King Swirl, like Anniversary with the gold rims, at Wellers but none so feminine and girly as the pink. It has a finish that looks a touch of the lustre glaze.



If I didn't already have a gazillion pieces of glassware and dinnerware I'd take these beauties home myself!



Be sure to follow this blog so you don't miss out on the August giveaway! Stay tuned for details!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Claudia and Marta are two of my favorite customers. They came in with their mother the other day and tried on some of the vintage hats. Born to model! Don't they look great!? These delightful young ladies come by Wellers often for ice cream or just to browse and have fun.

P.S. Don't forget the giveaway!

Some "Instant Ancestors", like the ones in the post below, will be included in the giveaway this month!

Instant Ancestors

I love old photos! The hairstyles, the clothing, the backgrounds, the ornate folders and frames - all of it!

When I come upon photos that have been abandoned by the family after an old one passes because they didn't know who was in the pictures, it makes me a bit sad that they were forgotten. After all, they were someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, cousin, etc. They had lives. They had stories. Everyone has a story.

Who were these people? Where did they come from? What did they do with their lives? What were their dreams? What made them laugh? Why did they cry? Who missed them when they were gone?
.
Whenever someone comes into Wellers and "adopts" and ancestor it makes me so happy! After who-knows-how-many years in a trunk or an attic, they finally have a home. Someone will finally care for the photos that represent the lives of these long-forgotten people who dressed up in their best clothes and stood to have their portraits taken. It must have been a big event in their life, unlike today when we take pictures non-stop with our phones.

What a joy it is to see these photographic images become works of art as part of a collage or the cover of a journal. What fun it is to see them turned into comical images with clever captions or speech bubbles. How nice to know they will be framed and used in a home or a business as part of a vintage decor.

Was this the baby's nurse or the nurse's baby? We can only imagine.

A young man's confirmation photo.

A lovely portrait from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

What Happened to the Ting!?!

Sadly, Ting is no longer being bottled in New London. We got the word that the current bottler will no longer be making Ting Soda. To commemorate the sad occasion Bob Weller (AKA The Mayor) treated some special customers to the very last bottle of Ting.





The good news is that someone purchased the recipe for Ting and is exploring the possibility of resurrecting it. Since bottles are scarce, it may be in the form of soda fountain style Ting sometime in the future. Stay tuned - we'll let you know if The Weller Store will have Ting in the future. We're keeping our fingers crossed!

Catalpa Shade

There are several of these lovely catalpa trees in Rural. Most of them, like the one here in front of the Weller Store, are volunteers from seeds carried by birds and other critters.


The leaves of the catalpa are huge and they open to full size quickly in the spring so they make wonderful shade trees.


The catalpa also has some delicate blossoms - like miniature orchids - that are replaced later in the year by long seed pods.



This tree sits on the lot line between Weller's and the house next door. I park my car on the neighbor's side of the tree in front of what used to be the blacksmith shop. My car stays relatively cool there on a hot, sunny, summer day, though I do occasionally have to wipe a little bird puckie from the windshield or hood of the car. Seems the birds are pretty happy in the shade of the catalpa as well.