Tag: vintage

Take a Tour: Vestige

Before our big move from Kansas last September, I was combing through the San Diego Craigslist for mid-century modern furnishings. I happened upon a few pieces offered by the newly opened shop, Vestige. I looked them up on facebook and reached out. Then, when we moved Doug and I stopped into the shop for a little get-to-know-you sesh. It turns out that Greg, the owner, has relatives in Kansas–in the town we had just moved from! Small world, indeed.

Vestige Modern

Vestige Modern

While we haven’t bought anything from the shop (yet!!) Doug and I love stopping in for some great conversation and to peruse the items. Once our savings pool gets a little deeper, I’m sure we’ll be picking up some vintage wares for our apartment. The only question is what? I would take the entire inventory if I could. It’s hard when there are so many sweet pieces to covet!

Vestige Modern

Vestige Modern

Vestige Modern

Greg has a keen eye for unique pieces and the shop is staged in a way that it’s easy to imagine any of them in your own home. He also really knows his stuff backwards and forwards–designers, iconic pieces, and values.

Vestige Modern

Q&A:

Where are you from and how did you end up in San Diego?

I moved to SD from Wyoming in 2002 to attend school.

How long has the store been open?

Vestige has been open since June 15th 2012 so a little over 7 months.

How did you first get interested in vintage furnishings?

I began my love of anything vintage just after I moved to SD.  I started out buying and selling vintage clothing.  Over time it turned into furniture/accessories.  I’ve always felt connected to 50’s and 60’s culture, the fashion, music, film, design, cars, but mostly the furniture.  I fell in love with the hunt.  Nothing beats uncovering something really great.

Vestige Modern

What’s the best part about having your own store?

The best part of owning my own store is the freedom to make my own decisions.  There isn’t some upper level manager barking orders at me.  Although I have found that the freedom to do my own thing definitely comes with a price (long hours, bills, responsibility).

What tips would you give to someone wanting to go hunting for vintage items?

As for where I do my hunting/buying I have to keep that to myself. Haha.  I would suggest taking your time furnishing your home, especially with vintage items.  Part of the fun is the hunt.  Buy things that you connect with and really love.

Vestige Modern

4633 30th St, Ste A
San Diego, CA
92116

Vestige on Facebook // Vestige on Etsy

Check out some of my other tours by clicking here! 

Do you have any recommendations for a “take a tour” post? I’m still working on my interior photography skills and I would LOVE to come shoot your home or store! E-mail me! 

Etsy Shopping

Is there any better way to spend a rainy, gray morning than doing online shopping?
Nope, I didn’t think so.

The holidays are here. Time to stretch your brain muscle and come up with the perfect gift for those special people in your life. Etsy makes it really, really easy to find one-of-a-kind items, which are much more personal than yet another scarf, DVD, or other generic present. Something I recently discovered and am now loving are Etsy Treasuries. It’s like a mixtape and Pinterest had a baby. The curator can elaborate on a theme, make it visually gorgeous (like Pinterest), but there are a limited number of slots so it forces one to be selective with their choices (like a mixtape) and brings the best items to the surface!

Click either image below to be taken to the Etsy Treasury…
There is no incentive for me if you visit and buy something from either one of these treasuries. I created them purely for fun!

Here’s my first Treasury, entitled “Red-dy for a Vintage Christmas:”

Red-dy for a Vintage Christmas

And here is “Best of Vintage Glassware:”

Best of Vintage Glassware

The vintage glassware treasury is special to me since I’ve recently learned lots and lots about different kinds of old glass. As I’ve shared on Twitter and Instagram, my mom and I have been setting up shop at a local antique mall in Temecula. Her mother had come into possession of several boxes of vintage (1930s) depression glass many, many years ago and we have a number of pieces up for sale. Any profits will be sent to my grandparents in Oklahoma.

This experience has lent a whole new layer to the antiquing experience for me. I already had a fascination with old items, and now I have a greater understanding of the small business aspect as well as more respect for the history of each item in the antique mall.And it’s so much fun to be surrounded by so many pretty items! I hope someone stumbles across the depression glass collection and will treasure the pieces as much as my grandmother has treasured them!

Here are the pieces as we organized and researched prices for them all. If anything catches your eye shoot me an e-mail and I will see if it’s available ;)

Depression Glass

Do you have an Etsy Store? Feel free to leave the link in the comments! 

Tree Cricket

Back in high school, my best friend and I would put our point-and-shoot cameras to the test taking artsy pictures of each other in interesting (to say the least) outfits. Then we (she) upgraded to a DSLR and I dipped my toe in, but usually she was behind the camera, getting better at taking photos of friends (for fun) and coworkers’ kids for Christmas cards (making a little cash). She also did my engagement pictures!

Anyway, last night it was my turn to get behind the camera–my new camera in fact–to have fun with my friend Lisa and take a few product shots for her Etsy shop which she has been spending a lot of time and effort, and I think the time and effort is paying off. Yesterday I’d seen the article Photo Ideas for Your Shop’s About Page and decided to take a couple fab shots of Lisa, so shoppers can see who is behind the fabulous vintage finds.

It was fun to stage something and shoot it, and then to play around with Photoshop (I used The Pioneer Woman’s “seventies” action, with a little modification). I spend a fair amount of time reading about photography, so a lot of stuff makes sense to me in theory, but I rarely get the chance to shoot a subject other than my sweet (not very patient) dog. So I was really savoring this opportunity to get some practice in. Clearly I am very much an amateur… (If you want to see some amazing pro pics, check out my other friend, Sarah.)

Just because I need to add one more link to this already link-happy post, make sure to stop by Lisa’s shop for “Vintage Lovin’s.”

What do you think? This is a hobby I would definitely like to spend more time doing :) 

Edited to include one more link. Libby did a fun recap of the Design Swap that a bunch of us ladies went to on Saturday evening. I got some interesting items that will pop up in future blog posts :)