My Pennsylvania Vintage Finds


I recently had the privilege of taking a class from Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed, (read about it here) at her studio in Pennsylvania and while I was there I took a few extra days to do a little hunting for some vintage finds.

While in Pennsylvania, I spent some time around Gettysburg and Lancaster and it was my first time in both areas.  I could not believe the wealth of antique shops and malls in that were around!  It was like being in vintage and antique heaven.  After living in New England for 7 years I should have realized how many places there would be but the sheer number of shops was unbelievable.

I wasn’t on the lookout for anything in particular (which is probably a bad thing!) but was rather just browsing for anything that caught my eye and spoke to my heart.

Here are some of my favourite vintage finds from the trip…

I could not go back to Canada without this gorgeous Canada Dry crate!  Not only did it say Canada but the colour of the lettering and the metal work with the wood just had me enamoured at first sight.
antque_canada_dry_crategreen_canada_dry_letteringcanada_dry_lettering_crateI loved the worn look of this antique potato masher and knew that I could use it in any number of ways.  As you can see, I ended up using it to store extra burlap twine… it was perfect! antique_potato_masherantique_potato_masher_holding_stringThis antique scoop caught my eye as well.  I have no idea what I will use it for but the lines and colour of the metal spoke to me. antique_metal_scoopWhen I saw these vintage Pullman hangers I could just imagine someone hanging their suit on them as they road the train back in the day.  Oh the places they have travelled! antique_pullman_hangersThis little wood wheel was another one of those “I don’t know what I’ll do with it” things but I love the lines and smoothness of the wood from so many years of use. antique_wood_wheelI am completely in love with this antique metal storage tray!  Not only does it look pretty and industrial but it can hold so much.  And it spins!  How could I leave it behind?  antique_metal_sorting_standOf course I found a few new things too…

The pictures of these papers just don’t do them justice!  They are large and beautiful and soooo cool.  I can’t wait to either frame them or use them on a piece of furniture.  Stay tuned on that one…  antique_look_paperantique_look_paper_birds I instantly fell in love with these sweet, lovely earrings.  So pretty and feminine looking! white_bead_earringsI had actually been looking for one of these handy twine holders so nabbed this up as soon as I saw it.   twine_holder_with_scissorsI loved this three-tired wire basket from the first moment it caught my eye.  I have already put it to good use at all of the Christmas sales lately and it has been the perfect addition to my display pieces.  three_tiered_wire_basketAnd this little guy… who could leave him behind…adorable_dog_figureThere were so many incredible things to see and experience that it was very hard to choose what to bring back.  These are just a few of things that spoke to me and I am sure you will see a lot of them popping up in pictures again.   pennsylvania_finds

10 Comments on " My Pennsylvania Vintage Finds "

  1. Lisa

    I enjoyed reading about your shopping trip. You have so much appreciation and enthusiasm for antiques. That’s wonderful. If you ever get back to PA, you would love the Mercer museum in Doylestown. Henry Mercer gathered antique farm equipment as he saw the Industrial Age was making those items obsolete.
    Your potato masher is actually a meat mallet. I think your scoop would have been for animal food. I grew up on a farm with lots of antiques. We had a similar one we would keep in the large sack of grain to feed our chickens.

    1. Lisa

      Thank you so much Kathy! I will have to check out that museum for sure! I would love to get back to PA… there was just so many great places and not enough time! I love museums and that one sounds right up my alley πŸ˜‰ That is so cool to know about the masher! I just assumed it was for potatoes so I am thrilled to know what it actually is. And thank you for the info on the scoop too. I really, really appreciate and love knowing what things were used for so glad you let me know πŸ™‚

  2. Lisa

    What you’ve done with the table is extraordinary. I love in Pa and never find the great things you did. So jealous

    1. Lisa

      πŸ˜‰ Thanks so much Joyce! I would definitely like to take a trip back. There were so many great things so so little time.

      1. Lisa

        Lisa. I wrote love Pa instead of live in Pa. I live in Shamokin Dam and my daughter lives Scranton. Would love to go shopping with you if your ever in, “our neck of the woods.” There is this cool place called Street of Shops in Lewisburg . You can look it up online. Sometimes you can pick up great stuff there.
        Today we happened to find a great curb find! It is an record player cabinet. It still had a record on the turntable, Louie Prima and Keely Smih. Would love to send a picture to you an get your input. My daughter was thinking about making it into a bar

        1. Lisa

          That would be so lovely and fun – Thank you so much!!! I would love to go back to PA sometime… there were so many great placed to hunt up treasure πŸ˜‰ Aren’t curbside finds so great! Sounds like you guys found a great one and not to mention the actual record on it?! I love it!! Feel free to send a picture any time! I would love to see what you found πŸ™‚

  3. Lisa

    Such amazing finds, Lisa. Your tiered pieces are especially wonderful, and the paper goods, too. My husband and I spent a day in Lancaster back in June and had a ball. Thanks so much for linking up with Vintage Charm πŸ™‚ Hope to see you there again–

    1. Lisa

      It is such a wonderful area isn’t it! I will definitely have to plan to head back down that way again sometime πŸ™‚ I am also in love with the three tiered piece… so many wonderful uses! Hugs, Lisa

  4. Lisa

    Lisa, I need to come shopping with you! You found so many great pieces. I love it all πŸ™‚ Hugs, CoCo

    1. Lisa

      πŸ™‚ Oh we would have so much fun πŸ™‚

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