Just a little something ~ for your next flea outing*

Kick back and relax.......

One of our favorite magazines is "Secondhand TREASURES".  It is chopped full of useful information and tips from junk "pickers".
Lets begin with some of our tips we use while junking.
*cash in small bills (don't let the seller know you may have a wad of $20s)
*keep a blanket/towels/plastic grocery bags & wet wipes in your car
*dress for comfort
*journal or notepad
*clear mind for negotiation

As some of the top experts will tell you- negotiation skills are beneficial for any treasure hunter- it becomes a game one you can win!
And always finish what you start~ don't begin negotiation if you are truly not interested in the sale item.
Go early!  Folks who get there early at a sale sometimes get first pick at the prized stuff! Especially at flea markets where vendors tend to set up super early. 

A little lesson learned.
At a recent estate sale, there was a dress form that went on the auction block.......(one particular gypsy tends to think she is the auction queen)  however this time the gypsy lost out.  The dress form started high- $150 - and ended low.....so low the gypsy should have bid $5 more and bam!, the dress form went for a cRaZy $35.      Crack an egg on her egg I say!  



There are a few online guides for auctions:
antiquetrader.com
beckett.com
kovels.com
liveauctioneers.com
vintagecardprices.com
worthpoint.com

Can't say enough about the Brooklyn Flea.  Every weekend of the year, New York's key attraction- it happens outdoors from April - Thanksgiving and moves indoors for the winter season.

Please be careful with Craigslist.  We've know many who used Craigslist for purchasing really nice pieces of furniture to later shabby and create even a nicer piece of furniture- but we also have known people to get ripped off, finding later the ad was a scam.  Never send the seller a personal check- and always be sure the seller is local.  Go with someone to pick up your item(s)......and never pay fees upfront. *This is not a Craigslist bashing...... like any online purchase- use with caution.

Go to estatesales.net for estate sales in your area!

Did you know that placing a dryer sheet in between old postcard photos- it will draw out the moister as well as any "aged smell".  Place the dryer sheet in between each postcard/photo..... seal in a zip lock baggy- about a week.   Takes care of that mildew basement odor we tend to find when purchasing these vintage lovelies*

Vintage white linens clean up nicely when you soak them in 4 gallons of warm water- and 1 1/4 cups of white vinegar.  Soak for about 3 hours- rinse with cool water then hand wash in Woolite.  

Until next time~

With love&joy in everything vintage~
Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage

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Pumpkin Pie Recipes & more!

First, we want to thank those who sent in recipes.....and secondly we had not only pumpkin pie recipes sent to us but other delicious sweets made with pumpkin!   So we added those as well.  *
Enjoy.


                Pumpkin Cake Roll
3 eggs                                2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. sugar                           1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup pumpkin                1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. lemon juice              1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 cup of flour                  1/2 tsp. salt
                                    1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)*
                                    1 c.  confectioners sugar    2 (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
                                    1/4 c. margarine                 1/2 tsp. vanilla
~ Beat eggs and sugar for 5 minutes. Stir in pumpkin and lemon juice.  Sift flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, salt and nutmeg together and fold into egg mixture.  Pour into greased and floured 10x15 inch jelly roll pan.  Sprinkle nuts on top and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven immediately invert onto a well dusted with confectioners sugar tea towel.  Roll up cake and towel, starting with the short side.  Cool.  Unroll; spread with filling.  Reroll the cake and refrigerate.
*~ Filling:  Beat confectioners sugar, cream cheese, margarine and vanilla together.
                                                                                                                                    M. Lane


                                        Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies
                      1 pkg. spice cake mix               1 (15 oz. ) can pumpkin
 ~Mix well in electric mixer.  Drop by teaspoon full onto cookie sheet.  Press down with spoon to make cookies flat.  Use parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  Frost if you like with your favorite frosting.  Makes 36 cookies.  REAL EASY!
                                                                                                                                     B. Kuntz

                        
                                  Pumpkin Pie
2 c. pumpkin               1 1/2 c. milk  (canned skim is what I use)*   
2/3 c. sugar                 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell
2 T. flour                     Dash of cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
~Mix pumpkin, sugar, flour, salt, spice and eggs with a mixer.  Add milk and stir by hand.  Pour into pie shell and sprinkle top with cinnamon.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30-35 minutes or until knife inserted in center of pie comes out clean.
                                                                                                                    Darla H.

                                          Pumpkin Pie
                       *Look on the back of the Libby's Pumpkin Pie can!
                         It's very good and easy to make!
                                                                                   Anonymous 

Enjoy these yummy treats!  Have a wonderful Friday~ and remember to check us out on our facebook page!   92 follower so far!   A loud gypsy YEAH!!!!!

With love & joy in everything vintage*
Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage 

MY OH MY.....PUMPKIN PIE*

Calling all Pumpkin Pie recipes!   Readers are encouraged to submit their best pumpkin pie recipe....and we will post the recipes on our blog & facebook page!    And of course...cough cough we will bake one up ourselves from YOUR recipe!   The more....the merrier!  So come on gals.... get crackin', or is that bakin'..... well, sharin'!

Happy Autumn*

With love & joy in everything vintage*
Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage

A DIY CrAzY easy ~ Halloween Decorative Bottles*

Something fun to do with the kiddo's or your gal pals!
We gypsies find this to be one of the easiest - quickest and fun Halloween decoration to add to any area of your home.  Place decal to any size wine bottle and take it to a haunted party for the host!
We found the small decals at a local $ store- and the large decals we found at a craft shop.
(AC MOORE)
We used a mayo jar, an old vintage bottle we purchased for $2, and an Italian water bottle (blue) for our decals.   
**When adding your decals~~ be sure the jar is completely dry~~then add your decal.   
The decals adhere rather quickly, so be sure your bottle does not roll from you!   
Candles, dried flowers, painted black twigs & candy are some fun items you can add to your Halloween bottle!

DIY easy peasy Halloween idea!



With love & joy in everything vintage~
Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage*

Work work Work work Work!

It is all in a day......
We found some great treasures while scouting dealers and junkers (our kind of gypsies)..... when a particular handsome gypsy decided to donate yet another treasures to the gypsies, we knew exactly what the gaudy gold frame needed- white!    We adore the 1930's photo of an uncle who came from Italy to visit family in the states.   When his grand photo was passed down through the family- we became the new "owners" of this large oval framed photograph- beveled glass- and all of its character flaws we couldn't wait to give it a bath of white!
Step one:  light sanding with fine sandpaper- allowing debris to loosen- and to lift some of the gold tone.   Step two:  white paint!    Step three:  enjoy the new fresh look of a family heirloom*

Close up of the top of the frame~   E pluribus unum 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This cool find was discovered at a dealer in Dillsburg, PA. 
The scotsmen sitting at the table seem to be sharing conversation and tea in their kilts!   Gotta love a man in a kilt!
The photo was somewhat tattered on one end- no worries.......  white washed frame makes the photo pop out at you!   Wouldn't you just love to know who these people were?  And what were the talking about?!   

Where's the chocolaterie?!
This fun sign was created as a french road sign*

Happy Friday &  l'amour et al joie dans tout ce millesime!
With love & joy in everything vintage! 
Simple Dimple and Rose Cottage*

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A little bit of this.... little bit of that*

We gypsies should probably be getting ready for the next celebration- Halloween!
But with temperatures in the 80's and a breeze that sent me feeling like I'd rather be sitting on a vintage beach chair- listening to the ocean hit the shore..ice tea in one hand...well....you get the picture.   

I gathered up some of my favorite things.... a little bit of this and that.   Trying to decide what to place in the "summer" drawer and what to keep out for a "white autumn".
I adore ghost pumpkins.  With names like "baby boo", "lumina" and "cotton candy".... how can you not be tempted to decorate with the latest rage?
I can promise you, I will have if not a dozen, maybe even more of these popular white orbs by my door step this season!    everywhere!   Okay, maybe not a dozen.... but how bout' ten!?


*****
This weekend is dedicated to complete autumn decorating and planning.   I will drag my littlest gypsy out and about.   My our mission.... vintage baby... nothin' but vintage junk juntiques!    sounds a little more classy.  
As we prepare for upcoming adventures and future sale events~ we will take the next few months to introduce our items to our readers..... our followers...... our gypsy friends.    

Good night~ sleep tight~  

With love & joy of everything vintage,

Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage*

Sunday has a Vintage Breeze

 This Gypsy is soooo looking forward to a new season~ Autumn*

 I was given this beautiful french cloche as a gift~ it now holds 1 ghost pumpkin. I plan on adding as many miniature ghost pumpkins as I can~   can't wait to go to the Leesburg farmers market.

 Large white pumpkins are fun for decorating not only your front porch, but for any room in your cottage or home.  My personal favorite is using the pumpkins for my favorite flower- Sunflowers*
But I know a Chef who uses them for pumpkin soup bowls!  yum yum  

 Two Italian favorites:  An Italian vase my father gave to me was beginning to chip- and loose its brown tone.  (not that I liked the brown tone to begin with) so I simply white washed it ~ now it sits in my bedroom.  Still holds its Tuscan beauty..... but with vintage gypsy charm. *

Another Italian classic:   A Tuscan oil painting.    Sadly, my "before" photo of the gaudy gold frame did not come out- after I white washed it!  ugh!  rule of thumb....always check media card!    My parents loved their gold tones....velvet fabrics.....and large chunky furniture.  I love it now too..... only white!  Can't wait to roll my sleeves up and grab my white paint & brushes.....  more to come!        "tutto e'bello in bianco"

With love & joy in everything vintage,

Simple Dimple*

Beautiful Friday*

    I love bottles of all sizes.  Today I bring you one of my favorites, a "love message in a bottle"~   

 Bringing a soft feel to old worn paperbacks~

Gypsy Treasures*

With love & joy of everything vintage,

Simple Dimple

Always remember your~ Librarian

I was seeking out the perfect piece to add to my collection- another make over- another giant- something for me to begin stripping sanding and painting.  That perfect piece to add to my dining area.  Sadly, of all the places that was searched, I still came up empty handed.  which is rare for me!     One day a very sweet Librarian came to call.... she says to a certain Gypsy.... " I have something you may want"......  the gypsy says to the librarian......" please don't tease"....  the gypsy gets her goods....... and the transition began.    
This wonderful piece of furniture was sanded lightly and all the character flaws were kept for added beauty.   After sanding, and applying a light coat of white wash- another light layer of white paint was added.   After another light sanding- new ceramic initial  knobs were added to the two top drawers- as the other four knobs were brushed over with white paint- lightly sanded for a loved worn look.
I now use this beautiful piece as a sideboard.  It holds all my precious linens, antique tea cups & espresso cups for safe keeping!    I knew I wouldn't be able to part with it..... no way...it's not for sale!

PS....I stay very close to the librarian......yes, my friends....very close.

With love & joy of everything vintage,

Simple Dimple

LABOR DAY*

Enjoy your Labor Day with a Hires Rootbeer

Labor

Lavoro

Main-d'oeuvre

la-bor  (noun)

No matter what language it is said in...the definition of labor means: a job or task done; or to be done.

Today is a day for celebration.  Today is a day for relaxation.  Today is a day for family, or quiet moments.                      Today is Labor Day.

Two Vintage Gypsies wish you the "labor of love"...... and as we come to summers close, may you find yourself enjoying the next season.......the season of Autumn.   

With love & joy of everything vintage,

Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage

Two Gypsies

Once upon a time there were two friends, no make that gypsies~who  had a dream of opening their very own antique business.  In their spare time, away from teaching, these two friends began to craft.  Oh, yes....some of their precious creations included the dreaded 1990"s style geese and lots of stenciling!
Fast forward today~ these two gypsy friends are excited to bring an entirely new adventure to you.
Their new blog will include some of their fun and cRaZy vintage road trips,restoring furniture, handmade items, recycled/repurposed "junk", favorite recipes and holiday traditions and not to mention a little gypsy gal talk now and then.  
One thing these gypsies promise not to do is speak of politics- or get on their soap boxes!
Well, one gypsy may have a difficult time with that.....we'll allow you to figure out which one! 


So come along for their vintage style trip..... enjoy our postings and photos.  
We even have a facebook page! 


With love & joy of everything vintage,
Simple Dimple & Rose Cottage*