First off I wanted to say thanks to those of you who left a comment in response to my last post. It was nice to get some feedback from you all. I truly appreciated it !! A few of you had mentioned putting a tracker system on the blog. I do use Google Analytics and have been using it from the start. On average I get about 70 hits a day. On occasion it will spike up to 100. It does seem the more I post the better my stats are. Oh boy I am starting to sound like my husband with all of this number mumbo jumbo!

If you know me personally you would then know that I am not a number person, in fact I usually despise math! In fact the numbers I like the best are usually the metal ones that you could hang on a wall to decorate with!! For some odd reason though I love looking and analyzing Google Analytics. It’s cool to think that someone from Africa is reading my blog. I also find it interesting what pages people look at the most and how long they stay. To sum it up, I  am always looking for interesting content to put on my blog. I guess I just want to  make it a bit more interesting so my readers will continuously come back to have something to look forward to each time they stop by and read.

Speaking of reading I can’t wait until the new magazine Flea Market Style comes out this February. The magazine will focus on decorating projects using flea market finds, collecting ideas and tips, as well as list various different flea markets to check out and shop at. I have included in my sidebar their blog for you all to check out when you get the chance. I am sure it will be a feast for the eyes for all of you flea market junkies!!

Thanks again for all of your continuing support and generous comments. Happy hunting!

Recently I read a  post on The French Garden House blog regarding where the direction of her blog was going.  She wondered how many people really read it and what did they like or dislike about her posts. Sometimes when she posts she gets either little or no comments.

It got me thinking about my blog. First and foremost I love having a blog. It has truly allowed me to show my talents and has a been a great creative outlet for me. It has also been a way to meet other nice people that share in the same interests as me. Not only do I love having  a blog but I love reading other blogs. It is so cool to see so many creative  people posting such cool and interesting things about design, antiques or photography. It inspires me to be a better blogger!

I guess I have some of the same concerns as Lidy. Now and again I post something and think wow I can’t wait to see the comments. Then sometimes days will go by and there is nothing. So then I think well maybe it just wasn’t that interesting of a story or maybe my pictures were a little blurry. On other posts I will then get a bunch of comments. Don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciate and value all  the comments I do get. In fact every day I rush to my site to see if anyone has left a comment because I love reading them so much. Call it just being lucky but never have I had someone leave a really nasty comment aside from the typical spam that we all have to deal with!!  I guess I just wonder if there is anything I can to to spark some more interest in the blog to spice it up a bit?

Alot of blogs I read post things every day. There are a couple that I read faithfully and look forward to reading. Do you all enjoy that as well? I must admit I would love to post once a day but it’s tough with a baby to find the time  as well as trying to come up with cool and interesting posts rather than just putting any old thing out there. Some weeks I have so much to say or photograph then other weeks I struggle to find my creativity.

I also try to post new items that I have brought into Thoreauly Antiques. I do wonder if any of you out there who live in the area check to see the new things and if you do what would you like to see more of from me? I could start a wish list of items. It would be fun to hunt for you on more of an individual basis. Like most of you I am always trying to figure out what people want in there homes. Forgive me if I am rambling, I tend to do that!!

I do hope that my readers will give me some advice. I value your opinions so much and please feel free to leave as many comments as you wish!  Thanks so much and happy hunting. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Today I found the perfect French Valentine Days gift. Pictured here is true work of art. This French hand-painted ladies fan is amazing! Every detail is meticulous. If you look close enough you can see the tiny gold sequins attached to the fan along with the hand-painted cherubs throughout it. It is even signed by the artist.  Any woman would be overjoyed to receive this as a Valentines gift! The fan along with a few other things are for sale at Thoreauly Antiques in Antique Therapy’s space. Any of these  items would be fabulous Valentine Day gifts for that special someone. Enjoy!!

Isn’t it amazing that something so small such as a button can be a work of art. The tiny etched detail on a shimmering mother of pearl base is magic to my eyes!

I recently purchased these old Victorian  buttons from a dealer in the shop I am in. Most of these buttons are from the 1800’s. The colored ones were apparently dyed over the mother of pearl to give them their hue. They are truly a work of art. I recently had some made into earrings. I was thinking of either making the rest of them into bracelets or rings, I just need to find the supplies!

The dealer has packaged them so well that I also was thinking I could probably frame them and hang them in a small grouping on the wall. The possibilities are  truly endless!! The more I thought about it the more I wondered about the history behind them and the people ( ladies ) who wore them on a Victorian laced blouse or perhaps an evening dress coat. They sure don’t make buttons like they used to now do they!! I think I may have found a new thing to collect. Fortunately they don’t take up to much space! Enjoy the pictures. I will post more pictures when I figure out something cool to do with them!!

Like most of you I have always loved old beautiful things for my home collection. Being an antique dealer I come across so many interesting and pretty things that I would love to keep for myself, but if I kept it all I wouldn’t have anything to sell now would I?

There are those things of course that you see and think, Oh I really don’t need that! But then you can’t get them out of your head. Things like this amazing French watercolor with two cherubs from the early 1900’s. The colors in  this painting are so soft and delicate. I think it is definately the coolest thing I have found recently. I absolutely adore it! This was a little pre Christmas gift for myself!

I guess I have an affinity towards cherubs because a week later I found this single silver plate napkin ring with two cherubs on it. I used it as a candle holder in my bathroom for Christmas. Along with the napkin ring I found this triple-plate etched vase with birds on it. Love it!!

Transferware has always been a favorite thing of mine to collect. I recently found this soup tureen with birds. It’s a great addition to my collection! It is in such good condition that not only will it be a fabulous display piece in the house, but I can use it for soups or stews!!

Pictured here is a vignette in my livingroom of some more things I have found at antique shops or yard sales through the years. I tend to gravitate towards pink and shades of muted greens.

I hope  you enjoyed my pictures! I am curious to hear from all of you as to what things you collect or are special to you. Feel free to leave me a comment any time on your favorite things or on anything else that you wish to see on my blog. I am always looking for feedback on ways to improve my blog and it’s content.

As always happy hunting and enjoy the weekend!

Now that the holidays are over I have found some new antiques to add to my space. Christmas was great but it’s time to bring in some new things and put away the old ones until next year!!

Pictured here are a beautiful hand-painted French box from the 1900’s, along with another small European box, a bunch of old keys, cool old tray lined with fabric, another great French box with ten spools of brown cotton thread inside, and last but not least a beautiful shabby old carved bench that would look great at the end of ones bed.

These are just a few of the beautiful antiques for sale at Antique Therapy located in Thoreauly Antiques in Concord Ma at 25 Walden St.

Come on by into Concord for some great antiquing, not only are we surrounded by a variety of antique shops and boutiques, but have all the history to offer as well!!

Happy hunting!!

Looking back on 2009 I would have to say  it was a pretty an amazing year. In May I gave birth to my first baby. After a twenty six hour labor then a c-section he came into this world beautiful and glowing. Not only did I have a rough delivery but a near death experience twice in the proceeding weeks after I had the baby. I recovered in time, but to say the least it was a hard time in my life.

I have always known that life is precious but when you have an innocent untainted child at home, it is even more precious and everything takes on new meaning.

Today I was looking at some of my sons newborn pictures and just reminiscing with my mom about the day he was born. I can’t believe that this week he is seven months already. He is 19lbs of pure love, has a smile like no other, and eyes that sparkle like the most brilliant diamonds that you ever did see! He is truly the love of my life!

I will leave you all with a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that was read at my sons baptism. I just wanted to give some glimmer of  hope to those who are struggling in there lives now and to remind them that there is still purity, innocence and  good in this world. It lies within our children who depend on us to teach them, and to love them the way everyone deserves to be loved. Happy New Year. May it be a great one!

Come to me, O ye children!

For I hear you at your play,

And the questions that perplexed me

Have vanished quite away.

Ye open the eastern windows,

That look towards the sun,

Where thoughts are singing swallows

And the brooks of morning run.

In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,

In your thoughts the brooklet’s flow,

But in mine is the wind of Autumn

And the first fall of snow.

Ah! what the world would be to us

If the children were no more?

We should dread the desert behind us

Worse than the dark before.

What the leaves are to the forest,

With light and air for food,

Ere their sweet and tender juices

Have been hardened into wood,

That to the world are children;

Through them it feels the glow

Of a brighter and summer climate

Than reaches the trunks below.

Come to me, O ye children!

and whisper in my ear

What the birds and the winds are singing

In your sunny atmosphere.

For what are all our contrivings,

And the wisdom of our books,

When compared with your caresses,

And the gladness of your looks.

Ye are better than all the ballads

That ever were sung or said;

For ye are living poems,

and all the rest are gone.

__ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Much to my surprise when I got home from the shop today I  had an email from Walt Kolenda at auctionwally.com. Walt conducts online appraisals, calls bids via live streamed auctions as well as in person auctions, hosts two radio shows and gives his opinion on the current state of the auction world. His latest show focused on giving appraisals and some shout outs to some local folks including myself and my blog Antique Therapy.  Walt has a wealth of knowledge on anything pertaining to antiques. If you would like to hear the interview for yourself you can go to his site at www.auctionwally.com, when you get there click on the Auction Wally show in the upper right corner to listen to his informative show.

Thanks so much Walt, I truly appreciate the publicity and enjoy your site as well!

I thought I would share with you some last minute Antique Therapy gift ideas for you or your loved one. I found some more beautiful handmade vintage fabric stockings and ornaments. They are absolutely beautiful! I also just found some 1930’s mercury glass ornaments consisting of crowns, birds, parakeets, and hearts with die cuts on them al from Germany and Poland. They are so stunning I kept a couple for myself. All of these items are available at Thoreauly Antiques in Antique Therapy’s space in Concord Ma on 25 Walden St. Happy Holidays!

Tis the season to be merry and come on in to Antique Therapy inside Thoreauly Antiques in Concord, Ma.

I just brought in some more holiday delights to add to my space including some primitive dolls and animals made from vintage fabric, as well as  a really interesting Bible bingo set, how cute for Christmas!! Vintage letter ornaments, Brown and white transferware tureen, cute etched candy holder with lid, vintage prints and hand carved cherubs. Here you can view for yourself!! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!