Wrapping an 1841 Oil Painting

Well . . . there wasn't much time for Etsy love yesterday . . . I was asked to wrap a large (27 x 37 inch) Oil Painting, signed and dated 1841. Very valuable too (no pressure!).

Personally I think such a valuable piece should be professionally shipped. I looked into the best local shipping sources for large and difficult items to mail. The answer I was given was the painting needs to be crated. This company looks great http://www.gonavis.com/ . I think a crate is the way to go.

Have you ever seen those images online of the inside of a UPS truck at Christmas time? Very scary. Parcels on the floor, upside down, split open and bouncing it seems. So . . . . I phoned the buyer in Beverley Hills (yep, the 90210) and recommended the custom crate. Nope . . . . UPS ground is what he wants. I think my new boss (a local auctioneer) needs to state mandatory airmail and professional shipping on her website . . . . and that is my recommendation for immediate implementation. Ya!

But in the mean time . . . little ol' me is shipping a $10K antique oil on canvas painting.

With a delicate plaster frame just to make things really fun!

So this is the cover-my-butt post . . . . seriously : )

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First I wrapped the painting in a clear plastic bag ~ quite snugly so nothing can actually touch the canvas.

Then I wrapped it in bubble wrap with extra folds on the corners.

I asked hubby to cut a custom front and back (crate-like) layer of hard-board from his workshop which we duct-taped to the cardboard on the front and back for added protection.


I stuffed Styrofoam and bubble wrap all around the 3 inch buffer, on all four sides and then it was slid into another box for shipping purposes. Double boxed with hard board in between and 3 inches of bubble wrap all around.


Took me three hours to do!!!! So there ya have it ! The painting will be on its way today for its long journey from Ontario to California. Fingers crossed : )

Etsy Shop update ~ Gift Quality Items

Wow! It's November 26th already. Yikes! Only month until Christmas. I will be working hard the next few days to post about 30 new items in my Etsy shop. Here are some of my first updates. . .

Vintage Needlepoint Purse ~ Sold

Silver Mesh Purse

Coin Purse and Glasses Case ~ Sold

Black Velvet Clutch Purse

Black Lipstick purse and Beaded Coin Purse

1920's Crocheted Purse

My goal is to list Gift Quality items with the majority having a price point of $25.00 or less. I have been buying quite a bit lately . . . while working for a local Auctioneer. Our next Live Auction will not be until January so that gives me time to update my Etsy Shop . I will list many more items tomorrow. Thanks for visiting. ~ Karen

Thank you Blogger!

Thank you to the Blogger team for selecting my Cider Antiques Blog on November 7th, 2008, for a "Blog of Note" aka Blog of Interest. It has been a fun two weeks of being noted.

Thanks to all who have visited, left me comments, and added my blog to their list of blogs to follow. I have met many great bloggers and I have enjoyed browsing your blogs too.

Happy Blogging!

Thanks again, Karen (and Cider)

A Magnificant Gown ~ late 1800s to early 1900s

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My family and I were on the topic of Time Machines this evening at dinner. Not sure how we got there, but we did. Everyone in our family (except me) said they would go forward . . . to the future, if they had one chance to try a time machine. Not me. I know what I would do. I would go back in time (likely 100 years) and wear this lovely antique dress that I recently purchased. I would go back in time . . . to the big event that this dress attended. I would tag along, in the dress ! I would go back for one day . . . with no knowledge of the evening or the event. . . . just to wear this dress and experience an Edwardian Party. Of course I would be my 18 year old self, LOL. Or perhaps a 1920's Flapper party would be fun too. Hmmm . . . a hard decision.

It is made of Princess lace, silk and velvet

It is in amazingly good condition ~ very few breaks or rips




If falls so nicely

It also has a layer of sequins and beading below the lace bodice


There is a silk ruffled edge along the velvet

The floral detail is layered and raised

The velvet train is beautiful . . .

Very elegant

I guess my Dress Form will be lookin' good shortly : )

An Artistic Friend

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My good friend Deborah Burnham of Land of Nod Studio's is a very talented gal. Mixed media Art is all the rage right now and she may very well be leading the way. I borrowed the first two pictures from Deb's Etsy shop . I bought the tin . . . so I am sure she won't mind, LOL.

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Deb decorates the tins with antique images, paper, rhinestones and swirls. Just wonderful.

View from the Front

View from the inside

Deb also offers jewelled vintage bottles ~ this one is from my collection

I love the swirls and the rhinestones ~ a labor of love for sure

Stunning work Deb!

Thanks for stopping by to visit

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I changed my blog background today . . . the light version looked over-exposed and washed out on my monitor for a few days (was it just my computer ???)

Hey . . . that's my dog

I had the pleasure of working at a 3 day Estate sale in Ottawa, Ontario this weekend. It started on Friday at noon and finished Sunday afternoon. A few posts ago I shared some pictures of the wonderful treasures in this home. The owner was an avid art collector who adored animals ~ birds and dogs in particular. When I saw this painting I immediately thought of my own dog.

Cider is facing the other way in this picture . . . but you get the idea.

I don't think she really appreciates her likeness . . . but I do.

My mom bought me the painting for my Christmas present (she lives in Nova Scotia so I actually had to be Santa for today). Thanks Mom! I guess I am suppose to wrap it up and wait until December 25th. I think I will hang it up first and then wrap it on the 24th, LOL.

My 1st Vintage Clothing Show ~ Ottawa, Ontario

Yesterday was the Vintage Clothing Sale at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. The sale is once a year in this castle-like hotel. Each vendor has 150 square feet of space (about 10 feet by 15 feet) so it is quite a large area to fill. I learned a lot about what sells and what doesn't locally. Most of my vintage sales are online so it is good to keep a pulse on the local market too. I did well at the sale, but was still surprised by what did not sell.

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Not a single purse sold. I don't really understand why. I did reduce the price when asked, so I don't think that cost was the issue. Any thoughts?

Vintage hats are very popular with the University and College crowd.

Gloves and scarves were also a big hit. I pretty much sold out of these.

Vintage 1950s Prom Dresses are back in style . . . and you need to be a graduating grade 8 girl to fit into most of the size 0 to size 2 gowns, LOL. They were certainly small in the 50s. Luckily for me there were several girls and their moms at the sale doing some early shopping for the June Prom.

And the real test of the day . . . was not losing my cool when a 22 year old male backed into my parked car in the loading area of the underground garage at 7:15am on the morning of the show. Setup was between 7:00 and 9:00am. Just what a gal needs to begin her first big show. . . . yikes. He really wasn't going fast at all . . . just backing up . . . but look at the size of that dent! I think cars are made of tinfoil these days. Insurance has said I will not have to pay a thing, as my car was parked at the time. Hopefully my vehicle will be as good as new in a few days.

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I can certainly say my first show started with a BANG, LOL.

Thanks to my husband and good friend Deb Burnham for helping me all day long and for getting my mind back to the happy place : ) xoxoxox

Sweet little visitors today ~ 3 week old kittens

I had company today . . . two adorable 3 week old kittens and their adoptive mom. They have been lovingly raised by my good friend Deb, who found them abandoned after birth. They had clearly been left, no doubt there. The cold nights in Canada would surely have done them in. Thanks to the loud and persistent cries of this little sweetie . . .

they were discovered and brought inside. Both are doing fine : )

They are still quite wobbly on their little feet and therefore hard to photograph clearly. So cute, even if a bit blurry, LOL.

They are on a 3 1/2 hour feeding schedule ~ poor Deb!

We helped with the baby burping.

Great little cuddlers

Almost as big as this Beanie Baby toy.

To keep tabs on their progress you can see weekly updates

on Deb's Blog

at the Land of Nod Studio's.

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Thanks for visiting us today !!!! xoxoxo

November 2, 1755 Marie Antoinette's Birthday

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There is a Celebration in blogland today . . . hosted by Cupids Charm

Marie Antoinette was born on ~ November 2, 1755 ~ It is truly amazing that she remains so fascinating hundreds of years later.

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Does Marie Antoinette inspire your creative side, your design ideas, your French Country home?

French perfume bottles and antique vanity items make for a lovely display.

Perhaps Marie had something similar to this hand embroidered linen keep for her favourite hankies



Pink Lace and ivory flowers ~ fit for a Queen

My favourite French Tapestry ~ It hangs above my bed

Needlepoint rugs are frequently found in my home ~ always room for one more : )

My collection of feathers also seems to be growing

I love using beautiful materials to make pretty pinkeeps

I am looking forward to visiting the many blogs participating in the Marie Antoinette Birthday Celebration ! Thank you to our hostess at Cupids Charm.

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