Brick House Blogger

Majolica and Wedgwood

2012-01-26T12:48:00.000-05:00

A Little History lesson about Majolica and Wedgwood

Leon Arnoux introduced majolica at Minton in 1850. It was a stone type earthenware body with good shape and form, vibrant colors, and a thick tin glaze. He used natural themes such as flowers and animals. A typical Victorian Majolica piece would include large garden ornaments plus all sorts of plates and dishes that were utilitarian and decorative. Wedgwood began to manufacture Majolica about 10 years after Mintons. Wedgwood’s glazes and modeling were denser and more formal than Minton’s. Wedgwood’s majolica included cachepots, pitchers, candlesticks, cheese bells, umbrella stands, sardine boxes, plates in naturalistic patterns, bread trays. In Wedgwood’s familiar “green ware” the green glaze emphasizes the low relief patterning, typical of basketwork and foliage.

Majolica platter with Butterfly, Majolica pitcher accented by rope handle, and Wedgwood plate

Majolica was influenced by the design of the old “Cauliflower” and “Pineapple” teapots made by Thomas Whieldon, Wedgwood and other 18^th century Staffordshire potters. Both English and American majolica potters reproduced the “Cauliflower” pattern and other raised fruit, vegetable, leaf and berry patterns, with green, yellow, pink, and brown, light blue and purple-blue glazed. There is also a teapot of yellow corn and green leaves, similar to the old Whieldon “Pineapple” teapots, and a teapot, pitcher and sugar bowl of pink coral and green seaweed with accents of brown and blue, marked “Etruscan Majolica.” Many late 19^th century majolica designs had rustic themes with backgrounds of basketry and wooden-bound buckets decorated with molded flowers, birds and fish animals. Handles were made like rustic tree branches, rose stems and twined flowers and leaves.

At The Brick House Antique Center, we have many pieces of Majolica and Wedgwood for sale. Please stop by our store at 247 East Main St. Palmyra, or check us out on-line at: www.brickhouseantiques.com. I have enjoyed researching this early pottery, I hope you find this blog informational.

Until next time—the Brick House Blogger!

Beware of Auction Fever!

2012-01-23T13:02:00.000-05:00

The excitement and emotions that overcome us at auctions can also end up costing us more that we planned, (my check book is never happy about that!) I guess that is why so many refer to it as “Auction Fever”.

How exciting to search out the best auction of the week, preview all the photos on line, and plan your budget and strategy once you arrive.

On the day of the auction, we pack our boxes and newspaper to wrap our treasures. We also have ample moving blankets, and straps to strap down any furniture we purchase. Our own chairs are a must; you never know it the auctioneer will furnish anything to sit on. We many times plan the day; some of the best deals are at the end of the auction. Once we arrive, we must first, place our chairs in a place where we can see the items for sale, and not be seen by all others attending the auction, sometimes we don’t want others to know we are bidding. We get our bidding numbers, and then start the search for the items we think we would like to purchase. I always make notes on my bidding card as to item number and condition so when it comes up for auction, I have notes that will Remind me on how much I think I can spend. That is my strategy to stopping auction fever. Frequently, I never get to bid! It always surprises me when bidders pay more for an item than it would sell for at the Brick House Antique Center. As a buyer you must familiar with the buying terms at the auction. Beware of the buyer fees! Most auctioneers charge a 10% buyer’s premium and if you pay by credit card, you might also be charged a credit card fee of 3-4%!!! Yes, make sure you are aware of the policies of the auctioneer prior to bidding because once you purchase it, it is yours.

My recommendation to anyone who is looking for a special item, check out your local Antique Shops prior to bidding at auction. You will most likely be able to negotiate with the shop to get a lower price. At the Brick House Antique Center, you will not be charge any additional fees (except NYS sales tax, if you are not tax exempt). A shopping trip to your favorite antique store can help you become educated on the price of items in your local market. With that information, you will be a better buyer.

That is all for now, Have a great week!

Rug Construction 101

2012-01-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

We are often attracted to an area rug based on the color or pattern. Brick House Antique Center offers a vast selection of stunning of area rugs. They can be purchased at our store, or ordered through our website: www.brickhouserugcenter.com. Knowing the construction of a rug will help you understand how the rug will best perform in particular areas of the home. It is important to note, that all construction methods yield quality products.

Braided Rugs

Braided rugs are constructed of yarn or fabric that is braided to form a continuous rope or braid. The braids are then sewn in a spiral to form a reversible rug. Braided rugs, including the popular Bear Creek collection, are easy to care for and offer maximum durability and comfort.

Hand Knotted Rugs

Highly skilled weavers in India and China who are experienced at hand knotting traditional, contemporary and transitional patterns meticulously handcraft each hand knotted area rug. This is a labor-intensive process but produces a durable work of art that can be passed down through generations. We are proud to offer such a variety of hand knotted rugs at www.brickhouserugcenter.com

Flat Woven Rugs

Flat woven rugs do not contain knots. Loomed by hand, these rugs are crafted with a low pile for maximum comfort and durability. I like the Stoneridge collection, my favorite, Dark Red!

Stoneridge Dark Red

Hand Tufted Rugs

Characterized by their plush feel and durability, hand tufted rugs are created by punching yarn through a printed cloth that is stretched over a support frame. Once removed from the loom, a layer of latex is added to the backside to hold the yarn in place, and then covered with a cloth backing to protect the underlying floor. These rugs are sure to stand the test of time, making them instant family heirlooms.

We are proud to offer a quality rug line at Brick House Antique Center. Area rugs are a wonderful focal point in every room. Please feel free to shop through the pages of rugs we offer at: www.brickhouserugcenter.com.

Until next time, Brick House Blogger.

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

A new year, a new attitude!! Yes a new attitude is just what the Dr. ordered for this wonderful New Year.

2011 was a tough year, all the negative press about unemployment and the economy. I believe that we are all tired of all this nonsense. It is time to get up and get going! That is what we are doing here at the Brick House Antique Center.

We did not set any records in the sales category in 2011, but we were able to keep our store full of beautiful antiques. Our customers continue to compliment us on our variety, and quality of the merchandise we offer. Our consigner customers continue to be pleased with the amount of sales we have for them every month.

Brick House Antique Center, Palmyra NY

What is our new attitude? We are not going to get bogged down by any more negative press. We will continue to offer a great variety of antiques, and expand our line of new area rugs. Our Goal is to be successful and support other local businesses in the process. The antiques we purchase, are for the most part purchased from local people, or local auction houses, we are supporting local business and keeping our money local. We will continue to offer a veriety of New Area Rugs. Capel Rugs is our rug supplier; they are located in Troy, NC. They have been in business for over 90 years. The entire braid rug line we offer is made in NC. Yes, they are made in the USA!!

When looking for new décor for your home, please give us a chance. Stop by the Brick House Antique Center 247 East Main St. Palmyra, NY or shop on-line at www.brickhouseantiques.com or www.brickhouserugcenter.com.

That is all for today from the Brick House Blogger.

I love the colors of fall!

2011-11-01T12:25:00.000-04:00

Fall is upon us, Halloween is past, the kids are filled with their favorite treats, and ready for the next season, but before we get to winter, let’s take time to enjoy fall! When I think of fall, I think of beautiful trees of colorful leaves, pumpkin spiced coffee, apple pie, racking leafs and of course the traditional colors of Orange and Black we use to decorate for Halloween. I also look for the bold colors of fall to decorate the rooms of my home. We offer many beautiful rugs at the Brick House Rug Center that are inspired by the season of autumn.

Stoneridge
5'x8' $458.00
Brick House Antique Center

Red is a trademark color of fall, everyone knows the season has really come when the leaves start to change and scatter across the ground in this rich hue. Drawing inspiration, we have several red rugs to pay homage to nature’s seasonal brilliance. One of my Favorites is the Stoneridge Dark Red. This deep, rich red hue of this rug is perfect for giving your home a pop of seasonal color. If you like browns, take a look at our First Impressions Rug in Wood Ash, or for a softer brown hue, it’s also great in Maple. If fall has an official color, it would be Orange. Pumpkins, pies, candy corn—some of the very best things about the season have this color in common. Our Basketweave Rug in Cinnabar Honey if perfect for a more subtle way to work in this hue. Please take time to stop in and see us at Brick House Antique Center, 247 East Main St. Palmyra, NY, or shop online at www.brickhouserugcenter.com. Remember that we offer many styles and sizes of rugs; call us with any questions at 315-597-3883.

Fall is such a fun season, so make a pumpkin pie, drink some apple cider and jump in a pile of leaves and, as always, enjoy Capel Rugs by Brick House Rug Center.

Until next time, The Brick House Blogger!

Enjoy Vintage Halloween Collectibles!

2011-10-31T11:37:00.001-04:00

Enjoy Vintage Halloween Collectibles!

Although Halloween is an American tradition and holiday, we must credit the Scottish for bringing it to the United States. The earliest Halloween decorations appeared around the turn of the 20^th century. Halloween parties became popular in the United States during the Victorian times. Homes were decorated with pumpkins, cornstalks, vegetables etc. Many early decorations were imported from Germany.

Paper-Mache jack-o’ lanterns

Today Halloween collectibles are 2^nd in demand only to Christmas collectibles. Remembering the excitement one felt as a child dressing up in costume, going trick or treating, caving pumpkins, and bobbing for apples. The colors of Orange and black trigger nostalgia of our youth for many of us. The variety of Halloween collectibles in vast. Whether it be noisemakers, jack o’ lanterns, candy containers, paper of plastic goods, candy molds or costumes. Collecting Holiday Collectibles can become a fun hobby; shop your local antique shops or flea markets to find a treasure to be displayed and cherished.

This blog features 2 Paper-Mache jack-o’ lanterns. Both of these items are for sale at Brick House Antique Center, Palmyra, NY and are featured for sale at www.brickhouseantiques.com. They range from $135.00-$200.00.

Have a fun and safe Halloween……That’s all for today from the Brick House Blogger.

Coffee makes me happy!

2011-10-27T12:36:00.000-04:00

Coffee, the universal beloved beverage can warm you up and it can also wake you up! So why not decorate you favorite room with the rich color of your favorite blend?

Brickhouserugcenter.com offers several rugs that fall into the rich, dark brown color way. Just like your favorite Café serving up several different varieties, we offer area rugs in different colors and styles that are fit for any coffee-lovers caffeinated soul.

Filigree Espresso

For the straight up or double shot coffee lovers we suggest our Filigree Rug in Espresso, it is bold and rich, making it the perfect blend of classy and functional. A color like this can go with anything. Try paring it with accents of fun Pinks and blues.

If you take a little cream in your coffee, check out our Chateau Floral Lace Rug in Coffee. The Cream detail in this rug makes it the perfect touch of elegance while holding a neutral color palate.

For you Mocha lovers, we have a braid rug in our Hammock Rug line called Mocha! This Capel anywhere area rug in perfect for your patio or sun porch and it is MADE IN THE USA!!

We are very proud of the rugs we offer at www.brickhouserugcenter.com. Take a minute with your next cup of coffee and check us out.

Until Next time…….The Brick House Blogger

Remember Big Little Books?

2011-10-25T12:27:00.000-04:00

The Whitman Publishing Company stated publishing Big LittleBooks in 1932. The books look much like a four-inch block sawed off the end of a two-by-four. The outstanding feature of the books was the captioned picture opposite each page of text. The books originally sold for 10 cents. Readers had the pleasure of a big story in a little compact book. The first Big little book, the adventures of Dick Tracy, came off the presses just before Christmas in 1932. Big Little Books have enjoyed three major periods of publication.

The Golden Age 1932-mid 1938. The books published during this time frame were the most interesting, influential and memborable books produced.

The Silver age mid 1938-1949 less innovative sets of books were produced during the Silver age. Their production was influenced by the growing comic book market and paper shortage during WWII.

The Modern Age 1950 to the present is characterized by more than 40 years of sporadic and short-lived attempts to revive the books in different forms and with different content.

We have a number of Big Little Books for sale at the BrickHouse Antique Center. You can stop by the store at 247 East Main St. in Palmyra, NY, or shop on line at www.brickhouseantiques.com.

Collecting American Stoneware

2011-09-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

North American stoneware often referred to as pottery was made in the 19^th century and used daily in colonial households. Stoneware was used for anything we might use glass jars or Tupperware for today. It held everything from water, soda, and beer to meat, grain, jelly and picked vegetables. American salt glazed stoneware was valued as not only durable, decorative housewares but as a safer alternative to lead-glazed earthenware, commonly referred to today as American Redware.

American Stoneware

Americans began producing salt glazed stoneware circa 1720. The process began by making the item from clay, it was fired at a very high temperature, and the pottery would essentially become stone. Salt-glazed pottery is a type of pottery produced by adding salt to a kiln to create a glass-like coating on the pottery. The sodium in the salt bonds with the silica in the clay, creating sodium silicate, or glass.

A very commonly employed technique seen on American Stoneware is the use of cobalt decorations, where a dark gray mixture of clay, water and expensive mineral cobalt oxide is painted onto the unfired pottery. In the firing process, the cobalt reacts to produce a vibrant blue decorations.

Pottery with cobalt blue markings are highly collectible and can be very expensive. In the last half of the 19^th century potters in New England and New York State began producing stoneware with elaborate designs such as deer, dogs, birds, houses, people or historical scenes. These pieces are rare and a real treasure.

My husband loves to collect decorated stoneware, and we have many quality pieces for sale at our store, The Brick House Antique Center, Palmyra, NY. You can also shop through the pages of our website: www.brickhouseantiques.com to see what we have to offer.

That is all for today, from the Brick House Blogger!

American History inspires design

2011-09-28T11:24:00.000-04:00

If you love history, you must plan to visit Williamsburg Virginia. Williamsburg is the place where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson established ideals of liberty and freedom for our country to enjoy. Williamsburg’s legacy, as well as its extensive collection of period wallpapers and home textiles, inspired the Capel rug design team to create a line of high-quality rugs that celebrates classic American design traditions while meeting the needs and tastes of the modern consumer.

Basketweave
Cinnabar Honey

Brickhouserugcenter.com is proud to offer this beautiful collection of area rugs. One of the favorites of the Brick House blogger is the Basketweave collection. This collection will enhance the style of any room. The Basketweave cotton chenille braids were inspired by the traditional design in The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Collection, and best of all, these rugs are made in the USA! Another, very traditional pattern is called Filigree, it is a plush hand tufted 100% wool rug, made in India.

Looking for the perfect in-door/ out-door rug to add beauty to your sun room or front porch, check out the Garden Maze collection, also inspired by Colonial Williamsburg.

Brick House Antique Center
Palmyra, NY

Any of these rugs will add decorative beauty to your home along with primitive antique furniture and household items. Brick House Antique Center, located in Palmyra, NY has 2 floors of quality antiques. If you are trying to design a room full of classic furnishings full of history, please stop in or shop online at: www.brickhouseantiques.com

Lazy hammock day inspires rug design

2011-09-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

Hammock rug offered by brickhousergcenter.com

Decorating inspired by the thought of relaxing in a hammock on a beautiful autumn day. This thought was the inspiration used by the designers when they created the new rug collection called Hammock by Capel rugs.

The Hammock Rug is made by using a unique combination of construction techniques, which add texture and visual interest to enhance each rug. Hammock is reversible, won’t shrink, is colorfast and resists water, mold and mildew. The Hammock rug is perfect for in-door or out-doors patio settings. And best of all these rugs are made in the USA!!

Hammock Rugs are available in five different color way, there’s sure to be one to compliment any area in your home. We love Spa if you’re more partial to blues or Camel if you would like a more neutral tone. Outdoor living rooms are a big trend this year, and Hammock is the perfect addition to any outdoor space. So stretch out in your own hammock and relax—we’ve got you covered.

We are excited to offer such a versatile rug to add decorative harmony to your living area. When thinking of decorating that relaxing or casual space in your home, take a minute to shop through the pages at www.brickhouserugcenter.com or visit our retail store Brick House Antique Center in Palmyra, NY to look at the area rugs we offer in our rug center.

Decorating with Antiques

2011-09-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

Tip #1.) Put thought into how you group antiques together. Group antiques in odd numbers. It may seem funny, but odd numbers are more appealing to the eye! Marketers know this and that’s why they price things at $3.99 instead of an even $4.00. Landscapers also know this and often group trees, bushes and other shrubbery into groups of 5, 7, 9 etc. It is simply more appealing to the eyes.

Fiesta ware

Tip#2.) Don’t scatter antiques and don’t crowd them together. Don’t crowd too many antiques together and don’t scatter miscellaneous antiques throughout a room. Make a smooth flow of antiques from left to right. Crowding similar items together will make your room look cluttered.

Tip#3.) Group similar objects together. If you have Fiesta ware displayed on the shelves, don’t have one shelf full of antique dolls, then another full of Fiesta, then another full of something else. Don’t split shelves up with unrelated items.

Tip #4.) Stick with the theme of the room. Don’t have one portion of the room be dedicated to Victorian pieces, and the other portion with primitive furniture. It would disrupt the flow and feeling of your room.

I hope these tips are helpful to you when you are decorating and looking for items to add to your collection. When looking for new pieces stop in at The Brick House Antique Center in Palmyra, NY or shop online: www.brickhouseantiques.com.

Hall China

2011-09-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

We are frequently asked “Do you have any Hall dishes”? Hall China, made by the Hall China Company of East Liverpool, Ohio, is very collectible. The most desired patterns are those made in the early 1930’s and late 1960’s. To properly identify a piece of Hall China, more than one name is often necessary. Most items will have a pattern name, such as Autumn Leaf or Red Poppy. In addition to the pattern name, individual pieces in a pattern will also usually have a shape name. An example of this is a red poppy tea pot might be an Aladdin or New York tea pot. They are both tea pots, but are different styles and shapes.

My feature photo displays 2 patterns that we have available at the Brick House Antique Center. A covered casserole in the Gaillardia pattern “Radiance” style, and many pieces from the Silhouette or (Tavern) pattern. The Silhouette pattern is an all back decal containing two figures seated at a table on two high-back bench-like chairs.

Pick a pattern you like and start collecting. What a fun way to spend weekends shopping at Antique stores, flea market, or thrift shops looking for the next addition for your collection.

Made in the USA

2011-09-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

I recently watch a TV news show with interest. The subject line was a family that had agreed to allow the reporters to remove everything from their home that was not made me the USA. I was surprised to see the family return to an empty home. I said to my daughter, “if they had shopped at the Brick House Antique Center, they would have rooms full of stuff”. My husband and I own and operate the Brick House Antique Center in Palmyra, NY. We purchase the items we sell from auctions and household sales in the area. We specialize in quality antiques, most which are made in this part of the country! Some items, like Hall pottery, is marked USA. Other items have no markings, but we can identify the part of the country that they were made by the type of wood and style. We have Lyon’s jugs for sale which are highly collectible and were made 20 miles or so down Rt 31 in Lyons NY.

We recently added a new line of area rugs. The braid rugs are made in North Carolina! These beautiful rugs are made with the finest wool, cotton and performance blend fibers. Please take time to look through our website: www.brickhouserugcenter.com to see the variety of rugs we offer.

When you are thinking about redecorating a room in your home, challenge yourself to purchase items made in the USA. Another challenge----shop in Antique stores, flea markets, and thrift stores. If you make a purchase you will be recycling and reusing unwanted items. Let’s work together to keep Americans employed, and our planet as green as possible.

Buy American made!!! Recycle and reuse!!!

That’s all for now from the Brick House Blogger.

Recycle and Reuse!

2011-09-15T12:43:00.000-04:00

In this tough economy I know that many of us are looking for creative ways to add charm and character to our homes. It can be very expensive to purchase new items at department stores. Many of the customers we service at Brick House Antique Center are looking for used items to decorate rooms in their homes. I recently ran across an article in a magazine where they took old house shutters, cut them down, and made them into a glass top table! What a great idea. We have many sizes and styles of shutters available. They sell in our store from $6.00-$20.00. I have also had customers purchase shutters for room dividers or a decorative area to hang artwork or linens.

Shutters and other items availabe at the Brick House Antique Center

Our Antique Store is filled with 2 floors of recycled items, once loved by one or many families. We search high and low in many of the surrounding towns and counties in Western New York to find antique’s that we can purchase to sell to our customers. We have fun doing it, and enjoy offering such a great variety of items to the public. We offer many of the items on our website: www.brickhohouseantiques.com. Visit us on line, or stop in to see us at The Brick House Antique Center, 247 East Main St. Palmyra, NY

Loving Lodge Décor

2011-09-12T11:25:00.002-04:00

A Cozy Lodge or Cabin retreat gives many a feeling of comfort and peacefulness. These looks can be duplicated an any home in any part of the country. Much of the Lodge decorating originated in the forest regions of Europe and Scandinavia. Log-building and woodworking skills date back to medieval times. When immigrants fled from Europe for the New World they left much behind, but they did bring along their skills at log crafting.

Lodge decorating does not have to be expensive to duplicate. You can find many treasures at local Antique shops, or Flea markets. Thrift stores are also a great place to search for gently used items that will fill that décor gap in your home.

At the Brick House Antique Center, in Palmyra NY, you can browse the 2 floors of antiques and find cabin decor from hand carved decoy’s, vintage snow shoes, wooden boat oars, and lanterns. Let your imagination help you design a room full of Lodge décor that you and our family can enjoy every day! Featured below is a sample of the Cabin Retreat rug we offer. This is one of our best selling area rugs. Lodge cabin décor seems to be all the rage! Let us help create a cozy family room full of lodge decor. Give us a call or log onto one of our websites: www.brickhouseantiques.com , www. Brickhouserugcenter.com., Call us toll free at: 888-999-3883.

Where are the customers?

2009-10-09T16:09:00.000-04:00

It has been an extremely slow week here at the Brick House Antique Center. I guess the autumn weather is keeping people at home.

I recently heard on one of the morning talk shows that self employed people were the happiest people on earth! I guess we are happy because we are doing what we love. I don’t know where the average self employed store owner in small town America is on the income scale, but weeks like this make it seem more like the bottom than the top. Summer brings us visitors from all over the USA and some as far away as Australia! Not many visitors this time of year.

Leafs are falling, snow will be next. I am going to walk down to the Erie Canal this weekend and get some photos to share.

A glimpse into the Brick House Antique Center

My thoughts on Scams and Craig’s list!

2009-09-30T10:46:00.001-04:00

If you are thinking about posting items on Craig’s list, take a couple minutes to read my comments. I have been posting items on Craig’s list that also appear on http://www.brickhouseantiques.com/

I don’t have much positive to say about the buyer client that responds to my postings on Craig’s list. I consider most of them scams. What I did not realize when I started this, is that when I post to Rochester, NY the listing is still on the word wide web, and can be seen by anyone who is looking for new postings. 99% of the time when I post I get 2 to 3 inquiries that go something like this:

1st email: Hello, is this item still available? I reply yes it is. 2nd email. I am interested and my new wife and I are going on vacation. Will you please take the item off Craig’s list? I will pay you $50.00 extra for your trouble. And you do not have to worry about shipping; I will have my delivery person pick it up. I will send you the money when I get back home. So please send me your information so I can make payment. And they proceed to ask me for my personal info. BIG RED FLAG. If you are posting, do not provide your information to anyone.

I also get this kind of scam. The buyer agrees to pay your price. Informs me that they have sent a check, and expect me to send item when funds are received. (Which is what I would expect to do). Prior to the funds arriving, they send another email stating the the person who wrote the check made it out for $450.00 instead of $45.00. And ask me to wire the difference into their account. NEVER WIRE FUNDS. I believe the check they send you will not clear, and if you have already wired your money to them, it will be gone! And I have never received one of those checks that were in the mail!

That's all for now from the Brick House Blogger!

PS-I have posted new items and reduced prices on a couple of items this week at: http://www.brickhouseantiques.com/

Canal town days bigger and better than ever!

2009-09-21T14:22:00.000-04:00

Wow what a beautiful weekend!

Canal town days bigger and better than ever! Mother Nature was on our side this time. It was in the mid 70’s both Sat and Sunday. Shoppers were enjoying the food, great variety of venders, and of course all the beautiful antiques that fill the 2 floors of the Brick House Antique Center. I have been told that it was a record breaking car show with 234 cars in show. I did not get much time to check them out, but I did get a couple photos from the store.

Are we still in recession? That is always the big question. Customers this weekend were in good spirits and spending money. Sales were not quiet as good as the past couple years, but not bad! Our local Canal Town Committee volunteers work year round to bring this event to our town, and we as merchants want to give them a big THANK YOU. I am sure that Palmyra, NY is not unlike many other small towns in America. It takes all the residence, volunteers, and government agencies to make these kinds of events happen. They can be a big boost to the local economy, and lot’s of fun too.

That’s all for now. Make it a good week!

The Brick House Blogger!

Looking forward to Canal Town Days!

2009-09-18T14:23:00.000-04:00

Hello from the Brick House Blogger, It is a chilly day in Palmyra, NY. I think it is about 65 degrees. We are gearing up for are yearly Canal Town Days! It is a BIG deal for our town. If the weather is nice we might have 50,000 visitors ready to eat, shop and enjoy! The antique car show and parade are a big hit. We are located just feet from the Erie Canal! What a beautiful part of history we enjoy all year long.

The Brick House Antique Center is having a store wide dot sale. The dot color indicated the percentage off. Red 50%, green 40%, yellow 30% and blue 20%. Customer love to discover a new treasure with a wonderful discount.

What’s new at www.brickhouseantiques.com? I posted a beautiful tapestry today. It is approximately 110 years old and is priced at $975.00 (which includes shipping, packaging and insurance) Also this week we featured a beautiful European Mandolin. Log on and check them out!

Than's all for now from the Brick House Blogger.

Auction Road Trip

2009-03-03T18:22:00.002-05:00

Auction Road Trip!

The alarm went off at 5:00 am. Up and out we go!

Many customers ask “where do you get all this great stuff?” I always reply, we have to go find it. We purchase at household sales, we purchase from people who call or walk in with items they no longer want, and we go to lots of auctions! Sunday we took a 2 hr. drive south through the Finger Lakes wine country to Candor, NY. Our destination: Bostwick Auctions & Gallery. They hold an antique auction on the 1st Sunday of every month. We arrived just a couple minutes after 8:00, had to wait in line to get our bidding number and then started looking through all the merchandise. What a selection they had! The auctions started around 9:15, and I did say auctions, they start the day with 2 auctions. One outside, it was only about 20 degrees and snowing that morning, and one inside. I enjoy the inside auction of hundreds of box lots, Bob was the lucky one who had to be outside until shortly after noon! He did step in a couple of times to get warm and take my goodies to the truck! When they are done with the so called projects from the barn outside, the auction continues inside for the remainder of the day. We called it a day around 5:00, and they still had stuff to sell!

Tips to have an enjoyable auction experience:

Ø Come prepared to spend many entertaining hours
Ø Bring a chair, sometimes they are not provided
Ø Have proper identification so you can get a bidding number
Ø Know the terms of sale, some auctions don’t accept charge cards
Ø Arrive at least one hour prior to starting time. Items are sold in as is condition. You must preview and know what you are purchasing. I always take notes, and mark a price range on my card so I know what I am willing to pay. The auctioneer will sell items very quickly so you need to be prepared to put your card in the air if you want the item.
Ø Pay attention: the auctioneer may sell 6 chairs for 6 times the money. That means if you pay $100.00 that is for each chair! You will be charged $600.00 for the set.
Ø One more important note, if you go to Bostwick’s go hungry, the food is fantastic!

Until next time: The Brick House Blogger!

2009-02-21T07:30:00.002-05:00

Hello! It's a cold Friday afternoon in Palmyra, NY. The Brick House Blogger wanted to give you a look into the Brick House Antique Center. We have 2 floors of quality antiques.

I know the news of the economy is not positive, but remember, we have quality items at affordable prices! Everything sold in our store is recycled from another family. We don't purchase anything new. In this economy where going green is a good thing, take time to shop through http://www.brickhouseantiques.com/. If you see anything you might like, you can call us and we will answer any questions you might have.

Purchase an Antique; it is an investment that can be enjoyed for generations!!

Until next time….. The Brick House blogger.

2009-02-03T18:15:00.002-05:00

Hi, it’s me again, the Brick House Blogger is back, and I can’t believe I dropped this for a year. I guess that is what happens when live gets busy!

2008 Ended on a positive note for the Brick House Antique Center and www.brickhouseantiques.com. We are really proud of that with all that is going on with the economy.

My blogging call out is for everyone to recycle, reuse, and save money. That is what we do everyday at the Brick House Antique Center. All the merchandise we sell is previously loved by another family.

Shop local, shop at stores that recycle products. GO GREEN, shop at merchants that are making a difference. You will be shocked to see how much money you can save!

If you are interested in buying or selling antiques, please stop by our store, or shop on line at www.brickhouseantiques.com FREE SHIPPING on all Internet orders!

I'll be back soon, I promise! The Brick House Blogger.

February 17, 2008

2008-02-17T22:16:00.002-05:00

Well this week has been an interesting internet marketing/selling week. Beware of Scamers, they really are out there looking to take advantage on anyone. I received an email from a very nice person from one of my Craig list postings. She wanted to purchase an item and offered to pay $20.00 extra if I would immediately remove the item from the internet. She was going to mail me a money order and then pick the item up after I received payment. I thought that was fair, and gave them the address of the Brick House Antique Center, took the item off the shelf, and waited for the money order. Two days went buy and I received an Email stating that the buyer had her assistant send the payment, and there was an error, an over payment!!!! She requested that I cash the money order and wire transfer her the difference. She would not give me her address to mail a check to her. Within 3 hrs. I received another email form another person with the exact wording and terms of payment for another item. ( I began to realize that this was a SCAM!) I guess the scammers print fake money orders. That is why they request a wire transfer for the overpayment. Once you cash the money order, it will take a few days to be notified by your bank that it was a fake. Your cash is gone!--the scammers have your money! Please be careful, and don't trust anyone.

That's all for now from the Brick House Blogger.

February 9,2008

2008-02-09T20:04:00.000-05:00

Hi, I'm back. It's been a while, things have been BUSY! Well one thing I can tell you is that there doesn't seem to be a recession in auction houses! We went to an auction last weekend and could not believe what thing were going for. We purchased a few new items currently for sale at the Brick House Antique Center. My favoriate thing is a painted grain blanket chest dated to the late 1800's. We also picked up metal snow birds. They were used in the early 1900's to keep snow from melting off the roofs. Keep checking brickhouseantiques.com for new items. That's all for now from the Brick House Blogger.

January 24,2008

2008-01-24T20:11:00.000-05:00

I'm back! It's been another busy week at the Brick House Antique Center. Lot's of new items posted. Splint baskets, a small wooden pantry box, A couple very affordable pink luster ware cups and saucers, and a couple pieces of Blue Willow. Check out the linens posted, quilt top, table cloths and more!

The weather has been bitter cold here in Palmyra, NY. I don't think we even made it to 32 degrees today. I am ready for spring, and the auctions to start again.

The Wayne County Star published a nice article about the Brick House Antique Center. They are reporting on the Palmyra Antique Trail. If you are in the area, pick it up!!!

I hope you are having a great week.

That's all for now from the Brick House Blogger.

January 17,2008

2008-01-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

The end of another busy day!

We have lots of new items available at brickhouseantiques.com. I worked on the site for many hours today. Betsy one of our dealers brought in some beautiful vintage linens. check them out, my favorite it the Tea Dress, it is in fantastic condition and beautiful!

It was a cold day in upstate NY. I don't think it got over 35 degrees, it is snowing now!

I attended and enjoyed a free seminar this evening put on by our local Historical Society. It was a talk on Buffalo Pottery and The Larkin Co. A few highlights: The Larkin Co was founded in 1875 by John Larkin. In 1878 Elbert Hubbard became a partner, they revolutionized the idea of selling directly to the consumer with a catalogue. I wonder what they would think about all this Internet business! The Buffalo Pottery factory opened in 1901 at Seneca and Hayes St. in neighboring Buffalo, NY. During WWI Buffalo Pottery only made hotel china to be used on all the Navy ships. After his retirement from the Larkin Co in 1893 Elbert Hubbard set up the Roycrofters in East Aurora, NY. The Roycroft movement influenced the design and manufacture of Stickley Furniture in Syracuse, NY. Buffalo China is still made today, mostly as commercial ware for hotels, Restaurants and the armed forces. This interesting seminar was put on by Dean George, owner of another antique shop in Pamyra, The Palmyra Canal Shop and Towpath Antique Center.

That's all for now from the Brick House Blogger!

first blog

2008-01-15T21:53:00.000-05:00

I am new at all of this blogging Stuff, but I think it will be Fun!!! My husband Bob and I are the owners of Brick House Antique Center in Palmyra NY. We opened our doors in March 2005. Bob has been collecting for 20 years or so!!!! At it was time to make this hobby work for us. We purchase an old brick building, renovated it, and here we are! We are working to make this business more than a hobby business, so we have now launched www.brickhoueantiques.com!! I just found us on page 2 of Google!!! In the world of internet marketing that is a great success!!! Hard work does pay off!!! Please check out our site, and let me know what you think.