The best products for cleaning vintage brass

Brass ram apple bracelet boots

Polishing off the patina on brass is somewhat controversial—a patina can look unpleasantly grody, but sometimes the buildup is desirable on older pieces. I’ll usually leave the patina on for antique brass pieces (like this hamsa bird finial) and go in with a good scrub for more modern figurines and statues. Personally, I love that … Read more

A recap of the Manteca Antique Fair

flyer of Manteca Antique fair

You’d think there wouldn’t be much going on in a city named after lard, but Manteca knows how to put on an event. This sleepy town throws a couple of fun festivals and markets throughout the year, including a watermelon festival, Christmas parade, and book fest. A while back, I inadvertently came across the Manteca … Read more

7 thrifted Valentine’s Day gift ideas

Flower bouquet brooch

As a singleton over the last few years, I haven’t given Valentine’s Day much thought. But lately, I’ve been finding myself getting a little gooey over the hearts and reds that have been permeating store displays in January. It’s my Venus in Libra calling to me, I think. I simply adore the cutesy, frilly symbols … Read more