Late Summer in Camden Maine

Labor Day weekend in Camden, Maine, meant the annual Windjammer Festival. The town was bustling with tourists, taking in a final weekend before returning home to the structure and routines of Fall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful wooden schooners graced the harbor. Concerts were held in the park.

Boat builders, crafters, food vendors, artists and musicians complimented the gorgeous harbor views and salty air.

 

 

 

Is that a pirate??  Aye!!

And thankfully I have a patient husband who waited outside while I strolled through the various shops and boutiques.  (He's the handsome one the left of course!)

 

 

The highlight of the visit was the Camden Merchants Showcase.  Housed in the former Camden Cinema this group shop offers everything from tin to Tiffany, country, European and vintage furniture, to art, jewelry, ephemera, vintage clothing, textiles, tools and much more.

 

 

The Showcase features a variety of coastal memorabilia in keeping with its location.

 

 

 

Take a look at some of the inviting arrangements. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

 

I couldn't help but wonder about the love stories these pictures would tell if they only could talk. Were they off to war? Did they break a heart or two?

And imagine my surprise when I turned the corner to see! Poof! My fantasies of love and romance were soon gone.

This old Singer sewing machine is just like the one my mother used to sew my clothes when I was a little girl. It was an antique but it was a workhorse. 

 

 

 

 

My favorite part of the Camden Merchants Showcase was the "Home on the Range" room chocked full of cowboy boots and western ware! I thought I was dreaming!

More to come on this later. It's worthy of a posting of its own!

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this stroll through the Camden Merchants Showcase. Drop me a line and let me know what you thought!   

 

 

 

 

 Until next time.... 

 



Vintage Opulance- Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine

A trip to the Victoria Mansion in downtown Portland, Maine, seemed like the perfect Gypsy Girl Vintage Adventure on a sunny July afternoon.

The Victoria Mansion is known as one of the greatest 19th-century houses in the United States. Located in the heart of Portland's waterfront district, it stands as a reminder of the city's wealthiest citizens who built grand homes of brick and brownstone during the pre-Civil War area.

Courtesy: victorianmansion.org

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, the Mansion was built between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse,  a Maine native who made his fortune in New Orleans as the proprietor of luxury hotels.  Ruggles was from Leeds and his wife Olive was born in the Gray/New Gloucester area.

Architect Henry Austin of New Haven, Connecticut, designed this majestic structure with an asymmetrical plan, low-pitched roofs, a soaring, square tower, and rich detail. The Victoria Mansion exemplifies the Italian villa style that was fashionable in the mid-nineteenth century. This picturesque style was intended to convey a blending of city and country life, so it was especially suited to Morse's summer retreat in an urban setting.

Courtesy: victoriamansion.org

To decorate his summer retreat, Morse hired Gustave Herter, a German-trained cabinetmaker and interior designer who immigrated to New York City in 1848. Herter Brothers, which he founded, was to become the most influential design firm in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. The interiors are lavishly decorated with carved wood details, painted surfaces to mimic wood, trump l'oeil and damask painted walls, themed rooms with grand furniture, Italian marble fireplaces and stain glass sky lights.

Courtesy: victoriamansion.org

Morse died in 1893 and the following year his widow sold the house with most of its furnishings to J.R. Libby, a prominent dry goods merchant. The Libby family preserved the original decor and made few changes to the property. They occupied the Mansion until about 1929. After a hurricane damaged the Mansion in 1938, its future was in peril.

In 1940 it was scheduled to be demolished and replaced by a gas station when retired educator Dr. William H. Holmes purchased the property to save it. With his sister, Clara Holmes, he opened the building to the public in 1941 as a museum in honor of Queen Victoria. Today, Victoria Mansion, Inc. is the non-profit organization who owns and operates the building as a historic house museum.

The Victoria Mansion is a magnificent example of America's highest aspirations in architecture, interior design, and the decorative arts. It is truly an example of vintage splendor and opulence!

The mansion is open for guided tours during the summer and fall, and for self-guided tours during the December holiday season, which I hear is fabulous. I can just imagine how beautiful it is decorated for the holiday. I will be sure to return again in December!

Antique Adventure in Brunswick's Fort Andross

This weekend's Gypsy Girl Adventure took us to a beautifully restored textile mill on the Androscoggin River in Brunswick, Maine. Located across the bridge from its sister town, Topsham, both communities are rich in history and former mill towns.



Resource: www.thebollard.com

The former textile mill we visited is known to locals as Fort Andross. This historic brick structure, once known as the Cabot Mill, was built in 1688 and had been the home for manufacturers of cotton cloth, woolen broadcloth, synthetics, shoes, brushes and woven fiberglass. But like most textile mills, time and technology took its toll and the textile mill no longer serves its original purpose.

In recent years, major renovations to the mill complex has included modern office space and has attracted nonprofits, architectural, engineering and law firms, restaurants, conservation groups, antique and flea market dealers and artists. The mill is now known at "Fort Andross."

And of course, my favorite place in the mill is  Cabot Mill Antiques. This multi-dealer emporium features more than 160 beautiful displays of antique and vintage furniture, glasswear, jewelry, clothing, linens, artwork and much, much more.

This beautiful hanging sign greats you as you enter the antique mall.  Large windows along the front  help illuminate cut glass plates, McCoy pottery,  stained glass windows, oil lamps....

and plaster statues waiting to be brought home to a cottage garden.

I must say we had to laugh at this little item.  It's "a horror movie in  box" I told my friend. We affectionately named him "Chuckles."

But for the Gypsy Girl, there are linens and lace, buttons, vintage costume jewelry, shabby chic furniture and plenty of angels and cherubs.

Every nook and cranny is filled with a vintage surprise! I wanted something from every booth, but my budget only allowed for a few vintage linens, some doilies and buttons.  I was happy! 

By the end of our walk through the emporium we were a bit tired, but all the better for a chance to see some beautiful and interesting antiques and collectibles.  Thanks for joining me Nancy!

Sunday afternoon in Hallowell

Today's trip was to Hallowell - The Antique Capital of Central Maine.  This historic river front town is located on the Kennebec River with many fine restaurants, pubs, antique shops, clothing and Maine-made craft shops, and an old bookstore or two. 

Its beautifully preserved 18th and 19th century storefronts along Water Street welcome visitors to stop, park and stroll down the sidewalks, stop for lunch, a cup of coffee, or to wander through the fascinating shops.

Our destination today was the Hallowell Antique Mall with booths from over 80 dealers showcasing furniture, estate jewelry, dolls, linens, old tools, silver, gold, toys, art, and much more.

As usual, I was on the hunt for vintage linens and costume jewelry, ephemera and old photos, vintage sewing notions and this time of year, a decoration or two for my garden. I was not disappointed!

I love these vintage adventures. Every dish has a story, every vase has a memory, every table has a reason. And some things, well you just have to wonder...like what these dolls have been up to!

I found some vintage lace, an old paperweight, and my favorite find was a vintage silver jewelry box. It is a perfect place to store my Gypsy Girl Designs jewelry and will make a great prop for product photos for my website.

It was a wonderful place to spend a beautiful spring day!

We will return soon!

Antique Mall Adventure

We spent an entire afternoon at the Fairfield Antiques Mall in Fairfield, Maine.  The building was once a chicken barn and from the outside seems like an average size antiques mall.

But it's not average, by any means. It's actually Maine's biggest antiques mall and probably one of the most fun to visit!

And did I say the biggest? 

Over 100 dealers showcase their wares in this multi-level experience. I saw everything from dishes, vintage linens and furniture, to cigar Indians, furniture and old bicycles.   You name it, it  is in here!

This booth's romantic style vignette was straight out of a vintage style magazine.  So much to see... white wash furniture, floral pictures, sweet little lamps, teapots, linens and much more.

I found some fabulous vintage doilies, a beautiful soft pink damask linen table cloth and the cutest Victorian lady thread holder.

I'm not sure what I will do with the linen table cloth and doilies but I suspect a scarf or two will be in the making this week!

 

This sign says it all. I can't wait to return to see what else I can find!