Tell us a bit about you and your
shop
My Name is Martha and I have been
selling vintage now since about 1993. I
am married to a wonderful guy…Tony and together we have 3 children. Our oldest, Aubrey helps us out with our
vintage shows and our youngest has helped me out with his “ modelling” talents
as of late. In our home, nothing sits in
one place for long… so if they are sitting, I might use them as a photo prop or
model!
Where else can we find you?
I can be found at local markets, The Vintage Bazaar Chicago, Hob Nob market in
Southern Illinois, Viva’s Vintage Market in Door County, Elkhorn and sometimes at Kane County Flea
market. I am on all of the social media
sites as OpendoorStudio including facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest and
more.
Where did you get your love of
vintage from?
I think having
grandparents who had delightful things when I was younger helped. I have fond memories of visiting them and
playing with their collections, my grandma had a jar of vintage marbles for us
to play with when we came and I grew up playing dress up in lovely chiffon
dresses from the 40s… with my cousins in the well lit attic at my grandmothers
home in Narberth Pennsylania.
Do you have a vintage obsession,
for instance, I am totally addicted to vintage glasses, I have way too many?
I LOVE milk glass vases in collections and I
LOVE all things colorful. I have a globe
collection with too many to count. I love
things with words on them and paintings bright and colorful to add to my
collections.
What’s the strangest item you
have ever found?
Hmm… in terms of
strangest well, I don’t call it strange…
but some folks might think so… I have several old lube barrels that I picked up
from my brother in laws old trucking company…. They were on the grounds there
for a long time and when I saw them I knew they had to be in my home and
repurposed as side tables! Pop a piece
of glass on top and… there you have it! Metal, colorful, graphic and
functional!
What is your favourite item in
your shop?
Right now I would have to say
the photos of my son in the “Mad Men “ style ties. I am enjoying seeing them placed in some
beautiful treasuries lately!
Tell us what you love about your favourite
era?
As I age, my era ages with me… I
LOVED the primitive style in the 80s… the shabby style of the 90’s the
industrial style in the 2000’s and NOW I am into the Danish modern styles. I have a real mix in my home. Very eclectic I would say… I still adore my
colourful kitchen filled with dishware from the 1940s. I would say, like Anita,
if I had been born at a different time… I missed the boat by about 20
years. BUT it is pretty cool to have
lived in California in the 1960s even though I was just a child… little did I
know what was going on just miles from my home…on the streets of San Francisco.
( a place I adore and another factor as to why I love things from the past…
fond memories all!)
What advice would you give to
people just starting out?
Take it
slow, Ask for help, Learn what you are
able from others who LOVE vintage and have fun!
Is there anything you wished you
had done differently?
NOPE. I feel
everything I have done in my past has lead me to where I am today… and I am
happy to report all in all, that is a pretty great place to be! ( oh… something
just came to mind… I would have asked my grandma’s, grandpa’s and parents about
their lives … and to have them write down their favorite recipes.. I wish I had
them now!) … there is a great book by
Bob Greene called “ To our Children’s Children” a wonderful step by step
question book… it is a lovely way to share with friends and family
If you could learn something new
what would it be and why?
I feel I learn
something new every day! However, I
would love to learn to silk screen. I
adore art and that is one thing I think I would have fun doing.
Where is your most favourite
place on Earth?
I have been lucky to
have travelled to almost every state in the US ( not Alaska, North Dakota,
Massachusetts or Vermont) but I hope to some day… and I have travelled with my
grand parents to England, Switzerland and Italy. I would love to go to Italy again some day!
I’m a massive pizza fan, what
would be your dream pizza topping?
I
just devoured a Lou Malnatti’s pan Pizza… it is the BEST deep dish pizza in
Chicago. Cheese, lots of chunky tomato
topping and a patty of Sausage… some fresh mushrooms on the top would have been
YUMMY too!
What would your pirate name be?
I
am sure I would be booted off the gangplank for being too nice a pirate! Maybe “STASH” cause I like to stash things
away…aaarrrggg!
What question do wish I had asked
and what would you answer be?
Well… how
about… What is my favorite restaurant EVER… I would have to say… a toss up.. my
first fav for environment and food would be El Encanto in Cave Creek Arizona…
so lovely! AND my most fav for the food
is a lovely place called SUSHI MONO in Wheaton Illinois… Use my name there and
MAX might just do something special for you! Now I am hungry. You got me
started with the question about pizza.
Thank you Martha for a wonderful interview.
Love this interview and love Martha. She is an inspiration and a best friend.
ReplyDeleteAnd..you must see the inside of her house. It is so Martha!
Thank you Chantal, for the opportunity ! YOU are the best!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Martha