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The Vintage Vertigo Team ~ An Etsy Team Spirit Finalist
I think I am the only person with a shop on Etsy.com with a graduate degree in Art who does not make anything! I discovered Etsy through my love of vintage. Between Etsy and my day job there isn’t much time left for anything else. I may vacuum once in awhile and glide around my home with a feather duster. Clearly not as often as I should. Anyway, I’m off on a tangent already. Getting back to the Art thing, although I don’t paint these days, I am a magpie for anything arty: oil paintings, watercolors, embroidery, drawings. You name it and I’ll buy it. I like to hang them around my home when I first purchase them, leave them there for six months or so and when something new comes along, I list them for sale in my Etsy store.
As much as I love Art in general, I have a weakness for Edwardian watercolors. I simply adore their dream like quality, and neutral color palettes. They are the sort of paintings you can find yourself lost in. Five minutes often pass by as I stop to gaze at one hung in my hallway, when I was meant to be putting away the laundry! This is a classic example of a neutral color pallet. The warm, earthy tones suit any interior. The moonlit reflections on the calm sea imbue a feeling of peace.
I love how a painting can raise so many questions: is the moon rising at the end of the day or setting as a new day begins? What adventures have besieged these seafaring folk? Have they just set off or are they returning home? Where does the artist fit into this painted story? Then my thoughts flair towards the dramatic: are they pirates, smugglers and ne’er-do-wells? Robbing the rich to line their own pockets. Gold, jewels, spices and cocoa…
The name of this painting is ‘Moonlight on the Scotch Coast’. And how pleasant a title, which befits my imaginings perfectly. If you look closely, you'll notice that it is featured in my shop banner!
A recent weekend trip to Niagara Falls got me thinking about all the people throughout the world who have been traveling to see the majestic water falls for centuries. Although many people choose Niagara Falls as a vacation spot, many travel there to honeymoon.
So although I was there on a beautiful summer weekend for a family reunion, I found myself searching the crowds wondering who was there for a more romantic reason.
Perhaps a seat by the falls reading poetry to your new spouse:
You can't visit Niagara Falls without knowing it's the honeymoon capital of the world! It all began in 1801 when Aaron Burr's daughter honeymooned there, followed by Napoleon's brother, Jerome, in 1804.
Early honeymoons began as a European tradition so the bridal couple could get to know one another better, show off their new status, or visit far flung relatives who could not travel to the wedding ceremony. Travel also may have included places where the groom had visited as a bachelor and wanted to revisit with his new bride. These trips were called the Grand Tour and usually involved travel throughout Europe for the upper classes. Traveling to Niagara Falls would have been quite an adventure in those early days, but once travel became easier in the 19th century, Niagara Falls became a popular destination for thousands of love birds who flocked there.
No grand tour would be complete without lots of luggage:
Since 1949 the mayor of Niagara Falls has signed close to a million honeymoon certificates that documents the newlyweds' travel to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon.
Even Marilyn Monroe made a trip to the falls as she played a honeymooner in the 1953 movie, Niagara, a thriller which has enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Today if you were a bride and groom there on your honeymoon, you would be one of 12 million visitors to pay a summer visit to the falls.
Modern day honeymooners would find plenty of things to do while visiting sites such as the Cave Of The Winds and Maid of the Mist on the U.S. side and a very large buffet with a beautiful view of the falls at the Falls View Casino or a romantic horse and buggy ride on the Canadian side.
While at the falls take a ride on the Maid Of The Mist:
So although a lot has changed through the centuries about Niagara Falls, it is still the mighty Niagara that has been welcoming honeymooners for centuries.
Tell us a little about the person behind the scenes at Queens Park Vintage.
"I am Emily Taylor, the person behind Queens Park Vintage. I live on the south coast of England, not far from the sea and the New Forest National Park. It is a lovely place to live and also rather convenient when it comes to buying vintage goodies. There are plenty of car boot sales, markets and auctions to attend. I live with my three boys and teach part time at my local school. When I find time for a social life after work, family and Etsy, I can often be found at Jive dance nights. I love partner dancing; it’s sociable and great exercise!"
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What does vintage mean to you?
"My rule of thumb when it comes to selling vintage is that if it is old and in good condition, someone, somewhere, will buy it. It doesn’t matter if I like it or not. Someone will. It took a while to get used to this concept as it is only natural to buy and sell items you find pleasing."
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How did you come to name your shop?
"I wanted a regal and very English name for my Etsy shop. I am a huge fan of the British monarchy and I believe they have a universal appeal. As the majority of my stock is English it made sense to incorporate it into my name. Queens Park is also a suburb in the seaside town of Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, near to where I live."
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What do you find most challenging in your hunt for vintage goods?
"The weather!"
"I do most of my buying at car boot sales, which involves trudging around muddy fields at dawn. If it’s raining, no one will be there! Another challenge which is also an appeal is that you never know what you are going to find. I jokingly refer to it as treasure hunting – what booty will I return home with? I have no idea before I go outside!"
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Your shop offers a nice variety of items, Do you have a favorite?
"I do favor artwork and paintings. I have a combined Art and Education degree and qualified as an Art specialist teacher. I’m probably the only artist on Etsy that doesn’t sell their own work!"
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Where else can one go to find and see more about Queens Park Vintage?
"You can find Queens Park Vintage at the following:"
"No but when I was a child on holiday, we used to knock on beach hut doors and run away. We called this game ‘Knock Knock Ginger’. We thought it was hilarious but I doubt the residents did!"
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Yes or no to the "5 second" food on the floor rule? Why?
"Yes because I have three boys who eat like giants. Plus they’re always on the go. I’d end up throwing too much food away if abided by that rule! And no one enjoys the company of hungry children!"
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Living or deceased, what famous person would you like to have lunch with?
"Jane Austen who wrote my favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. She wrote it in 1813 and it became the formula for modern romance novels – the whole, will they/won’t they thing. So many romance stories follow her plots, just look at Bridget Jones’s Diary. And of course, I have to admit to being secretly in love with Mr Darcy...
Not so secretly now though!"
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If Guiness asked you to set a world record, what category would it be and why?
"Hmm, something to do with dancing. Music is always played in my home and I am always dancing to places rather than walking: dance to kitchen, back to the lounge, out to the garden, to bed... Maybe I could set a world record for length of time dancing, rather than walking!"
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We hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little about Emily and please be sure to visit her Etsy shop...
