Ebay Shopping: Action Figure Cricket Kit

Fancy a spot of cricket, Ken? Dress up your favorite action figure in proper cricket whites! Bids for this tiny set hover at GBP3.30 on British Ebay.

Ode to Laura Ashley

Oh how we love Laura Ashley. Oh how we love little girls wearing Laura Ashley dresses. Oh how we loved our mom when she made us wear these little flowery frocks! You just can't mess with a classic. It makes me think of 1985 all over again.

Songs We Love: The Beach Boys - Wouldn't it be Nice

An Afternoon Snack . . .

Can't mess with a classic. A peanut butter and banana sandwich. YUMMY IN THE TUMMY.

Ebay Shopping: Vintage Fly Wind Up Toy

Ewwwwwww!

Even though I hate bugs I just love this wind up toy from the 1920s/30s. Bids start at $175.00 so don't swat this one down.

Coney Island Chic

Even though the only thing on our radar this weekend was the launch of Hovey Vintage, other New Yorkers celebrated the annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island. My friend and fellow photographer, Bradford Robotham, took me for the first time two years ago and we followed in so many great photographers footsteps and tried to captured its essence and history. It's sad to think that this might be the last year. This 1938 Morris Engel print, Water Fountain Coney Island, is up for auction on Artnet -- bids are starting at $1,300.

HOVEY VINTAGE Comes to Life!

What fun we had yesterday!  HOVEY VINTAGE came to life on Saturday, in a simply ideal spot next to the adorable (and delicious) Bedford Cheese under a shade tree, against a lovely brick wall.  As soon as we re-stock our supplies, we'll be back! But if you have your eye on anything, drop us a line and we can arrange a pickup!  Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by!

  

HOVEY VINTAGE Finally Hits the Street!

Porter and I will finally be setting up our HOVEY VINTAGE shop on Bedford Ave. tomorrow morning to sell our small size early 20th century finds (and a few newer things, to boot!). We've got the ladybug soap box derby car from the spring Kate Spade ads! A 1959 pram! Riding boots! Riding pants! 1930s Navajo moccasins! A nearly perfect 1960s Smoky the Bear! Piles of 1920s-40s linen playsuits! Leiderhosen!

Look for us next to Catbird on Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg, between North 4th and North 5th Streets from about 10-6 on Saturday.

Family Reading Time

Grandpa Bill reading a story in to Hollister in California.

Summer Reading: Chris Van Alsburg

Our mom started a special tradition us girls and every year we would get to go to bookstore and she would buy us a special picture book that she wanted us to save for our children. Chris Van Allsburg was always a favorite. No other author has the power to transport children and adults alike to a different place and restore a special kind of innocence. These enchanting illustrations are from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick.

The Store: Vintage Hiking Boots with Red Laces

The Store: 1960s Smokey the Bear Plush Toy (Sold)

The Store: Old Bunny Slippers (Sold)

The Store: Gong Bell Mfg. Co. Voice Phone

The Store: Vintage Wooden Pull Toy from France

Ebay Shopping: Kids in Zepplin Pedal Cars

This was obviously coolest kid on the block with having THREE of these fantastic pedal cars. But you'll be even cooler if you pick up the ladybug soap box durby car that we're selling at Hovey Vintage. Bidding on this photograph is currently at $16.59.

Things We Love: European Breakfast! (Even The Kind We Can't Eat)

Breakfast is always the most delicious meal of the whole day.  We'd eat it for all our meals if we could!  These fabulous German wooden breakfast toys can let you enjoy part of the early morning meal pleasure any time, night or day.  Available at The Wooden Wagon for $26.50.

Ebay Shopping: F.D. Peter's Child's Skis

With temperatures soaring into insufferable territory this weekend, we have our minds set on chillier seasons. How fun would it be to need to bundle up and strap on a pair of these! These wooden skis are going for $6 on ebay.  You'll need to add the little straps and Alpine boots (red laces required).

Feeding Your Early-Life Crisis...

If you have a real need for speed and a bike won't do, this hot little number has to come in handy. Instead of a clutch, you get a set of pedals...and undoubtedly a lot of stares from the young ladies (if you're past that koodies business). It's currently parked in London and on view at 1stdibs.

Songs We Love: Long Lost Penpal

Just can't get enough of Hello Saferide, a great band from Sweden. Even though they're current, they evoke that nostalgic feeling of a time past. Their voices are from the heavens, much better then any lullaby.

Hello Do you remember me I am your long lost pen pal It must have been ten years ago we last wrote I don’t really know what happened I guess life came in the way Let me know if you’re still alive Let me know if you ever used that knife or not
Hello Yes I remember you I’ve got a husband and two children now I work as an accountant and make fairly good money I still have your letters, you used a pink pen to write them And you would comfort me when my tears would stain the ink

School's Out for Summer!

Let's starting down counting down the days until summer camp starts! Horseback riding, camp fires, smores, and perhaps that first crush. This photo is of our grandpa at camp in 1929.

Things We Love: Having Mom and Dad Drive Us Around in a Smiling Car

How great would it be if mom or dad picked you up from school in this happy British convertible from 1960? Or if they let you drive it when you turn 16...

Ebay Shopping: Indian and Egyptian Lead Soldiers

Militaries have done so much for fashion. What would Michael Jackson have done in the '80s. What would every American man do without khakis? The Egyptian and Indian armies had even better ideas. Look at these beautiful costumes! These British made lead soldiers are a must for any collector. Bidding is at £6.50 with less then a day to go on Ebay UK.

Ebay Shopping: Child's Folding Beach Chair

Despite it's allure, I've never been much of a beach person. Seaweed is slimy and gross...the sun burned me and left me looking like a dalmation...and most terribly, I always got sand in my bathing suit. If only my parents had thought to bring a vintage wooden folding chair with striped canvas to the shore! With stripes like these, you can make this weekend's trek to East Hampton feel more like a Riviera jaunt. It's only $14.99 on ebay.

Things We Love: Classic, White Keds

We had a long standing Hovey ritual every August: an annual excursion to buy new white Keds (which our mom still called U.S. Keds). Like white jeans, white canvas shoes get dirty by just looking at them and it took Hurculean energy and care to avoid any early-on-in-the-school-year Keds destruction. I still remember the heartache I felt after a fateful decision to get involved in a heated game of kickball on the first day of second grade, ruining my new bright treasures for all of '85/'86. Keds the company is unfortunately missing out on the hipster frenzy over copies of the tie up below, whilst they tinker with bad soles, odd shapes and heinous, gaudy patterns. We recommend staying with the original, even if the manufacturer doesn't appreciate its past like it should. The little baby ones go for $22.99, while the girl's and boys sizes run $24.99. Still quite a bargain if your kid promises to go no where near a kickball.

Things We Love: J. Tillman

Last week two wildly polite, handsome and talented Amsterdam-based design students crashed with us and gave us quite a music education. We thought we knew the singer-songwriter space pretty well, but we're years and years behind. They told us about J. Tillman, a guy who left New York for Seattle to sing like an angel on a different coast. Now we're telling you. Take a look at his other videos, as well. They're oh, so pretty!

Ebay Shopping: 19th c. Carved Carousel Horse

Daddy, I want a pony! You could probably buy a real horse for the price of this antique carousel one, but just think of all you'll save in grooming, feeding and board fees. Bids for this guy start at $3,300, but if you win him, shipping from the Netherlands is free!

Things We Love: Sailor Chic

This week is Fleet Week. New York welcomes our sailors to dry land and reminds all of us that the sailor look never is old or dated. This idea was reinforced when I stumbled upon these two photos on my new favorite website of old photographs. Time Tales is a collection of found photographs ranging from pre-1930s to the present. Of course Hollister and I aren't strangers to the sailor chic look either. The photo below was taken on Easter around 1985 on the Country Club Plaza.

Ebay Shopping: Rain Rain Go Away

We're tired of all this rain that we've been having in New York. But, it might ok if you get to sport these great Bata rain boots (childern size 11) from the 1950s. They're sooo much cooler then your standard Wellington, we love how they buckle on the top! Buy them now for $31.20.

Songs We Love: Buddy Holly's Peggy Sue

Can't get enough of Buddy Holly -- the glasses, the swooning ladies in their perfect dresses and gloves, the perfect heart throb. This video was taped live from New York in 1959

Ebay Shopping / Things We Love: LEDERHOSEN

This photo is everything we love all rolled up into one thing: 1930s, lederhosen, photography, and Ebay. I don't think my day can get any better! You can buy this now for $3.50.

Family Photos: Looking Foward to Memorial Day

We're counting down the days until Memorial Day Weekend. I was talking with our friend, Mark von Kreuter, who, like a bazillion other Manhattanites, plans to kick off his summer in South Hampton at a posh clam bake on the beach. It brought me back to stories our father tells about his summers in the Hamptons as a boy, including the time when Truman Capote offered him a ride home from the beach club. That's dad up above, with our grandma (who had the best body ever) and great grandparents. As for the Hovey girls, we're staying local to prepare for our two gigantic summer initiatives: our Raj on the Roof and the launch of Hovey Vintage!

Things We Love: Kiki and Polly

How amazing are these portraits from Kiki and Polly! They're simple and graceful. You send them a favorite snap shot and they create these beautiful line paintings. The best thing ever is that they also create custom made wall paper. A huge thank you to Bloesem Kids for profiling them.

Things We Love: Fake Handlebar Mustaches

Awww . . . the handlebar mustache! So your baby really can look like they're from the 1890s.

Ebay Shopping: Steiff Zebra

The aution for this great Steiff zebra ends in 6 hours. Bidding is at $23.00. Good luck!

Song We Love: Bruce Springsteen's Used Cars

Things We Love: Kay Bojesen Wooden Animules

Kay Bojesen started making many little toeheads happy with his wooden toys in the '20s. Rich little blondes and brunettes can bask in similar pleasure today. This 60 cm monkey goes for $1,950 at babygeared.

Things We Love: The Occasional Modern Accessory

Those roaring '20s were almost a century ago, but that era's streamline designs look more futuristic than an iPod.  Patrick Messier's Mamma Rocking Chair takes the future even further.  If you have $6,000 handy, you can rock your baby on what looks like band of ribbon frosting.

Artist We Love / Things We Loathe: Kent Rogowski / Puzzles

I hate puzzles. I never had the concentration or the patience to actually sit down and complete one. Of course I always tried to force pieces together that didn't fit. And by the end I was just too frustrated to continue. Obviously, Kent Rogowski is a better man than I am. His new exhibit Love = Love at the Jen Beckman Gallery sheds new light to my childhood frustration with fitting different pieces from 40 different puzzles to create beautiful landscapes with montages of flowers and skies. "Although puzzle pieces are unique and can only fit into one place within a puzzle they are interchangeable within a brand." This show runs until June 14th.