Walker's Point Antique Center // Dime a Dance

Vintage clothing, records, books & more!

Sometimes unfound treasures beckon, and Adam and I turn into antique store rats — you know, like mall rats but not. We recently had one of those days: indulging in Anodyne Coffee, then hitting up nearby antique shops. This time we branched out from our usual haunts in favor of Walker's Point Antique Center and Dime a Dance.

These shops are hidden in plain sight as you head south on 1st Street. The building is rather nondescript and signage is poor, but there are worthwhile finds waiting inside. The building's lower level is all books, records, and VHS tapes. Between my love of John Barry soundtracks and The Moody Blues, I came away with some sweet tunes.

Upstairs, you'll find Dime a Dance. The place has your typical antique store finds, but what sets it apart is its solid selection of vintage clothing. There's lots to ogle (coats fit for Doris Day) and some that's good for a laugh (giant bib ruffles on velvet potato sack dresses). Either way, if you're into the vintage clothing scene, Dime a Dance is definitely worth a stop. I even walked away with a dress for this year's Halloween costume — treasure found!

Want more scoop on Milwaukee antique shops? I've got your back.

Milwaukee antique stores

3 shops to check out in the Third Ward & Walker's Point

Adam and I love antiquing on a Sunday afternoon. If that makes us sound like old fuddy duddies, we accept the title gladly. When it comes to touring these shops in Milwaukee, it's not just about the prospect of taking home vintage Pyrex or a clock made from a ship's porthole (yep) — it's the shops themselves. Each offers something different: treasures as varied as the stores they live in.



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Riverview Antique Market, Third Ward

If you like antiquing for its enchanting nostalgia, you've got to visit Riverview Antique Market; this place casts a serious spell. The market's spacious aisles are sectioned off into booths, which are more like meticulously-planned vignettes. These inviting scenes are brimming with quality antiques, and the warmth of each booth is juxtaposed against a cool, airy warehouse space. Who knew an antique store could achieve such an urban-chic aesthetic?

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Antiques on Second, Walker's Point

What won't you find at Antiques on Second? This place is a labyrinth chock-full of of stuff. Cool stuff, bizarre stuff, valuable stuff, kitschy stuff — just stuff. You could spend hours exploring Antiques on Second's three levels, and trust me — there's still no way you could really take in everything. I feel like the place could use a concession stand in the middle of level two; I'm usually hungry and thirsty by then. While Antiques on Second can be overwhelming, it also gives the impression of having the most possibility — you truly never know what you'll find in its maze of goodies.

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Annex & Clinton Street Antiques

Less than two blocks from Antiques on Second, you'll find Annex and Clinton Street Antiques. These neighboring shops (not physically connected) are under the same ownership. Both are very small, but the antiques are beautifully displayed. While Antiques on Second takes a "more is more" approach to their products (which is super fun, don't get me wrong!), these stores seem to go for quality over quantity. You'll find wonderfully eclectic pieces at Annex and Clinton — and after the vastness of Antiques on Second, the smaller-scale experience is rather comforting.

3 Vintage & resale clothing shops in Milwaukee

Where Halloween costumes are born

Welcome to October, where Halloween costume panic is about to set in! Every year I tell myself I'll get an early jump on things, and every year I'm pretty much still scrambling. So in the spirit of not scrambling, I'm sharing three Milwaukee shops where you just might find the perfect costume waiting for you. 

#1 Walker's Point Antique Center // Dime a Dance
In this nondescript, blink-and-you'll-miss-it building on 1st Street, you'll find some hidden treasures. The first level is Walker's Point Antique Center — all records, books, and VHS tapes. But upstairs is Dime a Dance, stacked floor-to-ceiling with clothing galore. I can personally attest that Halloween costumes are born there, since this is where I picked up my Effie Trinket dress last year. Success! 

#2 Luv Unlimited
I admittedly have hardly thumbed through the racks of men's and women's clothing at Luv Unlimited in Bay View, but I can tell you there's a plenty-big selection — shoes and accessories, too. The jewelry is especially worth a peek for anyone in search of vintage baubles to complete their Halloween costume. But Luv Unlimited's lineup of sunglasses is my absolute favorite thing — a fact that could come in handy whether you're costume shopping or not.

#3 Purple Velvet Vintage // MAC Costume Services
Purple Velvet and MAC Costume are a two-for-one find in Walker's Point. Located in the same building, Purple Velvet hosts a small but curated collection of vintage clothing and accessories, catered to ladies (sorry guys!). While the selection isn't huge, what they have is quality. Then — bonus! — there's MAC Costume Services, attached to Purple Velvet. There you'll find legit costumes for rent — everything from C-3PO to courtly ladies. Prices: $50–$100.

Or, if all this sounds like too much work, my genius friend Rachelle over at Stuff Roach Knows can tell you how to be a lamp for Halloween. All you need is one gold bodysuit and a lampshade. You're welcome. 

Twirly Birds, Wauwatosa

Vintage finds from quirky to glam

Yesterday we went to Cattywampus; today we're walking a stone's through down North Ave to Twirly Birds. While Cattywampus is more old-made-new, Twirly Birds is decidedly antique/vintage. Some of the vintage pieces have been reappointed (as you'll see with my retro Christmas finds below), but the overall vibe is much more antique-y.




The front room has a lot of antiqued brass, gold, and crystal pieces including wall sconces and chandeliers. I love the glamorous finds in this room, and though they're glam, the prices are plenty reasonable. There's also a hallway decked with gold-framed mirrors.

There are still other rooms to explore at Twirly Birds, each filled with a rather random assortment of things. Some charming vignettes are set here and there, but mostly it's like a game of I Spy.

The back-most room is piled with stuff. Fun stuff. Again, try playing I Spy to weed through. Luckily, I spied a couple pieces of Christmas awesomeness from the holiday clearance table. They were so weirdly whimsical (and half-off!) that I just had to have them.

So for the vintage lovers of MKE, venture to Tosa and check out this little shop! It's a total delight. I plan to head back soon — more mirrors, chandeliers, and nifty retro must-haves, please! 

Information and hours at twirlybirdsdecor.com. 

Farm Girl Art & Antiques

A south side shop for shabby-chic country décor 

A friend of mine said that Farm Girl Art & Antiques was too "country" for her. While country isn't my style, it can sometimes be synonymous with shabby-chic, which I do like. I figured it was worth a gander, so I stopped at the National Ave antique shop this past weekend.

It certainly is more than a little bit country. Most items look rather worn, with weathered paint and a lived-in feel. You'll definitely want to venture into Farm Girl with a discerning eye. If you take the time to really look, you'll discover bookcases of mason jars, gilded mirrors, retro kitchen goodies, and some charming furniture.

Overall, Farm Girl probably won't be a regular stop on my Milwaukee antique hunts — the majority was just too shabby or cutesy-country for my tastes. But it's absolutely worth checking out so you can decide for yourself. There's certainly no shortage of nooks and crannies to explore, and who knows — you just might find a hidden gem! 

Antiques on Pierce

Formerly Antiques on Second

Once upon a time, there was a three-storey antique shop in Walker's Point, Milwaukee. Antiques on Second was a maze of goodies — and some baddies (but let's turn a blind eye on the creepy dolls, shall we?).

Somewhat recently, the shop moved from Second Street to Pierce Street — just a stone's throw away, really. Adam and I finally made it over to the new digs this past weekend. I especially loved the welcoming street signage, complete with a patchwork packing-tape job.

If you're in search of old favs, it's mostly all there. Even that freaky wood carving of a mustachioed man wearing a real fur hat ((shivers)). Other gems from this trip: a carousel of plastic ponies, bright nesting dolls, and a trio of Oscar Mayer weenie whistles.

Adam says he prefers the old location on Second Street to the new Pierce Street shop, but I told him he probably just needs to get used to it and learn where everything is — as do we all. Either way, Antiques on Pierce is certainly well worth getting lost in for an hour or two. The store is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00. Happy antiquing! 

Holiday greeting cards for 2016

From vintage-inspired to fresh illustrations

Truth bomb: Next month is Christmas. That's basically tomorrow. Which means we snail mail freaks needed to start shopping for Christmas cards yesterday. Last year, I stocked up on some choice cards while in New York, and like any sleuth with a greeting card obsession, I tracked down their makers by googling the info on the back of each card. Boom! The search paid off. Check out these goodies.

Driscoll Design
These charming cards from Driscoll Design with their retro flair are some of my favs. The brand is family owned, eco-conscious, and all products are made right in the USA. I think the About page on the Driscoll website best describes their vibe: "You know, feel good stuff." I have the Noel card; the falling snow is dotted with glitter and the envelope is a shiny gold. It's one of those cards I'm having trouble parting with — I might just frame it instead! 

Cavallini & Company
I have an antique-style reindeer card from Cavallini & Company waiting in my stash for a lucky someone. The card is trimmed with holly, ivy, and the perfect dash of sparkle — a nice heavy and textured stock, too. I've already blogged about Cavallini's flora & fauna postcards; you can find their holiday greetings at Paper Source. 

Carolyn Suzuki Goods 
I feel like some of the holiday cards by Carolyn Suzuki are hit or miss — but the hits are home runs. I'm really loving these gnome and yeti cards, the gnome which I bought in New York last year. It's blank inside, comes with a craft paper envelope, and is just the right size to write a nice little note. The artwork also extends the grey sky and snowy scene to the back of the card. It's all about the details! 

If you're in the Milwaukee area, here are some more ideas on where to shop locally for holiday cards: Soaps & Scents, Beans & Barley, and Broadway Paper. Though it's a chain, I'd also recommend checking out Paper Source at Bayshore, as they carry a lot of cards from various artists. Happy snail mailing! 

Sunday afternoon at Uncle Mike's

Backyards, books, & nail clippings

This past Sunday, my family got together at my mom's brother Mike's house for eats, chats, and tours of the backyard and not-so-secret libraries. My Uncle Mike and Aunt Kathy are mischief-makers and artists; they teach at Catholic Memorial, where my brother and I went to high school. When school's out for summer, they turn their talents not to sketch books and camera lenses, but to the great outdoors. Their forest-like backyard oasis has been a labor of love these past 20+ years; they've sculpted and nurtured it, and it's ever-evolving.

As Uncle Mike took Adam and me on a mini-hike through the trees, he explained how all of this had once been nothing but dirt. But with time, he and Kathy planted a tree here and a tree there. They built stone walls and eventually hauled those very same boulders to form new forest paths and enclosed plots of foliage and found objects.

 

 

Throughout the wooded area there are rustic birdhouses — dozens of them, hanging from trees and perched atop posts plunged deep into the soil. Uncle Mike thinks about five of the houses are currently occupied; Adam and I can attest to at least one such resident. As you walk the various paths, you'll find a sign for "Uncle Tom's Trail" (named for my grandpa's outdoorsy younger brother), a wooden throne, a garden gate that leads to nowhere, and an old bench just waiting for nature-lovers in need of a rest.

Inside the house, it's like a museum. My aunt and uncle are avid collectors of African artwork and masks; the walls are covered with them. Adam gravitated toward the various antique book shelves, trunks, and card catalogs. Sensing our interest in the museum pieces, Aunt Kathy took us upstairs to see the unofficial library, which spans more than one room. An entire wall in the guest bedroom is in fact a book shelf packed with rare finds, and the closet in another spare room gave way to additional book storage long ago. Kathy said Mike knows where every single book is, the story behind each, and how much he bought it for. We didn't test him, but I don't doubt her for a moment.

Back downstairs, we admired (as I do with every visit) the old card catalog in the kitchen. Instead of labeling each drawer with A to Z, Kathy and Mike have given the drawers truly unique contents — things like "Face," "$13," "Peanuts," and "Whiskers and nail clippings." If you're wondering: Yes, the labels are spot-on, nail clippings and all. The "Ewww!" reflex upon opening that drawer results in peals of laughter from my aunt and uncle, which I suppose was their intent all along.

Color Story app

New photo-editing app for color lovers

One of my favorite blogs to check in with is A Beautiful Mess. The site is so colorful and cheerful, and the girls who run it have just released a new photo-editing app called A Color Story. The goal of the app is to allow for color enhancements and whiter whites without entirely altering the photo. Sort of like pumping up a picture's natural beauty instead of masking it. There are examples on A Beautiful Mess of how it works. Their pictures are (not surprisingly) way more perfect and beautiful than mine — but I wanted to keep it real and show how the app works on your average iPhone photo. 

Let's get to it. With the Color Story app, you can light objects in the foreground. I loved the mountains in this Swiss pic, but was bummed that I could barely see Adam. With the Color Story app, I made him the focus instead of the scenery. Too bad he's not smiling!

This Colectivo mural is a bright spot in downtown Milwaukee, but my photo didn't capture just how pop-y it is in real life. A little editing with A Color Story served to brighten up the picture. 

Back to Switzerland, these cheerful houses didn't exactly translate in the quick pic I snapped on my iPhone  but A Color Story helped them look every bit as bright and whimsical as I remember them. 

Adam and I keep these colorful cacti on a window sill, so getting a good picture of them isn't easy — they're always backlit in the worst way! But A Color Story let me bring the color out of the shadows. 

A rainbow of antique dishes is always so striking — and even more so once A Color Story brightens up the shelving to be crisp and white.

I'm not saying this app is perfect for all pics, nor that my execution is perfect. There are a ton of filters to wade through and it's going to take some time to feel it out. But at least you've enjoyed a taste of what's possible with A Color Story. If you take a lot of pictures and want colors that pop, I highly recommend it!