Using Caromal Colours to paint our Store Counter

Blanket Stripe3 Linen

Blanket Stripe3 Linen

SIZE: Queen – 100″ long  x 92″ wide

COLOR: Linen Tweed/Red-Blk

PATTERN: Stripe #3

Blanket Stripe3 Linen is made of cotton/acrylic blend. Machine Washable in COLD water. machine Dry-able under medium heat!

Woven in Pennsylvania, USA by Family Heirloom Weavers – One of the few remaining textile manufacturing plants left in the USA.

We stock this item in our shop and ship immediately after receiving your order. This is a popular pattern and may be available in other categories as well.

This particular pattern/color is from the older “Primitive Collection” line that the weavers had discontinued last year. We happen to have several  various primitive patterns that use the “linen” background  in many of our categories. We also stock the “Traditional” Collection on a regular basis so please check back if you do not see what you are looking for.

As always, we encourage you to leave a positive review if you are satisfied with your purchase.

 

Blanket Stripe3 Linen

Table Square - Grain Sack II

Table Square – Grain Sack II Pattern

SIZE: 84″ x 60″

COLOR: Linen Tweed/Black

Table Square – Grain Sack II Made of cotton/acrylic blend. Machine Washable in COLD water. machine Dry-able under medium heat!

Woven in Pennsylvania, USA by Family Heirloom Weavers – One of the few remaining textile manufacturing plants left in the USA.

We stock this item in our shop and ship immediately after receiving your order. This is a popular pattern and is available in other categories as well.

This particular pattern/color is from the older “Primitive Collection” line that the weavers had discontinued last year. We happen to have several  various primitive patterns that use the “linen” background  in many of our categories. We also stock the “Traditional” Collection on a regular basis so please check back if you do not see what you are looking for.

As always, we encourage you to leave a positive review if you are satisfied with your purchase.

 

Table Square - Grain Sack II

General Store - Print by Charlotte Sternberg

General Store

Print that depicts an old general store in a small snowy town, in 12″ x 16″

A few words about the artist – Charlotte Sternberg is a wonderful artist who brought a smile to faces all over the world through her art. Charlotte is known for her New England scenes on Christmas cards and her paintings of Americana. Looking at her work you will discover the world that Charlotte created in timeless seasons – Summer and Winter, Harvest Time and Christmas, too. Charlotte’s paintings were done in egg tempera in the traditional Renaissance methods. Charlotte learned how to paint in egg tempera at Yale Art School.

General Store - Print by Charlotte Sternberg

Aegean Sea Braided Rug

Aegean Sea Braided Rug Cleaning Instructions:

Rinse or hose your Aegean Sea Braided Rug with water and lay flat to dry. May use a mild detergent.

Vacuum regularly using a hard surface attachment. Vacuuming with a

beater brush is not recommended.

To see the video, click here…

Aegean Sea Braided Rug

Luminara Candle

Our Luminara Candle is a battery operated pillar candle that operates on a timer. Once you turn it on, it stays on for 5 hours and off for 19. It then turns back on again at the precise time that you turned it on. If the slide switch is turned to “on” instead of “timer”, then it will simply turn on and stay on until you turn it off again. What is great about this candle is that you can turn it on and off by means of a remote control, that we offer FREE with your purchase. This means you can put the candle high out of reach and still easily turn it on and off with your remote.

These hand poured country candles are made with blackened beeswax and dusted with cinnamon to give it that primitive grungy look we all are looking for.

Luminara Candle

Blue Star Barn Winter - Print by Bonnie Fisher

Blue Star Barn Winter

Print of an blue star on an old barn in winter Blue Star Barn Winter

A few words about the artist – Bonnie Fisher. Finding and painting old barns and rural scenes was the first thing she did when she got her driver’s license and borrowed her parents’ car. In the following decades she went to art college, raised a family, and did freelance artwork. Three years ago, she returned to her first love, old barns and rural scenes! Bonnie has gone back to the earth, the sky, animals and the country roads. She loves to paint the old buildings that represent endurance, hard work and independence, and the old churches that represent faith and service to God. She tries to capture the feelings they evoke and share them with us.

Blue Star Barn Winter - Print by Bonnie Fisher

Saint Nick - Print by Bonnie White

Saint Nick

Print of Saint Nick

A few words about the artist – Bonnie White. Bonnie spent 30 years living and working on her family’s horse farm in Canaan, N.Y. The barn closed in 2002 and the youngest of her three sons began kindergarten the following year. With more time on her hands, she began something she hadn’t done for more than 20 years – she began to paint again. She also began attending craft shows and fell in love with folk art. Life on the farm, the mountains, valleys, historic homes and villages that surround it gave her unlimited ideas.

Saint Nick - Print by Bonnie White

Options for a Holiday Centerpiece

As the time draws near to the Holiday season, your mind naturally turns to decorating your home. Much of our attention often falls on the dining room table, as this is where we are drawn to when guests come over. So it only makes sense to try to make your table as appealing as possible. One way of achieving this is with centerpieces. You can purchase centerpieces already made up or you can attempt to make one yourself. At the Good Old Days, you have many options for a Holiday centerpiece. We have many types of containers to start with including wooden bowls, pewter trays, wooden trays, baskets, etc… Plus, we carry an assortment of various decorative wreaths, picks, etc.. to start as a base. Then to build on that, you might consider one of our Luminary candles as the center of attention or perhaps some battery operated lights. There are so many options you have when you shop the store and look around for these items. I urge you to take our virtual tour either by looking at the photos or by looking at our videos. This will give you inspiration as well options for a Holiday centerpiece.

If you decide to build one yourself, there are a multitude of decorative items you can add to it from fresh cuttings of the trees and bushes in your yard to fresh flowers to artificial items.

Homemade Centerpiece

If you are so inclined to create a centerpiece completely by yourself, here is a helpful guide I found that might get you started with some ideas. http://tinyurl.com/p9246f8

Whatever you decide to do to decorate your table, please share with us your creations so that others can see and learn from your experience. Have Fun!

Options for a Holiday Centerpiece

Winter Coat

Winter Coat, print by Billy Jacob

Billy Jacobs is a self-taught artist from Navarre, Ohio. He has worked in the gift and craft industry for over 20 years. Billy also designs and licenses to several major companies. Billy started his career mainly as a woodcrafter, but has focused the last ten years on his painting. Billy works in a variety of mediums from acrylic and watercolor to digital.

Winter Coat

12 inch Shade

12 inch Shade features a hand punched chisel design in a textured finish. The harp and finial are not included with the purchase of your shade.

12 inch Shade

Chicken Feeder Light

Chicken Feeder Light with 15′ cord.

Made in our shop from from a real chicken feeder.

Does not include the bulb.

Select the color. Note: no two will be exactly the same.

Chicken Feeder Light

Good Old Days Country Shop - Christmas Open House - Side Porch 2015

Large Norfolk Chandelier

Large Norfolk Chandelier is shown in Pumpkin over Black

Made in the USA since 1960

Also comes in our Sturbridge Colors.

This chandelier is available in a medium size as well which measures 17″High  x 24 1/2″Wide, about 3″ smaller.

Large Norfolk Chandelier

Black Friday at the Good Old Days

Black Friday at the Good Old Days will get you 30% off your purchase of anything Fall related. Also sign up to be included in a $100 gift basket drawing. These are just a couple reasons why you might want to consider the Good Old Days for Black Friday.

Black Friday

Of course, the Big Box stores will be having some fantastic deals, opening at midnight for you, and much much more. You and a thousand other people can get there early for that special Star Wars thingy and hope they don’t sell out after you waited in line for 4 hours in the cold. Is that the experience you want? I can guarantee you will not experience that at the Good Old Days. So why drive 25 miles east of Rochester to the Good Old Days on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday? so you can spend a few hours in a relaxing atmosphere listening to soothing music and filling your nostrils with the best fragrances that candles can provide.

Thanksgiving Turkey

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is a good time to pick up some great Fall Decor for the table or some great gifts for your friends or relatives. At 30% OFF, you cant go wrong getting a great deal on anything Fall related which includes turkeys, pumpkins, garlands, table mats, table squares, and so much more.

What else will you find while strolling through the shop memorized by all the unique displays so expertly designed. Our Country Decor and Primitive Home accessories are what everybody is looking for these days. The recent publications of Primitive Place and Mercantile Gatherings look like they have been photographed right within the walls of our shop. Our country chandeliers, or farm tables, or cannonball beds should impress you. Perhaps your looking for some special bedding. We have the latest designs by Family Heirloom Weavers to help you make your decision. No matter what your looking for on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, you will have a better time doing it with no pressure, relaxing shopping right here at the Good Old Days Country Shop.

Thanksgiving Pilgrims

To wrap up, you may want to consider spending a quiet day in the country at the Good Old Days Country Shop and get away from the noise, the parking issues, and all the chaos and simply enjoy your experience on Black Friday where you will get 30% off on all Fall related items. You may also enter yourself in our $100 gift basket drawing where the winner will be drawn Sunday, Nov 30th. In addition, you may want to consider shopping with us on Small Business Saturday which is how you help support the small businesses across America. Whatever you decide to do, all of us at the Good Old Days hope you have a very Safe and Great Thanksgiving!

Black Friday at the Good Old Days

Christmas Open House, 1st Floor, 2015

Introducing our Make-Do Furniture Line

After several weeks of prototyping, we have finally settled on what we believe to be is the most comfortable, strongest, and best looking make-do furniture on the market. But then, we're prejudice. After owning and selling several different styles of this type of furniture, we thought we could make it better. What we found was several factors that we thought we could improve on and still keep the overall look and feel of this home-grown style of furniture. First, it was generally uncomfortable to sit on. It was hard, and way too straight. Although good looking, it was uncomfortable to use. Second, it was not that strong. The legs would be wobbly and often come loose. The sides would flex and appear weak. Third, it did not appear as though the designs we saw were flexible enough to allow minor changes. This is because the forms all had sewn to fit outer shells that slid over the sides and backs. Although this looks good, it shows the fasteners and any small modification results in a whole new sewing process. The old template cannot be used to sew from. This is how we overcame these obstacles. 

THE CHAIR

 

The base of the chair is the first thing to weaken. Therefore, the chairs chosen to become the base must be absolutely in the best and strongest condition. We have toyed with the idea of building our own bases, even to match the rope-style settle and ottoman, however a century of chair design and fabrication has something to say for itself about the durability and strength of chair design, so for now we will stick with established well built chair bases.

The strength of the overall chair was something we wanted to improve on. Most chairs are simply plywood screwed together, and that is how we started. However, we could make this stronger by creating a hollow core form in the same manner a door is built. The perimeter is reinforced with solid lumber, as is the core. The complete structure is then covered with 1/4" plywood. Thus, the back and seat are hollow core forms, 1" thick, and just as light as a 1/2" plywood form. However these will accept glue and screws and make the whole structure much more stable and strong.

As for attaching the fabric, I learned from the other chairs that they were typically sewn sleeves that would slip over the plywood forms and then these forms would typically be screwed or nailed together. This made for a nice clean look however it also meant one had to be proficient at sewing. It also meant that just the most minor alteration would mean that the sewn sleeve would no longer fit and a whole new template would have to be made. We consulted with an upholstery expert who showed us how to apply the fabric without any sewing. So that is how we make these. First the insides are padded with 1" of batting and then covered with the dyed duck cloth. The sides would then be screwed to the back and bottom. More batting is added to the outside and the outer shell could then be applied, which covers up the screws. There is much more to it but that is the jest of how these are put together. 

At $359, it is hard to beat this chair.

THE SETTLE

 The base on these we do make. The legs and apron are pine. The legs are glued up and then tapered. 

The base is mitered and then the legs are screwed on. The seat braces are angled so that the seat kicks back

at a comfortable six degrees. The holes are then drilled for the rope. The base is then painted and the rope threaded and attached. 

The foam we use in the seat cushions is the secret to the comfort. We use a firm dense open cell foam that is 2" thick. This means you don't bottom out when sitting and makes for a comfortable seat. The other factor that makes this more comfortable than others is the angle of the back. As you can see, the back angles back at 12 degrees. Although this is much more complicated to make, it is well worth the effort and the price, as the extra comfort level is achieved from this seating angle. We have altered the arm rest height as well as the curve in the sides from that of the seat. We think this settle is quite an advancement and think you will be pleased.

The fabric we use is a 10 lb duck cloth. We then use reactive dyes and set the dye so that it will not fade or wash out. This settle uses about 10 yards of fabric all together. There is 1" of batting on the inside and 1/2" on the outside to ensure a nice cushy feel all the way around. This piece is meant to sit 2 people but one person can curl up comfortably for a nice read.

At $550, we think this settle is a good value.

THE OTTOMAN

The only thing left is something to put your feet on when stretching out. This is what led to the design of our Ottoman. of course, the base is made the same way as the settle base. The cushion is the same quality 2" firm cushion we use on all of our seating. Priced at only $149, we think you can't have one piece without the matching mate.

THE GROUPING

As you can see, the grouping looks great together. Arrange them as you like. Unlike others, we offer any of our pieces to be custom designed just for you. This means that you can get these modified to meet your setting and taste. We offer to paint the base and dye the fabric to any color you choose. For a modest fee, we can alter the shape and size of any of these pieces if you require this. We have put a lot of time and work into designing these pieces for strength, comfort, and appearance. We hope that you like it as well and will order some for your home. Please contact us to order by phone at 315-589-2775 or by email at goodolddays@rochester.rr.com.

It has been a while since I have posted here and I apologize. Been quite busy keeping the 2 website and Facebook current. So, now, as I promised earlier, I will update the BLOG more often and keep interesting articles and tidbits coming. I also urge you to participate. I want you to ask questions, post photos, start a dialog. I would like this BLOG to be interactive, interesting, and active so without you, I cannot achieve these goals. Please participate and together we will make this a fun and interesting BLOG.

OK, today I want to tell you about a new item I just brought into the shop. It is a secretary/desk. All in pine, and the desk lifts up for storage. Plenty of more storage in the top and bottom. Great country look.
This has been refinished a while back. Condition is Good! I date this about 1880 judging by the cut screws, and original square nails. Please feel free to ask questions about this piece.

Front View

Left Side

Right Side

Open

Look at all the storage this piece has. Books or collectables in the top, quilts, plates, etc.. in the bottom.

Desk Open

You can see that this desk opens to keep all your supplies stowed away. There are also little cleats that pop up and when you lower the top, it remains "level" with the remaining surface giving you a level writing surface.

Back

I have shown you everything. There are a few repairs and replacements that have taken place over the last 140 years in order to keep it functional and looking this good.
Please let me know if you need any more information on this piece,

PRICE for BLOGGERS - $499
SOLD

Year-End Thoughts

As 2011 is now a thing of the past, I would like to reflect on an item that perturbs me. 99.99% of our customers are dear, sweet people whom we go way out of our way to attempt to please. They are gracious, kind, and appreciative of all our work we do to present our items in a professional and attractive manner. They know we spend countless hours looking for our unique, hard-to-find, really cool items. They also know we ALWAYS offer these items at a fair and reasonable price. They appreciate the ambiance of the soothing music, the attractive displays, the fragrance of burning candles, and the warm and friendly greeting from our staff. These are the reasons why our customer base grows year after year and our loyal customers keep coming back. 

  However towards the end of this year we experienced a few people who apparently did not feel this way. Through no fault of our own, a few people who came in the shop seemed hostile and rude. I don't know if this is a result of economic stress or what, but it seems that more of these types of people seemed to surface towards the end of this year than ever before. As an example, one lady stated that "This is all I am willing to pay for this item. Here is my phone number, you can call me when your ready to sell it for this price." By the way, the price she offered us was less than half of what we paid for the item. Another lady came in and asked for a quote on my custom built farm table and benches. I was out of town but my prices are listed in my catalog. She left leaving a message for me which said she would offer me about half of what my price is. I wonder how any of you would feel if you went to work for half pay. Hmmmm. 

Good thing we are now closed as I need a well deserved break especially from this kind of treatment. Most of our customers are dear and kind people, but there are a few who just don't need to come in any more. Wondering what you might feel about this. Please leave your comments below.

Featured Item - Cantback Cupboard

This is one of our favorite pieces and near and dear to our hearts and that is because we made this piece fashioned after an 18th century Cantback Open-top Pewter Cupboard.. The hinges are original 18th century in which we have been saving for years just for this project.

Reproduction Cantback Cupboard

Open View

You just gotta love the grungy mustard milk paint. This plus all the other primitive features like the bootjack cutouts on the ends, the mousehole, the early fashioned latch, and the original early backboards make this piece a MUST HAVE!

Side View

Take a look at the detail on the following photos.

Latch

Upper Moldings

Mousehole

This featured cupboard is being offered at a SPECIAL price of only $899. Contact us for more information!