Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Collecting Vintage Flower Frogs

Vintage flower frogs are one of the very first things I began collecting. They are inexpensive, look great displayed en masse, and can be found in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, styles, colors, and materials. Designed to help shape floral arrangements, a flower frog would sit at the bottom of a vase and holds the flower stems in place, usually with short spikes, a glass disk with holes, or a wire grid. I collect metal frogs in every size and shape, from teeny tiny spiked frogs to giant cage styles.
I have my flower frog collection displayed in a painted wooden bowl in front of our television, flanked by two big white pineapple garden finials. Metal flower frogs are often found with various shades of green paint, to blend in with the flower stems, but lately I've honed my collection to focus on frogs mostly in neutral shades of greys, whites, browns, and blacks. They are a little harder to find, but I love the look of a monochromatic collection, and the patina on these bare metal frogs is beautiful.
This tiny little black spike frog is one of my favorites.
I even used my collection of flower frogs to inspire the name and logo for my Etsy shop and blog. The flower frog graphic that I use on all of my tags, business cards, and web branding is actually a photograph of the little grey frog on the top of the stack shown above. I manipulated the photograph in Photoshop to create a black and white image with a hand-drawn sketchbook feel rather than a literal photograph. See the resemblance?
I have developed a knack for spotting flower frogs wherever I go, be it a flea market, antique shop, or garage sale, so in order to keep my own collection modestly sized and cohesive, I sell many more than I keep. I can't say that about everything! Here's a few of the frogs that are up for sale right now...
If you're anything like me, once you buy your first flower frog you won't be able to stop with just one!

21 comments:

  1. Oh. I AM "something like" you! What a wonderful collection you have.

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  2. The second I saw the first photo, I wondered if the collection inspired your blog name and business name. Thanks for answering the question. Your collection is lovely.

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  3. What a beautiful collection! I love my flower frogs. Like you, I tend to stay away from the green ones. Every now and then, though, I come across one I have to have. Love these photos. How many are in your collection? :)

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    1. Right now, I only have a few more frogs than what's shown in the bowl, so maybe a dozen total... I've had more in the past, but I've decided that I like to be able to display all of them together, so for this collection, less is more :)

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  4. Love your collection! I have a question.... about your walls. What color are the living room and bedroom walls? They look a very pale gray on my monitor... just the color I am looking for to paint rooms in my own home.
    I have really enjoyed visiting your blog and will be a regular from now on! :)

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    1. Thanks, Lana! We live in a rental, and the bedroom walls were painted a shade of white when we moved in, so we just left them. I did paint our livingroom wall (just an accent wall behind the white couch) in "Buttermilk" by Olde Century Colors (it's a specialty paint, but you can order from their website). It's a soft grayish white. Hope that helps!

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  5. Fantastic collection Ellie & I love how it inspired you to name your blog and business! Your business cards are so gorgeous ~ love the vintage flower frog graphic ♥

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  6. I have my Mom's, both Grandmothers' and Great Aunt's flower frogs...love them! I'm a new follower!

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  7. Isn't amazing how many design elements there in such small pieces?

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  8. Just ran across your Blog. Happy to see another metal flower frog collector.

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  9. Hi,

    After my Dad died I found his collection of frogs in his greenhouse. I have 19 of them, everyone different. Every time I see a frog, I think of him.

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  10. i collect these, too, but since we moved, i cannot find them! :/

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  11. Hello! I stumbled across your blog while gathering flower frog ideas, and this post just happens to have been written on my birthday, lol! Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I linked to your post in a blog entry on interesting uses for flower frogs. Thanks for the inspiration. Your blog is beautiful, I can't wait until I have more time to sit and read more!

    - Annie
    http://kateandeugene.blogspot.com/

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  12. Do you still collect them an is there a market for them i have a friend that has one an i got photos of it looking for information

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  13. Do you still collect them an is there a market for them i have a friend that has one an i got photos of it looking for information

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  14. Jarware has F Lower frog and there amazing and so good and for such a great price.

    https://www.jarware.com/

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