Gathering Dust

I'm Thinking I Better Bake Cookies for the Mail Person

WOW - when I got home I found two crates of mail for Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap.  I've been really good about opening packages as I get them and sending an email letting players know I got their packages.

We're going out of town tomorrow, and I have to pack, and clean up a little around here so I might not get these all opened tonight.

If you sent a package and don't hear from me right away- I'll do all my catching up and emailing on Tuesday.

On a completely different subject- here's a cute little picture I found at an estate sale, and I thought it would be great for a different kind of Father's Day card. 

To save it to your computer, just right click and pick Save Picture As

 

The Post That Isn't Trying To Sell You Anything

Just some pictures from my antique booth and some of my "finds"- estate sale and auction.

Remember all those tiny bottles with little red labels I showed in a previous post?  I was a little bit afraid that no one would "get" it- but they did, and I've sold a lot. 

I displayed them with an old sand pail shovel- so customers can just dig in and buy some.

Speaking of "getting it"- here's something I got last night at the auction.

I'm not sure if it's a sentimental wedding gift or decoration, or a 5th grade history project.  The back is covered in glitter, and the bride has a real netting veil.

My favorite part is the velvet gathered at the base.

Does anybody else "get" it?

Other auction finds.

Pretty beveled mirror sconce.

Buttons, of course- what really caught my eye was the sweet little lace heart on wool in the button box.

Old paper aged just right with nice handwriting.

I've really gotten to like red and white baker's twine- I know, it's been around for a long time, and I'm just now getting around to use it. When I bought a cone of it, I had no idea just how much that is- I'm wrapping it on clothespins to sell in my booth.

I wish I had thought to buy just a clothespin's worth...

And some crafting projects:

I bought a big bag of wide craft sticks- like Popsicle sticks- to roof one of my birdhouse- and had a lot leftover- so I started stamping on them.

And then I tied them together and added a stamped tag.

This is a felted bag- I knit it in the round, so I really didn't know how wide it was until I took it off the needles. 

Yes, it's 18" wide- it's more like a flute case than a purse! 

A Little Shabby A Little Cottagy A Lot of Cute

Generally, I don't decorate my house in cottagy colors- not a lot of pink and pastel.  But when I see a beautiful shabby cottage floral ...whatever...I can't resist.  I've run across quite a few lately, so I've added them to my Etsy Shop.

Fun Vintage Corsages

Party Favors

A fantastic quilted floral sewing basket.

Pretty fabric

Vintage flash cards.

Old Greeting Cards

Ok, now I'm going to write a regular post where I'm not trying to sell you something. 

Can We Talk About...Wallpaper (& some other stuff)

Yesterday, my husband came back from the mailbox huffin' and puffin' about all the packages he had to carry. The panels from  the Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop swap are coming in fast and furious.  I don't know if I dare tell DH that 87 more are expected in the next 6 days.  I think he was upset because I got all sorts of GOOD mail, and all he got in the mail was a coffee cup for contributing to NPR-but its a very nice mug- and a very good organization.

He said in his best Dora the Explorer voice "Swapper, No Swappin'".  I don't even know what that means, but I think it's funny- and he was just teasing.

The Birds & Bonnets boxes are stacked on the bed in the guest room- if you look in the upper right corner you can see my doll Hilda fighting for space on the bed - and next to her is a BEAUTIFUL chenille bedspread I bought at my friend Lucy's estate sale.

One of the packages that came yesterday was a wallpaper grab bag from Donna Layton (Under the Red Roof) Etsy shop.  I don't need anymore wallpaper, but I still love it and when I saw that Donna had scrap grab bags STUFFED with so much wallpaper she couldn't even show pictures of all it, I knew I had to know what was in the rest of the bag! (And I know that Donna has a great eye.) These pieces are just the perfect size for using on tags and cards.

 

But- there's more!  These cool labels and a (badly photographed) bag of crystals.

But, but- there's more.  Donna also sent an assortment of flocked papers.  My heart did skip a beat!

The generosity of people I've met in the blog world is amazing.  When  Karla and I announced our Vintage Workshop  swap, I have that same feeling that you get when they used to do a school yard pick for teams- "Please, somebody pick me, please don't let me be last"-  only it's "Please somebody sign up for the swap, please play with us".

So, I'm tickled that we had so many people sign up, and not only send beautiful panels, but also GIFTS- I'm just so glad that people want to play.

The wonderful notecards above are from Karen.

Fun 7 gypsies goodies from Christine that will be great with bubble alphabet stickers from my niece Melissa- who I get to see this weekend!

And check out this cute metal gift pocket from Laverne. 

And Laverne sells them in her Etsy Shop.

The Glamour of the Antique World

Look what I found yesterday at an estate sale- a brand new push broom and dust pan for only $2.  I mainly look for old stuff at estate sales, they can be a great way to get practical stuff, too.  I've bought high quality pots & pans, tools, & clothes with the tags still on. 

I did find some cool OLD stuff, too.  Like this rhinestone bracelet pins- the pin with clear stones is a crown.  Won't I look spiffy pushing that broom wearing this bling?

I have a weakness for old postcards- and they had a lot- I tried to pick out types were a little different than what I usually see.

I don't think I'd ever seen a postcard with COWS.

Love the artist palette on the top left.

It's not too early to start shopping for Christmas.  I got a whole box of these pretty white birds with glittery tails.

And they're  sitting on top of this darling ABC plate.

I'm always on the look out for good book pages to use as backgrounds for craft projects.

Dictionaries are great for backgrounds, and this was has a bonus.

Lots of pictures!

I'll be listing this one in my Etsy Shop   along with some other Artistic Doodad Destashing packages and Objects de Collage. 

If I don't clear some of my estate sale bounty out of here, my husband will be using that broom to PUSH it out!