Gathering Dust

More Pictures than Words

Just a few pictures of some new "finds" and "makes" The  little collage has an old postcard as the center figure  The Souvenier de France is an old hanky I found in a basket of linens.  It practically fell apart as I touched it but I'd like to salvage it and use in an art project. And a little grouping of goodies from and estate sale on Friday- LOVE the old box of pins, and the vintage jewelry - for those who are into that kind of thing- the bird is Lisner and the earrings are Jomaz.  This is a box lot from an auction on Sat- full of fun sparklies to sort through.  Sometimes I think the fun I get going through a box of "finds" is worth as much as the stuff itself!

Feeling Childish

I got this cute red  clock suitcase at the auction and it inspired me to get out some of the other toys I've gathered around my craft room.  I have a weakness for Cracker Jack charms- here's a necklace I made with some pastel charms.   My next paper project is going to be some pastel tags using these cute little stickers in a stack of vintage wrapping paper.   Hopefully, I can get some tags made tonight while I watch SURVIVOR- but I want to make sure I can catch Oprah's pre Oscar show too- she's got Julia Roberts interviewing George Clooney!

Sew Nice

I love vintage sewing stuff- old patterns, wooden spools, darning eggs, needlebooks with graphics, pin cushions, trims etc etc, so that's a natural theme for anything I craft.  Here's a book I made over the weekend.   It started out as a children's board book, but once I got the background paper on a few pages, I couldn't get the book to close---so I took out my trusty exacto knife and cut the pages apart. 

Note on Exacto knives:  I love my Exacto Knife- I didn't understand why people used them for the longest time, but if you want a close smooth cut- they are the way to go- a little tip- don't push the hair out of your face while you are holding one.

I'm listing this book, along with my corset book on Ebay today.  You can see my listings here: Sugarpinkmoon on Ebay.

I've had a terrible habit of stacking my flea market & auctions finds on my fireplace hearth so I can sort thru them while I watch TV etc.  Last week, when it was so cold, I realized we hadn't had a fire in the fire place in a long time- so I cleared the hearth- and found out that Milo likes to nap on the hearth too- I would think it would be hard and uneven- but he'll lay on top of anything I might have left on the couch- scissors, knitting needles, cameras....

More Snow!

I know, everyone is sick of hearing complaints about the weather- but I can't believe it's snowing again! At least I cleared everything off the fireplace hearth so I can light a fire and stay toasty & warm.

I met my girlfriend Lucy at the antique mall  yesterday- she is a a textiles guru- can look a piece of old lace or fabric and figure out within 5 or 10 years when it was made.  We both found some treasures- she got found a fab Victorian French net lace dress that is no longer in one piece- but its still a BEAUTY, and definitely not something you see everyday.   I found this old camp blanket robe.  I know, it kind of looks like something Pa Kettle might have worn, but I find it charming.  Lucy gave me a cute little plaque to alter- so I added some vintage wallpaper, a floral postcard, some sheet music, buttons  & ball fringe. 

Off to start a fire, grab a cup of hot apple cider and finish my book Objects of Desire, the "biography" of three beautiful and different antiques from when they were created in the 1700's to how they made there appearance at Americana Week in New York City in 1991.   

Happy Valentine Day & Happy Birthday!

Happy Valentine Day and Happy Birthday to my as yet unnamed grand niece who was born in Williston ND.  She was a couple weeks overdue, and we think its because the temperature in North Dakota has been in the single digits and she wanted to stay where it was warm!

It's a big listing day on eBay- half price listing fees- not a huge savings on a single listing- only about $.40 - $.60, but when you're listing 15 or 20 things, it adds up.  I'd planned to list a bunch, but it's almost 4pm and I don't even have any pictures taken- but that's because I spent most of the morning packing up and shipping things I've sold since my last shipping day- on Monday.  I keep thinking with as much as I mail, I should be rich- but it takes awhile at $5- $10 an order!

I'm going to restock  & replenish my booth at the antique mall tomorrow  Check it out: Mission Road Antique Mall.I don't have any fab finds, just some of my normal stock in trade- I like to have some fun things, and some inexpensive things. I  tell my customers I'd like them to be able to buy a treat anytime they visit the antique mall, so I always have some under $5.00 items.   This little collection of vintage makeup containers fits in that category. And- as promised- here's the "after" picture of the polished spoons.  The napkin rings didn't clean up- but I still love 'em!

Hoarding vs Enjoying

I like to tell myself ( and anyone else that is interested), that antiques and collectibles is a business for me, simply a means to generate some income- but of course that isn't true- I love to hunt for stuff, but I also love to HAVE stuff.  Take this collection of toys and tin litho pieces- I bought them all to resell, but I've enjoyed having them on my "To Sell on Ebay" shelf, that I haven't wanted to ACTUALLY SELL them.    Well, I guess as long as I can dig up other stuff to put on eBay, the toys can stay in my toy chest!

A small Bounty of Reality

One of the things I thought would be fun about is a blog is posting pictures of the treasures I bring home from my estate sale & auction shopping.  I imagined creating breathtaking vignettes that bring out a longing sigh "ohhhhhhhh".  What I hadn't counted on was that not everything I buy goes together, so it isn't going to illicit any gasps.  And that's the reality.

I went to three estate sales today, and while I didn't hit the jackpot, I did find some fun things- a bluebird platter, Victorian shakers and two Limoges butter pats at the "I almost stole it" price of $1 each.   I love vintage sewing patterns and toys made of old paper, so I scored there, too.

And of course, I usually pick up some project pieces- like this vintage silverplate that needs some polish & elbow grease.  When I get it cleaned up, I'll post the "AFTER" picture. 

 

I also stopped at my booth at the antique mall to drop off a few new (old) items and snapped a picture while I was there.

Ahead of the Curve

Usually it occurs to me to make holiday decorations and cards a couple of days before the event, but today, I'm ahead of the curve.  I just finished these St Patrick's Day tags and I'm 4 weeks in front of the day!

I love using shipping tags as the basis for collage- they're a manageable size, inexpensive, and lend themselves to adding ribbons and fibers.

I love the ads in the very very old (like early 1900's) Cosmopolitian and Harpers Magazines. The ads for corsets inspired this book. It kind of reminds me of a child's learn to tie your shoes board book!