Gathering Dust

Which Doll is Most Likely to Cause Nightmares?

 

I've spent the winter complaining about not being able to find anything good to buy- but the last two weeks have been great.  Imagine finding three compostion dolls in various states of disrepair at an auction, along with a whole box of doll parts. 

So which doll is scariest?  I say Doll #2- mostly because that crack in her head should have taken her out of commission long ago.  I can't help but look at her and think bad lobotomy. Come to think of it, probably any lobotomy is a bad lobotomy- Have you seen the PBS American Experience show The Lobotomist?

I love the American Experience show - but I digress.

DH says Doll #3- the blank stare is freaking him out.

 

Doll #1 is actually kind of cute, despite her lack of arms- and she has molded hair with a loop molded right in- so you can tie a ribbon in her hair.

 

Doll #2 had the prettiest clothes- I don't think I've ever seen a doll dress made of French net lace. 

 

I'll show more of my finds later- including an INSULATOR collection.  How many of those have you ever seen?

 

I wanted to share some art gifts from friends.  Karla made this tag for me because I talked her through making an apron.  She drew the apron dressed mannequin and put it on the most beautiful wallpaper ever.

  

Karla is so talented with her drawing and doodles, I think she should start making stamps or collage sheets of her original works.

 

This ATC and handsewn wallpaper card came from Donna.  Most of you probably know Donna as the queen of wallpaper.  She sells it through her Etsy shop and I'm a loyal customer.  Well, I should say I WAS a loyal customer, but then Donna asked if I ever made anything with the wallpaper and I realized that I was "saving/hoarding" it.  But that doesn't mean I don't want to buy more.  I'm working through the stacks I have and I'll be back for more.

 

I made this ATC for Donna- with help from Karla- Karla made the ruffled paper.  I took some of my hoarded wallpaper and collaged it to make some Cuttlebug tags.

I've updated my Etsy Shop- SugarpinkMoon with leftovers from the Miss Frenchie's sale.  So if you like leftovers, check it out.

  

You Won't See This on Antiques Road Show

   

Several years ago, I applied for a job and in the course of the interview, I said I sold antiques.  The gentleman interviewing me what my speciality was.  Specialty?  Huh?  19th century folk art?  European pottery?  Art Deco Jewelry? 

 

I don't have a specialty- I'm just drawn to certain things- like fancy letterheads...and string...and old office supplies. 

 

At least that's the kind of stuff I got today- like this old card file- labeled "A - Z and Misc".  That would pretty much cover anything you wanted to put in the box.

And this box- full of index cards- 1000 of them, aged just enough so you know they're old.

 

Wow- think of all the possibilities of one thousand index cards...  The little blue box on top is a prescription box from 1937.

 

See that vertical scratch across the box?  That was where there was a rubberband.  Over time rubberbands kind of dissolve and glue themselves to whatever they are touching.  I hate picking rubber band guts off of boxes or silverware.  My advice- don't store anything long term with a rubber band.

 

These little prayer cards, pictures and medals are from an estate sale last week- but they're sitting on top of an office supply find from this week- the BIGGEST pad of ledger paper I've ever seen.

 

At the same sale, I found this pair of well worn little boys leather gloves.

 

Want to know how big the ledger paper is?  It's almost as long as a dog!

 

I did get a few "traditional" accessories- a tole bowl and some tole mirrors and frames- and fake grapes- can't have too many fake grapes to fill in spaces in a display.

And here's a couple other pictures from this morning's travels.

 

Is a speed hump different than a speed BUMP?

There weren't any sales at these houses, but I thought they were so gracious that I took a picture- I might like to live on this street.

Architectural Salvage & a Neat Idea

 

I've been complaining about the lack of good auctions, estate sales and just junk in general since January, but last Friday I had a great buying day- so good in fact, that I've already turned around a sold quite a bit- so no pictures.

One thing I still have is this old floor heat register.  I saw a neat display idea with these, and I thought I'd copy it.

 

Turn it over, open the vents and use as a display rack for pictures- or Flinch cards.

Miss Frenchie's - Come out and See Us!

  

Sat April 18, 10-6 

Alexander Majors House

8201 State Line Rd Kansas City MO

 

 

 

  

 

How to Load Your Truck for an Antique Show

  

I'm setting up for the Miss Frenchie's Antique Show today.

Here's the plan: First, marry a really great guy who VOLUNTEERS to  load your truck. 

Didn't even have to be asked, he just volunteered.

  

Then when he tells you he couldn't fit everything in, take a look.

 

Because you know that YOU can fit more in the truck.  Hubby has never been to an estate sale or auction miles and miles from home and over bought and then had to SQUEEZE it all in to avoid a trip back.

I have.

So, I can see how to make MORE ROOM.

 

See, move the easels and there's probably room for two more tubs....now if I can just tie a dress form and a chair on the top of the truck, I'll be stylin' like the Beverly Hillbillies.

I'm sure that peeking into the jumble in the back of my Explorer has really made you want to check out the Miss Frenchie's show- but I think it will all come together just fine.

Here are some things I've made for the show.

 

This is a collage I made for my sewing display-old patterns, notions and trims on a clipboard.

 

Corset tags.

 

Vintage catalog images.

 

Journals made from Bingo cards.

More journals.

And more journals- these from cabinet cards.

 

And I didn't make this- I just gathered together some of my favorite "no color- oatmeal, sepia, cream, ivory" paper pieces.

This is my favorite.

 

It's only about 4" tall, and opens to show a music program.

 

Hand made- back in the days before Kinko's, diecut machines- and glue that dries clear.

Under Glass

 

My theory is that everything looks better under glass, and even humble objects can look interesting if you put enough of them together in a glass, under glass, or in a glass jar.  For example- this pink pom pom trim in a glass canister makes a nice backdrop for these darling bunny picks that Miss Barbara  gave me.  The bunnies are now living in a old glass flower frog.

Even Bingo markers and buttons look better when they're in a fruit jar.

 

Craft supplies in an old Tang canister.  Remember Tang- the powdered drink you mix with water that the astronauts took to the moon?  It was a breakfast and after school staple at our house.

 

And, starring in a 50's fish bowl- white buttons.  Of course, white buttons are appropriate anywhere- and they're much easier to take care of than fish- because if you have fish, you have to clean the fish bowl.

 

More uses for fish bowls- and for game tiles.  I don't know the name of this game, but its pretty common- the tiles have a number on one side.  The tiles are great for adding to a collage.  Just glue a picture to the tile, outline with a metallic paint marker and glue to your collage- it gives it a little bit of depth that adds interest.

 

More craft supplies under glass- these are glitter letters- keeping them in a jar keeps the glitter under control.

  

A jar of old watch faces.  These kind of intrigue me- let's take a look.

 

They came from a watch repairman's auction.

 

These technically aren't under glass- that's a plastic container that was in with the pocket watch faces.

 

Each is about as big as the tip of your finger- or the tip of my finger, I should say.

Here's a little peek at the project I was working on when I stopped to look under the glass in my craft room.

 

 

What do YOU keep under glass?

Why I Don't Live in North Dakota Anymore

 

Why don't I live in North Dakota where I grew up?  Well, for one thing, it's April 9 and the ground is still covered with snow.

 

And, I'm afraid of moose.

Seriously, my Mom sent me these pictures of a moose that wandered into their backyard. 

Now, I'll grant you, North Dakota doesn't have a lot of urban sprawl, but my parents live in a town with a population of about 8,000, and they aren't on the edge of town, so seeing a moose is a little unusual- especially one about to take a nap in the garden.

In the White Light

 

So, what did you do on Friday night? 

I ironed- and now I'm sharing about it- if there is anything less interesting than ironing, it would have to be READING about ironing, right?

 

But I was ironing these vintage white cotton baby dresses- and they're so sweet, I really didn't mind.

As I finished them, I'd hang them on these old nursery rhyme hangers.

 

I've tried to collect these hangers at estate sales, but the pink Humpty Dumpty actually hung in my closet when I was a baby.

 

I didn't have to iron this frilly skirt- I keep thinking that this would make a crazy cool lamp shade- maybe I should just add some Christmas lights to it.

   

This little chemise with a pink bias tape neck is sweet.

Just a little bit of embroidery makes it special.

 

It has a mended spot, too- and I think that makes it special too.  I don't think anyone mends clothes anymore.  When I wore a hole in my sheets because my "haven't had a pedicure in months" feet were  kind of "rough" on the percale- I just threw them out- the sheets-  not my feet.

This homemade dress is decorated with dots- red dots that have a blanket stitch edge- and you can see a mended spot at the bottom near the middle.

 

This is the bottom of a child's apron.  It's hard to see all of the embroidery, but a bonneted girl is chasing butterflies with a net.

 

The butterflies are hiding on the pocket.

 

I ironed these to get them ready for the Miss Frenchie's Brocante show on Apr 17 & 18.  The Miss Frenchie's blog will be updated shortly with all the details.  Hope to see you there!

 

I've updated my Etsy Shop with some vintage "still in the package" supplies, pretty hankies & assorted Bingo Cards.