Romancing...

a new space.  I have wanted to have a booth dedicated to antique and vintage Christmas for years now.  A small space came up at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall where I have my main space and if luck would have it, just across from my present space.  I wanted something small so I could keep the space fresh but also looking like a Victorian parlor.

 So I was hanging wallpaper again but it went quickly as it was a small wall area.

Brought in a stunning, Victorian pump organ in pressed walnut.  The best thing about this beauty is it still works and sounds great. This will be a lovely backdrop for antique Christmas items.

Lovely Chromolithograph of two girls singing in church.  Nice companion piece to the pump organ.

Flocked garland and an antique book look so good on the organ.

Lovely Victorian lady looks right at home.

 Sweet antique, mustard yellow child's rocker.

Wouldn't ya know it, half the lights on the tree do not work, sigh.  Well, I can't complain, I've had the tree for 17 years now. I may have to replace as I cannot find the issue with the top portion of the lights.  Once I have the tree lit I will decorate it with antique and vintage items.  Want to hang light garland across the top of the space as well.  Loving my new space, Romancing Christmas, and I can't wait to bring in the antique holiday pieces.

Still had time to make a quick run to my local Salvation Army Store, they had a 50% off of everything in the store and it was a mad house.  Everyone was here to find a score or two and I made a few myself.

Never used Towle silverplated server.  Perfect for the holidays.

Lovely Revere Ware silverplated bowl with clear liner.  Another holiday piece.

I can't get enough quality silverplate and this is beautiful Reed and Barton Chippendale server.

Pretty Victorian, small water pitcher by Warwick.  

Vintage West German stein with pewter top.  This is a small one and in marvelous condition.

Pretty Wedgwood gravy boat.  Can't have too many boats on your Thanksgiving table.

1920s french jet faceted mourning beads.  These are a keeper for me for a while before I decide to sell them.

Sweet West Germany Hummel figurine.  I know these are not in demand right now but for 99 cents and then half price, I couldn't walk away from it.

Stunning vintage Orrefors signed crystal art glass bowl. This baby is heavy and throws rainbows when the sun or light hits it.

Charming vintage sled with ghost images of its original color, I will decorate with sea stars and pretty ribbon and put in my new space.

Lovely fireplace screen looks like an iron gate. Another piece that will find it's was into my new space.

And finally, drinking glasses that a Sea Witch needs, a mermaid tail and a shark's head.  How hilarious are these?  

It was a fun but very busy weekend.  I finished painting the guest bedroom, put the furniture back in place, measured for cellular shades for the window and now am on the hunt for an old media armoire to upcycle. Tackled the new space with wallpaper and then moving the Victorian pump organ and other pieces in.  And of course, treasure hunting at the Salvation Army.  Can't believe that July will be gone after tomorrow.  My day job begins it's new fiscal year and I'm hammered with work there.  So, it's off to bed, dream sweetly, everyone and blessings to you and those you love.   Sea Witch

4 Months and it's Thanksgiving

Can you believe it, we are already half way through the year and fall holidays will be upon us soon.  What brought me to that realization was a Salvation Army find over the weekend.  I'm on a search for a mid century dresser, nothing fussy, clean lines and it can be beat to snot as I am going to do a total renovation. 

No furniture that I liked but did find this lovely, big turkey platter.  Circa 1950s big transferware piece with hand painted details.  It does have a big flake on the right side, but this is still a marvelous piece for either serving your bird or holiday display.  You can bet that four months from now, it will be in demand.  

From the Salvation Army I visited a local thrift shop and found this lovely and in perfect condition, Red Cliff Ironstone pitcher.  From their Heritage line, this was also has the hand applied bands of copper lustre along the edges and pretty flourishes on the handle.

 Haven't come across depression salt and pepper shakers in years at a thrift shop. Will clean the tops and put in my booth space.

Pair of lovely needle engraved champagne goblets.  Thistle pattern.

 Really cool 1960s West German pottery lamp.  This is a small, study lamp size and now I'm on the hunt for the long, cone shade it would originally have.

Gentle bisque figurine of a sheep and lamb.  

Waiting in line to check out and this gets left behind by the person in front of me. She decided she didn't want it.  Her decision was my gain as it as a lovely 1930s piano scarf with white embroidery on blue gro-grain fabric with long fringe.  

Have you noticed that local shops are slowly changing their summer look to fall?  Pretty golds, coppers and bronzes are appearing along with comfy quilts.  I am already missing this marvelous change over you find at Vintage Village, one of my favorite haunts in Snellville, GA.  Oh, how I miss that shop. These talented dealers, under the tutelage of Debbie, "The Vintage Hag"  offer up some of the best vintage eye candy anywhere.  Thankfully, I can still visit via the facebook page and occasionally do a little cyber shopping.  So as we move into a new month in a few days, I wish blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch. 

Rainy season treasure hunt

We are deep in Florida's rainy season which means it is hot throughout the day until the clouds roll in and the lightning begins to fork bringing the pouring rain.  Can't think of a better time to hit my local Goodwill.  It's also an opportunity to drop off more donations as well.  Since moving here in December, I have found that the majority of clothes such as jackets, blazers, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, regular shoes and boots have no use here.   I unloaded what I thought was a lot of items before I moved here but I continue to empty out my closets monthly these days.    So after dropping off a Honda full of items, I went inside to see what I could find.

Always love the opalescent look of Monex petalware.  Nice dinner plate but these make a lovely server for holiday cookies.

I don't usually pick up mid-century pieces but Blenko glass is hot right now and this lovely Amber, crackle glass decanter was too good to walk away from.  Next to it, is a pretty Egyptian candlestick.

Head over tea kettle crazy about this marvelous Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) celery vase.  Beautifully, hand engraved songbird in a branch along with the name Mrs. Sculley, Saratoga, 1891.  This is going into my personal collection.

Pretty little EAPG spooner, also hand engraved.

Lovely, 19th century, Art Nouveau, majolica pottery wall or cabinet plate. Villeroy & Boch, Germany. This pretty piece has a crack repair but still holds value.  Who says you can't find treasure at Goodwill?

Lovely set of four Tiffen wine goblets in the Rambler Rose pattern.

Pair of Johnson Bros. egg coddlers, pattern:  English Countryside.   My mother used to serve soft boiled eggs in coddlers every Saturday morning with crisp bacon and peculator coffee.  (I got milk as I was still a little girl)  I still remember the tap, tap, tap sound of the spoon cracking the shell and peeling it back to dive into the steaming hot yolk surrounded by the cooked egg white.  Toasted rye bread was sliced into long thin rows and we dunked "soldiers" into the egg.  I have no idea why we called them soldiers, but it stuck and I passed it down to my sons who passed it onto my grandchildren.  So, I googled it and found on wikipedia that this is a 1960s term.  

A soldier is a thin strip of toast; the strips that a slice is cut into are reminiscent of soldiers on parade. The toast is sliced in this manner so that it can be dipped into a soft boiled egg that has had the top of its shell removed. Many people also enjoy "marmite soldiers" in the UK or "vegemite soldiers" in Australia which follow the same principle and are spread with Marmite or Vegemite respectively.  The specific term "eggs with soldiers" appears to date only from the 1960s.

Stunning Winkleman's vintage mink caplet with collar.  Lovely satin lining with embroidered initials inside, this mink is in perfect condition.

Unique find, Catholic priest's vintage, white vestment chasubal.  Crushed velvet with embroidered front and back.

Last but not least, a marvelous cast metal frame.  I am converting all of my family pictures from various modern frames into a grouping of these antique ones. Once I get them all mounted I will take a photo of the grouping and share it with you.

The summer is flying by and I am still moving in. LOL  Started to remove the window treatment and filling holes in the guest room bedroom in order to prep it for a complete repaint. Looking forward to seeing this room change from its purple and pink with hearts and flowers into coastal spa decor.  Until my next post, blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Dade City Day Trip

Hello dear readers.  It has been 5 months since my last post and I've closed on a house, had two PODs delivered with my household goods, unpacked 260 boxes, continued pricing and setting up my space at the Lyon's Head Antiques mall; slammed, oh so slammed at work with my new department ... but loving the creativity and assignments and finally, spending the week with grandchildren while their mom and dad take a much needed vacation.  

Whew, got that all out.  I am loving my new Florida digs and having a little pool out back, everything a Sea Witch could hope for in a living space. 

 I have missed blogging and my need to begin exploring the local communities around me, so I told myself it was time to take a break from all of the above and start exploring.  

Several of my new neighbors kept telling me that I must visit Dade City, a small, north central community about 30 miles away from my home and known for its small town charm and quaint antique shops.  

Dade City is a pretty little community with Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes, rolling green lawns, and a downtown area that reminded me of Monroe, Georgia...where I used to shop often for treasure.

It was beginning to rain as I pulled into my first stop, Makers and Shakers, a new antique and artisan mall filled with antiques, vintage, kitsch, and art pieces from the floor to the ceiling.

Great tin signs greet you as your enter the shop.

Crazy about the Standard Oil Pegasus.  I swear I could find a place for it if brought it home, but I had to pace myself. 

This too Cha Cha for words apron is one of the many hand sewn items you will find here.

Everyone needs a huge Mardi Gras head and this bad boy would be the focal point of your outdoor living space.

My first purchases of the day was this lovely silverplated champagne bucket and vintage lace panel.

Always love to find Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) pieces and I couldn't resist this pretty little syrup server.  

From Makes and Shakers I moved on to American Eagle Antique Mall. Another marvelous antique mall filled with antiques, lovely glassware and unique pieces.  However, the first thing that hits you when you enter are the marvelous smells that emanate from the cafe that is located inside.  O. M. G.!!! 

 Tables set with different vintage plates, flatware and glasses and homemade crab soup that looked amazing.  Oh, and they had jumbo size, fresh out of the oven peanut butter cookies and fresh peanut butter fudge.

Lots of vintage and antique glassware.  If you are a collector, this is the place to stop, especially for depression and EAPG.   Prices are all over the boards here as there are different dealers so you can find some good bargains. 

 Pretty little Dresden and Dresden like figurines.  These are enjoying a nice popularity these days and the lovely gals were priced to take home more than one.

This dealer had beautiful hummels with a lot of uncommon pieces.  Hummels have dropped in demand so now is the time to acquire those unique figurines while the prices are low, as these will become popular again and prices will reflect that interest.  

American Eagle is filled with treasure and I did not leave empty handed.

Found two more pieces of EAPG that I can add to my collection.

American Sweetheart, Depression Glass, dessert plates and dinner plate; oh how I adore the opalescent quality of these pieces.

Early 1900s silverplated hand mirror.

This marvelous Victorian tin head doll with original clothes.  Love her sweet face.

From American Eagle Antique Mall I moved on to a string of small shops on Main Street. 

 My first stop was at a darling, American Primitives shop called "The Shabby Hen's Nest."

I'm a huge fan of American Primitives but so much is mass produced out of China that I tend to shy away from those offerings.  

 

Not so at the Shabby Hen's Nest.  Much of her pieces are beautifully produced by local artists and owners, Chris and Judy, upcycle antique and vintage pieces into contemporary furniture and decor like this darling display for a pretty selection of comfy clothing.

Warm Americana pieces and Christmas fill the back space of the Shabby Hen's Nest.  So much to choose from. 

My purchases from the "Shabby Hen's Nest" were this marvelous, hand turned rolling pin.  I can't wait to make pies with this.

 How adorable is this tiny, burnt ivory candle that, with a pair of AA batteries, is a timer.  It will burn for six hours and than automatically shutoff.  It will then turn on again 24 hours later at the original start time.  

The last antique shop that I visited made me weak in the knees.  Everything that I love about the 18th and early 19th century was in this wonderful store.

Oh, be still my heart, "Antiques on the Main Street" wooed me the minute I crossed her threshold.

Incredible pieces, early 19th century dry sink, buckets, quilts and antique, children's clothing.

Gorgeous ovoid jug, dough bowls and spice boxes.

 Stunning pair of oils, high button shoes and authentic rug beaters.

 I gasped when I came upon this wall of early painted portraits.  The last time I saw pieces like this were in local museums in New England.  I was in awe and could have moved right into this shop and lived within.

 Had to have this pair of silk socks and stockings.  Never used, they still had their tags on them.  As I was preparing to leave, something stopped me in my tracks.

I was so overwhelmed by all of the beauty in this shop that I missed the "niddy noddy" hanging from the wall.   I have been searching for an early niddy noddy to use to wind off the freshly spun fiber from my spinning wheel bobbins.

I can't wait to use it when I spin fiber off my wheels.  Antiques on the Main Street is a must stop if you want to see living history pieces.

Made one more stop before I headed home and that was to Quilts on Plum Lane, known as Florida's friendliest quilt shop.   They certainly live up to their moniker as it was filled with customers who were greeted by friendly staff.   I wanted to pick up some fat quarters for the lovely woman who does my lawn each week.  She is a quilter and as I have learned, quilters can never, ever have too much fabric.  Interspersed between rows and rows of stunning fabrics were also antique pieces.

 This pretty little oil signed and dated 1907 leaped into my hands so I had to bring it home.

It was a marvelous day and I so enjoyed my day of treasure hunting and visiting Dade City.  I will be making frequent trips here as there are other shops I want to visit and I want to try out the local restaurants.  

I hope everyone is having a marvelous summer and life has been treating you kindly.  So glad to be blogging again and wishing blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch