Little Road Trip

It was an interesting weekend for my honey and I.  His car has been in and out of the shop since February and he is now at the point of getting ready to cut bait and replace it. It's been a good car for him these past 11 years and he really wants to keep it another 2-3, but it may have a different outlook on whether it wants to continue life with us.  Since it is back in the shop, he would miss the "weekend shoot" at the Athens Gun Club.  I didn't want my honey to miss his league shoot so I said I would change my treasure hunting routine to his neck of the woods so he could get a round of trap and skeet it.    After dropping him off at a friends house I drove on to Jefferson, Georgia to check out Red Hound Antiques.   I heard about Red Hound the week before and they are a huge, huge venue with lots of dealers and with lots of room for more.

 Red Hound is a revitalized factory with 100,000 square feet of antiquing space.  Beautiful spaces, highly polished wood floors make this a delightful experience.

 

There is lots to see here with a wide variety of antiques, vintage pieces, and architectural pieces to select from.

This is one of those places that you will find something to take home.

Need RC cola crates? They gott'um.

 A "gaggle" of vintage bikes.

 How about a vintage dentists chair and equipment.  Dig that crazy school bus yellow color.  Calling Dr. Orin Scrivello.

 Not a smoker, but I am in love with the art deco styling of this piece.

 Now that is a bathtub full of good luck. 

 Parking meter heads.  What would you use them for?  

From Jefferson, I drove to Commerce, Georgia. I connected with Claudine of "Our Town Antiques" on her Facebook page and had to check out her store.  Located in the heart of old town Commerce, her shop boasts big store windows that invite you to see the treasure she offers.

 Greeted by the smiling faces of a couple of chipmunks.

 Yes, that is a dragon.  Oh, I would love to have purchased this and sent it to my granddaughter in NY.  She would adore this in her room.

Our Town not only offers antiques but is filled with marvelous American Folk Art pieces.  Paintings, pottery and 3-dimensional art for the serious collector.

Lots of pretty things to select from.

I found this lovely, EAPG pedestal cake plate.  Always looking for these as they are big sellers for me.

Pretty vintage, stretch glass bowl.

Nice vintage rayon table runner with lots of fringe.  Our Town Antiques is a lovely shop and I will be back to visit again.

From Commerce, I drove back to Athens to meet up with my honey for an early dinner at Harry's home of the best BBQ in town.   Had fantastic pork tenderloin sliders on the squishiest rolls with a spicy mustard sauce. 

 On Sunday, I brought in the few items I found over the weekend and fluffed up my booths.

 The cake plate looks great showcasing the quadruple plated jardiniere.

 Pretty pair of soft, matt glass twin vases with cupids.

 Brought in this lovely antique, Victorian parlor table last week but it was hidden behind other furniture items.  What makes this piece special is that it is not a marble top but a perfectly executed faux marbling.  A great American hand painted piece.

 This has been a great season for selling antique roses china.  I can't keep it in the booth very long and now I am running out of pieces to bring in.

 Found a pair of lovely, late Victorian steel cut shoe buckles from France.  These sparkle light diamonds.

How about a pair of vintage, men's peep show viewers?  Acchhhhh, men and their silly little toys. Very 1950s.

Acquired these turquoise pieces when I lived in Flagstaff.  This large, turquoise and sterling ring is beautifully executed and has a lovely feel as it was made to mold around your finger.

 Large sterling, turquoise and coral Navajo bracelet.  Circa 1950s

 Sweet little crown from a Communion veil. 

It was a nice little road trip but I hope my honey's car will be running soon.  I know he is anxious to have it back and we would both prefer not to have another car payment. So I am keeping my seawitchy fingers crossed.  Blessings to you and those you love.

A lovely weekend

Spring has finally arrived in the south and we had two beautiful spring days of 68-70 degree weather.  It was wonderful to sit outside and hear the sounds of the children playing ball, riding bikes, scooters and roller blading.  Dogs were barking with a grin on their faces and making every attempt to chase down the squirrels that laughed at them from above the pine tree tops.  The pollen has already begun to yellow the cars and patio furniture but I don't care.  It was just so nice to have the sunny spring weather finally here.  I made a few trips to a few favorite places for treasure hunting, but found very little.  I suspect everyone was out and about enjoying the weather; in fact, it was Lowes and Home Depot garden centers that were packed with customers.

Sweet little wooden carrier in that great seafoam green color.

 Three very tiny lab glassware beakers.

 I added a vintage photo and a vintage postcard to these pretty frames.

 A set of 8 Indiana Glass Company, pattern: Colony Harvest, milk glass dinner plates.  Circa 1950s.

 Antique Wm Rogers silver plated teaspoons.  Four engraved with the initial "O", pattern:  New Century dated 1898 and a pair of teaspoons engraved with the name "Emma", pattern: Oxford dated 1901.

 Hung the Edwardian slip and it looks spectacular against the other antique clothing.  The length of this piece and the workmanship is truly lovely.

 Displayed antique white pitchers with quadruple plate pieces. 

 I am very fond of this sweet little picture of a child and the family dog.  Notice the tiny kitten peeking out from behind the door. 

Darling little split bamboo sewing basket from 1950s Japan. My mother had a larger version of this basket that she had filled with buttons. It was one of my favorite things to play with as a child and I would spend hours looking and separating the buttons. Circa 1950s

 Pair of Victorian mourning bracelets. French jet (faceted glass) beads on memory wire. Pairs of bracelets were often worn by the Victorians and this pretty set is still wearable today. Circa 1880-90s. Price: $32.00 for the pair.

 Marvelous CDV of a beautiful African American woman. Dressed in a bustle dress with high collar and fitted sleeves,you can see the tight corset she wears. She is holding a pair of gloves in one hand and a small wallet in the other. I don't come across CDVs of African Americans often and this cabinet card is a beauty. Circa 1880-90s.

 And finally, a lovely pair of late Victorian "ear-bobs." Don't you love that period description for earrings? Occasionally, I will hear that term, as it is a southern description, and I thought it fit this pair well. Sterling silver shell design with set in marcasites and natural pearls with gold wire in the leverbacks. Circa 1900s.

Hope everyone has a marvelous week.  Sea Witch

Look what I found

Let me first say thanks to everyone for all of your kind posts and supportive emails about my recovery as I work my PT sessions with my new knee.  I'm making progress but it will be a good 6-8 months before I have total recovery.  The PT can be tough, but each time I do a session, I have a little more mobility.  Between the ice packs and an occasional percocet, I'm making my way through the post PT pain and swelling.  It's important that I get out and walk  during the day so I made a trip to a favorite haunt to walk around and see what I could find.  It was quiet as so many folks around this area take off for the Easter weekend to visit family.  Not having to work my way through tiny aisles and large crowds made it a walk I could manage without issue.

I spied this lovely little Victorian chromalithograph in original frame on one of the sales tables.  Colors are a little faded but she is a sweet face as she kneels in prayer.  Bubbled glass and gilt frame and measures 12 x 18.  

 I adore red on white embroidery and have a few nice personal pieces.  This looks like it was cut away from a frame as it is close to the stitching.  Not sure if I want to place it between two pieces of glass to retain the ragged edges or just hang it from a small line with vintage clothespins. A good size piece, she would be welcome in a large kitchen.  Loosely translated from German, "The economy is like an automobile, you have to drive it to understand.  The woman is the chauffeur because they have to think of everything"  Sounds like a late Victorian witticism regarding women having to manage the house hold economy.

Another personal favorite...nice medium size antique stoneware platter with pretty transferware flowers.  This was well used and does have an interior crack.  Still, it is an unusual shape and perfectly usable to serve your best chops or desserts.  Circa 1890s.

 Set of four milk glass servers marked Patent date October 29, 1897.  Not sure what these we be used for but they have small little handle and are fluted like a scallop saucer.

 Gorgeous, Victorian slip for under a christianing dress. Very, very long, nearly 48 inches of skirt length has beautifully, hand sewn gathers and buttonholes.  Lovely french seams and hand stitched tone on tone embroidery.  Pretty mother of pearl buttons with stars incised on front with a lovely tea stained shade of the palest tan.  This underslip is part of a christianing set and the original dress must have been as decorative as this slip is. Circa 1880s.

Pretty Baroque pattern, Wallace silverplated serving tray and a pair of transferware bone dishes.

 

Mercury glass topper is a petty decorative element. 

 Nice, Vaseline stretch glass plate.  Very heavy and in lovely condition.  Put it under a black light and it glows a brilliant lime green.

Pretty little hooked chair mat is hand hooked with rayon strips.  Colors are now a soft tone on tone of whites and browns.  Circa 1900s.

 A gorgeous Victorian, toasting goblet with heavy quadruple plate silver with etched initials.  In lovely condition. Circa 1890s

 Finally, a delightful family portrait taken in the early 1900s.  Vintage photos always make me smile.  I wander how long it took to get them to sit all together and then stop talking and laughing and be serious for that sitting.  You know the ladies had made terrific and tasty food items and the men sat around and talked shop and politics. Children played and babies were passed from hands to other loving hands. I will put this pretty photo in a vintage frame and smile when I bring it to the store.

It was so nice to be able to hunt for treasure again.  I have to watch that I don't over do it as I go through this healing process.  Taking it easy is not something I do well but I am following my doctor's orders.  I hope everyone is having a lovely Easter and I wish blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

SeaWitch went solo

Hello everyone.  Had my first solo flight or walkabout this weekend.  Now that I'm off the pain killers I am free to drive so I took my first outing on Saturday.  Went and had my nails done as they were a wreck since it had been 6 weeks since I was at the salon.  Was able to sit comfortably for the hour it took for them remove the broken acrylic tips off and replace them with the new ones.  Since my knee still felt good, I made a road trip to Vintage Village to check out the treasure that was coming in and say hello to friends.  It was a marvelous little trip and just seeing everyone and walking around the pretty booths filled with spring goodies was very "healing" for me.  Found a few great pieces to keep and to sell but then I always do when I stop by.  

 How about this faboosh, Mr. Charles, big navy straw hat with two sassy satin bows and lighter than air ostrich feathers.  This is sooooooooo Audrey Hepburn and this beauty is in fantastic condition.  I almost squealed with delight when I saw this marvelous hat.

 Saw this pretty lace fan while perusing the Vintage Village facebook page.  The "hag" is always posting photos of new items that come in and I saw this the week after I got out of surgery and asked them to hold it for me.   Perfect for St. Patrick's day celebrations.

 My lovely daughter in law, Kerry, turned me on to these marvelous stoneware pieces for their rich cobalt blues but they are the definitive bakeware for perfect results.  These are small oven dishes but I don't care.  I adore them for their beauty and quality. 

 I like vintage celluloid pieces and was delighted to find this pretty little picture frame with velvet backing and stand was intact and in great condition.  Known as French Ivory because it looks like ivory, this early plastic is often stained from oils and perfumes or often melted from heat.  There is such a natural vintage look to these pieces.  While at Goodwill, earlier this week, I found the powder dish and the hairpin container as well.

 Now this is not old, but a pretty reproduction of the Victorian sewing bird.  Pins were placed in the velvet cushion and the fabric piece that was being worked on is placed in the bird's mouth and held in place like an extra hand.  Such a marvelous little tool that is so indicative of Victorian fussiness and excess.

 Great little late Victorian wicker sewing box in the shape of a chair.  Original red velvet has lost most of its "velvet" but the color is still bright.  I will fill with vintage needle packs and wooden spool threads. 

 This was a find at my local Goodwill earlier this week. I had dropped off a bags of hard bound books and as my honey was running errands, I asked that he let me walk around Goodwill for about 20 minutes.  I was delighted to find this pretty little pink necklace and matching earrings.  Very 1950s

 Another Goodwill find.  Can we get any more 1960s than beaded fruit?  Actual size pieces are heavy with plastic beads and straight pin and some have plastic greenery.  Grapes, lemons, limes, apple, pear, orange, banana and a pear of pink peaches make these a lot of fun. 

 

I was looking for my box of silk flowers when I came across a box of quad plate that I had stashed away after the holidays.  I had forgotten about it and was so pleased to come across it as I had sold nearly all of what was in my Victorian booth.  This is a unique piece as it is a large, quad plate jardiniere.  Never saw one before and it is a showpiece.  Circa 1890s.

 Spent the afternoon polishing up the quad plate and it looks fantastic.  Water pitchers, teapots, serving bowl and creamer and sugar bowl are such pretty decorative elements.

It was so neat to do a little treasure hunting as it seems like it's been forever since I could do this.  Of course, by the end of the day, I was exhausted and fell asleep before supper time.  That fine line of knowing when I have overdone it or not is still elusive to me.  I suspect I should have just done one or the other.  More healing lessons learned.  Have a marvelous week all and wishing blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

 

A SeaWitch Space

Hello everyone.  I just had to come up for air and say hello.  My physical therapy is going well and am now walking with my mother's antique shillelagh. I know she is smiling down at me as I walk with it.   This entire healing process has been interesting, tough and with little successes.  I am amazed when I look at my knee and realize that 20 days ago I had a total knee replacement and am now walking around and will start off site PT next week.  Just waiting for my doc to give me the "all clear" to get in the pool again.   So let me thank everyone for their prayers of healing and the good energies that keep me moving.  You have been marvelous.  

While visiting facebook pages, I come across this faboosh seawitchy space.  I love everything about it.  

A pair of galvanized laundry tubs with wood table applied and then filled with shells, shells and more shells.  Don't you just love the vision of this designer?  Wishing many blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Spring Ahead

Whoooo hooooooo!  It's the weekend when we move our clocks ahead one hour welcoming spring and more daylight into our lives.

 So looking forward to more daylight.  That will be me leapfrogging over the pasture's sheep once my PT is over. Have a marvelous weekend and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Sea Witch is on the move!

Hello everyone!  Wanted to share a photo of my new knee.  

I have been blessed with an amazing surgeon and terrific follow up care.  Moving a little slow as I begin my recuperation and the PT can be a little tough, but I have a new outlook on life with mobility.  Funny, the pain I had with the arthritis is gone, capute, fini!!!  The pain I'm dealing with now is close to none thanks to pain management and when I do have it, it is post surgery pain. 

If I follow my PT and post surgery instructions, I should be back in the antiquing saddle before I know it.  This Seawitch has just got swim and check out what is out there.  Thank you all for our emails, comments and prayers.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch