Hearts and Lovers

The Day of Love is soon upon us and I was fortunate to find a few pretty things to add to my Valentines Day offerings.  I especially like taking old, vintage and pretty frames and filling them with downloaded images of lovers.  

Beautiful silvertone swing frame with cupids and sea shells and vintage image.

Pretty stained glass frame with lace inset and lovers dancing close image.

Another pretty stained glass frame with dried flowers inset between the glass and lovers goodby kiss parting on a train.

Stunning Westmoreland, Wakefield Ruby Red Mantle lidded compote. This one is hard to fine in ruby stained striped pattern as they are most often found in a solid fill center.  

Circa 1950s

A pretty reproduction of the Victorian sewing bird.  Pins/needles were placed in the velvet cushion and the fabric piece being worked on was placed in the clamp as an extra hand.  Marvelous little tool that is so indicative of the Victorian fussiness for excess.

A nice selection of small and medium 1920-30s Louis Sweeny tin candy boxes in that palest shade of lilac pink.  Use as a gift box or fill with your favorite chocolates.

All of these things make for a pretty display of Valentines Day gifts for someone you love...or perhaps for yourself.

Easter follows shortly and spring along with it.  This charming little cookie jar is perfect for spring treats.  Vintage Napco "Little Miss Cutie" cookie jar is highly sought after for that charming face.

Everyone loves those deviled eggs but before you devil them, place the pretty colored eggs in these vintage egg trays.  

 These small stained glass lamps bring beautiful light to small areas.

 Antique Goofus Glass vases, chalkware rabbit, German porcelain bunny and of course, the famous vintage, Napco rabbit figurines.    

Other finds this weekend were this delightful, hand crafted stacking game made with a variety of woods. 

The most popular Avon stein, 1977 called the Schooners. 

Fantastic seafoam color, antique ice tongs.

Finally, a marvelous set of etchings of St. Augustine from the original map by John Horton in 1855. The map has been divided into three etchings outlining the buildings in old St. Augustine. East Florida.  Beautifully framed.  You can see the complete and original map at the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98687135/

Closeup.

 Full view.

I post this all noodled under a soft and warm blanket with a doxie next to my feet keeping them warm. Even in Florida, we are seeing cold temps and lots of rain so those in more northern climates, I say to you keep warm.   As always, blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

2019 - middle of January

Hello everyone and a happy but very belated New Year.  I have been remiss in blogging these last few months for so many reasons.  My day job, my health, my spaces...but a dear antiquing gal pal reminded me how much she enjoyed my posts and I have missed writing them so I am going to get back to blogging again.   

Had a great December with my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, one of my best sales months in several years and that invigorated me to look through the last of my 9 boxes from my move two years ago.  It was like Christmas all over again discovering items I had forgotten I had so I'm busy pricing them and bringing them into my spaces.  The best thing about this, though, was filling up my vehicle with items to donate to Goodwill and the extra space in the garage.  

Did a little cyber shopping at my favorite antique shop in Snellville, Georgia - Vintage Village.  Love when my #happymail arrives and these are the treasures that arrived:

Absolutely stunning vintage bird cage.  Strong, big and original paint makes this a winner all around.  Now to figure out where to hang it.

Set of three wooden shoe lasts. I love these decorative elements.

Another favorite of mine are the stiff Edwardian collars.  I use them in a glass cloche along with other antique elements.

And finally, this marvelous, antique clock face.  This bad boy is big and along with its Roman numerals time it has the numerical calendar along the outside.  I am fascinated with time pieces large and small and have antique clocks around the house.  Some work, some don't but they still call to me, none the less.

Most of us get into this business to upgrade or add to their personal collecting.  That is what brought me into this marvelous business.  I wanted to add to my vintage clothing and my needlework tools like spinning wheels and bone crochet hooks and of course, I went a little wild with all the marvelous things that are out there.   So here are some of my last two weeks finds that have found their way or will into my spaces.

Large bee hive cloche.  

Nifty little find, a pair of 1970s, Indiana carnival glass pedestal compote candlesticks.  I had never seen these before and they are fun pieces.

Lovely silverplated fish that is a menu holder. Italian from the 1950s.  This would be perfect for a seafood restaurant to display the day's specials.

A gorgeous Victorian art glass compote.  Silverplated base with an opalescent glass base with ruby trim.

 Lovely Wedgwood Jasperware bowl.  The base it is resting on is mine, a purchase from a gal pal dealer from Vintage Village several years ago.  

 Pretty little porcelain lady pin cushion.  These were wildly popular in the 1920-30s.

 This was a great find, a pair of Goofus Glass large, low bowls in marvelous condition. Usually these have the cold paint from the bottom missing.  

Nice vintage Sacred Heart of Jesus print in original tin frame from the 1930s.

Delightful pair of the Victorian favorite...Cupid Asleep and Cupid Awake in charming, oak heart shaped frames.

 Beautiful Victorian, molded nickel over copper humidor.  I'm head over teakettle with the shape so my struggle is to keep or sell.  I may live with it for a few weeks before I make the decision.

A personal acquisition, a commercial silk thread spinner.  This spins so sweetly and easily when the metal points are held between two fingers.  

 Set of three, antique, turn of the century booklets of love.  The covers and illustrations inside are pure joy.

My last find was this stack of cabinet cards.  I adore these and I'm going to use the small ones in garland that I will be making.

I am hopeful for 2019, for my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, for a positive direction in my "day" job, for continued health as I age (don't we all) and I wish you all the same and I always wishing you blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

November???

Boy this year has flown by.  I'm still feeling like its July even though we are actually only 57 days until 2019.  Daylight Savings Time has kicked in and the evenings are now dark by 6:00 pm in North Florida.    It's been a good summer, busy with my "main job"...lots of fun with my antiquing and my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, visits with my sister and working on and around the house.  All in all, life has been good to me and for that I am grateful.  I know I have been here nearly two years but I am still downsizing as I give up more clothing that is not suited for my new life and that goes for stuff I brought with me for the house.  I just don't use it or need it here so I filled the car with donations to several local hospices and the rest went to my local Goodwill.

As long as I was at my Goodwill, it couldn't hurt to look around, right?  Well, it was a good decision because I found a few great pieces last week and then again this week.

Charming set of four English teacups and saucers in the prettiest of ice cream colors.

These just make having tea delightful.

Marvelous antique Germany, Simon Peter Gerz humidor canister.  This heavy incised stoneware has a few chips around the lip from use, but Gerz pieces are highly sought after.  Circa 1920s.

When kitchen stoves needed matches to light the flames, you kept a ceramic match holder nearby.  This wallpocket match holder has the pretty sampler cross stitch pattern on it.  Made in Japan and circa 1940s.

Stunning American Brilliant Cut Glass server.  This is now in my personal collection.

This charming, mid century ceramic turkey and pewter napkin rings are already in my booth space and ready for the Thanksgiving holiday.

More vintage pewter goblets and salt and pepper shakers from the 1970s are now also in my space. 

 1930s brass bow light may be missing the burner at the top but it holds a votive candler or battery operating one to throw off that light.

Lovely 1900s poetry books.

Early primer and a book about Christmas carols.

Pretty little ruby flashed EAPG souvenir cup with olive branch of peace.

Large Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) bowl.  Marvelous condition for something from the late 1890s.

Pair of satin, milk glass lamp shades.  Circa 1900s

Finally, this gorgeous engraved decanter.  Doing a lot of research on this piece as it has the look and feel of an 18th century piece, beautifully engraved on two sides, blown bubbles throughout and a pontil on the base.  

It shows the wear you expect to see on the bottom of a piece with age.  Still, this may be a 20th century piece but it is still marvelous.  Once I learn more about it I will followup and share the info.

I hope to post more frequently as this year comes to an end and if lucky, more nifty finds to share like these.  Wishing everyone a gentle week and blessings to you and those you love. SeaWitch

Wow Find.

Goodwill and an estate sale and then a visit to Cupcake Heaven made it a marvelous Saturday for finding treasure.  One of those days when really good finds just appeared.  Right out the gate, I came across this marvelous set of vintage Wedgwood dinner and dessert plates and saucers.

The pattern is Patrician and one of the most popular of the elegant pieces they offer.

Lovely Art Deco hand mirror and brush “buttercream” Guilloche enamel and silverplate.  Known as buttercream as it is the color of buttercream frosting.  Circa 1930s.  This is a pretty little set.

Beautiful cut glass cordial glasses.   These have that marvelous sound of a bell when flicked by a finger and have a heavy cut base.  Having to do a little homework on these as they have the look of feel of 19th century glass.  Will follow up with what I learn.

Charming, Italian, hand carved animated wine stopper.    What fun to pop this little guy in when serving wine.

From a Weeki Wachee estate, this stunning Persian Rug looks like it has never been walked on.

Gorgeous, Persian rug by Crown Collection Dynamic Rugs. The elegance of the Crown collection is unmatched, reminiscent of classic Persian designs, placed against the strong red viscose background creates a royal ambiance for the aptly named Crown collection. 

Rug is 100% viscose, machine-made in Turkey and measures 5 feet 3 inches by 7 feet 7 inches.  Brilliant reds on a field of black with white details. 

Charming little Italian inlay music box is a small size and perfect for a young girl to keep her favorite pieces of jewelry.

And now, the piece de resistance, I came across these taped together at Goodwill. A stunning pair of English Victorian, silverplate epergne candlesticks.  In amazing condition, I knew these were special but did notknow they were Victorian age.  

A short walk to the next aisle and...

I nearly did a cartwheel to where this was "thrown" in the corner of the shelf.  The matching centerpiece, a seven tier epergene vases.  All, like the candlesticks can be removed from the bases for cleaning.  This is also in amazing condition and marked.  A quick google when I got home and I learned that I really found a treasure.   

Now the struggle, do I keep or do I sell?  We shall see.

Summer is coming to an end and the days will begin to get shorter. I have begun to bring fall into my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall.  

Handsome pair of turkey platters, everyone needs one for the holidays.

Mid century glass is hot, hot, hot and this pretty orange gradient, ruffled footed bowl would look marvelous when filled with your best dinner rolls or crescents for your holiday dinner.

Rewired this pair of Hollywood Regency lamps and added a pair of new, silk shades.  Heavy with black marble bases, cast spelter with original gold paint and with crystal prisms.  Circa 1930s.  

Finally, when August rolls around it is time to begin drying the hydrangea mops.  I have trays drying them all over the house and these are sacked in glass chimneys as I ran out of trays.  They are drying a gorgeous shade of green and will be ready for decorative fills in quad plate and vintage glassware.

Wishing everyone a joyful Labor Day and blessings to you and those you love. SeaWitch