Getting ready for the holidays

Hard to believe that September is half over and the autumn days will be upon us shortly. These last few months will bring lots of holidays and the biggest sales of the year for antique/vintage dealers.  I need to make sure I have lots of inventory so I spent Saturday at a local auction and then stopped off at Statham, GA to look for a new fireplace mantle for my Victorian booth.  I sold my gorgeous antique mantle a few months ago and now I need to find a new one to fill that empty space.  

A fantastic Leeds, England serving platter. 

 Heavy and in perfect condition, this will be a showpiece on any Thanksgiving table or focal point hanging on a wall as a lovely decorative element.

 Large velveteen tapestry of a stag.  

The definitive Victorian design for a masculine room.

 

 Won this great vintage suitcase at my local auction.  This suitcase is a nice, large size but has lots of travel time to it.  The previous owner even taped the bottom with masking tape to keep it together.  Brought it in to my booth on Sunday and it was sold three hours later.

 

One of my favorite wins on Saturday is this fantastic antique Eastlake Victorian rocking cradle for a girl's dolls.  In pristine condition, this beauty is perfect for displaying a prized doll collection. 

 I have a weakness for antique quilts and this beauty from the late Victorian era is pieced with rich velvets and a few silks.  Love the brilliant colors, I'm leaning on keeping it rather than selling.

 Closeup of the pieced work.   This quilt is so joyful in its colorful brilliance.

Same place I found the quilt had this marvelous early stoneware jug. Nice ovoid shape and stamped with the number 1, this jug dates to the early 1800s.

This was an auction win that was buried in a box full of vintage American flags.  I was bidding to win the flags and found this nifty little lunch pail inside it.  Score, a double win for one money.

 I collect antique pudding molds and although my collection is small (4 of them) this one is my new favorite. It is a smaller mold and the corn impression is deep and clean.  Can't wait to make a Thanksgiving pudding in it.

 A Goodwill find, nice vegetable tureen with pretty green transferware pattern.

 Pretty green transferware pickle server was also found at Goodwill. Someone must have cleaned out their china cabinet.

 Pretty vintage Japanese Christmas candleholders.  So sweet.

 A lovely Victorian chromolithograph titled, The Oaken Bucket.  Original frame and glass.  Large print measures 16 x 20 inches.

 Found these at a local thrift shop.  Couldn't believe my luck when I saw them and the price was more than right.  Love these blown milkglass eggs and handpainted Easter messages from the Victorian era.

 Neat cast iron safe with a working combination. Circa 1920s

 Found the linen mannequin torso at my local goodwill so I bought an old lamp and had my son mount the torso on it for me.  Now we have a nice tabletop display mannequin.

 Filled the shelves with lots of vintage and antique transferware.  This always sells so well over the holidays.

  

Moved my glass case from the front of my booth to the right corner to open up the space.  I need to bring in items for the holidays and will need room for additional furniture pieces.

 

 All of those linens I cleaned, starched and pressed have been selling as fast as I can bring them in.  Have already sold 4 large tablecloths and lots of doilies.  These pretty tea towels are rich with color and so much fun to 

use as decorative elements.

It was a great weekend for finding treasure and adding them into my inventory sheet and pricing.  Wishing everyone a joyful week.  Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

My first, my last, my everything!

 Harold Alan Brown - April 1, 1947 -- September 3, 2013. Rest in Peace my love. You have been and will always be my first, my last, my everything.

This Sea Witch is swimming solo as her sailor has crossed over to restful waters.  I miss him so but continue to be surrounded by his love and laughter.  I will always carry him in my heart.  Thank you all for your prayers during his fight with cancer and for those you sent me. I am humbled by your love and care.  So hug your friends, kiss your loved ones and revel in their presence whenever you can.  Above all, blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch  

There's treasure everywhere!

I'm all decked out and doing the happy dance as I found lots of treasure this weekend.  Sometimes, you just hit the right places at the right time.

Loving the antique frame on this small vintage needlepoint picture.  

It is such a pretty little piece.

 Candlestick with silver overlay florals on base.  Circa 1940s.  Kota, my coyote mix is stretched out on the floor. He is such a good boy.

 These late Victorian celluloid brush boxes are usually "lady" oriented, but this nifty box is for a man.  Neat faux wood grain shows a couple i a canoe that is paddled by two men through a raging river.  Love this unusual theme.

 Four rosaries, the three blue ones are faux crystal and fairly recent pieces, but the black rosary is from the 1930s.  Nice black, wood beads and sterling crucifix and medal.

After washing, starching and ironing nearly 50 pounds of vintage linens, this is the one piece that I am thinking about keeping for myself. A marvelous red thread on white cotton sampler study of initials. These stitches are so precise and intricate...beautiful. Circa 1930s

 Pretty EAPG  buttermilk pitcher.  This beauty has a hint of sun purple in it.

 Crazy about this fantastic double light tiffany style lamp.  Heavy, made in the USA and the shade is all cathedral glass. 

How about this huge crown...big enough to be worn by a person, this will not sit long in my booth.

Can't wait to polish this bad boy up.  Lovely, heavy silverplate footed server.  Perfect for your best cakes, tortes, cookies or tea sandwiches or fill with vintage mercury glass.

 You can never have too many brides baskets and I just added this one to my personal collection. I use them over the holidays by putting paper doilies in them and filling with homemade baked goods.

 Always delighted when I can find a piece of flow blue.  This pretty little dessert plate was $3.00 at a local thrift store.

Thanksgiving isn't that far away and gravy boats are always a huge seller.  This pretty red transferware  piece won't be in my booth for long.

Still doing research on this lovely, needle etched poppies on a bell shaped water decanter.   Definitely a piece of elegant Depression glass. 

Found these at Buford Queen of Hearts on Sunday when I was restocking my booths.  Priced to move, I was delighted to find them before another shopper.  Very heavy, gun metal cast candlesticks are antique gold with glass prisms that send rainbows everywhere.  Can't wait to use them over the holidays.

 The last three auctions I attended, I came back with three big boxes of linens.  After washing, starching and ironing nearly 50 pounds of assorted vintage linens, I have been pricing them to sell fast.  Filled this antique wicker flower stand with them and by the time I shot this photo, it was nearly empty. Gonna bring more in this weekend.

 and last by not least, I fell in love with this pretty little primitive pillow with a witch giving readings to felines.  Love the gentleness of this theme and it is now in my antique dough bowl.  This pillow was another find at the Buford Queen of Hearts.  I forgot to get the name of the booth and will do so this weekend for those who may want to visit it.  It is across from my  Victorian booth and I believe is two side by side booths filled with primitive pieces.

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend and blessings to you and those you love.

Nifty finds.

Running a little behind this week. I usually have my weekend post up by Sunday evening, but I've been burning the candle at both ends these days and finally got time to sit down and upload photos.  Hit an auction, Goodwill and Vintage Village and found a little treasure at each.

 Pretty, creamy white and gold lustre trim chop plate and and gravy boat by the Harker Pottery Company, USA. This one has the red bow and arrow mark. Really a pretty pattern in it's simplicity.  This was a Goodwill find. 

How about 4 dessert plates, one bread and butter and 4 saucers to match?  These will be pretty to serve favorite family desserts over the holidays. 

I really like these elegant Depression glass servers.  They are lovely to serve tea sandwiches, petite fours or tea cakes on.  This one is etched crystal but a smaller size than the usual 12 inches.  A terrific Goodwill find.

A Vintage Village find, marvelous early 1900s skimmer.  

Love this "Souvenir of Montreal" a great panoramic photograph of the city of Montreal, that is handcolored and then fine strips of "Mother of Pearl" are scattered about. This was a typical artistic touch given to early century photos to give the appearance of light. 

Original frame and glass and the photo is dated 1929.

 Fine Dresden mesh purse is as pretty as can be even with the minor issues that can be repaired. Original pink lining is still intact but has pulled apart from frame. I will make the repairs and then bring in to the store. Circa 1920s 

Another pretty flapper era beaded bag with wooden handles.  Needs some repairs along the sides but this is an easy fix. Love the sparkling copper iridescent beads.

 Early American Pressed Glass pieces always call to me.  The dual handle sugar bowl has a hint of sun purple in it and the custard dish is so heavily pressed with designs that it first looks like cut glass.  Both date in the late 1890s.

 A pair of beautiful antique lace.  I use these in repairing antique clothing as well as creating new pieces.

 Back at the auction, I bid and won this fantastic Nixon election parasol.  A rare piece of political memorabilia, this was most likely a convention piece.

Another unusual win, a WW1 era wooden air plane propeller.  Would look great in a mancave or a pilot's fireplace mantle. 

How about a vintage mink hat?  Colder weather will be here before we know it and this will keep a head toasty warm.

Can't wait to use these vintage ornate frames for Halloween images.

and finally, this terrific pair of antique children's school desks. These are a very small size for the youngest students and are in fantastic condition.  

It was a fun, if not short weekend and with neighborhood kids back in school, I can already see summer is nearly over and all is just knocking at the door.  Hard to believe that this year will be over in 4 and 1/2 months. So wishing everyone a lovely week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch