Wishing all

a gentle 2013.

There are many affirmations I could wish for you, but I share this one that I believe we should all embrace..."Be easy on yourself."   Like the grain of sand that finds it's way into an oyster shell and slowly, without effort becomes a coveted pearl, going forward, live your life as gently as that single grain of sand. Your beauty is within and will become that uniquely beautiful and one of a kind, lustrous pearl.   

Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

I couldn't help it.

I couldn't.  It wasn't my fault.  It called to me. So I went back.  I made another drive to Monroe, Georgia and Davis Street Antiques and returned with two pieces I fell in love with from my friend's booth.  Yes, those two beautiful pieces...the crushed velvet wedding gown and that marvelous "married" parlor table.  There are three big antique malls in Monroe, but by far, my personal favorite is Davis Street Antiques.  As owner, James shares, it is "a place that offers reason to stop and linger.”  Davis Street Antiques truly is a place to linger.  Beautiful pieces fill the many booths and you will always find something to take home.  Photos were taken with my iphone as I had forgotten my camera.  Please forgive the less than high quality.

The front check out space is surrounded by seasonal vignettes.  Real mistletoe, a candle lit jar, and old fashioned Christmas cards reside in a vintage suitcase.

Found pretty transferware bowls and plates.  

One of my favorite items to collect and sell.

 What I really enjoy about Davis Street Antiques are the dealers. They mirror the decorative eye of the owner and you will find delightful little pieces that are repurposed into decorating elements throughout.

The purity of glass provides intimate little settings for your favorite antiques and collections.

I like the simplicity of objects when they are paired together.  Very Georgia O'Keeffe in its arrangement.

Sweet antique shaving mirror with comb box.  The perfect place for a cherub to relax.

These riding boots make the perfect display for your favorite seasonal magazines. 

There is something so gentle about an antique cutter quilt repurposed into a stocking.  How many generations were kept warm with this quilt and now that warmth is shared again with a place for gift giving.

Who doesn't love an old wheel barrow full of pine cones and boughs?  It makes such a welcoming display to your home or business.

Fell in love with this pretty little settee and it was priced for the taking.  I had to really talk myself out of it as I had no room for it, but darn...I really wanted it.

There was no talking myself out of this piece though.  I saw it a few weeks ago and my heart began to race.  Black walnut with original finish intact and original tapestry upholstery.  Does have seating issues, but that is an easy fix.  A gorgeous slipper chair that I can use as a spinning chair.  Yes, I spin fiber and have been using a milking stool for decades.  You need a low chair to sit in or you develop back issues from "hunching over" a wheel.  Now, a slipper chair is any sort of armless, upholstered chair that sits low to the ground (around 15 inches, vs. the usual 17 to 19 inches), usually with a high back and wide seat; dating from the first quarter of the 18th century - an item for the boudoir or bedroom, it allowed a lady to assist her in getting dressed.  The slipper chair flourished in the 19th century and experienced a revival in the mid-20th century.  This lovely piece is an early one, pre Civil War.  I am thrilled with this find and will look forward to sitting in it while I spin.

Now you can see why Davis Street Antiques is one of my favorite places to visit for decorating ideas and antique treasure.  

This past weekend brought delightful weather to the Atlanta area.  Can you say 70s temps?  It was more like May then December and so folks were still having yard sales.  Hit a few on the way back home and found a little treasure.

A pair of sun purple and heavy glass flower frogs.  I think they are perfect for offering candy canes to friends.

Pretty vintage carnival glass 12 Days of Christmas plate.  1970.

A pair of Victorian hair items...a curler and a crimper.  Perfect gift for your favorite stylist.

Fabulous Whiting and Davis flapper era mesh wristlet bag.  In lovely condition with lining intact.  I wonder how many "juke joints" and southern speak easy's this found its way into.

Okay, how cool is this cookie sheet.  Looks like it has never been used. 

 

My sister's vintage Coca Cola wood box in as excellent condition as a collector could possibly want.  Like a true collector, she has decided to move this piece on to another.  That is the beauty of living with antiques, you can sell off a piece and upgrade to something that has caught your fancy. 

We are so close to the Christmas holidays and everyone is bustling with activity.  Remember the reason for the season and be kind to yourself as well.  When the cooking is done and the decorating is up, when family and friends arrive and take over the house, stop, look around at all that has come your way and give thanks.  There will always be others who have more and many who will have much less.  Blessings to you and those you love.  

December Treasure

Can you believe it?  It's December already.  Had a lovely Thanksgiving visit with my son and his family in Denver and even got a little treasure hunting in as well.  I hope the holiday was a great one for you as well. Now I'm playing catch up again on adding more inventory, pricing items, sprucing up the booths and preparing for more Christmas sales.  Found some nifty finds this weekend, unusual pieces for this time of the year as well.

 

Found this buried in one of my boxes of Christmas items.  I had thought I sold it all these years. Very 1960s with plastic garland on a birch branch with bells.  The definitive door hanger to announce when guests arrive.

 How lovely is this big, vintage wooden and wire birdcage?  Original brass feeders are still intact and has two doors.  I filled it with vintage Christmas balls and topped it with a pretty ribbon.

Pretty vintage, wrought iron tabletop or mantle candelabra is big and heavy. Holds 7 standard dinner tapers and has lots of layers of old paint.  Really like this piece so if it doesn't sell, I won't mind. 

 

 

 One of my best finds this weekend.  A marvelous, original Currier & Ives hand colored print of "Little Charlie" and is dated 1874.  Original bubble glass and frame with wooden backing.  The colors are brilliant and true.

 

Vintage milkglass footed compote is filled with gold plated silverware.  Everyone needs a happy gator with a Christmas ball in his mouth...especially if you are a "Gator's fan."

Pretty little jasperware creamer and sugarbowl.  Soft sage green color with lovely details.

Vintage Holy Family velvet tapestry. 

Beautiful pair of late Victorian, pot metal, heavy candlesticks have been sprayed antique gold.  

 

Exquisite silverplated tray by Wallace Silver.  Large piece with highly polished surface, it is as brilliant as a mirror and looks like it was never used.

 

Another super find this weekend,  a gorgeous and hard to find Roseville, Clematis container.  Their larger offering, this pattern was produced in 1944.  These actually look like poinsettias.  It does have crazing and a small repair and a crack line, but it is a hard to find pattern in the matt pine green and the large container form. 

 

Brought in more Santa's as they seem to fly out the door. 

 This jolly old elf is a nifty vintge piece that is a nice size.  He lasted 24 hours before someone took him home.

 

I love these wicker tiered servers.  They have so many uses.  Nice vintage piece in terrific condition.

 A second beautiful hand colored print in bubbled glass frame.  I love these mid Victorian pieces and this pretty peasant woman is filling her table pitcher with cool water from a wooden flume.

 Pendelton blanket, Harley D stocking and pinup calendars came and went as fast as the vintage Santa.

 Vintage trees, wicker pieces and mica houses.

 Photo of my general line booth.  Sold lots of items while I was visiting my Denver raviolis and had to fill in the empty spaces.

 

My Victorian booth continues to be my favorite.  It is always fun to add period pieces to this booth.

 Sold several large pictures so had to bring in new ones.  Moved items around to give the booth a fresh look.

Will catch up on my blog reading this week, I have missed reading your posts and am looking forward to your lovely photos and what you are up to.  Blessings to you and those you love and have a great week.  Sea Witch

An Antiquing Friend

 It has been a marvelous 4 days with me hitting three Holiday Open Houses that I adore.  On Wednesday, I attended the Vintage Village Candlelight Open House, on Thursday, I was a the Buford Queen of Hearts Open House and then on Saturday, I visited Monroe, GA and three huge antique malls.  I have lots of photos to share, but today's post will contain photos for only one booth.  Why only one, you ask.  Well, when visiting Davis Street Antiques in Monroe, I ran into an antiquing friend I had not seen in nearly 10 years.  I happened upon a booth called "Romantic Farmhouse" and as I walked through it I knew I was in a place most familiar.  I returned once more before I left Davis Street Antiques and there I find a woman "fluffing" the booth, my friend, Cheryl Alexander. 

Cheryl is one of those talents who has an incredible visual eye for decorating.  When you experience her booth you know you have walked into a special place.  I want you to know her Romantic Farmhouse booth through the photos that I took. It was wondrous in it's elegant simplicity with all shades white.

 

 Tiny white lights, mica churches and houses, candlesticks of many styles draw you into her booth.

  

 Pretty drieds hang from rafters, old windows repurposed into looking glasses and bottle brush trees abound creating tiny woodland spaces.

 

 Soft white and glitter touched garland hangs from a shabby mantle. Entwined are pretty lace pieces, repurposed vintage items and garland.

  

Vintage mannequin angels wear feathered white wings, jewelry creations and vintage lace.  They say the devil is in the details and Cheryl has stenciled the word "Paris" on this heavenly body.  

When you look above she has transformed her empty ceiling space into a marvelous place.  Old, rusted bedframes become an open display for hanging dried roses from old lovers and friends. Dripping with vintage lace as well, this is one of my favorites areas of her booth.

Nestled above the dried roses is a pair of toe shoes.  I have a thing for worn ballet toe shoes.  Never been a ballerina, but my middle sister was a gifted dancer.   So much heart and physical passion goes into this art form, perhaps that is why I like them so.

Those delightful bed frame pieces display delicate mercury glass ornaments...I am now on the hunt for rusted bed frames as I so love this decorating element.

 

How lovely is this vintage candelabra with dripping crystals and delicate tapers.  I would be burning candlelight each night if I had this in my home.

Be still my heart...I have such a passion for vintage velvets and lace...I must go back and purchase this vintage wedding gown.

Antiqued and several shades of white, this stocking is scrumptious. What a marvelous place for tiny gifts to hide.

Another lovely married piece created by Cheryl. You can see why I am always thrilled to discover the creative pieces that she envisions.  Thinking I must have this piece too.

 

Cheryl's booth is such a reflection of her heart and soul and gentle character.  She bursts with a quiet creativity that translates true emotion to the pieces in her booth.  As I took this final shot, I realized that Cheryl may have had the last laugh on me with this delightful angel she has on her entry post.  A true self portrait if ever I saw one.  Sweet face with sparkling blue eyes and that wild blond hair styled closely and just off the side of her head that begs the question, "Guess what I have been up to?"  Arms clasped in front of her with a silver star, an angelic gift?  Oh, yes, most definitely, because Cheryl's pieces are truly a gift from her heart.  So good to see you my friend and now that I know where your hanging your stars out these days, I will be making frequent trips and hopefully, will cross your path more often.  Ten years is way to long to chat.

Proud owner of a new...

car payment. Yuk!  My beloved 1998 Honda CRV with 178,540 miles finally gave up the ghost.  Was driving to Queen of Hearts on Sunday to add more Christmas to my booths when I lost 4th and 3rd gears just before I got onto the highway.  Thankfully, I was able to coast into the parking lot a mile away and get everything that was in the vehicle into the booths.  Now if I could only coast into the nearest Honda dealer to see if my transmission was worth saving.  When I started it up I found I only had reverse and 1st gear which would only go about 15 miles an hour. Sigh.  Thought about driving it in reverse to the dealership but I knew I would have been stopped by police and really didn't want to have to explain to anyone why a blonde was driving her car in reverse to get it to the Honda dealership because her tranny died. LOL  

So long story short, I had to replace it.  I got another Honda as these babies are always problem free and they last so long.  But with a new vehicle comes a car payment and I detest them so.  Well enough about car woes, made a few finds over the weekend and brought them into the Queen of Hearts.  We have our Open House beginning on Thursday this week and it goes through Sunday.

Found this marvelous Victorian wicker plant stand several weeks ago and filled it with decorative boughs and poinsettias along with tiny white lights.  It would be a lovely piece for a front entrance or foyer.

Santa's list looks delightful next to this Victorian silverplated ink well and pen set.

 

Very handsome Santa in rich velvets and faux furs.

 Pretty Art Nouveau crumb scraper and pan.  Such an elegant little tool that is no longer used at the family table.

 Brought in three of the dolls that I purchased two weeks ago. Nice handpainted china babydoll, a 1930s composition Shirley Temple doll...get a load of those lovely curls, and then another composition and soft body doll with braids. 

 Nifty antique print of girl walking in snow with a basket of kittens and a pair of vintage gold leafed stags.  Is that Santa's corn cob pipe?  Could be.

 Always love finding a vintage top hat to decorate for the holidays.  This topper was badly beat up but a few stitches to keep it held together, a fancy holiday ribbon and picks with a few faux snowflakes and you have a decorative element right out of a Dicken's novel.

Believe it or not, I found this marvelous graduated bead necklace of cherry Bakelite at my local Goodwill.  Sterling clasp and hand knotted beads.

 A terrific find, nice art glass vase by Brian Maytum.  Signed and dated, this tall beauty as marvelous iridescent oil spots throughout.

Not old, but a neat table lamp, spun steel with lights around the wing and the fuselage.

 Mica dusted cherub will support a votive candle. 

 Whimsical Santa piloting a blimp.  Battery operated, the rear propeller spins.  Item sold two hours after I displayed it.

 Another Goodwill find, this pair of metal sleights are perfect for holding favorite vintage Christmas balls, picks or poinsettias.

 Brought in a few more holiday sprays and votive stands and a pair of gold plated pine cones from Dept 56.

 Can't forget the Thanksgiving holiday table.

 And finally, this beautiful salt glazed St. Nicholas in brilliant cobalt blues.   If this piece doesn't sell, I won't mind, I like it too much and will keep it if it does not go.

So much more to bring in with Open Houses all this week.  Will be visiting one of my favorites on Wednesday, Vintage Village Candlelight Open House in Snellville.  Will take lots of photos to share with you.  If you are in the area, you must stop at Vintage Village for their Candlelight Open House.  One of the best.

Have a marvelous week all and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch