Fifty Shades of Fun

A gorgeous Atlanta weekend made for lots of fun hunting for treasure, making costumes for grandchildren and receiving a surprise all the way from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.   On Saturday I hit a few of my favorite haunts and found some great treasure.

 Nice antique Bible dated 1917 and a pair of leather bound books from the late 1890s.

 Nice, American Primitive treenware masher.  Has that marvelous bleached patina.

 One of my favorite finds on Saturday.   Fantastic antique, hand penned sampler of a Calligrapher in antique frame.  I love everything about this from the chippy frame, the ragged parchment and broken glass and the purity of the elegant script. Circa 1880-1900s

Lucky enough to find another marvelous Victorian quilt. This crazy quilt is filled with rich velvets and silks with beautiful embroidery and hand piecing.  

Extremely rare, child’s WW2 play helmet – Commando Junior.   Machine pressed paper mache, painted “OD” (olive drab) green, it still has the original neck string, although a shoe lace has been added from lots of play time.  May be a Little Orphan Annie WW2 piece as part of her Junior Commando’s war effort for children. toys like this didn’t often last from hard play and usually made their way to the trash heap or burn barrel.  Circa 1943

 Nice Towle silverplated compote server in Chippendale pattern.

 Adore vintage mercury glass Christmas pieces and I found this huge beauty at a yard sale on Sunday for $2.00. 

Fifty shades of just too cool.  Nifty portable 45rmp player still runs.

Believe it or not, this is a goodwill find.  Nifty Victorian brush/comb box is walnut and has a pretty pattern on the front.

 

Gold brocade and lame thread Anglican vestments.  Perfect for a Halloween costume or use as part of a St. Nicholas robe over the Christmas holidays.

A corner in my Victorian booth is all decked out for Halloween.

 Halloween mantle charm.

 Fifty shades of fun this Halloween with these thigh high boots and sequined dresses with a silver mask make this the hot costume look for this year thanks to the best seller, Fifty Shades of Grey.

 I have the wicker mannequin loaded with big, metal spiders, a sword and helmet.

I printed silhouettes on dictionary sheets and framed for quick and unique Halloween decorative elements.

 Halloween is everywhere in my main booth on Queen Street at the Buford Queen of Hearts Antiques.  My Halloween has really flown out of the booth this year.

And finally, a facebook friend was visiting friends and family in Lancaster County, PA and following a trip to Roots Farmer's Market, they carried back produce to include the famous neck pumpkins that make the best pumpkin piece. To gild this lily, a bag of freshly picked peppers from their garden came with it.

 So in between sewing costumes I will be preparing pumpkin this week.  Wishing everyone fifty shades of joy. Sea Witch

Halloween is in my booths.

  Had big plans for Sunday afternoon to begin decorating my booths for Halloween, but my vehicle had other ideas.  After filling the back with lots of treasure, I get in the drives seat to take off and I find I am dead in the driveway, the baby would not turn over and all I got was a clicking sound and lots of idiot lights blinking on and off.  A call to triple A and a lot of jumping and testing with a final verdict of call the tow truck folks to get my Honda Pilot to the dealership. Sigh. Long story short, the battery needed to be replaced.  So that is what my Sunday consisted of, however, Monday afternoon, I finally got some Halloween in my booths.  

Pumpkins, skulls and candlesticks...a perfect Halloween combination.

 This 1920s composition doll is lifesize and delightfully creeps out passers by.

 

This great witch is dressed for October right down to her striped stockings and black pumps.

 Spray painted this brilliant orange pumpkins light with a bronze brown.  Love the look and it looks great lit up.

This witch is over three feet tall and is a great gal for an entrance hall. 

Until my Honda decided to stay in bed, I spent Saturday visiting the shops in Monroe, GA.  Hodge Podge and Davis Street Antiques are my favorites and both had lots of new dealers and long time dealers that had moved into new spaces. 

 Found this gorgeous, black transferware buttermilk pitcher.  Early 19th century, this is in my personal collection.

 Hit the Halloween jackpot at Hodge Podge and brought home this nifty witches hat decorated for the season.

 Now this is a sassy, Halloween hat. Lots of black netting, skulls and black feathers.

I can never get enough EAPG and this beauty not only has it's lid but is beautifully etched on both pieces.  This is now part of my personal collection and I can't wait to decorate with it over Christmas.

 

More EAPG but the best little prize is in the center of this photo.  A genuine, antique medicine bottle with french label and a gentle sun purple color.

 

Lovely quadruple plate coffee urn. Tall and with an inscribed dedication and dated 1884.

 Pretty Dugan, opalescent glass, although green is not Vaseline glass even though it does fluoresce under a black light.  Circa 1909.

 Nice quad plated condiment carrier will be a perfect display for antique, mercury ornaments.

 Darling decorative element has three, heavy bird cages that you fill with votives and other seasonal elements.

 How cool is this delightful, vintage embroidered santa on cotton.  This was probably going to be a pillow but it would frame beautifully.

And last, but certainly not least, this magnificent print.  This rarely found poster is entitled, "COLORED MAN IS NO SLACKER". It was published in 1918 by S.G. Renesch of Chicago and is one of only two WWI recruitment posters that were published for the purpose of encouraging the enlistment of male African-Americans. The theme of the two different posters was to offer participation in the first World War as an opportunity for African Americans to demonstrate their patriotism and serve their country.  Large piece and in original frame, this is a terrific piece and is in my Victorian booth.

So other than my car shutting down on Sunday, it was a lovely weekend.  Wishing everyone a marvelous week and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Fall is nipping at my heels.

Yeah, it's been a few weeks since I've posted.  Having some direction issues these days.  With my honey in my heart but not by my side, I'm kinda stuck in a loop on what or where to go next.   Lots of stuff happening at my "real job", my 30 years old AC/heating unit finally went belly up so I had to get that replaced this week ($ouch$$$), trying to get the house together for the cooler temps that will eventually come and in the middle of this, pricing like mad for my booths, treasure hunting for goods and creating Halloween costumes for my grandchildren. So if I'm not posting weekly, it is because of all of the above.  Had some neat finds since the middle of September.

Found this pair of beautiful "Elegant Depression Glass" footed compote and bowl. Both are heavily etched, the compote has roses and the bowl has orchids.  Have never come across etched orchids before.

 Close up of the etched work on the bowl.  Gorgeous.

 Look at this sweet face.  Picked him up for 77 cents at my local goodwill and I think I'm gonna keep him rather than sell him.  He is just too cute.

 Another goodwill find, a bag full of new, MIB Hallmark Halloween ornaments and tree.  This will be in my booth on Saturday.

 Fantastic pair of early McCoy matching urns.  These bad boys are big and beautiful and I found them last Sunday at the Queen of Hearts. Priced to steal...I was the lucky buyer that stole them away and took them home.

 An ebay purchase, lovely beaver and silk Victorian top hat.

 This was an auction win last Saturday.  This antique Acoma Indian bowl originally sold about a month ago and for several hundred dollars.  The buyer never came through so they re-auctioned it off and I won it for pennies on the dollar.  So excited as I originally bid on this piece but it was way out of my budget the first time around.

 Another auction win, this print is in marvelous condition in the original frame and with bubbled glass.

 Pair of beautiful vintage carnival glass goblets and a punch bowl stand.

 Love the way my gold leaf mantle looks in the Victorian booth.  I rotated stock and have been selling like mad since I did.

 Sold two tables last week so I had to redo this booth as well.

 Finally got this vintage china hutch repainted in my favorite combo, french aqua with a coffee glaze finish.  Nice, well made piece, I really like the way it turned out.  

Now I'm getting ready to price for Halloween and Thanksgiving and in between create Halloween costumes for my raviolis.   As always, I so appreciate when you stop by and read my posts.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch