Spring treasure hunt.

Saturday a beautiful day and lucky me, it was an auction day.   There have been no auctions for the last few weeks  and I have been jonesing for sound of the gavel coming down.  So I grabbed my water bottle, made sure my tablet was on a full charge and I was ready for that happy sound, "Sold".

First win of the day was this faux concrete urn.  Love the birds on the ends and had to fight with myself to keep it or sell it.  My final decision was to put it in my main booth because I bought it to sell in the first place. Besides, you just can't keep everything no matter how cool it is.

Nifty wooden barrel originally held penny nails. This is how the pre modern hardware stores received their inventory.  In great condition, would make a great trash can for an office or a man cave. 

Terrific antique, small quarter sawn oak wood whiskey or wine barrel with hand forged staves and a bung hole that needs a cork.  Circa 1870s.

Nice, early southern pottery jug with tobacco spit glaze.  Has an incised “3” and the glaze is a mix of molted browns and black. It is in good condition with no cracks or chips. Someone melted a candle over the corn cub cork.  Circa 1860s

Lovely antique, open vegetable dish by Cauldon, England. Impressed hallmark. Circa mid 1800s.  This makes my heart pitter patter but I must bring to my booth.  I just can't keep everything I like. 

Another one of my auction wins this Saturday, a gorgeous piece of American Brilliant, Hawkes cut crystal serving plate. T.G. Hawkes & Company of Corning, New York, founded in 1880. There is nothing like the fire and brilliance of true cut crystal. 

This was a box of silverplate that I won on the cheap at Saturday's auction.  It didn't look like much in the box as most was dirty and needed a good polishing.  It was so worth it as I have already sold pieces and doubled my investment with lots more to go.

A sleeper find.  This was in another auction box that was a bunch of mish mash with the exception of one item that I actually wanted.  When I was emptying it out, I found this pretty little powder horn at the bottom.  I just love these kind of box lot surprises.

A marvelous thrift store find.  Rare, gold lustre covered casserole serving piece made for San Francisco’s Gump’s Dept Store. Circa 1950s

Great flapper era chain link. hand beaded necklace. Fun piece that is now in my personal collection. I love wearing vintage and antique jewelry pieces.

The cameo that was sold across the American plains out of peddlers wagons during the 1800s. Favorite theme of the woman beside a cottage or a well also is known as "Rebecca at the well". This gorgeous shell cameo set in low grade gold twisted frame with T-pin back and c-clasp

I have a lot of antique graniteware that I have displayed in my kitchen.  I turned one of the colander's into a chandelier with a faux Edison bulb and really like the finished look.  It's in my main booth at the Buford Queen of Hearts.  

So it was a great weekend and it looks like spring is trying to finally get here. This week has flown by, can't believe it is Thursday and I'll be at Saturday's auction to see what other treasure I can win. Wishing everyone a marvelous weekend. Sea Witch

Before and After

A gorgeous weekend it was.  Our first real spring weather and I was out and happy as the daffodils that are the only things blooming in my yard these days.  I finally got around to doing the chalk paint upcycle to the found Bombay table.  This sweet little piece of furniture is structurally sound but it heavily scratched.  I have wanting to chalk paint it a pale shade of pink and then finish it with a tinted wax.  I wanted to try the faux plaster technique on the table top.    

The before photo.

 

Ta daaaaaa!  The after photo.

And a closeup of the faux plasterwork.  This is created by laying a stencil on surface and "frosting" a layer of quick dry, wall spackle. It takes about 20 minutes to completely dry through and then using a sanding brick (120), smooth it down a bit and then finish the entire surface with the stained wax.

I love the look of the finished piece and am now looking to start a vintage coffee table next.  Now for a few weekend finds.

Crazy about this Art Deco, hand hammered gravy boat and a marvelous Wade, (English) copper luster creamer.

If this doesn't sell by the end of April, I'm taking it home.  I adore heavy, vintage candlesticks and this English Poole piece is gorgeous.

A thrift store find, this sweet and small "chandy" would be adorable in a little girls room, a bathroom or a tiny nook in your home.

It's that time of the year when cabbage roses are all the rage.  They always have such an elegant look to them.

Last and certainly not least, this magnificent Duncan-Miller compote called three faces.  This is the real deal and not the MMA reproduction and it fluoresces yellow under a black light which confirms its legitimacy. 

Produced in 1878 through 1886, the EAPG piece is in marvelous condition with the exception of one face that has a small flake on the nose.  That doesn't bother me at all and this is a gorgeous piece for my EAPG collection.

Wishing everyone a delightful week and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch