Windfall Weekends

Hello my children.  I initially began writing this blog back in April and then as life would have it, got delayed with my "day job" and it took the 4th of July weekend to finally complete the blog post.   It was a windfall weekend...well actually like several months of weekends and I found a widely diverse selection of great items that I'd like to share with you. So good that I ended up keeping a few for myself...not sorry.

Like this magnificent Libby Corn Maize butter keeper in that coveted custard with blue accents, Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG). 1889. Yup, this was an instant keeper.

A stunning brides basket insert.  Pale pearl iridescence with hand painted flowers. Yeah, kept this one too.

I'm weak for these sweet copper clad toddler shoes that were the popular thing to do from the early thru mid 20th century.  I fill them with Christmas florals and decorate with them.

A magnificent, American Brilliant Cut Glass signed Libby condiment server. Another keeper.

A large, Red Cliff soup tureen with original ladle.  This is such a gorgeous piece and I did bring into my space at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall. 

Set of five Fostoria luncheon plates.  Elegant Depression glass pattern:  Romance.  Pretty etched ribbond and roses. Circa 1930-40s

Adore EAPG and sun purple glass and this heavy decanter just pushes all my right buttons.  Another keeper.

A yard sale find, this gorgeous stained glass lamp was in my booth space less than 48 hours before it sold.

Charming vintage spice rack shaker set. Six ceramic shakers in wooden holder. Made in Japan. Circa 1950s

Lovely Art Deco, hammered tea service with the engraved initial S.  This set is in lovely condtion.

Really nice mid century still life of crocks, jug and fruit. Signed and dated; Erma Douglas 1977.

Antique Imperial Glass covered candy dish in peach and blue. Pattern: crackle Circa 1920s.

Pair of stained glass pendant lamps and a fantastic, vintage, 1980s Maitland-Smith "Case Bisque" Tessellated Fossil Stone and Brass inlay, Waterfall Console Table.

Charming little 1928 handbook of painting by Dutch Boy paints.

I acquired a selection of 1950s souvenirs from Ireland, among them the courting cart (The Quiet Man), hand cart with genuine peat bricks, luck pig and the national symbol of Ireland, the harp.

When GIs returned from the Pacific theater, post WW2, they brought back these lusterware tea sets to their loved ones.  Circa late 1940s.

A delightful recycled metal horse sculpture.  

A great 1940s turkey planter. I use these to serve freshly baked bread sticks for the holiday table.

Lots of neat items found over the last few months like this huge dresser tray with rhinestones; a cut to clear decanter; candlewick basket; and 1935 Hobnail, Czech Bohemia glass Amethyst 3 Part Divided Relish Plate.

Two pair of miniature Satillo serapes in marvelous condition.  Brilliant colors of hand spun wool over cotton warp. Circa 1940s-50s.

Its been a busy, busy last few months for me.  My day job employer has gone through yet another reorganization and I'm on a new team again of which I'm not really feeling them.  They just don't communicate and it's not a happy/fun group to be with.  I'm hoping things will change for the better.  Still, I receive so much joy with my booth spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall and the dealers and owners there.  We all have such a good time together and we have just begun our Christmas in July month long event.   Hoping everyone who reads this is healthy and happy and enjoying the summer and as always, blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

Two days 'til 2021

 What can I say about 2020 that hasn't already been said.  Like so many, I just want 2020 to be over.  I want COVID to go away, I want our economy to return to where it was in March, I want the small businesses that are struggling to become prosperous again and those that closed, reopened with a new start.  I want schools reopened so our young people can socialize and get back to their education.  I want people to be kind again.  I want, I want, I want.    

I actually do feel better, just writing this down and I give these wants over to God and ask for his blessings to all as we end 2020 and enter 2021. 

I've been on shutdown mode as my company closes a day before Christmas and then reopens again on January 3rd.  Spent the holidays with my sister and we had 6 days of laying around like third base, watching movies, laughing 'til our sides hurt and just relaxing.  Now I'm spending the last few days of my time off visiting local restaurants and thrift and antique stores in the area and while home, spinning fiber on my wheels.  So far, this really has been a lovely time off and below are some of the finds found this end of year.

Marvelous vintage map of Florida.

Nice vintage martini shaker and ice bucket with etched bamboo stalks. 

Pair of retired St. Nicks.  

Acquired this yesterday at a local thrift store.  A marvelous, Tiara Indiana Glass, Chantilly green sandwich glass punch bowl with 12 matching cups and ladle.

Really big, framed, Chinese propaganda Cultural Revolution era silk tapestry of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Built during China's tumultuous Cultural Revolution, the double decked bridge was considered groundbreaking when it was unveiled in 1968.

Lightly sunpurpled, early American pressed glass (EAPG).  I have such a weak spot for EAPG and the hard part of finding it is parting with it.

Another lovely piece of EAPG, and that same question, do I keep or do I sell?

Charming little faux Hummel planter with Christmas theme.  Circa 1950-60s.

Nice set of vintage Italian nativity scene figurines. They still have the prices on the bottom and each figurine is marked 29 cents and 5 cents for the sheep.

My favorite find this week is this late Victorian, quadruple plate server engraved with the word, "Cake".   Definitely a keeper for me and it will now be a part of my personal collection.  I think this is a marvelous way to close out 2020 and so I end this blog post with my traditional sign off ... Blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

Navigating Peaks and Valleys

We are entering the 5th month of living with the COVID over our heads and the days all seem to roll into one very long month.  We are slowly reopening in North Florida with social distancing protocols in place and mask wearing.  With many of the outside activities limited we have found that at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall a resurgence of customers both new and those who visit often.  We have become the new entertainment and with that increased sales.  People long for conversation and dealers love talking about the history of the items that we sell.   This makes me happy for our dealers and others in the business.  Our neighbor, Junk Co. echoes the same experience that sales are doing well.  In fact, when the stimulus checks were received, many were used in our shops.  This is what I had done with my stimulus check.  I really wanted to put it back into the economy and use it at small, local businesses so on a June visit to "The Junk Co.," I saw a magnificent Irish cupboard without the doors on it and stopped dead in my tracks.  This was everything I needed for my kitchen and would free up the limited counter space that I had.  But what would this beauty cost me and I'm afraid I thought it would be way out of my budget range.  When I saw the price tag my heart went pitter patter and it would also allow me to use most of my stimulus check on a purchase from a small business.  

So what I came home with is a stunning, wormy pine, Irish cupboard circa 1840s.  The original owner was from Ireland and she had it shipped from Ireland to the US in the 1970s.  It was hers until she passed earlier this year.  Sadly, no one in the immediate family wanted it so it was sold to a dealer who brought it into the antique store I purchased it at.

 I can't swoon enough over this beautiful piece with lots of cupboard space.  I was able to empty my limited counter space of the antique mason jars filled with flours, grains, pastas, rices, and cereals and store them within.  I have to say that every time I open the doors I think of the kitchen in the movie, Practical Magic.  Truly, there is magic within this cupboard.

This cupboard is a rich golden color and I adore all of the wormy trails in the wood.  Now I'm going through my many antique keys to see if any will lock the drawers and the doors.

My usual haunts (those that are still open) wrought treasure these last few weeks.

A charming, late 1800s schoolhouse teachers desk bell.  Oh, it has the most delightful sound to it.

A really festive, vintage Christmas apron.

A terrific, mid century, "modernistic" gold filled wire with blue, plastic emerald cut plackets is post WW2.  

Love it when I come across musical instruments and this Bundy coronet even had the mouth piece with it.

A lovely assortment of vintage floral hankies.

Who doesn't love these vintage wedding cake toppers?

The biggest master knife rest I have ever come across. It is a massive piece and would look marvelous on a holiday table.

A terrific find, EAPG commemorative for the Shriners 1905. This also has images of Niagara falls on two sides along the cup as this is where the convention was held.  The struggle here is do I keep it or do I sell it.

It's been years since I've come across at a1920s long cigarette holder like this.  Vegetable ivory with a scrimshaw geisha at the top.

 Separates for cleaning. This is a great piece and something that Velma Kelley or Roxie Hart would use.

 Mad love for this Arts and Crafts influence, hand hammered copper candelabra.  Circa 1910-20s. This was almost a keeper but I brought it into the shop as quick as I could.  I had found one of these years ago and a colleague grabbed it up for their home.  So glad to find another one.

I have a sweet spot for linens and this crocheted piece and battenburg piece are great finds.

I've been lucky with finding nice, early carnival glass this year and this bowl is rich with iridescent lustre.

Pair of hand painted miniatures on wooden boards.  Very 1960.

 Sterling silver handles on these cake/pie servers. One is marked Kiwanis Club.

A set of six, antique, Clarice Cliff, mulberry transferware bowls.  Staffordshire, England, Pattern: Charlotte.  Circa 1900-1910.

A gorgeous, late Victorian book chain necklace with garnets and a seed pearl.  These are called book chains as each link looks like a small book. 

I've brought in most of these items into my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall and am always thankful for everyone's patronage.  

I hope everyone continues to live safely and we all get though this so we can return to lives that are free from the limitations we now live with.  Blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch