Short post

Hello dear readers.   This will be a short blog post as the countdown to my home closing is getting short and I have been busy preparing for the signing and then moving what I have in my temporary digs to the new place.  I want to repaint as much as I can inside before the household goods arrive and then begin the  arduous  task of unpacking two POD units and setting up my home; of course I also am working full time with a new team at my job so it goes without saying...I'm a little over worked. LOL

It has been a spectacular Florida weekend, cool nights and crisp, blue sky days with temps in the high 70s.  I took the time to spend a hour at the apartment complex pool on Saturday and Sunday to soak up some of that marvelous vitamin D.  

This little guy was curious about my sweet Gynness when she started to bark at him.  He ran across, in front of her, and jumped on the fence and into the palm, turned around and gave her the stink eye.  It was hilarious.

On Saturday, I dropped off donations to a local hospice thrift store and and since it was so close to one of my "new" haunts I stopped in.

Found this great sifter basket trimmed in leather.  Not an old piece but perfect to take to the beach to sift sand through and see what treasures you find.

Can this sweet little red tin box with handle be any more cha cha?  I wonder what homemade goodies were carried in it by a child to school.

I don't come across genuine hat pin holders often.  They are quickly purchased by collectors and always at a premium price. This beauty is a RS Prussia blank, from the Victorian era.  Usually painted with roses or other flowers, this artist just outlined the top and the bottom in a gold stripe.  I like the simplicity of that and can't wait to put some of my hat pins in it.

Couldn't resist this charming pin cushion "half-doll.  These were so popular from the 1900s to the 1950s. 

 This needlewoman embroidered around the bottom to hide the gathered seam. 

Marry up a Victorian Eastlake table base with a Victorian frame and mirror and you have Romantic Farmhouse at its best.  

Pretty red transferware pieces were a purchase from a gal pal dealer in Georgia, My Vintage Heart.

Hope your week is a delightful as this little bear.  Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Junque from the Trunque

The three day weekend allowed me to do more exploring around my new town.  So I took a little drive to Junque from the Trunque in Trinity, Florida.

An inviting entrance to this darling little shop.

The minute you walk through the door you know you have stepped into a marvelous shop.  Rich in little vignettes of mid century pieces, Victorian china, turn of the century camera's...all pure joy.

Head over teakettle with mad love for this set of lobster serving pieces.  

 Stunning display of vintage perfume bottles.  Perfect for Old Hollywood glam.

 A room devoted to "mantiques" and you will find something for any man cave in here.

Couldn't resist these rhinestone earrings from the $5.00 box.

Also the MOP and gold wire "Mary" pin and a chain mail glove that is used by a chef to avoid cutting their fingers during a mad chopping prep.

Junque from the Trunque will be on my regular swing by calendar as there is always something unique to find within.

As I returned home, the Lyon's Head Antique Mall was having a sidewalk sale so I pulled in to see if I could find treasure.

Score!!!  A big box of vintage glass Christmas ornaments from the 1950s for $3.00.  Some of these balls are the size of a softball too.

A marvelous find as well.  Lovely Victorian walnut fern stand in the Eastlake style.  I can't wait to feed it some oil and beeswax to bring up the beauty of the wood's patina.

In between the antique shopping I found a home and put an offer in.  Hoping it all comes to fruition as I am anxious to nest in and then find a new shop to rent space from.  Blessings to you and those you love, Sea Witch.

Man, October flew by.

Greetings, dear readers.  The clocks have been set back and November is here and I swear October still has two weeks left in it.  It has been a very busy month going to auctions, visiting favorite haunts and spending a weekend in Arlington, MA visiting my youngest grandson.  Arlington is about an hour from Boston and 10 minutes from Lexington and smack in the middle of our country's history.  I love everything about this part of our country except when it is wet and cold...I was blessed with gorgeous, autumn weather with a clear blue sky, crisp air and leaves in all stages of color.  

Brilliant orange and yellow foliage against a blue sky.

My stepdaughter and her husband live along a gorgeous bike path that is busy with walkers, runners, riders and families.  This beautiful tree was along that bike path and I shot the image as I walked to Trader Joe's for some groceries.  

Amazing colors, there is nothing like a New England autumn.

Sweet Evan had a blast at the park.  Lucky boy, it is just a 5 minute walk from their house.

Sunday morning, we made a trip t0 Wilson's Market for some vegies right off the local farm.  Joyful pumpkins abound and were in the most interesting colors. 

 Examples of their bounty were visible on the outdoor shelves on the side of the building.

 Huge, pink pumpkins were beautiful and if I had to take one home I would have a hard time selecting as the were all so pretty,

 These pale, blue green pumpkins were very seawitchy.

 Nothing like offering pumpkins the size of a Volkswagen.  These bad boys were big enough to make a kiddie play house.

Wilson's of Lexington, Mass is a farm market in the truest sense.  From the smells of the frying cider donuts to the rooms filled with all natural foods fresh off the farm, I understand why Evan's mom and dad shop here weekly.

Back home and I had lots to do to get ready for the upcoming Open House at the Buford Queen of Hearts the first week in November.

Did a repaint on a scratched piece of furniture from Goodwill.  Pretty gray milk paint with a Kona wax finish.

Hit an auction on Saturday and came home with some great wins.

 Won a pair of antique Persian rugs.  Hand knotted with brilliant, natural dye colors.  

One of the rugs was a gorgeous runner.  Both are in my Victorian booth at the Buford Queen of Hearts.

 Lucky me, won a box of American flow blue pieces, all from the early 1900s.  Pretty little creamer pitcher, covered serve and a selection of bowls.

 Abbey blue transferware bowl was another find in the flow blue lot.

Made a visit to a favorite haunt, Vintage Village and found treasure there as well.  

Lovely, hand hammered pot is a keeper.

Picked up these adorable Americana trees there too.  They match up beautifully with the felt stocking.

Spent Saturday evening working up tags and Sunday afternoon loading up both spaces with Christmas items.  Still lots more to bring in before the Holiday Open House next week.

Santas, trees, nativity scenes and antique ornaments can be found in my main booth.

I love the look of an "Old Fashioned Christmas" and this part of my booth is filled with those items.

Santas, snowmen and gravy boats.  Everything you need for the holidays.

Holiday silverplate and an Eastlake marble table can be found in my Victorian space at the Buford Queen of Hearts.

Sweet Gynness says good night.  She has had a busy weekend with the trick or treaters and sniffing all of the holidays items I brought in to the house to price.  She wishes everyone a great week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Clean Undies

It was a marvelous weekend.  The spring weather brought everyone out of doors to wash cars, clean our garages, kids were playing basketball, riding bikes and skateboards and lots of folks were walking.  Spring is just around the corner for those of us located in semi-tropical states and when the warm weather hits I get a case of spring fever that rivals twelve-grader with senioritis.  I want to spring clean but mostly want to wash and hang laundry. There is nothing like the scent of bedsheets dried by the clean air, sun and breeze.  Unfortunately, my small property does not have the setup anywhere for a clothesline but....but...but I now have a European Vulcano drying rack that I found at my local Goodwill a few weeks ago.  

Shirts, tops, pants and even undies have been washed and hung out to dry.  Everything smells so good from the fresh air, tomorrow, I will do sheets. 

Saturday, I did a quick run to a favorite haunt and found a few nifty pieces.

I can't resist antique chairs, especially if they are priced right.  This pair of hand carved walnut, Eastlake Victorian parlor chairs can use a good upholstery makeover and it will be worth it as the price was too good to not take advantage of this lovely pair.

 The first layer of fabric (did I say first layer?) is a 1940s design.  When I pulled it back, it was covering up a 1900's faux tapestry behind it.

Faded and dry, I pulled back the second layer and came upon the original Burgundy velvet and damask seating.  

Even dryer than the layer on top of it, this will have to be removed and replaced with new upholstery fabric.  I'll be looking at different fabrics to reupholster both chairs and I will be keeping these Victorian beauties.

When I lived in Illinois, I had a huge, farm kitchen and used lots of vintage jars for dried noodles. flour, teas, etc.  They always looked great in my pantry.    I'm downsizing again, so these will all be in my main booth next weekend.

Darling, early Depression grill plate.  What a fun plate to serve a child's lunch on.  This was a goodwill find.

I adore these Whiting and Davis mesh bags, especially the fine mail like this one. It is in very good condition with the original lining intact.  Some minor chain mail issues at the hinges, but nothing that detracts from this pretty bag.

One of my favorite find this weekend.  A Victorian cast metal thermometer with hand painted RC numbers on milk glass and the mercury bulb still intact and working.

Set of four Wallace silverplate from the mid 1880s.  Do you use antique silverplate?  I do.  I so love wondering what meals these were used with.

Hubba Hubba, how fun is this Kwik Way mixer.  Retro cool art deco handle and design and this baby still works. 

Lovely set of three, Elegant Depression saucers are etched with ribbon and posies.  These are fun to display handmade soaps, pretty jewelry or a favorite pastry.

and finally, my biggest find this weekend.  Gorgeous, gold oak, late Victorian buffet mantle top.  Lovely pressed designs with candlestick stands.  Can't decide if I want to live with it for a few months or just put it in the booth.  We shall see.  Oh, and speaking of "clean undies" not only did I air dry clothing this weekend for that marvelous scent, I also picked up a jar candle at a favorite shop of mine, The Vintage Styled Life.   The name of the candle, "Clean Undies" and yes, it smells just like air dried clothing.  It was a marvelous weekend for so many reasons, good finds, warm weather, chatting with friends, drying, freshly washed clothes on an outdoor line dryer and yes, a new candle named Clean Undies.  Yea, life is good.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch