Doesn't seem like a year...

but it was one year ago Saturday that I closed on my home in Florida and began moving in.  I am so happy here that it feels like I've been here for years.  Additionally, I have made a home at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall and have grown from one space to two and will be moving into a display case as well next month.  The owners are lovely people and I so enjoy my association with them.  I'd like to say that my unpacking is completed but, alas, it is not. Still have some things to open and arrange or rearrange but that's okay.  I'll get to when I get to it. LOL   The double freeze we had killed off all of my flowering shrubs so I had everything removed this weekend and all of the flower beds raked.  Since the sides of the house are not accessible I decided to have a power wash and exterior painting done as it had been almost ten years since it was last painted and it was beginning to show wear and flaking of the paint.  Looking forward to seeing the transformation and the new planting.

I have been transforming my main space at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall as well. Found a stunning vintage free standing, fireplace mantle that is perfect for displaying pieces and doesn't take up a lot of space evening though it is a large mantle.  It opened up my booth and still allowed me to keep all of the furniture I had in the space.  Now everything looks so much more open and it is easier for customers to move around in it.

Finding interesting items at my favorite haunts but have noticed an uptick in Carnival Glass interest.    Every piece I have had in my spaces has sold and the new pieces I brought in last week are already gone.  Something is going on with Carnival Glass.  More folks are asking for it and it is also being purchased by millennials.  I suspect they remember seeing these pieces on their parents or grandparents tables and cabinets and they look well on the Ikea furniture they love so well.  

Found this lovely little Smith creamer with a rich iridescence at my local Goodwill.  

Found this marigold carnival basket in my unpacking of more inventory last week and is lovely to put an Easter egg or two in it.

Another weekend Goodwill find, a pretty vintage Carnival Glass blue iridescent pedestal covered candy dish by Indiana Glass (one of their most popular and sought after pieces). Beautiful ice blue iridescence in the open lace pattern. Circa 1970-80s 

Satin finish Fenton is another popular seller for me.  This sea blue is rich in color and the Jim Shore quilt egg looks happy in it.

Charming Depression glass juice pitcher in the open rose pattern.  Another thrift store find. 

Nice vintage mesh egg basket are always fun decorating pieces.

Saw the title of this book and had to have it for my space.  The Strange Woman, copyright 1941, reads like bodice ripper tales.

Sweet little creamer from the 1930s is too cha cha for words.  The little velveteen rabbit looks happy next to it.

Nice Candlewick twin server was a thrift store find along with the silverplate pieces.  

Brought in a lot of vintage 1950s faceted choker necklaces in poppy red and American blue.  These are fun to wear and are great colors.

My main space is packed with treasure so now it was time to see what my fellow dealers had to offer.

Be still my heart, I go weak in the knees for vintage and antique silverplate, especially when it is in this great condition.  Add in a low price and you can shout, "SOLD," because it is coming home with me.

Lovely set of Wallace, serving spoons with monogram W.

Set of Reed & Barton tablespoons are also in lovely condition but just need a little polishing.

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Nice set of Rogers monogrammed teaspoons. I really scored with this find and will use when I entertain.

On my way home and decided to stop in Treasure Trove, a sales and consignment shop in Port Richey/Hudson.  They advertise they sell antiques but only two dealers there really deal in such pieces with the other dealers selling a wide variety of pop culture, dolls, clothing and large pieces of furniture often consigned.  You never know what you are going to find there so it is always an interesting stop.  

Well look what I found there...

A stunning, antique wicker lamp that has been rewired.  OMG I practically cartwheeled to where it was sitting.  I have been looking for a lamp for my guest room and I wanted to keep the beach vibe without looking like a Home Goods.  (nothing against Home Goods, I shop there all of the time, just wanted an authentic piece)  Has layers of paint and will need to give it a good cleaning but oh, man, am I in love with this lamp.   

Always love when the time change kicks in as the days are so much longer and full of sunshine and wishing blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Down the Hatch!

A hunt for iron crib corner, rods brought me "down the hatch". But let me backtrack, I headed out to Chamblee Antiques Row in search of these crib rods.  Known for their numerous antique shops, I was certain I would find them there.  It had been a few years since I have visited and sadly, it is nearly vacant of stores these days. In fact, only a small handful, scattered about, remain.  As I drove away, I did notice a new store called "Way Back When" in the "Ice House" so I decided to stop in and check it out.

Don't let the size of the store front fool you, it is larger than it appears, and inside is pure joy and owner, Jerry Margolis, (wife Nansee, was not on site) was welcoming and knowledgeable about all that lies within.

Filled with "real antiques", there is truly something for everyone.  Hoping that the crib rods I needed were hiding within, but alas, Jerry did not have any.  Somewhere between our conversation, Dante's Down the Hatch, in Underground Atlanta became a notable topic.  Before my high school prom, my date and I dined at Dante's Down the Hatch.  It truly is a small world we live in as Jerry Margolis was none other than the General Manager for 40 years.  Dante's was the "IT" place to go in the 1970s and I remember lines out the door and up the stairs with folks waiting to get in.  Fondue and great music was the signature.

Now closed, Jerry shared a little Dante's history with me as he pulled out a box of one of the original fondue pots, note cards, postcards and matchbooks.  Talk about a walk down memory lane.

Marvelous, advertising medicine bottle is huge.  What a fun display piece.

Swooning over this stunning brass cash register.  

What "Way Back When" boasts is the amount of items in various themes.  Numerous tools for the collector or the craftsman.

Love this police order stand.  I remember these growing up as a little girl in New Jersey.

Vintage Baseball mitts.

Love this display of vintage bottles covered in woven cane.

 Fantastic antique doctor's bag and it's in marvelous shape.  Great gift for a physician.

I am head over teakettle in mad love with this condom dispenser. How fun would it be to put this in a guest bathroom.

Beautiful set of lawyers bookcases but the real jewel is the corner locking doors in the middle of the bookcases.  Haven't seen one of these in decades and this unit would look impressive in an attorney's office.

 "Camera row" looks like I walked into a camera store.  

Be still my water loving heart, I am swooning over these two pieces, but especially the little boat in the back on wheels.

Even the windows are filled with pretty pieces.

If you are in the Chamblee, Georgia area, a stop at Way Back When, in the Ice House is a must do.

I collect antique pudding molds and I found this lovely mold with a pineapple at Way Back When.  I will be making a Christmas pudding in this mold over the holidays.

A thrift store find, beautifully framed, hand colored print.

Another yellowware piece, nice bundt type baking piece.  Found this in a thrift store as well.

 Stunning American Brilliant cut crystal bowl has a few chips along the edge but boy does it throw rainbows.  Still wrestling with keeping it or bringing it to my space for sale.

Silver trays continue to move out of my booths as fast as I can bring them in. Sold the previous two butler's serving trays so I brought this one in. A stunning Reed and Barton, chased silverplate in the Regent pattern.  Circa 1947

Pretty little Victorian child's rocker displays a lovely vintage Fenton opalescent bowl.

Get your Steampunk on with this antique Victorian parasol.  Beautifully carved wood handle, the fabric and tassel's have seen better days since the late 1880s but still look great for over 120 years of use.  My Victorian space looks sassy with that sweet little parasol.

Found this pretty Dugan carnival glass “Beauty” Bud Vase in a local thrift store. Branches bottom supports this pretty bud vase, marigold color. Circa 1909-20s.

Lovely Edwardian inkwell.  Cobalt blue has damage to one corner.  Sterling cap.  

Circa 1900s

 Last by not least, a group of incredibly realistic pears that look good enough to eat.  These are well made and have a nice weight to them and a favorite decorative element.  

As you can see, never found the steel rods for the iron crib so the hunt will go on.  In fact, I'm casting this net out there.   Below are two images of items I am looking for, if you have them for sale, please email me with pictures and price.

I have the crib but need the steel rods as noted in the red area.  I'm going to use it as a monitor table so I need the rods to ensure stability to the crib.

Also looking for a flyer or bobbin assembly for a spinning wheel.  I acquired a lovely, antique flax wheel but need the above assembly.  Funny, how you come across these items when you are not looking for them, but when you need them, they all but disappear from sight.

Thank you all and blessings to you and those you love, SeaWitch.

Last weekend before Christmas

So hard to believe that this year is almost over and this is the last weekend before Christmas.  It will be 2015 before we know it.

Got in one last weekend of treasure hunting before the year ends and found some nifty pieces at my favorite haunts.

I picked this, late Victorian shaving mirror, up about 5 years ago at a local thrift store and it hung in my entryway for years.  It's now time to move it on so it is in my Victorian booth at the Buford Queen of Hearts.

Beautiful, French steel engraving, depicting a woman deciding on what jewelry to purchase, drawn by E. J. Parris,and engraved by J. Thomson. Date 1844.  Hand colored with original matting.  Elegant reframe, 1940s.

 Beautiful, French steel engraving, "The Bridal Eve," drawn by E. J. Parris,and engraved by J. Thomson. Date 1844.  Hand colored with original matting.  Elegant reframe, 1940s.

Beautiful. Art Nouveau period, iridescent green, “snake skin” Kralik, art glass vase. (Bohemia) Czechoslovakia.  Small chips along lip and bottom edge from use.   Circa 1900s.

Circa 1900s, fraternity paddle.  Xi Psi Phi Fraternity, was created in 1888, by five freshman dental students who were attending the University of Michigan to create a club among freshman dental students for intellectual and social interaction.  This is a fun piece and would be a nifty gift for a dentist to put in their office.

Lovely, late Victorian oval cameo print.  Gorgeous detail of an elegant French lady.  Original tin frame.  Circa 1890s.  This is such a pretty little print.

Should have taken a pic of the easel without the book on it.  Pretty, Italian Florentine frame is a neat find and it is in my Victorian booth. 

A Goodwill find, beautiful Wedgwood trinket plate in original box.

Smashing, large Imperial serving bowl of rich marigold that is on fire with orange brilliance. Tri pressed.   Pattern:  Grapes.  Circa 1970s    I have a matching smaller bowl as well.  

Everybody loves Fenton glass and the brilliant iridescence on this piece is amazing.  Cobalt blue, carnival glass bowl with basketweave and ruffled edge. Circa 1970s

Gorgeous and heavy, brass serving tray in the Colonial Chippendale design with heavy engraving.  Peerage, England.  Peerage is known for its high quality, colonial reproduction pieces.  Mark dates this piece to late 1940s.  Most likely a souvenir brought home by an 

American GI during the war.

 Pretty Nippon, hand painted vanity tray.  Unusual edge with lip.  This will be in my space for Valentines Day.

 My Victorian booth space got a refill this weekend.  Lots to still find for your Christmas giving.

 My main space is also refilled.  

I have sold lots of Christmas decorative pieces so I will have very little to "pack up" when the holiday ends.  I always like it when that happens.  I'm already planning my post holiday displays, you have to stay ahead of the season.  

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and always, blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch