Merry Christmas

The year is almost over...how quickly it flew by.  Just finished hot chocolate with freshly whipped cream with my sister as we sit and get ready to watch Christmas Eve service.   

I am grateful for a fairly gentle year and hope it will continue in 2020.  This was my best year at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall and I continue to enjoy this marvelous antique mall with great owners who treat all of of heir dealers like their family.

I found some treasure last weekend in between the Christmas shopping and 

have already sold most of it.

A great little holiday find, a 1963 Annalee Santa doll warming his buns near a pot belly stove.

Marvelous silverplated champagne bucket by Gorham in wonderful condition makes a great Christmas tree stand. 

Love these vintage commercial spools. 

Nice mid century silverplated butlers tray.  These have so many decorative uses.

Love this small porcelain  bucket with the hand painted American peace eagle.

Nice vintage, E. O. Brody milk glass pedestal urn. 

 Pretty set of Nativity Scene figurines with a sand cast look with silver leaf highlights.

Everyone knows the Lefton holly line but this is the first miniature kerosene lamp I have come across. 

 Love these big hand stitched beaded and sequined Christmas items.  These are a personal keeper.

Hard to find, vintage, St Anne figurine.  St. Anne is the mother of Mary and patron saint of grandmothers, housewives, women in labor and unmarried women.

As I child, my family visited the NY Worlds Fair almost every weekend during its two years existence.  The Vatican Pavilion was a family favorite and where I saw Michelangelo's Pieta many times.  As a young girl, even then this extraordinary sculpture impacted me.  I had a tiny chalk figurine many years ago and it got lost over the years.  Was delighted to find this much larger, resin cast figurine with lovely details.  This is now in my home and brings me joy and fond memories.

With all that said, I wish peace and joy for all and always, blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Florida Harvest

I adore living in Florida but I must share that I do miss the color explosion of fall.  There is something magical about leaves changing their colors, pumpkins in funny shapes and sizes  and in a range of pastel colors, crisp apples fresh from the trees and hot cider donuts fresh from the fat to the plate.  The best that I can do is make the cider donuts and decorate with faux pumpkins and then enjoy a Florida harvest of finds at my local haunts.

These vintage stacked pumpkins with the lights inside were 1980s decorating favorites.  This one still has the bright florescent orange paint.

Everyone loves the popular, Lefton turkeys that were salt and pepper shakers, planters and napkin holders.  I now have my mother's set and use at Thanksgiving, but I love it when I find these Lefton pieces to share in my booth space.  This Tom actually looks pretty happy sitting in a mid century pedestal compote.

This late Victorian, wool jacket with tails is a great steampunk for costumes and cosplay.  

Whenever I find quality silverplate or pewter I always think of my Atlanta, antique gal pal, Rose, who always finds/sells the prettiest silver for her space called Silver Glory.  I do miss her lovely spaces as I always found a treasure or two.  I acquired this set of four, Woodbury Pewter plates at my local thrift store.  Made in the USA, they are known for their high quality.  Perfect for setting your Thanksgiving table.   

This Victorian smelling salts/vinaigrette is the first I have ever found.  Sterling cap, it is missing the screw cap at the other end.  Lovely cut crystal, this is a marvelous find and I will keep if for a while.  I would love to find a cap for the other end so that hunt now begins.  The p of smelling salts are to around consciousness and are centuries old with found documentation as early as the Romans using them.  They are meant to help revive those that are faint of nerves or those that need some extra oxygen flow to help with breathing.

Haven't come across a vintage Halloween noisemaker in many, many years and this happy pumpkin is a sweetheart.  Vintage Halloween items still bring in high dollars.  

Found a charming quad plate creamer and three, mid century sequined Santa boot ornaments for the tree. 

I have a weak spot for early Windsor chairs and this is beautifully stenciled with bronzing powders and has its original red paint.  Definitely a keeper for me.

In no particular order, these were Goodwill finds, a teeny tiny vintage, oil can and a charming, souvenir cup and saucer in a Scottish thistle design.  Most likely imported from Germany.

and  finally, I actually harvested a pumpkin....well, not a pumpkin but a huge, dried gourd shaped like a pumpkin.  This is the only decorative pumpkin I can use in our hot and humid weather without the pumpkin imploding in three days. LOL.  

So to my friends who are enjoying the Indian Summer and stepping into fall, I wish you good harvest in your treasure hunts and to all, blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch