And I still haven't found what I'm looking for....

sing it to me sweetly, Bono.  Still haven't found that cupboard that I am looking for.   So I made a cupboard hunting pilgrimage to Monroe, GA where there are many "HUGE" antique malls.  Thought I would find it there, but no such luck.  I have to stop looking for that elusive cupboard and let it find me instead.  Still, it was a lovely day to be out and about and the first day I have felt half human as I get over this bout of stomach virus.   Started off at Hodge Podge Art, Antiques and Interiors where a lot of new dealers have taken up residence.  You can tell that everyone is looking forward to the cool nights of fall as they begin changing out their spaces from summer fun to cozy autumn.

Beautiful drieds, a cute nanny goat and vegies everywhere.

This space is so joyful with its rich, riot of jeweltone rugs.  

It's always the case, I was interested in this table top cupboard but the tag said NFS.

These warm copper pieces suggest cooler days ahead where kettles filled with water heating upon the stove will soon bear cozy teas or hot chocolates.

What a sweet face, lovely acrylic painting.  One of my lovely daughters in law would be ga ga over this.

On to one of my favorite dealers in Monroe, James at Davis Street Antiques.  Still no cupboard but there is always treasure at Davis Street Antiques.  

Marvelous retro 1950s coat of black satin with huge buttons.  This is too cha cha for words.

Love Victorian/Edwardian whites and I found several there. 

From Davis Street I headed to Ian Henderson's Antique Mall.  Open 7 days a week, in the former Walton Mill, they live up to their tag line, 100,000 square feet of awesome.   Would I find my elusive cupboard?  Nope, but I found Neptune's triton, I found treasure. 

 Love this Edwardian net skirt with bustle room to boot.  This is a piece that I will keep and wear.

Be still my heart.  I am head over tea kettle with this find.  A Civil War era Chantilly lace shawl.  These are so delicate and gorgeous and I have lusted after one for years but their price is often way out of my budget.  This one was priced to move as it had a few lace tears along each end but it was so worth it to me.  

The fun at Ian Henderson's Antique Mall are the finds.  So many booths to explore and always a unique item to be found.  Great old celluloid dolly with hair that looks like mine when I first wake up.  An adorable little jointed hand made bear will find it's way to a Christmas display come December.  As I checked out at the register, Ian Henderson himself not only waited me out but actually remembered me from a visit last September and the blog post I wrote about my visit.  WOW, with the hundreds of thousands of people that walk this spacious antique mall, Ian remembered the Sea Witch.  Now that is amazing customer service.

Sheffield  knives in what looks like never used condition in their original presentation boxes.    Bakelite handles on the carving set and celluloid handles on the small butter knives.  These were an auction win from last week but I was sick with the stomach virus and I had forgotten to pull them from the car.  Found them this weekend.

A local thrift store find, gorgeous EAPG covered compote. Huge and acid etched uranium glass of feeding swans.  Circa 1880s.

 Pretty, early Carnival Glass of water lilies.   Double handles and in perfect condition.

The season for family entertaining will be here sooner than you think and I scored with this group of serving forks and sterling handled cake server.

Love this old brown transfer ware plate of herons. Still looking up the maker and pattern.  May not part with it as I adore the theme. 

Who doesn't love snow babies and I acquired this group for such a steal that is would have been sinful not to take them.  Come December, they will be in my main space at the Buford Queen of Hearts.

So glad to find this antique crocheted tablecloth.   These items have been selling as fast as I can bring them into my booth space.

Another thrift store find, he's just to cute for words.  

Stopped by Vintage Village and nearly squealed with delight when I found this pair of vintage noisemakers.  

 

 I remember carrying these as a child in New Jersey on Halloween.  

Sweet set of French grammar books from the 1900s.

Yes, another petticoat.  It was a great weekend for finding these gems and at good prices.  

And finally, at a yard sale, picked this beauty up for $1.00.   Sometimes dropping in as they are shutting down is the best time for a great buy.  

So, as I began, I end and I still haven't found what I'm looking for.  However, the hunt continues to be fun.  Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Black Lace Wednesday

Okay, okay, I know it is supposed to be white Wednesday but I was feeling the rebel and decided to go to the dark side (they always have cookies anyway) and offer up a black lace Wednesday in its place. I adore textiles and especially lace. The idea that anyone would spend hours twisting bobbins to create an inch of lace fascinates me and one of the most lovely of the bobbin made laces is “Chantilly Lace.”  Pronounced “shawn tew lee”, this bobbin made lace originated in Chantilly, north of Paris…only the French could conceive of such beauty utilizing fine silk threads.

The earliest chantilly lace was known as “Blonde lace” and the name comes from the natural golden blonde color of the silk used to create the bobbin lace. 

Blonde lace lost interest with women of the court but the use of black silk revitalized interest in this magnificent bobbin lace technique.

Closeup of the detail of this handmade laces twists and turns.  Incredible.

Bobbin lace strip with hundreds of pins holding silk in place.

Lace making pillow, pins and bobbins.

The size of the pillow used determines the size of the lace strip.  Large pieces required lots of work space.

Museum piece - Lovely lace bedspread from the 18th century. 

Detail of the cupids on the bedspread.  How many hundreds of hours did this lovely spread take? 

The production of Chantilly lace flourished under Louis XV (1715-1774) and was a special favorite of his last mistress and of course, the lovely Marie Antoinette.

When the French Revolution began, demand for the lace ceased as the lace makers were seen as followers of the royals and following the guillotining of Marie Antoinette, the lace makers of Chantilly were killed, of which all production had ceased.

Napoleon sponsored revivals of Chantilly lace, most especially between the years 1804 and 1815 and at this point production was concentrated in Normandy, mainly around the Bayeux area. While it was no longer being made in Chantilly, all of the old techniques and designs were used. Chantilly lace reached the height of its popularity around 1830 and was revived again in the 1860s.  

I love the detail and realism of the florals and designs in chantilly lace.  Truly gossamer in its look and touch. These lovely huge shawls are light as a feather.

In 1844 a machine was patented that made black silk Chantilly lace that was difficult to distinguish from the handmade lace. Good machine made imitation were now available. Both they and the more expensive handmade kind were fashionable from the mid-century on, when shawls and even whole mantles of Chantilly were worn over a crinoline.

A favorite piece among the Civil War widows...an elegant sign of mourning.

Detail of shawl, Circa 1865.

Modern machine made chantilly lace Circa 1900s. Just as lovely as the antique, hand made pieces. 

Beautiful chantilly lace dress from the 1890s

Machine lace from the 1950s.

Lovely chantilly lace dress from the 1940s. Sophistication at its best. 

Lace has such universal appeal and there are so many types available.  Bobbin or machined, crocheted or knitted, twisted or knotted, the next time you come across vintage pieces at a yard sale, an antique store or a museum, look a little closer at how it was created.  You will have a new appreciation for this lovely textile.  Sea Witch