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

Picking, carding and treasure hunting.

It's been a busy two weeks with lots of nifty finds and a box filled with raw fleece.  Raw fleece you ask?  Many of you know that I have spinning wheels and spin fiber for my personal use;  my son and his wife took a detour from sending my grandson off to South Korea as part of his Army tour to historical Williamsburg.  (One of my favorite places to visit)  My son chatted up the manager/curator of the rare breeds sheep ranch and ended up purchasing and shipping to me, five pounds of Leicester Longwool fleece.   The Leicester Longwool is one of the "luster longwool" breeds, so designed for the sheen and brilliance of their wool.  Here is a link to the Livestock Conservancy Foundation if you would like to read up on this marvelous group.

Five pounds of freshly sheered fleece "in the grease".  This is what it looks like in all of its dirty, crusty, doodie-dirt-dried grass and lanolin filled raw self.  (heaven I tell ya, heaven)

The first of several baths to remove the dirt and lanolin from the fleece after I picked out the grass and dirt/doodie clumps.  Not the most pleasant of tasks but it must be done.   It took 6 baths and rinses before the water was clean and no longer the color of mud.

Heavy, wet but clean fleece still looks golden as it dried in the sunshine on a huge, beach towel.  It reminds me of my favorite mythology story, "Jason and the Argonaut's and the Quest for the Golden Fleece."

Once completely dry it takes on a lovely white lustre and now I'm ready to begin the hand carding to prepare it for spinning.

A  basket filled with hand carded fleece looks like the wings of an angel.  It is so light and airy and feels like silk.  I have a lot more to card before I can begin spinning so I will be a busy gal over the next few weeks.

In between my fleece prep I did a little antiquing and found marvelous treasure.

Bicentennial wall plate commemorating the 13 original colonies by Carson Pewter.

I don't come across genuine antique copper often and this smaller bundt pan is a beaut.  It is in my personal collection hanging on the wall in my kitchen.

My gal pals know my weakness for antique American basketry and this was a find at one of my favorite shops in Port Richey, "Junk Co."

Another find that went right into my display cabinet.  A nearly perfect, Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) sugar shaker with original pewter top.  This will get used when my grandchildren come to visit and they need to sprinkle powdered sugar on their french toast or pancakes.

   

The last time I found an advertising mixing bowl in the wild was nearly 30 years ago.  It was fun to see this one fall into my lap

Lovely 19th century transferware low bowl.  Soft blue transfer with hand painted details.

This was a great find at my local Goodwill.  A huge bag filled with antique and vintage silverplate and a few sterling spoons as well. 

 

A yard sale find, five sherbets marked Hawkes.  Beautiful cut and engraved pieces from the Hawkes Crystal Company.

This lovely quadruple late basket polished up just lovely and has joined my other pieces.

Vintage pyrex is the hottest collectible going right now and I lucked into this piece called Terra.  The only matt finish produced it was too labor intensive to produce the pattern so it only was made for one year in 1964.   

Lovely pair of cut to clear crystal wine goblets with pretty shamrocks around the cup.

Just call me Eve and pass me an apple.  This real looking snake is a marvelous folk art piece that the artist saw in the natural root.  The root was carved and painted to look like a real snake and despite of the various repairs along the tail, it look like the real thing.  I had to bring it home and "Luse" now resides among my antiques in the foyer. 

Without a doubt, this has been a fun two weeks with my sister visiting last weekend, my prepping that pile of golden fleece for spinning on my production wheel and finding such a variety of marvelous treasure.  Loving the longer days now that the clocks are back where they should be and even the palm pollen can't slow down our delightful spring weather.  I hope everyone is also feeling the spring and wishing blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

2019 - middle of January

Hello everyone and a happy but very belated New Year.  I have been remiss in blogging these last few months for so many reasons.  My day job, my health, my spaces...but a dear antiquing gal pal reminded me how much she enjoyed my posts and I have missed writing them so I am going to get back to blogging again.   

Had a great December with my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, one of my best sales months in several years and that invigorated me to look through the last of my 9 boxes from my move two years ago.  It was like Christmas all over again discovering items I had forgotten I had so I'm busy pricing them and bringing them into my spaces.  The best thing about this, though, was filling up my vehicle with items to donate to Goodwill and the extra space in the garage.  

Did a little cyber shopping at my favorite antique shop in Snellville, Georgia - Vintage Village.  Love when my #happymail arrives and these are the treasures that arrived:

Absolutely stunning vintage bird cage.  Strong, big and original paint makes this a winner all around.  Now to figure out where to hang it.

Set of three wooden shoe lasts. I love these decorative elements.

Another favorite of mine are the stiff Edwardian collars.  I use them in a glass cloche along with other antique elements.

And finally, this marvelous, antique clock face.  This bad boy is big and along with its Roman numerals time it has the numerical calendar along the outside.  I am fascinated with time pieces large and small and have antique clocks around the house.  Some work, some don't but they still call to me, none the less.

Most of us get into this business to upgrade or add to their personal collecting.  That is what brought me into this marvelous business.  I wanted to add to my vintage clothing and my needlework tools like spinning wheels and bone crochet hooks and of course, I went a little wild with all the marvelous things that are out there.   So here are some of my last two weeks finds that have found their way or will into my spaces.

Large bee hive cloche.  

Nifty little find, a pair of 1970s, Indiana carnival glass pedestal compote candlesticks.  I had never seen these before and they are fun pieces.

Lovely silverplated fish that is a menu holder. Italian from the 1950s.  This would be perfect for a seafood restaurant to display the day's specials.

A gorgeous Victorian art glass compote.  Silverplated base with an opalescent glass base with ruby trim.

 Lovely Wedgwood Jasperware bowl.  The base it is resting on is mine, a purchase from a gal pal dealer from Vintage Village several years ago.  

 Pretty little porcelain lady pin cushion.  These were wildly popular in the 1920-30s.

 This was a great find, a pair of Goofus Glass large, low bowls in marvelous condition. Usually these have the cold paint from the bottom missing.  

Nice vintage Sacred Heart of Jesus print in original tin frame from the 1930s.

Delightful pair of the Victorian favorite...Cupid Asleep and Cupid Awake in charming, oak heart shaped frames.

 Beautiful Victorian, molded nickel over copper humidor.  I'm head over teakettle with the shape so my struggle is to keep or sell.  I may live with it for a few weeks before I make the decision.

A personal acquisition, a commercial silk thread spinner.  This spins so sweetly and easily when the metal points are held between two fingers.  

 Set of three, antique, turn of the century booklets of love.  The covers and illustrations inside are pure joy.

My last find was this stack of cabinet cards.  I adore these and I'm going to use the small ones in garland that I will be making.

I am hopeful for 2019, for my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, for a positive direction in my "day" job, for continued health as I age (don't we all) and I wish you all the same and I always wishing you blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch