Two days 'til 2021

 What can I say about 2020 that hasn't already been said.  Like so many, I just want 2020 to be over.  I want COVID to go away, I want our economy to return to where it was in March, I want the small businesses that are struggling to become prosperous again and those that closed, reopened with a new start.  I want schools reopened so our young people can socialize and get back to their education.  I want people to be kind again.  I want, I want, I want.    

I actually do feel better, just writing this down and I give these wants over to God and ask for his blessings to all as we end 2020 and enter 2021. 

I've been on shutdown mode as my company closes a day before Christmas and then reopens again on January 3rd.  Spent the holidays with my sister and we had 6 days of laying around like third base, watching movies, laughing 'til our sides hurt and just relaxing.  Now I'm spending the last few days of my time off visiting local restaurants and thrift and antique stores in the area and while home, spinning fiber on my wheels.  So far, this really has been a lovely time off and below are some of the finds found this end of year.

Marvelous vintage map of Florida.

Nice vintage martini shaker and ice bucket with etched bamboo stalks. 

Pair of retired St. Nicks.  

Acquired this yesterday at a local thrift store.  A marvelous, Tiara Indiana Glass, Chantilly green sandwich glass punch bowl with 12 matching cups and ladle.

Really big, framed, Chinese propaganda Cultural Revolution era silk tapestry of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Built during China's tumultuous Cultural Revolution, the double decked bridge was considered groundbreaking when it was unveiled in 1968.

Lightly sunpurpled, early American pressed glass (EAPG).  I have such a weak spot for EAPG and the hard part of finding it is parting with it.

Another lovely piece of EAPG, and that same question, do I keep or do I sell?

Charming little faux Hummel planter with Christmas theme.  Circa 1950-60s.

Nice set of vintage Italian nativity scene figurines. They still have the prices on the bottom and each figurine is marked 29 cents and 5 cents for the sheep.

My favorite find this week is this late Victorian, quadruple plate server engraved with the word, "Cake".   Definitely a keeper for me and it will now be a part of my personal collection.  I think this is a marvelous way to close out 2020 and so I end this blog post with my traditional sign off ... Blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

The Biscuit Jar saw its shadow.

January flew by and February arrived this weekend with some nifty finds.  Sometimes my local Goodwill offers up marvelous pieces and they did not disappoint.

An absolutely stunning cut glass corset vase and a big one. The spectrums it throws are brilliant and I will be keeping this one for my personal collection.

This is the biscuit jar that saw it's shadow, a fantastic Victorian Bristol glass piece.  

Love this heavy, lead crystal piece, unmarked but brilliant in its colors.

Fun souvenir from England, a Bobby's helmet bell.  Very 1970s

First time I have ever come across a quadruple plated hair receiver.  Engraved initials adorn one side.

Big, quadruple plated coffee pot is missing its top impediment but I may have one in a box of interesting things that I retain that often fit that need.

A pair of mid century pins and an interesting key chain which is a miniature box cutter.  

This was a piece I had hanging in my home for a while but I'm downsizing and have decided to put it in my booth space.   Downsizing, such an interesting word.  I did a lot of that when I moved to my new digs but I find that I don't have the wall space I did in my previous home as I traded a wall for a bank of windows that leads to my pool area.  Wouldn't change that for anything but it means less wall for displaying pieces and hanging art.

My booth spaces are filled with  pretty things for spring.  There is something "genteel" about these pretty hand painted porcelain salt & pepper shakers.

This sweet seafoam green chair was another piece I had in my home for years and tough for me to bring to my booth space.  I have displayed so many marvelous treasures on it in my home but it's time for it to find love in anothers home sweet home.

In time for Valentines Day, I brought in a pair of antique Sacred Heart of Jesus prints in original frames.

The other Sacred Heart of Jesus in original frame and a pair of vintage crucifix candlesticks are perfect for Easter.

Downsizing, there's that pesky word again. I thinned out my collection of American, antique/vintage baskets and brought them in to my booth space.

A new piece but in that marvelous seafoam green, I had this in my kitchen and would post the day's menu when guests were at my home.  Another item falls to the downsizing word.  

Finally, these boots were made for walking.  Two pairs of Victorian high top boots.  Smaller size in black leather and a much larger pair in brown leather with canvas uppers.  Both pairs are in marvelous condition and very wearable.

This marvelous birdcage was a Vintage Village purchase and the trigger for me thinning out a few of my collections.  I'm just crazy about this pretty piece and filled it with favored seashells and red coral. 

Moved other pieces around to accommodate my new display and I love the look.  This was my first chance to display the bee cloche and I have hidden under it a marvelous piece that my Harry Potter loving grandchildren will delight in when they lift up the cloche.  

Last but not least, when I relocated the spool cabinet it opened up the exact size space I needed to finally hang the gorgeous antique basket rack you see.  It has been hiding in a closet since I moved here and I'm thrilled to see it finally mounted and my antique American baskets hanging from it.

This has been a fun weekend with great weather, finally, and even though I'm not a super bowl fan, I just loved Gladys Knights marvelous rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.  Always a beautiful lady with a million what smile and voice.  Thank you, Miss Knight, for a fantastic performance.  As always, blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

SeaWitch went solo

Hello everyone.  Had my first solo flight or walkabout this weekend.  Now that I'm off the pain killers I am free to drive so I took my first outing on Saturday.  Went and had my nails done as they were a wreck since it had been 6 weeks since I was at the salon.  Was able to sit comfortably for the hour it took for them remove the broken acrylic tips off and replace them with the new ones.  Since my knee still felt good, I made a road trip to Vintage Village to check out the treasure that was coming in and say hello to friends.  It was a marvelous little trip and just seeing everyone and walking around the pretty booths filled with spring goodies was very "healing" for me.  Found a few great pieces to keep and to sell but then I always do when I stop by.  

 How about this faboosh, Mr. Charles, big navy straw hat with two sassy satin bows and lighter than air ostrich feathers.  This is sooooooooo Audrey Hepburn and this beauty is in fantastic condition.  I almost squealed with delight when I saw this marvelous hat.

 Saw this pretty lace fan while perusing the Vintage Village facebook page.  The "hag" is always posting photos of new items that come in and I saw this the week after I got out of surgery and asked them to hold it for me.   Perfect for St. Patrick's day celebrations.

 My lovely daughter in law, Kerry, turned me on to these marvelous stoneware pieces for their rich cobalt blues but they are the definitive bakeware for perfect results.  These are small oven dishes but I don't care.  I adore them for their beauty and quality. 

 I like vintage celluloid pieces and was delighted to find this pretty little picture frame with velvet backing and stand was intact and in great condition.  Known as French Ivory because it looks like ivory, this early plastic is often stained from oils and perfumes or often melted from heat.  There is such a natural vintage look to these pieces.  While at Goodwill, earlier this week, I found the powder dish and the hairpin container as well.

 Now this is not old, but a pretty reproduction of the Victorian sewing bird.  Pins were placed in the velvet cushion and the fabric piece that was being worked on is placed in the bird's mouth and held in place like an extra hand.  Such a marvelous little tool that is so indicative of Victorian fussiness and excess.

 Great little late Victorian wicker sewing box in the shape of a chair.  Original red velvet has lost most of its "velvet" but the color is still bright.  I will fill with vintage needle packs and wooden spool threads. 

 This was a find at my local Goodwill earlier this week. I had dropped off a bags of hard bound books and as my honey was running errands, I asked that he let me walk around Goodwill for about 20 minutes.  I was delighted to find this pretty little pink necklace and matching earrings.  Very 1950s

 Another Goodwill find.  Can we get any more 1960s than beaded fruit?  Actual size pieces are heavy with plastic beads and straight pin and some have plastic greenery.  Grapes, lemons, limes, apple, pear, orange, banana and a pear of pink peaches make these a lot of fun. 

 

I was looking for my box of silk flowers when I came across a box of quad plate that I had stashed away after the holidays.  I had forgotten about it and was so pleased to come across it as I had sold nearly all of what was in my Victorian booth.  This is a unique piece as it is a large, quad plate jardiniere.  Never saw one before and it is a showpiece.  Circa 1890s.

 Spent the afternoon polishing up the quad plate and it looks fantastic.  Water pitchers, teapots, serving bowl and creamer and sugar bowl are such pretty decorative elements.

It was so neat to do a little treasure hunting as it seems like it's been forever since I could do this.  Of course, by the end of the day, I was exhausted and fell asleep before supper time.  That fine line of knowing when I have overdone it or not is still elusive to me.  I suspect I should have just done one or the other.  More healing lessons learned.  Have a marvelous week all and wishing blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

 

Autumn Treasure Hunting

We are slipping slowly into fall, here, in the south.  Warm days and cool nights are perfect for throwing your windows open wide and letting the autumn cross breezes blow through your screen doors and windows. The sound of rustling leaves is hypnotic and the sky is a brilliant blue.  These are the days I love to meander looking for treasure and it won't be long before the apples are ready for picking at our North Georgia orchards.  My honey is already planning our first road trip for apples and antiques and I can't wait.

So enough day dreaming of fall pleasures and let me share what I found this weekend.

I know, I know...in fact "you know" I am crazy about quadruple plate.  This pretty and very big sugar bowl looks more like a small trophy.  Nearly all of the silverplating is long gone and the base metal is now exposed, but I love the gun metal finish and it is perfect for use in holiday decorating.

Pretty pair of Depression era salt and peps.  Most of the silver is still on the bases and the tops are still intact if not a little worn for wear. Pieces are dated 1929 and are heavy.

 

Found this cool frame at my local goodwill so I added more of those Victorian changing stickers.  You go from pretty Victorian photographs to ghostly images.

 

Also found these pretty little gold leaf frame mirrors that I added crow stickers too. Brought them in on Sunday and they sold the same afternoon.

 

I love Victorian rose bowls and this pretty contemporary version is a small cut crystal rose bowl.  Perfect for a single full blossom of your favorite flower.

She's a beauty.  Lovely Edwardian white christening gown constructed from a family petticoat. Crisp, white cotton batiste is heavily hand embroidered and french stitched seams.  The sleeves are also shaped in the classic Gibson girl mutton sleeves.  Circa 1900s

 

Closeup of hand embroidery and cutwork.

 

One of my two prize finds this weekend.  This pretty Weller Pottery piece.  Circa 1932 and from their Elberta series.   Brilliant yellow and green in the coveted matt glaze.  I love it when I can find these kinds of pieces in the south.

 

My personal favorite,  magnificent Arts and Crafts Roseville pot from their Matt Green line. Very early Roseville piece is from 1907-1910 and these pieces are highly sought after. This piece books at $375-$425.00.  The treasure hunting gods smiled kindly on me this weekend

Found a service for five, yea, I said five, go figure...of gold plated flatware.  Also had a serving fork and spoon as well.  Barely used and brilliant with its finish.

 

Pretty woven pine needle basket with unique star pattern in weave.  

A southern piece.

How cute is this little 1930s embroidered quilt piece?  Perfect for a child's room.

 

Found a pair of authentic Venetian masks from Italy at another Goodwill I visit.  This is a full face mask and is in brilliant blues and gold brocades.  Can be worn or hung on the wall.

The second of the two Venetian masks that I found. This one is a face mask that ties and is in gold and green with sheets of music on it.

A photo of my expanding fall/Halloween display.  Like Christmas and Valentine's Day, Halloween and fall items always fly out of the booth.

Isn't she just beautiful. Found her at a thrift store and had to take her  home.  Dated 1911, this is a lovely, sepia toned photograph in original frame.

Sold another lamp so I brought in this twin pendant chandelier.  Love the spun matt pewter and scroll work of the piece.

Sitting on a Goodwill shelf was this pretty little Victorian, stoneware toothbrush holder from a water bowl set.  Perfect condition with lovely blue-green transfer ware all around it and inside the lips.  These are usually among the first accessory pieces of a water bowl set to go as they were dropped often by wet hands.  Circa 1870s

And finally, a really cool vintage Heinz ketchup bottle with the original labels from 1904.  Notice that there is no cap.  This bottle requires a cork/cap setup.  Bottle is full of stretch bubbles as well.

So, what I lacked in quantity I made up for with quality.  It was a good weekend of junkin and putting together Halloween pieces. Have lots more to make as these holidays will be upon us soon enough.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch