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

Silver lining finds.

As with the rest of the US goes these days, we are still dealing with hot hot temps.  Most folks are hiding in malls or movie theaters to embrace the AC within.  I went a little treasure hunting early on Saturday to try and get home before the temps entered 3 digit categories again.  The silver lining with this hunt was just that...silver.  Lots of beautiful silverplate was everywhere and that is what I came home with.   

This lovely Victorian quadruple plated serving tray was a thrift store find. 

Lots of silver is still intact.

 

Victorian, Bride's Baskets are a favorite of mine.  

Found two of them this week and this one I kept.

It was the rim along the top and bottom that is filled with bats, crabs, lizards, lobsters and turtles that  caught my eye.  Bride's Baskets are uniquely Victorian and The Ribbon in My Journal  blog has a marvelous post about the history of Bride's Baskets.

Silver, silver everywhere.  Another Bride's Basket, little Chippendale server, Gorham bud vase and a pair of shakers. 

 Stunning open compote and a pair of lovely, small servers.

Just when I thought I couldn't find more silver, these two beauties jump at me.

Heavy champagne bucket is in like new condition right down to the engraved names and date of August 10, 1974.  Serve your best, jumbo shrimp in this pretty shell server with sauce holder with cobalt blue glass insert.

A few non silver pieces came home with me, this pair of souvenir EAPG pieces are sweet, especially the little cutie creamer.

Pretty little Royal Copenhagen figurine, The Little Mermaid.

Last but not least, this delightful photograph with hand painted details in original frame.  A mother's love shows with lots of smiles.  Flapper era shows her bobbed hair and dressing gown.  Very 1920s.

Watching the Olympics as I write this post.  Women's Gymnastics has been awesome.  Wishing everyone an olympic week and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Auction and Gold Lame

I'm dragging.  I was not ready to end my mini vacay with sis, the week before and in spite of the short workweek because of the Memorial Day holiday, my mind and heart were no where to be seen with getting back into the grind.  So I decided to chuck it and go to an auction on Saturday instead, LOL.

First pieces on the auction block were a pair of vintage silverplated butler's trays. This one is a Wm. Rogers, Victorian Rose in like new condition.

This tray is HUUUUGGGE!  Well loved and used often as constant cleaning and polishing from use has seen much of the silver removed with the copper base showing through the design.  I actually like this look and have a large one like this that I adore.

Next up was this stunning, Mission (Craftsman) tiger oak piano bench.  It was very dark and I believe scared off any interest as I was the only bidder so I took it home on the cheap.  A little Howards Restore on it and now really shows off the lovely tiger oak pattern.  

The auction gallery was filled with plat after plat of vintage silverplate.  I won two boxes of really nice pieces and was delighted to win the two plats that I wanted.  Now I have lots of polishing to do.

Love Early American Period Glass (EAPG) and this pretty sun purple celery vase is the cat's meow.  It was in a box of mid century Sandwich glass bowls and another bidder actually wanted those.  She saw me pull out the celery vase and put the rest of the box on the floor and immediately recognized my disinterest in them. So she made me a good and fair offer on the Sandwich and I sold her the box.  Everyone was a winner with that item.

There were lots of mid century paintings that were moving quite well.  Not interesting to me but when this lovely oil on board came up, I jumped on it.  Dated 1902,  I was the only bidder.  Funny how folks in the gallery can define what sells.  This was a large group of folks who were interested in mid century and contemporary pieces and those items garnered higher prices.   Lucky for me, it was the few antique items offered that most folks were not interested in.

A box lot of a creepy doll and friends was offered and I was delighted to win it.  Dolls usually go high no matter the condition or kind and this sweet little mid century drink and wet (Betsy Wetsy type) doll was in the box lot.  Original diaper and the eyes still blink nicely.

There were a handful of modern porcelain dolls in the box and I gave them all away to the neighborhood girls.  Of course, this is the "creepy" doll that I was interested in.  A nice big Ideal composite baby doll. She will be perfect for a Halloween display.

A hat box with vintage hats was another win.  Pretty vintage, pale lilac curly feather hat is too cha cha for words.

Nice lace and sequined hat is a pretty thing.

This is the best hat in the box.  Pretty pill box is silk and hand beaded. 

This marvelous overshot coverlet, early 1800s, showed no interest to the gallery and I walked away with this piece.  I nearly cartwheeled out of the auction with this prize.  Yes, it has a few holes, but I don't care.  As a spinner of fiber, this gorgeous piece is woven with flax (linen) and hand spun wool and dyed with natural dyes of red and blue.  Can we get more American than this?  I don't think so and it is a new, favorite piece for my personal decor.

   

Following the auction, I had to drop off a few bags of stuff at my local Goodwill.  Never to let a stop to drop off here go to waste, I hopped in for a quick looksie and found this very heavy decanter.  I knew it was mid century but it was so dirty I couldn't see if it had a hallmark. When I got it home and cleaned it I found the engraved mark for Boda.  Score!!!!! 

Another find, vintage Barton Nantucket lightship purse.  Pretty bone accents, scrimshaw of dogwoods on faux ivory top.  Circa 1970-80s.  

Oh, and that Gold Lame I noted in the post title?  Well, here it is.  

Paging Esther Williams, Miss Williams?"  Here is your signature bathing suit.  Before I left to visit my baby sister, in Florida, over Memorial Day, I saw this stunning, vintage gold lame bathing suit on a gal pals face book page. She sent me a quick message that she just brought it in to her space. Well a quick call to the Buford Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors and I purchased it over the phone and picked it up today. 

It is now part of my personal collection of vintage swimwear. Thanks Dawn M Fischer of Fragments for letting me know it was in your space. This is when social media is such a great tool, as Vintage Village can attest to, as I make more purchases off their facebook page before I even get into their shop.  Thank you to the Queen of Hearts folks for processing this purchase for me when I was on my way out of town.  

Hoping everyone's week is as bright and shiny as my new (old) gold lame swimsuit.  Blessings to you and those you love, Sea Witch.

Silver and Crystal

Spring is teasing us this weekend with brilliant blue skies, temps in the 50-60s and sunkissed afternoons.  I couldn't wait to race home after my errands and just hang outback on the deck with sweet Gynness and enjoying the Vitamin D that Mother Nature gifted us.

So I did a mad run for treasure Saturday morning and was home by noon to enjoy the day.  The hunt is always an interesting one as you never know what you will find.

It was silver and glass pieces from both thrift stores I visited.  

A stunning, and huge, cut crystal vase.  Some chipping around the top lip but a gorgeous pieces just the same.  It throws mad rainbows.

Steklarna Rogaška is one of the leading producers of crystal ware in the world and the Rogaška trademark is at the highest level in terms of price, quality and design innovation in its branch of industry.  This pair of fine cut crystal high ball glasses has the etched Rogaska mark on the bottom.  Book price:  $110 for the pair.

Just when I thought I couldn't top the two items above, I find this rare Heisey, Orchid nut dish.  Lovely Elegant Depression piece produced from 1940-1957.  Replacements.com has it priced at:  $140.00.

I adore these EAPG domed butter dishes for so many reasons, but mostly because they are fun to serve sandwiches and other luncheon treats to my grandchildren.  The girls feel like they are true princesses when served lunch under a glass dome.

Pretty cut crystal toothpick holder is just too cha cha for words.

Sweet Art Deco brides basket server.  These silverplated pieces are highly collectible and are marvelous decorative elements.  Circa 1940s

Lovely Silver Plated Leaf Shape Serving Dish Tray with Handle. The Sheffield Silver Co Made in USA  Circa 1960s

 Superb, pair of late Victorian wine goblets.  Rogers Smith Co Meridian CT. Circa 1900s

Sterling Silver weighted glass lined salt and pepper shakers.  Circa 1960s

Grover Cronin Department Store,Ten to quarter century club award gavel.  Presented to Clarence J. Hansberry, President, 1952. Beautiful wood with silverplate band.  Grover Cronin Department stores began in 1912 in Waltham, MA.

Spring is when I move the most Bavarian porcelain pieces so I filled my Victorian space with a few of these beauties.

Beautiful antique RS Germany porcelain serving bowl with handles and square shape.  White roses with lovely color palette.  Circa 1900s

Darling Victorian child’s wicker, rush and wood rocker.  Perfect for displaying antique dolls.  Circa 1880s

Spring calls for sassy spring hats and this pretty straw hat with red ribbon is similar to the hat worn by Anne in Anne of Green Gables. Not old, this is a Laura Ashley offering but still looks marvelous with the antique, calico dress.

So looking forward to turning the clocks ahead next Sunday, I cannot wait for those longer evenings where the sun shines down on us.  Wishing all a marvelous week and blessings to you and those you love. SeaWitch