September Roles In

 September is here and 2020 continues to wind down; and I'm hoping that the last of this year will be a gentle one.   Sis came to visit over Labor Day weekend and we had five lovely, sunny days just lazing in the pool, having food delivered, read books, talked like teenagers at a sleepover and laughed until our stomachs hurt.  It was a perfect weekend.  Back to work on Tuesday and I have to say, I love the four day work week following a Monday holiday, but my heart was still not ready for business so four days felt like 10 days of Mondays.  

This weekend it poured both days so I ran errands and hit a few of my local haunts to find treasure.  It was a banner weekend with some nifty finds.

Hit my favorite local thrift shop and found a variety of antique and vintage pieces like this 1940s salt box.  

The wooden top is missing but it has a marvelous margarita green glaze and this is perfect for holding kitchen tools.

Always crazy for American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) and I found a small plate and a nappy server.

This little sweetheart throws rainbows like crazy.

This little item is so beautifully cut and detailed and I'm now researching the maker.

Christmas is not that far away so I'm adding to my Romancing Christmas space with this lovely Woodland Santa figurine.  He has a marvelous face.

This was a unique find, a heavy and hand forged fireplace tools stand.  

I have stockings hanging from it now but it has so many uses.

This antique geometry book is copyrighted 1928.  

Another item I doing research on.  Pretty little Depression glass ice bucket but unusual in its floral details.  Trying to determine the maker and pattern.

Tall, mid century religious print.  Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane in original frame.

1900s small swung vase with gold lustre trim and hand painted daisies.

A fantastic antique primitive butchers paper roll dispenser.  This looks like a handmade item for a small butcher shop.  Original paper still on it.

Antique Dinner plate size transwer wae flowers plate.  These pretty late Victorian plates are enjoying a nice popularity in my area again.

Vintage, stretch glass low bowl in that popular caribbean blue.  I adore stretch glass, there is something so joyful with it and I crazy about the caribbean blues and the irisdencent whites.

Kenjutso Soden by Frederick J. Lovret with signed autograph by Mr. Lovret. 

Dated Mar 22, 1978 by Frederick J. Lovret.

Inside this soft bound book is a list of items that were sold by Mr. Lovret with his signature and the date 6/11/80.

From my favorite haunt I moved on to one that deals mostly in consignment furniture and quality yard sale items.  Not usually a good resource for me but everyone once in a while you find a treasure.

Well, this time I went home with two treasures.  First, this marvelous 1940s Skookum doll and papoose.  I used to find these when I lived out west and found only one in the sixteen years I lived in Atlanta.  They are often found with a lot of issues, but this one is in marvelous condition.  

Second, this fun, pull back tin toy cable car.  Has a few issues but it still works and I adore the Christmas green and reds. This will make a sweet Christmas decoration.

Had one more stop to make at my favorite place for all things rusty, crusty, chippy and primitive, Junk Co, Port Richey, Florida.  

I have a sweet spot for Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) cake stands and this one took one look at me and practically lept into my arms. I can't wait to use it over the holidays.  Circa 1880s pattern: Lace Edge.

Sweet, mid century door stop with handle is just too cha cha for words.  Heavy cast brass with lovely details, this little kitty is a charmer.

And now, the piece that stopped in in my tracks as I walked the the door at Junk Co.   A lovely little specimen cabinet with six drawers and locks at the top.  Be still my heart.  

I've been blessed with finding a lovely spool cabinet that I purchased in 1985 on a road trip through Micanopy, Florida on my way to visit my mom in Deerfield Beach.  The little antique shop had it marked way down in price and I had to make the purchase. I still have it and love the piece and when I saw this beauty, I was just as excited.  Two of the drawer trays have slotted squares for tiny items and the remaining four are open.  I'm thinking of filling them with my bone and ivory crochet hooks. I have nearly 100 and this will be a perfect place for them all.

It was a wonderful weekend albeit a rainy one but as long as water is involved that this seawitch is happy. Stay healthy and blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

Roaring into the 20's

Well, maybe not roaring but for some reason the sound and look of 2020 just makes me happy.  First I must share that I am thankful for a good 2019.  I am still employed at a good company and happily working from home.  My sons and their families are doing well and my grandchildren are more joyful then ever.  My extended family is doing well and my sister is a few hours away.  I so enjoy my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique mall and the owners and other dealers who are my second family.  Of course, my sweet Gynness is getting more of a foamy face as she ages but Florida agrees with her and she runs amuck and rules the house. 

Like my sweet baby, Florida agrees with me as well and I adore my little home and pool...it is my sanctuary.

It was a marvelous two weeks off from work (we shutdown each year for 6 days) and it makes for two weeks of pure relaxation.  Sis came up to visit and we laid around like third base enjoying each others company, laughing like school girls until we ached and eating Christmas cookies in the pool.  After sis went home, I visited a few local haunts, priced items, began listing in my new Etsy shop, Girdle Gals Fashion and refilled my booth spaces.

I stumbled upon a nice group of nesting boxes with an old school look.  I snagged them for such a great price that I'm passing it on to my customers and have them priced to move.  These have so many decorative uses and I'm thinking of bringing one of the small ones home as a place for my remotes.

I adore stretch glass and was delighted to find this nifty piece and in the palest shade of "sea blue".  I may have to keep this piece.

Stumbled upon this lovely, 1970s hanging pendant lamp.  Pretty hardware and a handpainted globe and that definitive long chain for hanging.

A marvelous, antique silverplated and EAPG sardine server.  I haven't come across one of these in many, many years and this one is in amazing condition.

Another EAPG pedestal compote has the look of American Brilliant Cut Glass but is an EAPG piece. 

Lovely Cut Glass condiment piece is heavy and beautifully hand cut.  No mark that I can find but it has the look of American Brilliant.

Charming early 1900s child's plate has a transfer image of a child and her dog playing. 

This was one of those surprise finds.  Three dinner plates by Adams (England).  1930s and the transferware and handpainted details are Audubon's birds of America series.  I thought they were lovely and acquired them for a few dollars.  Had no idea of their actual value until I started doing my research to price.  The Canvas Back Ducks were valued at $79.99 at 

replacements.com.

The Cedar Wax Wings were priced at $99.99 at replacements. com

I decided to keep the Flamingo as it is so representative of Florida and is now in my dining room. 

A whimsical 1940s tomato teapot, creamer and sugar. This design was wildly popular in the 1940s-50s and I remember my grandmother having this set on her kitchen table of her 3rd floor walkup in Englewood, New Jersey. 

 Grandma also had a set of anthropomorphic Tomato Ware salt and pepper shakers and tray set.  As a child, I loved using these with their delightful faces, each tomato has a chef’s hat.

This was a fun find at my local Goodwill, a pair of lovely aqua blue, Bell Sanitary mason jars from 1913-15.  

And finally, what better way to roar in the 2020's then a fabulous Roaring 1920's beaded dress influenced by the King Tut discovery.  

So with that, I am excited to see all that 2020 will bring and I hope the same for you and as  always, blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

It's Done and Thrifting

It's done.  I finally finished my new sewing storage station.  As much as I adore my little Florida home, it is lacking in storage space and I needed a place to store my sewing machine, fabric, notations, iron, patterns and trims.  The piece also needed to have easy access as I use my sewing machine a lot.  

I've been wanting to do a decoupage/chalk paint piece for a while now and I love the way this turned out.

The two bottom drawers hold lots of fabric and the top portion my machine, iron, patterns, threads and other sewing accessories and supplies.

I purchased the media armoire from a local consignment shop.  You can pick them up cheap these days and I wanted a piece that had smooth, clean lines.  Well made and heavy, it is a massive piece and thankfully, it separated into two pieces.  I gave it a few coats of pale, coastal blue paint. 

I then decoupaged a poster over the two drawers.  This fit beautifully as I did not have to to trim it down at all, just center it over the split between the two drawers.

Decoupaged the mermaid poster to the large doors and then went back and painted the top sky and the bottom ocean to match the poster.  A nice Kona stain and wax finish and new knobs and I am head over teakettle crazy for my new storage piece.  I'm always fascinated the way a little paint and stained wax finish can so change a piece.

In between finishing up my sewing armoire, I visited a few haunts for treasure.

Pretty vintage frame with a mirror in it.  Not a large piece but perfect from a dresser or table.

Lovely little transferware sugar bowl.  This was a goodwill find.

Everyone loves popular paneled grape milkglass and this lidded candy or powder dish is a charmer.

Lovely stretch glass footed compote has the palest shade of iridescence.  Do I keep or do I sell?  The struggle is real.

Always delighted to find Victorian whites and this parlor cloth is in excellent condition.

Three, late Victorian, cut glass salt cellars are a Goodwill find.

A lovely selection of mid century pins and a bracelet.  All of the rhinestones are clear and full of color and sparkle.

Three necklace, the famous Krementz rose, a Brooks Brothers chain link choker and a light chain link in silver.  

And finally, a nice selection of mid century rosaries.  These always sell well for me.  The snowbird season is nearly over and most have begun their trek up north.  Hard to believe that school is nearly out for kids and the summer season will be upon us shortly.  Sis is coming up to see me in May. We always have a great time and laugh so hard it hurts.  

Wishing all a great April and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Thrifting Gold.

The Olympics are in full swing and if there were medals for thrifting, I'd would so participate in those events.  We had another oppressively hot weekend and most retail stores were empty.  However, the movie theaters were filled to capacity and the venue of choice for folks wanting cool air conditioned comfort for a few hours.

Me, I went hunting for treasure at a few of my favorite haunts and although the pickin's were slim (like the crowds) I still found some neat pieces.

I adore American basketry and this faboosh apple gathering basket is a winner.  Just a few splints with issues, it is perfect for holding hand spun yarn and it looks marvelous next to my spinning wheels.

Oh, how I adore Goodwill.  A scarce, highly collectible, 1920s Lancaster Glass Company ”Poppy Red Lustre” stretch glass flared compote with three hand-painted enamel blue flowers with green foliage. As with all antique stretch glass, this piece has an iridescence that shimmers with colors of pink, purple, gold, blue, and green depending on how the light hits it. 

One is good but two is even better.  Another highly collectible, 1920s Lancaster Glass Company ”Cream Lustre” stretch glass deep compote with three hand-painted enamel orange flowers with green foliage and blue lined trim.   

A thrift store find, pretty Art Deco silverplated compote.  These are always in demand for holiday tables.  Fill with homemade candies and cookies.

Found this lovely & unusual size, vintage footed server with etching on front and back, roped edge and pierced  inner edge.  Hallmarks for W. S. Blackinton, Meridian CT silver company.     Circa 1940s

Very heavy little cut glass tray.  This baby throws lots of rainbows.

Found a bag full of odds and end and these vintage political campaign buttons were at the bottom.  The Goldwater button is 5 inches in width, it's a big boy.

The Nesting Spot at Vintage Village offered these sweet, soft pumpkins repurposed from old sweaters.  My little girl, Gynness, loved them and kept hiding them in her crate.

Found this pretty little flow blue luncheon plate at the Queen of Hearts.  I always do a little shopping after I fluff up my booth spaces.  Speaking of spaces, I realized I have been selling for 28 years now so I decided to have a 30% sales on selected items throughout my booth spaces to celebrate.  

Scattered throughout both spaces are bright orange tags with the 30% discount on those items.

 Lots of pretty things to choose from in my Victorian space.

 My main space is also filled with 30% off sale tags.

 Filled to the brim with lots of goodness, there is something for every one in my main space.  I will be running the 30% sale through September in prep for the fall and winter holidays.  Hard to believe that August is half way over and the year will end in 4 1/2 months.  So blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch