Spring Fever

I got the fever bad...just loving this weather in the south.  Sunny days, flowering trees in full bloom, and the yard sales are popping up like daffodils. Really want to take the week off and just enjoy all of it at my leisure, but this working gal has got to keep her nose to the grindstone, like so many, I need my medical benefits.  Not complaining, mind you, just want to play for a few days more.  Made a visit to Vintage Village in Snellville, GA to see what their spring had to offer.  I always find treasure when I come to VV and got to spend time with old friends to boot.

This sweet little vintage easter honeycomb table display caught my eye and I may still go back and get it.  Just too sweet.

Be still my heart, I adore antique transferware and this pretty soup tureen had my heart racing. 

One of my favorite dealers at the Village. You could just live in Paul and Jeanine's booth as it is so comfy cozy.  Grab a book and a beverage and I can easily nest in here.

The booths are packed to the rafters.  Many of the dealers have echoed the same story that other dealers are buying again.  Maybe the economy is beginning to turn around again. I certainly hope so.

What I liked about these paint by numbers best is that they were unfinished.

Pretty silhouettes for your windows and your walls.

These spring yellow chairs  are just yummy.

Cabin fever, not here...unless you are looking to feverishly fill your cabin with fun pieces.

This dealer has marvelous, antique books.  I picked up a huge 1867-88 history book with lots of old illustrations.  It's always fun taking a trip to VV as I find nifty things and get to gossip with old friends.  From there, I moved on to other favorite haunts and found a few more pieces I had to have.

How about this pretty heart.  Yup, it's a flask and holds about 1/2 cup of your favorite libation.  Not sure what I am going to do with it yet. Like a crow, I am easily distracted by shiny objects and this one still has my attention.

Found this Barbi doll type painted bust at Vintage Village.  I got a thing for heads and there are kindred spirits who love to display them as well.

How magnificent is this huge, treenware chopping bowl? Fantastic patina, this bowl just begs to be taken home.  If this doesn't sell, I won't be disappointed, wink! wink!

Found a pretty little breakfast set of English bone china.  Two plates, teacup and saucer, egg coddler and personal teapot with pretty blue ribbon, posies and embossed basketry pattern around them all.

A darling find at Vintage Village, this dealer marries up different items and creates pretty little things.  I fell in love with this old hoosier cabinet door with a mounted etching pinned to it.  It did have a silver ribbon around it, but I removed that...thought it was "too" much.  Another piece that I won't mind if it doesn't sell.  Sigh, I keep trying to downsize my life, but there are too many pretty things out there that follow me home.

Wonderful find, this sterling Kiddush Cup is from turn of the Century Russia.  Hand etched with the Star of David and wheat and the hand engraved initials H L.  I wonder if my Grandma Nana (great-grandmother) had one of these stowed away in her carpet bag as she immigrated from Minsk to NY in the 1880's?

Lovely EAPG, Baltimore Pear, spooner in rare color. Adams Glass Co.  1874.  I filled with William Rogers silverplate berry spoons.

My main booth is packed with treasure.  As you can see, I hung the stained glass piece on the back pegboard.  I had sold other pics off that wall last week so it freed up a lot of space. The stained glass window is big and looks so much better hanging then leaning against furniture. 

Was on the lookout for a piece of furniture that I could use in my Girdle Gals booth to use as a pseudo accessories wall. Wanted something that would have a salon look that wouldn't compete with the items I would display. I think it looks very French Quarter with its scroll work.  As sea witch luck would have it, I fell into this lovely wrought iron Bakers rack with metal shelves.  Big, heavy and with lots of room, this piece is exactly what I was looking for and got it for a great price. 

Here it is filled with accessories.  Have to find a few risers so I can make good use out of all of this space.

A corner shot of Girdle Gals.  It's coming along nicely so far.

Brought in more beaded pieces as they are just now starting to move.

Last, but not least...a find just for me.  I adore antique quilts and although I only have two that I actually own, this one will go into that collection.  

This Victorian beauty quilt pattern is hand pieced from silks and velvets and called "A Thousand Pyramids." 

A closer shot of the pyramids.  These are no bigger than a stand size postage stamp and all are hand pieced together.  There is shredding in places as silks like this disintegrate with age.  The red silk edging is dry rotted and in shreds.  Still, it is just amazing at the workmanship that went into this piece.

  

And a closer look.  I know this is a quilt that many folks would turn their nose up because it is not in pristine condition and others would use it as a "cutter" quilt for other creations, but I love it for all of its age and glory.  For now, I have it in a cotton bedsheet, gently rolled up and stored for its protection.

I was delighted to find this "queen" as I do not come across antique quilts often in the Atlanta area.  So that was my weekend and now you can see why I have the "fever".  I just want to go out and meander for another day.  Spring blessings to you and those your love.  Sea Witch

Daylight Saving Treasure

Loving the time change and which brings the longer days.  Although, the sea witch in me says leave the time alone, the days will get long (and short) as nature intended.  I lived in Arizona for several years and that state does not follow Daylight Saving Time (although the Navajo reservation does).  It was a natural cycle that worked.    Anyway, enough of my soapbox,  found a few items this weekend and spent time pricing more items for my third booth, Girdle Gals.  With such lovely weather, it was a joy to work outside  repainting displays as well.

This is one of the two vintage, wrought iron displays I picked up a few months ago.  I used a wire brush to remove any peeling paint and then spray painted one of them a gold bronze.  I then put black marbled tile in the three shelves.  Gonna work on the second one this week and bring that one in next week.

Close up of wrought iron shelf and tile.  I really like the look and the accessories look wonderful on the tiles.

 

Got the racks full now and added more gowns.

Now to work on the sign that I will install above the booth.  I have been cutting out letters that spell out Girdle Gals that I will cover with glitter and then attach to the top beam over the booth. I can't wait to get my sign up.

From Girdle Gals to my main booth.  Time for a "fluff up" as merchandise gets moved around all of the time.  Easter items are moving so I brought a few last pieces in and rearranged so things looked fresh. 

Came across this marvelous antique stained glass window in the palest shade of lilac and frosted glass.  Original lead is still intact, a few pieces of glass are missing, but it is just so lovely that it really isn't an issue for me.

It's a good size about 24" by 32" and in the original window frame.

Pretty Copeland Spode teacup and saucer.

Marvelous double handled soup or bouillon bowl, also a Copeland Spode piece.  And finally, onto my Victorian booth for a fluff and rearrangement.

Moved the settee away from the mantle and loaded up on pretty bone china which is displayed on the marble and walnut table.

How about this for a nice Victorian find.  I love these dual servers for lobster and oysters.  So Victorian and this server is a dual shell with a decorative coral handle.  Huge and in marvelous condition.

A terrific find, 7 pretty little Limoges France beaded edge saucers.  These date from 1890 and are just lovely.

Close up of all that pretty bone china.  Makes me want to brew tea and serve pretty little sandwiches and tea cakes.

Displaying a pretty Edwardian day dress on vintage dressmaker dummy.

Moved the Edwardian desk in front of the mantle.  Really opened up the booth and shows off the pretty desk.  I also like the sweet little  bunny hiding under it.

Corner shot of the booth.  Spent an hour rearranging, but I really like the finished look.  So, there you have it.  Got a lot accomplished and now I'm ready to begin my work week.  I hope everyone had a marvelous weekend and is enjoying the extended light in the evening we now have.   Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

The Good, the Bad and the cookies

This has been an unusual weekend to say the least.  I have been vacillating about opening a third booth in Queen of Hearts for some time now. I am fortunate to live in an area where I have access to designer and independent labels from local estate sales and have been selling via consignment for about 6 months now.   The GOOD...I have decided to open a third booth in the store's "Boutique Boulevard" which is all vintage, new and gently worn designer labels. So here is a shot of the booth I am going to rent.

 Lots of white and a filthy floor.  Old asbestos type tile that is stained beyond belief.  So I picked up some Martha Stewart's silver leaf metals paint and painted all of the pegboard, the exposed wall and the floor.  The color is smart and will enhance the minimalist look I want to achieve. 

So if I painted the floor, why is their a carpet on it?  Good question and now you have the BAD.  The silver repaint on the floor looked smashing.  I taped it off and put up wet paint signs...but that didn't stop a snot nosed kid (NJ euphemism for scamp) from smearing his hands all over the wet paint and them stepping over the tape and walking all over the floor leaving footprints and swishee circles in the paint.

Here is a shot of a small area that he destroyed.  I get the call from the store about 3 hours after I left that they caught the kid having a high ole time smearing the paint.  His mother was horrified and did offer to pay for the damage.  I decided to just bring in a vintage carpet and cover the whole mess because I needed to get merchandise into the booth.  I'll fix the floor another day. Sigh.

Hung the pair of shoe prints in the massive frames on the pegboard. They look marvelous on the walls and compliment the merchandise.

Since prom season is upon us, I am only displaying beaded and sequined gowns, cocktails dresses, blouses and jackets.  I love the way everything looks so far.

I adore beaded clothing, especially vintage.  I get this from my mother who taught me to hand bead and embellish clothing at the early age of 7. She was an accomplished tailor for NY boutiques before the word "boutique" was trendy and adored After 5 garments.  I remember her sitting each night with trays of sparkling sequins, iridescent beads and silk thread as she embellished necklines and sleeve cuffs.  I was driven like a crow to the light and she put a bead needle in my hands and I was hooked.  Still one of my favorite things to do is hand bead my granddaughters princess dresses.

 Don't you just love the white linen tuxedo with the sequins on the lapels, pockets and cuffs.  Huge sequined cumber bun and satin trimmed trousers complete this ensemble. Made especially for Eddie Robinson, a gospel singer in the Atlanta area in 1986.  This vintage piece is perfect for an emcee or a singing lead.

Put together this matt black waterfall rack to hang a mix of pieces. Have lots more to bring in.  Everyone should have at least one beaded/sequined piece in their closet. It makes you feel like a star.  I'm hoping that this booth does well as I have never ventured into selling contemporary pieces.  Oh, did I forget to mention the name of this booth, silly sea witch.  I have to have a fun name, something you would enjoy telling someone when they ask you, "Hey, nice jacket, where did you get it?" and you can say, "Don't you just love it, I bought it at "Girdle Gals"!" 

Yup, I named this venture Girdle Gals.  For my mother and because saying "girdle" is just plain fun.

With all of the work getting the new booth together I didn't have time for my usual treasure hunt, but I did find a few pieces on Saturday.

Nice pair of hand hammered copper preserves or jam boilers.  For preparing those small batches of tasty goodness.

I love hand thrown pieces and this heavy stoneware in a matt glaze is marvelous.  I'm kinda hoping it doesn't sell as I really like it.

Who can resist this handsome rabbit with a chickee in one hand and a pink egg in the other.  Loving his blue plaid jacket.

And a pair of artisan created oil cloth rabbits in Victorian clothing. Too cute.

And now for the COOKIES.

I was given a bag of Cadbury DARK eggs as I adore dark chocolate. Sometimes translating a milk chocolate favorite with dark just doesn't mix and the candy was just too overpowering.  But...what if I smashed them up and added them to my favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe?  OMG, these are so good you want to lay down on the floor and scream.  So here is my recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies with Cadbury DARK eggs.

2 1/4 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt (do not eliminate)

2 eggs (large) or 3 eggs (small)

1 cup of softened butter  (must be butter)

1 bag of Cadbury DARK chocolate eggs (smash with a kitchen hammer...actually kind of fun)

PreHeat oven to 350 degrees

Mix sugars, vanilla, baking and butter until blended.  Add in eggs and salt until fluffy.  Add in flour and mix until fully blended. Now hand mix in Cadbury pieces.  Plop large spoonful of mix onto a cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool for about a minute, grab a tall, cold glass of milk and enjoy.  These cookies will have a crisp edge and a chewy center.  This recipe produces about 3 dozen.

Oh wait, one more story for this interesting weekend.  Came across this cute little gold lame double wallet at a Goodwill store and thought it would be great for traveling.  It has two separate wallet compartments that would be perfect when dealing with multiple currencies.  So I paid $2.00 for it and when I got home, I looked through it and found a 5 Euros note and a 10 pound Egyptian note in it.  I was right, someone did use if for traveling.

Opened up the other compartment and found this:

Yup, ole Benjamin Franklin was looking at me.  $100.00 inside.  Never have found a big bill like this in anything so I was really surprised.  Gonna save that for my next diving trip.  It has to be lucky. 

Looking forward to my new venture and wishing success to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Weekend almost here.

Can't  believe that the weekend is nearly here.    Everyone I know is uber busy with life and all it throws at us.  I'm just now catching up from last week myself.  Found some really interesting items last week, not a lot of treasure and most are contemporary pieces.  Came across a marvelous pair of huge watercolor pictures.  These massive white frames measure 3 by 4 feet.  Beautifully framed and matted, I can see these in a boutique, a bedroom or one's office.

How sweet is this little rabbit shelf.   Love the realistic look.

Pretty Pfaltzgraff watercan.  This is covered with pretty little bumble bees.

Nice little find, a Victorian flow blue toothbrush holder.

 Sweet pair of silverplated candlesticks. 

Cute little lamp pushing a cart would look adorable filled with jelly beans or foiled chocolate eggs. 

Pretty canvas print of brilliant poppies.  This is such a pretty piece I almost kept it.

Lots to do this weekend so wishing the best to you and those you love.     Sea witch