These are a few of my favorite things!

I can actually say that I have a collection of little white pitchers now, with eight of them.  Most all are vintage, some just vintage look-a-likes.  But I love them all for their uniqueness.  I can't help myself, whenever I am out antiquing, thrift shopping or junking, I look for little white pictures. Truly one of my favorite things. 

  I can almost say I collect bird figurines, and these are the birds scattered around my home.

I have to admit, I love hearing songbirds sing, and love hearing the call of the Loon on a lake in Minnesota, but I am not crazy about all the mess the doves make in my yard, and am especially not a fan of all birds.  Particularly those of the Emu variety, but that is another post entirely.

The third thing on my favorite list today is;  shiny silver and different metals of decorative elements all together.  I am wild about mercury glass, copper, brass and shiny, "have to polish silver pieces."  I should have taken a picture of this large serving piece before I took all the tarnish off of it.  It was lots of scrubbing and buffing with various creams and liquids and it was pretty much blackened with tarnish.   Notice the pick mercury glass candlestick.  I had two, but one came broken, and I did not have the heart to throw it out, so I crushed it all up in a pillowcase with a hammer.  now it has a special place in one of my salt shakers.  

What's New in the Studio

We have exchanged our boxes for the Vintage Christmas in July swap.  Here is what I sent to my partner Deb.

We had to send one handmade ornament and one vintage ornament.  Here is the handmade on I did for her.  A tussie mussie style Victorian ornament. 

then I covered this paper mache treasure style box with Christmas papers, and filled it with these vintage goodies. . . . . .

a vintage glass ornament, a Santa from the 60's, a little glittered bell, an oblong glass ornament, and old fold out accordian bell, a strand of mini mercury glass balls, candy canes etc. all wrapped up in this red vintage hankie.

A Santa head bank, and a little plastic pop-up toy.

I love these wind chimes from the 70's

Inside this wrapped box, was another vintage glass ornament.  

Now here is what I received from Garage Sale Gal  Look at these beautiful antique Christmas cards and ephemera.  I love the little coasters too.  I even love the tissue paper she packaged it up in.

Her handmade ornament for me.

Look at these darling vintage cupcake toppers. (Above) 

I was so happy to see one of these cinnamon ornaments that we used to make in the 80's and 90's, and it is in the shape of Minnesota.  Just love it.  Not only is Garage Sale Gal from Minnesota, but so is my hubby!

An assortment of vintage ornaments.  I love it all and she spoiled me good!  Thank YOU Deb.

Then I made a trip to my favorite thrift store, and I found. . . . .  My total came to $10.50

I found a crusty little metal tray, a sweet little iron trivet, a mini glass terrarium, and this wonderful fluer de li glass canister, and a sweet little glass beaded goblet, that is begging to become a pincushion holder.  This metal wall pocket.

And I have been collecting shakers and glass bottles that would work well for my mica flakes and glass glitter.  I found three the other day.  I have had fun looking for the one salt shaker that gets left behind.  I had fun filling all of them today, and lining them up in my studio.

Recent vintage finds in unusual places

Last weekend, I was in Cedar City, Utah with family, and my daughter-in-law and I decided to hit some yard sales.  We found two that yielded some great finds.  The old rusty tin above yielded some great old buttons and also some other very interesting vintage items.  Above is the tin after I took most of the buttons out to wash the rust and dirt off of them.  The button tin had a weird smell because of the rust.  Below are pictures of what I found in all the pile of buttons.

These vintage glass buttons.  I love love glass buttons!  yippee!

These unusual pretty buttons. some are celluloid I am sure.

Some very large buttons and rusty bobbins.

then buried in all the buttons were these unusual items.  A crusty "J" hair clip, a rusty boy scout knife, a whistle that had turned patina, and some military type wings.  Most people would probably have thrown them away, but I call them truly interesting and wish I had stories of the people who once owned and used these things.  

Even the button cards by themselves are cool.  These are what caught my eye in the first place, laying in the old rusty tin.  All this vintage goodness, even if it did need to be cleaned up, was only $4.00

At the next yard sale I found these way cool glass glittered shadow boxes (below) calling out to me.  They aren't vintage, just look alikes.  Oh, the things I could do with those, and they are still in the original box unopened.  This was $2.00

And I also found this at the same sale.  Something for my studio or perhaps my own dresser.  

This cool jewelry console that was only $1.00

I am going to paint it up shabby!

 But then my truly amazing find and bargain of the day was this electric wall sconce.  I am thinking  maybe 1920's  There is still a bulb in it although I don't know if that is truly vintage. the crystals that are hanging on it will surely find other uses.  And I am planning on something special with the rest of it.  When I saw them I wanted at least one of them really badly.  

The man was selling antiques in a parking lot, out of a big truck.

Notice that the tag on this sconce says $99.00 for the pair.  I asked the man if he would take less than that.  He said he could go as low as $25.oo for the pair.  I said I just wanted one and would he take $10.00 for one.  He said I guess so.  So this lovely piece with all the crystal only cost me $10.00  I think it was the bargain of the day for sure!

Grandma's Attic Matchbox Swap

Today the mail was really fun, because in it I received my "Grandma's Attic Matchbox Swap hosted by JoAnne at Vintage Dragonfly  And here is the beautiful and stuffed to the brim and beyond matchbox that was sent to me by Michele Murray from Nook and Cranny gifts.  I love love love it, and feel very spoiled with all the vintage goodies.  When I opened it it was all wrapped up in tissue and tied with the vintage lace, and after unwrapping that I found this matchbox all wrapped up in a vintage hankerchief with this picture attached to it.

After unwrapping the hankie, I found this sight.  I love the distressed doily, brooch and old watch.

Here is the contents.  So much to look at!

Then there was a sweet organdy bag with these pretty earrings inside.  I love them, and will definitely wear them.


And here is the matchbox that I sent to my partner, Becky

I sure have as much fun decorating and figuring out what will go into a matchbox as receiving one in the mail and going through it.  

Thanks so much Michele Murray for the great matchbox you sent!

Summertime Tea Party

When I woke up this morning I looked out and saw that it was cloudy and looking like it would rain.  What do you do with your 8 year old granddaughter if she is staying with you and you can't go swimming?  Well, I think you should invite another 8 year old and have a Tea Party.

 Aren't they just adorable.  And they are both just as sweet too.  My little friend on the left, and my granddaughter on the right.  I have been wanting them to get together for a while, so I kept telling my friend that I would have her over when my granddaughter came for a visit.  Notice the vintage clip-on earrings they are both wearing.  They were pinching, so I told them they only had to wear them for the picture!

My granddaughter and I went to work on setting a sweet little table.  She is such a great helper, and was so excited for the little event.  She loved getting out some special things and I taught her how to set a proper place setting.  I finally got to use my sweet sign made by Kristin from Signs and Salvage.  We swapped at Valentines and this is one of the signs she sent me.  Another reason I had to have a tea party!

At each place I put a small teacup and saucer for them to keep, with almonds and dried cranberries inside with a special tag for each one in hopes they will remember the fun time we had at our "Tea"

We had buckwheat waffles, boysenberry syrup, juice and fruit salad.  We talked about table manners all the way through it.

What a fun time we had discussing 8 year old happenings.  These girls are the cream of the crop.  Thank you for letting me play with you!