**** Good morning. For those of you visiting for Pink Saturday, I do not have a new post prepared. I broke my glasses yesterday and for the moment have been a little vision challenged. I will be back on-line; hopefully this evening. Please don't forget to scroll down for my giveaway that ends November 10th. Thank you.****
You may recall that at the start of each month, I switch out my major shop exhibit with something totally new to the shop. I have had "Something Old" vintage wedding pieces, "Aqua Explosion" showcasing some of my favorite color McCoy pieces and most recently my "Spooktacular" black and white display.(Please click here to view). I have several women that can't wait to see the new display each month.
"Harvest Gold Daze" That is what I am calling my November center display. Layered on top of a vintage velvet tablecloth, are pieces of amber glass, topaz and amber jewelry, candlestick holders and candle rings. All are from lawn sales, church rummage sales, and of course Goodwill.
One of my favorite pieces is this 1960's Lucite candle and candlestick holder. I found this years ago at a lawnsale for under a dollar.
Here is a pair of Lucite candles and candlesticks, still the same amber color and silver accents but different design. These are a recent find from Goodwill for $2.99 for the pair.
I mix jewelry, like this necklace, in with my tablescape.
I placed an antique wooden folding chair on top of my table, to give height to the exhibit.
I love the chair's worn black leather cushions. Church sale this summer $3.00. I like to use chairs to stage my vignettes; however, all my chairs are sturdy to be used for sitting.
I have a collection of shot glasses, candy bowl, candle ring and jewelry perched on a cake pedestal that has a clear glass top and amber glass and silver base. You might remember this from last year's Amber Thanksgiving. (Please click here and here) Again these are all a combination of found objects.
Sitting on the chair is an old apothecary glass jar filled with gourds. A fall-themed wreath adorns the lid. Next to the jar is a framed lunar moth. It is gorgeous. You know how I like to decorate with natural elements (Please click here for my Deer mirror.) This beautiful piece was $.10 cents, yes a dime at a recent church fair.
A fabulous pheasant feather hat, in more of a headband style, is nestled in the autumn wreath. This was a Goodwill find for $2.99. I know what you are thinking, you never find such deals. Well when you live within walking distance to one, it is very easy to stop in while walking to the Post Office, to the bank or to the grocery store. Most times, I am purchasing an item that has just been put out on the floor.
A table full of juice glasses. I love to use them for cider to accompany my Thanksgiving meal. Does anyone else still use juice glasses?
I have three glass pitchers, and honestly don't remember collecting or having three. I have that problem a lot. Anyone else?
Amber glass bowls, one with a wire holder for a chip & dip set, and several candy dishes. If one is eating candy, it should be from a pretty dish. (I find it makes for less calories - - Honest)
I am showing and sharing my Amber "Harvest Gold Daze" with Suzanne @ ColoradoLady for Vintage Thingie Thursdays (Please click here or see Suzanne's button on my sidebar) I always learn something when I go over to visit this great party. Thank you Suzanne for hosting.
I am also joining my good friend Linda @ A La Carte for her party Junkin Finds. (Please click here). Who doesn't love to junk and even better, to show off their junking finds. Please stop on over to see all the fun posts.
We still have a few more days before my Give-Away ends on midnight November 10th. I am celebrating my one-year blogging anniversary. Please click here to see how you can enter or see my sidebar button. Next week, I will be showing what fun prizes await the winning entry. Give-aways are so much fun. Thank you all for joining me.
Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
Well this weekend's sales were so much better than last week's, although the temperature was still just as hot. I filled up the car with goodies which is easy to do as my car is so small. Fortunately, it is 4 doors and I can creatively pack my treasures. It is like watching a dozen clowns come out of the small car at the circus when I start to unload, and unload, and unload.
My first sale of the day was at the Lion's Club annual sale. It started at 7:00 and I arrived there at 20 minutes before. I pull in just in time to see a truck pulling out, their first customer of the day. Now I still found a ton of treasures there so it makes me wonder just what other goodies I missed. Oh well. That is what I get for hitting that snooze button the second time. For the next 15 minutes I had the sale all to myself and found an old meat grinder, dishes, books, pottery and so much more, all for $20. The gentlemen running the sale were all in the 70's and they were cracking jokes and other such silly banter. I asked them if I should pay extra for the entertainment. They were delightful.
Okay, if you read my last post about my "sputnik" dishes and fried devilled eggs, you will recognize these plates as being the same pattern. My heart skipped a beat when I saw them, 10 plates for $.50 cents. Unfortunately, no cups. Nonetheless I was still pretty giddy about this find. I just think it is so funny that this is the second time that after posting about a certain collection, a week later I find more of that collection! I might have to post some of my other harder to find collections and see if it works.
The guys thought it was funny that I was going through a box of coat hangers that they were tossing out. I collect wooden hangers. The top hanger is from a store, sorry I didn't get a close-up of the store label, the bottom one is just a nice simple wooden hanger, and the fancy white one in the middle is my favorite.
It actually had a sticker on it marked Nevco Japan. The guys just gave me the hangers, after all, they thought they were just throw aways.
The photo does not do this vase justice. It it textured, gold, tan and white, the blue sticker you see at the top is marked West Virginia glass. Vase $.50 cents.
I love love love suitcases and will be using stacks of them in my shop for display. I got 2 suitcases, both Samsonite, both beauties, both for $1.00 each. They are in excellent shape and more importantly, no musty smell!!! That is one of the drawbacks to finding old suitcases.
I have been looking for an old lunch box for a vignette that I have planned and found this plaid beauty. It is solid; however, there is a lot of rust on the inside. But it will look perfect with my collection of Stanley Thermoses. The little bottle with the red metal cap was in a box of rusty nails and tin cans. Honestly, the whole box looked like trash, but that is why you have to be willing to dive in and dig. I took the photo before I had a chance to clean up both pieces.
This was my favorite find of that sale and for the whole day. A Philco radio. All its parts are intact and I should have taken a photo of the backside of the radio, the tubes are really cool looking. The radio can be tuned in for overseas and displays settings for Rome, Japan, South America and London. I didn't care if it worked, but was assured that it did. I plan on cleaning up the wood and knobs and using it for display only, anyway. I am researching the piece for the year it was produced. I then thought I would pull up historical information from that year, by certain dates and print it out as news bulletins to go with the radio in my shop. Just something for fun. The radio was $3.00.
This next piece came from a neighborhood lawnsale in Scarborough, that was a true neighborhood sale, with over 25 houses participating. I am not as familiar with the town and inadvertently went down the wrong road. The homes on this road overlooked the salt marshes and were easily all multi million dollar homes. When I saw the homes, I knew I had missed my turn, as these places didn't look like they did lawnsales. Oh my, can you imagine the treasures.
One of the houses from the neighborhood sale, was only selling plants and some garden stuff. The plants were nice; however, I knew that if I bought any, it would drastically reduce my cargo space in the car. Just as I was turning to leave, I noticed in the garage a shelving unit filled with the owner's own garden supplies, tools, gloves, plant pots. I could see this gorgeous blue and knew it was just not a pot from the Christmas Tree Shop. I asked the lady if she would be interested in selling it, that I just loved the color. She said yes and guessed that the price would be $1.50 like the other pots (the Christmas Tree Shop pots) that she was selling. I gave her $2.00 and told her to keep the change. I was feeling a little guilty. Here is the hard part. I love this color and it will look fabulous on a white table next to a glass jar filled with white shells, in my home. Or does it go in my shop?
Pickle server in its original box. $.25 cents. Church sale. To be the hostess with the mostess, one needs a pickle server, doesn't one.
My last find of the day. Neighborhood sale $8.00. Sewing machine base. I knew I could get it in the already stuffed-not-one-spec-of-available trunk- space-car, I knew I could, I knew I could. I would love to find just the right piece of wood, perhaps an old wooden sign, to make the top.
Yes, Saturday was a good day for lawnsales. Thanks for letting me show you a few of my finds. I am joining these fine ladies for a few vintage/thrifty finds parties. Won't you join me?
Just click below for your party invitation.
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures
Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Diane @ A picture is worth a 1,000 words for Second Time Around Tuesday
Suzanne @ Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursdays
I got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
There is Blue Monday, Ruby Tuesday, White Wednesday, Wednesday is Rednesday, Vintage Black Friday and Silver Sunday for colorful blogging parties. I just love playing with color themes. So today I am joining Suzanne @ Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday, but with my own little color spin. I am designating it "Orange You Glad When you Find Such Treasures Day". Okay that may be a stretch, but for today I wanted to share with you some of my orange goodies. Love that color!!
As you see in the photo above, I have a set of orange mushroom canisters. Nothing says the 70's like orange mushrooms and these were indeed from the 70's. They are stamped made for Sears and Roebuck 1978 and were a goodwill find, although a bit pricey at $7.00 for the set. The ovenproof pot also adorned with mushrooms is in pristine shape and was a Goodwill bargain at $2.99.
Here is a closeup of the pot. One would almost expect to see little gnomes or a few smurfs at the very least playing about these colorful little mushrooms.
Speaking of the 70's, nothing says a 70's kitchen like a calico chicken pot holder. It was a lawnsale find as are the 2 plates, and is in pristine shape as well. I don't usually find formal dining plates like this cream plate with the orange sprays of flowers but rather more plates like the one on the right. It just seems that orange is meant for more fun and casual designs.
I have saved my best orange treasure for last. It is a recent lawnsale find at a whopping $.75 cents. I spotted it on the table from across the parking lot and immediately knew what it was. I am sure that you are thinking maybe a Fiestaware piece, which would be instantly recognizable even at a distance or some other pottery piece that I collect. Nope it wasn't pottery, ceramic or even glass.
It was Lucite, in all its orange and yellow glory, shining in the noonday sun!! It was a Rooster. Standing 17 inches tall and marked Made in the USA 1964, it was mine, all mine.
If you have visited me before, you may recall that my kitchen is blue and red. But with this little fellow, I might just have to reconsider my colors.
By the way, the coffee cup was $.25. I am trying to find more to make a set. So those are my treasures for today. Thank you for joining me for my own little "Orange you glad to find such Treasures Day" and please be sure to stop over at Colorado Lady to see all the other fun finds for Vintage Thingie Thursday.
I wanted to say thank you for the comments I have been receiving about the opening of my new shop. Here is a little update. Last week I announced that I was opening up a shop. (Click here to read) The name of the shop is 2nd Floor Thriftiques. It is on the second floor in the building where my current office space is located. My "real" job for the past 20 years has been owning a financial business. In recent years with the economy being what it has been, that my business is still in operation, is a testament to my business skills. However, after some soul searching, fueled by the fact that I turn 50 this summer, I made the momentous decision that the time was right to open a shop. I knew I wanted to showcase vintage goodies in all things, clothing, jewelry, furniture, artwork and housewares. I have a knack for finding treasures and at a low price (or free) I love dumpster diving. I will still be keeping my "day job" so to speak, but will also be running my shop.
You see, I have a corner office suite, consisting of 3 large rooms. Because I have substantially scaled back my business, I was getting ready to sign over one of the offices back to the landlord. Since this room has 2 doors, one that opens back into my business office and one that enters into the lobby area, it can be a separate business space but still accessible from my existing office. I will be able to have both businesses open at the same time. My employees are excited about the prospect of being able to work in both places as needed. I get a shop that is affordable albeit on the second floor.
My landlord is also really excited about bringing retail to the second floor. He is refinishing the hardwood floors and spraying the ceiling, a whole new face lift. Here are a few before photos and by the end of next week, I will have new pictures to share. I am looking at a Grand Opening for June 19th. I will keep you posted. You are all invited.
Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
I was surprised last week to have received so many comments from folks; themselves being surprised, at just what you can find at Goodwill. As I have shared before, it is easy for me to pop into a Goodwill Store 3 or 4 times a week. So I will admit, if you spend that much time in one of their stores, the odds are good that you will find something. Today, I am sharing a few pics on what I found last Saturday at the brand new Goodwill in South Portland, just one stop, at one store.
Since I am sharing, I am joining Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays;
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures;
and Suzanne @ The Coloradolady for Vintage Thingies Thursday for all my thrifty purchases.
Please click above or see the parties posted on my sidebar to get to their fabulous parties. No invitations or R.S.V.P's needed. Enjoy.
As you see from my banner, I love green. This little creamer was my first purchase and is already on my kitchen shelf with my others. (And yes, I was collecting Fireking long before Martha Stewart showcased it in her magazine when she was decorating her daughter's apartment with these dishes, and then the prices went through the roof, because every dealer felt that if Martha collects it, we can charge more.)
I was even more excited when I found this platter. It has handles on either side that I accidentally cropped out of the photo, oops. It is about 14 inches across, and yes it is one of my favorite colors. It was on the bottom shelf and topped with a stack of newer plates made in China. I was not expecting to see it marked Redwing. Probably my best find of the day.
Ironstone for $.99 a piece, need I say more? The little flower plates are marked USA . My plan is to place a little nest and eggs in the center of each plate. At $.50 cents, if they don't turn out well, no real money invested. I just loved the plates simple graphics.
The silver tray and pedestal tray will both be used at the Bridal Shower I am catering on Saturday. Can you ever have too much silver shine? The Pewter tankard was only $.99 and it is engraved Robert and has the clear glass bottom. Nope, I don't know any Robert's but thought it would make a lovely vase.
Once again, you never can have too much glassware. To the far left is a little hot beverage container. It is next to a charming glass creamer. In the back row are 2 tall frosted glasses in the green and pink. I have a large frosted pink bowl that matches these glasses. The other tall glass is really heavy and it reminds me of what you would find in a restaurant for your ice cream floats. I am not sure if it is vintage, but at $.99 it is a thrifty find. The silver rimmed glasses are going to be added to a box of bar glasses that I am collecting for a gift for a friend.
I love this plate. It is a cream/brown flower plate, Johnson Brothers, England.
Two hand embroidered pillowcases. There are just a few places that still show the printed on design missing the completed stitching. One pillowcase for Ma, the other for PA.
This 3 piece set was in an earlier pic. It has a white lining that you can see is worn in a few spots. The size of the pieces seem a little small to be for regular use and I am wondering if it wasn't part of a toy set. I have started to clean the silver and it is coming out well; however, in this unpolished state, it would look lovely holding a few succulents or moss covered rocks.
Don't you just love the "puppy dog eyes" that this piece has? It isn't ceramic or plaster of paris, could it be chalkware? This is an area I have no knowledge of, and any help would be appreciated. He will be a gift for my friend whose own dog looks like this charming little fellow. The poodle pin was equally as charming and I won't be wearing it as a pin, but rather incorporating it into a new artistic endeavor.
This was all from only one of far too many trips to Goodwill. I look at it this way (as in rationalize and justify). For the few dollars that I spent, would not even cover the price of admission to a movie, plus popcorn and drink for a night out .... and this was much more fun.
Please be sure to see what every one else is showing today and have fun thrifting.
Have a great day.
Sherrie
Today is Earth Day and what better way for me to celebrate the day is by doing my part to recycle...... in other words, it means a trip to Goodwill. Today I have donated three bags of clothing. By doing my part to donate, I have kept those bags out of a landfill. But my Earth Day celebrating just doesn't end with that donation, of course, I had to go inside to shop ......... but hey it is for a good cause and I help by recycling. Somebody ha
s to do it. So here are a few of my finds that I would like to share and since they are vintage treasures, I thought the friends visiting Suzanne at Coloradolady would like to stop by and see for Vintage Thingie Thursday. By the way be sure to visit Suzanne and see all the fun treasures.
For my old blogging friends, they know I just love this color blue. (Check here to see my Kitchen.) So I had to have these three pieces. The covered casserole dish (USA) was $1.99, the mixing bowl (USA) was $1.99 and the the plate (England) was $.99 cents. The bowl had not been in the housewares section but rather next to the registers. Obviously someone decided at the last minute not to purchase it and luckily it was waiting there for me to find and bring home.
I buy a lot of artwork from Goodwill. Framed prints are an addiction of mine and you thought it was only plates. This is a sweet little watercolor scene. It is in its original frame and the sticker on the back reads "Product of Reliable Newark, NJ. - New York Scenes by Maymson" It is also stamped with a number that doesn't show in the photo. Price $2.99.
I love Ironstone. I got this entire grouping, at Goodwill. The large plate was $1.99 and the small plates and bowl were $.99 each as was the little pitcher. I have a few Bakelite handled forks on display in the pitcher, not Goodwill finds but lawnsale for $.25 cents each. The bowl was a little worn but makes the perfect place for a nest and a few eggs. The little bird is not vintage; however, the color is perfect and goes well with the nest. It was $.99 cents.
Did I mention that I also love Pink and anything marked California Pottery. The plate is marked but the cup isn't. Both were $.99 cents each.
As much as I had fun shopping today, it is more important to remember the purpose of Goodwill. Yes I find amazing treasures and have fun; however, by being a part of my community, it helps folks to recycle and serves a greater good. So do your part for Earth Day, get out there, donate and shop at your local Goodwill. Oh and don't forget to visit Suzanne for Vintage Thingie Thursday. Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Earth Day
Sherrie
A Vintage Black Friday in the first days of Spring.....doesn't sound quite right. We should be showing yellows, pinks, reds, and purples. You know, the colors of all the flowers just waiting to pop up in my yard. So I thought why not display a little something from France, of course to be fashionable, but also what better place to be than Springtime in Paris? Okay, that is a stretch for a tie-in, but please let me show you what I have.
A few years ago, I received some black glass dishes from my cousin Phil. He is actually my father's cousin and is in his 80's. These dishes had belonged to their aunt. It wasn't a full set, in fact there were two distinct sets being represented but all tied together by the solid color of the glass.
I have a stack of dinner and salad plates with an ornate edge, but no markings on the underside of the plates except what looks like a consistent 2 inch scratch in the center.
Then I have these 8 sided plates (both salad and dinner size - the photo shows the smaller size), 3 originally from my cousin, 8 more from Goodwill with yellow tag of $.59 and 7 with red tag at $.99 cents but 50% off that price. The dishes were found at two different GW's. These are all marked with FRANCE; however, some list a number right next to the letters while the rest have a number listed on the direct opposite side. Even though the plates are identical the numbers range from 4, 12, 15, 13, 17, 37, 47, 57, 55 and even 07 and 014.
These two creamers best represent the characteristics of each set of dishes, one is 8 sided and the other has the ornate edge. Again, both are solid black glass. The octagon creamer is also marked FRANCE with the number 13 but also a N5. It is my only FRANCE piece that includes a letter/number combo in addition to the marked number.
This photo shows 5 candy dishes/bowls all with similar shaped handles. The top row of three have identical handles with each handle displaying a three circle design. The bowl on the bottom right is marked with the letter C inside a small triangle.
Along with the assortment of plates, cups, saucers, and candy dishes, my cousin gave me an Elephant Ashtray, the larger of the 2 shown below. Again it has a center 2 inch scratch on the bottom as its only mark. Last summer, while looking through the craft section at Goodwill, I found a smaller but identical ashtray for $1.99, also with the scratch mark. As soon as I turned the corner of the aisle, I immediately spied it on the shelf next to some lime green balls of yarn. I was very careful not to knock down the lady standing there as I reached over to grab the piece. Luckily I do have long arms, even more lucky, she had only wanted the lime green yarn. To each their own tastes.
So these are my Vintage Black Treasures for today. Other than having either a specific looking center scratch or the word FRANCE with various numbers, I have no other information about these plates. Obviously, the ones from my cousin are old; however, I am not sure if the pieces I have found are also old or reproduction pieces. Any help would be appreciated. Even if I remain clueless as to their origin, it will be as the French say "C'est la vie". They are family pieces and will always be special to me.
*****UPDATE Linda of A La Carte has come to my rescue with information as to my dishes origin. The scalloped design is black-amethyst Depression Glass produced in the 1920's by L.E. Smith Co. Apparently, the company was founded in 1907 by Lewis E. Smith, a sometimes employed chef with a special mustard sauce recipe. The original purpose of the company was to manufacture glass containers for the sauce. To read more about the history of L.E. Smith company and to see better photos of the dishes, please click here. Thank you Linda for your assistance. It really is more fun when you know about a piece. To visit the ever knowledgeable Linda and her lovely Blog, please click here.
Please be sure to visit our lovely hostess Jill of Gypsy Brocante at the French Cupboard and all the other participants for today's Black Vintage Friday party. Please click here to see the list.
Also a quick reminder that my giveaway ends on April 10th. Please click here for details.
Wishing you all a lovely Easter. Have a good day.
Sherrie
"Harvest Gold Daze" That is what I am calling my November center display. Layered on top of a vintage velvet tablecloth, are pieces of amber glass, topaz and amber jewelry, candlestick holders and candle rings. All are from lawn sales, church rummage sales, and of course Goodwill.
Sitting on the chair is an old apothecary glass jar filled with gourds. A fall-themed wreath adorns the lid. Next to the jar is a framed lunar moth. It is gorgeous. You know how I like to decorate with natural elements (Please click here for my Deer mirror.) This beautiful piece was $.10 cents, yes a dime at a recent church fair.
A fabulous pheasant feather hat, in more of a headband style, is nestled in the autumn wreath. This was a Goodwill find for $2.99. I know what you are thinking, you never find such deals. Well when you live within walking distance to one, it is very easy to stop in while walking to the Post Office, to the bank or to the grocery store. Most times, I am purchasing an item that has just been put out on the floor.
A table full of juice glasses. I love to use them for cider to accompany my Thanksgiving meal. Does anyone else still use juice glasses?
I have three glass pitchers, and honestly don't remember collecting or having three. I have that problem a lot. Anyone else?
Amber glass bowls, one with a wire holder for a chip & dip set, and several candy dishes. If one is eating candy, it should be from a pretty dish. (I find it makes for less calories - - Honest)
