Magpie Ethel

Estate Sale Saturday - Six Not Fifty

I went yesterday and signed up for today's sale.  I was there when the list went out and was number 6 to get in the door today.  A VERY good number, but unfortunately, only a mediocre sale.

The giant wooden 50 was in a window and hidden by a curtain.  I noticed it when I was walking to the sale. It is glittery.  I turn 50 in a couple of years, so it may serve me well then.

A cute elf stocking (unused) and some mercury glass garland.  The glass garland is a shape that I don't run across often, and I got two strands of it.  Also a few loose smaller Christmas ornaments.

A old plastic Santa that has some condition issues...primarily a hole on the top of his head. He will look great lumped together with my other vintage Santas during the holidays.

I was glad that I was number six to get in the door and did not end up with a higher number. In and out with a few treasures and on with my day. 

I am off to San Francisco later this week and am planning to hit the Alameda Flea market while I am there.  Hoping..really hoping, for some fun treasures to find.

A Determined Cupid

This little spun head cupid looks VERY determined to find that special Valentine.

I have a feeling this little fellow will have no problem finding the right target. I love his little arrow. (actually a vintage red cocktail pick with a heart added at one end) His hat and green heart and mesh wings are also original to the head.  I am always amazed how many types of spun heads were manufactured.

Cupid and a few other friends are headed to Etsy.  That arrow is ready to zing your way!

Detective Magpie Back Again

Detective Magpie is on the case again and this one has her stumped.

I found this little brush at an estate sale and bought it for the color and the floral design. What is the little brush used for?  The bristles are coarse and wiry, not soft to the touch at all. It measures about 2 inches.

Blogland, can you help Detective Magpie solve this case?

(p.s. Do not be led astray by the dusting of red glitter in the photo..Detective Magpie is often covered in it and leaves trails of it here and there.)

 

Collection Challenge #89 - Vintage Tea Towels

Renee from My Vintage Mending challenged me to show my collection of tea towels. I have a towel bar in my kitchen that is reserved for this collection.  This towel bar is off limits for use. These are my DECORATIVE towels. My family knows these towels are hands off, but unfortunately  guests don't always figure it out. 

If you come to my house, please don't use these towels. The smaller towel was bought off Etsy and had a vintage image. The larger striped towel was estate sale found and had never been used.

If I find an interesting towel, I will pick it up with this towel bar in mind. Sugar and spice and everything nice (estate sale found).

I love the florals of course.

A gardening theme.

Silly embroidered towels with dancing forks, spoons and cups.

I am always attracted to those tea towels that are handmade as I love the details.

A simple red towel..add polka dot ruffles and it takes it to a new level!

An embroidered cup of tea with darling flowers floating up.

I am always a sucker for flowers. When they are crafted with vintage fabric, I have trouble passing them by.  These are cutters.

Speaking of cutters, this butterfly is definitely a cutter. It is full of holes and beyond repair.

I was fortunate to find this butterfly with a whole stash of the same dishcloth. Each of the butterflies had been crafted with different fabrics.

I was happy that someone had saved them as they are all little works of art with a great assortment of fabrics.  I need to figure out a project with them.

Two of my favorite tea towels have been gifted from friends.

Amy from Into Vintage created this using one of my spun head gals as inspiration.

I won this sweet towel from Jill of  Little Nest Studio in a giveaway last year.

I do like my collection of tea towels, both old and new.  If you were wondering what tea towel you should use if you come to my house...

Please use those that hang from the child size irons that are attached to my wall near the fridge.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, please leave me a comment and finish the sentence, "Show me your collection of _____." I will see what I can find as I near 100 challenges!

 

Gray. A Good Read on a Gray Day.

It is a gray day here. We had snow earlier this week and it has been raining cats and dogs since then.  Lots and lots of rain with flooding in nearby areas.

I went to one estate sale last night and hit two moving sales today that advertised years of accumulation. I did not buy a thing. Proof that I don't hit the jackpot every weekend.

I have been spending these past few grey days reading this.

Amy wrapped this up and gave it to me for my birthday.  It weighs a ton. This is the spine of the binder. It gets better when you open it...she nailed me with this gift.

Better Homes and Gardens, Christmas Ideas.  1959-1952

I have had fun reading each of these holiday issues. I marked some of my favorite pages to share. 

I would love to run across these reindeer at an estate sale. They were carved from plastic foam and floated in the swimming pool. I love their pink attire...and look at the sleigh! (double click on the photo to enlarge).

Crazy!

Still on that pink theme. Look at the exterior of this house. The front doors are in the midst of that big pink tree.

Or how about some pixies and giant mushrooms to decorate the front yard?

This is a big display. The pixies look to be about three feet tall.

While I did get some good holiday crafting ideas there were some that I would definitely pass on.

No q-tip crafting for me.

This tree is made of wicker baskets and ball fringe.  Again, I will pass.

Lots of fun pages and a good chuckle here and there on an otherwise gray day.

Thank you Amy for this perfect gift. And thank you Nellie, for saving these magazines and tucking them away in an album for me to read 60 years later.

A ray of holiday sunshine on a gray day.