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(photo from Martha Stewart Magazine)
Did you see this photo in the February issue of Martha? I thought it very clever to use cookie cutters to frame each like item.
This is my take...vintage Magpie Ethel style.
Spun heads, vintage pink glass garland, vintage flowers, bingo markets, pink buttons, old candle holders and tiny clothespins. Zero calories to boot!
Happy Valentine's Day!
It seems like in spite of how many errands I need to run on a Saturday morning, I can somehow alter my route to include an estate sale. The errands seem less daunting when you know there is the chance of finding a treasure tucked in with your usual routine.
I squeezed in a sale today and this was my bounty.
A doll size suitcase, which I tucked all my treasures in while I shopped... old glitter, a vintage bird, straw ribbon and a great plastic tiny Christmas tree.
The woman had been a quilter and there were some great fabrics.
Always a happy day when I find some old Christmas. This was my favorite find. An old cardboard Easter basket that i paid one thin dime for.
These estate sale finds made those errands all the more enjoyable today!
The world of estate sale is bleak as the gray sky outside...I shouldn't complain, since there are a few to hit, but I am waiting for a doozy or a day when I can hit multiple sales. I hit one lone sale today. Number two to get in the door. Wasn't great, but wasn't a total miss.
Today's finds....An old hat box that I am going to use to store all my mailing supplies for Etsy. A old pharmacy tin (to add to the collection), 3 kewpie dolls for crafting, a pair of old baby booties, a box of vintage embroidery floss, a Bauer pitcher in a terrific green ($1) and an old silver rattle.
I like the box of old floss. Not just any old red, but TURKEY red...and the balls are TINY.
This little silver rattle was stuck in with the handmade baby shoes. It is pretty tarnished, but has a great rabbit on it. The baby shoes have the tiniest buttons and super charming stitches. Someone spent some time making them.
Pharmacy tin to head the the collection in the cabinet. Look at that crazy list of ingredients. "aloes, cascara,apocynum, frangula, burdock, dandelion, sarsaparilla,mandrake, rhubarb, prickly ash bark, juniper berries"...tasty sounding combo.
I can't complain as I did get a few things. Gave me my little fix that I needed until the next sale comes along. Have a great weekend.
The reason we went to San Francisco was primarily to hit the monthly Alameda Flea Market. We were not disappointed. We arrived at 6:30 a.m (gates opened at 6). It was still dark, but luckily I had a teeny key-chain flashlight with me. I had dressed in layers as the morning was quite nippy...I even wore gloves for the first few hours. The day turned into an absolutely glorious sunshiny day.
You can see the city in the background. The rows of vendors stretched on and on. It was truly amazing.
I usually pick up smalls, and was true to form on this trip. I had plenty to dig thru. At one stand every thing was $1 and I spent alot of time looking thru the goodies. The prices were fairly good and i think I dickered on everything I bought.
I got this BIG metal heart and thought it fitting to cluster my finds within it...you know a little ALAMEDA FLEA MARKET LOVE.
At one booth they had a bowl of unused vintage patches...names like Mabel and Edna and such. I was thrilled to find "Ethel" among the bunch!
I was happy to find this silly bump chenille duck to use as a prototype for a little Easter crafting.
Spun heads were shouting my name from quite a few booths.
This old German rotating display rack was pretty cool. No idea what I will do with it, but one of these days I will figure it out...will let you know when I do.
You may remember a post I did a few weeks ago about collecting green vintage tins. I narrowed down the field to those that held mints. Found one! The teeny tiny type says that these mints come "in four strengths of mint - white, pink, green and yellow".
This little girl will find a sweet spot somewhere in my world. She is less than two inches tall. I'm also a sucker for things made with pipe cleaners.
Holiday items to add to my collections or that need to have a little Magpie magic worked on them. Mr Snowman on the top left has lost his top hat in a snowstorm..luckily for him, I have one to give him out in the studio.
I couldn't pass this bunch of honeycomb chicks by. They also will be getting a little TLC out in the studio.
I also got this great hand painted frame.
The glass is fairly thick and there are four holes drilled in it. You put an image under the glass and then attach it to the wall. I liked the whimsical nature of the children. A day can't go wrong when you are blowing bubbles.
The five of us ended up filling two carts. One of the women Thea, owns a shop and another gal, Lynne has a spot at Monticello antique mall so they bought larger items. We filled up two good sized carts.
I think we did pretty good, altho we barely had enough room in the car. My little nodder doll I got at the flea is also giving me a nod that we found some great stuff.
More San Francisco posts to come on some finds from some one of a kind shops that left me dazzled and in awe!
Happy Day!
Taking a deep breath and playing catch-up after my trip to San Francisco. I hit some shops that were truly amazing and inspiring. The Alameda Flea Market was a trip highlight as well. Posts will be coming...
My favorite treasure from the Alameda Flea Market was this 1930's double nodder.
I have never bought a nodder before, but this gal was just smiling at me from a booth. She is called a double nodder, because not only does her head nod side to side, but her whole body does as well. Every time I pass by her I give her a little jiggle. Her original paint is in terrific shape and she is about 10 inches tall. She made it home safely packed in my ice chest and I truly love her.
I also returned to a nice surprise in blogland. My blog has made the list of the "10 Best Junk Collector Blogs" on Blogs.com. I was nominated by Diane at Kitsch 'n Stuff. This totally made my day as I catch-up on laundry, grocery shopping and those other mundane tasks! Thank you so much Diane...I'm grinning ear to ear! WOW!
(yes, I am tired in the photo...I had been up since 4:30 a.m.!)
On and on the snooping goes.
I can't believe that she even stores things under the table. Every possible space to store something is utilized. There are more of those vintage suitcases!
I think I will open up a few of those suitcases and see what she stores inside. This is a motherload of vintage bump chenille...and I know she has a second suitcase full of it too.
A whole suitcase of vintage song books. Have you ever heard Ms. Magpie sing? She can't really carry much of a tune.
This is a cool old metal picnic suitcase with plates and silverware still packed inside. Does she bring her vintage sewing patterns along on her picnics?
I think I'll open one more suitcase. Hhhhmmm....vintage Christmas reflectors! This is enough to decorate the lights on a whole forest of trees.
I wonder if she spins around on that stool and gets dizzy!
I see she displays old Christmas all year long. I do love this assortment of old Christmas picks.
And of course Ms. Magpie would have more than one container full. She is crazy for Christmas after all.
Ms. Magpie will be headed in the door soon. I better high tail it out of here before she catches me opening drawers and cabinets. I did enjoy these snooping posts - hope you did too.
And of course she has vintage crayons. I think I'll use one to write her a little comment!
Am sure Ms. Magpie is enjoying that trip and I am enjoying taking a long looksie in her studio.
That is another cute cabinet. It looks like a child's cabinet with original paint and decals. I bet she got a good deal on it. Look at that stack of tins! What crazy storage Ms. Magpie has...
A collection of colored pencil boxes.
Ms. Magpie does talk about being organized. I see that she walks the talk as well. Even the cigar boxes are labeled to their contents.
She just drapes her ribbon over a towel rack.
Another cabinet! More vintage suitcases. I also see TWO bins of those cardboard ribbon spools that Ms. Magpie is forever picking up.
I think I'll just peek in one of the drawers. Looks like upcoming Easter creations!
A rack full of rick rack. I bet she has a drawer full of it too. (yep!)
Vintage pin back buttons and more fake vintage fruit that a whole barrel of monkeys could eat.
I think we have time for one more quick snoopy post tomorrow before Ms. Magpie gets home...
I can't believe there is still stuff to look at in this little space. We haven't even begun to snoop.
This is the cutest little cabinet. I think I remember Ms. Magpie got it from a neighbor. And really why does she need TWO cool vintage water coolers?
She literaly covers every surface with stuff. Even this metal cabinet door becomes a place to show off stuff. And vintage suitcases? I think there are at least 10 in this room!
I'm just going to open the door to that metal cabinet. Crazy amount of glass jars or metal containers. Old chenille candy canes, birthday candles, flowers, snowmen heads. What a hodgepodge! Crazy tray lady...hanging them on walls.
Really no rhyme or reason to what is displayed. But it is fun!
Holy Cow! Pipecleaners, sorted by color. Ms. Magpie must have some extra time on her hands!
I wonder what is in that blue doll's suitcase in the center of the photo above? I would have never guessed old metal molds. She has a ton!
Yet another cool cabinet. I heard she got this one years ago out of someone's front yard for $50. That was a bargain....
I think I will take a quick glance inside. Wow! Jars of crafting supplies, old tableclothes and what is that on the top shelf?
Only Ms.Magpie Ethel would have a honeycomb chicken living in a bowl in her studio.
What an insane place...! think Ms. Magpie is as crazy as that chicken!
Back in the studio again for a little more snooping. I hope Ms. Magpie is having a swell trip.
This is a crazy amount of those satin covered balls in a rainbow of colors. How can she possibly use this many balls in her lifetime? That Wonderland paint tin is pretty cool too.
I think i will just take in her work table for a bit. the surface is certain pretty covered in stuff...but I guess there is a small section to work on.
Her glue gun is pretty scary. She really looks like she could use a new one, but usually you get pretty attached to your tools. I wonder if she has a holster for it, so she can carry it around.
Evidently Ms. Magpie is not a fan of bare spaces as this entire wall is basically one storage unit after another. Crazy. Crazy.
I will give her credit for being organized.
Pretty cute day bead..it looks like it is actually a child's metal crib. I know Ms. Magpie is pretty short - I wonder if she can spread out and nap on it between crafting.
Speaking of naps...all this snooping is making me a wee bit tired. That couch does look pretty cozy....until the next post.
