Magpie Ethel

Donkey, Hen and Chicks

Remember the donkey cart I got a few weeks ago at an estate sale?

The donkey and cart are actually pretty good sized (hard to tell in the photo).  The cart was PACKED with hen and chick plants.  I could not carry it when it was full of dirt and the plants.  I was thrilled to get the donkey, but also excited to get so many hen and chick plants as I had a project that I needed some for.

Here are the hen and chicks from the cart.

Add two old galvanized chick feeders.

Have husband hang them on a fence, which was super easy with just two screw eyes screwed into the fence.

Plant with hen and chicks from donkey cart.

I love it when a project like this falls into place. As a FYI, I did not drill holes in the feeders as they were old and not watertight. If they held water, I would have drilled holes for drainage.

Hee Haw, Cluck, Cluck and Happy Day!

Collection Challenge #100 - 100 of Something

I can't believe this is my 100th collection challenge. I started these posts on Sept. 25th, 2010 with a post on Scottie Dogs. I have not missed a week with these posts. It has amazed me with the suggestions I have gotten and what I have found in my stash.

I had a hard time coming up with some great collection for #100. After some deep thinking, I decided to feature collections that numbered 100 or more! 

Vintage Hankies.  Just over 100 in my collection.

Small Christmas bells.  I hang these all on one large plastic tree during Christmas.

Vintage gift ribbon with the foil bands. I toss them in this old battery jar whenever I find them.

I like the tiny foil band that keeps them tidy and the colors of the ribbon. The graphics on the foil band are a bonus.

Vintage dixie style waxed paper cups.  I am drawn to them because of the graphics... especially those for specific holidays.
Buttons would have been super easy.  Rather than single buttons (which add up quick in button land), I decided to do buttons on original cards.  I easily have over 100 of them.

Vintage honeycomb paper balls and bells.  Crazy for this stuff.

The orange balls below the honeycomb daisy have yet to be assembled..there are tons.

I do put these colorful honeycomb items to a happy use in my studio.

I never ever pass by a mercury glass pick if it is a decent price.  I have one more big container of them, but it is in my Christmas stuff and I did not want to search for it. There are easily over 100 in these two containers.

Another thing I don't pass  by is vintage holiday stickers.  Dennison is one popular brand.  I have a drawer full of them as well as a couple other containers full.

I would have to include spun heads.  I craft with them of course, but collect them as well.

I collect vintage storks.  Here are some that watch me work in my studio.  I also have some old store stock which brings my total over 100.

I have over 100 vintage Easter chicks and ducks. 

Another item I have trouble leaving behind is vintage wrapping paper.  I pick it up and stash it away.

Graphic attraction...pure and simple.

I don't sew much, but vintage rick rack calls my name as well. I have over 100 packs of the stuff.

I really like the two tone kind, like on the left of the photo.
Vintage dice roll my way as well. I have a jar that contains over 100 of them.

Vintage playing cards. I collect either children's decks or those that have great graphics on the backside. I have over 100 decks.

Wow.  I do like to collect.  I often think of renaming these posts "Hoarders Challenge" or perhaps "ORGANIZED Hoarders Challenge".  I probably have more collections of 100....Christmas reflectors, vintage christmas ornaments, vintage advertising spoons and vintage paper party napkins, just to name a few.  I thought about ending these challenge posts at 100, but I enjoy doing them and seeing what new collection I can show and what suggestions you have.  Who knows maybe I will make it up to 150 posts on collections? 

If you have an idea for a future challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "show me your collection of ______.".  Your idea may be post #101.

happy day.

 

I Love Easter. Part Four.

Last of the Easter decorations today.  Misc. snippets from around my house.

It is best to corral Easter candles in a vintage jar.

Fresh flowers and tiny bunnies on my kitchen windowsill.
A few old candy boxes that look like Easter bonnets. The top one with the birds perching in it is a reproduction.

Vintage Easter carts.

And a few Easter nodders.
Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Estate Sale Friday.

I hit two sales. One yesterday and one today.

A big galvanized skinny trash can. I switched out all my terra cotta pots last year for galvanized and this is a good size and shape.

A leprechaun guards a stash of vintage ribbon spools for crafting. 

A roll of old advertising paper tape (I use it for height with display and love the graphics), some old frosted bells as well as some honeycomb paper ones.

A vintage coloring book, a nativity scene and a elephant squeaky toy.

The elephant wears a crown of daisies as well as holding one in his hand - dang, dang cute - despite being a bit grungy from use! Vintage birthday plates in background.

A pair of old Easter chicks and a few handmade Easter baskets.
I got a nice little collection of crocheted Easter eggs.  I can't imagine the work that went into these.  I am not an expert on crotchet, but I think the woman did some needlework and then wrapped the egg with it.

A pair of egg cups. One from yesterday's sale and one from today's.

I already had one of the wooden fellow.  These are hand-painted so the two that I have are different. The one I got today came with the original box.

It belonged to Donna who must have received it in 1970.  I love notes on stuff.

Speaking of notes. I had to buy this little Christmas scene because of the note that was taped to it.

"1st Christmas 1925 for Anna Sorenson".

The woman was a baker and had lots of cake pans and cake decorating stuff.  I got a good stash of picks and such for crafting.

She also had some old catalogs and party brochures.  I love the catalog on the right that advertised spun heads and such.

Not a bad haul in estate sale land.  Now I just need to go put it all away in the proper places in the studio...

happy day!

 

I love Easter. Part Three.

When I sit in my kitchen nook eating my morning cereal, I face a built in hutch and gaze upon bunny land.

My chicks live together.  My bunnies live together. Safety in numbers.

I  am always amazed at all the different shapes, sizes and materials these little bunnies come in.

I love these little fellows all lined up.

Somebunny sure loves her Easter stuff
Happy day!

 

Collection Challenge #99 - Vintage Lampshades/Lamps

Martha asked me awhile ago if I collected vintage lampshades.  I pick them up here and there if I need one or if they are interesting.  I also like to pick up lamps that interest me too.  I usually have those old lamps rewired as I don't trust them. I also have lamps made from vintage items. Let the lamp/lampshade tour begin.

This figural bird was just begging to be a lamp with my other figural pottery. My dad tweaked it together for me.

I love the shape of this vintage shade on this old floor lamp.

I bought this silly lamp a few weeks ago.  She does not light up.  Her dress and stand are metal. Her face is painted cattywampus on a light bulb. I thought she was sweet, even if she provided no light.
This is one of my favorite lampshades made from vintage fabric.

My neighbor was going to toss this vintage lamp and I rescued it.  The shade is new.

I made a finial for my bedroom lamp from an old figure.  I just glued her onto a metal finial and screwed her on the top of the lamp harp.

This living room floor lamp came with our old house.  It had no shade, so I bought one and added vintage trim to the shade. 

I like the way the lamp lights up at the base as well when you flip a switch.

Vintage as found lampshade...with ruffles.

More ruffles on this bathroom shade.  I added the vintage ruffles to an old shade. I like how the pink interior of the shade and the ruffles work together.

This is my favorite lampshade in my house. It is made of old pleated plastic and came with the embellishments. 

It crowns a wonderful lamp that a friend gave me who knew I collected bird items.

Vintage living room lamp and shade came together.

I purchased this reworked lamp. It was made from an old transfer-ware container.


A tiny estate sale found light. The shade is metal and it reminds me of a nightlight. It casts a happy glow in my kitchen nook.

New shade.  I like the mix of fabrics.

Last but not least a super heavy metal floor lamp. Estate sale found quite a few years ago. The arm swivels up and down.  I was the high bidder in a bid box at an estate sale. 
It has nice details.

Thank you for the suggestion Martha.  I now have freshly vacuumed shades as a result of this post!  If you have an idea for a future collection challenge leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____." Collections have not been exhausted.

Challenge #100 next week!!!!!! ONE HUNDRED!

Vintage Humor

This card is from my collection of vintage greeting cards.  It is a series of envelopes inside one another.

Hand written on the bottom of the card - April 1, 1940...lots of love, mother.

I so love that things like this were saved.  Happy April Fool's Day!