Magpie Ethel

Easter Decorating, Here and There

Easter is in full force at my house and I felt a need to share.

Front window with old metal baskets and honeycomb eggs.

Front porch pop of spring.

Kitchen windowsill with spring flowers and vintage ceramic bunnies. I have a collection of Easter Dye boxes.  I displayed them with my collection of old egg cups.

Easter egg tree with hat shaped candy boxes below.

Dining room table flowers.

Cardboard Easter display. How can this crazy display not make you smile?

More Easter fun to come...

We Have A Winner and Dreaded Easter Candy

Thank you to all that entered the 1000 post/sale celebration.  I loved reading all your comments about the Easter candy you liked least. 

Okay, drum-roll please.....names are in the hat..eeerr... enamel bowl.

The winner is ELLEN.  She is not a fan of Cadbury eggs. 

I decided to draw a second name for a smaller prize.  That would be YVONNE who does not like cheap chocolate bunnies.

Congratulations girls!  I will be contacting you for your addresses and getting Easter goodies off to you (or leave me a comment so I can contact you).

And as for all that dreaded Easter candy....I tallied up the results and the clear winner for the most despised candy is PEEPS.  I did like the comment that one reader liked Peeps, but not the eyeballs and picked them off.

Followed by Cadbury Eggs.  It was fairly close between these two. The filling was often mentioned in the dislike of this treat.

Third place were those hard candy eggs with a marshmallow center.  I found them in the candy aisle and they are called Hide And Seek eggs.  I remember liking them as a kid. I tried one and they are nasty.  I don't know why they say that they have a marshmallow filling as the filling is no where close to a marshmallow texture.

Honorable mention.  Candies that got a few votes were jelly beans (especially in specific flavors), black jelly beans and cheap hollow chocolate bunnies.  There were a few other candies mentioned, but most did not have multiple votes.

Thank you again to all that entered.  I hope you follow me along for the next 1000 posts. I cerainly have enjoyed the first 1000! Congrats to ELLEN and YVONNE!

Happy Day.

Collection Challenge #149 - Vintage Easter Candy Boxes

A timely challenge today with Easter approaching and my giveaway asking about disliked Easter Candy.  It seemed appropriate to share my collection of cardboard Easter candy boxes.  I collect these primarily because of those awesome graphics.

This is a favorite.

I love Mr. Bunny handing candy to Ms. Bunny with her parasol.

Vintage egg box shaped like egg carton with good graphics. Rabbits with paint brushes adorn this box. Funny Bunny eggs. This is a small version of an egg carton.
This box was included in my vintage store display post, but it falls in the Easter candy box category as well.  Each of the little sections was meant to hold a different flavor of egg...caramel fudge, fruit and nut,cherry, coconut, maple nut and pineapple.  I would pass on a couple of those flavors.

Chocolate eggs filled with melba with a few of the original egg cups.

I love these old candy boxes shaped like hats. The top comes off to put goodies in.

This is a favorite candy box.
The contents leave a bit to be desired though.  This egg shaped treat is filled with delectable dainties.  Fruits and nuts in choice abundance.  Heavily coated with rich velvety chocolate.  I think it sounds and looks like a fruitcake covered in chocolate.

The graphics can't be beat though.

Last, but not least a box featuring big eyed adorable bunnies.

A fun collection.  I will show them on display in an upcoming post on Easter decorations in my house.  If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "show me your collection of _____."  Always fun to share.

Happy day and giveaway winner coming up later today.

 

 

Estate Sale Friday

I hit two sales yesterday.  Sale number one did not have a list so you just lined up. I got there at 7:40 for a sale that opened at 9.  I was the 33rd person in line. I got in on the third wave of people. They let 20 in at first, then another 10 and then another 6.  The line was still there when I left the sale an hour and a half after the doors opened.

It was a good sale.

A pretty tablecloth. It has some stains I am hoping to soak out.

Vintage Christmas tiny ornaments including some in the little tin that look like candy, spun head Santas, some great gift wrap and other misc. Christmas.

My friend Tom got in the door right away. He was a super sweetie and snagged me some vintage Putz style houses.  His gesture made my day.

Did you notice the sweet little ceramic deer tucked in with the houses? I also love the little star shaped window on the house.

I bought this old photo for the cool cardboard photo frame. It is dated 1940.

The estate had lots of photography equipment.  I got a stack of these old unused cardboard photo sleeves.

I got some old slides and some boxes of cool vintage photo folder greeting cards. The slides had a the funniest images of a family and their encounter with birds.  It was hard to take a photo of but you can see the birds sitting on the woman's head and shoulders. There were other pictures of more people with these birds..they made me laugh. (double click photo to enlarge) A bird attack!

The boxed photo holders were dandy. They are all for Christmas and they have great graphics. These photos show the inside and outside of the cards. you can see where the photos would pop into place.

I also got this great old towel that someone had done some crotchet work on.

And last but not least, a andonized aluminum spoon rest with original label. (headed to E is for Ethel).

Not a bad day in estate sale land.

Remember if you have not signed up for my 1000 post giveaway you can do so here.  I also have 20% off in my Magpie Ethel shop until Monday. (use the code BIG1000 in the appropriate spot during checkout).

 

1000 Celebration - Etsy Sale and Giveaway

I passed 1000 blog posts earlier this year (this is actually my 1032nd).  I am up over 1000 sales in my Etsy shop. I think it is high time for some sort of celebration for those 1000 milestones.

In that celebratory spirit. I am knocking 20% off in my Magpie Ethel shop. This is the first time I have EVER done a sale, but I so appreciate all of you who have supported my Etsy store and my crafts. Thank You.  To take advantage of this offer you MUST enter the code BIG1000 (all caps) in the space provided at checkout. This will give you your discount. Remember BIG1000. Sale ends on Monday, the 18th. This code does not apply to my E is for Ethel shop.

As for that giveaway I mentioned.  As a fan of all holidays I decided to do a Easter giveaway since that bunny is headed our way soon.  Here are a few snippets of what you could win.  Things I have crafted and some fun vintage goodies too.

Easter treats with an adorable vintage lollipop holder.

Vintage goodies...bunny ribbon, foil bunny stickers and some of my treasured plastic doilies.

Nothing is better than old cardboard cutouts. These chicks are darling.

Of course there will be unexpected surprises as well, since everyone loves surprises.  I am making this easy peasy...leave a comment and tell me your LEAST favorite Easter candy. (I did a giveaway asking for people to tell me what candy they liked best in the past and found it interesting). So, leave a comment with what Easter candy you DISLIKE the most. (I am not a Whopper Eggs fan) I will take entries until Monday evening.  Winner announced on Tuesday as that will give me enough time to get your Easter goodies mailed off to you including this pair of honeycomb spring birds.

1000.  Thank you for being my friend in blogland with your comments and support.  Thank you for supporting my Etsy shops. Let me add....

Dang Excited

Dang excited!  Amy from Inspire Co. produces a delightful digital magazine called Inspired Ideas.  I have been a fan of it since she first starting producing it and have never missed purchasing one.  I am thrilled to be included in the current issue that just came out.

I came up with an easy to make Easter garland, which I of course embellished with lots of my vintage and quirky doo-dads.

You can find my little spread and lots of other colorful spring inspiration in this little gem of a magazine.  Money well spent.  You can purchase it here (as well as enjoy a little preview).

Thank you Amy...you have truly INSPIRED me! Oh Happy Day!

 

 

 

Collection Challenge #148 - Vintage Paper Napkins

Vintage paper napkins.  Great graphics and a simple item.  I did a post on this collection in 2009.  In that time span my collection has grown (of course) and I thought it was time to officially include it in the collection challenge category.

I often find these napkins in a stack with a single design of each.  I think these were saved after a party as a sweet little memento. Occasionally I will find a full or partial pack of them, perhaps left over from a party that was thrown.

I will start with St. Patrick's day since that is just around the corner.

Easter would be the next holiday after that.

This unopened pack of napkins is a favorite.  I love how the rabbit is dipping into paint cans labeled dots and stripes. Look how happy those newly painted eggs look.

Valentine's Day

My favorite napkins are probably from birthdays. These all featured birthday cakes. Cake..

after cake...after cake. And all different designs.

Darling.

The graphics often extended onto all four folded panels of the napkin.  I love this train track that circles the napkin.  It travels through a tunnel labelled BEST WISHES.

More adorable graphics. Huckleberry Hound dated 1959.
A cowboy themed party.

Napkins to ring in the New Year.

Napkins to serve with coffee and a treat for friends.

This is a another favorite design. It would surely make a guest feel welcome.

Dogs are cute.

Weddings and bridal showers.

Baby showers.

This darling stork carries a bag marked Dr. Stork, M.D. when he is out on deliveries.

Springtime flowers.
I found these napkins with meal blessings all at one estate sale.

Circus themed with the graphic all around. I like how the center of the napkin tent says BIG TOP.
And a circus parade with the fat lady in a cute little striped dress and matching hair ribbon.

I only have one lone holiday napkin that I could locate. I think I may have more in my Christmas bins. The turkey on the right looks very worried on these Thanksgiving napkins.

I don't often run across napkins for a Hen Party!

Last but not least, these Halloween napkins are a favorite. These are a bit more modern.

These are older napkins, probably from the 40s and 50s.

Black cats and friendly pumpkins were popular.

Another unusual collection.  I am always amazed that a simple thing like a paper napkin was saved.  Thank goodness!

Whooooo has an idea for a future collection challenge?

If you do, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____."  You just never know what challenge will show up on a Tuesday.

 

Vintage Finds, Expo Style

I am picking up my daughter this weekend from college for spring break, so I am missing estate sale land.  Instead of estate sale Friday, I am sharing some finds from last Sunday when I hit a big antique show here in town at our Expo center.  It was the third day of the show, and vendor were making deals!

My first purchase was that awesome squeaky giraffe. It is HUGE.  It is about 18 inches tall and still squeaks.  It is marked Rempel and adorable!

Here he is with the other giraffe I had in my squeaky collection.  I love the size of this new fellow!

I was happy to find a couple of Easter friends to add to my collections.

I was smitten with this box of old lollipop holders.  They were priced individually, but I bought them all as I have never run across them before.

Adorable.  There is a hole in the back where you would insert a lollipop for a special Easter treat.

Some vintage knobs that may find their way into my soon to be remodeled bathroom.

An old wooden music box. The music does not work, but the knob turns to change the pictures. I also liked the chippy blue color and thought it would be good for height in a display.

And of course, some spun heads!

Nothing better than some fun vintage finds...especially that giraffe!

Happy Day!

Bunny Land Returns with New Friends

Every Easter my kitchen nook built-in becomes home to Bunny Land.  I look forward each year to this little spot as I pull out bunnies that are new to me and have been found since the last Easter holiday. If you have ever wondered how quickly my collections grow, here are some new friends that need to be introduced.

Pink baby rattle (with blue ball), pink bunny with hands on hips and one chalkware bunny in back...new addition.

Top hat fellow is a newcomer.

Bunny with ribbon bouquet and similar bunny in background are new.

Chenille bunny with carrot in hand (on left) is new. One yellow rattle bunny joins another of the same design. The spun head carrot bunny is new. Plastic pink bonnet bunny, plastic yellow bunny with blue skirt and plastic yellow bunny with green cap and arms up are all new.

I love this old lollipop holder in the container of Easter candy.  Even tho there is no bunny, this was a great spot to tuck it for display. I had two of these overalled bunnies, and picked up a third this past year. Another newly acquired lollipop holder (with bunny) behind the trio.

One more new bunny and another lollipop holder (there are 5 different designs on the lollipop holders). I think that is 14 new bunnies that have hopped my way since last Easter.  And that is how a collection grows....

Happy day.

Collection Challenge #147 - Vintage Store Display

On my list of future challenges, I have Maureen from Victorian Studio, and her suggestion of store displays or ads.  I have some things that fit in the category of store display..so here we go.

I always grab old display racks when I find them. This one works well when I do my sales.  It spins around.

Another wire display rack. This one came without any of the cardboard panels. I removed one so you could see what it looks like.  I don't know the original use.

I slid some vintage cardboard inserts into the panels. It is easier to pin items to it with the cardboard, plus the graphic panels are interesting.

A pair of potato chip clip style display racks. These are not old, but part of a line that Target had out a few years ago (I think it was a Junk Market line).

Love, love this wooden box that would have been used for interest and display height in a store window. I got it at Farm Chicks years ago!

A pair of old store sign holders. I used old Shiny Brite boxes for the cardboard inserts and just use clothespins to add whatever sign I need to display.

This is old frame with glass that you would swap out your display item.  I was told it came from a small theatre and was mounted to a wall.  The glass slides in and out at the top.  (I removed the glass for the photo as the glare was nasty). This Easter display box is a favorite.

Tissue paper display box with original tissue.

Wire rack that displayed some type of birthday decorations.

I love that it has the original cardboard display piece at the top. That is what makes this so awesome!

I got this chocolate display shelf the other day.  I did a post on it here.

My favorite store display would hands down be my huge stork. It is over three foot tall and lives in my living room.

Thanks for the suggestion Maureen!  If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____."  Always fun to share!