Magpie Ethel

Estate Sale Saturday and Vintage Mall Finds

I am so in need of a really good digger sale.  This time of the year is like a drought in estate sale land (despite the cat and dog rain here today).  Friday there was not much advertised so I hit a couple antique malls. Today I hit the second day of a sale.  The sale had such great potential but the prices were so insane.  I only bought one thing.

Vintage water bottle box marked Tissue paper.

I used old crepe paper for crafts (better than the new stuff) and this box also had some random crepe paper hats.  Bonus was a Halloween hat, a flapper girl blower and a Halloween blower.

The blower didn't look like much but when I rolled out the coil of paper I found good Halloween graphics.

The malls and shops I hit on Friday were decent. I did score a few fun things.

One child's bathing cap for my collection.  What made this cap awesome was the design molded into the rubber.  It is made to resemble hair..bangs, curls and a few flowers tucked in for fun.

One hot water bottle in a fish shape.  I hope to frame it and display it in my someday beach house.

My super duper favorite find of the day was this old folding bar cart/tv tray. I paid $12 for it and have not seen one like it before.

It folds out flat with two shelves.

It folds up in the back so you basically have half the cart and still have two shelves.

And then in folds up all the way for easy storage!  Plus it has wheels.  It is a crazy cool cart!

Not a wonderful day in estate sale/mall land, but at least I did find some things.  Chomping at the bit for a decent sale.  Hoping next weekend brings a great sale and vintage treasures.

Happy Day!

In The Likeness of Me

I have had the pleasure of having some very crafty women gift me with some dolls crafted to resemble me. I am always tickled to receive them and they so, so, make me laugh!

Today I had a birthday lunch with my friends Pam (Plucky Maidens) and Amy (Into Vintage).  Amy crafted a birthday gift that had me howling!

Not only has Amy been my personal tailor in the past but now she is sewing doll clothes for her little creation.  The gingham shirt!  The little vintage pin!  That crazy hair!

And to top it all off a birthday hat with a silvery 50.  I am so embracing that age.

Another crafty friend Danielle, from Blessed Serendipity visited this past summer and presented me with a darling gal in my image.  I love how she included the glasses, since I sport some vintage sunglasses on the sidebar of my blog!  She also included a teeny tiny phrase at the bottom that reads "Finder of great junk, creative soul."  Yep, that is me...

I also had the pleasure of meeting Crystal from Vintage by Crystal this past summer. She had previously gifted me with a surprise package that was a spun figure of me. That is my face!

Tickled. That is how I feel when a friend takes the time to make me into a doll. Such a feel good and fun expression of friendship..love to see these tiny friends smiling back at me!

Happy day!

 

Collection Challenge #188 - Vintage Elephants

The other day my husband asked me if he could put a couple of the elephants I have scattered about my house on his dresser for his own little collection.  After his comment I realized I have lots of vintage elephants.

Vintage Elephant Parade time!

Vintage pencil tablet with elephants.

Chalkware elephant that my husband laid claim to.

This ceramic elephant also now decorates Tom's dresser.

This fellow lives in my studio on a old roll of "mammoth" crepe paper.

Pink plastic elephants for crafting.

Ceramic elephants are part of collection #27.

Elephants are for any occasion as these greeting cards illustrate..Valentine's Day, Christmas, Birthdays and Easter.   Yes, an Easter elephant!

Squeaky toy elephants.

A Rempel elephant.

This ceramic elephant is a favorite. It belonged to my grandmother and the trunk has holes for so it can be a watering can.

Elephant topped whisk broom.

A party blower with an elephant base.

A vintage puzzle featuring an elephant.

Quite the assortment of elephants for this parade. As soon as I finish the post I am sure I will run across more!  If you have an idea for a future collection challenge leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ___."  A new week, a new collection!

Embracing

Today is my birthday.  It is a milestone one.  Two years ago I hit an estate sale and found a wonderful old wood gold glittery giant 50.  The big 50 has sat in my studio waiting for today to arrive.

Officially 50.

Every year I do a birthday post and here are some of my favorite photos from them.

50. Feeling good about it. 2 kids in college and still lots of years left to explore the world and play.  I work out regularly (with a kick my butt workout) and am in good health. Hitting 25 years of marriage this year.  Love the little Magpie Ethel niche I have created.  Life is good. 50 is not so bad...ready to embrace it.

Happy Birthday to me!  Off to celebrate...

Ringing in the New Year.

I am ringing in the New Year with vintage bell decorations.

Front window with honeycomb bells and an old Happy New Year banner.

Every year I hang all the tiny vintage bells in one spot in my studio as I gather them during the year.  This year 28 of them came my way. I do like my bells.

Those 28 bells were added to my bell tree. I did not put out the tree during Christmas this year, but saved it for New Years.

Adding to the sparkle and color year after year.

Wishing you the best in 2014.

Hoping to share lots of vintage fun and thrills with you in 2014!  Happy Day!