Magpie Ethel

Defined By A Shoe Box

I got a shoe box full of goodies from a blog reader the other day.  I actually met Michelle at Farm Chicks this year after she came to say hello while we ate dinner at Chaps. 

She recently sent me a box. A box of goodies. The box tickled me because it so was spot on with what I love and collect.  It was funny to see myself represented with object after object.  Michelle gets me.

A vintage mica bird.  I have blogged about my collection of these and don't pass them by.  (she also gifted me with a mica bird wedding couple in honor of Tom and my 25th anniversary... a sweet gift when I met her at Chaps)

Glitter. I collect it and craft with it.  I can never have enough.  I have never seen the packaging with the glitter she sent.  If you see me out and about I am often covered in glitter.

Pipe cleaners. I swear off buying more, but pick them up weekend after weekend at estate sales. I am a snob about them though. I only like the older ones as they are thinner and have better colors.  Vintage is better...way better.

Spun heads. This one is an easy one since I craft with them and often mention my "spun head radar".

Wood bead doll heads. I craft with these a ton as well. Michelle also included some little plugs which she believes are necks. I have never seen necks before in all my crafting years.   They certainly fit and could be necks (one head has neck attached).  I need to craft with them.

Vintage Straws. Craft with them and collect them. Love the old graphics. 

Vintage cake sprinkles.  The jar was empty so I added some. I love the old style graphics. These will go in my kitchen cupboard with other sprinkle jars.

Plastic doilies.  I don't find them super often but snag them when I can.  I prefer the PLASTIC ones over paper (doily snob). They come in great colors and patterns. I blogged about them here and here.

Vintage party favors.  I love party horns, favor cups, bubble wands etc. These are whistle blows where you have a little ball that levitates when you blow into the wand.

Awesome graphics.

Google eyes. No surprise if you read my blog.  I have a huge stash.

Cards. I love old card games and regular playing cards.  This deck I have never come across before and love the old style images.

Holiday doo dads. All those little odds and ends that I find and squirrel away. I give them new life with my crafting.

Happily defined by a box.  Thank you Michelle.

My Month of August on Instagram

Another month come and gone. August found me quite busy. Two trips to the beach. The humdigger sale with Amy.  Huckleberry picking. Good Halloween finds. Lots of studio crafting for the upcoming holidays.

Enjoying the world of Instagram.  Come follow me there and see more snippets of the crazy life I lead.

Collection Challenge #221 - Vintage Clowns

I was going through my list of suggested challenges and way back on my list was this suggestion by Sara...Clowns.  I didn't think I had many, but the more I thought about it,  I figured I had enough for a challenge.  Better late than never Sara...vintage clowns.

I know a lot of people are creeped out by clowns. I have never had issue with them. I have been to quite a few estate sales with clown collections...entire rooms of clowns.  I don't have nearly that many (nor do I ever want to).

Vintage cupcake picks.

A vintage wood finial from who knows what.

This roly poly baby toy lives in my studio.

Clowns on chalk boxes.  Part of my collection.

I almost didn't get this clown cookie jar at a local thrift store.  He had a decent price on him, but when I found out everything in the store was half price....he had to come home with me. He lives in the studio and holds old milk caps.

I love this old party decoration. The clown has a flocked face and is marked Japan on the bottom.
This clown was in a hodgepodge of holiday stuff I got recently. I thought he was handmade, but I saw another one on Ebay the other day which left me wondering of his origins. His green body is a ornament.

A great old party blower with a clown face.

Another clown party favor...perhaps a whistle. This clown and the clown above live in my curiosity cabinet. Clown spun heads.
In my vintage wrapping paper stash I had some clown paper.
This paper is dated 1953.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK CLOWNS ARE CREEPY...this is the paper that you don't want to find a gift wrapped in.  Two of these clowns fit into that catetory!

Thanks for the suggestion Sara!  If you have a collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____".

On a last clown note...remember my awesome clown shoes?

Happy day!

 

This is another

Labor Day

I love old store displays.  This find was from an old pharmacy in town for display of signs on the counter. The Labor Day sign was original to the frame.  It is currently on display in my front window.

Hoping you had a safe and happy Labor Day weekend....enjoy this last "official" day of summer!

Happy day.