Magpie Ethel

Estate Sale Friday and Saturday...Another Weekend of Treasures

I hit two sales this weekend. One Friday and one Saturday. The Friday one was family run and was pretty good.  Saturday I was #58 to get in the door and still managed to find a few things.

I got a box of old crafting supplies.  The pink glitter was the first thing I saw when I opened the box.

There was not much Christmas at either sale. I was happy to find this box of old gift tags. I collect the "Do Not Open Before Christmas" tags (challenge #84) and am always pleased to find some I don't already have.

I had never seen the Oz series books with the Patchwork Girl.  I also got a few Christmas corsages and some old seam binding...plus the green tackle box.

Some old letters, an American flag and a tiny ceramic dog with big eyelashes.
The ceramic dog was so filthy when I bought it that I initially thought it was a brown and white dog. When I cleaned it up it was pure white.  

This silly little high chair vase has the original tag...and I love that it was left on..."Pryde and Joy" were the manufacturer.

The Aunt Martha's transfers feature Kitchen Cupids.

A roll of vintage wrapping paper and a treat tree. I did a post on the treat trees on challenge #200.

I have a thing for old dustpans. This one will replace one I left out in the elements (it was pink as well).  The coffee can features Alice in Wonderland graphics.
I may have passed on this sweet little lamb.
Then I read the little note on the back. Glows in the dark and made by the Infant Specialty Company...they don't do stuff like this anymore.

There was one bedroom in the Friday house that had the craziest sci-fi wallpaper.  I got a few leftover scraps of it.  It was wilder in person and featured lots of spacecraft and aliens and such.  I am sure some little boy LOVED it dearly.

My favorite find of the day was an old humidifier. It was in the basement and I didn't even find it until a couple of runs through the house. It was in the original box and when I peeked inside the box I saw the cool glass and the fun graphic. I think it would make a great jar to hold stuff or a great light.

Another good weekend in estate sale land.

Collection Challenge #245 - Vintage Swans, Part II

Last weekend I got a couple of plastic swans at an estate sale.  I have a thing for swans or storks...something about those long necks I guess.  I did a challenge on swans with #141, but thought it was time for an update.

I wss excited to try and find something to do with these swans. 

My yard is just starting to emerge with spring, so i decided to gussy up my window boxes and incorporate the swans there.  There is not much in the garden centers yet so I added primroses and English daisies in with the swans.  I really, really like how it turned out.

I did a post before on this old swan child rockers and how I use it for a docking station.  The smaller wood swan lives there and was estate sale found.

I have also started a collection of celluloid swans. I have picked them up here and there. 

And then of course I have swans for crafting.  These long necked swans are a favorite.

These old nut cup style swans get put to use often. I just added a bunch of yellow ones to my stash.

I didn't share all the swans here...the remainder are on my challenge #141. I do love my swans.

If you have a suggestion for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ___."  Always fun to share something each Tuesday.

Estate Sale Friday. One Sale.

I only had time to hit one sale today and wanted one that fell into the route of some errands I had to run.  It happened to be in a trailer park.   I wasn't expecting much, and was happy to find the few things that I did.

This fellow jumped into my hand right away. I knew he would make a great cupid next Valentine's day.

The sale had advertised an owl collection.  I was hoping for some owls for Halloween crafting.  These will do nicely.

There was a big basket of old photos that I thumbed through. I found this pack of vintage party invites. One was written in and invited one to a party in 1965.  50 years!  I collect old party invites and have done a challenge on them here and here.

On the way out the door I saw these two plastic swan planters in the yard. I have such a thing for swans and storks.  I thought these would be fun to do something wacky with in my yard this summer.

Not a bad 15 minutes in and out and off to run my errands. Hope you found some treasures this weekend too. Happy Day.

Green Etsy

A quick reminder that my St. Patty's day friends will be headed to Etsy tonight (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m. (pacific time)

Collection Challenge #244 - Vintage Tiny Ceramic Vases

The past couple of weekends I have found tiny vases to add to my collection.  Sharp eyed Linda from A La Carte noticed a mini vase in one of my estate sale posts and asked if I collected them (she does). She challenged me to share my collection. Will do.

I love the tiny size of these vases. I thought it would be a nod to spring to showcase them with flowers that are sprouting here. We have had an extremely mild winter (Oregon) and everything is starting to bloom and sprout.  Completely different than the other parts of the country that have been slammed with crazy snow and all.

This is the vase Linda spotted in my estate sale post. I think this vase is glass as opposed to the rest of my collection which is ceramic. Tom picked these crocuses while out on a walk and brought them home for me.  I mentioned I needed some for this post and he saved me searching some out in the neighborhood.

These vases are all between about 2 or 3 inches tall. I usually find them for little money. These are the miniature daffodils, often called tete a tete.

A tiny yellow vase and a sprig of daphne with that heavenly scent. I have two of these bushes in my yard.

This is the only vase that has any markings. It is marked USA on the bottom. This one is a favorite.

Snowdrops in a yellow vase.
My camellia tree is in full bloom and loaded with buds.

A fun little collection. Hope you enjoyed seeing it Linda.  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.

Hope spring is coming your way soon.

Dancing a Green Jig to Etsy

My St. Patty's day friends will be heading to Etsy on Wednesday.

Plenty of green crafting in my studio lately.

Etsy 5:30 p.m. (pacific time) on Wednesday, Feb 18th.

Estate Sale Friday and Saturday....This and That and Everything

Friday I hit a sale at a teeny tiny house.  I got there half and hour early and I WAS THE FIRST ONE THERE. It was very weird. I wondered where all the other regulars were. The sale was advertised on Craigslist. When the doors opened it wss only myself and one other woman. We had about a five minute head start before the crowd showed up.  It was family run and awesome.  Awesome.

This is my loot from that sale and one that I hit on Saturday a.m.  The Saturday sale I had to wait about 20 minutes to get in the door. I was in the third wave of shoppers to get in. You just never know from sale to sale what it will be like.  

The first thing I saw when I walked into the Friday sale was this awesome red white and blue food carrier.  Original box and unopened plastic. Super price.  I had a good feeling.

I then found a old watch in a 1940s watch box (the bunny is from the Sat sale).

They had these old berry boxes priced individually. I bought the whole box of them....350!  An old cat letter holder and a vintage crotchet heart.Two wood carriers to hold some of those berry baskets.
1940s neckties.
Round playing cards on a old step stool.

I found four old glass storage jars with lids. One of them is stamped 1915. The Saturday sale had a crafting room and there were tons of crafting supplies..some old and some new.  A bunch of old smaller Christmas ornaments and green metal lunchbox. I like the time telling spinner.

It was a good weekend to find deer.

I have a thing for old dish drainers.

I was lucky in the tin department.  I love the big Reeds Butterscotch Wafer Tin. I also scored a strand of glass garland in the original paper sleeve.

I had seen these little crepe paper place card gals on the online photos. They were priced individually and I snagged one.  Her cardboard base ripped off in my basket.
I found the cardboard base in my basket..imagine my delight when I saw the name written for the long ago party guest. Ethel!


Vintage paper dolls.  I still need to rummage through the box.

Satin Bermuda pillow cover. A green refrigerator dish, Christmas reflectors and some Liberty National bobby pin give aways.

Always love some vintage kids barrettes.

Doll shoes of course.

Favorite find.  An old Three Little Pig box of colored pencils. The graphics!

Second favorite find was tiny bunny cake decorations perfect for Easter crafting.

Oversized Santa spun heads and a doll head. Needle book.

An old two sided vinyl tablecloth. Floral on one side and Happy Birthday on the other.  A few old magazines.

With my love of spun heads I could not pass up this old spun head gal with a vintage handkerchief as her dress. I also scored some old wallpaper and a great yardstick.

I so appreciate my trips to estate sale land and the treasures that people saved. This was one of those weekends when I truly found a little of everything. 

Super treasure to be put to good use. A happy weekend in estate sale land.

 

Collection Challenge #243 - Vintage Toy Refrigerator

Sometimes a collection starts so innocently...with no intentions to collect in a certain category.  Last weekend in estate sale land I got an old metal doll house that came with some dollhouse furniture.  There was a tiny refrigerator in the assortment.

I held that refrigerator in my hand. As I looked down upon it, it dawned on me that I now had a collection.  That is how the madness starts.

I have this old dollhouse refrigerator in my curiosity cabinet.

The hinged door is broken, but it is still darling.  I like the interior with the tiny shelves.

I have a larger version of this same fridge that lives in my studio.

The hinged door is broken on this one as well.  The interior is almost the same as the one in my curiousity cabinet.

Lsst but not least I have refrigerator #4. That is above and beyond the magic number for a collection.  A tin refrigerator that lives in my studio.

The interior graphics in this fridge are the real selling point.

So now I have the option of just having a few random refrigerators or actually collecting them. Not sure which direction I will take...will see what crosses my path this year.  And that is how a collection starts...

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 collection each week..no matter how wacky!

Estate Sale Friday. Taking Charge.

I hit one estate sale on Friday. I had texted my name to get on the list and was number 42 to get it.  The woman that read off the names when the sale opened took forever to read them off.  Ideally, at an estate sale you want the company running the sale to read off the names and line you up BEFORE the doors open.  Then at the magic hour the door opens and you file in.  At this sale she would read a name and the person would walk in. She would read another few names and those people would go in.  Or she would call out a name and the person wouldn't be there and there would be a pause while she glanced around.  IT IS MADDENING and minutes are precious when you know those in the door are getting time to shop while you wait.  I know others in the crowd were frustrated as well.  She let about 39 in and then was going to shut the door to see how crowded it was inside.  Aarrgghh.  Before she shut the door I asked if I could take her list and line the rest of us outside up.  She handed me the list and I TOOK CHARGE.  I read name after name and we were all lined up and ready to file in once the door was open. The door opened and I got in with the next wave of shoppers.

A vintage doll house. It has some issues and is missing the front porch section. It was disassembled when I bought it.

Would be great for display though and still has the charming interior.

I got a couple of rolls of corrugated cardboard brick and a giant hanger (first photo).  The sale had grab bags of Christmas.  I bought a couple and was rewarded with some vintage ornaments. I have told myself not to buy any more vintage ornaments (unless they are smaller), but couldn't resist the bargain price on these.

There were some smaller bags of mercury glass garland in the big grab bags.  I ended up getting about 5 strands plus some really cool garland that I think is handmade. It has a couple of mercury beads, metallic thread and some sequin leaves that are all strung together.  There are really pretty color combos and I have never seen anything like this before.

A herd of deer.A child's tin teacup perfect for some Valentine crafting. I really like the little egg pedestal for some reason.  It was a quarter. I love the color and the tiny jewels that adorn it.

I think this little pedestal might live out year round and hold some tiny treasure.

I found a groovy table mount outdoor vinyl umbrella.  

Not a bad sale.  I got a good vintage fix.  I was much happier after my take charge moment.  Time was a wasting!

Happy day

 

My House Valentine Style

I have had my Valentine decorations up for awhile.  I like this holiday. (heck, I like them all) Warning..long post...but it should leave you feeling loved.

I have really been getting the most of my white garland this year. I had Shiny Brites up at Christmas. I put honeycomb bells up for the New Year. I was going to take it down, but then decided I could display my vintage mica birds for a little "LOVE BIRD" garland. I have a lot of birds.

The top of my china hutch holds my collection of Valentine card boxes.  The big sheet of vintage style wrapping paper on the left is new this year. I found it at Paper Source and bought it without having a plan. I like it hanging as a backdrop here. I also used an old red dish drainer to help hold my boxes.

The cabinet in my living room is decorated with old candy boxes and honeycomb hearts.
My fireplace mantle holds my favorite cupids that I got last year.   Vintage heart candy boxes keep them company.
I seriously love these cupids.

I thought I had a better picture of my front window. This is from the inside and shows the honeycomb ball topiaries and my giant styrofoam heart that hangs front and center.

My wire wreath holds part of my collection of vintage Valentine cards.
My coffee table.  I like throwing the turquoise in with the red.

I have a couple of dishes of candy out, but don't eat these little cupids. They are actually vintage baby rattles.

This shelf holds all my little Valentine odds and ends.  (It is hard to take a photo into the light of the window)


I had this vintage angel ribbon out in my studio, but decided it should come in and live with my Valentine things.  
Those plastic lips are an old kazoo.

I would love a whole army of these cuties lined up.  

Lots of Valentine fun. Can't believe it is only a week away!

Spread some Valentine love this weekend.