Magpie Ethel

Etsy Reminder

Just a reminder that I have LOTS of holiday Fourth of July goodies headed to Etsy tonight.  5:30 p.m. (pacific time)

I'm about to pull out my Fourth of July bins at my house.  Lets get this Etsy party started.

Tonight.  5:30 p.m.

Collection Challenge #258 - Dry Cleaner Advertising Pocket Hankies

I'm throwing an odd collection in the mix this week. If you have followed my blog for any amount of time you know I have a thing for vintage advertising and graphics...this collection falls into that category.

Vintage pocket hankies were give-aways from dry cleaners. I found one quite awhile ago and then since then have found a few more.  The hankie/cards could be printed with the name of the dry cleaner and given away as a thank you.

The pocket hankies were then tucked in a shirt pocket to add a dash of color and a dapper look to an outfit.

  Flip side of the above card.

The first card I ever found I grabbed since it was holiday related. I thought it might be fun to wear to one of my shows.

The flip side of this card is quite clever as it has a message for the New Year and includes a calendar.

Another holiday hankie card with different graphic. It also had the New Year message on the flip side like the other hankie.

I don't think this collection will grow very quickly, but fun to find them here and there.

If you have an idea for a future collection leave me a comment and finish the sentence "show me your collection of ___".  A new collection each week.

Dapper huh?

Fourth of July Etsy

BUSY! Red, white and blue busy!

A giant patriotic parade is headed to Etsy on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. (pacific time).

Lots of goodies to help celebrate the holiday.  Hope to see you there!

Collection Challenge - Favorites and Swoon Worthy Home

I had two people recently challenge me to show my FAVORITE vintage finds.

First Judy A wrote "Show me your Collection of things you have collected over the years, that you cannot ever part with".  A couple of week later I got an email from Lisa who suggested the same type of challenge, "I wondered if you could show us a collection of some of your VERY most favorite things?  The things that make you positively swoon".  

I've been thinking about this topic and decided to share.  The things I am swooning about today are pretty much house related.  I have lots of swoon-worthy holiday decorations, but I wasn't going to go pulling all my bins out for this post.  This is my personal swoon worthy HOME post.  Most of what I have shared today are things that I don't find often or have taken me awhile to collect.

Vintage jewelry wreath.  A friend gifted this wreath to me and it hangs in my house year round.  It is dated 1953 and I treasure it.  I did a more detailed post on this wreath here.

I bought this chair at an estate sale down the street years ago. It has the original upholstery and came with extra fabric.  I used some of the extra fabric and had the seat cushion redone in a bit more of a funky look.  I have never regretted this purchase and it makes this corner of my house so happy.  I bought it in 2007 and did a post on it here, here and here.

My collection of baby rattles definitely makes the SWOON list.  I seriously love waking up to them every morning.

Darling aren't they?

I also swoon over these pincushions that I purchased at an estate sale. They were at a hoarder house and I found them in a couple of spots.  I will never part with them.  EVER. The little shoes are also one of my favorite ever finds.  The color and the little bows make me giddy.

I am smitten with my giant honeycomb mushrooms. Estate sale found.

These estate sale found straw flowers make me swoon and I will never part with them. They are handmade and are a great assortment of colors and styles. They live in my house pretty much year round.

These two quilts are favorites for sentimental reasons. The wedding ring quilt is baby size and was my Mom's. The church ladies made it for her. The other quilt was my grandmothers.  I used it every night when my kids were babies to set up "camp" for nighttime nursing and such. If I am feeling down, it is my "comfort" quilt.  

I have three chandeliers that hang in my house (so that is a collection).  One in particular is my favorite.  It is a family hand-me-down from my Aunt Ruth, who passed away years ago.  I did a post on it here.  This chandelier makes a fabulous pattern on the ceiling at night.  My Aunt Ruth would be happy to know one of the things that made her SWOON makes ME SWOON.  

My outdoor concrete statue Bluebell definitely makes this post. My sister gifted her to me a few Christmases ago.  I did a post on her here.  

This Alameda Antique show find makes me swoon. I found it a couple of years ago. It advertises vintage linoleum.

I would love to order from it.

My old store display stork is definitely on this list. I have lots of other storks in my collection, but he is a favorite for sure.
I couldn't forget my little mannequin head that still has no name.

This little tin bucket is such a simple find, but I really love it.  I have never seen another like it and it will live in my someday beach house.

These fish baby rattles are also another SWOON worthy collection. They will swim to the beach house someday too.  I love them in the old fish bowls. I did a challenge @224 on them here.

Many of my favorite tiny things are collected in my curiousity cabinet. (There is a category link on my right sidebar). I collect all my special "littles" there.  I need to do an update on that cabinet as it changes almost weekly. My bathroom cabinet is the same eye candy idea, but with vintage bath and first aid things. I did a more detailed post here, when I put it together.
I was SWOONING when I opened a package after I was the high bidder on an Ebay action. These spun head figures in their original boxes definitely were a favorite find.

Thanks for the great challenge idea Lisa and Judy. I had fun revisiting my favorite finds and collections. I think this post could probably keep going on and on as I am sure I will think of things I missed once I finish this.

I think I will end with one holiday SWOON.  My collection of vintage Santas definitely makes my house memorable during the holidays and is one of my favorite collections.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____".  Fun to mix it up this week.