Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Traditions

I hope, if you observe the Easter holiday, that you had a great one.

 


We are big on holidays in my family, we love the decorations, the preparations, the food and being together.  Which makes the holidays a little hard now that my dad has passed. 

I have so many wonderful Easter memories as a child, and as an adult too.

Of course we carry on the old tradition of filling and hiding of the Easter basket.  I was still getting a basket up until I was about 24, and I have to admit I was kinda bummed not getting one anymore.  Of course the last year I got one my parents hid my basket so good I couldn't find and I can still picture my dad standing at the kitchen counter laughing at me.  I think they ended up telling me where it was. 

 
 
This Easter my husband and I decided to stay home and cook our own Easter dinner.  Which came out amazing.  We got a 17+ pound ham (it was the only one left) and for just the two of us and our 2 year old we had an obvious large amount of left overs.  We donated them to a local women's shelter.  I hope they got to enjoy it.  It was still hot when we brought it down.
 
 
It was a nice quiet day.  And maybe we have just started a new tradition.
 
 
These random pictures are of vintage tablecloths.  A sweet lady named Judy from my office gave me her collection.  She said she was out of the tablecloth phase and was going to donate them but thought of me and gifted them all to me instead.
 
 
I have been soaking them in oxyclean all this week and love how nice they came out.
 
 
This rooster print is my favorite.
 
I'm keeping some and selling some. 
 
Thanks Judy!
 

 
Happy Easter!


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Black cat black cat looking for a Witch

I know it's no where near Halloween but I just listed these AMAZING antique Halloween costumes on eBay and I wanted to share them with you.

I bought these quite a while ago and have decided it's time to let them go.

I hope someone with enjoy them as much as I have.  These are quite rare!

 
You can buy Hearts Costume here.

 
Buy the Clown Costume here.



Buy the Witch Costume here

Monday, March 18, 2013

It's That 70's Show around here

I have been feeling under the weather lately so this post will be short and sweet with a lot of pictures.

I tend to stay away from vintage clothing newer than the early 60's.  It doesn't sell well and that stuff I find is always that nasty cheap polyester. 

Of course in high school I remember shopping at this cool vintage store in Boardman OH called Wild Styles.  We used to have a blast there trying on clothing that mom would say "I remember wearing something like that when I was your age".  I loved rocking the bell bottoms and funky sweaters!

For the past few weeks I have come across a lot of 70's items.  Including these vintage Vogue Pattern magazines. 
 
These are just a handful, I bought about 40 issues

 
 
Oriental Inspired

 
Vivid Fabrics

 
I love this purple bikini!

 
The lovely Victorian inspired 70's bride.

 
Can't go wrong with a Dior coat.

 
 

 
I love the hippie, gypsy, boho look!
 
 
 
Some 70's styles weren't so bad, of course it's better if the designer is well know and quality.
 
Here are some of the articles of clothing I bought.
 



 

 
Lilly Pulitzer, The Vested Gentress, Jantzen, JohnnyE, just to name a few.
 
 

Monday, March 11, 2013

February's Favorite Find

February is the month of romance.  It is the month I met my husband.  Actually I met him on the very day of romance, February 14th 2005. 

February's favorite find was a tie and both are very romantic items.  Coincidence?  Maybe, maybe not.

At an estate sale that I stopped by late in the afternoon just because it was close to home, I found a beautiful set of French bed linens.  And I practically grabbed them out of someone else's hands.  Practically but they rightfully became mine.

Toujours Unis means "Always United"
 
The set consisted of three pillow covers and a bed runner.  The pillow covers are the very old ones that just laid over your pillows for decoration.  The bed runner lays at the bottom of the bed.  All pieces match with there dainty embroidery.

Buon Riposo means "Good Rest"
 
I think these are so romantic, they were probably a wedding present.
My other favorite find of February came from the awesome estate sale I already talked about 
 
 

 
 
This is an exquisite antique piano shawl.  Cream silk with fringe, delicately embroidered in pastel silk with French knot tassels on the back and tie at the neck.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Just look at the romantic details on this piece.
I'm keeping this one for myself!
 

 
 




 

Thursday, March 7, 2013

A Doll Auction

This past weekend I attended an auction with my mom.  I like auctions just as much as estate sales.  They are different but just as fun.  I like the fact that I have the option to get whatever I want.  I just need to be prepared to pay more for it if someone else wants it as bad as me.  Sometimes I get lucky and can be the only bidder or get something for a really good price.  And then there are times when the prices go sky high.  I always go to an auction with a plan.  I strategize days or weeks in advance what I am willing to spend.  I'm pretty good at staying with my plan too. 

This doll auction was one that I knew I wouldn't end up with much but I was excited to go for the learning experience.  I don't really know a great deal about dolls.  There were also antique bears there and I want a old Steiff bear very much.  It was also nice spending time with my mom.  On the way home she thanked me for taking her, she used to go with my dad all the time.  That was their thing.  I was and will always be happy to go to an auction with her. 

So I got to see and touch Steiff bears and a rare closed mouth French Jumeau doll (closed mouth are hard to find and worth a lot more, that is one thing I learned).

 
Antique French Jumeau Doll - she sold for $2,900.
 

 Little Antique Steiff Bear - I wasn't too sad to not win him I want a bigger one:)
 




 
Some overview shots - There was a lot of other great stuff there like pull toys and furniture.
 
 
 
 Look at those bright blue eyes.
 
 
Mom took these two little cuties home.
 
 
I took home a tiny antique kid leather bull dog purse!  I paid a little more than I wanted to for him but since I wasn't winning anything else I intended to get I justified paying more.  And have you ever seen anything like this before?  I also won an old mohair bear that I will be keeping.  I have been wanting to start a new collection so maybe it will be antique bears.  
 


 

 
 Next post will be February's Favorite Find.  And it's a tie!