The Junk

This past weekend, we ventured out to the country for the semi-annual Antique Alley antique sale and flea market. We didn't go to the spring sale this year since I was too busy packing up the house and didn't need to store more stuff. Now that we're moved into a bigger house, I need to start filling it up!

Here are my finds.

The floral fabric is actually vintage barkcloth curtains that will be hung in my craft room. I bought the two sewing patterns because I don't have any of hats and I thought the ice skating outfit was quite unique and would be great for a Christmas display.

I bought a bag full of the chandelier crystals, along with some old lace pieces, buckles, and little posy bouquet.

I found this set of Rudolph cake pans from one dealer. I got the bag of vintage tinsel garland for $1. I bought the scratched silver plate spoon because it has our monogram.

When I saw this box of vintage Christmas cards, I was a little disappointed that someone thought it was necessary to tape it closed with packing tape.

But then I opened the box and saw these two cuties and I didn't even care what the rest of the cards looked like!

This sweet planter will be used in next year's Easter Parade.

I bought this chippy wooden bench for our entryway, but it may end up on the front landing. It would look great with pumpkins and mums for fall. (Yes, I still have boxes all over the house that we have not unpacked, along with furniture just piled up.)

These photos were taken in my garage, so they aren't the greatest, but I had to show off this fabulous pulley I bought. I think we'll hang a light fixture from it in the kitchen. (I bought another, smaller pulley and the hook shown here at another sale last weekend.)

I don't have any idea what the original use for this piece was - the bottom is completely open. It is going to be a funky light fixture in the new kitchen area. The hook on top is perfect!

I also bought a great, very tall wooden ladder that we will lean on the tallest living room wall once that room is painted. I bought a small chippy luggage rack from one dealer, and then found the perfect tray to top it from another. It now sits in the downstairs bath to hold magazines and what-nots.

And finally, Husband HAD to stop at the apple kool-aid store, which happens to be right next to Anthropology. These cuties were calling my name as soon as I walked in the door. I can't wait until our kitchen is updated so I can display them.

We had a full weekend and have plans for another one this week. Hopefully I'll be able to share some pics of the house renovation soon.
 
 

More Junk

Husband and I are looking for a new house. Or an old house. We want some land to raise a couple of babydoll sheep and some hens. The pickings are slim. We ventured down to Waxahachie, TX to take a second look at an old Victorian home and see if we could make a decision. So far, no decision.

But, they were having their city wide resale on the town square, and I was lucky enough to be there at the right time :)

Here is what I came home with.

Vintage linens - embroidered towel and tablecloth and an old pillowcase.

Another old towel and a few handkerchiefs. I also found a couple of postcards and a photo from a children's birthday party, a blingy rhinestone brooch, and an old pocketwatch. I also snatched up the old beaded flowers. I wish they had more!

   
We're still searching for the dream house, while we are busy getting our house ready to sell. It seems that our contractor bailed on us at the very end. Luckily, Husband is able to take over and finish the job.
 
 

New Junk

I spent more than a week with my family in NJ for Easter. I had so much fun with Lily Munchkin. We made Easter cards, dyed eggs, and had a few egg hunts.

Lily made these little bunnies for everyone. She named each one. My bunny is named Ann, and Husband's bunny is named Pop Pop. My dad received one named "Bathroom." I don't know how or why she came with the names she did, but we were quite amused.

I got to spend a little time junking, and here is what I came home with.

I fell in love with the Easter Parades on Holly's Cotton Pickin Fun and Elizabeth's Creative Breathing blogs. They used vintage baby planters to create adorable vignettes. I already have a little lamb planter, and I found these two to add to my collection. I also picked up a vintage pink bottle brush tree, some old Christmas cards, and a sweet old book (in the background).

Christmas carols sheet music, ornaments, and a stack of old ironstone plates. I found these for 50 cents each! Isn't it amazing what some people see no value in at all? I plan to use them to create some altered plates to display around the house.

A vintage needlework kit - I plan to list this in my etsy shop. I've had a lot of luck with old crafting kits.

My sister had a bag full of vintage decorations for me. She got them at her work - they were being discarded and this was the "old junk" that no one else wanted. Can you believe it? Lucky for me, she scooped them up and now they are in my collection! I have a pile of the little chenille stockings. They will be perfect for a banner.

I love being able to visit the flea markets and thrift stores when I'm up north - there is so much old junk that I treasure and can bring back home to Texas. I found two flea markets that I had never heard of before, so they will be on the list for my next visit!

 

Sunny California

We took an extended weekend trip for Valentine's/President's Day to southern California. We had an exhausting good time.

We went to Disneyland, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and the Long Beach Flea Market. This is one of my favorite flea markets, and I of course came home with some treasures.

Here are a couple of pics from the flea market. Unfortunately, I didn't think to even take pictures until I was half-way through. I loved this retro van, advertising their vintage wares.

This booth had wonderful display appeal.

And, here are the treasures that came home with me. This was my first find - an old school photo.

I found a huge stash of beautiful trims, so I brought home a dozen different styles. I also found a guy selling the frozen Charlotte heads, that he had dug up with friends outside of an old factory in Germany.

I found a TON of ephemera. It was so cheap, it was like buying in bulk. I found old trading cards, advertising cards, religious cards, postcards...

A large pile of old correspondence. These letters/bills/cards were all from one family in Los Angeles from the 1920s through 1950s. I also bought a sweet child's hanger (planning to make an Easter hanging with it), and assorted cupcake pics. I think the pilgrims will become spun cotton dolls.

And even more beautiful ephemera.

We had a fantastic time, and can't wait to go back again!
 
 

A Junking We Will Go

One of the good things about spending all of our spare time driving around, trying to find land, a house, or a neighborhood is that I occasionally find an antique or junk shop to visit. This past weekend's adventure yielded a small haul of goodies, but it's not like I really need to be buying anything at this point!

Here is what came home with me:

Vintage lamb planter (for Easter), junky Christmas corsage, and old children's picture book.

The corsage has so many goodies to pick apart for next Christmas' projects!

I also bought a small bag full of old photos.

Here are some of the images inside the old book, so you can see why I HAD to have it! I'll scan these (eventually) to use in projects.

I hope you had a great weekend! I'm moving on in the Swirlydoos Design Team Challenge, so I'll be back later this week with my project.
 
 

Goodbye Christmas

Now that the Epiphany has passed, I have no excuse not to take down the Christmas stuff, but I don't want to. I force Husband to leave the outside lights on until January 6 (the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day), and I usually start taking down the Christmas stuff the following weekend. I just know the house is going to look and feel so bare and cold without all of it. So, I thought I'd share one last shot of Christmas with you.

I found these little treasures right before Christmas at a local thrift store. I got them all for 25 cents! I'm sure I'll repurpose them in projects for next Christmas.

We brought our Christmas guests to my favorite little town in OK last week, and I had to stop in for some bargains at one of my all-time favorite antique malls. I picked up a few treasures.

Antique ephemera: 100+ year old TX property deeds, an Easter card, and a couple of Christmas/New Year's cards.

A bag full of vintage light reflectors. I'll add these to my collection to make more ornaments next year.

More ornaments. The striped one will be used as a hot air balloon, and maybe some of the small ones, too.

Now I can sigh, "Christmas is over."
 
 

Christmas Treasures

While we've been out celebrating the season, I've been able to score a few treasures. I'm using some in my Christmas decorating, and others are gifts to myself.

A frozen Charlotte, bisque doll, and vintage bling - glitter, jewelry, and Christmas picks.

I've already removed the flowers from this old hat and started using them on a few projects. The gold purse was a great bargain and I can't wait to use it!

 

Christmas Shopping

We spent some time over the weekend in downtown McKinney, TX. This is one of my favorite town squares. It is full of great shops and wonderful restaurants. They have really done it right in trying to keep small businesses thriving. Two of my favorite stores on the square are Patina Green (for eye candy) and the Antique Company Mall (for great bargains). Here are photos from their swoon-worthy displays.

At Patina Green, they displayed a variety of vintage ornaments in a tree that was set up in the middle of the store. They even had a birdcage nestled in the upper limbs.

It was much more impressive than my photos depict.

If I was a rich girl, these rolls of vintage Christmas wrapping paper would be at my house.

Now onto my favorite display at the antique mall. This booth is always so eye-catching, and she did not disappoint for Christmas.

The winter whites are so calming. Those ice skates would look perfect hanging on my front door!

 
I did come home with a few treasures. I'll have to share photos another day.

 

Birthday Junk

Today is my dad's birthday. I'll be visiting them next weekend, so I sent up a card to reach him in time.

One of my favorite ways to spend a birthday is junking. Here are pics of some of the treasures I found recently.

Vintage jewelry box and old cabinet cards.

Brittle pages from an old scrapbook.

I shop for holiday and seasonal items all year. I'll use the album in my Halloween decorating. I love old handmade felt decorations and ornaments. The figurine is a souvenir from Hot Springs, AR.

Old books and doily. Yes, that is another dictionary.

I picked up this treasure at a small flea market in Copenhagen. I've been wanting one, and was so happy to find it. It's a tiny notepad and pencil. It had a chain on it at one point and you could wear it around your neck to have with you everywhere.

When you pull the pencil out, the hinge opens to reveal the notepad.