Monday, July 29, 2013

Weekend fly by

The weekend came and went faster than I had planned for.  Ran my Saturday errands early and hit a few haunts for treasure. Not a lot of finds so I stopped off at the auction that was going on in Lawrenceville.  I made some good purchases at my first visit to this auction house, but as auctions are known to go, sometimes you do well and other times not so much.  Bids were running high this Saturday so I didn't buy as much as I did a month ago. However, I was the highest bidder on a box of vintage linens that had some pretty things.

The jewel in the box was this fantastic ercu Irish linen buffet linen with filet crocheted butterflies along the three edges.  This is a magnificent piece and so wish it was big enough for my own oak buffet.  So instead, it is in my Victorian booth at The Queen of Hearts in Buford.

A pretty parlor tablecloth of filet crocheted squares over a blue backing.  There was also various dresser scarves and linens and all are now in my booths and priced to sell.

 
Won the bid on this lovely, American brilliant cut crystal nappy.  
This baby just sparkles.

Another win was a box lot of vintage handbags.  Most of the bags are from the 1960s and are darling clutch bags...very Magic City.  A nifty celluloid sequined bag from the 1940s and a lizard skin, hard bodied pocketbook circa 1950s.  I have these priced to sell quickly as well as I paid a minimal price for the box lot.  I like to pass on good buys when I get them.

Here is my favorite bag in the lot, a marvelous, hand beaded bag from the 1920s.  What is interesting about this purse is the wood inlay frame.  I have never come across a wood frame like this. Some of the beading is separating from the handle but the lining is still intact.  Going to keep this one and add it to my personal collection.

Found this marvelous Victorian mantle luster or glass candlestick at a thrift store for a few dollars.  It was missing it prisms.  I bid and won a bag full of antique prisms and was able to hand them from this pretty mantle luster.  It was considered the height of luxury during the Victorian era to own at least one set of mantle lusters for display on mantles, sideboards or tables. These were always sold in pairs and this green beauty has lost its mate. They are delicate so they break very easily. Circa 1860-70s.

I like vintage dress clips as they have so many decorative uses. You can clip them to hats, boots, shoes, purses, scarves and of course, dresses.  I like to clip them to my favorite chains or vintage ribbons and turn them into unique pendant necklaces.  I won this group of clips from the 1930s off of ebay last week. Sometimes, you can win a lot for pennies.

This was a Goodwill find, pretty covered EAPG candy dish. 

Antique and vintage rose bowls are pretty and a lovely way to display your cut roses.  This pretty EAPG rose bowl is a smaller one (about 5 inches in diameter) and has the prettiest pressed pattern. Circa 1900s

Loaded up on more silverplate as these are always great sellers.

Another Goodwill find, this new, reproduction goose neck lamp had an ugly "new" shade on it.  I replaced it with one of the antique shades I purchased at the Atlanta Auction House a few weeks ago.  It looks so much nicer.

I love treenware, antique and contemporary. There is something beautiful about wood and these beautifully made honey dippers are a delight. 

Sweet little vintage aqua kitty planter.  This is just too cute.

A terrific Goodwill find...yup, that is a Victorian brides basket insert.  I was so excited to find this insert and in excellent condition and will fit a few of my quadruple plate brides basket frames.  Can't wait to use this over the holidays.

This is the Goodwill find that is certainly the most fun.  A lovely, petal edged, morning glory horn and priced at only $2.92.  It is missing the connecting piece at the small end that would attach to the phonograph but I am going to turn it into a hanging lamp.  When I finish the conversion, I will post photos. I think it will make a unique lighting piece.  

My honey had a quiet weekend and we are now preparing for his second round of three chemo sessions beginning on Wednesday and ending on Friday.  I cannot thank everyone enough for all of your wishes of strength and healing energy along with the many prayers.  Alan and I are humbled by these many acts of kindness.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Monday, July 22, 2013

Lakewood 40 Antiques Market

Finally made it out to the Lakewood 40 Antiques Market in Cumming, Georgia.  Originally located on the southeastern Fair Grounds in Atlanta,
 ten years ago, Lakewood moved to Cumming, as Lakewood 400 Antiques Market.  We expected rain all weekend so I wanted to get to the outdoor market early. There were a handful of outdoor dealers who braved the tentative weather report and I found my first great purchase among them.

 A lovely French, hand colored, engraving dated 1776 is titled, La Visite Inattendue.  Translation, The Unexpected Visit.  Seems one lover's dress got caught in the door upon leaving as the new lover entered the room.  Sweet little water spaniel can’t help but announce the interruption. 

Engravings by William Hogath, a painter, engraver, moralist, theoretician and philanthropist (1697-1764) was the most popular English artist of his time. He gained international success for his series of images in which he satirized social and moral vices among individuals encountered in everyday life.  

Mounted in a turn of the century frame with bubbled glass,   Circa 1900s.   I carried this prize back to my vehicle and then headed into the market.  It was bustling with energy and fair type foods.  You could smell the corndogs and funnel cakes as you entered.  I carry protein bars and Vitamin water so I ignored the fair food...although the giant hot pretzels were calling me.  Ya just can't take the "Jersey" out of the girl.

 Sweet little doxie greeted everyone.

 There were lovely booths everywhere and what I really liked was the size of the venue.  Boasting 500 spaces, it was intimate and walking was very manageable.

 This space had a case full of gorgeous cut crystal perfume bottles.  The light threw color rainbows everywhere.

 Of course, a SeaWitch would want a driftwood tree.  I didn't purchase it but I sure do like it.

 Pretty display of contemporary art and vintage pieces.

 This space had beautiful chairs and I am crazy about the Windsors.  They are my favorite type of seating.

 Hat boxes and vintage luggage are marvelous decorative elements.

 This space had the prettiest french pieces.

Nice display of vintage bone china.

 I collect jewelry caskets so I am always drawn to them.  These both had their original silk linings.  As I walked among the many booths, something stopped me in my tracks.  Was that what I thought I saw?  It sure was and I had to inquire about it.


 A pretty, little Victorian bon bon server (spoon).   

The Victorians loved their fussy serving pieces and bon bon (chocolates) spoons/servers are certainly a fussy little tool.  I can picture a tasty, hand made chocolate being offered from this Sterling bon bon server to guests.  Now, here was part of my dilemma.  These pieces are highly collectible and usually start at $75.00 and go up very quickly...especially the Sterling pieces.   Melissa, the dealer smiled and offered information on the piece and told me it was marked at $35.00.  My heart skipped a beat but I was on a budget and said that I would have to think about it...even though the spoon was calling my name.  So I continued to look at other booths.  Well the more I looked, the more I could hear that spoon calling my name, so I turned back and told Melissa I would take it.  It's mine and I can't wait to use it over the holiday season.  Bon bon spoons/servers are small as you can see by the AAA battery next to it for scale.  Melissa had more unique silver pieces and I found this great souvenir piece.

 A rare, sterling silver, Native American themed spoon with a morning star at the top and pretty stamped work throughout.  Circa 1900s.

Pretty Taxco sterling silver pin with an Art Deco design. 

This is the third mold I have acquired in my small collection of antique pudding molds and I actually steam puddings in them over the holidays.  This one has grapes in the center mold area. Purchased this mold at one of my newest, favorite places to visit and shop - The Vintage Styled Life in Duluth, Georgia.

Got a pair of vintage eye glasses and don't know what to do with them? Add vintage photos behind the lenses and display. I added these to this great pair of 50's cat's eye glasses and love the final look.  I printed them on window cling sheets so they could be easily removed from the lenses should you decide to wear them.  

Update on my honey, he had his first round of three chemo sessions two weeks ago and is now coming out of the chemo haze.  We now wait two weeks before we start the chemo again and in between he will have lab work done to see if the chemo is killing the cancer cells.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support you have sent to my honey and me.  I am truly grateful for your cyber prayers.  Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Water hides the tears

Ten days ago, my honey was diagnosed with Stage 4, neuro-endrocrine liver cancer.   He began his first round of chemo last Thursday and so far has handled it very well.  Another session on Monday and then we wait three weeks to see how the chemo is working. We are both shell shocked with this news and emotionally drained, but we have an excellent oncologist, supportive family and friends and lots of prayer.  And I swim.  I swim to get grounded and swim to hide the tears...you don't see them in the water.  

 So this weekend I traveled to Monroe, GA for a little treasure hunting and I purchased a wraparound leather bracelet with the Serenity Prayer on it to remind me that my honey and I are not alone as we deal with his chemo sessions. Found this at Hodge Podge, Monroe, GA. They have antiques, decor and a marvelous selection of handbags, scarves, and jewelry at great prices.

 Found this pretty tri-frame that looks like Gingerbread from a lovely booth in Hodge Podge.

 Pair of great looking candlesticks.  These are not old but treated to look old.   I can't wait decorate them up for Halloween.

 Beautiful, antique Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) footed cake plate was used often to display tasty homemade cakes as you can see the many knife cuts in the center of the glass. FEATHER aka DORIC aka INDIANA SWIRL is a pattern made by McKee & other beginning in the 1890s. Book value: $125.00. Found this pretty piece at Davis Street Antiques in Monroe.

 
 Another piece I found at Davis Street.  Antique Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) footed compote dish. Pretty scalloped edging. Circa 1890.

 I'm crazy about Victorian, quadruple plate. Most often the silver is gone and the pewter like base metal shows through but they are always so pretty with lots of interesting designs. This terrific butter server has all three pieces but is missing the butter knife.  Still, I can't wait to display this over the Christmas holidays.  I found this piece at The Cotton Depot, Monroe, GA.

 
Love old liquor bottles and this nifty vintage screw top wine bottle in pint flask with pretty embossed grapes has a delicate, iridescent finish. Circa 1930s

Found three leather bound books with pretty marbleized papers, lovely etchings and interesting stories dated 1898.  I've begun reading the stories and they are delightful. Written in the vernacular of the day and geared to women, they are a neat insight into what was read during that time period.

 Last but not least, my wily coyote mix, Kota, decided to wrap himself up in my vintage bunting.  Found this very long vintage flag bunting at Hodge Podge. He is a very happy, patriotic pup!

Have a wonderful week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Sunday, July 7, 2013

If you seek it, it will come.

It has rained all weekend and frankly, has been raining for the last 5 days.  Still, a little precipitation never stopped the SeaWitch from a good treasure hunt.  Shops were open on the 4th in my town as well as all around the Atlanta perimeter so I thought I would take a trip to Monroe to do a little buying.  Unfortunately, it was a wasted trip as this little town shuts down on this holiday.  Noting but fast food places and gas stations were open and everything else was shut up tight.  So I returned to Lawrenceville and hit a few local places to see what they had to offer.  On Saturday, I made my usual rounds and was fortunate to find a marvelous selection of antiques.

 Rogers gravy ladle is a pretty piece with lots of silverplate and is the Mayflower pattern, 1901.

One of my favorite finds this weekend.  A gorgeous, antique beaded net cape in wearable condition and would look so lovely with vintage bridal wear. I'm still trying to decide if I just want to keep this or not.  Circa early 1900s.  

 Hard to find, Imperial Carnival Glass, two handled Urn Vase originally had a label that said "Delited Brand Pure Apple Cider Vinegar". Circa 1900s

Hubba, Hubba and all that jazz.  Delightful pair of antique, deadstock stockings from the flapper era. Great salmon pink color.  Circa 1910-20s

 Vintage lens filters just scream steampunk embellishment.  

 Can't believe that I found another one of these great English heart padlock bracelets again.  The first one sold two days after I brought it in the store and now I have another.  I actually like this one for it's lovely low grade gold links with rolled gold heart padlock. For a small wrist. Circa 1890s-1900s.

Sterling silver with rich, bohemian garnet stones in a beautiful Celtic design make these earrings a real show stopper.  

 A beautiful Acoma pottery bowl from the 1900s.  I was delighted to find this for a few dollars at a local thrift store.  This is now in my personal collection.

Medium size, vintage pressed glass Pedestal Cake Stand.  Beautiful Diamond Pattern with an outstanding scalloped, gold lustre apron.  

 Lovely, little Victorian butter dish in blue transferware.  
I just love this little item.

These elegant depression glass goblets are etched and pretty in pink and found at my local goodwill.  Four are perfect and the bottom two each have a single flea bite around the lip.  Both bites appear to have been professionally ground out.

 A sassy, 1940s brushed cashmere wool cloche hat with horsehair tassel.  
Kurt Jr by Tom Hann.

 A 1937 American Legion trophy awarded to MaryLen Watkins for Americanism from the Austell Post. Silverplate by the Wallace Trophy Co. and on original, plastic base.  This American Legion School was awarded to the boy and to the girl who are deemed most worthy of the high qualities of citizenship and of true Americanism. For details on this American Legion award: http://legion.org/documents/pdf/schoolaward.pdf


A pair of antique books dated 1819 and 1818.  Love the printed word on these old leaves.

 Pretty etchings in front of book.  

Had this pretty antique wicker plant stand in my booth at Christmas and decided to bring it back in to hold some of the rose bowls and plates.  These are great for holding your favorite antiques and, of course, your favorite plants as well.  Circa 1890s

So in spite of the rain we have had daily over the last week, it was a great weekend for finding treasure.  Blessings to you and those you love and have a gentle week.   
Sea Witch