Shoe Shopping

I have a little rule of thumb for the vintage finds I buy for my etsy shop.  

I only buy items that I have a place for in my own home. 

If they don't sell, I can enjoy them myself.

Of course, when a woman is shopping for shoes, 

all sense of self control goes out the window.  

I saw these vintage shoe forms at an estate sale and snatched them up.

They are beautiful top to bottom.

Such amazing details.

I got the courage to part with them and listed them in my etsy shop.  

Two of the three have already sold.

This little lady has been shipped to England to live with a photographer. 

 I think she has found the perfect home.

Kitschy Cuteness

Can you think of anything cuter than this little blue bird?

How about two little birds?

I found these irresistible little salt and pepper shakers over the weekend.

And while I have you drooling over kitschy cuteness.  How about this mug?

They really mean half a cup!

Loose Change

The next time I am in the checkout line at the thrift shop and the line is not moving because a woman has dumped her purse out on the counter to hunt for loose change, I will wait patiently with a smile on my face.  The other day, that woman was me. 

Two weeks into my New Year's resolution to only visit the cash machine once a week, I made the mistake of going into the thrift shop with no money.  As luck would have it, I spotted these Westmoreland milk glass candlesticks.  Could you find $2 worth of loose change in the bottom of your purse if you were in a bind?

And then, could you find another couple of bucks worth of change between the seats in your car so you could run back in and get this beautiful Hemingray insulator?  Please remind me next year to think twice before making such a bold New Year's resolution! 

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Christmas Cuteness!

A routine trip to the thrift shop can often turn emotional for me 

when I come across something handmade.  

Why did someone's creative efforts end up in a 

discard pile headed to the thrift shop?

Was it an unwanted gift from long ago?

Was someone cleaning out a dear relative's stash and making

 the hard decisions as to what to keep and what to let go?

  This little pillow was just such a find.

  It stopped me in my tracks.

  And then I grabbed it, of course.

  I couldn't resist such cuteness and the 

           chance to preserve this little handmade gem.    

Linking with: Debbiedoos 

Mockingbird Hill Cottage      

Time to list it...

I have been selling my vintage finds on Etsy for over a year now.  With each item I list, I hear the usual voice in my head tempting me to "keep it, keep it, keep it" right up until I finish editing the listing and push the publish button.  I recently listed this pair of wooden newel post caps.  For once,  there was no voice in my head tempting me to keep them.  Don't get me wrong, the detail is hard to resist and I had already displayed them on my bookshelf.  But, I did hear a tiny voice, the tiny voice of my 6 year old telling her brother to "look at the wooden boobies", and I knew it was time for them to go.

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Thrifty Love at Cap Creations

Coastal Charm

Common Ground

Junkin Joe at the Cottage Market

Field Trip~Leesburg, VA

Each year, my aunt stops at our house for a visit on her drive down from Vermont to Virginia to see family.  This year, I decided to leave the kids with my husband for a few days and hitch a ride with her.  How could I resist the chance to spend a day antiquing in Leesburg, Virginia?  I had a list of shops I was dying to check out thanks to some of the inspiring blogs I follow.  My friend,  Mary Alice of the beautiful blog Chateau Chic also gave me a list of shops to visit in her hometown. 

photo credit: Such Pretty Things

My first stop was The Old Lucketts Store.  Just inside the front door, I was treated to a real life encounter with the dealer space I admire each day on the inspiring blog Miss Mustard Seed.  Marian is one of the many dealers at Lucketts and I was thrilled to see her finds (and Milk Paint) in person.  It was surreal to be in the space that I look at online each day as I drink my morning coffee.  I love Marian's can do attitude and her eye for decorating.  If she was a rock star, I would have to admit to being one of her groupie's.  If I had run into her, I'm sure I would have acted like a silly star-struck kid! 

I checked out all the vendors in the building and couldn't resist this bowl and linen runner.  The bowl is very weathered, but the blue goes perfectly in my living room

 and is a tricky color to find.

photo credit: On A Whim

Next I headed to On A Whim right down the road.  Hard to miss.  The shop looks just like photos I have seen posted by blogger friends.  Such fun finds in this shop.  All so well displayed and reasonably priced.  I found a few things...

My house has a large entryway with a brick fireplace and I am always on the hunt for black accessories for the mantel.  These black onyx candle holders are perfect.

And this guy was begging me to take him home.  Not an old find, but fit right in with the vintage vibe of the shop.  A perfect birthday gift for my friend who is an Anthropologie fan.  The rest of my day was spent in downtown Leesburg touring a handful of antique shops and grabbing a yummy lunch.  Definitely worth the trip and, thanks to blogland,

 I didn't miss a thing.

Good Enough to Eat...

Is it any wonder these wooden rings caught my attention at a recent estate sale.  

Amazing colors.  As bright and tempting as a roll of lifesavers.

And just as irresistible all stacked up on their wooden base.

At just under 5" tall, this little vintage stacking toy had me at hello!

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Coastal Charm

Patience is a Virtue...

Patience is not only a virtue, but can be quite valuable when thrifting. 

 Last week I was short on time (and patience to be honest) when I saw this cute pitcher at my local thrift shop.  I had to pass it up.  I couldn't face the long checkout line. 

Fast forward one week and I am back at the thrift shop.  It is 10am. 

 I have not learned my lesson to avoid the morning hours.  There is good news, the little cottage ware pitcher is still waiting for me.  There is bad news, so is the long line at the checkout.  Isn't it strange how somedays you can deal and some days you can't?  Today I can deal and decide to wait in line...patiently.  The lady in front of me was in no hurry.  After she paid, she continued to ask to see things in the display case behind the register.  Her daughter, who had driven her, was so frustrated that she went to wait for her in the car.  The rest of us would have to wait it out.  I decided to check out the items in the case.

This little corn pitcher caught my eye.

And this cute teapot. 

 I had time to kill, so used the Etsy app on my iphone to do a little search. 

 What a great find.  Two pieces of Shawnee king corn pottery for $9.

Patience, when thrifting, can really pay off!

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Coastal Charm

Common Ground

Every day is Christmas....

As I was sneaking my newest find into the house last weekend, my 6 year old daughter saw me and asked "Is that for me?"  It was a scene right out of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I felt like the Grinch, stuffing presents and the Christmas tree up the chimney, caught red-handed by sweet little Cindy Lou Hoo.  My daughter asked a pretty simple question, 

but I didn't have a simple answer.

How do I explain that Mommy likes doll cribs just as much

 (and maybe even more) than a 6 year old?

and that Mommy likes little high chairs...

and little rocking chairs...

and little step stools that I am way to big to use...

I have yet to think of a simple answer.  So, the answer is always "yes, it's for both of us to share" as I hand my newest find over to my daughter and her dolls and patiently wait my turn.  I guess everyday is Christmas when your mom has a passion for vintage.

Linking with:

Caps Creations

Apron Thrift Girl

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday 2805

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Imparting Grace

Common Ground

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Junkin Joe at The Cottage Market

Miss Mustard Seed

    

Tiny Treasures

I had to pass on a local estate sale this weekend because the line was way too long and I was short on time.  Luckily, the thrift shop I peeked in on the way home had this group of tiny treasures was just waiting for me.  It has been many years 

since I last bought a piece of doll house furniture.

But, I just love white porcelain pitchers and wash basins.

So fun to have found a "mini me" version of one of my favorites.  It may be time to pull out my old dollhouse and give it a vintage decorating makeover.  I will keep you posted.....

Linking with: Miss Mustard Seed

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

The Cottage Market

Looking Forward, Looking Back

We all have a list of things we are looking forward to when September comes.  Perhaps you are looking forward to cooler weather after a hot summer, or a little "me time" once the kids are settled back into their school routine.  But, I also suspect a number of us are looking forward to .... estate sales!!  Am I right?  I found it to be slim pickings during the summer months and I can't wait to go digging through a box of musty old linens or routing through the kitchen cabinets and drawers of a kitchen that has seen better days.  

The few finds I did come across this summer were at local thrift shops.  It is always hit or miss, but every so often something will catch my eye.  A favorite is this vintage Evenflo baby formula pitcher.  I have used Evenflo products over the years, 

but had no idea that the company dates back to the 1920's.

I love the bold red graphics.  

Very similar to my old Pyrex measuring cup.

Looking back, I have to say that Evenflo products got me through the early years of raising my kids.  Back in the 1920's could they have even imagined a future of manufacturing car seats, plastic high chairs, or my oldest daughter's much beloved pacifier?   

It's nice to see a company last for so many generations 

and so fun to have come across this little pitcher.

Linking With:

Coastal Charm

Frugal Treasures Tuesday

The Penny Worthy Project

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

Hook, Line and Sinker

This little vintage child's stool caught me hook line and sinker. 

 I found it at a local thrift shop and couldn't resist its charm (or the $1 price tag). 

 I wish I could say that my youngest needed it to brush her teeth.  

But, at 6 years old, she refuses to use a step step stool now that she is "all grown up". 

 I think I just need to confess that I couldn't resist its shabby perfection

 and sometimes that is the only excuse one needs!   

Sharing with 

Miss Mustard Seed

Apron Thrift Girl

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

Coastal Charm

Weekend Finds

I came up empty handed at the estate sales I went to this weekend.  Each one had piles of stuff to sort through, but nothing that caught my interest.  Of course, even on a slow day, my daughter always seems to find a new dress for Curious George.  George is such a good sport.  Next time we will have to look for something a little more masculine.......

Little Pitchers

Keeping good on a promise I made to myself as a child, I never pass up a lemonade stand.  The entrepreneur in me surfaced early in life and each summer I put up my stand and waited for customers.  Where we lived, the customers were few and far between, but it was a real thrill when someone did stop.  With the heat of summer upon us, I keep snatching up cute little pitchers at estate sales.  As with most of my finds, I am attracted to them for some nostalgic memory they provide.  This little guy might have brought me luck at my lemonade stand. 

And this little hobnail milk glass pitcher reminds me of summers visiting my grandmother.  A pitcher of milk and hot buttered toast fresh out of the toaster was our favorite snack.









                                Do you have any items that bring back special summer memories?

I'm Linking with:
Apron Thrift Girl

Weekend Finds

This little ribbed glass cookie jar lured me to an estate sale on Saturday that had more treasures than I could carry.  While looking at online photos of the sale, I had seen this little guy perched on the top of a dining room hutch and knew he was worth standing in line for.  A while back I posted about my luck in finding a green depression glass jar.  

I have been searching for a clear glass jar to add to my collection. 

I also had my eye on this little wicker doll cradle and it was waiting just for me.  

It is very similar to the little chair I brought home from Brimfield.

I was happily surprised to find a collection of vintage aprons with all my favorite details...tiny prints, cross-stitch, ric rac trim and bright colors.  I picked up this copy of Heloise's Housekeeping Hints and it is chock full of good old fashioned advice. 

 I think I will add it to my Summer reading list.

And speaking of Summer reading.  I snatched these up for my 6 year old.  It will be fun to look through these old Easy Readers as we practice her reading over the Summer break.  

I hope you found something special this weekend!

I'm linking up with:

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

The Penny Worthy Project

Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Frugal Treasures Tuesday at Beez Rental Designs

C'est Magnifique!

I love the thrill of finding an item at an estate sale that I have previously admired on etsy, seen in an antique store, or come across while reading the many treasure hunting blogs of my fellow vintage lovers.  This past weekend I saw this handsome fellow at a local estate sale and snatched him up.  I had seen a similar item at the Brimfield antiques fair locked in a display case (so I figured this little guy was worth more than his $8 price tag). 

Plus, he was looking right at me-how could I resist his charms?

As it turns out, my little French friend is an American Bisque 

relish jar from the 1950's and somewhat rare.  

C'est magnifique!

Update: I just added this little guy to my etsy shop.  Stop by and say bonjour!

Sharing with the Colorado Lady