My Good Luck Charm

* Today was a day to go down in the annals of antique shopping history. *

After the farmer's market this morning I was feeling particularly feisty and adventurous. Luckily, I wasn't alone and my friend, Cathy, came along for the ride. We started at a small thrift store that I had passed numerous times on my way to work and had always wanted to go into. Sadly, we found nothing of interest, although there were many things that caught our attention as awkward, unsettling, or absolutely amazing, but useless, so we left. We got into the car and started to drive. We had no particular intent or idea of where we were headed, but we talked and talked until we came to an area in Mesa where I knew there was an antique mall nearby. (Main Street and Power Road) I had never been in so it seemed like the perfect stop. On the drive I explained to Cathy the things I was starting to collect and what to keep an eye out for for me.

My list included:
Colored glass (tumblers, goblets, bowls, plates, vases, etc.)
dainty tea cups and saucers
china sets
silverware
salt and pepper shakers
vintage sewing patterns (particularly costume patterns for children set in the different eras of dress)
books written between 1880-1930
old photos - particularly children (because I feel they deserve a home)

So excited!

I will say it right here and right now: "Cathy is a lucky charm!" I have never, ever had such a successful bargain antique shopping experience until this day. Oh the things I found!!! Just inside the door was a booth with tea cups which was what drew our attention to begin with. Through closer inspection I found exactly what I was looking for - a china set with a natural themed pattern. It came with three tea cups, three coffee cups, 8 dinner plates, 7 bowls, 1 salad plate, 8 saucers, and 6 tea saucers. Not a complete set, but what do I care... it was only $35!!! They are beautiful and I intend to have a myriad of china sets anyway to make up our home so I have to say that this is a delightful beginning. I've been gushing about them since I found the set! While in this same booth, I found a lime green glass fruit juicer that made me giggle and was promptly set aside with the china set at the front desk.



Fresh Orange Juice Anyone?



Further down the aisles and deeper into our search I found a set of three horseshoes which, although I wasn't looking for them, I am really glad I found. They will make a perfect addition over our doors when we get a house. Horseshoes represent prosperity and to have the horseshoe facing upward is like that of a full cup of it! Pointing downward and it will all spill out, ut oh! $3 for the three horseshoes = steal! Walking further down the way we found some interesting pieces (a small bear head and ram's head, and colored glass pieces EVERYWHERE, but way too expensive), but nothing that stood out as 'must haves.' That is until we made it to a booth near the restrooms that had little baskets full of vintage sewing patterns (Score!). I searched through the patterns and found a few dresses for myself as well as some cute jumpers and blouses for little girls. The treasure in this batch was a costume packet with four different dresses ranging across the eras! Exactly what I was looking for!

My mom had one of these.

Continuing on I found bits and pieces of glassware that my mom had in our house when I was growing up: marble horse head bookends, a strawberry jar, crystal champagne flutes... I wanted to buy it all for the sake of my childhood, but realized I couldn't justify spending the money out of impulse and homesickness, so I kept walking.

Cathy and I met in an aisle midway in the store and acknowledged that we had seen what we needed to see and that it was most certainly time to get something to eat or else parish and so began our way back to the front doors. Walking past a low bench to the left of the aisle I noticed some beautifully colored navy blue goblets and checked the price, just for kicks. I was astonished to find that $17 took the lot of 8! Sold!! At this point I had to put my blinders on, otherwise we would still be there now, my paycheck gone, and my car loaded with goodies. I checked out at $93 with a few boxes full of treasures and a guilt-free happiness that consumed the rest of my day.

After a late lunch and dropping Cathy off at her house I am home and happy, pleased with my finds, but curious as to where I'm going to put them. Hmmmmm... let the organization begin!!!

May the Antiquing Gods be With You,
~Birdie

PS- These could be all yours for only $7.50 a piece! Hurry now before they're gone!

Steamer Trunk: The Plan



The Beginning

 Wonderful news! I was perusing the wonderful world of Craigslist when I happened upon something rather familiar. A cherished antique that I had to leave behind was being sold by the new owner. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There it was, for $20 no less, the old steamer trunk I had fished out of a pile of junky "antiques" in an overly cluttered antique store in Tacoma, Washington 4 years ago! I had haggled the price to a cool $50 and drove home as fast as I could. Once home, I cleaned it and set to covering the inside basin of the trunk with a soft cream fabric pinned in with brushed brass upholstery pins. I loved everything about this trunk and was so excited to have one for myself, finally. Some time down the road, however, when I was moving I wasn't able to take the trunk with me because I had no way of transporting it. That was two years ago. And now, in that moment on Craigslist, it was right there! Dumbfounded that it was being sold for only $20 (when it surely could have sold for $150!) I emailed the seller as fast as my fingers could type and hoped upon hope that it hadn't sold yet - it had been posted for 10 minutes, but $20 was a steal and I knew I wasn't the only one in the know. A text message later of "Yes, you can have it" and I was through the roof.




Ada is a fan already!

This happened last Sunday and after waiting, anxiously, until Friday to pick it up - we were reunited at last! I know it seems silly to put so much effort into a piece of furniture, but it was my trunk and I found it again. After assessing the two year's long wear and tear I am inspired to refurbish the entire piece back to its original glory. It was painted dark red with gold trim years ago by a previous owner, thankfully leaving the metal hinges and hardware alone. The inside fabric needs to be redone as well as it has come rust stains now and has become loose in some areas.





The plan is to sand out the paint, remove the canvas that is glued to the wood of the trunk, stain the trunk, paint the accents black to match the hardware, and restore the inside of the trunk to a deep wood stain and rich glaze. I have done some research online to get me started and I think I have a pretty good base plan to start.



The Goal



The intent is to use the trunk as a quilt chest for all of the quilts that my Great Grandmothers made. A great way to keep the quilts handy and organized as well as keep them safe from time. How wonderful would this trunk look at the foot of a wrought iron bed in the vintage garden themed guest bedroom? I think awfully wonderful.

More posts to follow as the process begins. Wish me luck!

Sanding the night away,

~ Birdie



I LOVE the inside of the lid.





Treasure Hunting With Whitney 4/14/2010

On Wednesday I was able to meet up with Whitney to do some adventuring and exploring. Whitney had never been to Ikea before, so naturally that was the first place that we went. I wasn't in the mood to spend any money... that was until we made it downstairs and into the gardening section. I ended up picking up a few beautifully colored pots and a few small pots that I didn't intend to use for flowers, but instead bought oversized tealight candles to put in them. I also found some folding wood chairs for $20 each that would fit perfectly on my small space of a garden (No assembly required- yay!) Whitney bought a picture frame shelf and some decorative accents as well. We are still trying to figure out the best plant to put in her entryway and although Ikea has some houseplants they just didn't have anything that popped out.

After Ikea Whitney introduced me to a wonderful placed called Hobby Lobby. It was perfect timing because guess what was on sale this week? Iron garden decorations- 50% off!!! Items I had been watching on eBay were sitting on shelves just waiting for me to walk by. I was so excited. I ended up getting three different types of iron bird feeders, a bell that I need to install next to my front door, a decorative glass tea pot that I still am not sure what I want to do with, and two fun Owl pots (one large and one small). Whitney bought some colored sheets of glass for a project she has planned. The treasure find of the day goes to Whitney who spotted a broken half moon table sitting on a barren shelf that had been on hold for someone else a month earlier. She asked about it, completely in love with it, and they said it was hers to take if she wanted- at 90% off!!! She scooped it up immediately! $129.99 table for $14!!! Thankfully it fit in my car. The broken bit is an easy fix.... apply a little wood glue and it's as good as new! She also bought a few knobs to dress up the table and her entertainment center back home. Having been down the knob aisle she may have turned me on to something.... except I don't have many knobs in my house. Shoot.

It made for a great day and I was so excited to get home and get my chairs out so I could finally sit and enjoy my garden. I am still on the hunt for a large piece of wall art to put up above my dragonfly table. The search is never ending! Keep an eye out for my Gnome and Mushroom that I picked up from Target for a dollar a piece on Monday. They add a little charm to the place.

Happy endeavors in your treasure hunts,

~ Birdie