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Sandra's Adamstown finds

It's been a few days since the Find & Go Seek trip to Adamstown. Time to take stock of what I bought, clean some things up a bit and figure out how and where I want to use everything.

But before I get started, I hope each and every Find & Go Seeker had a wonderful day and uncovered some one-of-a-kind finds for their home. I really enjoyed meeting all of you - I hope you join us on our next trip in September so that I can get to know each of you better.

Michele and I are eager to hear from everyone on the trip. Tell us what you thought of Shupps's Grove and Adams Antiques. What were you hoping to find? Did you find it? Anybody see (or buy!) anything really interesting or odd? Anybody see anything they wished they had bought but didn't? That happens to me all of the time!

It was such a fun day, I didn't want it to end. So let's recap!

I was so surprised to find two white end tables - I've been looking for so long, I almost gave up (and considered ordering something from a a catalogue). But there they both were (each in a different booth at Adam's Antiques). They're pretty "shabby", which I don't mind too much. I'm considering topping them both in some pretty, patterned paper and a piece of glass. We shall see!

I'm not sure if you can tell that this stool is painted a dark and shiny navy blue. One of the few things I bought for my son, but it's on the porch for the time being.

OK, so I don't need more dishes, but these are so simple and the color is pretty. I love the platter & the square-ish bowls. The whole set was $5 (down from $15). I guess the vendor was the type to not want to pack up at the end of the day. I hear that.

I've always coveted old silverware with bakelite handles. They're really hard/impossible to find. Alas, these aren't Bakelite but have the same look. It's a set of 8 Universal Resitain knives and forks manufactured by Landers, Frary & Clark. They were a big company in New Britain, CT until they closed in the 60's. These seem perfect for outdoor eating. The green bowl spoke to me - turns out I have the same one at home. I know what I like but sometimes I forget what I have.

I bought these three metal boxes for my son. Every boy needs a place for his small treasures. Isn't the comic book cool? We read two chapters of the Fantastic Four at bedtime last night. It's called a Big Little Book. I've never seen them before but the vendor had lots - wish I had bought a few more.

The girls are probably a bit too young for any sort of jewelry - let alone jewelry with sharp pins attached - but I couldn't resist. The silver flower pin is for me. The artist is a guy named Nye - the dogwood motif was his thing. Emma wore the pink one to camp today, I plan to borrow it from her the next time I want to get fancy.

The blue Radio Flyer wagon was my first purchase - only $12! I need to get some plants for those pots I got in Kutztown this Spring. Two of them belong to Michele, don't tell her I have them!

This stool has cool turned legs and very chippy paint - it made me realize I need more stools and benches for my outdoor plants.

Match!

This is the first painting that I found a duplicate of.  Same still life, two different painters.  Was it a kit?  Did they copy a more famous painting?  Were they in school together?  Who knows?  I never thought it would happen again.

And then it happened again.  I had the painting on the left, and then I spied this one on eBay.  I had to bid on it.  Luckily no one else really wanted it!

And then when out antiquing I saw this painting...it looked familiar.  I strained to remember if it was like the one I had at home.  I wasn't sure.  I asked the price.  $589.  Definitely not in my price range.  I snapped a picture and went home to see mine.

Pretty close! 

And now I'm obsessed with finding more!

You better watch out...

Look I found last weekend!  A little Japanese Santa.  I had a large one when I was a little girl.  I still have him.  Some people think they are a little creepy but not me!  When they pop up at yard sales I grab them.  They actually don't show up that often.  It is against my convoluted Christmas rules to Ebay or antique shop them.

I have strange rules about Christmas.  All of my decorations are pretty much secondhand, garage and church sale cast-offs. They have to be found objects.  I love rescuing them like little misfit toys and giving them a proper place on the tree again.  It makes me so happy that they get a second chance at Christmas.  I am allowed to buy 3 "new" ornaments a year.  One for me and one for each of my children.  Any others have to found throughout the year.   I put them all in a box in the attic and at Christmas it's very exciting to pull out that years booty.

Really I'm strange.

Also I found these lovely dessert plates monogrammed with the letter B.  (My last name starts with B.)  I'm going to pretend I inherited them and use them during the holidays. 

Estate sale Monday

It's been a crazy week: gift show, Sesame Place, estate sales.  Here's a quick post to show you some goodies from the estate sale.
A lawn full of vintage aprons...all unused!

I was airing them out in the sun.  There are 30-something!



I loaded more on Flickr.
And also, 4 sewing baskets filled with vintage ribbon!

There was some thread in there too!  It was so much fun!

I (heart) Ebay!

Look what I won!  They arrived in the post today and I can hardly believe how lucky I am.  Original antique Victorian flower paintings (oil on canvas).  They are each 3 1/2 feet tall.  They are huge!!  Click on it and really look at them.  So beautiful!

And somehow only $99 each!  I've seen these in antique shops for thousands and on ebay even the little ones go for hundreds.  Somehow over the holiday these slipped by and now they are mine, mine, mine! And they are definitely not fakes.  (I'm doing a happy dance.)  Yes, I am a loser.  But I don't care.  HAPPY DANCE!

Must embroider often

Some lady was getting rid of all of her embroidery floss at a yard sale.  Seriously, you can't even imagine how much is crammed in there.  Every color is represented.  $5.  I'm set for life.  Especially considering how little I have embroidered thus far in my life.

White

I'm playing along for Color Week.  A bit of my white pottery.  It's all garage sale, rummage sale cast-offs, but I love it.  My newest piece is up in the left corner and looks a bit like a lotus blossom. 

It's a busy week.  My step-daughter is visiting and we'll be doing lots of trips and adventures.  Very few involve crafting or creating!

Vintage patterns for you!

The problem with church sales is that everything is so cheap that you wind up buying stuff  you do not need.  Like an enormous bag of vintage sewing patterns.  I can't possibly use them all.   I've admired them.  I've gazed at their retro cuteness.  And now I'm done.  But I can't bear to throw them away.  So I'm going see if any of you want them.  Free!  I'll post a pic and if you want it, just leave a comment and it's yours.  I'll check in tonight.   If there is more than one taker, I'll pull a name randomly.  Most of them are cut but usually they are only one size so it shouldn't matter.  And hopefully all the pieces are there, but I can't guarantee anything. (This one definitely has all the pieces!)  Except that they are free, so what do you want?  Check in and I'll post a new one every few days.

Pattern give-away number 1

Cute!

All gone but I have a lot more to come!

Follow that girl!

I brought Lucia with me to a rummage sale this weekend.  I don't always do it, but lately she has been very well behaved and doesn't run off so she has been coming more often.  She's catching the bug!  I usually give her 50 cents and let her pick out something.  More often than not it is some McDonalds toy that she finds at a yard sale and I get rid of  it the very next day. I usually don't plan on finding anything good at rummage sales that I bring her to, because generally I'm stuck at the toy table while she goes through every last toy.  Wistfully I'd look across to people digging through the tablecloths and mostly stuck to trying find vintage kids' books among the rubble.  But then I started looking, I mean really looking at the toys.  And look what I found this weekend!  A Hearthsong journal paper making kit, unused.  A Smith & Hawken flower press.  A Melissa & Doug wooden lacing bear set.  A wonderfully shabby chic rabbit cart I'll use to decorate this Easter.  An brand new face painting book.  An old Ginny doll pink wardrobe.  Even a Haegar lamb planter near the baby stuff.

My arms were full!  And Lucia bought 4 puzzles for 50 cents.  We were both satisfied and I didn't have any more tablecloth envy.  I think we'll be tag sale team for years to come. :)

Since we all have them...

...I thought I'd share.  I always see aprons when I'm out and about rummaging or thrifting, but seldom buy them. I have too many linens already stored away unused, so I have to really love an apron to buy one. 

This was one of my first aprons and I've never found anything like it again. It's very large so I can' t wear it, but I love it!  It is the classic farmhouse kitchen apron of my country dreams. Mostly it stays on my mannequin.

This sweet little apron acts as a window shade in my craft room.  I love it's cheerful lilac color.  It's reversible to boot!

This is my most recent acquisition.  I had never seen anything like it!  It demanded that I go home and make cookies with my little girl.

I have a few more of my aprons here and there is a great Flickr group  of vintage aprons here that I just added my pics to.  There are some fantastic finds in there!