My Blog = My Life: LOVE

Hi everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Once again I'm linking up with my dear friend Laurie for a A Few Of My Favorite Things Saturday, and Cindy at Show and Tell Friday!

Some of you from wayyyyy back might remember a similar picture to this one in my blog header. It featured one of my favorite pieces, a beautiful french blue opaline urn with lid.
I found the urn many years ago and paid under $100 for it. I didn't know anything about opaline glass at the time I just loved the color and form.
Well... one day recently while searching ebay I came across an identical urn from a seller in Sweden. And I won it for not much more than I paid for my original piece! Yippeee!!! I just love when that happens!
So I'd like to share my very small (almost) collection and a couple of other pretties.

Do you see the small pale blue french opaline half egg watch display? That was another ebay find for cheaps. Inside I have a couple of special treasures...

Can you see? There's a small timeworn locket and a small brass ring.
I found the locket in the pocket of an old coat I'd purchased at the Goodwill. And the childs ring belonged to my Grandmother.

Here's a closeup of the locket.

And inside are two pictures of someone who must have been very special to her husband?... or children?... She's a wonderful mystery to me. It looks like one features her as a young woman and another as she got older? Don't you think?

Here is my Grandmothers childhood ring. When she died she had virtually nothing to her name. But she kept this small ring in a locked strong box along with a picture of her parents so I know it must have been very precious to her, and it's one of my most prized posessions.

And here's my new opaline urn! Just look at those cute little lion paw feeties!! Aren't they cute?!

Santa (aka my hubby) was very kind to me this year and bought me this beautiful (well at least it is to me *winks*) bronze french clock... And I had an AH HA!" moment. The blue of the clock was a pretty close match to the opaline urns and I thought they might make good clock garnitures?
Here's the clock... It doesn't function... It's just a beautiful shell but I don't care!

Of course it has a cutie cherub!

And some swag-o-liciousness!

What do you think? Do they work together? I've been trying them out in various areas of my home and haven't found quite the right place yet... (You can click to get the larger view)

I tried them in the livingroom.. but not quite working. I have WAYY to many collections! I know I need to edit. But what to get rid of?? It's so tough when you love EVERYTHING! Hopefully you won't see me on that hoarders show, but I make no promises! *winks*

Here is another sweet french blue and bronze piece (An inkwell maybe?) I just love that color! Can you see the little birdie on top?

I also have a couple of bristol glass vases in a similar blue.

And this lustre found for $28 on ebay. (Melanie are you listening? *winks*) I bring Melanie my new blogging friend from The Tiny Tudor into this because she's contemplating her first ebay purchase. And I'm so excited for her! And dying to see her first ebay treasure! Ebay is another one of my favorite things!!

I LOVE when this happens! I found this (nearly) identical urn below on the web here for $795!

And this very similar urn is on ebay for $1495 or best offer... Do you think they'd accept my offer for $90?... Probably not! I think I did pretty good! But it could also be that the sellers have been smoking some funny stuff (you know what I mean *winks*) It's amazing that there are such large discrepencies in pricing isn't it?!

If you're interested in learning about french opaline glass? Joni at the Cote De Texas did a wonderful story here. I learned a ton from her! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll come by again soon! Vanna

It's time again for Flea Market Finds!! Whoopee Ding Dong!! Shee Blam!! Whoohoo!!
Can you think of ANYTHING more exciting???!!
"Watching the grass grow you say?" Or perhaps "chatting up a used car salesman?"
Mais noooooo ma cheries! This post will be even better than those! *winks*... OK maybe only slightly lol!... But I'm gonna try real hard!
It's been hard times on the thriftin' trail for me. The fabulous finds have been elusive... But... I did manage a few nifty treats. Well... I'll let you be the judge... so I'll start with my absolute fave (it's kind of a close three way tie this week)
This charming little antique french miss is actually an inkwell. $86.50 at a local antique store. I love the sweet little cobalt well! It even came with a matching blue quill.

Update: My friend Richard from My Old Historic House and antiquer extraordinaire told me this inkwell is old paris porcelain and early 1820-1840! YIPPEE!! I done good!

Isn't she sweet?

Then I stumbled on this reproduction antique barometer at a local antique mall. The owner of the space was there and he told me his father had worked at La Barge in the 70's and he brought this home from there. It was $75 and if you know anything about La Barge? it was a VERY good price *winks*

I found this large antique charcoal portrait of a young 18th century man on craigslist for $20. He's a keeper! Sorry about the bad picture, the glass was very reflective. This shot doesn't do him any justice.

This huge mirrored tray was $20 and has cherubs with little birds on each end. It will be living on my coffee table *winks*

Isn't he a cutie?

Then while I was at the Goodwill I found this wacky crazy cool vintage Japanese lady lamp from the 50's. It's also a music box and plays "Some Enchanted Evening" (The Japanese lady spins) The color of the globe is bright blue until you turn the lamp on and then it changes color! There's also a small pagoda that can be seen in the crystal spire with a small deer sitting beside it. I'll be adding it to my etsy goodies.

Unique and kooky!! Lol!

The top reads "MERRY LAMP" It's in pristine condition.

Can you see the outline of the little deer under the pagoda in the spire?

I found this pretty hand painted rose bowl at the Value Village.

Aren't the soft pink roses luscious?!

This darling planter with barbola rose swags was $5.99 at the Goodwill. It originally had a black rose arrangement in it! Eeeeeewwww! Can you imagine a worse choice?!! What were they thinkin'? Anyhoo out they went... Needless to say I'm ready for Halloween with my black bouquet *winks*

And some more vintage alabaster grapes from the Goodwill for $3.99.

Another addition to my Odd Fellows collection. This antique collar was $5 on ebay.

I love the little metal tassels!

I tried my hand at a little gesso transformation via Rosemary at Villa Barnes on this frame/plateau from the Goodwill for 99 cents. It started out a bright tacky gold with some pressed dried flowers. I'm not sure it's much of an improvement lol! *winks* but I can always slap on some more gesso!

Sorry I didn't get a better shot of the before, it somehow got deleted, but you get the idea.

And finally a set of sheer white lawn curtains with the prettiest tucked detail at the top from the Value Village.

That's it for this week. I hope you'll come back next week for more flea market finds. Please leave me a comment, I'd LOVE to hear from you! And I'll do the same *winks* Vanna
I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

And The Charm Bracelet Diva for:

Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

Hi peeps!! Just a few things to share this week because of my shopping extravaganza last week *winks*
I'll start as usual with my favorite find. It's a vintage HUGE rose covered fully lined curtain that I found at a local antique mall for $60! This one curtain is 8' tall and 15' long! I couldn't get the entire thing in a shot because it was just too big for my poor camera. It could easily be cut apart to make several individual curtains, which is what I'm hoping to do. Love the green color and all the roses!! Isn't it gorgy??*sighs*

Close up.

Then I found this Italian shadow box jewelry display case on craigslist for $15. Inside I have one new/old treasure and the other three are older finds but I haven't shared them here so I thought I'd take the opportunity now *winks*

The newest find is this cigarette case with a portrait of a woman. $12 at a local antique store. I will definitely be looking to collect more of these.

My next find is from a few years back. I paid $125 (which was actually half price) It's a micro petit point purse featuring a courting couple adorned with some stones and enamel flowers.

The back features a castle and swags with pink roses.

Lined with the palest pink ruched silk that is starting to tear and fray.

Next is this little silver mesh purse/compact that I purchased from an elderly neighbor for $15.

I would love it if these little blue stones were sapphires! *winks* But most likely pretty glass.

And finally this little beaded purse/compact was $10.

I found a new addition to my silver collection at the Goodwill. This silver glass caddy was on one isle for $1.99 and the dessert wine glasses were 50 cents each on another. So all told $4.99... Not bad I think!

And then I did discover something NEW to me... Maybe new to you also?
Let me start by saying I've been in love with antiques for most of my life and in all that time I've never known about this...
The Odd Fellows!
Who and what are they? Weeellll... here's a little vid about them

The Odd Fellows (it turns out) are the Father of all fraternal organizations. Formed in England in the 18th century. I discovered them when I was trying to find information about these antique red velvet collars that I'd found on craigslist. A set of four of them for $12. Sooo ornate and beautiful with their silver appliques, fringe and tassels. I thought originally they might have been priests vestments of some sort? But was quickly made aware that they were something else. I took a look on ebay and couldn't believe how cheaply these items were selling! Some at 99 cents plus shipping, and some of the beautiful velvet ceremonial robes were little more than $20. Also some beautiful ornate medals for a song! I couldn't help but think of all the custom bag/purse and pillow makers who could use these old pieces in their designs. Am I the last one to know about these? Let me know! I feel I've discovered textile nirvana! Lol! *winks*

Each less than the cost of a latte!

And last (and definitely least) some vintage aqua lace trim from the Value Village for $1.99 and an egg vase for my etsy.

That's it for the flea market finds this week. I hope you'll come back next week for more thrifting fun! And please leave me a comment and I'll do the same for you *winks* I'd LOVE to hear from you! Vanna

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

And Jill at The French Cupboard for:

A few years ago I joined the site Rate My Space. There I shared many of the rooms in my home and met so many wonderful people! The other day I decided to take a trip down memory lane and read some of the lovely comments that had been left over the years, only to find that all my spaces had been deleted! I had the various spaces linked on my sidebar. Alas never to be found again. *sighs*
Soooo I'll be sharing my rooms here on my blog starting with my Shabby guestroom. It's encountered quite a few changes since the RMS days. Hopefully for the better?
This could take a wee while so you might want to get yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee... or even better wine *winks* and settle in for LOTS of pictures!
I'll be moving clockwise around the room so come on and follow me and I'll show ya around! *winks*
This is the room overview...

Large white antique mirror for pretty primping...

This is the newest addition to my shabby room, a chippy old wicker bed corona (found last week at a yard sale for $10) I wanted to use this as a shelf for displaying some rose paintings. However it just wasn't strong enough so I had to make do for this photo-op *winks* Whatcha think? fine or flop?

Close up.

This french floral sconce sits at the top of the mirror. I love its delicate beauty.

My lovely Marie dress form. One of my favorite things in the room!

French armoire...

Filled with all kinds of linens and treasures...

Come a little closer and take a peeky poo...

A favorite little french lamp.

The lady in green is the newest addition to my boudoir lady lamp collection.

Isn't she sweet?!

In the corner lies a victorian tete a tete chaise that I won at an auction. Fell in LOVE! Had to have it! Despite its shabby condition *winks*

A little pause for a spot of tea...

Italian stacking tables in cream with dreamy florals...

And above is a shelf filled with my small Norah Wellings doll collection.

The little brown pixie is one of my favorites!

Who can resist a smile like this???! Their little faces make me happy each and every time I see them!

A shabby chippy garden goddess adorned with rosaries and rhinestones...

A vanity found at the local Goodwill.

This little celluloid box featuring a courting couple still has its original interior brush set on a bed of blue silk.

Above hangs a bronze cherub lamp...

Frenchy bedside table.

Bed corona.

Darling ballet pointe shoes... One pair signed... Against a background of vintage roses... I want more!!

Can you tell I LOVE roses?! *winks* Naw... to subtle for ya? LOL!

I wish I could've gotten a better shot of this 19th century Vinea hand colored aquatint, but the glass was too reflective so hopefully you'll get the gist?

It has lots of cavorting cherubs which I adore!!

A little shelf filled with some more of my boudoir ladies.

And we've come all the way around. I hope you enjoyed the tour of my shabby bedroom. It's my one room for over the top femininity! Have to consider the poor hubby in the rest of the house! *winks* So if you're a girl who loves things French foofy and poofy? You're welcome to come stay for a visit. I'd love to have you! Sorry boys I just couldn't do this to you! *winks* You might come away with tassels on your ears! LOL!

And as you leave the room this pretty french couple is waving goodbye! And wishing you a wonderful day! Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. And come back for a visit anytime! Vanna

I'm joining over at French Country Cottage for:

And Sherry at The Charm Of Home for:

It's time once again for Flea Market Finds!!! YAYYYY! WHOO HOOO! YIPPEE!!
Seriously I really mean it this week because I had a fabulous tiquing extravaganza! So keep reading *winks*
This past week the hubbs and I went for a day trip to Centralia Washington. I didn't expect to find much (rarely do) But it just goes to show ya... you never know when serendipity will strike! It seemed everywhere I turned there were amazing finds! I don't even know where to begin with my favorites because I have so many!
So... I'll just start here with this beautiful small oil portrait of a girl on board. I can't stop looking at her. She's a little the worse for wear but I LOVEEEE HER!!

She was 49 well spent dollars *winks*

Then this 1920's twin bed was a MAJOR score at $45... Yes that's right 45 dollars! Can you believe someone would sell this bed for soooo little? It has paintings of nudes on both the head and footboard! I do NOT need another bed but I couldn't say no to this one.

Dancing nude ladies (The three muses?)... Love em!!

Do you see the little sheep in the background?... Perfect!!

Then... I found a fab Dresden-esque vanity mirror with cavorting (Don't you just love that word?Lol!) cherubs and had visions of it sitting on my vanity table. Problem was it only had a hook for hanging on the wall. Sooooo off to the Goodwill we ran, where we (And by "we" I mean my husband *winks*) found an old picture frame (99 cents) with the perfect sized back to convert the mirror to one that will stand on a dressing table. The hubby cut it to fit and applied some silicon glue so it could be removed if desired and...
After applying the back piece.

VOILA!!!... After!

Hazy old glass.

I'm loving it so much I might just have to keep it + the same mirror is on ebay for $1500 (crack smoker!) but just sayin' *winks*
What do you think? Doesn't it look good here? My hubby is the handiest darn guy!
So if you're needing an inexpensive solution for how to stand up an old mirror? This did the trick nicely!

Then I hit the silver blessings button when I found a Victorian bun warmer and a HUGE butter dish! It's so large it's almost a server. The tea cup and saucer set with legs ($6.99) was what I scored at the Goodwill run for the mirror back solution while the hubby was digging through about a gazillion frames! Divide and conquer! *winks*

Open

Another cute but slightly tattered doll ($28) for my boudoir doll collection HERE

An antique celluloid box with a pretty girl for $20.

A large shabby rose painting on tin for $20. I'll be doing an arrangement of some rose paintings in my shabby guestroom so I hope you'll come back for a peek.

A 1940's body double dress form that came with it's original box and pamphlet for a steal from my new friend Jenny! I want to give her a shout out because she's such a lovely person to deal with and has the most wonderful shabby chic items in her booth space in Centralia at the Northwest Tub Company (Don't let the name fool you, it's actually a small antique mall that carries old tubs in addition to lots of other wonderful goodies. *winks* So if you ever find yourself there please stop in and say "hi!" She's booth space #10... and she'll wheel and deal with you too!

This aqua vase was $4.99 at the Goodwill.

A couple of jewel caskets (Both for $20) to go with my collection HERE

And finally this set of frenchy doll furniture for $10 with its original box. I paid too much, but I love that the little piano and bureau are trinket boxes.

Well those are my treasures for this week. To quote my friend Dawn from Bohemian Valhalla I'll be "adding some water to the beans" for awhile to make up for this wonderful bender! Lol! I hope you'll come back next week for more flea market finds! Though they might be a bit piddlin' *winks* Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I just love to hear from you! Vanna
I'm joining my friend Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

My sweet friend Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

The French Cupboard for:

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

Funky Junk Interiors for:

Hi y'all! It's that time of the week once again for Flea Market Finds!!! Bet you weren't holding your breath for that one huh? *winks*
just a few small things to share for this week. Try as I did to find an amazing garage sale, the weather just wasn't cooperating here in the Pacific Northwest. I hope the sun is gently shining on you wherever you are! And could you send a little my way? *winks*
I'm going to start with my favorite find... a vintage lavender straw hat loaded with flowers from a local antique mall for $24. Kind of a lot for me but it was justtttttt right! Hats seemed to be my theme for the week.

It has lots of my favorite flowsey blowsey flowers!

Then my second favorite find (s) were these pretty vintage red wine glasses adorned with various courting couples from the Value Village. I paid $5.99 for each stem, but I'd never seen any quite like them, so home with me they came *winks*

Aren't they sweet?

Another antique mall find was this vintage painting for $20 featuring some of my favorite subjects... Sheep!! It's very folk-artsy dont'cha think?

A couple of darling boudoir pillows for my etsy.

As well as this sweet Dresden reticulated compote.

Another little addition to my boudoir doll collection for $12. I'm big time hooked on these!

One vintage avon perfume from 1976 and three vintage compacts (The mesh is Whiting and Davis) The smallest is a coty rouge compact (never used) and the largest needs a little rehab. I'm thinking of adding a rose decal to it? Or perhaps some rhinestones? I just loves me some bling! All for $7!

This little blue silk doll hat was $1 and I've been having fun trying it on every doll and marble bust in the house!

I found a set of these paper mache hand painted trays for $2.50.

And lastly this set of angel plaques to paint and play with ($2) lying on a set of Ralph Lauren Allison ruffled pillow shams for $3.98.

That's all for this week. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you'll leave me a comment and I'll do the same *winks* And please come back next week for more flea market finds! Vanna

I'm joining my friend Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

My friend Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

And French Cupboard for:

Bonjour mes amis! It's that time of the week once again for Flea Market Finds! Yahoo!!
The pickin's were kind of sorry last week, but I managed to find a few good treasures. I'll start with my favorite, a vintage Louis XVI style bed with barbola swags. It needs to be tightened up a little (A job for the hubbs) and has some slight damage to the ribbon detailing at the top but at $90 it was too cute for me to pass up... I probably should have because I need another bed about as much as I need another hole in my head! LOL!

Isn't it sweet? I'm wondering about white washing it a little. What do you think?

Perfectly shabby!

And this large vintage tapestry/rug for my soon to be etsy shop featuring courting couples...

I love her pretty face. Is he puckering up? *winks*

Cavorting cherubs...

And a folly!

My theme for the week was "barbola" because in addition to the bed, I also found this wonderful antique barbola adorned jewelry box for $10.99 at the Value Village. I'm thinking about painting the flowers?

A folding screen in pink gingham for $4.99 at the Goodwill. A chippy framed frenchy picture and and a chippy plaster display bowl also for etsy.

And a couple of wonderful additions to my boudoir doll collection.

A vintage roll of wallpaper from Sears for $6.

With cute roses.

A pink gauzy blouse from the Goodwill for $3 at half price.

And lastly some sprays of faux roses for 50 cents.

Well that's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you! And I hope you'll come back next week for more flea market finds. Vanna
I'm joining my friend Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

And my sweet friend Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

And the French Cupboard for:

Just wanted to share a couple of youtube vids that make me LOL! every time I see them. If you're a dog owner they might make you chuckle too. *winks* Vanna