An Estate Sale Early Bird!

 This past Saturday there was an estate sale titled "A Collector's Dream".  The address was just a couple blocks from my house. Darn it! I tried so hard to stay home. But I kept picturing those annoying guys from the last sale I went to, the ones that sold the numbers. And something made me really want to get there before they did! lol

 

 I got there at 1:30 AM and I was number 5! The sale started at 9:00! I know, totally crazy and wrong for so many reasons. It was the coldest night so far this fall in MN, and I was curled up in the back seat for hour after hour just trying to keep warm, hoping that time would go by fast. It did not! lol

I read two magazines on the Kindle and painted my nails when the sun came up.

Finally it was time!!!

 I bolted to the basement and the first thing I found was three boxes of these angel lights!

 

Pretty darn sweet aren't they?

 I had the x-mas area in the basement to myself for the first 3-4 minutes. So I got everything that I wanted.

 

 Terrible pic. Sorry!

 I got 3 really cute Gurley candles. They have their Woolworth's .10 price stickers on the bottom. A Holt Howard Santa candle stick holder, a big vintage stocking, and two Santa's also from Woolworth's.

 

 Do you think there are support groups for people who are addicted to Shiny Brites?

 

 I love when I find bags full of x-mas crafty/corsage bits like this!

 

 I try to avoid buying solid colored ornaments, but these I bought for their boxes!

 

 I think I'm going to cover our chair cushions in this vintage fabric. Rather, I think I'll have my Mom cover our chair cushions. :)

 

 There were lots of really old and rare Little Golden Books (like the ones with decals and puzzles) but they were all in poor shape. The only one that was in great condition was a x-mas one that I didn't have, so I lucked out! And I grabbed this sweet little coloring book too. Oh! the x-mas table cloth in the background was also something that I found at the sale! I was so happy to find it!

So that's that! It was a looooong night! But it was pretty fun to be number 5 and know that there were about 100 people behind me! And yes, I did beat out those mean guys! lol

 

Wellie wants to tell you something,

 

  Yesterday was my Birthday and I turned 5 years old! This is what I look like when I see something that I think I might want to have.

 

And this is what I do when I know that I want to have something that smells really good. I offer my paw to Mama to shake. Mama usually laughs at me when I do this. She tells me that I'm doing it backwards. People are supposed to ask me to shake before I give them my paw.

 

And this is what I look like when I eat my "Happy Birthday Toast"! Mama made me toast (it's my favorite) with butter and honey for my special day. She said I could have it because I have lost 2 pounds on my diet! I love Mama!

Love Wellie

 



Back In Action! Flea Market Finds

 

Hello Friends! Well, I finally got to go to the flea market on Sunday! All month it had been rained out, and I was missing it sooo much! I was "a good girl", and only brought thirty bucks with me, but I think I made it go a long way!

above: I don't usually buy doggie figurines, but couldn't leave behind this black cocker for $1. The only x-mas that I found was this great corsage for $1, but the dealer said she will bring me more this week! Yes!!! I swear I have stopped collecting Little Golden Books (haha), but I always wanted to find this Happy Whale one, and so for $2 it also came home with  me!

 

 I really wanted to find a couple more quilts, and BINGO! I found two for $5 each!

 

They aren't perfect, and there are some stains that I've been working on. But that's ok! I wanted quilts that we can actually toss on the couch and use!

 

 I just thought this guy was cute for $1.00!

 

 Quilt #2 is huge.

 

 I'm not sure what this pattern is called. I'm sure that many of you can tell me!

 

It has this super soft paisley type print on the back.

 

 Our living room is decorated in a slight nautical look, so I thought this Japan fish pitcher would be a fun addition...for $3!

 

For some reason these "spoke to me"! lol I'm not sure what I'll put them on, but they were only

.25 each, and I love the color.

My other purchase was a really cute white wooden table for $10. I can't show it though because it's already in my living room, and I'm not quite ready to let you in yet! hahaha

 

I'm heading (with a very limited budget) to an out of town flea market this Saturday!! I think my parents are even going to come along. Should be lots of fun. I'll be looking for some fun things for Market Monday. I'm sorry I haven't had a Market in a couple weeks. We have had "drama" around here. If I told you all the crazy things, you wouldn't believe it! lol

 

Have a wonderful Holiday Weekend!

Erica :)

 



I've Missed You All!

 Hello Hello! I'm finally ready to get back to blog land!  My sister and I are settled into our new place, though I'm not quite ready to show pics yet. We are still trying to make it look cute!

I still owe many of you emails and thank yous for your sweet comments on my post about losing my parent's dog, Billy. My blogging pals helped me so much!

And as for my last post, I'm happy to say that I only lost 2 followers! LOL :P

 

Mini Rand McNally's and this darling Coloring Book were found at a local antiques shop last week.

Vintage coloring books are a new collection of mine! As if I needed one! Haa!

 

 These "smalls" were at the same store. Yes, I seem to like imaginary men the best! lol  My friends and family would same something along the lines of "she's too picky". But of course I don't agree!  Anyway,  I had to get this postcard! And the Get Well card is just perfect for someone many of us know!

 

 Despite the fact that I like "Imaginary Men" best, I do not prefer imaginary babies!

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock! I had to grab these unused vintage baby books.  

 

 The graphics are so darn cute!

 

 It's not often that you find them this clean and unused!

 

I stopped at a new little thrift called "Too Good To Be Threw." Isn't that a cute name?

I found the McCoy planter and the children's book for $1 each. And all the vintage seam binding was .10 a package!

 



The book is so sweet!

 



I'm so addicted to vintage pics of  animals!

 



This vintage Girl Scout tin was at the flea market. I just thought it was neat. It'll be for sale.

 



I hit my very first Garage Sale of the season, and actually had some luck! Two boxes of x-mas lights for a dollar each, and a Lefton Angel in a .50 box at the end of the driveway!

 



The old silverware tray was at the same sale, for $1. And then I found two packs of strawberry invitations, the game of Hearts, an antique valentine, and a Little Golden Book that I didn't have, at my favorite little thrift!

 

I don't have a record player yet but I really want to find one this summer! So I keep picking up records when I see fun ones.

 



These were each .50 at the thrift!

 

I love Christmas oldies!

 

And then lastly, these are both by USA pottery. I love the one with the scale type pattern on it. I was a bit annoyed that the thrift had it marked $5.00 "Vintage", but I bought it anyway. The other one was only a dollar at that same garage sale.

 

Well, I hope everyone has been doing well! I know I have a ton of blog reading to do. I need to catch up on what's been going on with everyone!

And Hey!! Yes, I am still hosting the CHRISTMAS IN JULY SWAP! I will post about it next week! So be on the look out!

Erica :)

 

 

 



Vintage Easter Cut-Outs!

 Hi Friends! A few years ago I found these fantastic Easter Cut-Outs  published by "Golden Books". They were originally printed in 1937, but they republished them in 2010.

 They couldn't be any sweeter!

So sweet in fact that I haven't been able to cut them!

 I thought it might be something that my blogging buddies would be interested in, so I've tracked some down on EBAY FOR YOU! Just in case you're interested, it looks like this seller lists them for $5.99 each plus $3 shipping.

I should have shown you more pics I guess. Because you can also make 6 of the cutest little Easter Nut/Candy cups. And there are lamb, duck, and bunny pull-carts to create. Plus the back has this other cart you make and add some of the cut-outs to. Let me know if you get some, and how they turn out!

 In other Eastery news, this huge die-cut chick showed up in the mail today. She was on Etsy, and I just couldn't resist her!

And last night I made paper-mache eggs! The scraps and egg containers are German, and I bought them through D.Blumchen & Co. Here's the link to their Easter shop, but if you haven't visited their website before, you'll want to see the whole thing!
*** BooHoo! They're now SOLD OUT of all egg containers, and won't be getting more! Still take a look at their scraps and other things though!

OK Friends- Hope you all have something fun planned for the weekend!

I believe I'll be finishing up with Easter crafts and then I'll begin packing to move!   Erica :)

Handmade Holidays!

I was fortunate to be able to drive about an hour south to visit my friend Tammy (Tammy's In Love) the other day! Well, many of you know Tammy and her talent with a scissors and some paper. She can create magic! And I wanted a lesson! The plan was for her to help me create a paper garland, and then I would help her make a glass ornament wreath. We accomplished both! I pulled into her driveway at noon, and back into my driveway at 12:15AM!

I think it took us so long because we're so similar! We over thought EVERYTHING! For example, this is scene 3 of my banner. Santa has arrived to a child's home, which is why this is the only one that's shaped like a house. Tammy suggested that the cute paper in the background run vertically instead of horizontally because it would represent wallpaper! LOL It totally worked! Is she a genius or what?

This is scene 5, and I think it's our favorite! Santa is done with his work and heading back home to her! She has made him cookies of course. Notice the little elf that we added? He's waiting with his plate because he wants a cookie too!

OH! All of my images came out of the Little Golden Book "Santa's Toy Shop". I found a vintage copy for $1 and just had to use pages that weren't colored on!

Tammy showed me how to use a cereal box for the banner pieces. She also keeps templates (made from more cereal boxes) handy to make things way easier.  Pinking shears turns vintage sheet music into the perfect border. My favorite part of Tammy's lesson was that your main image can stick way off of the banner, like Santa's leg in this photo.

Sorry for the terrible pic! The banner is sooo much cuter in person!

Thrilled with my banner, we moved on to Tammy's wreath. We used the exact same method as the one I made a few weeks earlier, only Tammy's is one size smaller.

We LOVE how it turned out!

My favorite part is the mini bead garland, and the little elves that look like they are playing in the wreath!

You'll have to click to inspect this further, but can you believe that Tammy's husband creates this little scene in their kitchen each year? How many husbands do that?????

He uses things from their baking cupboard like the food dye and paper cups to build height and interest.

Rice becomes snow, and peppermints become a cobblestone walk!

And Tammy's husband is a postal worker. Look at this darling USPS themed wreath that she made!

The Little Golden Book makes a perfect focal point. Did you know that Tammy has a massive collection of LGB's? I'm talking many hundreds!

Thank you Tammy, for your hospitality and friendship! Our Craft-a-palooza Day (ha-ha) was a blast!

I put up a few little decorations! Here are some of my vintage snowman Christmas cards. But do you see who else has made an appearance?

Yes, I finally have one of Elizabeth's Snowmen! Doesn't he look right at home?

And look at what else E sent...

The cutest winter pom-pom birds ever! I have them sitting with the green mushrooms that E sent last summer. Elizabeth you are too generous and oh so talented! Thank you!

I hope you are all having a fabulous week,

Erica (and Wellie too)