Friday, July 29, 2016

Sometimes a sale is just a dud. Nothing fun to see, nothing fun to buy, nothing fun to write about.

That was the case this morning.

The good news is that my wallet weighs the same as when I left home, and I have more time to play with the treasure that is already filling my shelves and closets.

So here is a little eye candy for you from this morning's efforts, treasure from better sales gone by.

Everyone have a fabulous weekend and happy treasure hunting wherever you are!



Monday, July 25, 2016

100 degrees in RVA today, so it has been a good day for indoor projects. 

SO... I have been working on the box of vintage clothing that I found in my parents' attic.

 Turns out, the orange Norman Wiatt belonged to my great aunt, not my mother. Today, I worked on this handmade PINK gingham sailor dress that my Mom wore about 1949. It is way too small for my size 8 mannequin. I have ironed it for an hour this afternoon, and I am nowhere near finished!




Friday, July 22, 2016

Hope you have all ready this morning's post about finding the box of vintage clothes in my parents' attic. Today was a busy day, so I only have  one dress ready to photograph. It is a 1960's Norman Wiatt, made of a slub finish fabric which may be silk. I'll probably sell this one because I'm not an orange fan.

It's pretty cute and in excellent condition.



GREAT treasure hunt this morning in one of my favorite places to hunt ... my parents' attic.

Some of you know that a recent thunderstorm here in RVA bought down 11 big old trees in my parents' yard. One landed smack on the roof, causing significant damage.  Roofers sealed the opening with tarps, and starting next week, half of the roof will be replaced.

This morning, in advance of the roofers, I went to the attic to cover the treasure in the back half of the  attic with tarps, shower curtains, sheets, and whatever else I could find, in order to keep the black tar particles off of things when the roofers are working. Not an easy job on a hot morning, but I am truly always happy in that attic.

I had been working for about an hour and had moved lots of treasure to the front of the attic for safety, including green stemmed depression glass and some of my father's antique fishing tackle. I was wearing out and thinking of a cold glass of lemonade when I spied  a box that I had never seen before. It was in the far back corner of the attic with 40 years of junk in front of it, which makes me think that this may be the FIRST box that my father moved into the attic  in 1971 when my parents bought this house.

The box appeared clean and dry which meant that whatever was inside was probably pristine. Ok, I told my tired hot self. Got to climb over the old stroller, box of curtains and hobby horse and get to that box. I was not disappointed.

It turned out to be a heavy box from Miller and Rhoads, the iconic Richmond VA department store of the 40's through the 80's. This box was heavy and hard. I knew that it predated our move to this house. It wasn't easy to move, as it was about 3 1/2 ft. long and about 2 feet deep. I finally got it moved to where I could remove the lid and    I found TREASURE inside.

It contained some amazing old dresses of my mother's, dresses that she wore in her 20's.  One turned out to be the lavender cotton number that she wore on her first date with my father in 1949. It also contained several tiny dresses that belonged to me, including a Cinderella sailor dress from about 1957. I also found a baby dress of   my mom's, a couple of tiny blouses that were mine, and an old railroad cap that belonged to my grandfather.

Perhaps the piece de resistance was a tiny cotton bib apron. My mother wore it to cook as a little girl and a generation later, so did I.

The old Miller and Rhoads box had served as a secure chamber for these treasures, and I felt as if I had found a time capsule, linking me to several periods of my past.

Sorry there are no pictures yet, but I will post pics as I get the items freshened and displayed.

I will sell a few pieces but mostly I will probably keep these treasures and enjoy them another day.


Friday, July 15, 2016

Haven't written in a while. I truly haven't had any great shopping adventures lately, but I plan to make up for that soon.

I have had fun this morning playing Christmas. Temps in RVA this week have been in the mid 90's, so why not think of Christmas and cool off, right?

I tend to buy so much Christmas treasure throughout the year that, when the busy season arrives, I don't have time to see what I have and decide what to display and what to sell. So, a new tradition... Christmas in July.

I have been   sorting and listing and have  definitely found some treasure right here in my own relatively cool basement.

Here's just one example: a sweet Lefton angel, complete with her foil sticker. She reminds me of the Swedish angels who wear a candle wreath, or crown, or something like that, on their blonde heads.



ref=shop_home_feat_2https://www.etsy.com/listing/205653759/lefton-angel-christmas-candleholder?ref=shop_home_feat_2

Stay cool everyone and get those Christmas decorations organized while there is still time.