Thursday, September 27, 2012

Coming up: A Vintage Holiday Ornament Sneak Peek!

While others are decoraing fall and pumpkins,
I'm gathering my acorns and nuts.
Well, not really.
Just vintage ornaments.
 
Instead of offering them here
and there, I decided to save
them for a special vintage
holiday listing in
October.


We have found some fun vintage
goodies this summer.

This is one of my favorite sets.
All Nutcracker themed!
The pink ornament is
the sugar plum fairy,
of course!
 

 A trio of indent
ornaments.
I love how delicate
they are.
 

A "glitter house" church
with a light inside...
Sorry for the dim
photo, I have
not edited these yet.
 
And a glass bird.
I've started my onw
mini collection of
these on my tree.

There are a few others but
this is all I have taken photos
of. I had no idea how busy
my life would become this
season as Bebe turned 4!
 
Since this is such
a short period of
time in our lives
I'm trying to spend
my time with her,
squeezing in my
Bella Shop when I can.
 
Thank you all for
being patient with me!
 
Enjoy the day!
 
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

It's All in the Signature: Antique Autograph Albums

When someone says "She has that signature style,"
they mean she has IT.
The kind of style everyone wants.
Classic Appeal.
I'd say the same about these antique autograph albums.
They just don't make them like this anymore.



Wonderful old graphic lines as
well as a beautiful color lithograph picture.
(Available in my shop)


Here is the inside frontispiece.
Again, beautiful design.
A rose, a country scene,
awesome graphics.


 
 
 
 
 

Source: etsy.com via Lemay on Pinterest
This one, from Pinterest,
depicts the sweet image
of two little birds.
 
And we haven't even gotten to
what I think is the best part
of these old bits of
history.
 
 
The handwriting, the prose, and the
signatures!
 
Something to cherish for
future generations.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Choo Choo! All Aboard! (Plus My Latest Finds)

It has been a busy week.
In fact, it has been a busy month.
 
My blog posts have been cut down
almost in half lately due to a busy
schedule, a four year
old to keep up with,
and a new "job" with my
local Mom's group.
 
Sigh.
 
But today I managed to finish
listing my latest finds.
Yay for me!
 
This past week I took Bebe to
see Thomas the Train
 at our local "station."
 
He is pretty cute.
Wouldn't you say?
 
Then, along with my girlfriend
 and her little guy we went to a
toy train museum.
 
They had every kind of train imaginable.
Mostly all vintage.
 
And to my surprise, look
what I saw in there?
 
 A pink train!

 And then another!

 And another!

By the time I saw the third train
I finally remembered I should take a picture
of them for PINK SATURDAY!
 
When was the last time
 you saw a pink train?
 
Wouldn't this look great under
my Christmas tree
this year?


And last, but ceratainly not least,
 
While I didn't find any pink trains to sell,
I did find some lovely paintings, rose calendar
plates, Victorian jewel box, vintage sugar sack,
cookbook, teacups, and games!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Help! Falling Out Of An Autumn Doldrum & A Peek at My Latest Finds

Oh No.
Leaves are falling.
My toes are getting colder.

Someone tell me summer is not over.
Do I have the autumn doldrums?

I go through this every year but
somehow last year I really dove
into fall recipes and other fall
decorating to help lift me out.

There needs to be a bit of that again this year.

Maybe a quick dose of Pinterest? Search for all things fall and autumn?

What do you like to do in the fall? Help me help me, if you please!

In the meantime, here are some of my latest finds which I am working on for my online shop.
I'm in the middle of editing the photos right now. Uh, that is, before I started writing a post for my blog.



Teacup collectors enjoy the
differences in cups.
This one is footed making
it an extra special piece.

Fell in love with these
as soon as I saw them.
When was the last time
you saw pink prisms?
I think these are tie backs
for curtains...

A couple of retro things...like this crushed velvet tie.
 
 And so vintage retro....can we say 1970's early 80's?
 

 
I have two of these awesome paintings.
Decidedly French!
The frames are even more amazing,
if that is possible.
Not sure where to sell them.
Maybe eBay.

A pretty violets demitasse cup and saucer
 
And wow, there was so much
I liked about this vintage
cookbook.
The graphics, the title,
the age...
Perfectly vintage.
Couldn't believe it had not sold
already.
 
All these and more going to be listed either in my online shop, Etsy, or eBay!
Check my shop here.
My Etsy shop here.
 
 

Monday, September 17, 2012

A Silver Celebration: Antiques in the Courtyard

Besides my online store, Bella Rosa Antiques, my dear hubby and I have maintained a booth in an antique mall in our area.

This year the owner of the antique mall celebrated 25 years since the doors were first opened. She pulled off a fun weekend with free seminars, tons of door prizes, and lots of yummy treats!

We helped celebrate too of course!
When we walked in we were greeted by these gorgeous floral arrangements, donated by a local greenhouse.



In the front courtyard, a mini "fleamarket" which was fun to take part in.


This is a lovely set up by my fellow dealer and online pal Quilted Nest.
What a way to welcome customers!

Check out my dear hubby's antique (wooden) gears.

These are my favorite of his latest finds.
He likes to find the guy stuff while I look for the feminine things.

Soon I'll show you what I picked up while perusing the booths during the silver anniversary celebration.

I also realized this weekend that I have been a part of the antique mall's history for about half of those years.

I have learned so much, met so many interesting people (antiquers are always in that category!), and have made many friends.

When I first started I was one of the youngest dealers there.

 I have always attributed it to the fact that I am an old soul.

I'll be back later in the week to share my tour of a toy train museum...and all of the vintage fun we had!

But first, stay tuned to see some of my latest finds....

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Saying I DO By the Beautiful Blue

It was a beautiful wedding.
It really was.
 
The most interesting wedding
I've ever had the pleasure to
take part in.
 
I was "Just" the Step-Mom
of the bride but we all really
pitched in to make the
wedding happen.
 
 
 

 Here is the bride, happy,
 yet a little nervous...
heading toward the beach.






My Dear Hubs spent most of his
time the day of the wedding making
this "Chuppah" style arbor.
 
My two step daughters had
chopped down their own
selected pieces of bamboo
and carted it all the way
down to the beach.
(Which was 8 to 9 hours
away from where we live)



There was plenty of good hair
to go around...
 


Vows were made, rings were exchanged.
 


 And my Dear Bebe was one
of her flower girls.
She was told to keep the
petals in the basket
while we were waiting...
And ran down the beach
and the aisle without
letting them fly out
mistaking our earlier instruction
for what she was to do
during the wedding!
She stole the show for
awhile...
 
 
 
She did a great job
because at the
end she was
coached to let the petals fly
and the wind picked them up
and blew right behind
the newly married couple
as they kissed.
It was perfect!

 
 
A fantastic day to be married!

 
  The happy couple
literally
 
walked off into
the sunset...
 
 
 
And my dear hubs thinks
he made the bamboo
chuppah so well
that it is still standing there
today!
 
What a wonderful memory we have
of helping this young
couple get their start in life.
 
Cheers and many blessings
for a lifetime of happiness!
 
Linking to Pink Saturday,
after all, we are talking
about a blushing bride!
 

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Chicken Thing!


My dear sweet Bebe is approaching four years old.
First of all...when did THAT happen?

And second, she is really coming up with some funny stuff!
The kids really do say the darndest things!

While we were having fun on the beach she
shouted to her Daddy, "Let's go back in the waves and do
the chicken thing!"

We're looking at each other wondering what she meant when
she said... "You know, when we jump up when the waves come?"

So cute.

So here's to chicken things and pink things...

Have a great weekend and a very fun Pink Saturday!

I'll be back with great photos from THE WEDDING... coming up next.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A Wedding

The time is almost here! My Step Daughter is taking the PLUNGE.

Pretty soon my Dear Hubby's second daughter will be married. I don't think it has hit hime yet!

I'm excited to bring back photos of the event.

They are having a beach wedding and hopefully the rain that we see
in the forecast will hold off!

At least she won't be wearing a toilet paper dress.



Like the one we all made for her at her bridal shower last week.

There is something about the ritual of women surrounding the bride to be in friendship and love. A time for bonding.

A time for layers and layers of little 2 ply cotton sheets.

Who knew, back in the day, this would be a common theme at showers?

I'll be back with an update on how the wedding plans are going... MAYBE a Pink Saturday post and then the wedding photos!

Stay tuned!

(Plus I have another whole collection of vintage goodies to list!)