Friday, January 30, 2015

SweetHearts and a 25% Off SUPER BOWL Sale Going on Now!




What do you feel when you see these small bits of sugary love?

They bring me right back to being a kid again.

They bring a smile.

They are literally eye candy....bringing pops of color, too.

And as I was loading this photo onto the blog I noticed the center heart reads: Luv 2 Dance.

That couldn't be more true about me. Did you know dancing is actually my first love?

I'm excited to be leading a dance clinic/class at Bebe's school this spring!

Have a super weekend... remember, if football ain't your thang, you can always hop on over to my Super Bowl Sale at BellaRosaAntiques.com and receive 25% off this weekend through Monday only. It's like getting free shipping!

In order to receive the discount you must use the link.

Have a GREAT weekend!



Linking with Pink Saturday

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Romance is in the air! Antique Postcards to Keep the Home Fires Burning

 
 

Look at all of the hugging, smooching,
and flirting going on in these early 1900's postcards.

You'd think there weren't any distractions
like TV and smartphone apps!

 
This poor guy is just begging for her to go out with him.
 

 
Puts you in a playful mood, doesn't it?
 
I love the last one above that reads:
"Oh please don't"
(Which really means go ahead)
 
Such teasing! I mean really.
 
 
Antique postcards are such gems
to read through. I usually enjoy
the reverse side even more.
 
But I would have to say this time it was the
front of the card that was the most
entertaining!
 
They are available in my shop, here,
at six for 14.00 which makes them
only 2.33 each.
 
I also have vintage Valentines so be
sure to check out the whole ephemera
category here.
 
Enjoy the day!
 
 




Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Let's Talk Vintage #16: Beautiful Mother of Pearl Buttons

 
 
Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!
We are on our 16th week of this fantastic
journey of sharing the love
of nostalgic, vintage, and timeless things.
 
This week I am taking a closer look at
mother of pearl buttons.
 
 
They are very unique and fun to collect.
 
 
From their smooth, silky touch
to their visual appeal,
these buttons are uniquely individual...
with each becoming its own treasure.
 


 
From pretty designs to

 
Intricate carved details
 
 
Or smooth, flat tops
 

 
And some aren't even a button at all!
 
My fascination with M.O.P. just began this past year.
Everytime I come across a bag of old buttons
I start to dig through and look for these old gems!
 
Take a look at some quick information
 I found on Wikipedia:
 
* M.O.P comes from the inner layer of a certain type of shell called nacre.
* Nacre also makes up the outer coating of pearls
*Widely used for pearl buttons especially during the 1900s, were the shells of the great green turban snail and the large top snail.
*The international trade in mother of pearl is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an agreement signed by more than 170 countries.
 
Wow! All the information you needed to know and more! It is very interesting to dig in and discover the who, what, when, where, and why of vintage things, isn't it?
 
Here are this week's features:


Last week we saw a few vintage
 finds from Deanie's Stash.
The little girl patterns are adorable!
 
 
 Joyce at the Quilted Nest shared
her love of vintage illustrations in this
antique Bible Story book.
 
 
shared this vintage door from her
hunt last week. Can't wait to see how
she uses it in the future!
 
 
 
Now it's your turn! Let's talk vintage!
 
 





Also joining with these creative link parties:
Ivy and Elephants for "what's it Wednesday"
Betsy and Friends' Vintage Inspiration Party
and Jann's Share Your Cup Thursday

Thursday, January 22, 2015

New Arrivals are Here! Titanic Book, Victorian Mugs, Valentine, Vintage Jewelry, Industrial Accents and More!

Yes, new arrivals have made it to my online shop, BellaRosaAntiques.com
 
My apologies for it being a day and a half late!
Yesterday I accidently posted today's post
instead of this one.
 
You'll find vintage china, silver butter dome, vintage
Valentines, vintage jewelry, pink baby shoes, an old
book about the TITANIC, Victorian mugs,
an industrial accent and more!
 
Check out the rest, here!
 


I think my favorite is the Titanic book.
Not many have appeared in my travels.
In fact, I'm not sure I've ever come across one.
 
 
Also this week:
 
Vintage "Love Story" music box
Old Paper curling ribbon
Vintage Cottage kitchen utensil tray
 
 
 
Here is my fun industrial piece.
 
It is a car emblem.
Probably from a
"Town & Country" car
 
 
 
 
and this Noritake marmalade or condiment set.
Perfect go along for morning tea!
 
Enjoy the day!
 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

My Valentine Mantel: Bringing Back the Shiny and Bright

This year I decided to go shiny and bright for my Valentine mantel. It worked for Christmas, so why not?


I moved these mercury glass style trees  from my dining room to the living room and placed them on the mantel.

After all, the Northeast is still pretty cold, all the way up until the end of March.

(They were found at my favorite thrift shop in the woods near our lake house).


Along with those I brought in a silvery pre-lit garland (from an after Christmas sale at Target many years ago.) Gotta love those sales!

Then I added photos of loved ones and a little bouquet of deep wine colored roses.  You won't believe where I found the vase. (In my bathroom, it is a toothbrush holder! I cleaned it, of course! Shhhh...let's keep that one quiet.)


This may be the first year I did not incorporate any vintage! Gasp!


While I was on my trip to see the Dancing with the Stars Live Tour, which was held next to an outlet mall, I came across this "LOVE" decorative piece.
 
Not old but it adds in a vintage STYLE.
 
And I keep thinking about it! Why didn't I buy it?
The hubby and I talked about making one.
Maybe it will be ready for the next Valentine's Day!
 
Instead, I think I will add in
a vintage Valentine postcard
 
What's on your mantel for Valentine's Day?
 
I'd love to hear about it!
 
 
Linking to the Fabulous Friday Party with Maria.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Let's Talk Vintage #15: This Weekend's Vintage Finds



Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage! This is where I invite other vintage lovers to link together in one place so we can see vintage inspired projects, collections, finds, you name it!

This is the fifteenth week and I am having
so much fun seeing what everyone brings!

This week I am sharing some of my finds...
I was invited to go vintage hunting with a friend.
 
 
I just fell in love with this sweet
porcelain music box.
It is marked on the bottom
Sears and Roebuck and Company 1972.
The quality of the porcelain felt right to me
and I'm curious to see who made it.
 
Always discovering new things!

 
And I also discovered that I have a thing
for vintage music boxes!
This one is sweet and called
"Talk to the Animals."

 
And switching gears here I found
this beautiful Nippon set.
The condiment jar still has the
original porcelain spoon which is hard to find.
 



Now it is your turn! Let's Talk Vintage!

 


Last week we saw how Penny transformed a
couple of vintage piano stools into pretty
kitchen stools for her new breakfast bar.
 
 
 
and Faith, Hope, and Cherry Tea shared
her beautiful tea cups and china.
Beautiful Shelley cup and some lovely chintz!



and Melissa of Melissa's Antiques shared
her vintage American Red Cross pins.
______________________________________
 
It is your turn! Link up your vintage stuff!
Can't wait to see what you
have  to share this week.... 






Also linking with Ivy and Elephants "What's it Wednesday."

Friday, January 16, 2015

My Vintage Stash - How to Eliminate the Clutter Plus Some New Finds

This week I've been digging way, way down deep into my vintage stash.

Winter is usually the time I go through my leftover inventory and re-evaluate what can be sold and what will be moved on. Is it ready for the discount bin?

I have to ask myself: Is it in good condition? Is there existing appeal? Value?
Does it fit my style? And would someone think it was a treasure?

This week I discovered I already have existing treasures that I forgot about!
Today I started adding them into my shop.


Like this little pink Ginny doll
purse and wooden bucket.
 
 
And this industrial "Country" car emblem.
It is a really cool piece for displaying
on a shelf or man cave!
 
 
And who doesn't like French
perfume and soap labels?
These are ready for crafting...
all are unused.
 
 
And check out this applied handle...
An angel! Very unique.
 
There's more on the way from
my vintage stash! I will 
 be adding more things
to my shop early next week.
 
Have a great weekend!
 
Linking to Pink Saturday, of course.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Let's Talk Vintage #14 - The Take Down: Vintage Ornaments Galore

Hello and Welcome!
You've landed smack dab into my fourteenth
"Let's Talk Vintage" post.
Stay awhile, and link up!




 
This week I am sharing how my dining room
 table looks after we start taking down the Christmas trees.


 
Ornaments. Everywhere.
 

It's not pretty people.

 
Well, actually, it IS! 

Let's Take a closer look.
 

You can see that some of them are on trays.
I do this so that while I am removing them,
there is less breakage.

The mixture of hues creates some
serious eye candy!
Like sweets from the Sugar Plum Fairy.
 


It has taken a long time to collect these,
I do not want to lose any.
There are some new, mixed in with the old.
 
And this year is a whole new opportunity
to find more vintage!
 

So how about you, what did you do
or find this week that was inspired by vintage?
 
Last week we saw
 

Roselle of Seaside Rose Creations
shared her farmhouse
Valentine sentiments 


 
and Haley of Tuneful Journeys
shared her Christmas Tea with a
couple of mischievous elves!
 
 
 and a Vintage Green
shared some great vintage
booth displays!
 
Now it's your turn: Let's Talk Vintage!




Also linking with:
 Ivy and Elephants "What's It Wednesday"
"Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party"
and Pink Saturday

Monday, January 12, 2015

The Dancing With The Stars Live Tour and a VIP Meet and Greet


Christmas presents. Sometimes you just struggle to find the right one.
Some people are hard to buy for. Some, are easier than others.

Either way, this year, my husband hit it out of the park.
He gave me two tickets to see the Dancing with the Stars Live Tour.
Along with that, a VIP meet and greet!

Whaaaaat? Meet and greet?

 


We arrived with eager anticipation only to find out there was a long line for the meet and greet. Here I am after receiving our "VIP" badge and tickets for the 3RD ROW! Whoo hoo!

Then back in a long line again.

After finally making it up to the front of the line we realized our high hopes of getting to "meet" the stars were falling back down to reality.  I wasn't really that ga-ga about it anyway since I have worked in TV, but we looked forward to it as something new and fun to do.

We had heard through the grapevine that Mark Ballas was not going to be there but that Val, Emma, Witney, Alfonso and Keo were in the VIP group.

We were not allowed to take photos with our own cameras. They took our photos, which were to be uploaded and "received" online.

It was really quick!  I barely had a chance to squeak out to Alfonso: "I saw you in the Tap Dance Kid in high school!" and "You are my favorite!" and to Witney: "You are gorgeous, such a great choreographer!" Shook Val's hand, Keo's, squeaked out something to Emma....then some big security looking guy is shouting.... "TAKE THE PHOTO NOW" and you are whisked off, handed a small dollar store tote bag, and shown the door. Boom. The end. Wow.
(And Mark Ballas was not present.)

So off to lunch we went since the show didn't start for another 2 1/2 hours.

 
Then, once we were seated for the show,
the anticipation was building again.
Smart phones were out and buzzing with action.



The stage was quiet. We were all 
waiting for the show to start...
then at stage right, shadowy figures appeared.  


And then, BAM! Spotlights on! And 
there were Witney Carson and
Alfonso Ribiero, seated on a couch.


They did their famous number from last
season's Dancing with the Stars routine.
 The one where he does his infamous
"Fresh Prince of Bel Air move: The Carlton."



It was fabulous! What an uplifting way to start the show.
Just look at her lines... the way her toes are pointed.

 
There was a lot of variety, not just dancing.
Both Mark Ballas and Val play
musical instruments. Guitar and Violin
 
I thought this interview segment where
Alfonso asked them questions 
was a nice aspect to the show. It looks like
some of them are looking right at me!


 
I "snapped" this great shot of Mark Ballas
and Emma.
Love the silhouette shape!



The rest of the performances were awesome, too. This was a fun number
with the Australian Kym Johnson. She is a judge now on the Australian version
of Dancing with the Stars.
 


Beautiful dancing, exciting music! Thank you, Honey!

Linking to Coastal Charm's Show & Share