A Sneak Peek

Ever have one of those weeks where time seems to slip by and

events/dates/plans just creep up on you?

I'm having one of those weeks!

I really thought I would have been able to list the rest of my finds tonight but I recevied a few orders, we painted the guest room last night and I've been shopping for curtains and things.

So, I thought I would share a little sneak peek at what will be up on the site soon:

Pretty ramekin and saucer...

Beautiful rose teacup.

Vintage original letter/mail holder from an old lakeside cottage.

Unique scalloped rose dish.


Ultra feminine lingerie case... covered with delicate pastel roses!

I just loved this Farmers of America (Germantown, Philadelphia, PA area) ribbon and pin. They don't go together but would make a nice pairing.


Couldn't resist picking this up for the rose lovers...

Many would call this an "end of day" piece... where the artist added in multiple colors to use up the leftovers...

Love the colors in this vintage crystal choker.



Vintage "French Reproduction" plate by Vernon Kilns.

There are a few more items I'll be adding as well...but this is a start!

This weekend is also busy. We have our antique booth, getting ready for my Step-daughters wedding soon, finishing up the guest room, and then I need to figure out what to do for Dear Bebe's birthday party. She's going to be TWO next week!

Where did the time go?

Hope your weekend is much more relaxing... see you on Monday!

Requests and Questions

From the moment I started my blog, and then, my website, I have really enjoyed it. I never expected some of the joys and rewards that could come out of posting my thoughts, ideas, and vintage finds online.

Recently I received an email from a woman who is an artist. She wrote about how she found a picture of my toe shoes in a GOOGLE search.

She asked my permission to do a painting with my shoes as the subject.

At first I was surprised a photo of my ballet slippers appeared in a google search. I tried the same search and didn't see them. But hey, she found them and wants to use them as a subject of still life.

Since this seemed like a great idea to me I was thrilled she even asked.

Plus, this is the second time they've been used as a subject for a painting.

Here is the first painting of them:

It was painted by a former co-worker of mine. A great job and the colors are stunning.

I can't wait to see how a second painting might turn out.

I also receive questions about antiques and what they are worth. (Even after 11 years in the biz, I do not profess to be an expert but I will always take an honest look at an item, I just may know the answer.)

Many more questions come in asking about one of my favorite topics, LuRay Pastels dinnerware. I love seeing photos people email me of their items.

Just another fun aspect of blogging and another day in the life of an antiquey gal like myself.

AND THERE IT WAS! The Prized Piece of LuRay

While on our way up to New York state for a recent vacation we drove and drove and drove.

The scenery was not that great. There weren't any fun places to stop for a break either.
The Allegheny National Forest didn't lend itself to antique shopping so we kept driving... hoping the DVD player was not going to run out of batteries, causing Bebe to start wailing.

But I digress.

Let me just get to the good part.

Out of the blue in a pretty run down looking part of the drive.... stood a beat up old barn-like/old hotel kind of building. We were so surprised by it we had to swing back around to get to it. And I forgot to take my camera out of the car, so there are no photos.

But what happened in the next minute is what has me so excited.

We walked in and it was apparent that no one had done ANY cleaning in this place for lets say, the past 20 years, which was how long this guy said he was in business.

We continue walking down one of the skinny aisles of shelves which held item after item when we both stopped and turned to look at one particular shelf.

A voice says "let me know if I can help you find something."

I'm thinking "yeah yeah... I'll bet he doesn't have any LuRay." So I turn to my hubby and say quietly "Ask him if he has any LuRay."

Just then I look down and see a small gathering of LuRay right in front of me on a lower shelf.

And not only is it just a small gathering... it is a rare piece which is like the holy grail to a LuRay collector.

A water tumbler!!!!!!! (....cue hallelujah music....)

Yep. Here it is. Looks simple and plain enough. I have been collecting since 1992 and this is my very first one!


I've had four of the small juice tumblers for years (see them on the fourth shelf down?) but I've never been able to buy a water tumbler ...

I even go through phases where I think I'm going to sell-off my collection and get bored with it. The temptation to start collecting something new or to decorate the kitchen cabinets with a different color is tough to resist.
But finding a new-to-me, rare piece gets me back in the mood again.

Love my LuRay!

Pink Cottages

Last week we were in New York staying in a cute cottage along Lake Chautauqua.

The scenery was beautiful.

You know, summer with boats and swimmers and ahhhhh... well you get the picture.

But this little village we were in had the CUTEST... I mean THE CUTEST cottages.

One was prettier than the next.

Like this.

Or THIS.



This hotel had a great look. The red and white striped awnings gave it a pink look.

This cottage had pink shutters. The gentleman who owned it kept telling me they were "SALMON.'

Tomato, tomata. Potato, potata.

Either way. He looked pretty in pink sitting there.

I think this cottage sign is adorable.

I even found an antique shop nearby with a PINK door! Took the picture just for you, my pinky friends.

For more pinks check out Beverly's blog at How Sweet the Sound.

Today we are remembering those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and the planes in mid-air.

This was the porch where we stayed. At the time I snapped the photo, I wasn't thinking of 9/11, but it is important for me to share it with you now, as it was one of the only cottages with an American flag hanging on its wall and its image sticks in my mind... similar to how the flags hung on buildings in NY in the days following the attacks.

I'd also like to pay tribute to the men and women who serve in our nation's military, standing up for us, fighting for our freedom, so we don't have to.

Thank you.

May God Bless America.

The Fan

I am now a HUGE fan of this pink fan.



The only problem is... it's not mine anymore!



I sold it. Yep, I did.

Can you believe that?



I must have been crazy. CRAZY! Out of my mind I tell ya.


Since all I have left is a lovely photo of this pretty, no make that GORGEOUS, fan I am going to use it as much as possible.

I'm starting by linking up with Connie's blog, Living Beautifully.



Check her Frou Frou Friday post by clicking on my sidebar for her button.





I thought I would show a few more frou frou items which are still in the shop.
This vintage greeting card is very pretty and was made by the TUCKS's company.

On the back it says it was printed for the majesty the King and Queen Alexandra.
Mighty frou frou, don't you think?


OR how about this frilly handwriting done in gold wire? The mother of pearl heart pin is unique as well.


And I really like these heavy gauge wire glove trees. What a great idea for decoratiung!

Have a great weekend. May all your finds be as sweet as the "FAN THAT GOT AWAY!"

Pink Ruffled French Fan, Victorian Jewelry Box, Belleek Shamrock Vase, Cameo Brooch, Mother of Pearl Pin & More

We're back from New York state.... we enjoyed the cottage life but now I'm getting back into the mix of daily life again. It was rough (Ha! ha!) there for awhile... I wasn't ready to snap out of vacation mode.

But here are my latest finds.... from our travels and also from our Labor Day weekend antique show we visited. (I forgot to bring my camera!)

THIS was my absolute favorite find... ahhhhhhh!

A pink ruffled fan, very old, with a French flair!

I must love my little online store or else I wouldn't have let this one go.

Sigh. Moving on....

A pair of Italian tole wall hooks... sweet!

Two industrial style metal/domed flower frogs.

Use 'em for brushes or pens, etc too!

MacKenzie-Childs dish, called Kings Ferry, from 1983.


A cameo brooch

Red rhinestone aurora borealis pin... I'm thinking holidays here!

Darling antique jewelry box adorned with a celluloid medallion of two girls

Whoever Anna was she was one lucky young lady to have received this darling mother of pearl brooch. It has the same gold wire clasp on back.

Belleek shamrock vase

green mark

(1965 - 1981)

Vintage greeting cards. The card on the left is made by TUCK's.

There are ten other little sweeties I listed... click here to see the rest!

Cottage Life

In my last post I mentioned recharging my batteries. Well, they are charged. So much so that I can't seem to get out of the relaxation mode!

We decided to try a new place to get away and relax. I had never heard of it before, never seen it before, but I'm so glad we did. Chautauqua Lake, NY.



We stayed at this quaint little cottage near the lake.


While the title seems humble... it was more than just a mere place. It seemed magical.

It was a whole village of cottages. One cuter than the next. I found many pink cottages and of course, I snapped a few photos. I'll be saving those for Saturday's post. (My pinky friends stay tuned!)


It was so nice to live the cottage life for awhile. Look how happy I am in this photo!

I could get used to this.

I'll be back with more!