Blog Shop: A Few of My Favorite Things

Joining up this week with

Blog Shop and sharing

some of my favorites

from Bella Rosa Antiques.

 

 

 

Shop from the comfort

of home... maybe

something for you....

or for a Christmas gift.

There are a few holidays

ahead... how about a nice

shiny serving piece?

 

What I like about antiques...

you just never know what

you will find...

And you can be sure to

find unique pieces

 

 

Because, well, they just

don't make 'em like

that anymore!

 

Some may bring back

sweet memories...

 

 

And some may help

you start new ones...

This stunning vintage

crystal necklace

will make great

conversation at

your next party

or family gathering...

 

 

 Or, some are just simply

too charming to pass up.

 

Enjoy your time blog shopping...there's more

over here at How Sweet the Sound.

 

 

Carnival Party Success!

What a great time we had

at our birthday carnival party!

 

There are so many people

to thank for all of their

hard work. I could not have

done this by myself.

 

For instance, this ticket booth!

My Dear Hubs made it

using dumpster diving skills-

pulling plywood from the trash!

 

Even more amazing,

he whipped it together

the day before the party.

 

We used our canopy from the flea market

and created a concessions stand.

 

We had cupcakes and

ice cream, party hats ...

 

Games of all kinds

 

Penny Candy too!

(Note the chalkware puppy in the middle....

he was an actual carnival prize a long time ago!)

 

 

A prize table filled

with monkeys, gumball

machines, puzzles,

ribbon wands and more!

 

 

A big success and my favorite

part was the dance "zone!"

Do you remember

doing the hokey pokey,

the chicken dance, and the limbo?

 

If I couldn't remember how to

do them before, I sure remember now.

 

What fun!

 

Now, back to my regularly

scheduled life.

 

After a much needed rest!

 

 

 

Step Right Up! It's Carnival Time!

Just a few days away...

My first carnival!

 

We have our tickets.

Popcorn.

Hot dogs.

Lemonade.

 

 

Games are being prepped.

Prizes are packed

and ready to be won!

 

 

 

 

And yes, I've been

painting signs every

night... no Graphics Fairy

for me! All hand painted.

 

 

It gives the signs a

great, kid-like quality.

 

Step right up! It's carnival time!

I'll be back with

pictures of our fun day...

 

Can't believe my

little Sweet Pea is

turning 5!

 

Have a great week!

What is it about old books?

 

I just love old books.

Is it the look?

The feel?

The smell?

 

    

 

They look great

in a stack...

 

 

The old gilded

bindings are always artistic

 

 

And even the plain linen

covers have character...

 

Some books even

have the author's

picture illustrated inside...

 

Some have gorgeous

lithographs

 

While others have

great content

inside...

 

Like a vintage garden book.

Charming!

 

This one is about

homemade cookies.

Love!

 

I even like to see

the old handwriting

in pencil...

sometimes a doodle

or a name.

 

My favorites are the

 sweet sentiments written

by the giver of the book

to the recipient.

This book is really decorated.

Makes you just want to open

it, doesn't it?

 

Often you will see

that I use books in

my displays.

 

Or maybe just one

other little vintage

gadget will give

the book a little

"life."

Like a pair of old

reading glasses.

 

 

 

This book doesn't need a thing.

Sometimes you'll find

the cover with a paper

chromolithograph.

This one is stunning.

 

Another beauty.

 

Another sweet surprise is to find

a flower or clover, pressed inside.

Makes me wonder what the person's

day was like...was it a sunshiney day,

with not a cloud in the sky?

 

Or maybe it was a gift from a

special friend or loved one...

 

What do you like about old books?

Linking to
Ivy and Elephants
What's It Wednesday?

and Knick of Time

New Arrivals for Bella Rosa Antiques!

"Hot off the Press" and Freshly listed:

 

Click here to go to BellaRosaAntiques.com

 

French Vanity Tray

Satin Glove Box

Fur Collar

Chippendale Serving Bowl

Vintage French Dictionary

Vintage Cookie Cookbook

Hollycraft Necklace

Aurora Borealis Wreath Brooch

And also:

English Horseback Riding Cap

Art Deco Vase

Porcelain Flowers

Antique Condensed Milk Jar

Pink Rose Teapot

Vintage Trims, Ribbon, Seam Binding

Victorian Calling Cards, Die Cuts

Small Still Life Painting

Please contact me if you have any questions or need a special invoice created,
just for you.

Have a great day!

Jillian

Weekend "Tresors" From Around the Lake

What a great weekend!

 

 

A trip to the lake, beautiful weather,

getting out some fall clothes,

and an antique hunting day...

who could ask for more?

 

Here is a sneak peek at the

treasures we found

around the lake:

 

A few goodies from a

local thrift shop, and as

luck would have it,

we happened upon an

estate sale.

 

Unfortunately we

arrived 45 minutes

late. I walked by a long

line of folks waiting to pay

for their haul...their arms

loaded, boxes brimming.

 

 

But there were

still some goodies

to be found!

 

 

It was a big, beautiful

house along one of the

lakes in upstate New York.

 

 

I came home with

three original paintings and

two vintage character

pen and ink (or watercolor)

pieces. Will show

a picture as soon as I

figure out what they are!

 

 

Plus, silver serving pieces,

figurines, an Asian

marble statue,

great great antique

books (some of my favorite

things to buy,) some china,

a sewing stand,

glassware, a fur collar

 and a coat! 

 

 

 

These will be added

to the new "tresors" I

found while selling

last week...here

in Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

Stay tuned and

enjoy the day!

 

Linking to:

 

Etsy Vintage Cottage Style

Sorting Through

Two days have passed since our

big sale on Labor Day...

 

Still recovering!

 

No, seriously, there are

many boxes to unpack and

sort through. What to keep,

what to bring to our antique

booth....what to take to auction.

 

 

And then after that is done...

I'm taking a wee little break.

 

Just a wee one!

 

I'll be back with more

adventures in antiquing

and new listings.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Chair Makeover and How Things are Going With My Office

We had a chair sitting in our master bedroom that needed some TLC.

That was the intention anyway when we found it (I think my Mother found it)
while we were hunting for vintage at a Goodwill store.

Anyway, it sat and sat...and sat a little more.

You know what happens next. It starts to become the "clothing chair."

But now finally, it has a new life!

Unfortunately I forgot to take a before photo. Imagine it in your mind: A semi vintage Bombay company Louis XVII chair.....mahogany stain. The seat was worn and tattered.

Here it is, transformed for my new office:

I love it!

I found the fabric, ironically enough,

 two years later at another Goodwill.

I've been shopping around to look for pieces to add to the office.
The white cabinet with the glass doors is from Home Goods. I am thinking it
needs to come home with me! I took this photo a month ago. It may be gone
already. If it is meant to be, it is meant to be.

The picture in the lower right corner is the carpet my dear hubby bought
for me from the same store.

 

I'm thinking crystal based lamps...but I want

glass, not acrylic. So I will wait until I find

the old vintage style.

 

The center photo was my sweet Bebe, holding up

a poster that I was considering for the office.

And lastly, I've been spray painting different

items for wall art, fixtures, etc.

 

Can't wait to show you a finished product...

however it may be until after Christmas at the

rate I am going!

 

Til then, I'll be looking for vintage.

My new finds should be ready for listing

by early next week.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Linking to

 

What's It Wednesday

at Ivy and Elephants

 

Hope in Every Season

Homemaking Party.

Scenes From An Outdoor Market: Acorn Bombs and Sand Buckets

The day finally arrived!

 

The day of our outdoor

antique ...uh...

"Flea" market.

 

Many thought it was

going to be the

market that never was...

 

We woke up to a

thundering monsoon.

 

Down pouring rain.

 

 

But an hour later, we were in the park

setting up shop.

 

It actually got really hot.

 

So, due to the rain, we arrived late.

Which caused a bit of a panic

for the hubs and I as many

of the dealers were all

 trying to get into their

spaces at the same time.

 

Spaces that did not

seem to have enough

space...for the space.

 

Stay with me people

Getting loopy here...

I've been up since

3:45 am....

 

We even had an "incident."

Not an accident, an incident.

 

In his haste my dear dear

hubs backed into another dealer's

display piece. A bucket of

sand. You would have thought

he had run over her mother

the way she was shouting and

screaming.

 

Anyway, after that we

were a little bit off kilter.

 

 

I managed to set up somewhat

of an organized space.

 

 

Industrial stuff did not sell well.

I can't figure it out.

 

Wrong area?

Wrong venue!

 

I also learned that

while oak trees provide

nice shade, the gigantic

acorns they produced

this year sounded

like bombs dropping

from airplanes.

 

Onto our tent, van,

and sometimes the china.

Sending the people

close to our booth

into a "what WAS THAT?"

frenzy. I admit, it was

making me a little jumpy too.

 

All I can say is ...

good thing we invested

in the canopy!

 

So to calm the nerves,

 I managed to fit in a quick

shopping spree for more

Bella inventory.

 

 

There is always the

thrill of finding more!

 

Am I crazy or what?

 

Here's hoping you

were thinking "WHAT!"

Of course she's not

crazy, sitting outside

under a bomb dropping

oak tree in 90 degree

weather...it is always

a reason to shop for more!

 

 

So you see?

I'm not crazy.

 

Just crazy for vintage.

 

Today was definitely

a learning experience.

 

Met a lot of nice

people... picked up

a few ideas... who knows?

 

I might even do it

again next year.

 

For now.... stay tuned for

my latest finds!