Patina Dilemma

You know the old adage - out of sight, out of mind - that is so true at Maple Hill LOL....

I regularly go looking for something (in this case vintage scraps for a Swap project) and come across things I totally forgot about...

Like this lovely crotchet collar - obviously intended for a child...

Or these old children's hangers (I know the packet I found them in was only a $1.00).

So the dilemma - to clean or not to clean?

While I did wash the hangers (they were definitely in need of it) the collar really is a question mark.

Some times I do clean - and am very glad I did, but other times I regret it - in this case I risk loosing that lovely mellow brown (which really does not come through well in the pictures)....hmmm. Thoughts (and what hanger should I use to display)? Jewels

Hangups

Yes I have a few but that's not what this post is about LOL....this weekend I caught up with all my "frame and hang" projects that I've been putting off and this is what I got done...

I really love thrifting old frames and reusing them. This frame originally had a rather colouful drawing of a cat which both Mr. Darcy and I agreed had to be removed.. I found the picture in a separate thrift up at the cottage in frame that was in really rough shape. This is now hung in the coffee/tea corner of my kitchen. 

This frame originally had a sketch of a street scene (somewhere in Europe) which is actually going to get added into an art journal I am working on. I have always loved this page which came from an old poetry gift book - you can read my original post on how I found a collection of these here at a book sale. It's not very big (4 1/2 x 5 1/2) so I am going to leave on the stand.

I recently came across this art piece by Perky Nihilist online. I like the sentiment so I purchased a print ....

...and placed in this rather ornate frame - but I think it goes well with the castle theme don't you? This hangs in my office. 

Finally - talk about a quick project - I gathered some vintage quilt squares I had, old button cards and sewing ephemera to come up with this collage. This now hangs over my kitchen window.
So glad I finally got around to this - slowly filling in all that white space on my walls! Enjoy. Jewels

Define Vintage

I have been looking for a piece of furniture for my office for some time now for storing supplies but I want it to be second hand so I have been regularly visiting my favorite places hoping I will get lucky...

This would fit the bill but sadly it is not the right size ...

Still I had to bring it home thinking it was very vintage - and just think of all the things I could tuck in those drawers! Old buttons, embellishments for artsy stuff, maybe even jewelry which it was originally intended for...

It does need a little tender loving care to clean it up (without hurting the patina of course)...

On the back I found a wind up for music! Surely this would help me date it - maybe some nice classical music like Beethoven or Chopin...

In anticipation I turned the crank and.....Yesterday by the Beatles started playing LOL...well I guess some would consider that vintage! I don't mind but I still need to find my big piece. Wish me luck...Enjoy Jewels

Gatsby Mail Art and Good Thrift

Two things to share...first was another Mail Art Swap - this one with Beth and Leslie. I went with a Gatsby theme.  

Found this great pic from the 1920's on the Internet - I coloured the young lady in the middle ... notice the looks some of the ladies are giving each other, especially to the left LOL.

I played with pastel colours for the background and stencils

The quote is from The Great Gatsby - isn't it true!

My thrift is something I have always wanted that I found while on vacation...

...not sure what these are called - some kind of "panoramic" picture? Length is 3'! The frame is some kind of plaster and has seen better days but I like it just as is. Not sure where its permanent spot will be. I know, others might not think of it the same as me - but I don't care LOL...Enjoy. Jewels

Pretty

How pretty...

---a pretty vintage apron - love the graphics (it's pretty dirty too and needs a good cleaning LOL)

---a pretty (old) Needlework magazine...

---with some pretty awesome graphics (note the message at the top of the page)

---some very pretty dishes....

---maybe not so pretty but I rarely find Ladybird books - this one has seen better days but has some graphics that will get used...

---and some pretty vintage linen to "re-purpose"...
---a pretty good Thrift don't you think? Enjoy. Jewels

Poetry Gift Books

I think thrifting a vintage poetry gift book is pretty cool.

But seven at about 50 cents a pop is just brilliant! The American Association of University Women (AAUW) have a book sale twice a year in our local mall to raise funds for scholarships.

I try to go early and look at their "collectibles" table on the off chance I will find a reasonably cheap find that I have no problems "recycling". Also in the hope I beat the book sellers who show up and literally swipe loads of books off into cardboard boxes (hardly seems fair to us casual buyers)...

These gifts books were published by Cupples and Leon, The Holiday Publishing Company, and De Wolfe and Fiske.

They all date around the early 1900s - since 4 of them were in a Ziplock bag (yep) together I am assuming they were all donated at the same time from the same source.

The graphics are just lovely - with lots of "patina".

Some have inscriptions like: Miss Mackie, Best wishes from E.A. Williams, 1905.

Now the struggle is scan and keep or scan and "use". Some of the covers really are sweet and I can incorporate so much into different projects.

Absolutely love this one...

But like I've said before - they won't get seen if they sit in the bottom of a box somewhere - so unless you see one that I can sell and make a killing, they await my art table! Enjoy, Jewels.

Billions and billions...

Well maybe not that many - but I sure do like a good score on buttons - remember this post!

Almost 2 years later I asked the same question in the same thrift shop "Got any buttons?" and I got the same response "Let me check the basement"...a few minutes later a shoe box, tin and paper bag appeared.

I have to say the tin was pretty cool - real Canadiana - so it has "landed" (LOL) in the cottage.

There were definetly some gems amongst the "billions and billions" but the REAL score was in the shoebox...which was completely full of button cards like these - complete and in lovely shape.

After some browsing on the Web and button guides I have, I think the Western Germany glass buttons are worth more then what I paid for the whole lot! So I'm feeling pretty chuffed (though I know Hubby still won't get it). All I can say is, one of these days I'll be on Antiques Roadshow and prove him wrong :> ... Jewels.

Truly A Nice Week

...not a horrible week, not a stupendous week, just a really nice week with lots of little things to celebrate...

Like a great find at the Recycling Center - I've gotten to know the woman who manages it and she will some times tuck things away for me...

Like lovely old British magazines (here in Midland MI?) from the 1940's and 50's

Wonderful graphics for me to use...

And wonderful fashion spreads

There are  lots more but I think I will save them for my "art" (LOL). The ink comes off pretty easy - this is pretty old paper - not sure what to do to stabilize so looking for suggestions...

There was also an old Road Atlas - every page is a great shade of blue - good background papers...and at the Recycling Center - all they want is a small donation which I gladly give!

Kimberly's ATC showed up that I swapped for - the theme was Seaside Sweeties - she also made matching tags...

After a lot of rain (really, a lot) this week my garden is not looking too bad

The lilies are in bloom

And my front door chair is looking nice

Plus I have some new garden art - thrifted...

And new...

Today hubby and I did our first summer Saturday at the Farmers Market and then brunch at Cafe Zinc (pricey but worth it). We then headed over to Bay City to buy me a new pair of walking shoes - apparently I have to quit running (dang) as the knees can't handle it - so no more marathons (sniff, though I said I would never do it again anyways). Arn't these a lovely green. By the way, apparently there really is no difference between Running Shoes and Walking Shoes (unless the manufacturer does something specific) so I may sneak a little jog in here and there...

Finally, Miss Gwendoline - she is SO funny. Can you guess what she is fixated on (for over half an hour) in our back room? Nope, does not start with S. Nope does not start with B. Yes it starts with C (one of our resident chippy chipmunks). AND it had the nerve to stare right back at her - too funny. Enjoy Jewels