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Sometimes it is the little things in life that give me joy. Like a stop at a local shop and finding a little pile of vintage buttons with a $3 price tag.
Then you start thumbing through them and find two Bakelite buttons (bottom right), 7 glass buttons (four black at the top and the three white at the bottom) and a complete set of celluloid buttons with the cutest black and ecru checked pattern on them. With a few other vintage plastic ones thrown in for good measure.
That is what makes this girl’s heart sing!
“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It all started at the new Love of Jesus Thriftique in the west end. I found salt shaker and set out to look for his mate. I searched high and low, but no twin. He was only a dollar so I thought, he’s kind of cool, I will get him anyway.
I got home and did some internet research and found out the companion piece I was looking for was a lady! I also found out his name is Mr. Pickwick.
Back this week to the Thriftique! I walk in the front door and immediately inside is the jewelry case. I stop to check out the case and right on top, like she is sitting there waiting for me to return, is the lady pepper shaker.
I notice on her back is not the name Pickwick as the internet research I did was calling her. I then Googled Artone England (the marking on it) and salt and pepper shakers and find out they are part of a set of 6 shakers. They are based on Charles Dickens characters. The lady is Little Nell.
I guess I might make one more trip back to see if I can find any of the other 4!
He does look better as a pair, doesn’t he?
Technorati Tags: salt,pepper,shakers,artone,england,charles dickens,mr pickwick,little nell,art pottery,porcelain
I recently happened upon a collection of Wade’s Red Rose Tea Whimsies at a local thrift shop. Since I watch Antiques Roadshow, I know that a group is more valuable then its parts.
Several years ago, I came upon this fellow at a local estate sale.
I had no idea what he was, but thought he was kind of cool and he was only 25 cents. On the back he was marked Wade England.
Fast forward to the thrift shop and there were 20 pieces and my brain clicked to the little figure I had. I asked if she would make me a deal if I took them all. They were marked $2.50 each. She let me have them for $30 for all. I said sold, she wrapped them and I brought them home.
Whisper Wade “Whimsies” into many people’s ears and it will mean only one thing…small animal figurines from the George Wade Pottery of Burslem, England.
Wade began in 1810 in Burslem, England, with a small workshop and a single pottery oven making mostly bottles and pottery items. He soon turned his attention to the more profitable ceramics needs of textile mills, which supported the company into the late 1920s. As well as industrial ceramics, Wade produced a line of beautiful figurines, many Art Deco. These were so popular that animal figures were added. The line ran into a snag when it was found that the Cellulose finish turned yellow and peeled off with age. In the late 1930s some models were reissued with a high gloss underglaze finish. (Source)
You can ead more about and see the collections here.
I found a handmade Snowlady at my local Goodwill. There is a manager where I work that collects dolls. I thought she would be the perfect addition to her collection. There was only problem, there was a blob of dried glue where her nose used to be!
I went to my local Michaels to get a miniature carrot to glue on it, but they no longer stock miniatures. What to do? I happened by the ribbon table lady that makes the bows to ask where the miniatures are. We brainstormed a bit…clay? beads of stacking sizes? whittle down a dowel rod? She then said maybe there is a carrot button?
As I was heading to the bead and button section, I passed the sea shells and what did I spy?
I thought if I cut off the tip and painted it orange, that maybe just maybe? Well it worked!
And here she is in all her glory. What was the tab for this redo? Bag of shells $2.99, drops of orange acrylic paint for pennies. Finished product is priceless!
I cannot wait to deliver it tomorrow! She will love it! I told her on the phone today that I found a doll for her and that I had to replace a part. I told her when I delivered her I would tell her which one. If I said carrot nose, she would know it was a snowman!
Cannot spoil a surprise by giving it away!
I found a new to me and new to the area, too, thrift shop in Colonial Heights called Grantiques. While on my first trip in I spied with my little eye this lady. She stands about 14” tall and is made from chalkware. She was priced at $29.99. I knew she was old as most chalkware is from the 40s and 50s. I knew she had something to do with the war as she was saluting and dressed as a WAC (Women’s Army Corp). I later found that the WACs were established in 1941.
Over 150,000 American women served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War 11. Members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army. Both the Army and the American public initially had difficulty accepting the concept of women in uniform. However, political and military leaders, faced with fighting a two-front war and supplying men and materiel for that war while continuing to send lend-lease material to the Allies, realized that women 
could supply the additional resources so desperately needed in the military and industrial sectors. Given the opportunity to make a major contribution to the national war effort, women seized it. By the end of the war their contributions would be widely heralded. (source)
I found this little lady was stuck in my head and this voice kept saying, “go get her!” I waiting patiently until the shop reopened from its holiday hiatus on Saturday and made a beeline for her! I asked the lady that owned the store if she could do a bit better and she came down to $25. She then told me the rest of the story. The lady that owned it and whose son sold it to her said she won it as a carnival prize at the World’s Fair. there was one in New York in 1939 and another in Los Angeles in 1940. It could have been either one.
I have Googled every combination I can think of looking for another, but cannot find one. Since they were carnival prizes they would be plentiful and also disposable, so she may be rare. I guess time will tell.
For now she looks lovely on my shelf in the living room. I love her colors and her chippy façade!
There are three little words that make my heart sing like no other…what could they be, you ask? No, nothing sentimental, nothing loving, just the three I love the most…
NEW
THRIFT
SHOP!
I was eating my lunch today at my fav tea room, The Blue Willow in Petersburg, when the owner told me about TWO new thrift shops in town. One is run by a church and the prices are insanely low, the other is a consignment type that is HUGE. It was closed when I did a drive by after work, but plan to check it out on Saturday.
I will keep you posted after my visit to the other one.
I have been such a bum lately. I have not had the gumption to make stuff and have not had the wherewithal to post on here. I have neglected my readers down to the nubs!
I have been thrifting, estate saling, inspiring another beginning paper doll creator, but as for me nada, zip, zilch. My soul has been missing it and I have been lately starting the seeds of some new ideas and inspiration, so I guess time will tell.
My latest thrift acquisition is this lovely 1865 deck of stage actor playing cards. Each of the face cards has images of stage actors on them. Four to each face card.
The joker has the copyright info. They were made by the U.S. Playing Card Co. of Cincinnati. They are in really remarkable shape for their age and only missing the 2 of clubs. I understand the Joker can stand in for the missing card, right?
What have you been doing lately? Anything exciting. I have also been leading our work team for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. So far we have raised $1060 as a team. That is really cool. We have some big fundraisers coming up so should end with a huge bang!
Until, soon take care of yourselves. I have a craft show at the end of October to prep for, so will have items to show you.
When I was recently out of town for work for three weeks, I packed a lot of essentials. Clothes, undies, bras, toiletries, and my Tide pen. It is my go to for spot removal.
I went to the Goodwill in Williamsburg on the way back from a day of training in Newport News for the new company. I have been wanting to try some wet felting to make some bracelets. I have read on various sites that a washboard helps for the friction in the felting process. Imagine my surprise to find one in nearly new condition!
The part that caught my eye is on the back. 
Can you read the third sentence? It says “Packs easily into suit case or traveling bag.” Packs in your suitcase? And while I am on the back it is ideal for hosiery and lingerie?? How tough were their garments if it could stand a scrubbing on this board??
And while I am at it, it “just the right size to fit in a bucket, pail or lavatory.” When I was little that is what my 
Grandma called the toilet, the lavatory. Back in the day it was a bucket or a bedpan, right? So ewwwww… scrubbing your dainties in the toilet!
I love the name of it, the Dubl Handi! Sounds like it means business! I am knitting a small piece to make into a bracelet, well, fiber cord first.
Hopefully, I will have something to show you next week. Time will tell.
Have you tried wet felting? Any success?
About the Dubl Handi:
DUBL HANDI Washboard for Silks, Hosiery, Lingerie and Handkerchiefs! Circa 1930-50s. This is an original travel washboard made by the Columbus Washboard Company which began operation in 1895 and is the only American washboard company still in existence.
This weekend I found this neat set of salt and pepper shakers. Aren’t they great? It looks like a diner’s coffee maker.
It is always neat to find a bit of history at the thrift shop!
I am away this week again training for my new job, so the posts will be short and sweet as I only have a day and a half at home before I head back. Hotel living is nice, but not in large quantities! It is nice, though, having someone to clean up after me and make my bed!
I talked before about a new thrift shop I found and about the owner’s lack of understanding of the treasures she has in her shop. I went back again on Saturday and spied this treasure in her showcase.
I pointed and asked her if I could look at it. As she was taking it out of the case she mentioned that she found it in a box of stuff she bought at an estate sale and it is from “some coronation.” Some coronation? Has she been under a rock???
It is from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (the current Queen!!!!). It is dated 1953 and is authentic and not a reproduction as the box it came in as well as the felt on the bottom will attest!
I have been searching the internet for like pieces and cannot find a picture of one like it. Perhaps it is one that someone made with a bit of the event? The image is on some type of silk fabric and it is encased in a glass paperweight. You can read the complete date, this pic obscures it a bit.
I bought this treasure for $8!
At this point, I feel like I am taking advantage of her. She truly has no idea what she has!
Cindy Is Crafty...and she makes things, too! 