Weekend Finds: Various and Sundry

Good morning!

How was your weekend? Did you find anything good out at the sales? I didn't find a LOT of stuff, but I was pretty pleased with the things I did manage to acquire! I'll tell you, I have been a F-O-G of sleepiness this morning at work, but hopefully this tankard of coffee and the thrill of describing all the neat doo-dads I picked up out in the world will bring me back to the land of the living (or at least the awake). Let's talk brass tacks!

One of my best finds (which you've already seen if you follow me on Instagram) was actually something I found a dog's age ago at the flea market. I think it counts as a weekend find, though, as I've just now gotten around to having it pressed and drycleaned from the previously-stuffed-in-a- Pringles'-can like condition it was in when I dug it out of a box under the Antiques shed. Behold! Not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

This is a pink, quilted 1940's bed jacket. It features an oh-so-forties' Mandarin collar, belled sleeves, a black satin lining, and reminds me of something Veronica Lake would flounce out of bed in, hair hanging in a curtain over her eyes. It was in rotten shape when I found it at the flea market but I was trying to make a pile of items so the seller would give me a better deal on everything (why get one blouse for $10 when you could get a blouse, a sweater, a rayon gown, two skirts and a hat for $15? I ask you, why!), so I thought I'd take a chance on it. I love how the embroidery detail loops around the covered buttons, the little rhinestones, and the odd pocket on the wearer's right. I recently went through a major purge of my sleepwear collection-- turns out, I have a problem resisting flouncy, sherbet colored wraps and slips and nightgowns in spite of a marked predilection towards vintage pajamas in actual usage...however! I have a gown or two that would go great with this in those lazy, mid-Sunday morning hanging around in bed reading magazines and drinking coffee, so don't think I won't be trying it out the next day I get to sleep in (which may be never, but MAY be this weekend??)!

This next guy I'm putting up here just because I'm still smarting from the lack of foresight that kept me from buying him this weekend:

The more I look at this picture, the more I love it. "Crane Among the Roses" (as I have creatively named it) was at an antique store and priced at $40, which  is about $35 more than I was willing to pay for it...eugh! And yet still my heart cries out! Look at the weird expression of the bird, his fantastic mohawk, and the way the flowers and crane stand out so dramatically from the black background! I might go back, but if I do, we'll have to agree to a vow of secrecy on how much I spent on it. 

Friday morning, Eartha Kitsch met me over at my house and we took a trip up to Rivergate and Gallatin hot on the heels of vintage goods. I sure did mean to take photos of us traipsing around other-people's-houses looking through their stuff for old-time treasures, but between the thrill of the hunt and the terror of a check engine light coming on ninety percent of the way to Gallatin, the truth of it was, I plumb forgot. Things I bought:

Yes, this is a snow shovel. You can go ahead and thank me, citizens of Nashville, for buying this snow shovel, to guarantee that our fair city never accumulates enough snow for me to use it. Murphy's law, bro! It's a Sears Craftsman snow shovel from I'd say the fifties', and how could I resist the four dollar price tag and the institutional-aqua color? Worst case scenario, this looks cool hanging in my utility room until such a day as it is needed, and folks, I can live with that. This was in a garage in Gallatin where Eartha almost bought a pair of plastic chickens, but found them cracked upon further inspection. Le sigh!

I did a close up of this so you could see the detail in this 1880's illustrated photograph, but that really doesn't give you a sense of the size...it's about two feet high by a foot across! You know how I am about old photographs, and I am always buying portraits where it feels like the eyes could follow you around the room...I am never stopping. I felt bad because there was a woman portrait from the same era that was likely this guy's wife, but as her face/clothing/demeanor wasn't nearly as interesting as his, and I didn't want to spend an additional $8 to buy it "just because", I left it at the sale. I wonder if this means I am probably going to be haunted...I hope it does not.

Same sale, this photo of a graduating classes of seamen in the US Navy, labeled San Diego, 1946. I am a sucker for any formal group photo, and this fits the bill...how about all those white hats lined up?

Here's a closeup of the graduates, ears sticking out from buzz cut hair...what is not to like here: 

These baubles were impulse buys at either sale:

The red earring-and-bracelet set is marked "REJA" on the bracelet's clasp, and as that company only operated for a little more than a decade (1941-1953), I would say these are probably from the mid 1940's. Aaaand I love them. The bracelet is missing one stone but it hardly shows when you're wearing it. Was there a necklace to go with this originally? Probably. Am I sad about that? I am, but I'll survive. The top piece is a fifties' sweater clip, but not just any sweater clip-- a souvenir sweater clip from the steamboat The Memphis Queen. I can't lie, I'm kind of over the moon about finding a sweater clip period, much less one that ties into kooky tourism-- do you know this is the first clip I've seen at an estate sale? For three bucks, I had to scoop it up.

Last but not least, I got to sit down and read some of my Tony Duquette book this weekend, and grabbed Class Act: William Haines from the Fine Arts collection here at Main (at seventy bucks even used, it wasn't as reasonably priced as my TD book, but oh well, we have it here at the library for me to look at!). It's interesting to see California modern/elegant/stately designs from former actor Haines (that's Joan on the cover, btw-- they were costars in a few silent movies and good friends in real life) and California over-the-top-opulent-jewel-box type designs from Duquette in the same sitting. That said, I now want to redecorate the entire house.

Well, what do you think! How do you like the stuff I picked up? Did you find anything good this weekend? Spooky photos or art deco baubles? Where do you look for antiques/vintage stuff when the estate sales and flea markets are sparse due to cold weather? Had any interior design inspiration by way of books lately? Let's talk!

That's all for today...I'm STILL sleepy, but maybe I'll perk up after lunch, you never know! Have a great Monday, and I'll see you tomorrow. Til then!