musings of a sea witch

Goodwill Hunting

2012-01-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a damp and rainy day so I hit my favorite haunt early in the morning and then met up with Sis for lunch and some "Goodwill" hunting. Part of the fun is the chase and I'm always fascinated by what treasure pops up. First find of the morning was this lovely Victorian Persian rug.

Hand knotted and vibrant colors make this a pretty little decortive piece.

I love these tapestry doilies. Patinaed gold bullion lace finishes this pretty little doily nicely.

I can sell footed compotes all day long and this lovely Reed and Barton will be no exception. This was a Goodwill find.

How sweet is this set of Victorian apothecary jars? Hand painted and marked Gauze, Cotton, Aspirin and Vitamins.

Adorable vintage Jolly Jinks child's plate. The skiing bears in the center of the plate have long since been washed away, but their ghost images live on with the dancing squirrels and rabbits around the plate.

A huge and very heavy antique splatter ware pitcher. The palest shades of mint green and browns accent this pitcher.

Found a huge bag of fruits and vegies at my local Goodwill. They are sturdy with a nice weight and look like the real thing.

Pears and apples accent a vintage copper hammered tray, coffeepot and sugar and creamer.

Faux peppers and avocados look like the real thing and are such fun to decorate with.

Another Goodwill find, this great hand made paper shade table lamp.

A lovely, Alexandria Reed crystal diffuser. Rich purple tones in a heavy crystal.

Hey Loosey! You have some es'planing to do. Brilliant red polished cotton apron with a side oven mitt with pretty roses. Very 1950s.

Sis and I had a great time on a rainy, damp day laughing, gossiping over lunch and schlepping through our local Goodwill. We always have such a fun time together and you would think that we rarely see each other...even though we live just 8 houses apart from each other. Hope everyone has a wonderful week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Mediterranean Pizza

2012-01-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

When my honey and I were visiting grandchildren in Aurora, Colorado, they brought home pizza from a chain called Papa Murphy's. What makes this pizza chain unique is that they do not bake the pizza, they just prepare it for you to take home and bake completely there. One of the unbaked pies they brought home was something called a Mediterranean Pizza. I'm a pizza purist and I'm not into weird pizza pies with pineapple or ham or kiwi fruit. All I heard was spinach and thought, here we go, another strange pie. As the pie was baking it smelled exactly like the pies we would get in Vincenza, Italy so I was thinking this may not be so bad after all. When they took it out of the oven I saw it was filled with sun dried tomatoes, spinach, feta cheese and garlic and oil on a crisp crust. I was in heaven.

We don't have Papa Murphy's here in Atlanta so I had to replicate it.

Ingredients:

Pillsbury's refrigerated thin crust pizza dough
Jar of sun dried tomatoes...sun dried Brushetta works well too
Container of Feta cheese
crushed garlic
fresh baby spinach
olive oil
Mrs. Dash Italian seasonings (mostly greens)
shredded Mozzarella
some breadcrumbs or corn meal

PREHEAT Oven to 375 degrees

Using a cookie sheet or a large round pizza pan, sprinkle breadcrumbs or corn meal in the pan and then lay the pizza crust in the pan. Brush dough with olive oil and then smear the crushed garlic all over the dough.

Using entire jar of sun dried tomatoes, cover the dough and then sprinkle with Mrs. Dash Italian seasonings.

The smell of the sun dried tomatoes and the garlic is heavenly.

Now place fresh spinach on the pie.

Cover pie with the feta cheese and sprinkle a little bit of the shredded mozzarella (less then 1/2 cup). Now bake for about 15 minutes.

This pizza is so good and is light and easy to make. About 180 calories per slice (6" by 6"). You can add meat like chicken or sweet sausage but it's really good without and it keeps the fat calories down without it. I made this for my honey as he watched both playoff games and we have enough left over for another meal tomorrow. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Sea Witch

Easy Come, Easy Go

2012-01-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

A lovely three day weekend found me local junkin and found some interesting items. This left me with bringing "in" items and as I worked displays, they moved "out" just as fast. It was a chilly weekend here in Atlanta and Sunday afternoon found the Queen of Hearts mobbed with shoppers. What would normally take me a few hours to set up displays and fluff up my booths, took twice that amount of time as I worked around customers. No complaints from me though, every time I turned around a piece moved out of my booth.

Brought in this sturdy and beachy blue distressed oak parlour table to replace an end table that sold. I had just finished setting this display up when a lovely woman named Sue fell in love with it. So in the booth for 20 minutes and out just as fast.

I would have hung this sign in my sons bedroom if they were still little ones. It is huge, nearly 4 feet in length and the palest shade of french blue with incised lettering. I had just snapped this photo when a customer snagged it and took it to check out.

How sweet is this pretty little bluebird soft paste creamer. The bluebird was a highly popular theme in the 1900s through the 1920s. Yup, this sweetie flew the coop shortly after bringing it in.

Got the "Sassytrash" itch and couldn't resist this sweet little wire birdcage. So many possibilities.

Remember this birdbath with feeder I found a few weeks back? Well, I cleaned it up and gave it a fresh coat of copper bronzing paint and I love love love the finish.

Pretty Tiffany style stained glass votive candle cover.

Hey Lucy!!!! Fantastic brilliant red organza with pretty Valentines hanky pocket. Very 1950s.

I've had this pretty little satin heart box with pretty petite point cover in my house for years. Time to share it with another heart lover.

Goofus Glass bulbous rose vase. Usually covered in gold/red cold paint, this now sun purple vase looks so much prettier. Perfect for cut flowers all year long.

I moved this sweet face from my main booth to the Victorian booth. He looks happier there.

I love these Victorian through Depression era Cupid Awake/Cupid Asleep prints and will buy them whenever I can find them for resale. I think they make the perfect valentine.

Brilliant red Jack in the Pulpit vase. Victorian favorites, someone turned it into a lamp base by drilling a hole at it's base. Sigh, another antique mutilated by an unknowing individual. Still, it is lovely.

Two interesting finds. An Arts and Crafts, hand hammered measuring cup and a silverplated chalice.

It's that time of year for antique Valentines and I have a few placed throughout the Victorian booth. They always make me smile and I love the beautiful Spencerian script of the giver to the receiver inside.

This Valentine is a real beauty and stands almost 14 inches high.

And finally, a spectacular hand needlepointed wool rug. A lovely Victorian reproduction, this would look smashing in anyone's home.

So it was a great weekend for finding treasure. Now on to the replacement flooring in my little home. Have the laminate folks coming tomorrow so I have to prep two bathrooms, a laundry room and our kitchen tonight. Have to follow up with the carpet replacement next in the living room, dining room, master bedroom and hallway. I don't even want to think about moving those rooms right now.

Wishing you all a fantastic week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Support Our Troops

2012-01-12T12:04:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone. Another family member is downrange in the middle east so I continue to hang the Service Flag out my window at home. God speed, Kirk.

ON the left column of my blog you also see

THE SERVICE FLAG - For those still downrange,

I keep the service flag up to honor those who continue their service and I pray they are safe as well as their families.

Everyone knows someone who has family or friends or coworkers in the active military or downrange. Yesterday, I came across a few boxes of the yellow ribbon "Support Our Troops" magnets at my local Goodwill and bought them all.

I have 25 of these 4" x 8" magnets, new in the package, that I am giving away to the first 25 visitors who request one. If you would like a Support Our Troops magnet for your vehicle please drop me an email at mailto:needthis@bellsouth.net noting the mailing address you would like to receive the ribbon at and I will send you one FREE! Just a SeaWitch way of spreading the thanks to our troops. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Booth re-do.

2012-01-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

It's that time again where I'm feeling the need to do a total redo of my booths. This would be more fun if it wasn't so difficult as we can only work our booths during business hours and we must keep the pathways clear and cannot move items temporarily into other booths...in otherwards do not impede the flow of customer traffic. So what we are left is taking stuff out, putting it in our vehicles and then moving things, going back to our vehicles and then restocking again. Sigh.

Thankfully, I have mastered the art of moving things in tight spaces without undressing everything. Of course, it is like watching a buffalo move china in a tight space, but hey, a sea witch has gotta do. I've been wanting to return my large hutch to the original spot for two reasons: First, it was the first piece your eye caught as your walked down the aisle of booths and it moved my transferware pieces like crazy. Second, it covered the ugly red grid that my booth neighbor uses to display her items. (LOL)

So that meant moving my lighted display case to inside the booth. Wasn't really keen on that idea, but while I was working, customers had to walk "into" my booth to get to the case and the light drew them in like bees to honey. This may work out after all.

Brought in lots of new "old" transferware. Got lucky at my local Goodwill of all places and was able to restock for pennies. Kept two pieces for myself, I have a thing for large, soft paste platters.

Moved the vintage kitchen table and this opened up the center of the booth and made items more accessible to the buyer.

Brought in a child's quilt that was made with Captain Kangaroo fabric from the 1950s. It's a happy vintage textile.

Other neat items that I found was this pair of cast iron mermaid doorstops. Not old, but nifty just the same and perfect for a sea witch booth.

This jumbo size metal leaf in a verdigris finish is perfect for displaying burning candles or better yet, put it on your coffee table and fill with your electronic remotes. Those are dinner plates sitting in the middle of that leaf so you can see just how large this leaf is.

My pretty little rocker with the hooked rug seat is too sweet.

Delightful little ruby red glass apple with silverplated top is a vintage sugar bowl from England.

Adorable little vintage pressed glass syrup pitcher of a log cabin.

A marvelous find. Fenton "lavender satin" bird of happiness. Rare lavender changes color with lighting like the alexandrite stone. From rich lavender to a ghostly opal blue or white, this is a neat find for the Fenton collector.

Nothing says elegance like Lladro porcelain. Found this magnificent piece at a local haunt for pennies all because she has a few broken fingers on her back hand. This retired piece still has value with the damage and can be restored returning it to its greater value.

Sweet set of eight saucers from Royal Doulton. Pretty roses pattern.

I adore hand colored prints and this "Gay 90's" lady looks lovely in her sassy hat and hand muff. Pretty original oak frame with metal scrolling and bubbled glass.

Came across a bag full of bisque hearts and thought they would make pretty bowl fillers. They can be hung as well and would look pretty in a window.

Sis found this great piece while visiting friends in Tallapoosa, GA a few weeks ago. Gotta love smart phones, she sends me a pic and we close the deal over the phone.

I delight in the fussiness of Victorian protocol. If you "came to call" and I was indisposed or not at home to greet you, then you would leave your "calling card" on a tray specifically created for this social grace. This pretty Victorian calling card tray is faboosh with mythical figures cast on a heavy bronze. If you must leave your calling card, then do so on a pretty footed tray.

Not old, but so pretty with the dragonfly motif. This little votive tiffany lamp is perfect for bringing Victoriana to your patio or desk.

Finds this week were very eclectic from old and new but each had a uniqueness to them. Should be a terrific week as it is a full moon today and a Friday the 13th as well. Love this kind of joojoo. Wishing you all a lovely week and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Stuffing Balls

2012-01-06T10:37:00.002-05:00

Okay, you have to admit, that is a grab your attention post title..."Stuffing Balls." I was chatting with a colleague about holiday foods and how I never keep stuffing more than three days because it spoils so quickly. He said that his wife takes the leftover stuffing and converts them into stuffing balls.

O M G!!! This is brilliant and I especially like not having to throw away food (my mother always said it was a sin to throw out food).

In a nutshell, using either a 1/2 cup measure or an ice cream scooper, take stuffing and roll that amount into a ball and freeze 2-4 of your stuffing balls and put them in freezer bags and put in your freezer.

When you want stuffing, just pull out a bag full from your freezer and either bake for a golden crusty outside or nuke for like you pulled it straight from the bird. This is so easy peasy that even a seawitch can do it.

That's my honey giving me a big smack on the lips for being so brilliant. I didn't have the heart to tell him this idea was from a colleague's wife...he would want to kiss her too. Have a wonderful weekend all and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

End of year treasure.

2012-01-02T22:56:00.001-05:00

A few more days off before 2011 came to an end and I spent them hitting a few of my favorite haunts. I'm always fascinated by what comes out of the proverbial woodwork and it was a grand few days of treasure hunting. Always a great way to end one year and then start a new one off.

A terrific find, this heavy and lovely metal birdbath with tiny feeder had me doing cartwheels back to my vehicle.

A marvelous oak parlor table, wrought iron candelabra and an obelisk. I'm thinking of beachy aqua blue wash on the parlor table and the candelabra.

Handpainted "Ice" sign, the kind you find hanging over the ice freezers at convenience marts.

A sweet, sweet child's rocker with original mustard paint.

A great vintage wicker table. Minor damage but very, very sturdy. About 4 coats of different color paint and I'm thinking my favorite beachy aqua blue as a redo. I've got beachy blue colors on the brain right now.

A pair of the neatest wrought iron displays for hanging half mannequins from.

A closer view of the top part of the displays. I paid $11.00 for them. What a great find.

Okay, just when I thought I couldn't possibly come across another great buy, I see a pair of wrought iron displays. Lots of overpaint but I will sand a lot of it down and then repaint. Fit a few travertine tiles in the table bays and off to the store they go. Dare I tell you what I got for them? Sure, I paid $20.00 for the pair. Yikes, I still can't believe it.

And finally, a pretty double wire basket. Gonna dry paint this up in my beachy aqua blue too. I usually don't find large pieces like this in one treasure hunt and this was a fantastic way to end one year and start another.

And speaking of a great way to start the new year, my honey is a Massachusetts man and adores his lobsta. We have been ringing in the new year now with "lobstas" since we met and from what I see in this photo, it looks like it's going to be a good 2012. Wishing the best to you and those you love for 2012. Sea Witch

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T00:29:00.002-05:00

Wishing all the happiest of Christmas, renewed faith, healthy family and friends, prosperity,

adventure, opportunity, and above all peace within and around you.

Bless us all, everyone and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Hacked

2011-12-14T22:55:00.000-05:00

The Sea Witch had her Amazon account hacked this Monday and this post is to make you aware of this possibly happening to you this time of the year. It had been about 7 months since my last Amazon purchase so when a series of confirmation emails from Amazon "thanking me" for my recent purchases I thought "what purchases." As I read the emails, I realized I was being charged $7.99 for a digital download of Vietnamese music. The purchases had already totaled nearly $300.00.

I contacted Amazon customer service and they were fantastic.

They immediately cancelled my account card and began refunding each of the purchases. Each purchase had to be refunded individually so it was going to take a little time with the customer rep on the phone. As we are refunding each purchase, I received another email confirming another Amazon purchase. Son of a Bee...those hacking #%$&s were at it again. The Amazon rep put me on hold as this was an opportunity for them to nail these jokers. About 6 minutes later, the rep was back on the line and began refunding the rest of those phony purchases. Since I had not used this card in months, I asked the rep how this could have happened. He said that it is not uncommon for these hackers to use detection software to seek out dormant accounts like mine. Those dormant accounts are perfect targets for this type of hacking. The rep said that if you are a shopper that purchases only a few times a year that you may want to delete the card you use right after you make the purchase so it is no longer in a system.

I like Clark Howard's suggestion better and that is to have a low balance credit card that is dedicated to just on line purchases. Since I only have the one card, I am going to obtain a second, low balance card for just those on line purchases should this happen again. I suspect it will, it is the nature of the online business to be hit. No one is safe from these despicable hackers.

Well, this was still not over. I still had to contact my bank, Bank of America, to cancel the hacked card.

I must share that I have had a love/hate relationship with BoA. I have been their customer for over 20 years and in the last ten that relationship has really deteriorated. There customer service has been miserable and the climbing fees have gotten out of hand. I have been dragging my feet in moving to another institution because I just didn't want to switch all of my on line bill pays, etc. So when I had to call BoA, I was already prepared to do battle with them. Not necessary. Their customer rep was courteous and efficient as she cancelled my card but allowed the account to remain open to accept the refunds that Amazon would begin returning to the account over the next few days. They also overnighted a new card to me as it was the holiday season and they did not want me to be delayed 7-10 days. Okay, who are you people and what did you do with my original banking institution?

I was totally surprised at the efficient and helpful response I received and today I have my replacement card. WoW. I am now rethinking my leaving BoA. Maybe they are trying to reach out to their customers and I am all for that. So, what can we learn from all of this? My suggestion is if you have made any online purchases (several months ago) where a "company" retains your card information, enter that account and delete you card information. You can always add a new card when you make a future purchase. Better yet, utilize PayPal or Google Checkout if they provide that option, you will be protected. Finally, follow the advice of Clark Howard and have a low balance card dedicated to just on line purchases. That way if you card is hacked, there is a limit to what can be stolen. Never, ever use your debit card for on line purchases as they can empty your bank account quickly and it could take days/weeks before amounts are refunded if they are refunded at all.

I was fortunate that they only nailed me for about $300.00 before I caught the purchases. I was lucky that both Amazon and BoA were so sensitive and efficient in refunding/returning the hacked amounts.

Hoping that your on line purchases are safe and secure. Have a wonderful week. Sea Witch

HMS Ocean - All I Want for Christmas is You

2011-12-07T07:25:00.001-05:00

I adore the joy in people and especially love it when they unabashadely share it with the rest of us. How can you not just sit back and smile until your face hurts. Whether you are returning home from a long deployment to those who have missed and love you so to the simple joy of dancing in a mall with your ipod over the Christmas shopping days. Joy...all of it is joy! How I wish this simple joy would find its way around our troubled world. It really is about love, you know. So put your earphones on or your earbuds in, crank up the volume and a special thank you to Mariah Carey for allowing so many to sing along with you.

I hope these make your day as joyful as it has made mine. Blessings and as much joy as you can possible stand to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Finally, a coughless night!

2011-12-06T08:55:00.001-05:00

After 15 days of non stop coughing (but no asthma, thank you bronchial gods) I had a coughless night. It may be because this cold has finally worn itself out but I suspect it was the wee bit of Captain Morgan I dropped in my tea last evening...slept like an old pirate after a 3 day siege and pillage. Yea, it's all good. This cold kept me from a ladies gathering but I just couldn't bring myself to be coughing all over good food and friendships.

So spent a little time pricing items to replenish my booths while I was visiting raviolis over Thanksgiving. Always interesting the things that sell each year over the holidays. I can't seem to keep lighting in my booths this year. It is all moving out. Now I'm on the hunt for more lighting to offer.

Came back from NY with a Victorian tux/tails from family that asked to sell it for them. Nice condition and very wearable size.

Great to wear to a New Year's party...or a Victorian wedding.

Selling quad and silverplate items faster than I can bring them in That and vintage Christmas balls are the hot ticket items this season. Brought in a few more pieces of the plate but nearly out of Christmas balls.

Found a terrific set of cast iron book ends with the theme, "The Angelus" from the classic painting of the field gleaners who stop to pray. These books ends don't move as well as they do in the mid-west and this is a hard to find theme and books at $120.00. I have it priced "very right" and hope someone will appreciate them. I often use these for door stops as they are very heave duty and look prettier then a standard door stop shoved under your door.

Came across this lovely and heavy silverplated punch ladle. Just in time for all of that holiday entertaining.

Primitive Santa on sweet, seafoam sled surrounded by vintage looking trees. I love bottle brush trees of all types for holiday decorating.

Now that all of my raviolis are no longer sitting in a small high chair, I have brought in my 19th century piece for another to acquire. Decorated it with a nifty pair of vintage mittens in bright Santa red fabric and soft leather mitts, an oh so soft angora knitted cap for a little one, a happy snowman trio and a marvelous wood clamp with original wooden turnings. This is a hard to find small clamp that I know will blow out of this booth soon.

I just love this gator head with the Christmas ball in its jaws. LOL What fun to find this nestled in your Christmas tree.

Coach anyone? I have three authentic Coach bags that are in nearly new condition for sale. Two in basic black that everyone should have in their handbag arsenal and one brown leather hobo.

Had to lock these babies up as they would take a walk if I displayed them openly.

A basket full of wooden blocks poses so many decorating uses. Blocks are priced individually for personally spelling of whatever floats your boat.

And finally, I had to bring in my last lighting piece. A pretty, Williamsburg style, heavy brass chandelier. This is a nice medium size chandelier so if you have a smaller dining area, it will not overpower.

In between fluffing up my booths, my honey and I are in phase 2 of the "great flooding" in the house. Carpet is all cut up in three rooms, tiles are popping in the master bathroom and now we are just waiting for the estimates to come in so we can begin selecting replacement carpeting/flooring. Between that installation and then the contractor finishing up the replacement molding we have our December plates full. I'm thinking of pushing this whole mess into January so it doesn't interfere with the holidays. Yea, now that I said it out loud, I think that is just what we will do. Hope everyone is staying healthy and happy. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

My Sisters Antiques Candlelight Event

2011-12-02T19:04:00.004-05:00

Wednesday evening was the My Sisters Antiques Candlelight Holiday Event and it was amazing. Took lots of photos and I would have had them loaded and posted sooner, but when I went to upload them I received an error message saying I reached my one GIG quota and until I obtained more space I could no longer load any more photos. With two blogs and a third one ready to be launched (more on that later in the month), I purchased more space and now I'm back on track with my posts.

My Sisters Antiques, one of my favorite antique shops in the metro Atlanta area, is owned by two sisters who are an absolute delight. They have filled their shop with dealers who offer marvelous antiques and vintage pieces and when you visit their shop they greet you like old and dear friends. You never want to leave. This is their second annual holiday event and as last year, it is first class all the way.

Holiday lighting greeted you at both the front and back entrance. The double red doors of the back entrance seem to be everyone's favorite way to enter and the sisters had pretty wreaths on the doors and lights everywhere.

Not only was the parking lot filled to capacity but the store was wall to wall shoppers. I love to see shops filled with happy shoppers.

Two lovely tables groaned with homemade cakes, desserts, fresh cheeses and fruits, sparking ciders and punch and of course, Christmas cookies of every type. All under pretty lights and burning candles. The 8 inch high Red Velvet Cake and the Coconut Cake were the two hot items to indulge in. I watched grown men weak in the knees and mothers weeping with joy from partaking in these two cakes.

So many pretty things to see, so I will let the photos do most of the talking.

One of my long time antique friends, Pam, is an uber talented woman who creates amazing fabric pieces, jewelry and the prettiest garland you will ever find anywhere. Her items are magical.

I adore these wreaths that are decorated with vintage ornaments.

Sassy Edwardian lady standing in vintage garland and balls.

I wanted this vintage Santa costume but the "sisters" refused to part with it. I will have to try and wear them down...I want this so badly.

How cool is this Men Working sign?

Can you think of anything prettier then vintage perfume bottles.

How sweet is this vintage poodle?

A Victrola in perfect working order. Break out those old dance records.

A top hat and wings. I love this marriage of old and new.

My Sisters Antiques always has the prettiest lighting.

This is a huge figurine and unusual in its theme. Very 1950s.

Pretty garland filled with ornaments, old lace and lights.

As you can see by the photos, there was so much to see. I purchased a few items and among them were a Victorian rug beater, a Victorian compote with cupids and vintage gold tinsel from the 1930s. These Candlelight events are always so much fun as so many of my antique colleagues were there. We get to talk and gossip and share what treasure we have found all over pretty lights and homemade goodies. I hope you have the opportunity to attend these special event where you live. Have a wonderful weekend all and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Post Thanksgiving Blessings

2011-11-28T21:20:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone and wishing you all post Thanksgiving blessings. I hope everyone had lovely few days with family and friends or if you are a solitary type, a quiet and enjoyable one. My honey and I were in New York for the holiday and I was surrounded by my New York raviolis for 7 days. Heaven, I tell ya. Heaven! As always, their mommy prepared a fabulous meal and lovely table for all to gather around. Martha Stewart would have been proud.

Beautiful farm table surrounded by Windsor chairs and a table set with pretty autumn place mats, crisp white plates and depression glass dessert plates. Candles nestled in fresh cranberries and a side table that groaned with tasty morsels.

Pretty votives lit the table.

Hands down, one of the best appetizers I have had in a long, long time. Puff pastry with pesto, feta cheese and sun dried tomatoes baked until golden. We couldn't eat these fast enough.

The twins were christened in the West Point Chapel on Saturday and friends and family gathered to witness it.

The great moment of this visit for me was the opportunity I had to show Kit Kat how to spin on a spinning wheel. This lovely 19th century Saxony (flax) wheel was a gift from my son and his wife. I brought up some fleece and set up the drive band, greased the bobbin and put my foot to the pedal and felt the sweet turning of the large wheel as it moved the bobbin which established the draw that pulled the fleece into a twist of yarn. Such joy and marvelous therapy with this very simple act. Kaitlyn was mesmerized by the process and would pedal the wheel as fast as she could and delighted in how the fleece quickly became yarn in my hands.

My honey and I had an uneventful drive back home and we made marvelous time. We got back early enough for me to start laundry and 20 minutes into it I found that water was up to my ankles. Seems the washer decided to go belly up and never turned off the water as the cycles advanced. Carpet was underwater, tiles were popping in the bathroom and the laminate in the laundry room was a mess.

Once most of the water receded I was left with this squishy, soapy mess...although my toes do look cute with their sassy polish. Now comes the fun part...dealing with the insurance agency.

Lots of carpet and padding cut away, tiles removed and laundry room flooring pulled up. Seven blowers and one mother ship of a dehumidifier going and we are pulling the moisture out of the concrete slab. Not the time of the year to have to have replacement flooring done. All of the furniture has to be moved, items removed and carefully put someplace and no Christmas decor this year. Sigh. Oh well, it could have been worse, the damn washer could have broken while I had laundry going before we went to bed...that would have been awful because the water would have been pouring out of the washer for several hours and we would have had antique furniture damaged, so no complaints from me. I have a lot to be thankful for and of course, you dear friends, for taking a moment out of your day to swim on over and say hello. Thank you all and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Vintage Village Open House

2011-11-17T11:56:00.001-05:00

The Holiday Open Houses have begun and it always seems to kick off with the "original" Candlelight Open House at Vintage Village in Snellville. For me, this signals the holidays as this shop always does it up right. Candlelight everywhere with all dealers greeting you as you walk in, serving hot cider and homemade cookies, candy, and other "sugar plums", handing you brown bags to fill with treasure and the counter staff busy writing up reciepts and wrapping your purchases. For me, Vintage Village is more than a shop for treasure, it is a shop filled with friends. People I have not seen most of the year because we all lead busy lives, but this one evening everyone comes out and the treasures you buy are only enhanced by the treasured friendships you meet and greet. Lots of photos, so I will post those rather than add narrative to all. (all photos enlarge when you click on them)

Behind Vintage Village is a quaint little building called Hamrick House. Pretty little thing with more vintage and antique pieces as well. It's so nice to have two places a few feet from each other for finding treasure.

I came home with two bags of treasure and a few gifts for family so I won't mention what I purchased should they be reading this post. The Vintage Village Candlelight Open House continues tonight through Sunday this week and more items are brought in daily. I wish I could shop each night. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Prepping for Candlelight Open House

2011-11-15T15:31:00.001-05:00

Busy busy busy...prepping for the Queen of Hearts Candlelight Open House this Thursday and attend two other open houses at other locations this week. Sigh...just not enough time in my day. LOL.

I've been pricing items like mad and decorating as fast as a I can. Every time I bring something in, though it seems to fly out the door. A good problem to have, so no complaints from me. So here are a few photos of items I brought in and some new ones found last weekend.

That fantastic 1800s tool box with name and a pair of old photographs in frames from the 1890s.

I can't bring in enough silver this year. I sell it as fast as I display it. These three pieces are huge and full of sparkle.

How cool is this Victorian doll's hand? I am so attracted to the odd and unique.

Nice EAPG string holder. Perfect for wrapping up those brown paper packages.

Found three delightful children's books from 1892.

Love this sweet chromolithograph in original frame.

I collect Victorian jewel caskets and since I already have a pretty holly designed one, I will sell this one.

Three tops hats in a row. The large one to the right is from the Victorian period and was used to hold celery at the dinner table. The middle for salt or sugar and the small one is from the 1950s and a toothpick holder.

I love the look of stacked cake plates and compotes.

An overview of the Victorian booth.

This sweet little guy is about 3 feet high and standing in a marvelous vintage 1940s red wagon. He sold in 24 hours of me bringing him in.

Pretty pair of vintage pewter candlesticks.

Sweet vintage sheep figurine.

Large metal Partridge in a Pear tree candle holder. If it doesn't sell, I won't mind as I really like it.

A marvelous pair of vintage electric candles.

Large topiary centerpiece.

Neat and heavy, cast aluminum mini chair, sweet Victorian St. Nick and a cute little penguin figurine.

Vintage mica houses/buildings from Japan, circa 1950s, nestled in a big white faux goose feather tree.

There's a lot of work in this sequined and pinned holiday picture. Circa 1970s

...and finally a pair of Lenox looking holiday deer candlesticks. I'm off to the Queen this evening to add more items so photos may follow. Hope everyone is having a marvelous week. Sea Witch

Victorian Sideboard

2011-11-07T11:15:00.003-05:00

Busy weekend for the the Sea Witch as I moved out Halloween decor and began setting up for the Christmas holidays. Queen of Hearts, like so many antique stores in our area, is preparing for their annual Holiday Open House. Always so much fun but a lot of prep work behind the scenes. I have been wanting to bring in a lovely, late Victorian sideboard that I had in my dining room. It is an English sideboard made of hand carved oak and a heavy red marble top. But the real jewel of this piece is the oak and glass display case that sits upon it. This sideboard has a ton of storage space and I made marvelous use of it these years. The display cases were my favorite item on the sideboard as it kept silver from tarnishing so quickly and kept the dust away.

As sideboards go, it is not a massive piece so it doesn't take up a lot of space in the room you place it in.

Close up of the original and very heavy marble top and the glass cases. Beautiful architectural glass and mirrors show off your best treasures.

Silver just sparkles in these cases.

I was fortunate this year to come across a lot of pretty silver and silverplate. One of my favorite things to share and sell during the holidays.

As long as I was moving out the last of my high Victorian pieces, I decided to bring in my pair of cherry parlour chairs. Beautifully carved accents with original patina and upholstery. The seating brocade had begun to shred where you bend your knees so I covered it with rich red taffeta. I never remove anything that is original and leave any re-upholstering to the new owners.

It's starting to get crowded in my booth and I haven't yet begun to "dress it" for the holidays. See the pretty desk blotter on the desk and behind the mirror? I found that beauty this weekend. It is the softest leather in pine green and I nearly squealed with delight when I saw it still had the original hand marbled paper on it. Lovely post Edwardian desk piece.

A fantastic find. Actual book value of this flow blue piece is in the $400's but it has issues. Four major cracks in the lid and heat damage to the glaze on the top portion of the tureen. Still, this is such a pretty piece that I couldn't resist it. Priced it cheap so I know it will find a welcoming home who will use it as a decorative piece for their flow blue collection.

I adore soup tureens, they just invoke a different time and place for me. Family sitting around a table, exchanging the events of the day, all enjoying a hearty soup from a pretty tureen. Okay, okay, one of my sins is showing...I fantasize meals. LOL. Especially soups. There is just something so magical about them...must be the stirring of the pot that draws me to them. Of course, I come by this honestly, my mother adored a good soup or stew boiling over the stove. Peasant food, my dad would tease here, but he always enjoyed the board of fare she would lay down at each meal.

Found two deviled egg trays. These sell like wild fire this time of year. Can never have too many to offer up.

A real find. A rare, Clarice Cliff red transferware planter. Took a lot of digging to find out the value as they are not easily found. This one has lots of crazing and a 2 inch hair line crack from use. Still, it is a pretty thing and a nice piece for a red transfareware collector.

A yard sale find. I don't usually stop at yard sales in my area as they are pretty much baby clothing and blue jeans. I saw this pretty centerpiece display and added a tall glass vase and candle holder courtesy of my dollar store. Poured a cup of white rice in the bottom to seat the candle and liked the look so much I almost kept it.

Another pretty find, 6 holly leaf/berry dessert plates from Portugal. What fun to serve drop in guests your best Christmas cookies on.

You know me and carnival glass funeral vases. I'm a sucker for them. Uncommon pattern and the lustre is fantastic. I'm keeping this baby for my own for now.

Pretty vintage etched bottle with old cork and metal pull top.

I like copper clad baby shoes. They make me smile. I will put holiday picks and pretty ribbons in these.

Yup, that's a gator head. About 6 inches in length sitting next to a cow horn. As you can see, the treasure I found was quite eclectic this weekend. I'm thinking of tying his mouth up with a pretty red ribbon and adding a candy cane. Holiday picks will go in the horn for hanging on a tree or mantle.

A real treasure that I will keep. If you are an "old school" Catholic, you will recognize this piece. A lovely Chantilly lace with rhinestones headscarf from France. Original tag still attached. WW2 era, these were brought back as gifts to mothers, sisters, wives & lovers. My mother would wear one to Mass during Lent.

Now the real find. I love American Primitive and this small traveling trunk is fantastic. Lots of wear but still has the original paint, drop handles and a name penciled on the front. You can barely see it but it reads "John M Quigg..." Have to break out my black light to see if I can get a good read of the rest of the name and the location underneath it. Couldn't believe my luck when I fell into this lovely item.

Now below, is my ...

new "old" sideboard. I moved the Victorian piece out and found this lovely, oak sideboard with even more storage space...which is what I really needed. I also like the cleaner lines of this piece...more my style then the fru fru of classic Victorian. Still, I will miss the glass cases for display. I really liked that but you trade one thing for another. What this piece does allow me to do is display my Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) lidded compotes and servers. Many of these are missing the lids as they are the first to go from either being dropped or so chipped they are tossed aside. I love stacking them like cake plates and filling them with pretty foiled candies for the holidays or antique ornaments.

The mirrored back drop is deep enough that I can display antique copper lustre and a few of my carnival glass funeral vases.

A closer photo of the EAPG pieces. Many of them are a pale sun purple and I know that is a deal breaker for the opinionated collector of EAPG...but I love it and embrace it. This was the glassware of the common people of the 19th century. Lots of pretty, elegant, flowery, political and animal patterns are available. Often overlooked at flea markets and thrift stores, at first glance it looks like cheap pressed glass. Once you know what it is you can spot it a mile away. Because it is not easily recognized for what it is, you can often walk way with valuable pieces for a few dollars or less.

The queen in my personal collection. This piece stands 12 high, about 10 in diameter and in perfect condition other then the pale shade of sun purple.

So it was a wonderful weekend of interesting and terrific finds. Hope the world treated you as kindly as it did me and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Tis the witching time.

2011-10-31T10:06:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween my bloggers. I always welcome the moment of time you afford to spend with me. When I'm not planning my time in the sea, I always enjoy a pleasant ride around the block with my favorite mode of transportation. Honk and wave if you see me fly by.

No snow for those of us who presently reside in the southern states. Beautiful, fall weather with the tail end of the northeaster' breeze from up north made it perfect for a little running around with my sister. As always, sis and I have a marvelous time gossiping, shopping and just being silly. We laugh so hard and often that you would think we would lose 10 pounds on the sillieness alone.

Not a lot of treasure found,but what I did find was worth the trip.

Check out this pair. LOL. A perfect, late 19 century water pitcher with pretty gold lustre trim. These pitchers are usually chipped up and cracked and this beauty is in perfect condition. Even missing the crazing often found at the bottom. Love Love Love the 1850-60s box with pretty aqua milk paint. The dovetailing on this piece is amazing.

Closeup of the large pitcher. You know you got a workout lifting this bad boy when it was full of water.

Found a pair of beautiful Italian tapestries...on the cheap. Quality pieces and highly detailed. Brought them in to the Queen on Sunday and already sold the pastoral scene above.

My personal favorite. Smaller than the one above but this 18 " by 12" weave is finer and more detailed than the pastoral scene.

Another unique find. A hand carved banded onyx vase/jar that stands 11 inches tall. Very heavy and the label below it says Restoration Hardware. If you are not familiar with this marvelous chain, then you must visit their web page or store. The devil is in the design details and this store offers a comfortable yet cerebral design to your life.

A warm and toasty Pendleton motor robe. These carriage or motor robe blankets are the perfect size to wrap up in when the cold comes to call. Used on steam ships, travelers would wrap themselves in them as they communed on the wooden lounge chairs...every open Model Car car had a few and of course those who still utilized carriages. The quality of Pendleton wool blankets lives on and this new, with original tags Pendleton blanket will keep someone nice and toasty.

A gorgeous and heavy Williamsburg brass chandelier. This bad boy is a big one, almost a yard in width. Tall faux candles and traditional candle cups. For those who want traditional American elegance, this chandelier is the perfect choice.

The trees are on fire around our neighborhood and I had to share a few with you. This is the tree in my neighbor's front yard. What a lovely site that greets me each day.

I am fortunate to work on a beautiful campus at Cisco Systems. Lots of hardwoods mixed with soft and the views are just lovely.

Brilliant shades of scarlet and orange.

Prettiest parking lot in town.

What I see as I drive down the campus road to my building.

Happy Halloween my pretties!

Blessings and treats to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Hot Apple Crisp

2011-10-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

My honey and I spent a marvelous day last Saturday driving around the North GA mountains and through Apple Alley where we purchased several bags of fresh picked apples. I mentioned in the previous post how much I really enjoyed the variety called "Arkansas Black" and wanted to make up a pan of apple crisp with these meaty apples. It's an easy peasy recipe so here it is and let me know if you made a pan.

You will need 6-8 apples.

Peel and slice and put in ice water to keep from turning brown.

When you are finished peeling and slicing, drain water out of bowl and sprinkle 1/2 cup of white granulated sugar and a couple of heavy shakes of ground cinnamon on the apples. Toss apples in sugar/cinnamon mix and let sit while you prepare the "crisp". Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Crisp ingredients:

2 cups of flour
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 unbeaten eggs
stick of melted butter for final step (do not mix with other ingredients)

Mix all together until crumbly. Now lay apples in an 11 x 16 baking dish and place crisp mixture over the apples. Shake a little cinnamon on top of the mixture and now melt one stick of butter (must be real butter) and drizzle over mixture in pan.

Place pan in 350 degrees oven and bake for 40 minutes.

Edges should be browned with juices bubbling along edges. Of course, the heavenly smell from your kitchen will have men and small children at your door willing to do chores, paint your house, wash your car...anything...for a plate full of this delightful dish.

First plate went to my honey. I wish I had thought to purchase french vanilla ice cream to put on top. Nothing like vanilla ice cream sitting on a piping hot plate of out of the oven apple crisp. Sooooo good. (recipe can be cut in half in you want to use an 8 x 8 baking dish. Have a wonderful weekend all and autumn blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Apple Highway

2011-10-25T22:59:00.002-04:00

It was a lovely fall weekend in Atlanta with true Indian summer weather making it perfect for a drive into the North Georgia mountains and on to the Apple Highway to buy fresh picked apples straight from the orchards, fresh pressed cider and my honey's favorite...cider donuts.

The leaves are just now bursting with color and we saw splashes of it as we drove into the mountains.

Sunlight through the windshield.

Lake along the highway and just above Dahlonega, GA.

Large outcroppings of granite signals cliffs are just around the turn.

Ah, I remember these cliffs. Their were soldiers from Camp Frank DeMerrill (US Army Ranger training camp) practicing rappelling moves and it brought back memories of my first rappel. It was on these very cliffs (no more then about 100 feet) that I first learned how to wrap a swiss seat with a rope and then "on belay" and rappel...year - 1974. Good times.

Nope, that's not family members walking across a meadow. LOL. Just a friendly flock of wild turkey's going for a walk.

After a lovely 3 hour drive, we are driving along the apple highway. Approximately 12 family apple orchards both large and small were open to the public for apple picking, apple tasting, cider pressing and everyone's favorite...fried apple pies and cider donuts. We purchased several varieties which included Rome Beauties, Cameo, Fuji and a new variety that we had never tasted before...Arkansas Black. Fell in love the Arkansas Black, a crisp, mildly sweet with a blush of tartness apple with a dark, merlot to black skin. This is a great eating apple and I'm going to make a simple apple crisp with some of them as well. Will post that recipe and pics later this week.

Sunday, brought in a few items to the booths at Queen of Hearts.

Nice, Art Deco wool blanket. The definitive blanket found on American beds throughout the 1930-40s.

Pretty Art Deco bullet boudoir lamp. This one has a lovely hobnail effect which spreads beads of light throughout the room.

I don't come across true, vintage Halloween items very often as they are highly sought after and usually cost prohibitive for me to purchase. I lucked out with this great 1940s Halloween noise maker with marvelous lithographs on it.

How cool and yet creepy is this Japanese smoker? Very popular in the 1930s-50s, the cigarette is placed in the mouth of the smoker and smoke rises out of the ears. This is one of 7 in a musical series.

I love these yo-yo quilts.

This is a pretty, vintage table runner from the 1950s.

And finally...had a pair of great wooden shoe lasts that I shoved an autumn pick in and tied up with a ribbon. These are always fun to decorate for the holidays. I like the way these turned out.

The other shoe last with a different fall pick. These make such interesting, autumn decorations. Hope everyone is enjoying the rest of October. So hard to believe that the month is nearly over and we will be turning the clocks back on November 6th. Have a great week. Sea Witch

Occupy your wallet.

2011-10-24T23:07:00.004-04:00

If I'm going to support an "occupy" cause then it is going to be "occupy my wallet". Economic times are tough on everyone and I'm always looking for a way to save a little money. I shop at Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Joann Fabrics for fabrics, trim and embellishments when making costumes for my raviolis. All offer paper coupons but I usually forget them at the house and often never get to use the 40% off coupon. I was at Hobby Lobby a week ago picking up more glitter tulle for fairy dresses when the gal at the counter asked if I had their coupon. I had forgotten it again and she said, "No problem, do you have a smart phone?" Yea, I do and all I had to do was call up their website, click the coupon button and up pops their 40% coupon.

They scan the code and I'm golden. No more cutting out coupons and remembering to bring them and I get to shop more economically...and the coupon loves keeps on giving 'cause I can use it again and again throughout the week. I love that Hobby Lobby has gone techie. But wait, there's more!

Joann Fabrics also has a iphone app to utilize their coupons via your iphone and they also have an app for other smart phones to have coupons sent to your mailbox. Yea baby, because I use their 50% and $5.00 off coupon for fabrics all of the time.

Not to be left out, Michael's also has smart phone coupons. Love, love, love that I know longer have to carry paper coupons and that a coupon is available at the tip of my smart phone fingers every time I need one. Now that is applied economics.

Now for some dinner savings. Sold an item on Craig's list this evening so my honey and I met them in our local shopping center (LOL...so clandestine) but it's safe as I don't want to have Craig's list buyers come to my home. We closed the deal and decided to have a quick dinner at Johnny Carino's. We had never eaten their before and can be described as a chain that is a notch above Olive Garden. We were greeted at the door by a friendly hostess and our waitress, Anna, was a doll. On Monday's, Carino's offers a 1/2 off their family platter meals normally priced right around $30.00 each. So my honey and I decided to share a Chicken Parm family platter. Each family platter will feed 3-4 at a table. We added Caesar salads to the meal for $1.49 and while we waited for the meal, we had piping hot, homemade bread with toasted garlic in seasoned olive oil. Heaven.

I wish I had taken a photo of the platter they brought us. It was huge and filled with four, very large chicken parm cutlets on a bed of spaghetti. Fresh grated cheese all around and we enjoyed a marvelous supper for ... wait for it...$14.00. Yup, now that is applied economics. We had so much food left over that we now have our supper for tomorrow evening. Sweet Anna added two loaves of fresh bread and you just couldn't beat this economical meal by this restaurant. There is quite the menu selection for the family platters and well worth the Monday night restaurant visit.

We will be back again on another Monday as I am dying to try the Lemon/Rosemary chicken. The price of this Monday offering can't be beat, but what made the meal delightful was our wait staff. Anna was attentive, charming and fun. We look forward to being her guest again in the near future. If you have any good deals or other cost savings apps, please share in your comments so we can all apply a little economic savings to our lives during these tougher financial times. Sea Witch

It's all about motivation

2011-10-24T12:05:00.001-04:00

I came across this delightful International video for water. Ya know, women are simple creatures, a little neon pink light, some fun music and an exercise bike will produce laughter and healthy living.

I gotta get me a bike setup like this. How about you?

A few items found

2011-10-22T09:50:00.000-04:00

Busy few weeks and they all got away from me again. I forgot I had a few photos of items I found last weekend. Not a lot of treasures because it is getting cooler now and the yard sales have all but come to a screeching halt. This is the time of the year when I really miss living in the midwest...the fall auctions are always a delight. I love schlepping through the boxes of items piled on the hay wagons.

Found this reproduction antique lock with keys. Works like it should and what fun to have on the back gate if you have one. Someone appreciated it for what it was because it was in my booth for only 24 hours.

Found a few more blue transfer ware saucers and dessert plates. I adore vintage/antique transferware and it always moves so quickly.

Pretty serving bowl cover. So often you find these covers without the bowl. I used to display a variety of these lids on my dining room wall over a Victorian sideboard.

A pretty little bone china chocolate cup and saucer. Really fine china with rich cobalt blue and gold slip decoration.

Found a pretty vintage candlewick cake plate. It's hiding under the Phaltzgraff coffeepot and oil and vinegar jugs.

Any time I place a lamp on this Victorian desk, the lamp sells. I've sold three lighting pieces in as many weeks so I moved the pretty Tiffany Lamp over to it. Besides, I like the way the light from the lamp lights up the eyes on these china doll heads. LOL

Decided to finally part with this magnificent hand crocheted bedspread. I has this on an old brass bed in a guest room in the sprawling Victorian we had in Illinois many years ago. I've been holding on to it for years and came across it as I was cleaning out a trunk. Decided it needed to move on to a new soul who will love it as much as I did. Perfect condition with no holes or repairs and is a beautiful ecru color.

So, I need to publish this post and get ready to leave for and apple orchard run. My honey and I are road tripping it through North Georgia today in search of the perfect Apple Pie and Apple Cider donuts. Photos will follow. Have a marvelous day everyone and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Re-do's

2011-10-09T22:53:00.001-04:00

Loving the fall season this year. The weather has been lovely and this weekend was autumn breezy with cooler temps. Still nice enough to run around in the last of your summer dresses but needing to add a light sweater or jacket. Did a couple of re-do's over the week and took them into my booths this weekend. I got so involved in them that I forgot to take before and after photos so all you get are my after photos. LOL

I bought this for $8.00. A lovely wrought iron chair that had many coats of white and gold paint on it and still had the original seat pad which was a highly stained harvest yellow velvet. I cleaned it up and spray painted it a satin black and then redid the cushion with a red/orange taffeta with a black velvet brocade pattern. I love, love, love the way this chair turned out. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint, pretty fabric and a heavy duty staple gun can do.

Here is a closer photo of the fabric, love the way the light changes the color of the fabric. Taffeta is one of my favorites because of its iridescence. I placed on the seat a wonderful "Witch's Sorting Hat" that was hand made by an artist in Northern Florida.

More Re-do's...I find small black frames throughout the year (mostly from Goodwill at about 99 cents). I then print out digital photos of crows and bugs and spiders and bats that I made and place them in the frames. Priced to go at $4.00 these Halloween items sell out each year.

Behold, the witch's hat. I really like the cone shape of these glass inserts for candles. I picked a few of these up from my local Goodwill and they look great for placing tiny witch's hats under the glass. I glue them to black plates and hide the glue with a little glitter. These do not sit in the booth long.

One of my Halloween re-do displays. I have them throughout my main booth and a few in my Victorian booth. Please feel free to "swipe" and then build upon these re-do ideas. I love seeing what others come up with.

My fox hat sold the weekend I put it out, so I moved the huge, velvet and hologram sequined "Mac Daddy" hat. Neat hat for Halloween costume.

My sons always wanted over the top costumes for Halloween and my youngest (at age 17) wanted me to make him an Elmo costume for a contest he had entered. Imagine if you will, a 6 foot Elmo or rather 7 foot once he got the huge head on. The wearer would look through the mouth. Needless to say, he came home with the $200.00 prize. He spent the next year visiting children in the local hospital dressed as Elmo. They loved it when Elmo would come to visit and my son always got a kick out of the shrieks of laughter from the kids. Both sons are grown with children of their own so it was time to send the costume on to other wearers.

Now for a few items I found this week. This marvelous turkey sugar shaker. He is huge and great looking and in perfect condition. Circa 1960s. Pretty plum colored silk mums pin for your favorite jacket or sweater.

Nice Pfaltzgraf tall coffee pot with the brown, Village pattern.

Vintage cardboard turkey. I found four of these when cleaning out my Victorian sideboard. Acquired these at a mid-west auction from a school teachers estate. You know these were on her bulletin boards every November. Great colors.

The honeycomb turkey to the left is from 1987 but the huge cardboard turkey was from the same estate noted above. This bad boy is over 24 inches in length.

These two are also from the teacher's estate. All four have colors that are true and in great condition. All date to the late 1950 and early 1960s.

I had this turkey on my table for years but like anything, it's time for him to enjoy another's table. From the 1980s, it is a pretty terra cotta centerpiece.

After I got my two booths squared away, I had just walked out of the Queen and into the parking lot when I hear a man say to me, "Hey, stranger." OMG...Jimmy. Haven't seen you and Lyn in ages and what a delight to see two old friends from when we all had booths at Vintage Village. Lyn was in the Queen and hoping to see me so I turned right around and went back into the store looking for my old friend. There she was, looking as lovely as every, and we got to "gossip" a bit about our lives and our booths. It's always so nice to meet up with friends, especially those you haven't seen in awhile. So here's a shout out to Lyn and Jimmy...who by the way have booths in at "the Warehouse" in Monroe, GA. They always have the prettiest items and at great prices. I will be visiting their booth during the annual holiday walk. I know I will come back with treasure.

The leaves are just now beginning to change on the trees in my front yard. Still mostly green with a few patches of purple showing up, but this leaf could not wait to show off it's brilliant scarlet color. It was the only leaf on the entire tree that dared to be so brazen so I had to snap a photo of it.

I'm knee deep in costuming for the grandchildren and I will be posting on that later in the week. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend and...Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Booth fluff up.

2011-10-06T21:04:00.000-04:00

Halloween items are moving briskly so I had to bring in more to fill in the holes from items that were sold.

Acquired this slightly ovoid shaped, antique stoneware jug last weekend. Jug still has an old cork in it.

All of the gourds have sold so I brought in this marvelous 1900s antique beer tray. Pretty lady dressed in a kimono. Brewery unknown.

Pretty shabby cottage decorative cabinet shelf is perfect for holding favorite items. Pair of spooky, faux headstone markers molded from 18th century headstones. Picked these up at the Crabtree Festival last Saturday.

I love the look of these. I have already sold half of them.

A better photo of the pretty shelf. This is one of those items that I like better each time I see it.

Nice soft and oh so warm fur Fox hat from the 1960s.

The fox hat looks great next to the Orvis knitted wool sportsmans sweater. This sweater is a rich pine green.

Lots of things to do this coming weekend. I hope I can get most of them accomplished. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Can it get any weirder?

2011-10-05T08:35:00.000-04:00

My honey and I were tuned into watching another episode of "Sons of Anarchy" and who pops up as an ex porn star but David Hasselhoff. The Hoff! I had to read up on this so I googled the SOA and sure enough, the Hoff is the newest cast member.

In a surprise bit of casting, David Hasselhoff will be making an earnest return to scripted television by joining SAMCRO in ‘Sons of Anarchy’ season 4 as a… Well, you’ll see, says"Screenrant" columnist, Anthony Ocasio.

In a brilliant bit of casting, series creator Kurt Sutter will provide the “long-awaited” fictional personification of one of Hasselhoff’s most famous images of the past (see below), by tapping the famed Baywatch star for the role of Dondo, a one-time porn star who is known for the size of his… I think you get the picture.

Okay, I don't know if I want to laugh or cry or just shout, "Make it stop." This man always seems to have the cheesiest photos of himself. His music videos are even sillier. I mean, is he paying an agent for this?

Still, "the Hoff" is one of TVs favorite caricatures and you do have to give him props for shows like Knight Rider and especially Baywatch, of which he single handedly made into a viewing and commerical gold mine world wide. He does know how to laugh at himself all the way to the bank.

Screenrant columnist, Ocasio writes: With a flawless record of casting Sons of Anarchy – which includes legendary novelist Stephen King – one has to respect Kurt Sutter’s ability to continuously select the right actor for the part. Even though it’s going to be another three months before we find out whether or not Hasselhoff is able to pull off this role, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Hasselhoff’s stint on Sons of Anarchy becomes as legendary as the man himself.

We shall see. Sea Witch

Crabtree Festival//Rock N Rib Fest

2011-10-02T21:09:00.002-04:00

Saturday was an incredible fall day. Our first with cool temps, brilliant blue sky and mild breeze which had the leaves singing a lovely tune. All of this was perfect for several of the first fall festivals throughout the area and I had plans to visit two of them. Sis had other plans and my honey was taking his Saturday with a good book and conversation on Shotgun World so I was flying solo. No problem for me so I grabbed my festival bag and plugged the location into my iphone GPS and I was off.

A short drive to Milton, GA for the Crabapple Art and Antiques Festival. This small community is nestled between Roswell and Alpharetta, and the local town fathers (and mothers) had this well planned out for the crowds. Free public parking everywhere with a shuttle trolly for those needed it, the clang clang of the bell as it turned at each corner was such fun to hear. The local police had the traffic moving quickly and smoothly so it was easy to find a parking space and I could walk a block to the festival.

This is a gem of festival. Tents filled with quality antique dealers with beautiful primitive wares, victorian pieces and lots of quilts...talented artists offering jewelry and embellishments, one of a kind Halloween and Christmas decorations...and of course, great festival food offered throughout. I have lots of photos to share. All enlarge if you click on them.

In the middle of all of this was an area with lots of chairs and benches and live music playing throughout the day. No fees, no parking costs. Just welcome to Milton and the Crabtree Festival and enjoy yourself.

So much to select from and people were carrying items back to their cars non stop. Always a good sign of good prices.

I adore American Primitive and these school slates are just delightful.

This dealer had a marvelous display of Victorian items. This old ship caught my eye with all of the hand rigging. Yea, that is something a seawitch would be drawn to. Didn't make the purchase as I no longer have a large home but it is always fun to look.

Sometimes simple display says so much. White pumpkins were everywhere.

Hey, I know this booth owner. Yup, an old booth friend from when we both rented booths in the same antique store. This talented dealer hand dyes ribbons and offers the most lovely of shades in silks and velvets.

Luscious, hand dyed velvets. I purchased a few yards of the brilliant chartreuse you see hiding in the back and then a lovely ombre with muted shades of rust, rose and brown.

Next to my friends ribbon booth was a delightful women who offered a Witches Apothecary. Such fun to read all of the labels.

More potions for the season.

Don't you just love this display? So pretty with the brilliant oranges and yellows nestled in with vintage trays, wood boxes and primitive items.

Love the soft colors of these old, tin oil lamps.

Such whimsical faces on these delightful hand made Santa's. This was a lovely booth of beautifully crafted Santa's and St. Nicks. All one of a kind.

The same artist who created the Santa's also had a Halloween display. How sweet is this Halloween cat.

Live music played throughout the day.

This festival had marvelous Halloween booths throughout. This vendor had delightful paper items.

Dogs on leashes were everywhere. It was so much fun to see them out and about. They were all enjoying the sunshine and the dropped morsel of food when they could find it.

I came to visit this Festival because of a girlfriend who posted on Facebook she would be showing there. Susan and her friend always have the nicest displays. Nice big chest of drawers with a neat Victorian Child witch cut out next to it. Susan also had a beautiful and large quad plate coffee pot.

Delightful pumpkin head dolls sitting in a pretty luggage basket. Susan's sense of whimsy is always fun to see.

This dealer had marvelous oak pieces and I wanted this neat old sandwich board chalkboard but just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. LOL

I love Christmas stockings and these made from vintage feed sacks and old burlap are marvelous.

What a neat surprise. Two more old friends who also were at the same shop I was were at the Festival. I didn't know they had a space and it was so neat seeing both of them there. These two gals are just delightful and both have the great knack of finding the coolest stuff.

Pretty vintage purses and old paste pearls.

I like mixing old and worn with a little bling. These pretty antique wall sconces and aluminum tree branches look so well together.

Pretty turn of the century ladies secretary painted shabby white and at a take it home price.

Pretty wire basket of mini pumpkins.

These two little dogs would bark at everyone that passed by them. They were so funny to watch. It was a lovely time at this festival and I will bring sis next year. Oh, and I came home with a 19th century pudding stoneware mold and a few faux 18th century gravestone heads.

From here, I drove home to meet up with my honey so we can head out to the Rock N Ribfest in Lawrenceville. This festival was also a first visit and so different from the Crabtree Festival. Sorry to say that the Rock n Ribfest was more like a mini state fair...very loud with poor parking setup, blaring loudspeakers competing with each other for the loudest messages, mostly commerical business and political booths, just a few art booths, a screaming kids section and a radio station's live music and lines and lines and lines of people trying to get food.

I had another friend who was showing here and she shared the same observation. They also stuck her beautiful paintings next to a commerical vendor who was blaring annoying frat boy kind of games over a loudspeaker. It was horrible. Not a lot of layout planning went into this festival, I'm sorry to share. It was just way to much overpowering noise and incredibly long lines for food and drink.

Becky paints family pets and her work is sought after. She is very active in pet causes.

The day was so windy that she had to take down her tent leaving a few tables for setup. After we spent a few moments chatting, my honey and I decided to have dinner at the Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant rather then stand in the long lines for ribs. Never a disappointment, the Oyster Bay has great food and my honey was happy to order his favorite, their Shrimp Po'Boy and a cold beer. I had their Angus burger (small one) which is really huge, I ended up bring a third of it home and shared it with my sweet Kota.

The two festivals couldn't be more different and I will go back to the Crabtree Festival next year. As for the Rock N Ribfest, I will skip it unless they change the setup. Just wasn't my cup of tea. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Sea Witch

A pumpkin and a screwdriver walk into a bar...

2011-09-29T09:39:00.000-04:00

nah, that didn't happen, but it did get your attention. Although a pumpkin and a screwdriver did get together. We have busy lives and sometimes I don't have the time to really decorate the way I would like to. Still, that doesn't keep me from dressing up a pumpkin or two in the front of my home.

We are talking simple...easy peasy stuff...less then 5 minutes and you are good to go kinda decorating.

So take a big pumpkin and

grab a hammer and philips head screwdriver and poke two holes, one on either side of the pumpkin stem...

then take a pair of pretty harvest pics from your favorite craft/fabric shop and shove a pic in one of the holes you just made...and

there you have it! Instant decor. Now clean off the screwdriver, put the tools back and admire your decorative work. Oh yea, lookin good mama!

Oh, and there's more...when you change from fall to winter decorating, you can use the pumpkin for making pies come November. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

A lovely weekend.

2011-09-26T15:57:00.002-04:00

The month of September is quickly coming to an end. So hard to believe that October is just around the corner. Sis and I had a lovely Saturday visiting Vintage Village as they had a parking lot sale going on and lots of Halloween items for sale in the store. Who can resist a parking lot sale on a beautiful Saturday so off we went to Snellville. Following a delicious lunch at Majong Chinese Restaurant of steamed pot stickers and crab rangoons covered in hot mustard we pulled into Vintage Village to do some shopping. VV is a cozy shop with approximately 50 dealers and I can always find a treasure or two or three.

The front entrance of Vintage Village all tricked out for Halloween. Don'tcha just love it?

I love the multi colored light bulbs and the glitter on the candles for this repurposed lamp. What fun.

VV dealers know how to display well with tiny elements.

Pretty fall stems.

Crazy about these Halloween lanterns. Love the crow.

Scherenschnitte or paper cutting is always a pretty decorative item.

More Halloween at its best.

Two of my favorite dealers (Paul and Jeanine) they have such exquisite taste and are delightful people. I could live in their booths.

They always have such lovely lighting pieces and at great prices.

Take a pretty glass container and fill with tone on tone flowers. Lovely.

Game birds turkey and peasant always dress a holiday table well.

This is a new dealer at VV and she offers my favorites! I adore American Primitive and I went a little Sea Witch mad in her booth. See that pretty heart shapped sewing box to the left of this photo? Well, it came home with me. I know $45.00 may seem a lot for a sewing box, but this is a Victorian piece and in a rare shape ... the heart. Inside it is a rich Victorian red lining. I am over the moon with this piece and it is in my personal collection. I adore women's needlewook tools and have been collecting them for decades. My collection is small but unique.

Quad plate...be still my heart. This is why I came to VV today. I had heard that dealers had a boatload of it and they did. I walked away with a pretty pickle castor and a baby's cup. Still have my eye on the teapot in this group.

I walked away with some neat items and Sis purchased home made apple cake from Miss Willie at the parking lot sale.

More black painted candlesticks and added the "cracked headlight" to my table of Halloween decor. This is one of my favorite pieces as well. I have a thing for doll heads in cups and bases...has an interesting creep factor to it. LOL Reminds me of the design elements one would find in the old HBO series, Carnivale. How I miss that show.

Added a few of my usual witchy photos to vintage frames.

Purchased this set of leather bound and marble papered books. Classic tales and original, publishers deluxe binding from 1935.

Sold all of the black spray painted candlesticks/candelabras I had brought in last week so I had to find and paint a few more. These have proven to be very popular this year.

A fantastic find. Lovely tiffany style stained glass lamp and base. Nice table size and the base lights up.

I love metal ornamental pieces and this piece is a marvelous depiction of an 18 century Woodland Tribe American Indian.

A smaller metal American Indian that is free standing. I like the way it looks among the fall items.

Nothing like witches flying around on brooms with candle light behind them. Ten minutes after I displayed this, it was sold.

A new hat for my gal. Nice Mr. John, Jr. mohair hat with rhinestones and french jet glass beads. Very 1960s.

Sold the stained glass lamp shortly after I set up this display so I added the Victorian print of the praying girls. I think it is a neat compliment to the heads. LOL While I was setting up this display, someone calls my name and I turn to see it is Barbara...the neat gal sis and I met at Hobby Lobby last week. She came through Queen of Hearts for a little shopping and she saw me fluffing up my Victorian booth. I love the small world that we live in.

This was a great day to be working in my booths as I seemed to sell items as quickly as I set up the displays.

It was a wonderful weekend. Beautiful weather...a fun day with sis...visited Vintage Village...found treasure...plumped up my booths. Now its back to work until the next weekend. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

New Look!

2011-09-21T21:27:00.003-04:00

It's a new look for Musings of a Sea Witch. I have been wanting to update my background for a few months now but wanted to keep my sea witchy look with Victorian and the Romantics mermaid art. Additionally, I wanted to add the color of the sea with its beautiful shells and sea creatures.

I utilize three different size monitors at work and each one has a different display size. Depending on what display size you utilize on your monitor will determine if you see the entire background as shown above.

A new background called for a new header. Not a lot of change here because I like the idea of switching out photos I have taken of the sea. Saw this Victorian Pears mermaid ad and know exactly how she feels. This is my heart when I'm feeling the need to be in the sea again.

Photos enlarge if you double click on them. As always, your comments are always appreciated. Sea Witch

Halloween is here.

2011-09-19T09:26:00.003-04:00

It was a wonderful Saturday spent with Sis as we hit a couple of my favorite haunts for treasure as well as the fabric stores for ravioli Halloween costume making. Fall weather has hit the south and we had a lovely day in the 70s with cool breezes. Perfect for a little junkin and shopping.

Found a few things at my haunts but got so busy prepping for my booths that I forgot to photograph them. I'm such a blonde at times. So instead, I have some photos of my "getting ready for Halloween" booth plump ups.

A few posts back I mentioned I had a special use for a few of the remaining porcelain doll heads. Well here they are. Nothing like floating heads with empty eyes that look smashing with a glow stick or votive candle lit behind them sitting in vintage pewter goblets. Oh, yea...I'm digging this. Welcome to my kind of Halloween. MHHAAAAahhhhhhaawwwww!

Found a bunch of cheaply (okay, thrifty) priced brass candelabras at my local Goodwill so I spray painted them satin black and shabbied them up a bit. Added grubby candles that don't quite sit neatly in the cups and now I have haunted candlelight. (queue thunder clap in background)

My favorite Victorian witch is back and I filled this vintage "Stairway to Heaven" with an antique ostrich feather, antique wax flower wedding headpiece, Victorian etched liquor bottle and other Victoriana. Love the look. I may have to go back and reprice this higher so if it doesn't sell, I won't mind.

Photo of the black marble table. I'm going to fill this with more Halloween items next week.

You can't see it well from this photo, but the bright glow from the table lamp was a weekend find. Lovely antique gold on silver and white lamp with beautiful tone on tone stained glass shade. It looks wonderful on the doll's heads table.

It's sweater season and this classic argyle from Mark Berman is as soft as cashmere. Perfect for football games and a pretty mink collar for "Miss Sassy". I had a nice fur hat for "Sassy" but it sold shortly after I put it on her.

Check out the nifty vintage Log Cabin Syrup bottles with the faux wood screw tops. All from 1976 with Bicentennial impressions on each. Behind the bottles is a fantastic Lefton "Hen on basket" set. The only thing missing was the cookie jar lid so I filled it with fall flowers instead. Bottles and hens were weekend finds. I love a fall table, don't you?

A better shot of the completed table for fall and Halloween. I can never, ever have enough deviled egg trays. They sell faster than I can ever find them.

This huge hand made splint basket is what brought home all of those doll body parts a few months ago. Now it is filled with giant faux gourds and pretty Primitive Black Cats. I love the way the fall colors play off of the faded sea blue-green straightback chair.

I moved my white shelf to the back middle of the booth to open the booth up as I ready for holiday displays. I wish I had more transferware to offer. I have sold off most of what I have so I added vintage cake plates and moved the Precious Moments from the tea table to this shelf.

Blue table moved to the right and filled with treasure.

Photo of the other side and my nifty black cart. I sell more stuff out of that cart. I refilled it up again. People love to root through things like this.

A cauldron cookie jar and a pumpkin head candy dish. Works for me.

Okay, sometimes you just need a little weirdness at the table. I have no idea what these two gals are, but they look like they just ran off of a bad Japanese monster "B"movie. Can you imagine the family conversation at the Thanksgiving table when people ask why the two weird gals instead of the usual turkey S & P's?

Headed out to Hobby Lobby to find fabric to make fairy costumes for Kit Kat and Kells Bells. Didn't find what I was looking for, but had a marvelous time looking over the holiday decor. Sis and I love to talk to anyone who will listen and before I knew it we had made friends with a lovely woman named Barbara. So here is a shout out to Barbara and hope she used the 40% off coupon we passed on to her for something wonderful.

After the junkin and shopping, Sis and I needed a pick me up so off to our favorite coffee shop...Mozart's Bakery. A marvelous, Korean run coffee shop that is artsy, quiet and has exquisite desserts. I had my favorite...Chocolate Mirror.

Rich chocolate ganache cake laced with a spot of raspberry preserves and a hazelnut cream inside. Enrobed in a rich but very thin layer of dark chocolate and then decorated with decadent designer chocolate bark with a fresh raspberry, pistachio and walnut meat on the top. Oh, be still my heart.

From Mozart's, we hauled over to JoAnn's Fabrics. As you know, my Kit Kat is very specific about how her costumes are to be designed. I scored with every fabric and embellishment I was looking for so it's costume creating time this week.

Now you know why I am such a sucker for this child. Look at that sweet face. She was in her nightgown and was going through my luggage to see what clothes and shoes I had brought for my recent visit. She liked the colors on this summer dress and asked if she could try it on. Of course you can and she giggled with delight and then put on my Cinderella shoes (they are clear and covered in clear sparkly glitter) and walked to the breakfast table that way. Her mom and dad were rolling with laughter.

Wishing you this kind of joy and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

300th Post

2011-09-13T08:33:00.000-04:00

I just realized as I hit the new post tab that this is my 300th post! Wow, hard to believe that I have made 300 posts and folks actually came to read them. Thank you everyone, for your support and your wonderful comments. I look forward to posting another 300.

Fall is just around the corner as our hot Southern nights are now in the 60s with a nice breeze. Leaves are just beginning to show a color change or two and Queen of Hearts has begun to decorate with the colors and style of Indian Summer and Autumn. There is such a comfort feel to this season. It always invokes the nest in-instinct; family and friends sharing around the kitchen or cozied up on the sofa with warm blankets, the family pet and perhaps a snuggie or two with the kids.

One of my favorite dealers at the Queen in Buford has a marvelous sense of style. She takes the simplest elements and places them beautifully in a myriad of containers.

Vintage bases from lamps and urns become beautiful mounts for pumpkins and drieds.

Her booth, always beautiful...I can take everything home she creates or finds.

How sweet are these little paper mache candy holders? Too cute.

These ghostie bad boys are about 2 feet in length and spin silently on nylon from the ceiling.

Some of my favorite things, chippy aqua blue table with an antique treenware bowl filled with white pumpkins.

At the front entrance to the Queen of Hearts, a splendid table set for Thanksgiving. Love the use of the tossed antique quilt as the centerpiece.

A delightful pumpkin face kinda says it all about the season soon our way. Wishing you all a joyful grin this week. Sea Witch

Junkin Saturday

2011-09-11T22:28:00.002-04:00

It was a lovely weekend. Kota, my sweet boy is recovering from his stroke nicely. Amazing how these animals snap back from physical ailments. He is moving well, but he now curls his paws when he sits down. No pain, just stiffness and a drunken walk when he first moves. We went for our Sunday bagel run and he was overjoyed to stick his head out the car window and bark at the passing cars.

My sweet boy.

Sis and I got together to run around on Saturday. I was in NY the weekend before so it was good to hang out with my baby sister. We gossip, have lunch and catch up on our lives and laugh like crazy at the silliest of things. We went to a few of our favorite haunts and I got lucky with a few finds.

Nifty little cast iron ice house wagon with draft house. Not the turn of the century toy, but a nice reproduction from the 1970s.

Found two great antique school house teachers bells. This #6 has a clear, loud tone and you immediately feel like you are being called from the school grounds and into the school room. Circa 1880-90s.

A second, smaller bell was nickel plated. Another wonderful tone to it as well. I just love these old school bells, they make me smile.

A beautiful and heavy crystal perfume decanter. Nice size, about 8 inches high. A few knicks reduces the value greatly but it is just too pretty to toss away. I have it priced to steal. LOL

Traditional spun steel, pewter look, eight candle chandelier. These traditional pieces have clean lines and provide an elegance within any decor.

Vintage crucifix from the 1950s. Nice size.

A pretty medium size footed EAPG cakeplate. Pretty pressed designs.

And now, for a marvelous find. Couldn't believe my luck when I saw this baby.

A big, industrial wheel rolling cart. Deep, black and beautiful. I fought between keeping it or selling it, but I relinquished to selling it. It is perfect for so many things from laundry, yarns or loaves of piping hot french bread, LOL.

Here is that faboosh cart in my booth filled with an antique bucket bunch, a straight back chair and an oval frame.

A pretty little antique transfer ware and gold lustre plate.

And now, for the best find of the day. I was was walking to the check out counter to pay for all of the above treasures when I spied this magnificent Early American Pressed Glass (EAPG) covered compote.

Exquisite. This beauty is huge and 10 inches in diameter and has that lovely shade of pale sun purple. You will scream outloud when I tell you I purchased this for $30.00. YES, thirty smackers...as the British say...I was godsmacked. I must have it for my personal collection. I adore EAPG and this is now my crown jewel. I can't wait to fill it with antique Christmas ornarments or perhaps some homemade candies for the holidays.

Everything but this EAPG covered compote went into my booths. Many of the Queen of Hearts booths have already begun to add fall and Halloween touches. I need to get started on my two booths redo next week and bring in a touch of fall and Halloween. Have a wonderful week all and blessings to you and those you love.

He's such a good boy.

2011-09-09T09:18:00.000-04:00

I'm back dear bloggers/readers. I was at West Point, NY visiting my son, his lovely wife and my raviolis...Kit Kat, Kells Bells and the Conman. Had a blast with my grandchildren and a marvelous time in NY. I get so homesick for the northeast when I visit. Good food, beautiful countryside and "da king's english is spoke." LOL

Was just settling back in when my honey called me at work to say that he thought Kota may have suffered a stroke. I came home to find that my dear, sweet and beloved Kota suffered a Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome (GVS) stroke. He is doing well and in no pain but feeling a little embarrassed about his drunken walk.

He is 15 years old and I cannot imagine life without this wonderful creature. I'm thankful that my honey was home to assist him. Kota was running to the door and barking at the salesman when his bark changed and he had difficultly walking. He was terribly embarrassed by the drunken walk he immediately had and tried hiding in our bedroom closet.

Last winter's snow fall on our deck. The coyote would come out in him when it snowed and he would howl and prance and hop in the snow with abandon.

Kota waiting for his puppy bagel at Einsteins bagel.

He is doing much better this morning, but has difficulty drinking water as his neck is a little stiff. His bark is a little off too. Sweet baby. He can recover from the GVS but it takes up to three weeks. He is an old guy of 15 years...a very long dogs life and especially for a coyote/dog hybrid mix. He is the sweetest 4-legged I have ever had in my life and I have been emotionally preparing myself for when he crosses over these past few months, but this was so unexpected. I'm not one of those who will prolong his life for my sake. I will not allow him pain or discomfort, I will not allow him to exist for my sake. He has been a faithful and loving companion and I will willingly allow him to cross over to his doggie heaven where he can eat unlimited treats, chase tree rats with abandon, hide beneath a butterfly bush and snooze on any bed he finds until I see him again.

For now, he is happy, without pain and barking at the tree rats (squirrels) so we will continue as a pack. He is such a good boy. Blessings to you and those you love and especially all creatures great and small. Sea Witch

Neat things

2011-08-25T13:55:00.005-04:00

Look what was parked in our company parking lot this morning. Yea, a pretty aquamarine colored mustang. Oh how I wish this was my ride right now.

Added a retro filter to the iphone pic and I'm loving the final look and now I'm ready for a long highway ride.

Can you feel the wind blowing through your hair and "Supertramp" on the radio singing, "Take the long way home"...I can.

Pulled myself from that dreamy car and my altered reality long enough to walk into my building. What greeted me was this beautiful butterfly which had attached itself to the glass entrance door. Spectacular colors and it just hung there for about 2 minutes and then fluttered off.

And now for the best news!!!! Yes, a Goodwill Store is opening 2 miles from where I live. Do you hear it? Can you hear that sound? That is the sound of my Sea Witch happy feet doing the goodwill dance of joy. The schlepping gods have looked kindly on me and have deemed it just and right that a Goodwill store should open so close that I can visit daily should I choose.

Sis and I will be making weekly visits to see what treasure we can find.

Hope the rest of the week is a great one for you and those you love. Sea Witch

Weekend Treasure Hunt

2011-08-21T23:04:00.001-04:00

It was a busy weekend for the Sea Witch. Took Friday off to be with my sista as she had trigger finger surgery for three of her fingers. Both hands were bandaged thick like bear paws and by the time I got her back home, she was feeling no pain and flying high! She recupes fast and already she is back on facebook typing away with her bandaged hands. On Saturday, I made a run to one of my favorite places to seek out treasure. What a hot day. The heat was in the 90s before 10:00 am and items on the rows of tables were already too hot to pick up. I needed to make a quick run through these tables to see if there was anything that I wanted before the sun was really high in the sky.

An adorable little souvenir Indian doll. Circa 1960s.

Nice Navajo rug. Soft wool weft and warp and still has its certificate of authenticity attached.

Pretty butter yellow corner shelf that I filled with tobacciana. Lucked into a grouping of walnut pipe racks and humidors from the 1960-70s. They all smelled like fresh tobacco, it was a neat scent.

The amber humidor was filled with loose tobacco and smoked stogies. LOL.

A buggy whip is always fun so I paired it up with the Hefner like smoking jacket. Hey, love hurts.

Lovely find. David Davidson, signed hand colored photograph. Student of Wallace Nutting, signed by David Davidson and titled "Hearts Desire". Original frame and bubbled glass.

A better closeup photo.

Turn of the century riding hat. Brown velvet.

A terrific find. Turn of the century carriage lamp. These were also used with early automobiles in the 1900s.

Lovely, hand tinted photograph of Burgess shipyard in Marblehead, MA. Dated 1881. Original frame and bubbled glass.

Pretty, cut and etched crystal compote and an ice cream parlor penny lick on top. A penny lick is a small ice cream dish that the customer paid a penny for a little taste at local ice cream parlours.

And finally, this spectacular hand tinted, etching from 1784. Bubbled glass and original gilt frame is from the mid 1800s. This was a marvelous find with a value of $600-800. With a professional cleaning it will realize that insurance value.

Love Miz Sophie in her sassy Edwardian hat. I adore these big, over feathered hats from the Titanic era.

Redid a few of my displays so the booth looks fresh.

Main booth is packed with lots of treasure. Everytime I would refluff a space, a customer would come in and take something out. NOt complaining, this is always a good problem to have.

I was busy making necklaces out of the porcelain hands and really pleased with the way they turned out. I was selling them as quickly as I displayed them. Wish I had another hundred of them.

Pretty beads, brass embellishments and porcelain hands.

It was a fun weekend of treasure hunting, jewelry making and taking care of sis. Wish I had three more days for this kind of fun. It's back to the corporate race tomorrow...but in 5 days, it will be the weekend again. Whoo hoo. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Hand to hand.

2011-08-16T08:51:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago I purchased a basket full of porcelian body parts used in doll making. The heads rolled out of the store (pun intended) but the hands and feet...not so much. I mentioned this to my honey and he immediately says, "Why don't you make necklaces out of the hands?" Dohhh! Face plant into my palm...yup, why don't I make necklaces out of the hands. Both of my hands caress my honey's cheeks and I plant a kiss...thank you baby...that is a great idea.

The hand is perhaps the oldest of all graphic symbols. It holds power and the magic of touch in many cultures. Your hands are the way you relate to the world: how you reach out to others and how others return your touch; what you use to do work; and often, they are the instruments through which your creativity flows to create music, art, or poetry. Milagros: A Book of Miracles by Helen Thompson, shares that Milagros, traditional Mexican talismans, symbolize that our hands are essential to making a living, without our hands a craftsman can't make his crafts, an artist can't create, a laborer can't work, and a factory employee can't produce. Milagros of the hand are common in societies where the well-being of families depends on physical labor, and in our own highly technological one, hands provide the means for survival, both physical and spiritual. Hands are the connection to others that gives us our humanity, and may be why phrases like 'lending a hand' evoke a sense of the importance of giving something of yourself.

So, take a little decorative 20 gauge wire and a few porcelain hands.

Add some hand dyed, vintage rayon ribbon (purchased at Queen of Hearts, Buford)

Embellish with interesting beads, stones and metals.

And you have a steampunk-talisman necklace.

It was difficult not to keep adding items to these, but I wanted them to remain simple in their look and execution. The wearer may add additional "charms" to them if it calls to them. Will be putting these in my booth this weekend. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

When Women Gather

2011-08-14T19:10:00.003-04:00

Facebook is a wonderful thing. It is how I kept track of my son while on his many tours in the middle east. It allows me to see what my raviolis (grandchildren) are up to and communicate with family and friends that are scattered all over the world.

Six weeks ago, I get a friend request from a high school friend that I haven't seen since the early 1970s. She asked if I remembered her...how could I ever forget? We facebooked back and forth, sharing old memories, and before I knew it, other friends came forth. Great gals from Peachtree High School and we all graduated in 1972. We were young, ambitious, star struck with what our futures held. In short, we were smashing!

Long hair, short skirts or hot pants...that was the wardrobe of our day. I even wore a pair of royal blue hotpants under my high school graduation gown. It makes me giggle whenever I think about it.

I had moved to the south in 1970 when I first met my neighbor, Lucy. She introduced me to her friends, and I was welcomed into this group of southern girls. They were all pretty and laughed easy and were smart and fun and God-fearing. I was a loud, Yankee gal, a Kosher-Catholic, who would do anything on a dare. I was comfortable with an opinion and loved an opportunity for....well for whatever. I'm sure I was as much as an enigma to them as they were to me.

What fun we had in high school--boys, football games, cutting classes, rolling ex's houses, car-pooling to school with our parents cars. Lucy, my neighbor and girlfriend; Gail, never without a bag of m&ms, always practicing her drill team routines anytime and everywhere; Janet, the yellow rose of Texas with a hint of the devil in her smile; Kim, tall and smart and always with a goal; and Theresa, a true southern belle and always dressed in the latest fashion.

All continue to live in the surrounding Atlanta counties. Being the nomad in the group with 17 major moves all across the country and overseas, I had not seen many of these women since 1972. As we all sat around Kim's dining room table bursting with good food and drink, it was Lucy and Janet who first asked me, "Dari, bring us up to date, what did you do after graduation?" "Well, following graduation, I went home, picked up my baby sister and we drove to Dairy Queen for a Buster Bar." The sound of their laughter was like gold and so I said, "Oh, you want more." And so it went, sharing stories of our lives and learning we have so much in common. Good marriages, not so good ones. Children, grandchildren, loss of parents, some still going strong and those a bit fragile. All of us hit by today's economy and how we cope and manage. And then those gals that left our lives much to soon. God be with you Robin and Cathy. We shared photos and memories and stories, and so it goes when women gather. Before we knew it the hours had passed by and it was time to return to our homes.

These magnificent women who are more beautiful today then they were a generation ago. How I enjoyed watching each of you around the table as we shared our stories. Kim, you have the smile of angels and a heart just as big. Thank you for opening your home and bringing all of us together. Theresa, you haven't changed a bit girl and I wouldn't want it any other way. Janet, that devil may care smile is still there and your eyes sparkle with no good. Sit by me dear, you are definitely the gal who will get arrested with me. Gail, your smile and heart continues to light up any room you enter and it is you I thank for seeking me out on Facebook. Who knew? Lucy, you were the soul that introduced me to these friendships. You still carry that easy smile, that joyful laugh and the gentle heart you share with everyone. The most common sensed of all of us, I know you will have Janet's and my bail money when we call.

I hope we will gather again, we still have stories and laughter to share.

Blessings to you all and to those you love. Dari (Sea Witch)

Lux Lighting

2011-08-08T10:16:00.005-04:00

Do you rewire lamps? I do for simple jobs, but I had two lovely lamps that needed a complete re-wire and the job also required multiple socket rewiring. I did a google search in my area and found the Lux Lighting folks.

Gave them a call on Monday of last week and spoke with the manager, Hershel. Friendly and very accommodating, after we talked about the jobs I needed performed, he had provided me with a repair cost. I shared that I was an antique dealer and he immediately provided me with a reduced cost. Additionally, the jobs would be ready in two days. WOW. So my honey dropped off the two items for repair and I would pick them up that weekend.

Came by the Duluth location on Saturday to pick up the two lamps and I was overwhelmed by the size of this store. 18 thousand square feet of showroom space and lamps and lighting of every type you can imagine. Oh, and did I mention they have an extensive selection of wall mirrors, art and design elements for sale as well? All beautiful, but really, it is about the lighting at Lux Lighting.

The ceiling is filled with lamps.

Chandeliers, pendants and hanging lamps of every type.

So many crystal chandeliers and the heavy Austrian crystals sparkle like the sun. Rainbows shown everywhere.

Aisles and aisles of floor lamps.

Fell in love with this modern crystal chandelier. It was huge and light just streamed from the crystal orbs.

Lux Lighting has two locations and is open 7 days a week. Their rewiring prices are the best in the area and their customer service superb. I am so pleased that I found them as I have been reluctant to invest in quality antique pieces as they often require a complete rewire for safety.

If you are in the metro Atlanta area, you must stop in for your lighting needs. If you have antique lighting that needs service you may contact them via phone 770-476-9571 or email.

Now, here are the two lamps that I had Lux Lighting service for me. I am thrilled with how beautiful they look.

Dale Tiffany hanging pendant lamp.

Double bulb antique hurricane lamp. The switch is on the metal base. Bopth lights are on so the pale green of the top shade has been diffused to a sunny yellow.

So pleased with the work Lux Lighting did for me. Now that I had these two beauties rewired and ready for the shop, I did a little junkin on my way back home. The heaven's finally opened up and it poured for a good hour. In between the rains and the miles back to the house, I found a few neat pieces.

Found this great mannequin head for displaying vintage hats.

A stack of vintage romance mags from the 1930s. The covers are fantastic and the story lines a scream.

Yes, be still my heart. LOL

Pretty set of flow blue saucers. Got them super cheap so I priced them low.

A set of four, pretty handpainted dessert plates. Now that makes for a pretty tea party.

Love Love Love this pretty pink milkglass footed cake server by Fenton. The pattern is Spanish Lace. Circa 1950s Perfect for your best, homemade cakes.

How cool is this department store Santa visit give a way? A toy that has you flip the wreath on to his mustache. These Santa give a ways never lasted very long and this has never been used. Very 1950-60s.

I moved things around after I hung that lovely, Dale Tiffany pendant lamp.

I am crazy about this lamp, I may have to just keep it. Lux Lighting did a superb job rewiring the three sockets.

Brought in this neat multi-colored farm, kitchen table. Orange, black and cream with blue the last color applied to it. Love the color.

Hank Aaron looks well among the shabby chic.

Not too many doll heads left. I wonder what people did with them? The Queen of Hearts at Buford is looking great. We have had a lot of new dealers come in and they are getting ready to open an "Old Fashioned Bakery". Can't wait for that to open. Nothing like freshly baked cupcakes, breads, cookies with hot coffee, tea or cold milk as you stroll through the many booths at the Queen. Hope everyone has a lovely week. Sea Witch

A sexy hook

2011-08-04T20:26:00.000-04:00

Okay, it's been another wicked week of non stop chaos at work. I'm hot, I'm tired and I need a laugh and this silly vid came my way last evening and I haven't stopped laughing about it. Michael Bolton is a scream in this as he pokes fun at himself and movies we love all while laying "tracks" for a popular comic group...but damn, that man can still sing.

This silly little tune remains in my head and I will never be able to look at these movies again without humming a few bars. Enjoy the rest of the week all and blessing to you, Michael Bolton, and those you love. Sea Witch

Treasure hunting in the heat.

2011-08-01T08:34:00.001-04:00

Another hot weekend in Atlanta. Temps are pushing 100 degrees and the heat index is way over that. When it's this hot, not too many estate sales or yard sales are running so I headed to my favorite place for treasure. The heat was so bad that you burned yourself picking up anything off of their outdoor tables. Not a lot this trip but the fun is that I never know what I am going to come across at this place. My first find was a pretty little enamel dogwood dish from mid century artist Margaret Ratcliff. I have been "lucky" with contemporary art pieces from art glass, prints and pieces like this and they sell quiickly in my booths.

A local artist of Atlanta, born in the 1920s, her pieces are always sought after and especially her dogwood items.

There's no place like home. Hey, any great pair of shoes will let you click your heels and find yourself in a dream. A great find, lovely pair of Victorian wedding shoes with steel cut beading. Pretty silk has begun to shred but the leather soles are in excellent condition and these size 6s are actually wearable.

Neat photograph of a "teaching" doctor, circa 1930s. I love old photographs, something about them speaks to me. I always see stories in them.

Another lovely photograph of a young girl reading 1937. What a sweet face. Don't you love the moment that the photographer captured of this young girl?

Fantastic diamond optic amethyst purple compote. Very 1960s

Sold my large chandelier so brought in this huge and heavy pendant lamp. Looks small in the photo but it is a big piece.

After "fluffing" up my booths, I dropped off some items at the local Goodwill and did a quick run around to see what I could find.

Couldn't believe my luck when I saw a group of Precious Moments figurines. Something I don't usually pick up but they were all priced at $2.92 each and I grabbed every one. Most of them are from 1976 through 1985 and two of them are music boxes.

Many of them were either retired or suspended.

These were large pieces and in perfect condition.

How cute is this Thanksgiving figurine?

Sweet music boxes play Brahms Lullaby.

Spent most of Sunday looking up secondary market values and pricing for the store. Because I obtained then at a very low price, I will price them way below market value to pass a good deal on to the buyer.

What I love about the hunt is being able to pass a good find to my buyers. Half the fun of of collecting is the "good deal" whether you buy, sell or trade.

Have a wonderful week all, stay cool. Sea Witch

I hate saying goodbye

2011-07-29T12:11:00.001-04:00

I hate it. I dislike saying goodbye. When I meet a new spirit I never want them to leave. And so it is with a few of my blog friends. I am sad that I have had to cut you loose from my favorites list, but then it really wasn't my doing. They have either left the blog world or have retreated for more then 6 months and not sure if they will return. I understand. I do and I will miss you but it is time that I clean out my space for others. You have gone away because others are coming. So I have added new blogs. Some are long time bloggers newly discovered by me and some are brand new posters to the blog world. I welcome you all and wish all those who have left well.

Say hello to a few of my newest blog friends:

Garter Mademoiselle - how cannot you not love a name like that? A new blogger, her posts are delightful as she shares her love of silky drawers, garter, and all things romancing ribbons creative. A Jersey gal now living in Germany, she shares her vintage finds found in her European travels.

Dear Helen Hartman is like Dear Abbey on junkin crack. As she writes, "This is the South! Too much food, too much jewelry or too much hairspray, there is no such thing. In this part of the country, too much of anything is just about enough...But I do believe I'd have stopped at giving the dummy a gun! Oh wait, that has never been a prohibition against dummies with firearms 'round here." We even have a term for an abundance of blessing here in the South.

It’s called a gracious plenty."

One Cheap Mama...she had me at cheap mama. A mother of two and a mom of one with caviar taste and a sardine budget so she does the best she can to feed, clothe and decorate chic and cheap. From Louisiana Y'all. In these crazy economical times, it's great to have a leader "on the cheap" to help us navigate our financial opportunities.

All have one thing in common that immediately attracted me to them. It was their joy of life. So I hope you enjoy visiting these blogs and as always, wishing you blessings to those you love. Sea Witch

Junkin with my sista

2011-07-25T10:47:00.005-04:00

Between my corporate job and my sista's we have been busy missing each other on the weekends. We usually "play" on Saturday with a day of junkin, lunching and gossiping. Mind you, we live up the street from each other and we email/talk/facebook all of the time so it's not like we don't see each other. Still, baby sis and I just always have a great time together and Saturday was our day to play. We always have stuff to give each other so while sis was getting her handbag together, I snapped this with my iPhone of seaglass in a big martini glass sis had on her dining room table. A little of Kim Klassen's overlaying techniques and this is the artistic outcome. I love it...looks so Key Westie to me and yes, the perfect martini for a sea witch.

First stop was Fry's...had to pick up a splitter to hook up a second monitor for my home PC. A girl can never have too many shoes, handbags or monitors.

From there we grab a little lunch and then off to Goodwill for some junkin. Haven't been to one location in a few months and it really paid. Along with treasure from a few other locations I came across some good finds.

Nice West German lidded stein.

Neat serving utensils from a Hawaiian steamer. 1940-50s

Pretty Victorian pink transfer ware dinner plate. 1896

Three of these English transferware dinner plate with hand painted details. Pretty scalloped edges. 1931.

Three dinner plates, Wedgwood Wellesly pattern. 1931-1957.

Pretty creamy color.

Larger then a dinner plate, this decorative element is as light as a feather so it can be hung inside or out.

Neat pair of "Mayan" look pair of vases. Celtan, California pottery. 1960s

Lovely muted shades of wool on this modern Navajo rug.

Marvelous find at $3.93.

Everyone woman needs a sassy, red hat.

These were in my house. I finally came across a bucket bench in faded seafoam and now these can move on to another's home. I adore antique bucket benchs and actually had these stacked 5 high. I have two more that I will eventually move on to the booth. The bottom bench still retains its original milk paint and has octagonal legs. The small one at the top is the cutest and no more then 10 inches by 8 inches by 6 inches.

The Navajo rug looks pretty with the three lanterns.

How clever is this? This is why I adore Queen of Hearts. So many clever decorating ideas. This designer rolled up sheet music and filled candelabras and scones with faux candles. I love this idea.

Fell in love with this spectacular high Victorian baby carriage. If I had the money, I would have bought it. Have no clue what I would do with it other than I just like it. LOL

And one final treasure find that is now sitting in my sista's kitchen until she tires of it and then returns it to me to sell. Yea, that happens often. Sis loves to redecorate and she will see something that I have found and then asks if she could live with it a while.

This cutie only had 3,000 made and books at about $195.00. Who knew? I paid $10.51 so no complaints from me. It may be a while, though, before sis gives it back. When you open the top of her bottle, little "Jeannie is sitting inside" guarding the cookies.

It is too cute for words and looks great in her kitchen...for now.

It was a lovely day with sis and as we ended the day with a side trip to a favorite haunt, we noticed this sign and had to take a picture. Again, it was an iPhone shot so I added an overlay technique of Kim Klassen's to clean up the shadows and give it a more painterly look. We never did get dive bombed by the overprotective mother bird, but it sure would have been fun to watch.

Thanks for swimming over to my blog and saying hello. I appreciate hearing from you. Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch