Party Like It's 1969

Well, you guys really came to my rescue on that last post!  Thank you and keep the good ideas coming.  I swear I am never, ever asking for compliments, but you guys always have the loveliest things to say to me.  Thank you, my friends.  

Rosie asked if I had anymore old photos to share.  Boy DO I!

You are all very familiar to this photo from my blog header.  That's Lora and Ray Hodgell - my great grandparents.  Ray died before I was born and Lora died when I was six years old.  But, I have many, many happy memories of Lora.  She was my Great Grandmother, but she was the one that did Grandmotherly things for me like have me over to spend the night.  When I would spend the night she would make me toast and an egg, but cut a hole our of the toast and put the egg in it.  I think that has a name, but I thought that ONLY she knew how to do it and that she ONLY made it for me.  I found this photo at several years ago at my Grandmother;s house and I knew instantly that it had to become my header, my business card photo, my brand, if you will.  All the vintage decor - the dishes, the paintings, that lamp, her jewelry - it's all just perfect to represent the vintage things that I love.  And those hats.  Well, that's a whole 'nuther story.

I have that very necklace she is wearing and that pine cone pitcher on the table.  I found both of them at my Grandmother's house.  See the Gurley candles in the back?  I don't have those actual ones, but I have some just like it.

When my Great Grandmother (who I called Grandma) had a family dinner, she did it up big time. Especially if it was a birthday dinner or a holiday dinner.  She had a built in hutch filled to the top with every pastel color of Lu-Ray dishes.  I remember pale green, yellow, pink and blue dishes along with matching pastel tablecloths.  I have several of her tablecloths too.  I would kill, I tell you KILL to find a set of pastel pink Lu-Ray dishes.  She would use pink dishes on a pink tablecloth or mix it up and have different colored place settings.

But, the finishing touch to every party were those crepe paper hats.  Made to fit each member of the family at each party in a coordinating color to match the holiday or decor.  She had a big craft cupboard full of new packages of Dennison Crepe paper and curling ribbon.  She made the hats for everyone before each party.  That's how they always fit and the always matched!  

The parties stared way before I was even thought about.  That's my Mom on the right peeking out from behind her brother Bob.  These are all her siblings and cousins.  She the hats on the table?  

I wish these photos were in color so we could see the dishes and the hats.  Now that I look at this photo all blown up on my computer, I see that I do have these dishes too - pine cone dishes.  My Grandmother (her daughter) was not a sentimental person and she never talked about the past or told stories.  She held grudges against so many people in the past that she never wanted to be reminded of them by telling stories.  So, when she died and we cleaned out her house, we were stunned at all the things that she had that belonged to her mother. She had even put notes with the things so we would know when we found them.  Everything was packed up in boxes and never put out once she moved to Arkansas.  But she had kept it oddly enough.  I would have loved to know that she still had all these things.  I am the family dinner host.  I could have used those dishes.  It would have made everything even more special.  But, I have them now.  I suppose that is what matters.  The best thing we found was my Great Grandmother';s wedding ring.  There was a note on it that said, "Keep Mother's diamond in the family."  She had four children and four grandchildren, but she had never thought to share that ring with anyone.  Instead, it sat in a box for 40 some years.  But, now I wear it every day.  

My parents and me on my birthday at Grandma's house.  I think I was two here.  I was the first grandchild and the only granddaughter until two years ago when my cousin had a baby girl.  Everyone thought I was sort of special.  :D

This is my fourth birthday.  I'm not sure what my Dad and my Uncle are up to in this picture.  Something mischievous.   

My Dad seems to be getting a kick out of the GREAT BIG HUGE HUNK of cake I had just cut for myself.  Somethings never change.  I still like a big hunk of birthday cake!   

When you got a bit older, Grandma would put little toasting cups on the cake.  I searched and searched and finally found a set years ago.  Then I found another.  And another.  And a collection was born. :)

This is one of my favorite photos of me from back then.  That was probably one of the lat times I wore a dress or crossed my legs or did anything ladylike.  :)

Since I was the only grandchild, I think I was a little spoiled with presents.  But, isn't' that how it should be?  Look at all those gorgeous presents!  That little wooden box beside me is a real set of silverware.  Tiny forks, spoons and knives all in a satin lined box.  I loved it SO much.  Considering how many things I have from my childhood, I am amazed that I not only do not have it, but I have no memory of what happened to it.  This is always in the back of my mind with I am thrifting and surfing ebay.  I would love to find another set.  

So, there you have it.  The story of Grandma Lora and why I loved her so.  Like it says in my header, she was the original Martha Stewart.  Fun parties, silly homemade hats and lots of love.  

Thank you for the writing prompt, Rosie.  I had fun with this one.  More to come from your ideas everyone.  Thanks again!

YOU Write the Blog

This email just came in from a friend and reader Laura: "Please post! After a week without a post, I am going through withdrawal symptoms!!!"  Isn't that nice?  It's funny, because I was sitting here staring at a blank NEW POST page and I cannot think of one single thing to blog about.  Eight days without a post is not something I normally do.  Not that I am that interesting because TRUST ME, I am not.  I love to write and I love to blog.  But my brain is full of many, many other things right now.  Things that are weighing heavy on my mind.  Not to worry, they shall pass - No one is sick or dying or getting divorced.  Just lots of THINGS.  

When I was in school from Junior High to College my favorite thing in English or Creative Writing was when the teacher would write a Writing Prompt on the blackboard.  (I just dated myself by saying "blackboard" didn't I?)  On my first day of college we had to write an essay about "My first day at college".  People wrote serious things about their future and growing and higher education.  I wrote about my foreseeable future working at the drive in window at McDonald's because my first day was hard and I didn't know if I was going to make it.  I entitled it "You Want Fires With That?"  My college professor made copies of MY essay and handed it out to the entire class and said, "This is what I want you to write. What YOU want to say, not what you want ME to read."  I gotta say, that turned my first week of college around in a good way.  :)

Anyway - here's an idea - how about you guys throw me some Writing Prompts?  What do you want me to write about?  I'm no expert on anything, but I can fake it or make it up or pull something from my past.  Make it serious or make it fun - your choice!  (If you guys don't help me out, I will be forced to copy some of my love struck junior high diary entries.  Can you say skating rink, THAT CUTE BOY and OH MY GOD FUNKYTOWN IS PLAYING?)   

Let's see what I've gotten myself into here - GO!

And, thank you!

Phone Dump

I used to carry my camera wherever I went and I SWORE I would never turn into a iphone photo taker.  But, I did and I have.  I also use the 'screen shot' function on my phone a lot to save Facebook and Instagram photos from other people and to be able to enlarge them so I can snoop.  Ha.  It's true! You can see prices on things and dirty little secrets in the background of photos.  We all do it.  Don't we?

I just downloaded all my photos from the last few months, lets see what's on there besides junk and journeys.  

Here we have a very, very, very, VERY close up of....my jacket!  

About a week ago the clouds above my house were Cotton Candy pink.  

They were glorious!  I think all clouds should be cotton candy pink.  STAT.

This is the EMPTY shelf at harbor Freight were the spinning organizers are SUPPOSED to be.  SUPPOSED TO BE.  I NEED one of these.  I WANT two of these.  But they are sold out until March 1st.  SAD FACE.  I will paint mine minty green.  Or maybe cotton candy pink.  I haven't decided.  Good thing I have until MARCH.  :(

My Uncle that I see quite often sent me this photo of my other Uncle who I have not seen in thirty years.  It's weird because he's still the uncle I remember, but he's older.  But then again, so am I.  (He's never met my husband or my son.  SAD FACE)  His choice, not mine. 

Ha.  Took this one at the "Kum & Go" (could that BE a worse name, I ask you?).  Convenience store Mac and Cheese at the bargain basement price of SIX BUCKS.  I knew a girl in college once that would have bought it.  Her Dad gave her a gasoline credit card.  It was to be used for gas.  At the gas station.  FOR GAS.  But then she found out they had FOOD in there, so she did all her grocery shopping there.  She would drag home two bags of food and it cost her about a hundred dollars.  Well, it didn't cost her, but it cost her Dad.  BIG TIME.  He put a halt to that.  BIG TIME!

Here is what I found when I walked into the living room one morning.  The Bean shot a Nerf Gun and the dart went behind the pottery shelf.  So, he unloaded it and stuck his head back there to get it out.  He also found a big Santa platter.  Who knew that was back there?  Not me!  (Yes, the cats have scratched up that chair.  I never even notice it until I accidentally see it in a photo.  Dirty little secret...)

Car wash up close.  The day we washed the car, I had terrible vertigo when the machine started moving.  I thought the car was moving and I slammed on the brakes (we were in Park) and yelled, "WHY ARE WE MOVING?"  "Uh, we AREN'T?"  

Now this is a great one and I meant to share it earlier.  We had a really cold snap for about a week.  I moved my Gazing Ball inside so it wouldn't freeze and break.  I mentioned that the stand looked lonely, so The Bean filled a balloon with water and set it on the stand.  The next day he popped the balloon and this was what was left.  Isn't it amazing?  It looks like the Earth.  Sadly, it melted a few days later.  If it is REALLY cold at your house, I recommend doing this.  NOW!

Lastly, a pair of silver glittery hooker heels I spotted at The Super Cheap Thrift.  It's a Church run thrift and it's run by Little Old Ladies.  Not your usual hooker heel dealership.  :)

Oh wait - here's one more.  One day I was looking out my kitchen window and a truck pulled into my view, then whipped into reverse SO FAST and pulled into the neighbors driveway.  It wasn't one of their cars, so I went to the front door to see what was going on (Because I am a big old SNOOP).  I walked the fifteen steps to the front door and that truck was GONE.  Like nowhere to be seen.  But then I saw what they had done.  They had left the "Traveling Turlet" in their yard.  I can only imagine that this is a source of  great fun in their circle of friends and they must leave it on one another's doorstep unannounced.  It is funny.  It was funny.  It's been there two weeks and I am kind of over the Traveling Turlet.  But, better them than ME!

And that seems like the perfect post to end this PHONE DUMP post.  

You're welcome.

I'm here all week.

:)

The Weekend in Junk: Quilts and Pinwheels

It's the middle of winter, there are no yard sales and thrifting on the weekends is usually not the best time to find goodies.  But, every Saturday my desire to go thrifting goes into overdrive and I just HAVE to go out on the hunt.  Luckily the Super Cheap Thrift is open for a few hours on Saturday. Woo-hoo.  The SCT is always good for a bit of junk and it's always, well, SUPER CHEAP.  :)  

First up - these pipe cleaner photo things - I have never seen anything quite like these.  Snoopy and Charlie Brown made out of chenille stems/pipe cleaners and woven into a burlap background.  

Now, hearing that you would think they would be really tacky and not resemble Charlie Brown or Snoopy.  But, they do!  They really do!  They are for sale in in new Instagram Shop.  (Oh, BTW, I opened an Instagram Shop! monkeyboxvintagejunk)  

These giant Dominoes were in a bag and I wasn't really sure what they were - but I am a sucker for game pieces.  These are at least twice as big as regular Dominoes and made out of some sort of heavy plastic. I'm trying to think of a crafty use for them.  The little piggy  came from a different thrift up the road that I rarely visit.  

He is a vintage Relpo planter AND a piggy bank all in one.  I try not to buy baby planters unless they are super, super sweet.  But this one is sweet and different.  It sells for squat, but I paid diddly squat, so it's all good.  ;)

This other thrift that I visited - it is in a tiny town that offers very little else to do while you are there. They have very little merchandise other than clothing and the ladies that run it are often kind of rude. And the whole place kind of smells like feet.  Or maybe it's shoes.  It does not rank high on my list. BUT, lately, I have been getting vibes to go there. I was 3/4 of the way there Saturday, so I went on out just to see.  As usual, it kind of smelled odd and there were five people working the register. They all had to confer on what I was buying  and how much it should cost.  After a pricey sum of $2.60 was decided for my six items, I handed over a twenty which caused tall five of them to put their hands up and step backwards, shaking their heads, "OH, NO we couldn't break a TWENTY!!!!" they said.  I had two one dollar bills and then I went out and raided my Aldi quarter stash and dug a dime out of the console.  They were very, very relieved that I was able to find the correct change. 

My thrifting senses had told me that I might find some tablecloths.  I didn't.  I searched and searched. On my second loop through, I paused at the baby department and spotted two baby quilts.  One was a quilt, but just squares and not that vintage - yet it was cute.  The other was vintage and OH SO darling.  

Puppies!  

It has very sweet vintage puppies all over it with fun colorful ears and butts.  Puppy BUTTS.  

I mean, COME ON!

"Blankets are $1.00," said one of the many five clerks.  

There is the other quilt up in the corner - it is brightly quilted on one side and pre-printed pastel quilt pattern on the reverse side.  It will go to the booth.  The puppy quilt will go in my collection.    I also picked up the two doll faces and a book not pictured.  Two baby quilts, a piggy bank/planter, the two doll faces and a book all for $2.60.  You see why I DO go - occasionally.  The gorgeous old books are from Goodwill as well as the long Sentence writing strips.  Surely I can think of something to do with those?

So, just enough as usual - not too much money, not too much stuff - something to keep, something to create with and a few things to sell.  

I have been making some small clipboards out of old children's books.  I bought a big lot of old book covers on Etsy so I wouldn't have any guilt about ruining any books. But then I got hooked and I needed to make MORE.  The books I use have missing pages or have been colored in or ruined in some way.  But, after I used the covers, I still had a pile of sweet book pages left.  I decided to make some pinwheels.  Or, maybe forty pinwheels.  *cough*  :D

This is a book page pinwheel with glittered edges and a Bingo marker center.  I like the bright colors and the glittery edges.  To make a pinwheel you start with a square piece of paper, so I had to cut a strip off each page before I made the pinwheel.  Then I had a big pile of  paper strips.  So, I made a paper book page chain.  It's kind of a sickness.  Waste not, want not.  

Since you need a square piece of paper to start, I stated looking for square things.  When I stopped at the booth yesterday I found square flash cards (in my own booth).  

I added an edge of black glitter before I made the pinwheel, added a milk cap center and a Bingo Marker to cover the tack.  I really like these!  I have some elusive orange BINGO markers that I think would make these fantastic for Halloween.

I think they are sweet in a vase.  I am going to make a bunch of these for both booths, the Block Street Party in May and the Spring Junk Ranch.  

I better get crackin!

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Thanks for the sympathy on the last post.  We know the truck needs a starter.  We just need to have it towed and find the money to pay for it.  Labor on that is a real b*tch.  Pardon the French.  

I got a slight reprise from my sentence on Wednesday.  I dropped the boys off at the movies and then I met up with my Dad for a few hours of mindless thrifting.  I went to my favorite thrift for finding Reader's Digest Condensed books.  I use them for crafts, but I am currently just hoarding a huge pile of them in the garage.  But, of course - I need more!  This store usually has piles of them for 25¢ each and then they are always half price - so 8/$1.00.  Heck of a deal.  They did have a big pile of them, but they were the nondescript blue and green covers that I can't use.  I did find two to buy as well as a set of old classic children's books - I paid $1.25 for the set of ten.  I already took them to the booth and I forgot to take a photo.

Next stop was a thrift affiliated with the Super Church in town.  The usually have very little vintage stuff, but what little they do have they price crazy low to move it out.  How silly is that?

I spotted this one amazing vintage glass for 50¢.  I looked and looked for more - but just found the one.  It was still worth getting.

But, while I was looking, I found these.  25¢ each and they were mine.  

Our next stop was Goodwill.  I have a love hate with this particular Goodwill.  It is really dark and the aisles are tight.  But every time I am there, I find one really good thing.  Only one, but ONE is good!  So, I have to look really hard at everything to see it because I just KNOW I will find something.  I swear I am going to take a flashlight one of these days.  Anyway, I was on the very last row of stuff and I was starting to think I was going to leave empty handed (NOOOO!) when I saw it.  Siting on the shelf.  Angels sang.  Trumpets trumpeted.  Stuff like that.

A 1940's French Gumbacher Easel.  

I've never even heard of one of these and I have certainly never seen one, so as soon as I saw it, I could tell it was something special.  

It folds up into a carrying case and that is how I found it on the shelf.  

Today I got it all set up and discovered how truly awesome it really is - it is fantastic!  All solid wood, dovetail joint and a dovetailed drawer to store you paints and brushes.  All the hardware is brass.  It's really a study in Engineering the way it all folds up and tucks into the box.  

If I had a mansion with a big picture window overlooking the ocean or mountains, I would keep it and place it in said window and I would sit and dab at my watercolors all day and drink mint juleps or something similarly dainty.  But, alas, I have no mansion and I have a truck to repair, so to ebay it will go.  Two similar recently sold - one for $140.00 and one for $375.00  I have to research it and make mine be like the $375.00 one.  :)  

A few more stops in the last couple days including the Super Cheap Thrift.  Funny note about my beloved Super Cheap Thrift.  As if it isn't already cheap - today housewares, kitchenwares, toys and knick knacks were all 50% off.   "How much is half of 25¢ ?" they kept asking.  

Items of note:

Mid-century teak and tile mosaic card suite coasters.  

A big mid-century gold glass divided tray and a mess of curtain rings.  

The tiny curtain rings will be re-purosed as wee shadowboxes.  I have teeny deer and teeny toadstools and teeny bottle brushes trees.  They will be teeny.  And adorable!  

 A pink Noritake Nippon Candlestick.

Glass mushroom jar full of 1970's dried flowers and a candle.  Can you say, "CALL 9-1-1!"?

These silly 1960's stature things always sell in my booths.  Now, not for a ton - but if I can get them for 25¢, I can sell them for $5.00.  I don't know if people collect them or if they just strike them as fun and pick them up. 

I remembered Magpie Ethel's excitement over these Shrimp Cocktail glasses so I picked this one up. I remember getting these when I was little.  It has a chip out of the lip so it's really only good for a tiny bouquet or crafting.  

Vintage turkey gravy/jelly/cranberry/ I don't really know server.  Cold painted, so it's older.  Vintage Turkey's are one of my many collections and one of the harder things to find.  

I paid $2.00 for a bunch of junky Christmas stuff just for this little rubber doll.  She was worth it.  

The flash card came from a flea market next door to my flea market.  With my love of thrifting and junk and ephemera, it had to come home with me.  

This record was at my flea market.  It was in a bundle of three for only $1.00.  As you know, vintage Birthday things are my favorite to find so this was a happy thing!  

Speaking of happy things.  

Today:

I found a YARD SALE.  

Woohoo!  

And while there I made friends with a fabulous Bulldog.  

And I found this beautiful vintage table cloth for $2.00.  It's been along dry spell in the world of vintage tablecloths.  I know I say I love a lot of things, but honestly vintage tables are really the whole reason I ever set foot into any thrift or yard sale.  That is what I am looking to find.  

Just so you don't think I am a hoarder - the tablecloth, birthday record, turkey, tiny doll and flashcard will stay with me.  Everything else will go to the booths or to ebay.  Something to keep and something to sell.  A great few days of thrifting!  

Blaghy, blog, blog, blog

Every night I come in here thinking I will write a blog post and it will be GREAT and you guys will laugh and cry and just love it.  Then, I think about what I have done lately and realize if I blog about THAT you guys will hit the 'DELETE monkeybox' button on your bookmarks.  I am super duper BORING right now.

It is January 13th and do you want to know WHAT?  I am trying to put my stuff back out from Christmas.  But not ALL THE STUFF.  I am trying to switch it up and make decisions and new displays.  I did get the pottery out this week.  I culled out a lot of my matte white pottery which was SO HARD.  It's not that I am getting rid of it, I just chose to not put it all out this time.  I am loving the colorful stuff only.  Today I finally got a little cooperation from the Breadman and he helped bring in a big cabinet from the garage so I could finally finish up all that I took out at Christmas.  He is unreasonable grouchy in this cold weather, so I specifically waited for a sunny day before I requested some of his time.  (He is on my bad list, so bear with me while I bitch a bit.)  (He's never read a word of this blog.  Ever.  I can vent here.)

One morning a few weeks ago the truck wouldn't start, so the BM took the "good" car.  And he has driven it every day since.  He won't talk about the truck, he won't have it looked at, it just sits there in the driveway.  He gets home by 2:00 every day (he leaves at 1:30 am), so I can still get out and do some of the things I need to do.  But what I really, really NEED is a day out in MY car all by MYSELF.  I need to hit a few thrifts ALONE and look at ALL.THE.THINGS.  I might not buy a damn thing, but I need to LOOK.  In two weeks he starts a new longer route that will take him into Missouri every day so the chances of me EVER getting out of this house for a mental break will be slim to none.  

Now, I didn't come here to have a pity party.  God knows I avoid "Poor Pitiful Me" posts on other blogs.  I'm sorry about that.  But, you guys are my friends and you listen and YOU CARE.  

I LOVE YOU!

So, last weekend, Lara and I went to an auction.  It was at the Armory inside and apparently every dealer in the five state area was there.  I am used to farm auctions or Estate auctions where everything is spread out from the entire house and you bid on box lots or piles of junk.  This auction had it's share of boxes of stuff and piles of things.  But, it was all collectible stuff.  Very nice old stuff - lots of old German things.  There was a box of Christmas decorations and you could only see a box of blown glass ornaments and a few old Santa's and a little chap in a tuxedo.  I was hoping I could score it for maybe $20.00 at the most.  It sold for $95.00.  Zoinks!  There was a round suitcase with vintage doll clothes that I thought I might be able to get for $15 or $20.  It sold for $85.00.  It was so sad to see all this stuff that you really wanted to be able to buy it or really even bid on it because the bids started out more than what I wanted to pay in the end.  The auctioneer said that the couple had passed and left it all to their two grandchildren that were in their mid-twenties who had said, "Sell it all and mail us a check."  Ouch.  There were books, photo albums, WWII uniforms and medals and so many wonderful things.  It saddened me that their families just did not care.

This post really needs a photo.  Let me see what I can rustle up for you.  Hang on.  

Yea, I got nothing.  

Aren't you glad you came here?  

I'm sorry.

I'll be back in a better mood with happy stories of junk and journeys and lots of photos.

But, it might be awhile.

:)

Bundle up!

Winter is finally here.  According to the weather winter is everywhere - but it really hit Arkansas this week.  Tonight it will be 2 degrees.  TWO DEGREES.  We don't see weather that cold very often in these parts.  It is supposed to be that way for a week or so at least.  

Yesterday I went to the thrift store to buy a warm fuzzy scarf.  Not because of the weather but to make this:

I had seen a wreath on Pinterest using a scarf, but they just wrapped it across the middle (like it was on your shoulders).  I wanted to wrap the wreath around and around, so I found a very long one.  I was pleased that not only was only 99¢, but it was just the perfect shades of blue to match my house and my winter decor.   

I already had the little child's skates that I had thrifted last year and I already had the wooden snowflakes and the sparkly junk from 90% off at Target.  All I had to do was assemble it.  I had it all made and it still need something, so I found those perfectly colored pompoms that I had made stuffed in a drawer.  I added a jingle bell to the center ( and ode to my roller skating days...) and it was done.  

I like the pop of color on these cold Winter days.  

I do a whole blue and white winter theme on the porch. 

It's a work in process - as in I work on it when it isn't freezing.  It might take me until Spring at this point.  

You guys stay warm out there!