Cat Turd Hunting.

Today I'm going to press the rewind button on my memories and press play from the May 2010 archives. As some of you may recall from a previous blog post I absolutely adore antiques. If it's old then it has history, it has a story, and one of my few pleasures in life is looking at, admiring, and coveting many antique items from over the years. Unfortunately, I'm not at a place financially to afford many of the items I desire, but I have been fortunate enough to gain a few items through donation or the occasional estate sale. Today I am avoiding bad news of incoming severe thunderstorms, with tornado watch attached, to reflect on a few of the items I have the pleasure of now owning.

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Cherry Mirror

I attended my very first estate sale in May of last year. The estate sale was special because it was the estate of my late great-great aunt. I adore my family and I am very sentimental when it comes to "stuff." When I think of family heirlooms I don't automatically think of items with a grandiose air. Anything, even the smallest of items, can harbor feelings of sentiment with me. Whether it be a book, a quilt, or even a toy from my childhood... if it evokes a pleasant memory then it's priceless to me. My great-great aunt had many beautiful items. She had a secretary and two hall trees I desperately wanted, but other auction patrons wanted them as desperately as me and they had the money to buy them with. I did not walk away empty handed however. I left the auction the proud owner of my great-great aunt's decorative cherry mirror and an oil lamp. There were many things I wish I had walked away with, but I was happy to have salvaged a small part of my own family history and that I would be able to give a new life to some of my great-great aunt's possessions. Isn't that really the point of family heirlooms and antiques? Keeping those items alive for more generations to enjoy. I can only hope that whoever purchased her other belongings enjoy them as much as I enjoy the ones I won. I hope they are taking good care of her things. It always worries me that someone will not properly appreciate an estate sale item.

Oil Lamp.

Shortly after my first estate sale my boyfriend's mom used the term "cat turd hunting." The term intrigues everyone that hears it and while she offered no clear definition I have determined one of my own. In order to properly "cat turd hunt" one must sort through the crap (pun heavily intended) to get to the gems that may be buried underneath. I no longer refer to antique shopping as picking or yard selling or auctioning... it will forever, and lovingly, be known as "cat turd hunting."

Blue Goblets

Although the first estate sale I attended had special meaning to me because it involved family I was instantly hooked to the thrill of the auction itself and I found myself online looking for upcoming auctions. A few weeks after the first sale my boyfriend, his parents, and his aunt and uncle loaded up and traveled nearly two hours for a promising estate sale we had found online. The lady that had once lived in the home where the estate sale was held had everything known to man. I don't think she ever threw out anything and I couldn't believe all the items in the yard had once been packed into the modest brick home. There was a gorgeous carnival glass punch bowl that caught my eye early, but unfortunately the bidding went beyond what I had allotted to spend. I was feeling a little defeated until my boyfriend won a bid on a set of lovely blue goblets. After that he won a small McCoy planter. It has a few nicks, but it is still quite lovely and we are always looking for McCoy pottery pieces. By the time the auction moved inside the home many people had already left. The lady had a lot of Longaberger baskets that were early coveted items and some women came specifically for those baskets and many left after they were auctioned off early in the sale. I admired, as always, several large furniture pieces, but alas, my budget was quite small.

McCoy Planter.

When the auction moved inside and I eyed a stack of original Foxfire books thrown in a corner. The minute I saw them I knew they had to be mine. I remembered discussing them in an Appalachian Studies class I had in college and I knew they were the best "how-to" books around. I stayed beside that dusty stack of books until the auctioneer made his way into the room. A woman ducked inside and said, "I'll give you 4 dollars for the books," to which I replied, "I'll give you five." The lady conceded and the Foxfire books were mine. I was tickled.

Foxfire Books

Whatnot Shelf.

While I was pleased with the small haul we had taken in thus far into the sale nothing could have prepared for what happened next. Although it was only May, it was a very hot and humid day. People were sweating outside and once the sale moved indoors the heat became too unbearable for many. Very few dared brave the inside portion of the sale. In the same room as the Foxfire books there was a piano. A mattress and box spring set was leaning against the piano and a few interested people peeked behind the mattress for a glimpse at the piano that had been mentioned in the ad flier. As I was gathering up my Foxfire books the auctioneer began bids on the piano. I heard the bid go down and it began very low. I heard my boyfriend Todd say, "Twenty dollars." I did not anticipate Todd winning a piano for $20.00 so I began to make my way out of the room with my books in tow.... then it happened. No one else was bidding. "Twenty... going once.... going twice... sold." It took a moment for the reality to set in. Todd had just won us a piano, a real piano, for $20.00. I took my books outside. I called my mom, "Mom, do you know anyone that wants a piano? Maybe Bobbie Sue?" Mom said, "I want a piano!" I was still in shock when Todd came out of the house carrying an antique whatnot shelf, a slightly more modern wall shadowbox, and a 24 inch television. In all we spent about 60 dollars and walked away with a few treasures... including a piano. Now here's the kicker... we had rode to the sale with Todd's family. His uncle's truck was already loaded to the brim with estate sale finds and the piano was not fitting in his parents Malibu. I called mom again. "What's Dal doing? Do you think he can travel 2+ hours to pick up our piano?" Our new rule of thumb... always make sure you have proper room and transportation for your estate sale purchases. Luckily my step dad was free and he and mom made the trek down state to pick up the $20.00 piano we'd won. To this day I'm still shocked that we won a piano for $20.00. After some research we determined it's a very nice brand and that it's actually a player piano, which is slightly more coveted, and it's from the early 20th century. We had a nice antique on our hands, but no place to put it. Our apartment is small. I'm talking downtown NYC small, but located in Eastern Kentucky and with substantially lower rent. We couldn't determine a way to get the piano into my mom's house, although she desperately wanted it, so it's being stored at my boyfriend's parents. The nieces and nephews get a kick out of it and I wish I could play it, but it may come down to us one day selling it. Who knows what may come of the piano, but it will be a story to tell for the ages and so far it's been our greatest "cat turd hunting" success. I also believe it's going to be the one find that's hard to top, but I certainly hope to have fun trying.

Howard by Baldwin Piano.

Easter Tussie Mussie.

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I haven't been feeling very creative in the past couple of weeks. I attribute most of that to the weather because warmer weather wrecks havoc on my sinuses, but you aren't here to read about the perils of Amy. You're here, hopefully, to see and discuss curiosities and crafts.

So speaking of crafts... I spent a little downtime this evening to create a quick and simple favorite craft of mine, the Victorian tussie mussie. I apologize now because I did not take progression photos, but I opted to create while sitting in bed and watching my current favorite television program, "The Vampire Diaries." I know, I know... I promised to take progression photos, but tussie mussies are super simple to create and the steps, I think, can be described in good enough detail without any accompanying photos. First, I will show you the end result and then describe the few, simple steps it took to create this Easter project.

This tussie mussie is slightly unlike others I have made because I began with a piece of scrapbooking paper that was pre-cut with a decorative edge. If you look at the top of the tussie mussie you will see the scalloped design. The paper, also embossed, was round in shape so all I had to do was roll the piece of paper into a cone shape.

First I printed Victorian images I found on the internet on the textured scrapbook paper I've used on previous projects. I cut the designs using scissors and an X-acto knife. On the large image I detailed the edge with decorative ribbon that I folded into pleats and sealed with a hot glue gun. To cover where the two pleated pieces come together I glued an egg/banner design that I had typed Happy Easter on using a photo editing program. I attached the completed piece to the front, middle of the tussie mussie.

Because I didn't want to cut the decorative scrapbook paper I used to create the cone I had a small opening in the bottom of the tussie mussie that is normally closed on my regular tussie mussie design. To fill the void I cut a small pink rose from a bunch I had purchased for crafting and used craft feathers to further fill the opening until the feathers were full and fluffy.

Instead of gluing the ribbon used to hang the tussie mussie I took a hole punch and made corresponding holes on each side and knotted large ivory ribbon through each hole. I took scissors and cut a V pattern into the ends of the ribbon to create a more polished look.

So that's my simple tussie mussie. I have began making them for every holiday so expect to see many more in the future. Also, keep checking back as I have a few other Easter craft ideas floating around in my head and I promise I will try to take progression photos on future Easter projects. Until next time....

With Love's Greeting

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and while it's not my favorite holiday I have had fun creating vintage Valentine crafts and baking Valentine treats. I began my fun-filled Valentine weekend Friday night. I baked sweetheart cupcakes for my sweetheart while watching "A Charlie Brown Valentine."  I got the super cute cupcake wraps and picks at The Dollar Tree.

His and hers cupcakes. The background image on "A Charlie Brown Valentine" is perfect, and totally unplanned, I promise it was a complete accident. Isn't it handy having a television in the kitchen? Love it.

Anyone that loves to bake, especially cupcakes, needs one of these Wilton cupcake pans with a lid. My boyfriend's mom and dad got it for me for Christmas. I adore it.

On Saturday my boyfriend and I traveled to a really great Flea Market in London, Kentucky where I got the family dog, Annie, some really cute homemade doggie treats. Don't worry, everything is made with dog friendly carob. She loves to lick the carob icing off the treats. She's spoiled rotten. :)

 

After we left the flea market we went to a local Vendor's Mall where I saw tons of great antiques, but opted out of buying myself anything because I was shopping for others for Valentine's Day. I noticed at walmart you could buy really cute Valentine's Day bags for 4 or 5 dollars and those really cute bags weren't in my budget. The Dollar Tree was already wiped out of Valentine themed bags so I simply purchased two plain bags on the cheap and decided I would oomph them up at home. 

For my mamaw's gift bag I got a simple pink bag with white handles. These cost one or two dollars depending on the size. The heart tissue paper I picked up for a dollar was really cute, but not enough embellishment for me. This project gave me the perfect opportunity to play with mom's Christmas gift, a Cricut. I bought her a holiday themed cartridge for Christmas. From that cartridge called "Celebrate With Flourish" I cut the layered "Happy Valentine's Day" message in pastel textured paper. My mamaw loves kittens so I cut a kitten with a heart in its mouth from the cartridge called "Four Legged Friends" from the same textured paper. Here's the end result.

 

Don't tell, but this is mamaw's Valentine gift. It's the softest little puppy imaginable. I hope she likes it. I think she will. :)

 Poor Todd... he won't get his Valentine's Day gift until we receive our tax return, but I think he will be okay waiting considering there will be some pretty cool technology involved. Although I didn't have much money to spend this year I still wanted to buy my parents a little something. The gifts inside the bag will remain a secret since mom reads my blog and while it isn't much it's the thought that counts and they deserve something since they help me so much. I got a larger bag to hold both gifts and it was another cheap bag with stripes. Pretty, but also pretty plain. I was finished with the Cricut for the day so I pulled out some heart doilies I had on hand and used the same cupid image I put on my 3D image box earlier this year. Again I printed the cupid on textured paper and cut him out with an X-Acto knife. I put a hint of glitter on his wings and glued him to the layered heart doilies. I simply glued the entire image to the front of the striped bag. Here's the end result.

 

Happy Valentine's Day! My gifts are all packed up and ready to go. For those of you wondering why I have Sarah Jessica Parker hanging on my wall... it's an autographed photo a friend got for me a few years back. My friend works in the movie industry and I'm a huge "Sex and the City" fan so he hooked me up. It's even personalized to me. :)

Last, but not least, I spent part of today baking a Valentine treat for my parents. I made cupcakes for my sweetie, but for my parents I opted for a cake. Both were simple Valentine Funfetti cakes (Yay, Pillsbury for your themed Funfetti cakes!) but both were personalized in different ways. What screams Valentine's day more than hearts? Mom had a heart cake pan in her array of cooking and baking devices so I braved my first ever layer cake. I simply love to bake, not much on cooking, but I love to bake so even I found it surprising that I had never made a layer cake before. I had some trouble with one of the layers sticking inside the pan. I guess I got in a hurry and didn't properly grease the pan, but I had a strict agenda that I needed to get all Valentine projects finished well before the start of the Grammy's. I am an absolute dork over award shows. I love them. The Academy Awards are my favorite, followed by the Golden Globes, then the Emmy's...etc. The Grammy's, while not my favorite, are a lot of fun. I watch nearly every award show that is broadcast, even the Tony's. There's something old-fashioned about award shows that I love... anyway... I've gone off on an award show tangent that has nothing to do with Valentine's Day so let's get back to the cake. After the small sticking cake mishap I was able to get the cake layered and crudely decorated, but I'm sure it will taste divine!

 

Unfortunately I had mishap number two. The cake plate lid doesn't fit around the cake which is extremely frustrating because I measured, but every time I tried to put the lid on, it scraped the edges. Oh well. That's why they make toothpicks and plastic wrap, but hopefully after we eat a few pieces after dinner the lid will fit. :)

It's not quite Valentine's Day yet, but I wanted to complete everything today so I wouldn't have to do so much on the actual holiday. I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day whether or not you have a sweetheart to share it with. I've always thought there was too much emphasis on couples during Valentine's Day, but I always make a point to recognize family and friends as well. Don't be depressed if you're single, embrace that single-dom and have fun! Spend VDay with your family, friends, or sweet little furbabies. It doesn't have to be a couple's holiday anymore. Just get out there and make it your own!

A Joyful Easter

Seeing as the horse drawn sleigh I had requested earlier never arrived I thought I would take advantage of this wonderful snow day and create something crafty for Easter. Sure Easter isn't until April this year, but with the exception of St. Patrick's Day, Easter is the next upcoming holiday. It never occurred to me to make something for St. Patty's Day... hmm... perhaps it's time to reconsider. I did try my best to take progression photos, but did catch myself getting caught up in the crafting moment so a step or two will have to be solely described. They are very simple steps though. I promise.

To start out I went online and found some favorite Victorian Easter images. These are some of the ones I chose.

From the first image I cut the silhouette of the bunny. The second image I used as the shadowbox background. The last three images I used as accent pieces. It's important when you want to create silhouettes to use a heavy card stock paper. I personally prefer a textured paper. This is the kind I use. You can purchase it at walmart.

After you print the images you need to cut out the images using an X-Acto knife. A cutting board is necessary so you don't ruin your tabletop. The blue mat I use is specifically for crafting, but you could use any kind of cutting board. I always tape my image to the board before cutting to cut down on mistakes.

Always keep your printed scrap paper. There's a good change those flowers will come in handy on a future craft project.

Here you will see my bunny completely cut away from the previous image. The reason for the finger file is to clean up any rough edges on the bunny. Just lightly scrape the sides with the file to smooth any pointy edges.

After I cut my images I found an old jewelry box that I could use to create my shadowbox scene inside of. It was sturdy, and deep enough to create a scene, but the box itself was green. So I slapped a couple coats of white paint on the box and set it aside to dry.

See the green color in the lower left hand corner? Yeah... that color really didn't fit in with my Easter color scheme.



Here's where I forget to take a couple pictures. Using the same textured paper as before, but in purple, I cut some decorative edge pieces using scrap booking shears. I fit the edges to the inside of the box so I could glue the pieces inside and fold the decorative edge forward to create a frame. I did take a picture of the folding process. Anyone that enjoys paper crafting needs the Martha Stewart bone folder pictured. It's a good thing.

 

Next I took Aleene's Tacky Glue and covered the entire back side of the jewelry box to attach the background I had already cut to size.

Next I prepared my bunny to glue inside the box. I wanted a 3D effect so I took several foam flowers, which can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, and using the already sticky backs adhered the flowers to one another and glued the final stack onto the back of the bunny.

Next I attached the decorative edge pieces to the inside edges of the box with a hot glue gun.

On the bottom edge piece I attached faux blades of grass, small silk flowers, and other ornamental floral pieces to mimic an outdoor Easter yard. It was tedious work, but well worth it for the end result.

I took the adorned piece and adhered it to the bottom edge of the box with a hot glue gun, tucking the piece behind the longer pieces I had already attached to the sides. I then attached the top decorative edge to the top of the box to complete the frame. Next I took iridescent tinsel I had gotten at Christmas and covered the bare, glue line edges.

Once the frame was complete I attached the 3D bunny to the inside of the shadowbox with a dab of hot glue. I used the other paper adornments I had cut from the textured paper to further decorate the box and cleverly cover any rough edges. I made a small bow out of thin, wired scrap booking ribbon to top the paper banner in the corner.

Next I took a loop of ribbon and tied a simple bow in the top to attach to the back of the box.

And finally the finished product. A vintage Easter shadowbox.

Curiosities we must bring back.

As I sit here watching the snow fall in Southeastern Kentucky I am reminded of a favorite snow time activity. Children old and young see snow as an opportunity to grab a sled, or even a piece of tin roofing or a garbage can lid, and set sail down one of the many rolling hills we are blessed with in the Appalachia's. I can even remember once using a small plastic kiddie pool to speed down the rather steep hill behind my neighbor's home. This weather always makes me long for something I have never experienced, yet always wanted to. It's something I have seen in movies, and read in books, but I've never actually had the pleasure of experiencing a sleigh ride in a horse drawn sleigh. I know some larger cities offer the service in winter and for weddings, but not here in good ol' Southeastern Kentucky. Maybe it's offered in the Lexington area, where they are famous for horses, but not here. It just seems to me there would be little danger in getting to your destination in a horse drawn sleigh -- which is very unlike the machines we call automobiles. Yes, I wouldn't mind getting out and traveling in the snow, but only if one of these were provided with a very gentle horse to guide me.

I don't pretend to be a connoisseur of antiques and it's not my life's ambition to become one, but I have a fondness for anything old... anything that may tell a story or makes me wonder how other families may have enjoyed its presence in the home. In the last year I have been to a handful of estate sale auctions and road side yard sales in search of the perfect little find. Unfortunately most of the things I covet most have been well out of my price range. Sure, my boyfriend and I have gotten a few treasures, including a piano from the early 1900's for 20.00, but the items I have wanted most have slipped by me as the auctioneer recited prices higher than I had to spend. Two of the estate sales I attended were for members of the family. Both of them were my great great aunts. At one auction I desperately wanted my aunt's hall tree and secretary desk, but I was happy to walk away with a couple antique mirrors and a kerosene lamp. My other aunt, whom I was very close to as a child, had a carnival glass set I wanted, but again the price was out of my reach. From that auction I left with a handcrafted baby bed my great great uncle had made and a small side table I gave to my mom. 

My aunt had a secretary desk very similar to this one. Can't you see why I would loved to have had it? Imagine the stories this wonderful old desk could tell. The many letters that were written on that small flip front desk. The papers and envelopes that were stored to the left. The whatnot the lady of the house may have sat on the little shelf under the mirror. So many imaginable stories. I hope to one day have one because I still believe in the art of a handwritten letter or card. Ask my friends... they will tell you I still send greetings by snail mail.

This is a hall tree. This definitely is not what the associates at Pier One are trying to sell you as a hall tree. This is a thing of beauty and artisan craftsmanship. This is where the man of the house should hang his hat and sit to remove his worn out work boots. My aunt had two hall trees, both were smaller than this, but just as beautiful.

Another day, another blog, and I will share with readers (when I happen to gain any) the cat turd hunting treasures I have gotten, and of course, explain a little more in detail just what cat turd hunting means.

Today I'd like to focus on antiques I'd love to have, but currently don't have the money to buy. :) I'm not a fan of most mass produced objects. Sure those particle board book shelves from walmart come in handy when you're running out of room, but where's the craftsmanship? Where's the ornate designs to make it one of a kind? In a word, they are boring. Sure at 30.00 bucks you can't beat the price, but they are cheap, fall apart within a few years, and honestly don't look very good. Do I have them? Oh yes I do and as I said they come in handy. I have them, and they work, but that doesn't mean I have to love them.

Take baby furniture for example. I understand safety precautions and updating items for the safety of a child, but does everything need to be plastic with Winnie the Pooh stamped on the side? When I think of plastic I think of all the uneven little surfaces that can catch germs and food. In some ways I am a germaphobe and while I don't have any children yet I still think about how I'd like to decorate my child's room... you know... just in case. Let's a take a look at what lovely child's furniture looks like.

 Are these beautiful strollers very practical? Not really, but could you imagine being the mother who lived in town and took their child to the mercantile in one of these? They are very lovely, but I'm quite sure they aren't going to fold down and fit into the back of a minivan. Still, I would prefer one of these over the plastic monstrosity with cartoon characters plastered all over.

I love baby cradles and these are two of the prettiest I have seen in my short research this morning. They don't look very dangerous to me, and although they would need closer inspection, from the photos themselves I see no reason why I wouldn't allow my baby, again if I had one, to rest in either of these antique cradles. Even a far more primitive design I found largely outweighs the current plastic models in overall style.

High chairs. I  vaguely remember the high chair I had as a baby and it was wooden. The same could be said for my red outdoor porch swing. They were not plastic, they were wooden, and they were lovely. I wish more of my baby furniture had been saved, but I also understand the concept of not keeping things one no longer needs. I still have several of my baby dresses and my rocking chair, which I love, but no longer do I have my crib or high chair. Again, in a house full of people I understand having to let go of things that are no longer needed and not having these items will give me the opportunity to perhaps someday shop for the antique variety. Please understand that pinched fingers are gonna happen with any kind of high chair that has a removable table top. I just happen to prefer mine in a oak, cedar, or maple.

Waterfall bedroom sets. My mamaw had a later model waterfall bedroom set, probably 50's or 60's, but my favorite waterfall sets are more ornate, older. I think it's becoming obvious that I really enjoy the more Victorian style of furniture that is unfortunately really rare. There's just something regal about the waterfall sets. The dresser could double as a woman's vanity. Reproductions cost almost as much as the antiques so if they can mass produce boring dressers why couldn't they reproduce one of the waterfall variety? Just saying...

 

You know what would go perfectly with the waterfall bedroom set? A lovely chifferobe. Before the time of cookie cutter houses, and unimaginable walk-in closets, families relied on furniture for storage. You had a chest of drawers for clothing, chifferobes for undergarments and maybe bed linens, and a dresser for smaller treasures. You didn't have very much clothing so you didn't need a walk-in closet. It was a far more simple time and women didn't need 50 pairs of shoes. Think how desensitized we have become to material belongings. Sometimes I wish that I lived in another era where technology and material things didn't matter so much. To heck with the Kindle... I prefer holding onto a good sturdy book. Would I take a Kindle if it were given to me? Of course, but that Kindle would not stop me from buying real books either. Moving on... here's a very nice chifferobe.

One of the many things that are readily available at most estate sales are steamer trunks. Before mass production of the automobile, or the invention of the airplane, people traveled quite rarely because it took so long to make even the shortest of trips. Think back to when people had to travel to Europe only by ship. The trip would take weeks so when you traveled you had to literally take most of your belongings with you. Even with the invention of the steam engine trips were not taken frequently. Todd and I use a steamer trunk his mom and dad have lent us as our coffee table. It still has some of the original travel stickers on the sides. The inside is dingy and musty, but I absolutely adore it and wouldn't sell it for any amount of money. So even though I have a steamer trunk in use I would love to find one that has all the individual compartments inside. They are much more rare and so very interesting to me. This one was lovingly decorated by the lady that once owned it. Can you just imagine the places she could have seen with this trunk in tow?

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to introduce two kitchen items that I have always adored. The first is the icebox. Not very practical in today's time with the invention of refrigeration, but they make very lovely accent pieces which can be used for storage. The other is something that only the privileged likely had in their home... the tea cart. I love antique tea pots so it's safe to say that I would like the tea cart to go with them. Imagine the spoiled, silly women eating petit fours and having tea from the cart during their weekly tea luncheons. Perhaps I'm overly romantic because of all the period piece movies I enjoy and the Victorian Literature I was forced to read in college, and then loved despite myself, but I love the idea of girl friends gathering for tea instead of overly cooked food at the local grill. Now tell me that these two items aren't beautiful?

I hope to someday have the means to fill my home with some beautiful finds reminiscent of the items I showcased today. Unfortunately, my style is quite expensive whether I would have to buy the items antique or as a reproduction. Right now I can barely afford the 30.00 particle board bookshelf at walmart, but there's always the lottery. I suppose I should need to buy tickets to win. Now where is that horse drawn sleigh to whisk me off to the convenience store?