My latest acquisition
It’s not often I buy anything for myself other than something I pick up at a sale, but the second I saw this painting at the Pickle Patch I fell in love. Knew it was destined to be mine.
And it was only $10.00! Why, do you suppose? Could it be the chipped up frame? Or all the little tears? Or that Big. Gaping. Tear in the middle?
I don’t care. I still love her. It needs a good restoration. It’s actually darker than my pictures show. But I’ll leave it like it is. Maybe get some archival tape to tape up the big tear on the back. I’m not sure where she’ll live, though. The spot I’d planned for her doesn’t seem quite right. But I’ll figure it out.
Can’t get enough of this shop
Do you know about 5 Dollar French Market on Etsy? I love everything they have! And it’s all $5 each. Obviously. So I thought I’d be a copycat and make some stamped candles like these for the booth. I wouldn’t even think about putting them on Etsy. That’s her gig. She has a corner on that niche and does it extremely well. I’ll be a cheerleader for her. But I saw no harm in making some to sell locally.
(One of my poor attempts.)
So I bought the $10 stamp and the ink. I forget how much the ink is. $6 or so? Then went all over town hunting the cheapest candles. The only place I could find them here was at Wal-Mart. 88¢ each.
With all the supplies gathered, I had to figure out how to do it. I researched stamping candles on Google. Found all this annoying stuff about first stamping onto tissue paper then transferring with a heat gun, but it seemed awfully dangerous to have tissue paper melted into a skinny candle. Back to the research and guess what? We can stamp directly on the candle! StazOn ink ain’t goin’ nowhere. (I know this for a fact. I tried to rub it off. It lives up to its name.)
OK. I now know I can stamp directly on the candle, so I experiment with some old candles to figure out the best method. I measured the candle and taped off the part of the stamp that I didn’t want ink on. Tried rolling the candle on the stamp, but they kept going crooked. Finally figured out it worked best for me to roll the stamp on the candle. Best being a laughable word. I’m here to say it is not as easy as it looks!
I ended up with six candles in my own candlesticks. Managed to turn them so that the worst parts don’t show. And several that even I won’t use. I did get two sets to the booth, but so far there seems to have been no interest.
(One of the sconces with some of the cast off candles.)
So let me learn the hard way and you learn from me. If you only need a few candles for yourself, order them from 5 Dollar French Market. Save yourself some trouble. And cash.
But I’m glad to have the stamp. There will be other uses for it and I’ll keep trying to stamp candles. I have some more sconces in the same room that will need them.
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And just in case you don’t already know about this giveaway, Coastal Charm is sponsoring a chalk paint giveaway in conjunction with Kate’s Creative Salvage. But you better hurry. The contest ends Sunday, August 7.
My new booth
The doors of the shop are closed. Oh, I’m still keeping it – as long as I can pay the rent – for the central hub. The place to take things before they go out to a booth and to take pictures and pack and ship. And to work on stuff. Dare I say… paint furniture? That’s in the plan. We’ll see. There’s still plenty of stock at the shop, too. I truly don’t have to shop for awhile, but of course, I will.
When I first heard that there were thoughts of a new local antique mall, I couldn’t get over there fast enough to claim my spot. I was the first. Had my pick of all the spaces, so I chose a bright, well lit room. The beginnings of arranging are here and the empty room is in this post.
So here is how it looked the first day open. Click on the pictures to see a larger view.
It amazes me how so many of the big things aren’t there now. Just a week later. If you didn’t read about the opening, peek at the post before this one.
If you’re interested in any of the small things you see, most are in my Etsy shop and on the web site.
Introducing the new Pickle Patch Market
It’s done. Finished. I’m all moved into the brand, spanking new antique mall, Pickle Patch Market in Sylacauga, Alabama. The first open day was last Saturday, July 30. It was a soft opening with the grand opening slated for sometime in October. But oh… my… goodness! Never in our wildest dreams did any of us anticipate the crowd that showed up!
People were circling the parking lot trying to find a place to park.
There were a couple of times the checkout line was so long it was snaking around the corner and into another part of the building. I don’t have any pictures of that. I was busy trying to help get the people checked out. My pictures, or even my words, can’t describe how phenomenal the opening was. I can’t even guess at the amount of people who came through. Some just curious, but many more were there to buy, buy, buy!
I took lots of pictures of the booths that are of interest to you and me. Meaning, the booths with vintage, antique and hand made things. So, prepare for a feast for your eyes. You can click on the pictures for a larger view. Actually, please do click on them. The small pictures are not so good. Not that the big ones are great, but the bigger ones do look somewhat better.
Heading off to the right and making the big, zig zag circle…………
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Those two are our friend Pam’s booth. She did quite well. Sold a lot.
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These two are our friend Teri’s booth. You can see – and buy – her artwork on Etsy at
A Drop In the Bucket.
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A cabinet full of pottery and glassware. A new friend also named Wanda.
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New friends, Scotty and Linda. That door made into a hall tree in the first picture? It now resides at Melanie’s house.
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I believe this booth belongs to some teacher friends.
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Melanie and our friend Lisa are sharing the booth pictured above. Sorry about taking so many pictures, but I just love it!
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Friends, Jim and Carol’s.
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New friend Lynn. Yes, she sold the trunk. And the big table you barely see in the third picture and the green table also in the third picture. I was a little annoyed that the green table was already sold before I even saw it. Guess who bought it? Tiffany, The Cranky Queen! So I suppose if I can’t have it, and really I wouldn’t have been able to use it anywhere in my house, I’m glad she got it.
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Friend Lisa. Another Lisa. Not the same one who’s sharing a booth with Melanie.
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It’s not all old stuff. There’s plenty of variety. This booth has books. The little girl saw me taking pictures and posed a bit.
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Ummm… I don’t know these people. But they have good stuff.
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Amy’s booth.
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Cindy’s.
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And finally, we’ve circled around to Tiffany’s booth. Booths, actually. The last picture is of her closet booth because she didn’t think she had enough stuff for a whole booth!
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Tomorrow will be a few pictures of my booth. If you see anything in any of these pictures you’re interested in, let me know. I might can hook you up with the seller. But be aware. The booths have already changed drastically. So much sold. Most of us are very pleased with the first few days.
The Pickle Patch is in Sylacauga, Alabama on highway 280. Either on the left or right, depending on which direction you’re going. (Giggle, giggle, snort.) OK. If you’re going south, it’s on your right. Past the Wal-Mart shopping center, Home Depot, a red light and the Krystal/Piggly Wiggly/Big Lots shopping area. If you’re headed north, it’s on your left. One of the first businesses you’ll see. There’ll be a school then a service station then the Pickle Patch. Come for a visit! They’re open Tuesday-Sunday.
Too busy and I don’t think I like it
Just dropping in to say, “ACK!” I’m snowed under. Opening day for Pickle Patch Market is Saturday. Got lots of last minute things to do in my booth there. Today I think I’ll go down to the shop and try to straighten and organize some of the mess caused by moving things from there to the booth. Tomorrow I believe I’ll clean house. And we’ll get The Boys, two of our granddogs, tomorrow night to spend the weekend with us. Our kitty, Oreo, will not be happy about that and I’ve got to make sure all her toys are picked up so The Boys don’t rip them apart. She had a favorite piece of egg crate foam (go figure) and the last time they were here they tore it to pieces. It was the most pitiful thing to see Oreo walk by it, stop and stare at it then look up at me, asking how I could let that happen. That was her toy and those big ol’ bully dogs tore it up. Anyway, I’ll be back as soon as things quiet down around here. I’m hoping next week will bring a little calmness.
Butless cat and the psychedelic paper
Our friend Tiffany, aka The Cranky Queen, has collected what she calls “Buttless Cats”. You know. Cats with their hiney up in the air and an opening for a cactus, a sponge, a pin cushion… But the label Buttless Cat stuck. We no longer buy them for her because it seems she has one – or two – in every color, shape, size and maker. But I still buy them to sell. This one needed flowers in his… uh… bum. I got this vintage, funky, psychedelic wrapping paper at the estate I’m hauling things from and thought what cute flowers it would make. And it did. But before I thought of making the flowers and giving them to the cat, I thought about making butterflies. So I did. And that’s all I’ve got for today.
I didn’t get out to go to the sales yet again. It must be the heat because not much is going on, although I heard that Tiffany did go to some and got a few cool things. We’ll have to watch her blog to see. Or — I could just hop in the car and go the 3/4 mile to her house and see it in person! Now, how jealous does that make you? 
New love and more stuff from the estate
OK. So how have I avoided it this long? Everybody else was doing it, shopping it, selling there, but I’d managed to all but ignore it. I’m talking about Etsy. Now that I’ve finally started listing – and selling – I’m hooked! I can’t stay off! Every spare minute I’m either adding something, looking at stuff, adding to my circle, hunting favorite shops and sellers, refreshing to see if anything sold or if anybody wants to talk or if anyone in my circle has found something cool, reading forums, looking at and joining teams…. It’s a whole city over there! And can you believe, it’s replacing Facebook for my I’m-bored-what-can-I-look-at time? I’m even considering just doing Etsy and not the web site at all. Hmmm… decisions. Oh, and the pictures! It’s a whole staging feast for the eyes. Makes me want to get better at staging my items. Now, I want to keep one of my barn doors and that great color chair (2 chairs, actually) and the beat up suitcase. But I’ve already got them in the booth. So I put a stupid high price on these things.
Here’s the Etsy shop if you want to take a look.
Just Vintage 2
Speaking of the booth, it’s coming right along. I’ve had some pangs of missing the convenience of having everything I need at hand at the shop, but maybe I’ll get over it. Pictures will come, but not today.
I’m still going once or twice a week, as called, to drag things home from the estate. Apparently we’ve finished the inside of the house. Next will be the garage. These are the highlights of last week. Not much, but fun.
Pretty tray, but I can’t figure out which side is up. I think this is correct.
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The doll in the red gingham was made over a Clorox bottle. There were several other dolls in this batch. Most of them are on Etsy already.
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All this old wrapping paper! Do we know how much I love old wrapping paper? So this is staying at my house. Aw.. I might share some in one way or another. There was some funky dunky psychedelic paper that I’m making flowers and butterflies with. I’ll share them in the next post.
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This is something else that will most likely stay with me if I can figure out a good place for it. I’m going to try to rival Vanna at Delusions Of Grandeur. She has a most fabulous collection of busts and statuary.
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I might have to keep the Santa candy containers, too. There is a note attached that says the oldest brother got mad and started to tear his and his brother’s up. That’s just too precious. I’m kinda liking the elf too, but he is very different from the rest of my collection. We’ll have to see if I can part with him or not.
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Oh, and this spaceship toy listed on eBay this week.
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That’s it for today. I hate that I’ve been more absent than not lately. Getting the booth ready (open day is the 30th), life, a wicked summer cold…. Etsy…. So, how’s your summer going?
A new collection is born?
Can you guess? Begonia leaves, clocks or books? The majolica begonia leaves I’ve had for years and years and years. Both were cracked all to pieces and have ancient repairs. I’d love more of those, but haven’t found any I could afford. I think those cost me a dollar each and both have a story. But that’s not the new collection. And of course, I’ve been buying old books and using them in my decor for years. So it has to be clocks!
I’ve been interested in collecting them for a long time, but never found any that I particularly wanted to keep. No, I take that back. I have one, but it didn’t spark a “need” for more. These two came from the same estate. I love the black cases. They just do it for me. Somehow.
This one had something to do with cameras or film developing… maybe? I love it’s shape.
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The shape of this one isn’t so unusual, but I like the whole look. The hands, the face, the base, the do-hickey on top, the rust….
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The little shelves have always been a bit of a problem to decorate, but one of those quaint things that you only get with older houses. Our house was built in the late ’50s, pre central air. Pre window air conditioners, for that matter – or before they became the common thing of every house in the south. This room had huge, 12′ sliding glass doors and no windows, but apparently when the owners started buying AC, they wanted one for this room. So what do you do? Why, cut a hole in the wall, of course! Years later when central heat and air was installed, what in the world was to be done with the hole? The room was paneled. Not exactly an easy fix like sheet rock would be. So the creative owner came up with the little shelf cubby. The biggest obstacle is the shallowness. Not a lot will fit on them. The last thing I had was my nativity sheep collection, but I’ve grown tired of them, not to mention the dusting nightmare.
The whole arrangement needs a little tweaking, but I believe I like the look it’s beginning to take on. It just might change the look of the whole room!
Nice little surprise
Whew! What a mess! I’m still moving into the new booth and still bringing stuff from my friend’s parents’ home. My world is upside down, spinning out of control. I’m determined to get the house cleaned up first, then tackle the mess caused by moving stuff out of the shop. Maybe some day, before too long, I can get back into my normal routine. Whatever that is.
I did want to share a nice surprise I got with one of the loads I brought from the estate. This load was mostly bleah. Straight to Goodwill or garbage. But there was this little, lidded box that I assumed was going to be cheap figurines, but look what was in there!
KEEP!
I just love those last little girls with their pigtails. Don’t know what to do with these little things, I might have to share some, there are so many.
Hope you all have a great holiday weekend! We’ll have a quiet one. Ricky’s working and I suppose, I will be too.
What can it be?
What is in this big pile of stuff?
A friend called and said family had got everything they wanted from their mom’s and the rest has to go. If I want it, come get it. Yippee! We got started and hauled out this much before the bottom dropped out of the sky.
I really didn’t even look at it before taking it out. Only glances. How fun it was to really unbox all this. Of course, some of it went straight to the garbage, but I like to be the person who decides that. Not somebody who has no interest in junk. I did hear that some things were thrown away before the thrower-away-person was stopped.
Here are some highlights from this first load:
(Click for a larger view)
Twenty two, yes 2 and 20, 22 hats. Some in great condition, some not so good.
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Small Holly Hobbies still in the box, a Tammy box (I sold Tammy for them a few months ago. Didn’t know they had the box.), a hand made doll and Roy Rogers gloves.
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(Click for a larger view)
Tooled leather purses. The box purse lid needs to be glued back to the hinge.
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Small box of buttons.
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A hosiery holder made from mattress ticking. For some reason, I just love this. She had it nailed to her closet door.
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(Click for a larger view)
And, my favorite, $19.99 Kinney shoes. These are so cute! And so current. They look like they were worn once. I do so wish I wore a 6B. My big, ol’ 7-1/2 foot just won’t squeeze in them.
So there was nothing there that will make me rich, but some fun things anyway. There was a long, dotted Swiss, ruffled dress and a late 1800′s style dress that was made for the 1959 celebration of our town’s incorporation. Can’t remember if it was a 100 year celebration or a 75 year celebration.
That crown you can see on top of the pile was made of crepe paper and was given to one of the children for being a class favorite in 1968.
Can’t wait to get back over there this weekend and get the rest.
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The move to the booth continues. The little stuff is being placed. I took today off to get some things done around home and to work on item pictures and listing them on the web site and Etsy, but dozed off and on til noon. And I’m still sleepy! Good grief! Some days I’m going strong, some days I just want to sleep. Can’t figure out if it’s emotional, if I’m not getting proper rest at night, if I’m sleeping too late in the mornings or pushing myself too hard then crashing. But it is what it is. If I get up and out, I don’t have a problem with it. It’s hanging around reading the computer screen that seems to knock me out. I remember my mother couldn’t read the back of a cereal box without getting sleepy. I seem to be following in her footsteps.
My Latest Etsy Items
Other places I hang out
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