Toothpick holders

Toothpick holders have become another accidental collection of mine. I hadn't meant to collect them, but here they are. Above are a couple of old pressed glass holders.
I think this one is a witch.
Another amber one, with a handle. This may have been meant to be an ashtray, it has a very interesting shape. Or maybe a salt or sugar cellar.
This one is my favorite, the bird and cup are sitting on a wishbone. I think it is from the late 1800's. I got it recently to put in my Etsy shop. But I like it so much I haven't been able to part with it yet (this happens a lot).

Linked up to Show and Tell Friday, hosted by My Romantic Home.

White Wednesday - Furniture

I haven't had a chance to work on any furniture projects lately, so I thought I'd revisit some old ones. Love the white paint quick transformation.
This was a table from an estate sale, I paid next to nothing. The white really brought out the details. Before and After details here.
This was a cheap cabinet from Goodwill. I used a ceiling medallion and new hardware to get this look. See the full detailed account here.
This was a regular old file cabinet. I used a couple of wood decorative pieces and good old white spray paint to upgrade it.
This chair was a train wreck when I rescued it from an estate sale. White paint and a new upholstery job and here it is. Details here.

Linked up to White Wednesday, hosted by Faded Charm.

Recent Finds

Here are a few things that came home with me over the last week. This silver cup. Perfect for holding a bunch of silver pieces.
Engraved with James. There is a James in my family - it's a keeper.
Tiny little cat with rhinestone eyes and mouth. I'm not sure what it's purpose would have been, but it could hold a couple of rings.
And a great furniture reference book.
With good pictures. It even has a section on Federal Sewing Tables, similar to the one I found last summer.
This table now stores silver serving pieces, not sewing supplies. The narrow drawers are perfect for silverware.

White Wednesday - Brooches

Recently I picked up a bag of jewelry at a thrift store. They sometimes bag up the stuff that has been around for a while. You don't really know what you are getting.
When I got home, I sorted the lot by color, this is my white group.
Much of the bag consisted of lone clip earrings, pieces that have a flaw, or missing a stone.
But overall, there were some good pieces.
I have been trying to think of something to do with the lone earrings and brooches, which made up most of the lot.
I found these great brooch bouquets at Fantasy Floral Design.
These are meant for weddings, but I think they would be great sitting in a vase.
I also came across brooches used as hair pieces.
Or attached to a bag.
Used as pretty centerpiece in gift wrapping.

I think I have enough ideas to use up this lot of brooches!

Linked up to White Wednesday, hosted by Faded Charm.

Silver Sunday

This silver dish was a lucky find from an estate sale. It is a Bake Dish. It would have originally come with a porcelain dish where puddings and such would have been baked, and then placed into the silver dish for serving.
This one is engraved with the date June 12, 1917.
And an initial, which I think is a P or possibly a D.
Very ornate feet.
It was probably a wedding gift. I don't think people give wedding gifts like this anymore, unfortunately. Maybe they do. I hope so.
I also found a handful of butter spreaders and a pickle fork. All with pretty patterns.

Linked up to Silver Sunday, hosted by Gypsy Fish.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Vintage Valentine's Day Postcards

I have a few Vintage Valentine's Day postcards amongst my small postcard collection. The above is from 1910.
This one was used to send a Valentine's Greeting in 1907.
A nontraditional Valentine's greeting. But the back is very sweet.
From 1909.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Linked up to Vintage Valentine Card Party, (I hope postcards work, that's all I have!) hosted by Anything Goes Here.

Shop updates

A few recent updates to my Etsy shop. Above is a vintage monogram rhinestone pin.
Madame/Monsieur napkin rings.
Vintage pearl and rhinestone hat pin.
And just in time for the Olympics, skier cufflinks!

Recent Finds

I found a few good things recently on my thrifting adventures. This is a sardine or herring fork.
It has a very pretty design on it.
I also found some old books.
Including this cute on from the 60's.
And a little wood box, cause who doesn't need more places to store junk?

Cuff Links

I love cuff links. I think they are the perfect present for a dapper but hard to buy for gentleman - (or a chic lady with french style cuff shirts) - especially for Valentine's Day.
Guess who else thinks that? Martha Stewart.
This is from the February issue of Martha Stewart Living. What to get for the guy who has everything.
I have been collecting Cuff Links for a while, and have quite a few for sale in my Etsy shop.
Monogrammed anything is always my favorite, so I have an assortment.
Very Mad Men-esque red stone cuff links.
Unique Matador cuff links and tie tack.
Cameo style.
Snake surrounding red stone (these were my favorite, but they are Sold).
Old fashioned car (also a favorite, and also Sold).
I recently picked up a 1954 issue of the Saturday Evening post, and they had cuff link advertisements. Above is Swank Christmas ad.
This is a Hickok ad. Swank and Hickok seem to be 2 of the bigger cuff link producers through the 50's and 60's. It is so interesting to see some of the same cuff links I have in these ads!