Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Flea Market Finds Pour La Semaine Vingt-Neuf

It's time once again for
 (what passes for.... *winks*)

FLEA MARKET FINDS!!!
 of the week
Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP!!??
How bout a YEE HAW!!??
OK too much? .....Yeah I thought so too..... Sorry...

 I'm just so excited about my finds!
You see I've wanted this special something something ever since I started seeing beautiful statuary pieces like it around the blogosphere.
So I was cruising craigslist (as usual) and there it was! Just waiting for ME!! A HUGE (well at least to me, she's 5' tall) nude maiden *sighs dreamily* Can you say *swoon-o-licious*!!
I'm not certain where she'll end up living? I've ...Ahem... actually the hubby has been dragging her around the house...which by the way is no easy task because she weighs 200 lbs!
But anyhoo this is where she resides for now.
There's still some lichen in the cracks to remove but it's LOVE for me!! 100 well spent dollars!
 The guy who sold her to me said they'd found her burried in the bushes in their backyard and his wife didn't want it around. When I told him I would be putting her in my livingroom, he thought I was nuts! Lol!

Isn't she fab!?
My  second favorite find was this AMAZING  1930's french doll by Bernard Ravca 15" tall. This is in likeness of the 1930's movie star Alice Faye.
Have you ever heard of her? I hadn't (Finally something before my time! *winks*) but back in the 30's she was one of Hollywood's top movie stars.
 I spotted the doll on ebay and instantly fell in love with her!
She still sports her original tag which is actually signed by Bernard Ravca.

About Ravca:
Bernard Ravca was a French artisan, who crafted many different costume and character dolls from many different materials, including crepe paper, papier maché, felt, clay and combinations of materials. The needled stockinette faces are perhaps the best known of his dolls, on which detailed and realistic expressions are sculpted onto the stockinette by means of tightly pulled stitching. His dolls were made in France from about 1924 to 1939. In 1939, he came to New York City and continued to make dolls to great acclaim. The most frequently found Ravca dolls are small, 7.5" -10", but he made dolls of many various sizes, including life-sized children and adult characters.


The Ravca dolls were sometimes signed in ink on their bodies and others on their tags. Some pre-1939 dolls had paper tags, imprinted "Original Ravca Fabrication Francaise" or woven labels designating "MADE IN FRANCE". There have been many Ravca-type dolls made over the years, so without signature or tags, it is almost impossible to verify an original Ravca, unless it can be favorably compared to a documented Ravca original.
Her signed tag.
Who could resist that big goofy grin? *winks* Not me that's for sure!
Dolls turned out to be my theme for the week.

I found this little shell art piece at the Goodwill for 99 cents and I added this little Italian doll bust from ebay to it....Now she's living a shell-tered life! Lol!

Now on this next one I don't want to creep you out.....but I went to a car show with the hubbs this weekend and found this 1960's Suzie-kins styling mannequin for $10. I've been having a blast trying on different hats and styling her real hair.
 I purchased her at the beginning of the show and carried her through the ENTIRE show which was a huge conversation starter! I heard "Are you a head hunter?" And "What did she say to make you THAT angry?" Message to self...If you want people to chat you up...... carry a mannequin head around with you! *winks*
This little boudoir doll box was an ebay find. She's a little LOT rough around the edges but still very charming don'tcha think? These are very hard to find in any shape so she's a keeper for me.

The wig is a replacement.
The interior.
I found this alter style candlestick lamp at the Goodwill. I love the huge metal moroccan looking plull!
And the basket was also a $4.99 Goodwill find. The birdcage and Victorian beaded needlepoint picture of Saint Peter came from a local estate sale.

Cool pull huh?
The cage is an antique brass Hendryx. It'll be going to my etsy for anyone who might be interested.
This antique beaded needlepoint picture reminded me of something my friend Richard would have in his Old Historic House. *winks*

It's hard to see but his entire robe is made up of different colored glass beads. His hands and feet are done in micro petit point. Some poor victorian lady spent a good long time on this one! I'm thinking it would make a beautiful pillow?
This 1920's tin (with handle) of Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella (?) was a $1.99 Goodwill find.
And last but not least I'd like to introduce you to "Sandi" She's named in honor of my new friend Sandi from the wonderful blog A Cottage Muse who's just about as crazy for boudoir dolls as I am! You can see hers HERE. I begged her to name one of hers Vanna! So maybe you could stop by and tell her you think so too? *wink wink nudge nudge* 
Thank you so much for stopping by!

Next week I'll be forgoing the flea markets finds to share with you....
An Evening In Paris (my Paris garret livingroom)
I hope you'll come back for a visit.
And please leave me a comment and I'll do the same for you *winks*
As always I LOVE to hear from you!
Vanna

I'm joining my friend Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:

And Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for:

Ann at On Sutton Place for:


Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for:


And Honey at 2805 for:


 

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

My Paris Garret Closet.....

OK I feel a little bit uncomfortable showing you my (not at all special) closet. Especially after the teasers for the last couple of weeks......I'm GOING WHERE NO WOMAN HAS GONE BEFORE! (Cue the Star Trek music) LOL! You see it's totally a builders grade cheap and blah space........But I longed for a little bit of "French pizazz"! (Me.... imagine that *winks*) I didn't want to go in there every morning and think to myself "this is just plain ugly" *sighs* Alas I don't currently have the funds to transform my little closet into the Parisian palace I'd love it to be, but with the help of a few special blogging friends I did manage to add a few fabulous elements!


 So come on in and I'll show you what I DO love about my closet.....You first... I know it's going to get a little tight in here *winks*

I started by adding a "closet" to my closet lol! If you read my blog you know how much I adore French armoires! So I thought "hey why not put one in the closet?" I have them in pretty much every other room in the house *winks* So voila! BIG  french flavor!.....Little unhappy husband with sore back, but that's another story.......*winks*
Do you see the screen to the left? "Really"( you're asking yourself) " how could I miss it? I've got my nose practically squeezed into it in here!" *winks*
Well it came all the way from Missouri from my dear friend Richard's store. Richard has the most wonderful blog "My Old Historic House" HERE. When you've managed to squeeze out of my closet please give him a visit. Can you say "eye candy WITH an education" BIG time! You'll leave Richards having learned something new each time you visit! *winks*

Anyhoo turn slightly to the left and get a close up view of my wonderful new/old screen! Isn't it pretty AND frenchy?! I'm loving it Richard! Thank you!!

I stole the LV from the bedroom so I could pretend I was going on a fabulous trip to Paris *winks* (If I sold it I actually COULD go on a fabulous trip to Paris! LOL!!) And to be honest because my poor closet can use all the "bling factor" it can get. *winks*
The Dior shoes are just for looking pretty too because they absolutely kill my feet!! And after what I paid for them they need to be good for something! Haha!
Such a pretty and ornate top....Just the way I like em!
And since we're talking about Richard here, check out this vision of loveliness! I  won this pillow from Richard's blog giveaway. No wonder I love that man huh? *winks* It's one of the most gorgeous pillows I've ever seen!! 1920's pale yellow silk with french lace appliques and ribbon roses surrounded by marabou! *swoons* French flavor for sure don'tcha think?
It came to me looking like this. Even Richards wrapping is beautiful!
This is another of the french elements that I love having in here. This beautiful wedding cake chandelier came all the way from France via Leeann's blog Fabulously French. She has some lovely french treasures in her store. This beauty was only $200 with shipping. I think that was quite a steal! The pheasants on top of the armoire agree, they can't take their eyes off of it.....Literally! Lol! *winks* Merci Leeann!
Now turning toward the armoire I'll open up the doors (If you can take a step back?) and I'll share a few new (and not so new) things with you.
This sweet French girl bust came from my shabby bedroom. I ran out of space in the armoire there, so I glammed her up a bit and placed her in here with some of my favorite hats. Which by the way I wear frequently. I wish we'd go back to wearing hats. I think they add so much personality!...And hide bad hair days...Not that I ever have any of those...Just sayin' *winks*
This beautiful french maiden lamp contributes to the french flavor and adds some much needed light.
Going down a shelf I found this little chubby cherub clock at a local antique store.
I also found a couple of new boudoir dolls to add to my collection. The pretty lady on the left broke her neck in shipping and the seller refunded my money so she was FREE!!  I put a pretty ribbon splint on her neck and she's good to go!

She loves the Viktor & Rolfe Flower Bomb perfume and so do I! *winks*
And a new Marie Antoinette doll who appears to be checking out a portrait of herself *winks*
Isn't she exquisite in her tattered blue silk?! She's my new favorite!
These lovely roses came in the package from Richard and the little cherubs in the background also came from his store....Good stuff I tell ya!
To the right of the dolls is this precious little jewel casket that I found at my new friend Peg's shop Maison De Wine And Wienies. It's my newest favorite online shop! Really good prices! I've purchased quite a few things from her now and I can tell you that she's lovely to deal with! The large cherub tray that the ladies are sitting on also came from Peg's store.
You've heard of the "bluebird of happiness? Well this is the silver glitter bird of bliss! Because things that sparkle make me blissful! Ha ha!
In the "found at the Goodwill category" (So I can Join Kathleen's party at Charm Bracelet Diva *winks*) is this Italian majolica pottery vase featuring beautiful dancing ladies on three sides for $6.99.

This vintage carpet is also a $15 Goodwill find from awhile back.
What's that you say? You're" getting claustrophobic and need to get out!"....Errr....oops!......Oh my!....... I'm trying to move aside....really I am!...... but it's a little crowded..... Didn't mean to pinch that! ......well maybe I did *winks*


The cherub twins on the shelf say "goodbye!" Thanks for stopping by my closet! Hope you didn't get any bruises?
I hope you'll come back next week when Flea Market Finds returns.
Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I LOVE to hear from you!
Vanna

I'm (of course) joining Kathleen At Charm Bracelet Diva for:


I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:

I'm also joining Ann of On Sutton Place while she hosts for the next three weeks:


And Courtney at French Country Cottage for:


Cindy at My Romantic Home for: