Thursday, September 29, 2011

Blog Followers GIVEAWAY!!

I'm forgoing the usual flea market finds post today to say a HUGE THANK YOU!! To all my followers/friends old and new! I now have over 300! ......SHOCKERS GALORE! Lol!
 I can't tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you! So today I thought I'd offer a few little tokens of appreciation. Nothing fancy mind you, but some cute little pressies I hope? *winks*

All you have to do to win is: Be one of my lovely followers and leave me a message telling me which group you would like to have?  (There are 3 and each comment counts as an entry) Or if you don't like any of them? I'd still LOVE to hear from ya! *winks* I'll have the hubster pick out three random numbers and the winners will be announced next Wednesday.

Starting with group 1)
A set of three cute locking numbered canisters. Very country kitchen! Perfect for some candy corn......

Group #2
A sweet little blingy frame or Christmas ornament and a darling ornate little white ironstone pitcher AND a little french style journal with lots of blank pages to write lots of neat little notes (Maybe even en francais?) *winks*











And in the "Oh my goodness what was I thinkin' when I bought this" category is this little vase featuring a fairy with roses and a butterfly. It isn't "me" but it's so pretty and sweet! Maybe it would work for you?

So leave me a comment and I'll leave you one too *winks*

I'm joining Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show And Tell Fridays.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Flea Market Finds Pour Le Semaine Trente et un

Howdy y'all!

It's that time again.....Time for......
FLEA MARKET FINDS!!!

Yay whoohoo yippee!....Whoop-ti-do!!

That's about as exciting as it's gonna get because I had another completely unmotivated shopping week. I only made two stops. One at the Goodwill and another to one of my favorite shopping destinations..... Centralia Washington.
I think I'm feeling a little blue about the end of summer. We barely had one this year......But enough sorry moaning about that. On to the finds....

I'll start as usual with my favorite find, beginning with this 10' pair of antique columns from Centralia for $120. They're the perfect worn shabby chippy gray. I placed them in my small home gym. Now I just need some wonderful capitals to top them so I'll be on the hunt. Wish me luck! *winks*And if you happen to come across some come get me OK?
Formerly I had this French armoire in this spot. But when I moved it to my closet HERE I needed something to fill the space so I found this vintage credenza at the Goodwill for $7.99 and placed the large mirror on top. This is all temporary as there will be a large screen TV going up in December..... (Christmas pressie to ourselves) Hopefully that will motivate me to get off my bum and move!... I have my fingers crossed!*winks* ?

Here's a close up. I'm thinking of adding some sconces to the columns. What do you think should I?
And from etsy I found this rare lingerie boudoir doll ($34.50) with a French silk face to add to my growing collection.
Isn't she in amazing condition for around 90 yrs old?
This sweet pair of Alexander Backer children were found in Centralia for a song. The urn the little girl is carrying had a broken handle on one side so the hubby drilled a hole in it and I added some roses to cover the break and.....voila! I like them even better!
This cute little boy gone fishin' was also an etsy find.
I've had this cool old cement grotto for awhile now and have been looking for the perfect figure to place in it. This statue of Mary was also an etsy find and a bargain basement price because her neck had been broken at one time. I fell in love with her sweet face.


Then I ran across this chippy cement statue of an angel at the Goodwill for $12 and thought it might be a better fit in size? What do you think? Should I just keep on looking? Neither is quite as tall as they probably should be.
This cherub sconce was found in Centralia.
And this large cherub topper was $2.99 at the Goodwill. I think I'll be painting it in gesso a la my friend Rosemary at Villa Barnes.
This mardi gras style mask was $1.99 at the Goodwill. I added it to my to my Jeanne D'arc bust. I love to decorate her for the holidays *winks* 
A finally a few books at $1 each.
Well that's all for this week. I hope you'll leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I LOVE to hear from you!
And please come back next week for more flea market finds. I have a very special something to share with you. *winks*
Vanna

I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Party

Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for Club G.W.

Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Flea Market Finds Pour Semaine De Trente

It's that time of the week again for....

FLEA MARKET FINDS!!!!

Or the closest thing to it I can find in my neck of the world *winks*

I wasn't in a shopping mood this last week
 (Yes hell is in fact freezing over *winks*) 
so nothing too fabulous to share, just a few neat things (I hope?)
I'm starting with my second favorite find as my first is perhaps just a tad too risque to be showing up on the blogs of those sweet folks who are kind enough to have me on their blog lists.....You'll see what I mean.....
Anyhoo this week the theme was dolls. I found a few to add to my boudoir doll collection. And as usual the 1920's played a big role too.

This 1920's wax over composition doll was quite a rare find. She's actually an old powder box that I've filled with some chocolates....because I have my priorities *winks* I've been collecting these boudoir dolls for a little while now and although there are many of the doll powder boxes, this is one of the only ones I've seen like this so I'm thrilled to have her!

Box of chocolates....Yumm!! I've got plenty for you and me! *winks*
OK.... WARNING......
  If nekkid ladies bother you? You'll want to skip the next two pictures, but for those who love nudes like I do, this one is kind of special. She's a rare  incense burner named the "Smoking Venus" She's a little rough around the edges but I've been searching for one for years. They usually go way out of my price range ($500+ with clothes on, the nudes are more expensive yet) but I found this one for $160 and snapped her up faster than you can say "Have you got a light?" Lol! 
 She burns cone incense under her stool....seat....bottom? (There's just no way to make this sound right, but you get the idea) which comes out of her mouth as if she's smoking. She really IS smoking hot! Haha!

I couldn't capture just how perfectly it spirals out of her mouth and hangs in the air, but you can see how she works here.
Another favorite find was this bouillotte lamp (Pronounced Boo-yacht) Bouillotte was a french card game that was popular in the 18th century and this type of lamp would've been placed in the center of the gaming table providing light and the basket base would've held gaming chips. The shade is tole (enamelled or lacquered metal ware) and adjusts up or down to conform to the candles burned. My 1920's lamp has both light bulbs and spots for candles. The arrow at the top adjusts the height up and down the center pole. This style lamp is one of my absolute favorites and can be quite expensive, but I found this one at a local antique store for $50 which is quite a steal! Yippee!! I'm trying it out to see if I like it in my living room.
Another rare 1920's boudoir doll find was this wax over composition munzerlite vanity doll lamp.  Although I've seen lots of the boudoir doll lamps I've never seen one like this before with metal  hangers that would allow her to hang on the mirror of a vanity. so I had to have her even though she's a little rough as well. *winks*

From one of my favorite online shops Maison De Wine And Wienies came this cool 1920's picture frame with barbola detail. Now living in my closet armoire.
And another sweet boudoir lady missing an arm but still very charming don't you think?
Also from Maison De Wine And Wienies this rare doll powder puff.
Her silk dress is shredded but she's still lovely to me.
And this find is a bit strange. I don't know if he represents a saint? Or Jesus? Did he come from a church? I have no idea. Maybe one of you will know? But he was too interesting to pass up.....Though I probably should have because there's zippo room at my house *winks*

And back again to the 1920's where women wore dresses and men wore....makeup? Check em out! *winks* this tin tray was $10. I love the graphics.
Close up.
I think it will fit in perfectly with my boudoir ladies.
(You can click to enlarge)
And finally a couple of art nouveau trinket boxes found on etsy at $30 for the set. The smallest case has a cherub on top and I'm a cherub-o-holic!!
Still bearing remnants of their original silk.

Well that's it for this week. I hope you'll join me again next week for more flea market finds.
Please leave me a message and I'll do the same.
I LOVE to hear from you!!
Vanna

I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Party.

Marty at a Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for Club G.W.

The fabulous Honey at 2805 for Potporri Friday

Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered  Nest Friday

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show And Tell Fridays


Thursday, September 8, 2011

An Evening In Paris~My French Garret Living Room

The year and place: 1920's Paris

Time: The blue hour..........


Music: Mozart Lacrimosa


Mood: Anticipatory with a palpable sense of romance

Scent: The lightest hint of freesia wafting gently through the air rising from the vantines incense burner.



































A conversation starts with the mundane details of the day, and as the air cools and it grows ever darker outside the talk turns to more important subjects.....Such as dreams.....and hopes...and the deepest desires of the soul.......

Tonight is a French dream to be remembered and savored......tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by and letting me indulge in my French fantasy *winks*
I hope you'll come back next week for Flea Market Finds.
And please leave me a comment and I'll do the same.
I LOVE to hear from you!
Vanna

I'm joining Ann at On Sutton Place for:


And Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:


Courtney at French Country Cottage:


Cindy at My Romantic Home for:


Honey at 2805 for: