Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Flea Market Finds Pour La Semaine Quarante-Tois

Helloooooooo y'all!!

It's time once again for

FLEA MARKET FINDS!!!

Where I find absolutely nothing from an actual flea market (Delusional remember? *winks*)
And instead usually shop my local thrift and antique stores. Gotta keep em in business!

This week I only have three new things to share with you....but they're good ones I think *winks*

I have an addiction for this first item that's going to need to be nipped in the bud quickly due to size constraints...but I digress.....

I.... like so many here in the blogesphere am in love with antique dress forms!
Have you fallen victim to their charm as well?

There's something so whimsical and wonderfully sculptural about them don't you think?

Well the hubby and I were visiting one of my favorite stores in Sumner Wa called Today's Country Store. When I spotted a dreamy dress form in the front window.
I actually climbed up into the window to check her out...and then I spied the price tag.......Now usually there isn't even a price tag.....So many sellers use them for display that you'll usually see a "NFS" Not for sale tag.
 And even finding the antique ones I love with  metal skirt cages is getting to be increasingly difficult.....Probably because of all the other bloggers who have fallen in love with them too *winks*
Anyway the price was.....Quelle horror! $395!!
I think I must have cried a little too loudly and not just because of the price....I was now stuck in the front display window! Lol!
Well a sales girl came over to help (I'm sure in fear that I was going to take down every item around me trying to get out of "said" window) and shared with me that all the items in the front window were 50% off! The seller was downsizing. So what could I do?
The price was still....well pricey....But I gave in and brought her home and I'm so glad I did!
I wanted to give her a French name... Something like Musette or Chantal...but she's an Acme dress form from Brooklyn N.Y. so she became a Penelope instead lol!
She's the one in front. Shown with one other of my
 metal skirt dress forms. Both actually purchased in the same place but with years between the two! Penelope has a tiny wasp waist measuring just 22.5"
Isn't she cool?
She's dated 1908 making her an Edwardian Miss.
A little shabby but still looking pretty good for 104.
Alone....
And with her sister *winks*
I just LOVE this cage skirt! The caster wheels are wood.
Cool top piece too!
You can barely see but she's dated 1908.
Finally I have a dress form with a waist small enough to share this lovely Victorian dress with you! One of my friends (and neighbors) shared it with me. It was just sitting in her closet in a garment bag. Now I'm bringing it out where we can all enjoy it!
It has some pretty details.
I especially love the beautiful (smocked/ruched?) lace sleeves.
The ruching goes all around the sleeves.
And my last item to share this week is a new  (to me) Victorian girandole (Description for girandole HERE) I also found in Sumner for $60 featuring a young girl and boy.
Close up
I'm starting to gather a small collection of these beauties. I pick them up when I can find them for $50 or less but this one was a larger example so I splurged *winks*
That's all for this weeks finds.

I hope you'll stop by in a couple of days for my blog followers giveaway!
I'm still digging through my crap.....Ahem.....
I mean treasures to find the perfect "Thank You" gift *winks*

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll leave me a comment and I'll do the same.
I just LOVE hearing from you!
Vanna

I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

The wonderful Paula and Patti from Ivy & Elephants for:

Honey from 2805 for:

Courtney of French Country Cottage for:

And Cindy of My Romantic Home for:

And The Polka Dot Closet for:



57 comments:

toves sammensurium said...

Wonderful mannequins...I'm Drewling all over the places here;)
Tove,Norway:)

Shirley said...

wow,wow,wow...love the sister's..and they are in the best shape for their age..if only I could have a waist size like that!
Nice find and you would have been kicking yourself if you didnt bring Penelope home.
The dress is beautiful..

akissfromthepast said...

How beautiful chandeliers!!!!
and wow- those manneguins are intresting whit the details! my mother is very keen to sew and making hats and clothes so i have grown up in the middle of those things :D

laurie @ bargain hunting said...

Love your new dress form Vanna ~ as well as your old one. The sisters look great together and what a gorgeous dress for your new one. I am so out of the loop - never heard of a girandole. What is the difference between that and a candelabra? Just the country of origin? I LOVE yours with the sweet couple on it. laurie

Olive Cooper said...

The dress form is off the chain Vanna. The actual dress is amazing in it's detail.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Congratulations on your new family member ! She dresses very fashionable.:D I thought I wanted one of the old mannequins at one time til saw the going prices and really don't have a place for one anyway. Learned something new - I only knew the candle holders as candelabras. They are pretty!
Enjoy your evening.
May have to take cover in a bit - storms coming thru. :(

Mari said...

Awww just beautiful, I love that gorgeous Victorian dress, those sleeves are stunning, thanks soooo much for sharing your treasures......

Smiles~
Mari

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Awesome Attack!!! Love it all. FAA

Fete et Fleur said...

That dress is gorgeous. You did get a wonderful deal on that tailor dummy, and she looks great with her sister.

Nancy

blossoms vintage chic said...

Oh my goodness Vanna!
I'd say you hit the jackpot with all of these beauties...that dress is to die for!! I absolutely love the sleeves...WOW!!
Can't wait for the results of your next shopping extravaganza!!Thanks for sharing...it's always so much fun to see beautiful vintage pieces.

Debbie

Dreamgoddess said...

Oh, Penelope is wonderful and the dress is gorgeous! What a perfect pairing. Your sparkly collection of girandoles is to die for!

Artsy VaVa said...

Wow! Great finds!!!

joyce janes said...

Hey Vanna!
Love the dress forms, but the dress is even more spectacular!
The girls from Today's Country Store, Kris & Amy, also have a space at Monticello! Love them...they have great stuff at good prices.
When are you coming down? Hmmm?
;o)
Joyce

Wish You Were Here said...

Oh Vanna, I want to go shopping with you! I can't imagine how funny it must have been ... you stuck in that front window crying out in dismay over the price of the dress form! :O) I bet the clerk just told you it was 50% off because you made her day! I love the pretty girandole (though I had no idea that is what they were called)! It's gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely finds. Hugs, Janice

Jennelise said...

Hi Vanna! What incredible things you find! I can't believe that dress - it's spectacular with the little lace sleeves! I love the girandoles too! Take care!
Jennelise

blackenpot said...

Such beautiful items, and as a sewer I would just love one. Liked the one with the metall skirt.

Marvellous find, thanks for sharing.

Debbie@Debbie-Dabble and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

The dress forms are fantastic and so is that beautiful dress!!
It is to die for!

Hugs,
Debbie

The French Hutch said...

Vanna you made a great decision to grab the antique dress form. She's a beauty. I've only recently started to wish I had purchased one before they became so popular. What an amazing vintage dress. You have so many beautiful dresses in you collection. This is my favorite! The lovely girandole is a great addition to your collection. Great finds!

~Emily
The French Hutch

lovelane said...

My Goodness Vanna! You sure do find great deals. I love her! I'll say it again....I may have to move to WA!!! ;-)

marty (A Stroll Thru Life) said...

You do find the most beautiful and unusual things. Love the dress, how fantastic is that. Hugs, Marty

Richard Cottrell said...

Ms. Grandeur. I see you have been at it again. The dress forms are so popular. I had 2 for years and no one would buy them. I had one lady ask me to hold one, the next day some one wanted to pay cash, well I sold it, now the second one is mad. Go figure. I love Gerondols. I have a pair in the closet, I have no where to put them, but do not want to give them up. You find them at good prices. They are much more here. Happy Candlemas Day. Richard from My Old Historic House.

Curtains in My Tree said...

OMG !!!!!!!!

Girl you scored again however I would have wrestled with you for Penelope LOL We would have knocked everything in the window over LOL. What a good price.I bid $175 on one at an auction a few years ago.

The victorian dress you dressed her in is fabulous with the ruching sleeves, I can't get over the wonderful things to be found in the northwest
Your girandoles are fabulous also and I love them . they wouldn't look good in my house but over the top fabulous in yours

I just purchesd some vintage lingerie from a friend who owns a vintage clothing store (why i don't know )but they are from the 1920-1940's??? shoes and all it looks like a bridal set maybe

anyway carry on , best shopper in the northwest

Jennifer said...

Oh, you know how I feel about your antique dress forms! Amazing! Costly yes, but I bet you don't regret it. Especially since she is 104 years old! That's so cool! I haven't really got anything that old... oh scratch that. I have an inscribed book from 1899. I have come to the conclusion that they just don't sell really antique, amazing things at the stores around here. They're either new things being sold in an antique store, or LITERAL junk from like the 80's in the thrift stores... I digress though. Beautiful finds! Have a lovely weekend!

lvroftiques said...

Laura I have my fingers crossed that you will! We would have sooo much fun! *winks*

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Vanna, I love the dress forms and the cages are fabulous!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful sisters at the Open House Party. Carol @ The polka dot closet is having a dress form party on 2/7 and you may want to join. Hugs, Sherry

pink*cherub*moon said...

Beautiful finds as always! Love the dress form! Your blog is always such fun to read! Hugs, Leena

Acquired Objects said...

Now we're talking I love your dress forms and so cute they're sisters now. Your Victorian dress looks wonderful on Penelope. You've developed quite the family with your girandoles. Great buy on getting Penelope at half price I'm jealous!

XX
Debra~

L'Heure Bleue At Home said...

Really amazing finds. Love your collection of girandoles!

Ewa said...

Hi Vanna
Love that Victorian dress!
The girandole is gorgeous!
XX
Ewa

Mary Ellen said...

Gosh Vanna I am just wanting your average boring dress form and look at you with 2 gorgeous old ones with the metal skirts!!! I'm not jealous...I am not jealous.... trying to talk my self into not being!

bee blessed
mary

Honey at 2805 said...

Oh Wow!!! How do you do it!! And dressed so beautifully in that Victorian dress. Poor Nanette and Babette are crying their eyes out because they now think they need face lifts and new clothes.

Thank you for sharing all your lovely new treasures at Potpourri Friday!

xinex said...

Wow! What a great unusual find. I used to have a waist that small, in elementary school, lol!...Christine

Sissysmom said...

Wow..great finds as usual! Love Penelope! I have no room for one but when I get my victorian house someday...I'm getting a dress form for my sewing room!! Hope I find one as nice as yours.

I love, love the victorian dress! I can't imagine all the hand work that went into making it...what a treasure!

OK...girandole's around or under fifty dollars???? I'm coming shopping with you!! That would be an unheard of deal out here!!

Michele

Heather Jacob said...

wow lucky lucky you ... fabulous finds .... awesome , thanks for sharing .. hugz x

Fishtail Cottage said...

so very fantasic finds...the chandy that is sitting on the side table is making me think oooh la la. would love to find something like that! lucky you!

Palomasea said...

Love them, dear Vanna!!!
They're so cool on their own, but when placed together, they make an amazing art display...
And that DRESS!! Gorgeous!
You have an amazing eye..
Hope your weekend is fabulous!
xoxo,
- Irina

Jennifer said...

Hey Vanna,
Just letting you know I am THRILLED you liked my elfin house so much. And to pinterest it! Even better! Thanks sooo much!

Little Pink Studio said...

Penelope is exquisite. What a find. I never ever find the wasp waist, or the metal cage skirts in my area! (or even in my travels) Both features in one mannequin is a dream. :)
Cerri

Ivy and Elephants said...

OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG...be still my heart. The dress form is to die for. Penelope is gorgeous and man did she age well. She doesn't look a day over 40. I am sorry you got stuck in the window but if you had not you would had not been privy to the 50% off sale. Ka Ching. I think you got her for a really good price though. They are so expensive. I am so sure that Penelope is loving her new home and her amazing dress. She deserves the dress and you deserve them both. The little boy and girl are just tooooooo adorable. Once again my dear, you did awesome.

xoxoxo
Paula

Deserae said...

Love your "sister" dress forms....they are so pretty! That dress is GORGEOUS!!!! Fabulous finds!!!
~Des

PS. I also your newest follower on Google :o) So glad I found you!

The Vintage Chateau said...

The vintage dress is amazingly beautiful. Women of the past really knew how to dress didn't they? So glad you found a form to display it on!
Karee

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh *winks* drooling again big time..You get me each week with your finds..I do have a few dress forms in fact just redid one in my bedroom that has my grandmas wedding dress from 1913 on it..and what the hey a 20 inch waist..only in my dreams or maybe when I was five ha ha!! Love ya my dearest friend..Hey I hope to meet up with Courtney at the second Sunday swap meet this month..Hugs and love Gl♥ria

kelly said...

Have you seen the blog http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com.au/ She has a dress form ball linky party this week. You would probably find it very interesting.

Have a good week.

Kelly

Sandy said...

I'm so smitten with your dress form...the caged skirt is fantastic...love it! You scored on this one. Your dress is lovely...oh my!
Can you imagine living in that time? Such elegance.. such grace. My Hedy is at the Ball looking for new friends...I hope she and Penelope meet...they'd be such great friends.. Of course your Penelope is much more refined and lady like...Hedy is a bit carefee and excentric. Have fun at the Ball.
xoso
Sandy

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Oh goodness, that dress form is breathtaking and worth every penny!! and the detail on that dress, when she stepped out of the carriage here at the ball I heard an actual gasp among the guests! Thank you so much for attending the Dress Form Ball, it is is an honor to have you!

Carol

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Ohhhh I love her!! Soo Gorgeous Vanna!!

Jan@southernjunkin' said...

Oh wow, fantastic 'thrifts'!! Isn't it so much fun to style the dress forms!! Drop by for a visit sometime!!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

ohmygoshvannayoustolethatdressform!!! WHAT A DEAL!! I have been lookig for one FOREVER!! Have no idea where I will put her, but I have felt the need for quite some time to obtain one! lol And the dress you put on her is stunning! It is a beutiful pairing!

JEALOUS!

Hope you are have a great week! It is 72 degrees here today---WHACKO WEATHER!

Lou Cinda ;)

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Bonjour!
I LOVE your dress forms! (she said drooling) And the dress is gorgeous.
I have 2 dress forms - my mom's from the 1950's that I call Marie after my mom and I have one that I found sitting in the corner of a craft mall with no stand for $15. It was a hot mess but my hubby & I did some skin grafting on her and gave her new muslin skin and a stand from copper pipe and a ceiling medallion! How's that for an overhaul? I named her Louise after my sweet friend that is no longer with us. She speaks with a french accent so she must be from there...

Hugs, Sherry

Debbie@Debbie-Dabble and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Vanna,
I know I already commented on this post but after visiting the Dress Form Ball and seeing it once again, I just had to tell you again, how much I adore these dress forms and that stunning dress!!

Hugs,
Deb

Honey at 2805 said...

You are featured today a Potpourri Friday at 2805!

Audrey said...

hello Vanna ... amazing dress and the form is just wonderful.
Love your collection of girandoles. Congratulations on being featured on Honey at 2805.
Blessings, Audrey Z.
Timeless Treasures

Bohemian said...

You absolutely find the best stuff at the most amazing prices! AND you're too funny! Stuck in the showcase window, that's priceless! I wanted to see THAT Image! *Winks*

Dawn... The Bohemian

Betsy said...

Your ladies are gorgeous. They sure are expensive these days, but how could you pass up 50% off? I hope I look that good when I'm 104.

Something Special said...

I love the dress forms, but I am drooling over the beautiful antique frock on the dress form.

SavannahGranny said...

Those are lovely dress forms. I especially like the metal cage skirts. Thank you for sharing them at Carol;s party. I am a new follower. Please come by and follow me also. Ginger

HeartVintageDesign said...

Love your blog and your treasures!