Vintage Chicks

Object Of My Desire

Yesterday I stopped into my favorite thrift and began to casually peruse the aisles.  As I turned into the kitchen section my heart began to pound out of my chest.  I was standing in front of one of my holy grail, rarely spotted, always wanted, items.  The yellow-ware banded bowl.  Standing in my way was an innocent older lady in striking distance of my object of desire.  She wasn't even looking at it but I could tell she was sensing my eager anticipation to get within grabbing distance.  She stepped aside. I went in for the kill.  I grabbed, I mean casually lifted it off the shelf.  Yes, it was exactly what I had expected.  I ran, I mean I walked casually to the check-out.  (The bowl was unmarked)  I held my breathe while the clerk looked at the bowl.  "Would fifty cents be O.K." " Fine", I shouted, I mean I casually said.  I grabbed, I mean politely took the bowl out of her hands and crammed it inside my purse for safe keeping.  "Thank-you" I said as I ran to my car looking over my shoulder all the while.  I hopped in the car and locked my doors.  It was mine, mine, mine and I was soooooooo happy.

Easter Bonnet

I love hats.  I guess this trait might be contributed to some long lost British gene hidden away in my D.N.A. but mostly I think it is related to my love, love,love of old movies.  I just can't get enough of them and I love to study the costumes and sets almost as much as watching the acting.  I have always had a hat collection but about ten years ago I decided to liquidate some items so I sold all of them except for a select few.  I regretted it from the minute the first hat sold.  I have since then tried to pick up a few that strike my fancy along the way.  These are just a few that are currently in my stash.I picked up this little black number at the last flea market.  It was in it's original box and is a Schiaparelli, made in Paris.  The little beige straw number with the brown ribbon is also this brand.  They are exquisitely made and have a very different aesthetic than the American made hats.  That doesn't mean I love them more, they just have a certain cache that is unique to their origins.  The white hat with the flowers and veil has my favorite label.  It is a Sears and Roebucks hat "proudly made in the U.S.A. in a union shop."The hat to the right is also a new acquisition.  I got it at the ladies hospital auxiliary thrift shop.  It is in really mint condition and when it is on it looks very much like the hat Julia Robert's wore to the polo match in "Pretty Woman".  I remember as a child getting hats at Easter time.  They always had little elastics that you wore under your chin and would inevitably snap you in the face before the day was over.  I wish I had one of those hats today.  I wear hats now: ball caps when I am roughing it, Stormy Kromer's when the snow is flying and even an occasional straw hat in the Summer but I never attend the kind of events that would allow me to wear a beautiful dress hat.  Maybe I should try to expand my social circle or just go rogue and wear a great hat no matter what the event.  I could become the crazy hat lady.  I suppose their are worse vices.

Harbinger Of Spring

Pennsylvania's Puxitawny Phil has nothing on our Idaho Rock Chucks.  He may be more famous but our little guys are just as cute and are our harbingers of Spring.  They like to hang out on rock outcroppings along the Snake River Canyon, near my home, and along the country road ways.  Whenever I see  the first one in the Spring I know that the seasons are truly changing.  I spotted my first one last weekend while Linda and I were on our road trip.  This great shot  is not the picture I took.  Imagine something much more blurred and taken with a shaky hand doing sixty on a rather bumpy road.  This photo was courtesy of some talented photography on an Idaho tourist sight.  I Googled Idaho Rock Chuck and was surprised to see some really great pictures.  I thought perhaps I was the only fan of the little rodents but I was shocked to see so many other people interested in them as well.  Since it is finally Spring I am going to try to get some yard work done over the weekend.  I will post on Monday about some great finds I picked up today at the flea market and a couple of local thrifts.  Happy Junking.

I'm Ready For My Close-Up Mr. DeMille

This young man is Ashley and unfortunately for him the photographer assigned to take photos of my stuff and of me.  Now, I was not worried about my stuff.  It usually photographs nicely and if you like junk a person will over look the imperfections and dust.  But poor Ashley also had to try to get an acceptable picture of me, and I am telling you, that is not an easy task.  I am just not photogenic at all.  I am not ugly or uncooperative it's just that the camera takes one look at me and tries to run.  In my entire life I have about three pictures that look human and two of those pictures were taken before I reached the age of five. He was very patient  and charming but I truly believe he took about a hundred shots and hopefully one will not make me look like a bulldog before breakfast.  The rest of the experience was great.  I got to talk about my junk and where it came from and the interview seemed to go alright.  I am not sure exactly when the article will run but I will let you know and give you the link for the newspaper.  I guess my mini-day of fame is over and I better get on with the more glamorous side of life.  You know, cleaning out the refrigerator and doing the laundry. I do want to thank Linda and Robin for coming to my rescue the night before.  The troops gathered and conquered the dust and mayhem way beyond my wildest expectations.  It's too bad they couldn't do something about my close-ups.

What's Black And White And Read All Over?

I got exciting news yesterday and I haven't had the opportunity to share it with you until today.  Our local newspaper is doing a feature entitled"The Furniture Whisperer."  It will be about local residents who refurnish, redo, and fix up old furniture.  I will be one of the people in the article!!!  I am not usually someone who likes to toot their own horn, but when I saw the request looking for individuals who fixed old furniture I sent an e-mail and was wonderfully surprised to be included.  A photographer is coming today to take shots of my stuff ( note to self: clean entire house and remove all weird and seriously embarrassing items).  I will post tomorrow with the rest of the scoop.  Seriously, how great is this?

Easter Treasures

What free time I had yesterday was spent putting out a few of my Easter smalls.  I usually go all out for holidays but it seems like this year I have not had the time or the inclination.  I did want to at least spend a little time with some of my favorites so this was the result.  These little fellows I picked up at an estate sale for mere pennies.  They are practically perfect and ever so charming.This little shelf is devoted to some little toys I have had since I was a child ( a long, long time ago) and yes that picture is of me when I was about four with my Easter basket. I always get a kick out of that picture because it reminds me of the living room set my Mom had at the time.  It was all blonde wood with a green couch I would die to have now. She had this great big flamingo picture on the wall that was great and scary all at the same time.   This is my collection of little glass cannisters.  They really have nothing to do with Easter but they seem very Springy to me and they are just so darn cheerful.  I always bring them out and fill them with Easter candy for the nephews.  I better make it a priority to get these filled or I will be in big trouble.  The little foil wrapped chicks are "old" candy I have had for a few years.  It is no longer edible but it really looks cute peeking out of the jar. This bunch of trouble makers is a mix of old and new.  The two small chicks are wearing their Easter bonnets and are ready to step out for a Sunday stroll.  The other little orange guy is another find from an estate sale and the little plastic guys are presents I have received over the years.  The chick with the worm in his mouth is a wind-up that hops and the cut off shot of the little plastic chicks includes a Mother hen leading her chicks all in a row.  Maybe this little mini display will get me in the mood to bring out some more of my Easter collection, but I better hurry before it is too late. 

Frustrated Shopkeeper

Ever since I was a little girl I have played a rather strange and some what telling game with myself.  Whenever we were traveling I would  pick out buildings in the towns we would pass through and think about what kind of business I would have in them.  Most all of them included at least two stories, that way I could live above the shop.  I guess I had read one too many stories about early New York City, but I always thought it was a brilliant idea to live such an all encompassing life. Today I still look at buildings and think about what I would do with them and on the Vintage Chick road tour this weekend we found a few contenders for "Shop/Home of my dreams."  This particular example is an old Methodist church built out of native rock and includes the original church bell in the steeple.  I could ring the bell to start the fabulous monthly antique sale that I would hold.  The rest of the time I would maintain a small shop open four days a week and by appointment.  Because this is my blog and I can do what ever I want I will say that I have failed to mention the rather unattractive add-on addition at the side of the building.  I guess I could always use it for storage but it does sort of sully the image I am trying to create.  The next building I found just looks like a happy house.  It's owners have painted it a most cheerful and delicious yellow.  It is rather plain but nothing a yard full of vintage couldn't cure. I would have to make this into a bakery/restaurant.  During the Summer I would have evening events with music and special seasonal food features but during the day it would be the neighborhood coffee and pastry place where all the locals would gather to read the paper and talk about the local events.At Christmas time I would host a Dickens tea with English scones and an assortment of decadent pastries and treats. While all this was happening I would be living above the fray in a small but wonderfully decorated living area.  I would sit on the upper porch each morning and watch the sun come up( a some what fictional thought since I would have to be downstairs baking before the sun came up) with my Calico cat Walden.  I guess that none of this will ever happen unless I am left a rather large inheritance from some maiden aunt but a girl can always dream and even a Vintage Chick can always say "What if....."

Road Trip

The Vintage Chicks have decided that in order to more fully celebrate Linda's birthday we will be taking a short but sweet road trip over the weekend.  Since Saturday is the first day of Spring we decided that we needed to hit the road in search of some wonderful junk. Think Thelma and Louise only with orthopedic shoes and a bottle of Tums.  There are several auctions we plan on attending and we are going to make one of our in state loops that we don't usually do during the Winter months.  We are going to shop, shop, shop and take time in between to eat at some of our favorite little dives.  One of these places has the best home made french fries around and that is saying a lot coming from an Idaho girl. We will have pictures and hopefully a good story or two to tell on Monday.  Have a great weekend and if you can, get out and enjoy the fact that Spring has sprung.

Shame On You

I live in a very very small town so I drive twelve miles to the next town for shopping and most of my junking.  It is not a huge city.  It's population is around 45,000 and really still has a nice small town atmosphere.  It has a very decent junior college and one of it's programs is the refuge center.  It provides all kinds of services, education and relocation, to hundreds of displaced individuals from all over the world trying to adjust to the United States.  It is very successful and is a nice reflection on the community.  Yesterday while I was shopping at one of my favorite junk stores I was witness to an ugly ugly incident.  The thrift stores are often filled with recent refugees buying clothes and other needed goods.While I was there (in broad daylight in what I would consider a safe part of town) two gentlemen came out of the store while I was loading my loot in my car and looked dazed and confused.  I asked them what was wrong and they said there bicycles were gone.  The refuge center makes sure every individual gets at least some sort of transportation and many community members donate bikes to help them get started.  They said they had left them right outside but not locked up.  I was livid and ashamed.  The clerk inside the store said that just last week some elderly lady had left her walker outside and someone had stolen it.  I have to admit not only was I ashamed but a little creeped out by the fact that one of my favorite stores was located in a very active crime area.  I realize that some individuals harbor bad feelings toward immigrants but most likely it was a small time thief stealing to maintain an alcohol or drug habit. What ever the reason SHAME ON YOU.  It made me feel ashamed and embarrassed and a little scared.  I will never shop in that store again without feeling just a little tainted by the experience. And I hate the fact that I now feel the need to look over my shoulder just a little more in my own hometown.

Happy Birthday Ms. President

Today is Linda's birthday.  She is the official President of the Vintage Chick organization.  We have a very structured business plan.  She is in charge of all smoozing and I am in charge of spotting the junk.  She puts up with the roller coaster enthusiasm I have for the business and tolerates my constant need for find it, fix it, haul it, sell it, repeat.  We would not have a business at all if it were not for her encouragement of my first hair-brained scheme.  She supports my frenetic buying need and keeps us balanced and positive not to mention her professionally charming personality.  In all these years we have never had a fight about our business.  Only once did we disagree on an issue.  If we do have a heated discussion we find that we are arguing for or against the same thing only from different sides of our brains. I appreciate and love her and want to wish her a very deserved Happy Happy birthday Ms. President.