Magpie Still

It's been a while since I've posted any flea market finds. Since my husband is collecting so much old stuff, I have found that I have been more interested in other things (i.e. make-up) but...

In September 2011 I did find this basket, book, dictionary...

And my husband brought these home to me.

They are enormous ledgers and yes you can covet them and wish me ill.

 Well, please don't, come to think of it. I have to take care of this boy...

This month Sparkle and I went out to our little shop for a date.

I have not known how to announce this but Sparkle's sweet husband died rather quickly just before Christmas. She is left to deal with her own world turned upside down while watching this grief tear through their nine year old daughter's life...She is very brave and wrote a beautiful post about her fresh grief. It would be special if you gave her some love. I feel wrong to slide this information in on this very seemingly happy post, but that is exactly how his death struck.

Here is a sunset for him.

On a lighter note which I have been so eager to seek, here is a video of cosmetic favorites that is long and will be the longest video I make. I learned a lesson.

But that's what we are here for. Some are not so hard. Others, well, other lessons take the support of many for decades on end...

Minnesota Magpie

I did something out of character for me and said 'yes" to a last minute trip in September to Minnesota and attended the Creative Connection Event. I went and had such a good, good time. I just kinda let go, let go of worries and frets.

One thing I did was just got on a bus to Shakopee, Minnesota to Junk Bonanza. I lost my mind there. I had two hours. Devon was my bank and sent me with twice as much cash as I had asked for. I have to drive next year so I can get thoroughly in to this shopping event.

I bought this suitcase right away. Then I had to navigate the Saturday crowds with

this big base drum.

Let me just say, I have always thought the people in Oklahoma are nice. However, just try going through a WalMart. People just stand in the middle of their aisle, on the phone, with small sticky children. It's a mess. Not so at Junk Bonanza in Minnesota! So very nice. I would whisper "Excuse me, I am coming behind you with this big suitcase." Every time the Minnesotan would say "Oh sure, let's just baaaack up here." The best, the best crowds ever!

I bought this scale at Junk Bonanza. Now if I could only find balance...

A young German girl's lesson book..

Bits and baubles. Arg, I hate when people say that!

And if all that was not enough, I picked these up in Oklahoma City in September...

Dear Devon made these for a very special September birthday.

Some final shots of Minnesota. I saw so very little of it, but it was clean and smelled good.

A big 'ol city like that!

There is something fabulous about coming in to your room and finding this at the sink...

I think I will return next September to Minnesooooootah...

Handmade Acquistions

There was a most delicious Handmade Market open throughout The Creative Connection Event. While the vendors may not have appreciated the many days of feast and famine, I did enjoy running through the market over and over. I also was able to spend far more than had it only been open for a short while. These are the things that live with me now...

Rebecca Sower. Ahhhhhh... Devon found this robin and surprised me with it...

From the Art Is You booth, although I regret to say I am not sure which of their artists created this piece. I have worn this so often already, I use hold things back. I want a memorable debut for something I really especially love.

Why, though, should we ever own something we do not especially love? I believe it was William Morris who said we should live with things that are both beautiful and useful. I really try to adhere to that philosophy. Which works for me as I view tools such as envelopes, brooms and sponges as beautiful.

The Oh Sweet Sadie Girls were so funny. Did you know Mormons can be so hilarious? My ignorance, inexperience and Sister-Wives made me think maybe not. Wrong. This necklace was a tutorial and I enjoyed spending time sitting with them and bending wire while they bended my ear...

I rarely pass up bird books. And I simply went crazy for Lisa Souers' work. This was so beautifully packaged, I haven't even opened it yet!

People went quite nuts for Hutch and her cardboard chic, simple and familiar style. If you only click one link on this post, let it be this one, her watercolors are so dear...

Amy Barickman, whom I have a special affection for...

Oh dear Carloyn of Gypsy Threads.

This is a stack of felted wool pieces from Rose Mille, a local Minnesotan.

 I also bought a stack of kits from Glass Garden Beads. 

I will just have to let you know how that turns out.

I opened this post with Rebecca and will close with Kaari Meng. They are my greatest inspirations really. I loved my classes with them at Silver Bella last year, love my purchases from them. Love their blogs. It is really something to love a person's work and also to take their class and own their things. I will never quit saying it. This internet and these workshops are providing connection that women need, are truly hungry for, don't you think?

 

Magpie May Ten

The last time I walked into an antique store before this month was November of Nine. There are a couple of reasons. I tend to binge on antique stores. Having gone into one, I fret about what I might be missing in all the others. It is usually a flurry of visits followed by return trips to buy that thing I couldn't get off my mind. After a wild week of shopping, I have too much stuff and that feeling of 'ahhh, ughh, shouldna' done that.'

Also, from January through April, I emptied my mother's house. She lived there 49 years and while I have mentioned this before, I will say again, I did it single-handedly in a flurry of fear and anger, driven to accomplish it before mother died. Now it's a blur and I do not know how I did it. I got rid of things I would buy. I just sort of did not want my mother's things. To be sure I kept more than I know what to do with, but not more than a full car load really. It has too much ennui associated with it.

But now, just a month later, I am back to buying other people's crap. And here is how that started. I took just one hit, a trip to the school estate sale. I thought "maybe someone brought in some sewing notions." I spied with my discerning eye the a cardboard box. It was filled over flowing with bags of buttons sorted into colors.

Indulge me.

White, pink, ochre, coral, crimson and black...

Be reverent and enjoy the plate of teal buttons.

And this little dear gal who sorted all her buttons into colorways also saved....

bless her heart....

her buttons cards.

And friends, four dollars later, all of the above was mine. I am glad they went to me because I do believe I share that little lady's joy in these buttons right along beside her.

A stolen hour last weekend with Sparkle the Esquire and I own these matchbooks. Why?

Not sure but Kimmie bought the other bag and I had to have them.

That is a 1969 copy of a 1908 Sears catalog. And a chemistry text, of course.

Also a cool box of blocks with which I could spell Thomas.

And May's last booty...

I will sit with mother today and make a necklace from those beads.

Why does someone else's junk offer up possiblity while my own childhood stuff just holds melancholy?

I guess that question is the answer...

Looking Back Is A Look Forward

Since I have been so swamped I haven't even walked into a junk store since November. Look back with me now at the things I found last time I found things.

This blue suitcase was disgustingly cheap. I couldn't haul it to the register fast enough.

I mean, I knocked a man down.

This is a display card for these old brown buttons. It was a little pricey for me.

I feel that if I don't need it, then it shouldn't cost much. But this I needed.

I was planning to buy this hatbox when I opened it to find it held hats.

That rose is as big as a softball or small melon.

I buy enamel tubs. I just do.

And this is a pot thing or something which apparently I also buy.

I have a collection of books about marriage and putting women in their place. This book is His Friend and His Wife. It is slightly less misoginistic than some.

Here is a cake tin and some red utensils from Second Chance in Omaha.

I obsessively collect kitchen utensils.

God, I'm fun.

These jewels cam from Jenni Bowlin at Silver Bella. I wold love to shop her again.

And I just bet I do.

I am trying to be more upbeat. Is it working?

Fake it 'til you make it, right?