Happy, Happy #57

Happy 57th birthday to DISNEYLAND!!
(My Happiest Happy Place.)
Wish I was there right now........

What's Penny Wearing? #75 A Study In Blue Tweed

Penny looks stunning in today's featured garment - this "tweedy" blue coat I found at a thrift store. Brand new, with the price tag still attached - I tried it on and it felt pretty good (there was no mirror nearby). Leave it to me to find cool-weather clothing in the dog days of summer, as was the same case back when I found my Little Red Riding Hood red wool jacket last year.

Well, as it happened, coats were half-price that day, so I bought it. Doesn't it go perfectly with this blue handmade scarf (above) I had also picked up at another thrift shop a while back?
And it looks pretty good with the vintage Ann Taylor plaid scarf seen with it below. (Yes - thrifted - you know me, right?)

It has some nice detailing, too, what with the half-belt at the back and trim on the sleeves:

But, alas, when I tried it on again at home in front of a mirror, I saw that it is really too big in the shoulders for me - shoot! Not the type of thing that is easily fixed - not by ME, anyway!

So I think I will probably try to sell it. So much for my blue tweed coat.
It sure is a pretty one, though.

Christmas In July

A little bit of Christmas in July, thanks to a few things I have found recently. A copy of this Peanuts Christmas book, in excellent condition:
A nice vintage linen Christmas apron - I believe I have tea towels that match this one:
Cute little ornaments:
And a little china bell:

I also got two boxes of the little bell ornaments I like so much - these were from "Dime Store Chic" on Etsy, probably my favorite shop:

Thanks again, Beth!

Some More Finds

I promised a while back that I would share some more of my thrift shop finds. So, here goes:
I picked up the cutest framed needlepoint stitchery picture. I really like the bright colors on this one.
Barn. Wife. Farmer. Cute:

I also really like this little handmade step-back shelf with a sweet vintage decal on the front, and I found two of these pretty restaurant china plates:
A set of three of these gorgeous lustreware plates with bright colors:

I also found an Avon recipe tin, and a community cookbook from San Antonio, circa 1962:

Another of those great candle holders I love so much, a candle to rest upon it, and a vintage box of coasters in my favorite blue and green. Funny thing about those coasters? I already had two just like them, that I have owned since the 60's or 70's! Obviously, I couldn't pass those by:

Another nice purse that looks brand new. I love mixing and matching my handbags or purses to what I'm wearing that day, so when I see one this nice for $1.00, I'm on it:

A pristine vintage linen tea towel - it has gorgeous colors, too - reminds me of a nice crisp autumn day:

(Unlike these HOT summer days!)

What's Penny Wearing? #74 Black "Confetti" Skirt & Top

Sometimes, the things I am able to find at thrift shops just kind of blow my mind. I had been hoping to find a black cotton button-front shirt or blouse. And, on the same lucky day that I found this one, I also found an unusual handmade skirt that I happen to think is pretty cool:
As I tried to show you in the photo above, the black background is peppered with what I am liking to call metallic "confetti". Do you know what else blows my mind? When I try things on, and they actually FIT me. Perfectly. (Gee, I guess there's something to be said for weight loss.....)
I already had the belt and the pendant necklace, both of which belonged to my mother-in-law. I have some black espadrilles that will go very well with the outfit, too.

The length of the rather full, "swingy" skirt is also perfect for me, but the hem needs some sort of finishing trim. Maybe like a black gimp or something like that. I'd love something metallic, but I think that might be a bit too much at the hemline on this one. I think I'll be making another trip to Joann Fabrics in the near future.

We'll Miss You, Andy

I truly will miss Andy Griffith. So much. If I had to choose one word to describe him, I think I would pick "beloved". I mean- didn't you love him, too? The Andy Griffith Show was simply television perfection. It will never get old.
I picked up this original Broadway cast recording album of "Destry Rides Again" last year at a thrift store. I like the picture of him on the cover, so it seemed a fitting one for this post.
I was a true fan; I also watched Matlock - every single episode.
I hope he knew how much he was loved, and I like to think that he probably did.
Goodbye, Andy.

Have a Great Independence Day!

Wishing everyone a very lovely 4th of July.

Enjoy your holiday.  I will be enjoying some barbecue and my hubby's impressive potato salad!

Come evening we sit on our benches facing west and watch fireworks from miles away, they are about 1/2 an inch in size, but we ooh and aah anyway.

It's About "Time"

I am SO tired of going into thrift stores and seeing completely ridiculous prices on things. Sick of it. What on earth is the matter with these people? Why do they think they can price items higher than they would be at an antiques store? It's crazy, I tell you. I see broken, repaired items that are priced as though there's not a thing wrong with them. Excuse me?
So, it truly was a refreshing change of pace, and, truly - it really is about "time", that I went into a thrift store and found a great vintage item, one that was actually worthy of an antique shop price - yet was priced very reasonably. That was the case with this wonderful art deco Telechron clock.
I guess it was just my lucky day! I love vintage clocks. Not sure why, but I just do. Love it:

And while the one below is not vintage, I love it, too. I have admired similar clocks for a number of years in mail order catalogs, and never wanted to pay the $30 price that was usually on them. My "Big Ben" with the classic style and pewter finish? A very reasonable $1.99. Running perfectly,and with a battery already in it:

Yes, it's about time, all right - and that's more like it!

Swing Low, Sweet Loquat Branches

My husband picked a bunch of loquats a while back from the tree in our yard.

For some reason, they were quite prolific this year - as never before.

They kept very well in the refrigerator and they were sweet and delicious, obnoxious pits notwithstanding.

Jump down, turn around, pick a pail of loquats.....

"Owl" Be Seeing You

"Owl" be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces all day through.
In that small cafe, the park across the way, the children's carousel, the chestnut tree, the wishing well.
"Owl" be seeing you in every lovely summer's day, in everything that's light and gay. I'll always think of you that way. I'll find you in the morning sun and when the day is new...

"Owl" be looking at the moon, but "owl" be seeing YOU.
(With apologies to Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal.)

Sweet Vintage Patterns

I found all of these sweet vintage doll clothing patterns on the same day in one of our local thrift stores. Most of them are from the 60's.








At a mere ten cents apiece, I was rendered unable to resist their cuteness.

I Wish I Had It Still

Back in the 1960's, I had a lamp like this. Mine was turquoise, and Grandma gave it to me. I don't remember ever giving it away, so I have no idea what ever happened to it.
But I sure do wish I still had it.
Because I think it's groovy - and I thought so back then, too.

A Six Apron Day

Barbara over at the fabulous blog Oodles and Oodles writes about estate sales in terms of how many aprons they rated - like five stars, only aprons instead - get it?
So the last time I went to the high-priced thrift store here in town - the one in which I almost never find anything I am willing to pay their price for - imagine my surprise when I discovered an entire basket full of items I wanted! First of all, there were three wonderful vintage aprons:


Gotta love the floral print and the rick-rack, right?

And I love this one - a pocket each for Complaints, Suggestions...

Compliments..

...and Tips - let's fill up those last two first, all right?

Another lovely one in a floral print with red pockets:

And I also found a number of vintage patterns, including these three with aprons:


And so - you see - a six apron day, indeed!