Holiday thrifting! 04/19/15

Over Easter I went a-travelin' to the west, namely to Nevada and California to visit my family. 

We always go thrifting because, well, that's the kind of family I have. 

(Lucky for ME! They raised me right!)  :) 

First stop was Goodwill in Carson City. 

That's my 86 yr old mom and her 89 yr old sister Eileen ten steps ahead of her because she didn't want us cutting in on any of her deals! 

 

Incidentally, my aunt Eileen and uncle Paul celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in January. Yep, you read that right...SEVENTY-SECOND!

Here is my aunt, yucking it up while my mom tries on clothes. 

My mom has been known to try-on just about anything for a laugh. 

Case in point.

I found a few Easter things...

Love this Lefton Ceramic egg!

2 enamel pins to add to my collection.

This is the sweetest vintage squeeky toy bunny! 

We hit a garage sale in a trailer park. We don't usually do that but the sign said "Craft stuff" so I talked the girls into going.

I'm glad I did because they had LOTS of Christmas stuff.

 I bought a bunch of vintage ornaments still in the packages. .25 cents each!

Look at all these KNEE HUGGERS!

Here's a bottle brush tree, a vinyl Santa door cover, a mini mug,

 a weird Japan angel and a couple of ornaments.

 I also got lots of bells for crafting, some sugared with mercury glass clangers.

This stocking ornament is made of cheepo plastic but is labeled JAPAN so its old.

 I was drawn to the two little dancing elves...they reminded me of the elves in Rankin-Bass' "Rudolph" show from the 60's. 

("Hermie doesn't LIKE to make toys!")

And last is this creepy Santa pin with green rhinestone eyes and mean eyebrows!

Easter Decorations 04/21/14

I collect vintage baby planters and alot of them tend to be lambs. So I have a collection of lambs. It was an accident. I didn't mean to have a collection of lamb planters, it just happened. So it fits to display them at Easter.

This planter is actually for Easter. I like that.

I have a few of this type of lamb. But one of my favs is the little duck under an umbrella. 

He makes me smile. :)

I bought that turquoise deer around Christmas. I know he's got nothing to do with Easter, but he looks so relaxed among the lamby-pies.

Here is an old tin rabbit and cart carrying...Baby Jesus. Christmas seems to sneak in to all my decor, no matter what the season. 

(...like this egg-covered Christmas tree...)

This cute duck is two syrofoam balls in a nylon sock! So clever, I want to try making one of my own.  It has a Japan sticker on the bottom.

Last fall I got this great corner cabinet at a g-sale for $20. 

Its perfect for displays.

I almost left this crafty styrofoam bunny at the rummage sale but 

I was smitten with his plaid vest.

Here are my dogs in the 1970's trying to get to my Easter basket! :)

This is a child's purse.

Vintage crafty styrofoam egg.

This is the only beaded egg I've ever found. It is so pretty!

I'm not sure but I think this glittered egg is a Christmas ornament.

Left to right: A chalkware chick, a plastic rattle rooster, a chenille and pom duck and a spun cotton chick (MY FAV!) breaking out of his pink shell!

Check this out! A real live (dead) taxidermied CHICK! I got this in a lot of other vintage Easter decorations in a shoebox. I love him even though its kinda twisted to think he gave up his life to become a symbol of new life.

What's cuter than flocked styrofoam chicks wearing party hats? I love the satin ball bunny peeking over from behind them.

You can't see this very well but its a 1960's hat covered with velvet millinery posies! :)

I hope you had tons of fun this Easter with lots of blessings besides! 

Easter Blessings 04/18/14

Thank you, oh so much, to everyone for your kinds words of sympathy and encouragement regarding my dad's passing. 

While I was caring for him, we watched HOURS of old movies on TMC. 

We saw everything from Silent Movies to Westerns (Dad's favorite) to Doris Day (my favorite!)

I also had a lot of time to sort through tons of family photos starting from the 1940's before my folks were married, on up to the present. It was cathartic.

I also had a little time to work my hands at something pleasing. When I flew 2000 miles to Dad's with a small suitcase full of yarn and pipe cleaners,

 my intention was to make lots of little Easter "friends."

I made only this one little pom-pom chick.