1. Look what I found!
Every once in a while you pop into a little non-descript antique shop...the kind filled with man toys such as floor to ceiling racks of vintage match-box-cars, hunting artifacts and model cars. There are always a few kid toys (such as vintage Weeble airplanes, which I confess that I was SOOO tempted to buy) and girl toys (rhinestone this and pearl that). On this day, in this tiny little shop on my way to the candy store (yum), I took a leap of faith and wandered in. After quickly passing the match-box-cars and pausing in front of the airplanes, under dusty puzzle boxes, low-and-behold...a vintage box of Anagram game pieces! At first, it was the faded color of the box that caught my eye (surely, there would be a use for it in my collages). Just knowing that YES! Anagrams could be found at Antique shops still (and not just on eBay) made my day. But looking inside...BONUS! Stubby little yellow pencils with giant eraser heads (sharpened just for me) and half a dozen green dice. Need I say...SCORE! The little Anagram game pieces with their raised my-kind-of-teal-blue letters were just what I needed. The best part...the worn-out price tag of $10 (search for these online and find that they go for at least triple that...without pencils and dice!). To find your own, just search on eBay by typing in ANAGRAMS. Happy Bidding!
With just a few minutes to spare on the parking meter, my hasty walk to the cash register was halted as something a similar shade of faded green caught the corner of my eye. An old book, tattered, torn, tearing, faded, and certainly unwanted...but the little birdie on the cover was calling my name "Tweet-Sally-Tweet". I couldn't resist the $4 price...but even if I could...I couldn't resist the sweet embossed golden birdie on the cover. For those of you that love the birdie, too...did you know that you could go to Amazon and type in the title to find other booksellers who have this book for sale? Search for A FIRST BOOK UPON THE BIRDS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON. (Just email the sellers to make sure the cover is the same).
Just imagine what you could do with this book? Cut up the birdie words inside to use in collage your collages. Remove the inner pages and use the cover for an altered book cover. Frame the front cover making sure to show the rips and tears. Cut the back cover into tags. Stack it along with other same-colored old books on the table next to your bed. Tease your cat with the birdie picture.
I thought I had nearly made it out of the store when I came across another pretty little faded box with a 40% off sticker on it. Inside...not just one...but two pairs of baby shoes. Loving their soft feel and knowing that someday I will do something magical with them...they came along, too.
So, my 15 minute quickie into a tiny antique shop was a good thing. And yes...I did make it to the candy store...and came out with a 15" long French marshmallow!
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Oh, what a beautiful book! I could use the pages on my bird paintings... I will look for it in the used book stores. I love your blog, I hope you do a new post soon! Roxanne
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | August 04, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Oh, how I dream of going junkin'...so many treasure to find. Kara
Posted by: kara ward | April 09, 2008 at 02:44 PM
What a great find,I love finding theses sorts of goodies
Jen
Posted by: Jen crossley | April 01, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I just wanted that french marshmallow ! yumm
where or where in pdx???
steph
Posted by: Stephanie Brockway | April 01, 2008 at 09:15 PM
SCORE! Doesn't your heart skip a beat when you spot things like these? You hate to hope when you get the first thought that "it may be, it can't be, oh my gosh, it is!" Awesome!
Posted by: Sheila | March 31, 2008 at 10:58 PM
the cover of that book is just too awesome! love it. :)
Posted by: cathy walters | March 31, 2008 at 09:25 AM
sally--i found a box of the same anagrams in the same wonderful blue a few months ago and i immediately thought of you. i put them into an old "Crown Imperial" canning jar--the one that has the embossed crown logo embedded into the glass. and there they sit, constantly being oogled at.they are enjoying company alongside the jar of plaster letters.
Posted by: janice | March 31, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Don't you love finding things when you don't expect it?!! Great finds!! You have a good eye!
By the way, I'm sending snow your way! We definitly have plenty to share from Chicago. (pssst, I think it's magical too! I just can't say it out loud, just in case the neighbors hear me! They may bury my car in it!!) hee hee!
Jillian
Posted by: jillian | March 31, 2008 at 06:43 AM
Ooooo... great haul! Guess it's too late to ask for a pic of the 15" marshmallow as I'm sure that it was promptly devoured lol. I've never even HEARD of such a thing!
Posted by: Laura | March 31, 2008 at 05:52 AM
Yummy finds! Glad you got your candy fix too ;)
Posted by: Tina Wright | March 30, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Hi Sally Jean,
Thanks so much for sharing all the goodies that you found at the antique shoppe. I especially love the baby shoes.. they are precious! I am looking forward to your soldering for virgins class in Portland-my best friend Kris and I will be in the class celebrating 42 years of friendship. We are excited to use some of your techniques to make a "best friend " bracelet!
keep shopping and sharing,
brenda bliss
Posted by: brenda bliss | March 30, 2008 at 02:55 PM