TALK ABOUT BANG FOR YOUR BUCK....

I picked up these four paintings last weekend at a sale held at modest home for $10, that is $10 for all four!  They appear to be mixed medium, oil and pastels signed Ross. Now I don't venture to say Ross is a known artist but he does have some talent.

They are good size measuring 26"x26", 2 are framed and 2 are back mounted frameless and ready to hang.

All I have to say is that while taking them out of my car our neighbor  talked me out of the one on the upper right.

They are photographed and posted so Teddie bring me $2.50 and come get your painting!

Click on any image for a closer look!

Tracy

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MY NEW WHITE LINEN ANTIQUE DAY BED

Now this is a keeper! A freshly reupholstered (in white linen no less)antique day bed which just happens to be perfect for under my oil painting in our study! The best part is I found it on craigslist for $350!

Love, love, love, Tracy
PS...M.A. Recognize the painting?

EVEN A WHITE FORMICA COFFEE TABLE CAN BE CHARMING

The good news: the round coffee table has great lines.

The bad news: It is made of formica and ply board.
The good news: the cost is $20

More good news: The formica is white
(goes with everything) and the painter in our building painted the base a great green color for just $10.
Viola, Tracy

VINTAGE CAKE PLATE-JAPAN

I know this looks like the raspberry oat loaf I made for my husband for Valentine'sDay, but this post is really about the plate under it. It is hand painted-Japan, adds a splash of color and 100% adorable. An estate sale find that I am sending to my high school friend Teri in Chicago! Tracy 

FAB VINTAGE STOUT CANED CHAIRS

Found two of these vintage caned and iron chairs at a area charity shop(thrift store) for $40 each! A designer friend sold them to her client for $595.  Maybe I should have kept them!

THE MOSAIC MERMAID WHO REIGNS OVER MY BLOG

Mermaid was a gift from a good friend who thought it reminded her of me!(lucky for me the mermaid is blonde headed)
She is by well known mid century artist Evelyn Ackerman made in 1957, 60"x13". My friend found it a an area consignment shop and I am glad she did.  Tracy 

THE BEAUTY OF BEING SNOWED IN.....

Some beautiful things warm my heart, even when covered in snow.
These Peacocks are on the grounds of our building. They are beautiful on any given day but a rare snow storm made them magical. 

I just had to share them with you
Tracy

VINTAGE ACRYLIC GRAPES....WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?

I have a bunch of vintage acrylic grapes in every room of the house!

They are bright, whimsical, and do not take themselves too seriously!  What is not to love?  This is probably my favorite bunch, an estate sale find for about $15.

GREAT VISTA ALEGRE FIND

                   I found these three VISTA ALEGRE figurines at a sale last Saturday for $5, I mean $5 for all three!  Along with that miracle is the fact that none of them are cracked or chipped and all of their digits are intact. One recently sold on Ebay for $129. While they are not exactly my thing and I do not know exactly what I am going to do with them, I still think they are a great find

I did not know what they were so I looked up the stamp on the bottom which said VA Portugal in my book of marks. I came up with Vista Alegre and then the research on the computer was easy!                                       Tracy

VINTAGE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

These hand turned wooden pear and apple S/P are 3 1/2 inches high and have little brass stems.  Modern and earthy all in one, love them!
        $6 at a consignment shop!

OBJECTS THAT I HAD TO HAVE .....even if they are not overly useful

3 Sherbets cased in sterling. Possible uses, Champgne or votives.
I myself like the idea of champgne in 2 and a candle in one!
Cost $7.00 at a Charity shop

Zandra Rhodes, my new favorite old designer

Do you remember Zandra Rhodes? Think London, Mary Quant, the 60's.....

This 2 peice Zandra was estate sale find. The robe was on a bed in one room and the gown in the closet of another. Cost $8, score! My fav high end vintage clothing shop sold it for $450!

But more fun than that is that she sent it to Rachel Zoe, a stylist to the stars who has her own show on Bravo TV!

 

TAKE A SEAT PLEASE

Saturday was a great day here to go "saling". The weather was great and there were loads of sales to rush to. My best find was this down filled Edward Ferrell wing chair.

It is upolstered in a great printed linen which happens to be perfect for our guest room. 

 Did I mention it is in pristine conditon!

Cost, $40. While my husband liked it he questioned, "are we ever done", my reply, "of course not"!

FAB FIND-WINE COASTERS

I found these 2 beautiful silver and tortise wine coasters at an estate sale last weekend for $5 each! They are marked with a stamp letter F inside a shield and Portugal. I did not find a sterling mark so they most likely plated unless I am missing something.  The tortise bottom is translucent which I just love.  I did need to polish them a bit. I used Wright's Silver Cream for the first time which was easiest and best polish I have ever used.

You must keep some things and these wine coasters are keepers!

ONE OF THE BEST FINDS OF 2010

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  I hope we all land some finds like this in 20011. I actually found 2 of these last year at 2 different times and places. The first was $150 @a consignment store, the second was weeks later at a junk store that buys out peoples garage sales then resells  the junk, I mean stuff. They had the fixture on a shelf without the rods. I asked about the glass and they said the had a box of glass rods and did not know what they were for. Score! I bought it for $25. I sold each fixture for $925 at a friends mid century shop within days! Fun? You bet!

A Picker's Christmas Tree

Our Christmas Tree:

• 5 ft tall lime green tree with lights & lime green stand - $5
• 45  pastel stars - $3
• 6 boxes of vintage German clip on pink birds - $5
• Golf & tennis ball and golf shoe ornaments (with all of the pastels I have to take care of my Husband) - $5
• Pearl strands - thrown in with the pastel stars - FREE

         Grand total- $18 and
         darn cute as well!

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, a weekend off from what I call "saling". I am enjoying my family and friends and am thankful for our time together! I have one question, are any of the gifts under your tree a find from an estate sale or thrift shop? Tomorrow I will post pictures of  my finds turned gifts... Would love to see yours as well, feel free to send me pics and where you found them!     HoHoHo

Junior League Junker



Me during my Junior League days back in
the early 90's. (note the rather large earrings)

 I started picking when I joined the Junior League!  I know you are thinking white gloves and tea, but no, that is where I discovered junking!  My very first volunteer placement was a local women's shelter thrift store. I help sort donations and helped shelter clients "shop" for items they needed.  The store was in an upscale area and I was amazed at the treasure trove that showed up through the back door. Need I say more?  A hobby turned into a passion turned into a business.

Basket may not be a great find, but it is an OK find!

There are great finds, good finds, OK finds, and not so great finds!
My American Indian(hopefully Pima or Papago tribe)basket is just an OK find.

I took it to a new friend who has been trading in Native American art since I was 2 years of age(ie quite a good while!) He said the basket is an "interpretive representation of an American Indian piece not made anywhere near the US sometime within the last 10 years".  It was probably made in northern Africa or the Philippines. Exactly what I did not want to hear.

The good news is the basket is well made, in good condition and does have a decorative value of between $50-$75. I will take it to a friend's consignment shop or my antique space to sell. I anticipate making a couple of dollars all the while having an enjoyable learning experience.

I emailed a thank you to my new "expert" and hope to have something of real intertest to show him soon.

Today's Find

I found this American  Indian basket yesterday at Salvation Army of all places. It is a whopping 19inches high and about the same wide. I think, well let's say hope it is from the Papago or Pima tribes. I do not know alot about these so I am going to call in an expert!  I paid $25.00 and am hoping this is a great find! I will report back. Thanks for stopping by, Tracy

BEFORE AND AFTER

BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF A GREAT FIND
(note, I left out a before picture of myself, be thankful)
I found these great pair of lamps at an estate sale for $25 each. They even had decent shades and finials, a rarity in itself.  I repainted the bases a deep brown and hauled them over to one of my favorite mid century home furnishing showrooms!  The lamps are priced at $850, voila!

Treasure hunting tip: While at estates sales always check the garage and patio. It is in the "dusty areas" that you can find unrealized treasures at lower prices than inside the house. All it takes is some vision and a little preserverance.  Happy hunting.