Elizabeth Holcombe ~whimsies and words~

A Lovely New Shop and A Familiar Name

I am attempting another blog entry despite the dial-up here. So far things are moving quite smoothly. On Sunday I'll do a nice long post about my thrifty adventures but this evening I want to share a new place with you.

In the Northern Neck, the name Carter is one that conjures history as old as Virginia. "King" Carter was one of the  first settlers in this area almost 400 years ago. His ancestors are still in the area to this day. One family, in fact, has made the small town of White Stone their haven for decades. You may be familiar with one of the Carter clan, Mary Randolph is the author of the famous "Junk" books: "American Junk", "Kitchen Junk," "Garden Junk", and "City Junk." I have them all! Her practiced visual eye and love for all things old have instilled the same love in many of us, included yours truly.

This is her latest book, "For the Love of Old."

I purchased Mary Randolph Carter's book at a wonderful new store in White Stone, VA which is owned and operated by her sister and neice Emily and Emily Carter, mother and daughter who have as fabulous a visual eye as Mary! FARM opened on July 4th. We were thrilled to visit it today:

This lovely old building is full of wonderful things for your home! I had a fun time browsing around, and was interested in watching one of their staff cleaning some old furninture by a little side building. Emily told us they would soon sell "primitive" furniture in that little building too. When we first arrived and opened the door, a black Lab puppy bounded out and greeted us with Emily Sr. racing out after her. The pup bounced down the steps and into one of the adjacent yards where she relieved herself. Emily called her back but she was in no mood to go back in, so my hubby caught her and carried her back in. When you visit FARM beware of the enthusiastic black Lab who might greet you at the door.

I circled the building taking in the delightful details, including these lovely shutters:

And the wonderful use of old oyster shells around the perimeter of the building:

 

And this sweet entrance! I love the bench painted green and cream:

If you find youself in White Stone, please stop by FARM! I know I'll be back!~~~More later!~~~XXOO, Beth

A Long Weekend!

We are back at the family river house in Virginia's historic Northern Neck! Since I have dial up, and can't load as many pics as I would like into this post, here is a sneak peek of why I love this area!

There a quite a few wonderful thrift shops in the area. No traffic and lots of rural thrifting--paradise! After I return home, I'll give you a detailed  thrifting tour of the Northern Neck! This shop is run by the Heathsville, VA St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Don't you LOVE the perfect boxwood hedges?~~~I'll try and blog tomorrow if the dial up will let me!~~OK, gotta run and do more vacation!~~~XXOO, Beth

A Random and Oh, So, Wonderful Act of Generosity

On saturday, after the excitement of the Big Flea, a parcel arrived quite literally on my doorstep. What a surprise to see that the box had travelled all the way from Australia! And the return address was quite familiar: Tracey Barlow! Now, I know that Miss Tracey has purchased several of my pin cushions and totes, and I wondered why this sweetheart was sending me a box. I eagerly opened it and couldn't believe my eyes!~~~

I thought I would pass out from the array of goodies Tracey sent me! Included with this package of perfection was a postcard designed by the lovely Natasha Burns with the sweetest note from Tracey!

Aren't these figurines adorable? I've already incorporated one on a new pin cushion! Tracey certainly has channeled me and what I like! The jewelry pieces and tiny prisms are divine The lovely Good Morning tray doiley so carefully embroidered with a little teacup pocket is so special just like Tracey! I am just overwhelmed at the fabulous and generous of heart and spirit from the folks I have met in blogland!~~~Thank you again, my dear Tracey! You are so very very wonderful!~~~XXOO, Beth

The Big Flea~~Oh, What FUN!

Good saturday afternoon, blogland friends!

My BFF Suzy and I headed off this early muggy morning for the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA for the BIG FLEA! I really get too excited and distracted to take many pictures because there are over 600 dealers offering such a fabulous array of goodies! Some of my pictures came out blurry so I couldn't show those, but I do have a few to share. And if you want more pictures, take a look at Suzy's blog when she does her Big Flea post!

The first booth we stopped at, in fact made a bee-line for was Truffle Pigs! Kim, Deborah, and Stacy have the best booth with such a wonderful assortment of wonderful sewing goodies for crafting and any number of projects--they even display some of thier oh-so-cute handmade creations too! Visit Earth Angels Toys to see what these lovely ladies have created!

This is just a small sampling of their wares! Here is what Suzy gathered:

She found some wonderful tiny vintage wire chairs for her collection and so much MORE!

Here is Suzy searching for hankies to use in her CUTE vintage hankie bags! She didn't find any that met her eye at this booth but later she gathered up 22 sweeties at another booth! I can't wait to see how she transforms them into her bags!

Today was a day for meeting old and new friends too! Here is the fabulously talented Stephanie of Doojies who had one of the cutest booths in the Big Flea. It was brimming with her innovative and delightful collage creations!

And in another building, there were two to hold all of the dealers!, we found the effervescent Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad in a booth brimming with cottage goodness!

She has the most wonderful blog! Her eye for the perfect vintage goodies for her booth is amazing! It was delightful meeting her!

Well, sore feet later and several trips to Suzy's car to drop off our goodies so we could shop for more, I am home and Suzy has returned to Hampton! I couldn't have asked for a better day!~~~Here is my Big Flea booty:

Tons of buttons, hats with millinery, fabric, cute figuries, jewelry and MORE!

It will take me forever to sort through the buttons--what a happy predicament!--and I am very pleased with the finds of the day! I chalk it up to the great flea-karma Suzy was sending my way!~~~XXOO, Beth

Does Three Make Up A Collection?

If you have three of something that relates to each other, does that mean you officially have a collection?

After reading the most recent issue of Mary Engelbreit Home Companion, esp. the article on Holt Howard Pixieware, I couldn't stop thinking about these adorable, kitchy, mid-century items. I grew up in a mid-century house, designed by my architect father, and furninshed with fab mid-century furniture and decor items--but we had no Pixieware! My mom said if she got one of these as a wedding or other type of gift she might have re-gifted it! Say it ain't so!

Well, Mr. Walter Dworkin has an enviable collection of these cuties, beginning with the first four he bought as a gift for his parents in a hardware store when he was a little boy. I scoured eBay and Etsy, well aware of two things: Pixieware can be costly, and the last thing I need is another collection! But I plodded on, inspired to have at least one of these sweeties in my home. I found three that I could afford, and hence a collection is born:

They fit in my retro/vintage kitchen so well! I love them all and smile every time I glance at their silly/cute faces!

I even bought Walter Dworkin's book just to see what I was up against with my new collection:

OK, well, I discovered that I need a lot of patience to add to my collection. I have three most common Pixiewares. The others are a little harder to get.

I have something I'm going to toss out there to my blogland friends~~~If any of you have a piece of Pixieware that you are willing to part with, I would be happy to trade you a pin cushion (or pin cushions depending on the piece of Pixieware you have to trade) of your choice, custom made for you! I Or you might want one of my totes (or two). Your choice. So, if you want to trade, just contact me, and let's see if we can "make a deal!"

Take care, my friends, and don't let the Pixies get'cha!~~~XXOO, Beth

Early Morning Yard Sale Booty and a Slight Departure

Yesterday I saw an ad in the newspaper for a yard sale on saturday. The ad really caught my eye as it said "50's toys...lots of vintage stuff". I'll go to any yard sale advertised as having vintage stuff especially since it is less than 10 minutes away. I did have a suspicion that the antique dealers in the area would be attracted to this sale too, but wondered if the sale was also being held by a dealer. Hubby went with me, and we arrived 45 minutes early.

The folks running the sale were setting up behind a thin red plastic tape strung between two trees with signs that read "Yard Sale Begins at 8 a.m." There were about 8 people waiting, looking at the booty so close but yet so far away. I recognized a couple of the people as being the usual suspects who magically seem to get the first numbers at any estate sale I go to. Hubby could care less about buying anything unless he found another $2 electric boat motor, but it looked as if this was a sale being run by dealers who were looking to put a dent in their stash.

The lady setting up kindly offered us bug spray as the mosquitoes were intent on making us anemic before the sale even started. Hubby looked distressed that he would have to stand there for 45 minutes, but I knew that these folks would most likely lower the rope as soon as they had finished setting up, and it looked like they were soon going to be ready to roll. I was right, and they lowered the rope at 7:30-ish. I hung back from the more voracious grabbing of the dealers, preferring instead to pick up anything cheap that I could use in crafting that usually doesn't get a second glance by dealers. Hubby made a good pair of hands when I needed him.

Here is my booty:

 

I purchased all of this cuteness for $10. 3 boxes of teeny ornaments (perfect for using on pin cushions or corsages!), 2 plastic Santa candy holders, a cool Things To Do coloring book which I will frame for my studio wall, fun graphics in a 1940's tracing set, Mary Poppins mobile unused!, a tiny wicker purse, a FUN cherry/cocktail apron, and a gorgeous pink, green, and white daisy tablecloth! I only went to this one sale, because I felt as if I had enough stuff for one day :)

The other day I found two really cute vintage handmade goodies at a local thrift shop. I just had to have them for pin cushions! They are a departure from the porcelain figurines I usally use, but inspiration bit me on the backside and said "just do it!" Here is a sneak preview of two "departure-from-the-norm" pin cushions I'll be listing along with three others (and possible more totes) on Sunday around 4 p.m. in my etsy shop.

I hope you all have had as wonderful and fun a morning thrifting and yard saling as me! Have a great day!~~XXOO, Beth

A Pin Cushion on the Move!

Recently, my BFF Suzy gave me the most wonderful twirling ballerinas! Now, they don't twirl on their own. All you have to do is give them a twirl with your fingers! The ballerinas are porcelain and sit on a steel rod and flaocked porcelain base on which they twirl. What do you think I did with one of them? You get one guess and here's a not-so-difficult clue:

I will list this cutie and three other pin cushions on ebay this evening (around 7 p.m. EST) for five-day auctions. If you have time, take a peek at what this sweetie looks like when she isn't twirling!~~~XXOO, Beth

Why Does Vacation Have to End?

One of life's cruel ironies is that vacations must end. Ok, well, perhaps it's not that cruel as compared to other things that could happen, but it is a sad time for me never-the-less.

I truly, deeply, enjoy spending time at the family cottage in Virginia's Northern Neck. The rural bliss of it all enchants me to no end. Case in point:

This is the road to the cottage. Corn was the big crop this year in the fields that lead up to our little slice of bliss on the river. I love corn.

The leaves are so pretty in the sun. This corn is destined to dry on the stalk for feed and grinding.

I also love the old buildings at every turn in the country roads. This is an old store and post office in a fork in the road called Remo, Virginia.

Trumpet vines and weeds have taken over, but my aunt remembers when it was open. I wish I had been in this old store when it was open--imagine how cool that would have been!

I love the red tin roof on this barn in Burgess, Virginia. See the lightining rod on the roof?

On the way to get some lumber to repair the driveway edging, we spied this old barn in the field of ripe winter wheat. Then hubby had to perform a rescue operation...

A hapless box turtle was in the road, and hubby took him deep into the weeds so he could go off and do his turtle thing unharmed.

 

Hubby was testing out a yard sale electric trolling motor (which he paid $2!) with our doggie on board. Even though her breed is better suited for herding cattle in the Outback, she is quite content on the water too.

Our son got to ride the mower for the first time and cut the tall beach grass!

I indulged in one of my favorite treats: Hershey's Cotton Candy flavored ice cream bought at the corner store!

More boating, and the two dollar trolling motor worked great!

We visited a local winery called Athena. They had a tasting of all of their varietals. I ended up buying two bottles of their late harvest dessert wine~~YUM!

Here are the acres and acres of vineyards set in the sandy soil of Northumberland County. What a fun indulgence on Fourth of July!

And speaking of indulgence, we spent all of $10 on fireworks at the local Wal-Mart. We got a pretty good show for our money!

My cousin's son had his first sparkler experience too!

The last night of vacation, saturday night, we ate dinner at a place on the river that has been around forever: The Horn Harbor House restaurant.

If you arrive from the water, you park here. If you arrive by land, you park here:

The official greeter:

This used to hold a pay phone. I am so glad its cover is still there!

Now, I couldn't let this vacation post slip by without telling you of my estate sale/thrift store/yard sale finds this week. Here is a selection:

One of the houses I visited was the home of a lady who was 104 when she passed away. Her grandson was hosting the sale. I found the carnation trash can and the pink ticking fabric at her house along with some other goodies. He was so nice to talk to about his beloved grandmother.

I picked up these fun bits of jewelry at thrift stores and a yard sale.

Oh, deer! Well, that's it for my vacation travel-logue in rural Virginia. The best thing is that we'll be back in 2-1/2 weeks. So, I guess I have no room to complain, do I? Time to get back to making more totes and pin cushions. I'll be listing more this week!~~~Glad to talk to you all again!~~~XXOO, Beth

Estate Sale Friday~~Too Hot!

Summer is estate sale season here in the Washington, DC area, or at least it's my season for estate sales. Since I'm not a dealer, this is not my lifeblood, and I don't go out in winter weather, but it is one venue for finding cool stuff for my creations and filling my already bursting home with vintage cuteness!

But I must observe that the antique dealers are a very organized and tight group. Last night I was cruising through the neighborhood to see exactly where the estate sale was. It was announced in a huge ad proclaiming it to be the home to be of a DC socialite and her officer husband, world travellers both. I like it when I know a little of the folks who used to live in the home. Anyway, my BFF Suzy, was up here on business, and was with me when we found the house in the neighborhood next to mine. We also saw a guy standing in the street by his car which bore a well-worn cardboard sign "Estate Sale numbers here." Now the ad said numbers would be given out at 9:30 the day of the sale, not at 7:30 the night before the sale. This gentleman was one of a tight-knit group of antique dealers who watch after their own and have a system which is sanctioned by the folks running the estate sale. Fourteen hours before the sale began, I got number 35. Suffice to say I am not part of that in-crowd. But never matter, it was motivation enough for me to return and get the "real" number at 9:30 the next morning. Three people ahead of me didn't show up, so I got the official number of 32. I waited about 25 minutes after the sale began for my number to be called.

As I waited, I was tempted to climb up and take a peek in that dumpster, but common sense grabbed me by the throat and I stayed on the lawn. It was already 80+ degrees and tropically humid. I finally got inside from the heat, which was the best thing, and found pretty much nothing for my troubles. I got two necklaces, some small aqua ornaments, and something for Suzy for her birthday. If she had been with me, she would have grabbed it.

After that sale I slipped over to two sales pretty close by, with no waiting, and I wish I had gone to either of them first. But that's the chance you take. I still came out with pretty cool loot for very nice "cheap" prices. Here is a sampling:

Aren't these bells wonderful? At first I thought I might canibalize the glass beads from them, but changed my mind.

These candles were in a box with some other goodies (which are pictured below). The lady running the sale grabbed one of the candles and exclaimed "Why these are antique!" I quickly thought, "oh no, big price coming", as these didn't have a price. Nor did these things which, were also in the box:

Loads of Halloween cupcake picks! These and the candles were dirt cheap, despirte being "antiques"! Don't you just love the expression on the green witch faces?

Thse vintage cards and flower pot trims just stole my heart!

This Barbie doll clothes pattern was a fun find, but I loved the 1930 Conoco map which I will give to my Dad, as he loves to look at old maps of where he lives. I think he likes to look at how many roads were dirt back in the day. Thank goodness for asphalt!

I'm heading off with hubby and son on Sunday to the family river place in Virginia's Historic Northern Neck. Can't wait! Great food, no traffic, scenery to-die-for, and fabulous thrift shops and yard/estate sales! We only have dial-up there, so no blogging for me (I'll try but doubt it'll work). I'll catch you on the flip side after Fourth of July! Take care and have FUN! Always, have FUN!~~~~~~XXOO, Beth

Georgetown Flea Market Sunday

I dragged hubby out of bed to go with me to the Georgetown Flea Market, which ironically is located now in the parking lot of the Clarendon Courthouse in Arlington, VA. This has been going on for a few years now, but it is the first time I've felt compelled to drive into Arlington for a visit. It's about 15 minutes away and I really don't know why I haven't gone sooner.

As you can see the flea market is situated in the canyon of newer office high-rises that make up most of Clarendon.

The sale is advertised as having 100+ vendors, but I don't think they had all arrived yet. It was a little after 8 in the morning and several vendors were still setting up.

 

What is the big attraction at this table? It looked like a bunch of birds going after seed thrown down. I later took a peek and saw that it was a pile of silverplate utensils. I didn't see any prices, and couldn't wonder what the attraction was.

This lamp cracked us up! Later, we saw a man walking around with it so very proud to have it in his possession.

This gentleman who has tons of vintage prints, advertsing, and more, brought all of it to the flea market in the back of his van! Impressive.

This vendor had a lot of costume jewelry. When I inquired as to the prices, the vendor's wife, said, "oh, $2, $3, $4, it depends." That drives me crazy. I don't know how hard it is to just have boxes with prices on the boxes like "$2 each", and so on. But I did select a few pieces and they gave me a fair price for the lot. One of the pieces is the little Scotty pin near the flag pin.

Now, this is more like it! The vendor, a lovely lady named Maria, had all of these boxes marked as one dollar each piece. I found several fun vintage pieces. Then I moved over to her other table...

Maria had marked these pieces as $4 each. I found several pairs of fun earrings.

Here is another shot of the vendors. Check out the crazy yellow-fluted lamps on the grass. They have sockets dangling down with blue glass globes. One is on the lamp and the rest are in the boxes by the lamps. I have no idea where anyone would put these in their house, but they are fun to look at!

Folks brought their dogs to the flea market. This one lady certainly has ber hands full with her trio of well-groomed pups! The terrier to the left is interested in giving them a greeting.~~~So, if you're in town, take a Sunday stroll around the Georgetown Flea Market and don't forget to bring your dog!~~~XXOO, Beth