Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Cuties!

Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday. Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone. If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy!
To participate, all you have to do is:

* * * * Please everyone, follow these guidelines!

(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the link at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.

It seems when I post about my Goodwill finds, I always get several comments on others wishing their local Goodwill had the sort of finds I happen to run across. I have to admit...I spend more time in Goodwill(s) and thrift stores than I do a regular mall. Seriously. . Be consistent, stop in more than once in a while, take a quick spin through the store...that is when I find most of my "good" finds.... when I am in a hurry.

Today, I want to share two figurines I happened to find at Goodwill......they are the sweetest little things.....

Now, when I saw this sweet little lady, with a puppy, well, I could not put her in my cart fast enough. She is just so very sweet. The sugar on top to this find was the label.........

A Josef Original.....I searched and searched on line to try and find one like her, but I never found anything close to this little lady. She could be a Calendar girl, but I really have no idea...I will keep looking and see if she turns up in my search. None the less...a real bargain at $2.00.

Now this is just so sweet. When I spotted this last year, I had to have it. You see, these little bluebirds remind me of the bluebirds we have at our cabin in Colorado. They had to come home with me, there was no doubt. I think their faces are so very sweet. This is a mint condition piece.

Here is the label on the birds....Again, I did a search, and did not find any like them. I did find however that these types of things made by this maker, varied so much in price and value. On ebay, some were listed for a mere .99 and well...then all the way to over a hundred dollars. These cute little birds only cost me $3.00 and I was happy to pay it.

Now this cutie is not mine. This was the closest thing I found on ebay that was remotely close to my bird figurine above. It is absolutely the sweetest thing....but it is listed for $95.00......WOW.....I often wonder what the value would be on the treasures I find and drag home.....but maybe it is better that I don't know, because I doubt I could part with them. If I pick something up and put it in my basket, it is because I love it and plan on keeping it......that is why I need a bigger house....in the worse kind of way!

Have a great weekend and a very Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday ~ Vintage Framed Art

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much. Lastly, try to make an effort to visit the other participants. I know myself, I get so behind and busy, but this year, I am going to do my best to visit each week.

As a rule, I have never paid much attention to vintage framed art when I am out and about looking at estate sales or thrift stores. For some reason, these types of things have been catching my eye lately.

I purchased a beautiful vintage piece at an estate sale in March, and then a few weeks ago, I found this piece at a thrift store.

Actually, there were two of these. One measures around a 11X14 and this smaller one is exactly like the larger one. I bought them both, as they were a set and the price was only $8.00 for both. I think the print is just as sweet as it can be. I have not taken the backs off of these yet, but when you look closely at both, the print really looks like it was printed on linen fabric. I have no idea how old these are, but they are certainly not modern day art by any means. I think they are cute!

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday......sorry I am late at getting the link up....this week is flying by and I forgot it was Wednesday..... :-)

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Misfit China Ware

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much. Lastly, try to make an effort to visit the other participants. I know myself, I get so behind and busy, but this year, I am going to do my best to visit each week.

I have a knack of  being drawn to small little misfit or mismatched china ware when I am browsing thrift shops.

One day, while stopping by my new favorite shop, I spotted a few things on a shelf and all of them were marked .25 cents. About the time I saw them, a lady came down the same isle, looked at the little goodies and looked at the price and stated she thought they might as well throw those types of things in the trash. She proclaimed no one would want them and at .25 cents, they were not worth the tag on the junk,  stuff. She quickly moved on with her buggy........

This little kangaroo salt and pepper shaker is far from being perfect. In fact, one of his ears has been reattached. He was all alone, and I know I have talked before about bringing home orphan salt and pepper shakers. He is cute...even if he is not in perfect condition.

This is a small toothpick holder. I don't know if this is supposed to be a goat, mule or a deer, but I am going to call it a deer for all practical purposes! It is cute and tiny and small. 

I also picked up a couple of other items that were perfect in color and design for something I am planning in the future. I simply love when that happens....can't show you today, but will in a few weeks.

Not bad for less than buck!! What happened to that other lady?? Well, as luck would have it, she ended up at the counter right BEHIND me when I was paying. I could see her raised eyebrow from the corner of my eye, but I refused to look her way. Wish I would have had a penny for her thoughts!!!

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Children's Reader

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much. Lastly, try to make an effort to visit the other participants. I know myself, I get so behind and busy, but this year, I am going to do my best to visit each week.

I have acquired several vintage children's books lately. Some of them, I have not seen in years. They may end up in my Etsy shop but for now, I am enjoying looking through each one and I really love the graphics in the older books.

Tip and Mitten......I remember this book!!

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Here is the inside of the front cover. I wonder if the new books at schools today still have the place to write your name when the book is assigned to you??

Such sweet graphics in this book!! I like them so much more than the new modern books of today. Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday~~

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Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage 1920's Print ~ Estate Sale Find

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much. Lastly, try to make an effort to visit the other participants. I know myself, I get so behind and busy, but this year, I am going to do my best to visit each week.

I have an affection for vintage prints and always try and keep an eye out for any at estate sales or thrift shops. I have not come across any in a long time. I have a great print that my aunt gave me and it is a mountain scene with a black bear. I love it as well. I talked about it HERE.

However, a couple of weeks ago, I was at an estate sale on half price day. I spotted this fantastic 1920's print and had to have it. I love the landscape prints like this. This was a super bargain for $8.00.

I was disappointed when I went to pay to notice a man in front of me with another great print that I had not seen beforehand. I guess it was not meant to come home with me. This one however, did.

The areas in the print itself seem to be raised a little instead of laying flat. It really is a beautiful piece of art.

This small print is one I picked up at the same estate sale. I truly think this is an old Christmas card which was framed. I have not taken it apart to see, but it looks like that is what it is in the frame. No matter, I liked it and at $2.00.....you just can't beat that!

Hope you have a great week!! And happy  Vintage Thingie Thursday to you all!

The White Buffalo Quilt and It's Story ~ warning photo heavy post!

According to Wikipedia

A white buffalo or white bison is an American bison possessing white fur, and is considered sacred or spiritually significant in several Native American religions; therefore, such buffalo are often visited for prayer and other religious rituals. The coats of buffalo are almost always brown and their skin a dark brown or black; however, white buffalo can result from one of several physical conditions:

They may be albinos, in which case they will remain unpigmented throughout their lives, and may also have hearing and vision problems.
They may be leucistic, with white fur but blue eyes, instead of the pink seen in albinos.
They may have a rare genetic condition which causes a buffalo to be born white, but to become brown within a year or two as it matures.
They may be beefalo, a bison–cattle crossbreed, and thus have inherited the white coloration from their cattle ancestry.

White buffalo are extremely rare; the National Bison Association has estimated that they only occur in approximately one out of every 10 million births.

I would assume, that sadly, many will never even see one of these beautiful creatures in their lifetime. The brown buffalo are magnificent in their own right, large massive and full of honor and glory.However, it is the white buffalo that holds an allure of mystery and beauty that can not be matched. My family has been blessed with being able to be up close and experience these wondrous creatures firsthand.

We have a dear and wonderful friend who has a buffalo ranch down the road from our cabin in Colorado, they have three white buffalo in their herd and they are as special as you can imagine. We have never taken for granted how special the experience has been to be able to say we have experienced these amazing creatures up close and personal. A true gift.

In June of 2012, an idea formed from a posting of a completed wall hanging by Bonnie Smith. This photo was posted on The Quilt Asylum quilt shop bring and share post that they do each month on Facebook. I sent Bonnie a message and asked her about the pattern. Bonnie graciously shared where to get the pattern and I found it HERE. I purchased the pattern and just filed it away for a "someday" reason to make the quilt I had pictured in my mind. 

Finally, the day came...there was going to be a wedding, our friend was getting married and I could finally bring to life the quilt I had dreamed of making. There was just one small problem...it was a wall hanging....and I needed to make a king size quilt.

I followed the directions exactly, and as the image began to take shape on the design wall....I have to say I was alarmed. Steve and Jeff said it was a blob.....I knew it was surely going to work out, as I forgot about the seam allowances! It was a doubtful start. But I knew I had to put all the doubt aside and keep sewing.

I sewed, and sewed and spent hours on piecing this quilt. I made all the blocks first, and as I laid them out, the quilt grew and grew. This quilt was so different from any thing I had ever done before. I wanted this one to be just right..(not that each one I make I don't have the same goal) but this one held a special since of myself sewn in with the fabrics. It started out as a wall hanging and needed to be made into a king size quilt and aside from the original pattern, this was being constructed clearly from an image in my mind. I stressed that I would miss the mark and it not turn out the way I wanted. 

When I lay my quilt tops and backs on the floor, the dogs pretty much know to stay off of them. (most times) In this photo, I was piecing the back and had spent the whole day sewing. Dora had had enough of not being the center of attention and as I went back in my sewing room for some additional blocks for the back, this is what I saw when I walked back into the room. She had gone and gotten Steve's sock and placed it right in the middle of the back of the quilt...Just LOOK at her face......ugh.

Here is the quilt top before going to the quilter. I have never been more proud of a quilt that I have made. Steve wanted me to keep this one for us!

The corners have brown buffalo because our friend does have a whole herd of brown ones, but the center jewel is the white buffalo.

Here is the quilt once it was finished. I was pleased that it turned out the way I wanted it to in the end. The colors are so bright and vibrant. I wanted to stay away from it feeling too southwest in style and I think I accomplished that here.

True Story, I had a lady ask me how much I'd charge her to make her a quilt like this one. I told her I could not do it, as it was a one of a kind. She persisted.....I finally told her $1800.00 and that was a bargain. Her eyes got as wide as saucers and said (I kid you not) that was not enough. Maybe not, but I told her it was one of a kind and I could not make another. She said she might try and make one herself and did I mind.....be my guest was my reply.

Here is a closeup of the quilting, not too much so the piecing and everything on the quilt stands out, not the quilting. Joanne did a wonderful job on the quilting, I love how it turned out.

Here is a photo of the back, pieced with left over blocks from the front.

We went to the wedding in November of this special couple, our son was the best man. It was a beautiful day in the mountains of Colorado. It was a wonderful wedding and we were so happy to be able to go. I took the quilt all wrapped up and placed it on the gift table at the wedding.

Little did I know, this special couple would take the time at the wedding to open their gifts before they left the venue. I have not seen that done in years, and as a giver of a gift it was refreshing to see this done. 

I was able to see the couple's reaction as they saw the quilt I had made exclusively for them, and them alone. The most touching part of the whole experience was after they opened up their gift from me, the groom got up, made his way over to where I was sitting and gave me the biggest heart felt hug and thanked me for their quilt and told me how much they loved it. I was so touched by that, but it just confirms my feelings for this couple, and the fact they are as special as the beautiful buffalo they raise. It was a moment in time I know I will never forget. Rare as the White buffalo itself.

I was thrilled to get this photo after the holidays, as I had thought I had lost all the original photos I had taken of this quilt. Luckily, I was able to find them on my computer. But I am so happy to have this photo of Jessica and Paul with their quilt. 

I love it when the vision I have in my mind comes to life into something I am super proud of. As in most of the quilts I make, it is often hard to spend so much time on creating something and then give it way. This one was no exception. Out of all the quilts I have made to date, this one is the one I am most proud of.  I know however, it has a good home, a home where it is meant to be with a special couple who are happy to have it. That in and of itself makes for one happy quilter!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my pride and joy in this quilt, I have been meaning to share about this one, and just now getting the post done. I may never make another one like this one...but at least I can say, I did make one and it that holds a special meaning to my heart both for the work and who it was given to as a gift.
~ Good stuff.