VTT: Those jars AGAIN!!!

As I was telling my dad that I got some more Mason jars today… He told me: You really have a thing about Mason jars don’t you?

I read your blog and these beautiful old jars reminded me of my childhood. I used to see them all the time!

And I commented : They must have been exploding all over the place! I recall hearing about peaches and exploding jars (was it in I love Lucy?).

Dad said: Oh yes I remember the explosions! We used to buy maple syrup that usually came in tin gallons, but this one time the maple syrup came in mason jars….We didn’t have room for a cold room so your grandma fix a closet as a cold room. And that summer it was so hot that all the maple syrup jars exploded and there was a sticky mess all over!

I really love hearing stories from my dad’s childhood; he seems to remember all the day to day things that I love so much; so I wanted to share this one with you.

If you want to read the original post...here's the link right HERE!

Happy VTT! Of course I'm linking to Colorado Lady super fun vintage party right HERE

VTT: Vintage Shoe Shine Box

A very good VTT to everyone! I'm linking to the original VTT party over @ Colorado Lady . So come over for a visit and join the fun!

Today's post will be a short one as I have the early shift at the postal counter of UNjoy.

Today's item is something I have seen all my life, all of my 44 years. The shoe shine box.

I remember my mom telling me she bought this in the 50's. I don't know where. It was in the kitchen when I was growing up and I used it a lot as seating and a step stool. I feel a tiny bit guilty because it needs some TLC....I need to put a couple of nails in the bottom to make it hold!

Sorry about the flash! I was in a real hurry yesterday as I took the pics and had to use the flash because the light in the hall is minimal at best. I love the handmade painting on it.

It still holds shoe polish, brushes and rags; all the fixins to keep your shoes and boots beautiful. I use it regularly because I'm a firm believer that shined shoes look more polished and professional!

Have a great VTT!

Keeo on thrifting :)

VTT: Lampalia!

Yes Lampalia is a thrifting disease along with Pyrexia, Canosis, Victoriasis, and Oldcraposia. And I bet there are many more yet undiagnosed!

I bet all of you suffer from at least one! Here we suffer from Pyrexia,Lampalia, Barwareosis and a mild case of Oldcraposia.

Today I'm sharing about Lampalia. 15 years ago, when we moved to the suburbs...I was already hooked to yard sales and garage sales. I was really happy to find some in my neighborhood.

On a  bright and sunny saturday morning we stopped at a house where they had a lot of tables with restaurant equipment. Dan wouldn't even get out of the car....Ijust heard: Ask them how much for the tacky lamp, yes that one! The lady at the sale didn't speak french and barely english...she just yelled stuff in greek!

I finally understood 2 dolllllaaarrsss. SOLD!

Ok it's a bit crooked but it's been part of our decor since then! I can't wait to repaint the living room, LOL!

Last summer we went to Morrisburg ,Ont to hang out and thrift and we saw this old man sitting in front of his garage with the door opened and a big Garage Sale sign. We were in awe of all his lamps. That garage had at least 30 lamps in it!  

We grabbed this cutie...

How's that for atomic?

It spreads a really nice light. And I'm so glad we got it because I would've regretted it of course!

Well that's it for today! A quick reminder that my GIVEAWAY is still on and that you have until August 22nd midnight to articipate. Follow the link to comment and have a change to win!

For more vintage joy visit Suzanne @ Colorado Lady and visit every body who linked up!

VTT: Egg Plate and a Giveaway!

@Picture this! Moncton NB 1988. My Dad was working in Moncton that summer and had taken me for a lovely seaside vacation.

One saturday we went to a church sale. I got a green round pitcher for 2$; I still have it today. They had a big bin with 'surprise bags' for a dollar. I love surprise bags and I decided to buy one. I got this dark yellow egg plate with hen S&P. I thought it was the TACKIEST thing ever!

I couldn't picture having it in my appartment...So I gave it to the very nice lady my dad was working with. She loved it and put it in her kitchen.

I kept thinking about that plate; even after all those years....

Then one day on Ebay 20 years later I found this:

I remember getting a really good deal for it (not better than the 1988 1$ )

And last weekend at a Salvation Army in Prescott, On I found those cuties

They look the same! I wonder what happened to their plate!

The moral of this story is...I should've kept the 1988 ones!

For more Vintage goodies please visit my friend Susan @ Colorado Lady

Now for the giveaway! I'm having a giveaway to celebrate my 45th B-Day on August 22nd.

Here's what I will send to one lucky reader

A little chocolate fondue pot for 2, a small vintage gilded miror, 2 cordial glasses

A 'Barbed Wire' Pyrex divided dish

And other things I haven't decided yet!

To participate you must:

     1) Leave a comment on this post

    2) Be a follower or become one

3) Write about it in your blog

See? It's easy as 1,2,3!

I will draw the name on Monday Aug 23rd

Contest is opened to anyone living on Earth :)  

 

VTT: Miniature World

Whoa!!! Holy déjà vu Batman! 51 followers! I’d like to welcome Jade and a mystery follower; I hope you will enjoy your visits.


As I was digging in my brain for a good topic for VTT (Vintage Thingy Thursday) I remembered one of my childhood passions…A dollhouse with all the furnishings. My mom gave me her doll house but it had seen better days and had been fixed with duct tape painted over. The walls were made of arborite and you couldn’t nail anything to it…Needless to say I was pretty bummed out and dreamed of a HUGE dollhouse. I also remember some plastic furniture from the 50’s or 60’s, chocolate brown and blah in my little girl eyes.

In 1976 (my first seaside vacation in Maine) I discovered the amazing world of miniatures. OMG! I was fascinated, totally! You could get everything miniature! Books, place settings, chandeliers, food…I was totally hooked!

I talked to my Dad about those today and he reminded me that I could stay in a certain miniature store in Ogunquit for hours just staring at all the little things. My faves? Little house wares! Are you surprised??? I’m not.



I remember waiting in line with my parents in the basement of Filene’s on a Saturday morning for the doors to open. It felt like the gold rush…literally! Women fighting with each other, changing in the middle of the place…I saw a lot of stranger’s girdles that summer! I got the sink with the pump and the china cabinet seen in this post. Also I got a full bathroom and a bed. I didn’t take pics of those ‘coz they are in bad shape…

My favorites piece didn’t come from a store, my dad gave it to me. It’s the leather chaise lounge. It is very old. My Dad says he saw it all through his childhood. It was made by my grandmother’s uncle Georges. It is beautifully crafted and is as nice as the day it was finished probably more than 80 years ago. We don’t know if it had been made as a practice piece, a sample or a toy and we don’t know much about uncle Georges either. He was an upholsterer. He worked in NYC and later for the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway). He never married, lived with his mom, then his sister. He killed himself. He probably was depressed. It seems to be a trend on both sides of the family. Back then mental illness was not well seen and there wasn’t a lot of options; that’s my opinion.

Oh yes the books have real pages! I'm sorry that one is a bit fuzzy.

So today I made little vignettes for you since the house is long gone. Maybe one day I will get a new one.

I hope you will enjoy them!

Did you notice the duck on the china cabinet? And the pewter plates?

I made the vase with some clay more than 30 years ago....Yesterday I spent a good couple of hours cleaning and fixing all my miniatures. I had negelcted them over the years. I put them in a new box with tissue paper and bubble wrap. No way it's going back to the basement....

Now you scout over to Suzanne's @ Colorado Lady

for some super thrusday FUN!!! Go on, I know you want to! :)