my treasured EMBROIDERED ANIMAL ALPHABET

I can't believe I haven't shared my most treasured antiquing find with you yet. Hubby and I found this embroidered animal alphabet at our favorite antique & salvage store in Sebastopol, Ray's Trading Co. It was our first time there and we saw this lovely amidst a pile of old frames and paintings in the very back of the store. We didn't buy it, but as the week went on, I thought about it more and more and how much I would love to have it in my home. We went on a mini-vacation and said that if it was there when we returned, we would buy it. I was nervous that someone else would fall in love with it and take it home while I was gone, but when we returned, it was just sitting and waiting in the pile for us. Almost all of the animals are missing their googly eyes, so it needs a little repair, but I am going to find some buttons or something less googly to restore their sight. This cheery piece of art is the inspiration for our eclectic guest room. I love the bright animals. I love that they chose a newt for the letter N. I love that the letter H is a hare rather than a horse. 

Price tag: $10

And in case you are wondering, there are animals that start with the letter X, but they are rather obscure and probably not commonly known to anyone who would have seen the alphabet. 

I know, quite a story for one embroidered animal alphabet. But I love those eyeless animals!

my little CHRISTMAS CAROLERS

I stopped in another thrift store on Tuesday and quickly looked around, then determined there was nothing for me. I saw the Christmas section and decided to glance at it on my way out in case there were any treasures to be found- although Christmas decorations were definitely not on my list. I saw these two Christmas carolers and had to take them home with me. I love their cute little singing faces and the colors of their robes and ribbons. I can't wait to put them up... actually, I can't wait to have a house to put them up in...

THRIFTY treasures

My sister is the greatest thrift store shopper of all time. I have never been able to compare. She's found depression glass, nice designer clothing, and I can't recall everything over the years. I'm usually too impatient when looking through things and have never found anything good enough to keep me interested in returning-- until last week. Decorating on a budget has me checking the great-priced antique stores and local thrift stores at least once a week. And I'm actually finding some things! It's pretty exciting. It's exciting to know that I found a deal and grabbed it before anyone else. Here's what I grabbed.

a large picture frame. I love the design on it... I don't know what is going to go in it, but I'll find something.

this teeny tiny ceramic leaf. It has a chip on one of the corners, but I'm not looking for perfection. I just love vintage ceramics and am starting a collection. This will fit in nicely. 

a blue lamp. In my mind, I wanted a ceramic lamp, but this one was $3 and the color will work perfectly in the guest room. It almost looks ceramic, but it's actually glass and they somehow painted the inside of the glass to be blue. Sneaky, huh?

another milk glass treasure. I saw this lamp right as I walked into thrift store #1 and I snatched it up. It was $13, but I think it was worth it. The base of the lamp lights up and the main light is having some stage fright issues, but I'll fix that- somehow. This will go in the living room somewhere. I have the antique store milk glass lamp, a white ceramic lamp from Linens 'n' Things, and then this lamp to fill the living room. I'm liking white lamps right now, is it obvious?

I also found a milk glass vase for $1 that I forgot to photograph. Let's see... it's a bud vase and it's milk glass. Can you picture it now? Someday it will end up on here.

So my conclusion is that thrifting is fun for the person who finds things! And this week, that person is me (and hopefully you)!

antiquing TREASURES

Don't worry, I ended up finding a few treasures during my antiquing adventure, and they were all in my price range.

I've been falling in love with milk glass lately. I have a few vases already and found this lamp for $8. It will be perfect for our living room. I'm going to find a bright lampshade for it- maybe red or tangerine.

I found this vintage suitcase in a corner where everything was 60% off because the seller was retiring. I ended up paying $2 for it. You can't beat that! I'd love to find a couple more to make a stack of them. The most fabulous thing about vintage suitcases is that they are great storage. I have a million throws and blankets, so 3 of them are hiding in this suitcase now. But I have approximately 999,997 left to store... 

Hubby and I were talking about getting a globe last time we visited the Antique Mall, so I went ahead and got this one because I loved the colors and it was 20% off. I think I paid $18 for it.

Okay, so this was not on my list. I was looking through a pile of sheet music and when I saw the title of this song and the cover, I had to take a closer look. This song is hilarious, and the cover fits in with our living room color scheme perfectly. I'm excited to frame and hang it... after the construction is done. I've included the lyrics to this song below. I hope it makes you smile as much as it did me.

Eve Wasn't Modest Till She Ate That Apple

Everybody loves a girl who's modest,

Everybody loves a girl who's shy,

When a girl is modest and retiring

You can bet she'll always get by

Modesty began in the garden of Eden,

In every book you'll find

I'll admit it started in the Garden of Eden

But just bear this in mind

Just suppose that every girl was modest,

Just suppose that every girl was shy,

There would be no dust when days are windy

To blow right in the naughty man's eye

We'd have better business in our marriage market,

Each man would surely mate

When they start proposing they can see what they're getting,

That's why some hesitate.

Eve wasn't modest till she ate that apple

That old apple to blame

The minute she ate it,

she felt humiliated and hid behind the apple tree till darkness came

If one little apple made the first girl modest,

It ought to work now as well as then

Once they only wore a leaf

Clothes are getting just as brief,

If every mother's daughter, wears dresses any shorter,

We'll have to pass the apples again.

Eve wasn't modest till she ate that apple

That old apple to blame

The minute that she ate it,

she felt humiliated and hid behind the apple tree till darkness came

If one little apple made the first girl modest,

It ought to work now as well as then

Way back in the olden days

Men were fooled by girlie ways,

For then we never knew them,

but now we see right through them,

We'll have to pass the apples again.

Composed by Albert Von Tilzer

and published in 1917- can you believe that?