Wings & Things

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After dropping dh at the airport I decided to beat the heat at a large home decor marketplace. Many people display new treasures - with a few antiques thrown in - in their individual spaces under one roof. Now and then I find something really great while browsing and I did this time but you'll have to wait until Christmastime to see it. Sorry to be such a tease - but here's a clue, angels are all around us!

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Meanwhile, sharing snoozing angels . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . bathing Mourning Doves . . . . . . .
. . . . . some attractive ceramics . . . . .

........and especially for the blogger who loved flying pigs........can't remember who.......this one's for you!

All photos taken on a hot June day at The Shops of Baileywick, Raleigh, NC

Liberty For All

Took a road trip through North Carolina's countryside last Friday - talked dh into going to Liberty with me where the twice yearly Antiques Festival is held on rolling farmland just outside the quaint little town. Luckily the weather was fabulous - periods of blazing sun and then clouds which helped keep the temps. around 80. We wore hats but still ended up quite sunburned.

There were supposedly over 300 dealers from 25 states but I was not overly thrilled with the merchandise Genuine antiques and collectibles, no crafts - but mostly Americana, very few European items. I guess I had set my hopes too high and now know that the kind of things I really want to find are going to be in France at the brocantes..........................I just have to get over there with a big empty suitcase, SOON!!!

Above - some old heavy iron street signs from England.

Same dealer had a nice selection of English mixing bowls (but I already have two) and loads of wicker encased Demijohn wine bottles.

Cricket balls - nice old dish of some mystery metal.

The dealer here had some good linens and old leather beauty cases.
The table cloths were very nice and prices reasonable.

I purchased just two linen pieces - the small pillow case with nice hand cut work $8.50, and the really gorgeous hand embroidered/cut work small tray cloth from Madeira, only $5.00!

The heavy tarnished silver plated tray with nice handles and small feet, was marked $10.00, I got it for $8.00. I will use this on the front porch with white teacups and old pale green damask serviettes............don't forget, afternoon tea at 4 o'clock, I'll be looking for you.

So, other than some sheet music, this was the extent of my treasure hunting and buying at the Liberty Festival.

Below is the one that got away - lovely candelabra loaded with heavy crystals, probably from the thirties - priced at $250.00, offered at $198.00 - a pained expression crossed dh's sunburned cheeks. Thanks but no thanks, too pricey and don't have anywhere to put it anyway!

Nice little trip - pretty countryside - light traffic - day's supply of natural vitamin D.

Open House............with refreshments

The coy smile on those chubby cheeks offered lovely things to take home.........gold, silver, stone, wood...............all would bring the spirit of the Holidays to your mantle, shelves, little side tables, windows and walls.

The pale Santas and old world style boxes hid the slender bottles of deep red wine................let's have a toast!

The creamy soy candles sat proudly on their lovely candlesticks, almost too nice to burn.

The proud reindeer watched cautiously, hoping they would be picked and they could get rid of those tags dangling from their antlers................then how elegant they'd be at the front door welcoming guests stopping by for a drink, or lazing on the warm holiday hearth next to the hefty oak logs.

And the angels....................singing and playing angelic music, religiously tempting us to buy.

Visit to a Holiday Open House...................these lovely decorative accessories are so hard to resist. I like to look at them all closely, to see the workmanship and admire the creativity of the designers who come up with all these wonderful ideas each season.

On the treasure trail at SuzAnna's again!

Remember the blue cake plate I showed you recently - well there it was on my return last week, still waiting for a place in some old English gal's home where she can display her "fancy cakes" at tea time. It's Royal Albert's Enchantment (love that word) pattern, dated 1950 - but in perfect condition.



While visiting my fave treasure place again (twice in one week - and they're only open 4 days, Thurs-Sun.) I found these "must haves". Another neat painted sign - I adore anything made from LINEN - tablecloths, napkins, placemats, clothes...............and someday, when I come across affordable ones, I really want a set of linen sheets, ooooh! I hear they're fabulous!

The unusual painted drawer, from an old dresser perhaps, curved on one side with a lovely curved handle (I lined it with wallpaper) is now holding rubber stamping inks and embossing powders - just a different container for ordinary items.

This sweet creamy white compote dish caught my eye and I'll find many different uses for it - again in perfect condition.

Before leaving SuzAnna's I snapped a few more pics of interesting treasures - I couldn't bring them all home unfortunately, but hopefully someone else did.


Here is the patio umbrella with the gauzy "curtains", what a great idea. Loved that look, especially on the stifling three digit day.

Susie found this amazing mini claw foot tub - old but in mint condition - how adorable is this! Would be perfect in a secret garden corner along with an outdoor shower, lots of ferns and shade plants in all the green hues - an oasis from the heat!


And lastly, that fabulous tin roofed BIG bird feeder I really want - will it ever go on sale? Of course it would also be a squirrel feeder if filled with seed I guess. I just love the way it looks and could use it on my outdoor table to hold condiments - when it's cool enough to eat outside again!

This is my "Inspiration Friday" post. Hope you have treasure hunting on your "to do" list this weekend, and that you have a fabulous place like SuzAnna's somewhere close by.

"Oh Suzanna's, what treasures you have to share"

In my mind it's much cooler. I must tell myself this so I can go "treasure hunting" at SuzAnna's again - see those smiling gals at the bottom of my sidebar! The parking area is parched dry, the dust swirls up in pink clouds as you pull in, the sun beats down on the outdoor area crammed with garden treasures to delight the eye. A patio umbrella draped with netting sheltering vintage wicker chairs, a gigantic bird feeder handcrafted from old wood with tin ceiling tile for a roof - still waiting for the price to drop on that one, I want it! Tables, benches, shutters, doors, birdbaths, potting tables, planters......so much to see, too much to take in with the sun beating down. Let's quickly peek inside where, although still very warm, the fans are purring, ruffling the vintage gown hanging in the corner; making the birdcages sway gently above our heads, the gals offer chilled water, and the crystals dangling from the chandeliers make one anxious for a cool shower on returning home.

The white items look refreshing - cool metal, white roses, flowery china, old creamy vintage painted wood.

Singing the blues........thoughts of oceans, seasides, clear skies, swimming pools, deep lakes, ponds, ice cubes, tarnished silver and pewter. I need to snap up that cake plate when I return - hope it's still there.

Well yes, red is hardly cool on a 95 degree afternoon, but mixed with the brown transfer ware, pretty painted roses, and with a little old crystal thrown in, it works - and everything is lovely.

Away with that fur collar - faux I'm hoping - please hide it in the back room until the Fall, it's making me so hot just looking at it! But how about that fabulous dresser with the triple mirror, such vintage elegance, could work in the cottage guestroom don't you think?

My quick visit to SuzAnna's on Friday was not enough - must get back, perhaps this afternoon if I slap on some sunscreen, a hat, and can find my way through that swirling dust!