Oh my gawd, look what I found!

For Val

2011-04-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

I keep up with your blog and try to read between the lines to see what I could do from here. In one of your posts you said you liked to look in people's houses. I am the same way. If I could look into the windows of my neighbors, without the stalker arrest at hand, I would. I can't help it. I love seeing the way people live. Decorate. Clean. Or Not. Magazines they buy. Soft toilet paper or the scratchy but environmentally friendly kind. Make the bed. Or not make the bed. I hate making the bed. But it's ingrained in me.

So, when I read between the lines I thought I'd take pictures of the house. Some of the treasures I have found that I know nobody else would probably want but me. Sometimes when I'm shopping I'll see some random thing and think it needs to be 'rescued'. Then I'm stuck with this helpless, stupid, super silly article that I have to fit into my life somewhere. And I do it. And I always love it. Because I know nobody else will. Or so I think.

Mom gave me this plant stand. I love it so much. It's raggity but still strong. Kind of the way I feel some days.

Someone gave me this old library cart. Oh My God, I love it so much. On wheels so I can rearrange it until my hearts content, which is every week or so....!

Cypress Knee Lamp. I found you on the side of the road in a warehouse. The people there wanted to throw you out. I was overjoyed. I have seen many small cypress lamps. But none this fabulous. Most aren't this big. On cypress knee legs (that's a weird sentence!). And it has a woven wood shade.

Whiskey Barrel Chair. Heart.

I love the little treasures in here.

Fireplace lamp! Rescued for sure! It was only $5 and Scott fell in love with it. It worked. So it was ours. It flickers like a fire but is shit at making smores:)

This HUGE boat 3-D boat picture. I fell in love with the size, the color...and it's wood- Orange wood. Sucker for anything wood. Or wood grained. I tore off the ceiling in the living room because it's wood. I had to add more insulation bc of this idea:)

The piece at the end that holds my TV and record player n' crap is Mahogany wood. 1960's office piece. It was $10. Oh me Oh my.

Found the chicken. He needed me. Rescue for sure. But how could I resist?!

Spare bedroom/office. The picture above the bed is 1950's rock art. The whole thing is outta lil' tiny pieces of rock. They used to come in kits. Kids would get them for Christmas. Like a paint by #...only rocks. I'm sure that was fun to clean up after!

My dressing room or at least that's what I call it because it seems classy that way. Also, Scott's collection of string art. Another kit that was popular in the 60's.

Scott's favorite one.

From an old hotel along with all the keys.

Just got this old metal stand for extra storage in the kitchen. Scott thought I needed it for 'real' storage. Not kitsch. Well, I needed it for both I said.

My old chambers stove. It has a soup drop in back well. A grill on top. It heats up to a million degrees. It's probably a fire hazard.

My bar! Handmade from the Philippines. It was Scott's grandma Tweet's. It's loaded with vintage barware. One of my pride n' joys.

The backyard. Pomegranate tree. Olive tree. Pecan trees. A garden with tomatoes, squash, peas, cantaloupe, watermelon, okra, etc.. The back gate leads out to alley that's only 2 blocks from miles and miles of hiking trials along Colorado River n' parks n' our natural springs. Barton Springs. 68 degrees all year long. But my yard needs a ton of work. Want to xeriscape most of it. I look at it everyday and make plans in my head. They're different everyday.

But first the house. I want to add on. It's only 1200 square feet. I have 3 beds but only 1 bathroom. I want enclosed laundry room because now the damn things are smack dab in my kitchen. I want to go up so I can have city views. I want a library. I want a walk in closet or two, a master bath, a monster bedroom. Stella (grandma and grandpa's 1966 Chrysler) needs covered parking- she lives on side of house under pecan trees with a super duty cover but she's too stylish for that. She needs a garage. I need a garage for more stuff. Treasures for the shop. I want a wood and metal fence. Sometimes I wish I would have bought a new house. But then I love this 1929 needs-a-lot-of-attention-casa of mine. I need the character. The warped hardwood floors. The cracks in the walls. The smell of the old medicine cabinet. The janky windows in their janky window frames. They make me cuss and happy all at the same time.

So, this is for you, Val. To have a peek inside my house. You won't get arrested.

Love you.

Nellie

America's Next Top Model

2009-03-05T07:02:00.003-08:00

The Future of Fashion...America's Next Top Model

16 Candles

2009-03-05T06:58:00.000-08:00

(Jake’s House – Hallway)
Caroline: (calling from the hallway) Jake? Where are you Jake? (she slides to the floor and sits in the doorway) Jakey, have you stopped loving me?
Jake: (hangs up the phone and goes over to the door) Leave me alone! (slams the door)
(Caroline’s hair has gotten stuck in the door and she can’t get out. She knocks on the door but Jake doesn’t open it.)
Friend1: (to someone unseen) What? I’m sorry, I don’t do that!
Friend2: Yes you do!
Friend1: I know. Come on, let’s go.
(They both laugh.)
Caroline: Trace…you guys, can you help me please? Come on, I’m your Prom Queen. Trace, you guys, I’m serious, come on, I need help.
(The girls go over to Caroline.)
Friend1: What’s the problem?
Caroline: (motions to her hair) Several things.
Friend1: Okay, no problem. (crawls away)
Friend2: Don’t go away, Caroline baby. (follows the other friend.)
(Caroline is still stuck in the door. Her friend has come back with a very large pair of scissors.)
Friend1: You promise you won’t get mad?
Caroline: No, I love you.
Friend1: Okay, close your eyes.
(She very quickly cuts through Caroline’s hair with the scissors, thus freeing her from the door.)
Caroline: I don’t know how to thank you enough.
Friend1: My pleasure.
(They hug)

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2009-03-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

The Sooners I get out of here...

2009-02-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, round 2 of Oklahoma junkin' and it's been pretty dang good. I know that these people are getting used to me and like because of a couple of reasons:
1. I've been asked to 'ride along' to Target so I could keep them company...but mainly so they could complain about their husband while he's back watching the store.
2. I've been asked to watch the store so they could run down to Sheila's to pick up the toy poodle/mix that has pooped on Sheila's floor and Sheila is UPSET ( I could hear her screaming into the phone).
3. I get hugs. Aww, I do love this.
and 4. They tell me they like that I get all the 'old timey stuff' that doesn't sell out of their way. Funny thing is, every time I come back their 'old timey stuff' has gone up in price. Hmmmm.....tricky people from Oklahoma.

Let's Play Dress Up

2009-02-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

2009-02-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

Shades of turquoise

2009-02-24T16:43:00.000-08:00

Twins

2009-02-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

Twin vintage dresses?! No way...but I did find 2 exactly the same. They're so dang cute.

Freddy Fender

2009-02-24T16:27:00.000-08:00

Wasted Days n' Wasted Nights. My mom used to sing this song to us so of course I had to splurge (.25 cents) and buy the album.

2009-02-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Will be posting these pearly buttons & a few others on Etsy soon soon soon.

Bag It!

2009-02-24T16:06:00.001-08:00

Random bags from the 40's to 70's. Mmm, I love me some original bags. The one laying down (white) is said to be made of out 'gun metal wedding beading'...what does that mean?

Blinded

2009-02-24T15:53:00.001-08:00

All these old glasses remind me of my great grandmother Eda Wilamina Boch Price. She used to have stick pins in her apron and if you touched anything that you weren't supposed to she would stick you with that pin and tell you, "It bites." I wonder what she would think of the 'Time Out' method we use with children today.

The hat lady

2009-02-24T15:43:00.001-08:00

She's not only the hat lady- she's the 'everything vintage lady'. I love her. The walls are lined with hats, the floors are covered with clothes, shoes, bags, scarfs, etc...this place is my heaven.

Hats! Hats! Hats!

2009-02-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

Back in Oklahoma and lookie what I found...so many hats from the 1920's that I could just freak. Well, I did freak.

Mother Load

2009-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I hit the mother load. And I can't stop this stoopid grin.
So here's how the story goes: I have been slightly disappointed as I have not been finding as many 50's & 60's numbers as I'd like to for my space at Hog Wild Vintage. I spent the last few days with my husband (he's in wind energy so he's placed in many different rural areas) and shopped at every thrift store within a 100 mile radius. Saturday he had the day off and decided to go with me....I swear this man is my lucky charm. We probably went to 13 or so different shops and the one I wasn't going to go into I decided yuppers, I should stop. I can't even begin to tell you what I saw when I walked into this shop. I almost had Love Overload. There were hundreds of vintage hats lining the walls, vintage shoes piled on vintage bags, piled on vintage ties, piled on vintage EVERYTHING. The ladies name I have to keep a secret a long with the name of the store....I hope you understand. We will call this lady Sammy for the stories sake (but Sammy is really my drunk neighbor who, by the way, has already stopped by the house this morning at 9:00am totally loaded. But when he's loaded I'm always his best friend and gives me my ego biscuits for the week). So, back to the story...Sammy is calling herself the original bag lady and this is no lie. She has been collecting things since she can remember and she is probs in her early 60's. She pulled out tap outfits for children, all the pieces, packed in plastic air-tight bags with the shoes and tights to match ....from the 1920's! She has a whole marching band uniform (and I mean the whole BAND's) from the 60's...she has vintage wedding gowns still in the orginal box! Are you kidding me?! I had to pinch myself. She let me go through 2 of her 5 storage shed/warehouses. It was getting dark so I only had an hour to shop. I pulled 35 gorgeous dresses and 19 shirts all from the 40's, 50's and 60's.
I dreamed of her shops last night.
I have to go back soon to stop this itch.
The feeling of 'mother load' is something every man, woman and child should experience at least one time in their life.
Now, I have lots of sorting, dry cleaning, button and zipper mending ahead of me today so I best get to it.

Dress + Shoes = happiness. sweet, sweet happiness

2009-02-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

oh yes...and paired with the vintage 60's Nieman Marcus olive green pumps with gold bubble buttons on the toe and heel.

I mean please

2009-02-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

I mean please. One of my faves...

awww

2009-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Oh, this lil' number is so gall darn cute I can't stand it. The part I can't stand is that I can't fit into it. Well, I could if I didn't zip it. So, I could pair it with a great coat and never take the coat off. Oh wait, the sleeves are the best part...so I could wear one of those long vest coats. Yes, and be that lady. Forget it.

This is a Brooch if I've ever seen one

2009-02-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

Not just an attachable brooch but a Built-In-Brooch. Oh Yeah!!!!... as the Kool-Aid man would say...

Jackpot!

2009-02-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

This sign speaks volumes for the amount of dresses n' random bric a brac I found on this trip. I drove at least 1200 miles this trip but it was so much fun. I got home a few hours ago and had to squeeze the 2 large dogs, Supa' Cooper n' Jacks, and myself out from between vintage TV trays, huge wall hanging of owls (I know, the 18 year olds love owls n mushrooms sooo I pick 'em up when I'm out), light fixtures and endless boxes, sacks and empty coffee cups. I'm so exhausted but I spied a few items on top of one of the sacks and I had to take some photos of them.
Funny stories about how I got them to follow.

Bubble Gum Glass

2009-02-06T21:01:00.000-08:00

My fave of the day fo' sho'. They are gold rimmed, heavy bottomed, light blue, Hinduish and make me want to pore a tall stiff one. Roy, from Consignment Yours & Mine in Magnum, Oklahoma told me all about these cups. He said you could get them in washing detergent back in the 60's. Hmmm I wonder...more on Roy and his wife Opal later....but they are my new thrift store BFF's.

Oklahoma!

2009-02-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

This week was a good week for treasures, trinkets n' chitter chatter. I am currently in Elk City, Oklahoma and scouring these desolate plains for anything that I think I can sell to Indie rockers, Rockabilly chicks, hipsters, 18 year old fashionistas, and any of those with a taste for unusual, eclectic kitsch.
I started out in Elk City on Tuesday and went to their only thrift store in town properly named Thrift Store. It's located at 401 S Adams Ave for any of you who would like to take a stab at finding something you can't live without. I hunted, dusted, sneezed n' wheezed, and politely pushed my way around this 400 square foot store to find some awwwweeeeesome 60's dresses, one 70's dress with the best horizontal stripes, an old jewelry box with a large eyed girl playing a guitar from her folk music sheet on the front of the box (so cute it makes me squeal a bit), 80's stretch belts, and many other gloroius items!

Ok, now you know about the treasures n' trinkets let's get to the chitter chatter.

Me: up at front cash register which, by the way, it taking foooorrreeevveer because everyone knows everyone and they have to talk about grandbabies, football games and Nancy's kitchen burning partially because she's an avid smoker who threw her butt in the trash and it caught on fire.
Cashier: Not your typical 80 year old thrift store clerk. This one is large and in charge. She sees me coming with my items and says, "Boy, you sure pick out som' ugly stuff.'...as she picks up another piece of chocolate and shoves it into her mouth, which is appropriate because she is wearing a 'chocoholic' t-shirt.
The typical 80 year old clerk behind her gives a replused, "SANDRA!"
Of course Sandra does not care one bit if she's hurt this city girl's feelings or not....so I say, "You know, you wouldn't believe how much some people like this stuff."
Sandra says, "You're right, I wouldn't believe it."

Sweet, sweet thrift store clerk just shut up and eat your chocolate, please.