A ROLL OF THE DICE...is sometimes nice.

Found: NE Portland Estate Sale, February 2010

I have a when I win the lottery fantasy that just might include a set of these babies. Several years ago I came up with this amazing idea that it would be THE BEST THING EVER to recreate a mid-century, palm springs style, retro trailer park if I ever had a bunch of money to blow. Visualize it.....Air Stream trailers, kidney shaped pools, palm trees, a Buick Century in every driveway, a martini in every hand, pink flamigos in every lawn and of couse...a set of vintage lawn dice. People would PAY to come and live in my trailer park. I know that you are now thinking that this is the best idea ever, so don't go stealing it from me if you win the lottery before I do 'cause I'll be pissed.

I really want to keep these. Alas, I am constantly teetering on the border of hoarder and I must resist the urge to keep everything in the world that whispers "keeeeeep meeeeee brennnnnna" in my ear.

I have this set listed in my Etsy Shop for $65. I have yet to see another set like it. Oh, and did I mention that I love it? Cause I do.

CAKE DECORATING - NOT FOR BEGINNERS

Found @ The PACS Thrift Store: October 2009

When I was 11 years old, my school had a bi-weekly event for the 6th graders called "FUN FRIDAY". Every other week, you had the privledge of spending the ENTIRE afternoon engaging in one of many super "FUN" non-school activities. As I looked over the list to choose my activity, my eyes were immediately drawn to "CAKE DECORATING FOR BEGINNERS". Oh my god. It was like the gates of heaven had opened-up and there stood God...waiting for me with a freshly baked, unfrosted cake, and a tube of pink frosting. "I am going to be AMAZING at this!"...I thought to myself. Truth be told, I wasn't so amazing at it....but it was FUN. I looked forward to it. It was a nice escape from the pressures of sixth grade life.

Much to my delight, I came across this book a few months back and it brought back a flood of 6th grade cake decorating memories. We took a field trip to a bakery that made cakes MUCH like the ones in this book. For a brief moment in time, I took a break from my dreams of being a Marine Biologist, and concentrated on being the most famous cake decorator that ever lived. It could still happen, right?

Listed in my Etsy Shop.

EGYPTIAN REVIVAL BEETLE BRACELET

Found at a local Estate Sale: 02.05.10

Every now and then I find something that I really don't think I can part with. This happens to be one of those items. Until purchasing this item, I wasn't completely aware of how extensive the "Egyptian Revival" movement was. From jewelry to sculpture, this period really embodies the Art Nouveau and Ethnic spice of the 1930's/40's. I don't think this carving was initially intended to be a bracelet. From what I have read, it appears that it was once a pendant, and has been transformed into another item of jewelry over the years. The underside of the green beetle reveals carved hieroglyphics. I have no idea what they say, but the idea of them is mysterious and romantic...and really, that is all I need to keep my interest most of the time.

It really is lovely. I' sure I will end up selling it eventually, but for now, I want to admire it a little while longer. Hell, I might even WEAR IT.

PRETTY PETALS of BABY BLUE

Found @ The Better Bargains Thrift Store: 01.12.10

I was delighted to find a ziplock bag FULL of these delightful vintage flower pieces from the 1950's. I came immediately home and started frantically rummaging through my piles of jewelry bits looking for chain to make these into necklaces. I got as far as ONE NECKLACE, but I I have high hopes for the other pieces this month. For now, I transformed this one little beauty into a delicate and delightful spring necklace.

Listed in my Etsy Shop.

PEEK A BOO

Found at the Better Bargains Thrift Store (aka The Creepy Teepee): August 2009

I recently sold this to a gal in the UK who wanted it for her young son. This melted my heart in more ways than one...as I can think of nothing better than a 2 year-old in this day and age playing with an old Fisher Price Peek-A-Boo Television from 1963. It was in pretty decent condition overall. The decals were in good shape, the knobs still turned and the screen(s) rotated and played "Hey Diddle Diddle" when wound-up.

A fun object to buy and and even better one to pass along to the future generation of the United Kingdom.

THERE BETTER NOT BE A ZERO IN YOUR NUMBER

Found: Can't Remember When/Where

When my husband and I first got together we did some shit that our friends and family members thought was totally weird. Among these "weird" behaviors was our desire to own an extensive rotary phone collection. The weirdness didn't stop there however. We also wanted (more like NEEDED) to have them all hooked-up so that when the phone rang, it would send a BLARING SIREN of rotary bells throughout the living room of our large apartment above a grocery store.

Needless to say, it became annoying. We unhooked them and left them on display for several months, however. It was a fun installation and I wish I had pictures of it.

I found this phone over a year ago. I bought it first to sell, then to keep, and now it's up for sale again. I have to part with it. I think I have held onto it for so long because it reminds me of those early days with my better half. I also love it because of the color. Turquoise makes me swoon.

Listed AS-IS in my Etsy Shop.

WASITLINE OF THE IRISH

Found at the PACS Thrift Store: 10.17.10

I have been eyeballing this for over 2 weeks, waiting patiently for the tag color to change so I could get it for a discount. Alas! It happened. Yesterday was yellow tag day at the PACS and I got this vintage brass belt buckle for TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. Yes, 25 cents.

See, the thing is....this isn't really that cool or interesting to the average Joe. However, it's pretty fascinating to me because my Great Grandparents were Irish and went by the last name of Burke. Maybe there are a ton of Burkes in Ireland and it's not really that unusual, but I like to believe that it is special. I'm still not sure what role it will have in my life. We shall see.

BAKELITE BELT BUCKLE BONANZA

Acquired at a Portland Oregon Estate Sale : 02.04.10

I have an obsession with vintage Bakelite....so it's no big surprise that I pounced on this lot of retro belt buckles at a local Estate Sale last week. There are seven in this lot - all shapes, colors and sizes. I love the look of them all together in a photograph.

I recently visited a specialty shop in downtown Palm Springs that housed the MOST AMAZING collection of vintage Bakelite I have ever seen. I will try and hunt down the name of the shop so you can pop in an see it if you are ever in the area. It's really something to see...

Listed in my Etsy Shop.

DONT BE SUCH A PILL

Portland Oregon Estate Sale: Acquired 02.04.10

Darling little vintage pill box with filigree lid decorated with a single purple rhinestone. A lovely little item. Perfect for toting around a days worth of vitamins and Ibuprofin.

Gold-toned metal. Measures a delicate 1.5" in diameter by approximately .5" tall.

Listed in my Etsy Shop

JIGGS THE BULLDOG

Found @ Salvation Army - 2.17.10

What a charming little man, he is. He stands 11" tall and is hand-painted from head to toe. The previous owner had named him "Jiggs" (as is apparent by the name painted on his red, studded collar)...but now he's in need of a new home. And possibly a new name.

Ceramic. No cracks or breaks. Listed in my Etsy shop on 02.18.10 - http://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarlily