Hi everyone! I mentioned yesterday that when my sweet husband and I were out and about on Friday, we hit one estate sale and one thrift store, Peace of Home Thrift in Ravena (NY). Even though the weather has warmed up considerably over the past couple of weeks, we are still deep in winter, as far as garage saling goes. They won’t start up again until the end of April/beginning of May. But, we still managed to scrounge up some fun vintage finds that I think you’ll enjoy seeing.
You may have noticed that I have trouble resisting almost any kind of artwork. And yes, since you asked, I do have it piled up in every available space–my workroom, my office, and the garage. Sigh. Well, what’s one more piece, right? This impressionistic print on heavy board of a French flower market, called to me and so home it came.
It’s another example of a piece in a frame that’s not perfectly suited for it. I’m once again tempted to go black, but I’d leave the gold trim on the inside edge (cost: $2.00, value: $15-20.00). What do you think?
Gosh I love old buttons, especially ones like these on adorable cards. I frame them throughout the year and sell them at the Shaker Christmas craft fair for about $8-10.00 framed (cost: 50¢ each, value: $4-5.00 each).
Learn more about buttons in these two posts:
Collecting Buttons Part I
Collecting Buttons Part II
How to Display Your Buttons
Sorry for the dark photo–clear glass is just so difficult to photograph. You’ve heard me say before that I avoid buying clear glass; it simply isn’t selling right now. But when I find a piece of elegant glass by Heissey (a celery server), for dirt cheap, I’m not going to pass it up, even if I have to keep it myself (LOL).
The Heissey mark is an “H” in a diamond–can you see it here?
Find out more about Heissey glass
& other elegant glass companies in this post.
I will be using these and other small cloches I have on hand to make some Christmas dioramas for the Christmas craft fair (cost: 25¢ each).
I’ll use this sturdy Lucite display to hold ephemera in my booth. I’ve been attacking my stash of paper goods and bagging them up to sell (yes, pat on the back, please), and this will come in handy (cost: $2.00).
This antique, ironstone ladle makes the perfect compliment to an ironstone sauce bowl. It has joined the rest of my ironstone collection (cost: 25¢, value: $4-6.00). Ironstone Price Guide
I don’t normally reveal all of my crafty supply finds, but today’s post is a bit skimpy. These crimped-edge trays will surely be needed for some future, as-yet-to-be-determined project, right? (50¢ each).
I go through a lot of screw eyes for framing and hanging signs, and these were a real bargain (cost: 33¢/package).
I loved all the crafty ideas for these heart-shaped tins I saw at Christmas, so I grabbed these two when I saw them at the thrift store (cost: 25¢ each).
Final Find: Today’s final find is a mystery tool–any ideas?
Here’s a closer look at the end. Does that help? Three hurrahs for whoever can help us identify this strange looking tool. That’s it for me this week. What about you?
Happy hunting everyone–
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Always adding new merchandise!
Diana, you have such a good eye for seeing the potential in what appear to be mundane, household items. That is a special talent in itself! I have no idea what the tool is but my first thought was that it had something to do with pies but maybe for carving? I am really clueless when it comes to these things! LOL.
Must be my superpower–lol! Good guess on the mystery item. Let’s see what others have to say–
Great finds today! Isn’t that a citrus peeler?
Thanks, and great guess–I’m thinking that might be it!
It looks like you could use it remove nails! But, honestly I have no idea!
Good thinking, but I’m pretty sure the metal’s not strong enough for that–but what a great design idea. Is this our way to our first million, Melissa?!!
Diana, for a ‘slim pickings’ day you found some wonderful treasures. Good thing that we live so far away (I’m in Texas) cause you’d buy everything I look for. (and I too have a collection of artwork, how can you resist a great painting or print?) My most favorite find is the pristine button cards. I have only found one in my picking so far. One thing I wanted to mention to you is that I am receiving two emails with your heading – are you testing a new email format or is someone stealing your ‘name’ and phishing with it? I have only clicked on the one that looked like your ‘normal’ posts.
Oh no–competition!! Phew, you’re in Texas…Thanks for mentioning the email situation. I’m thinking I should have addressed it in my post. I’m working out the kinks in my new email service (ChimpMonkey), so for a couple of days there’s been overlap until I was sure I had “made it work” properly. I’m now in the process of disabling my old email services, so hopefully, as of tomorrow, you will receive just one email 🙂 Thanks for being patient!
Always fun and interesting to see what you find. I inherited my grandmother’s button box, which was full of various buttons including a wealth of mother-of-pearl buttons. In 2000 I decided to make a crazy quilt using all neutral fabrics, and many of the MOP buttons found their way onto the quilt. They were the perfect embellishments with the embroidery stitches, and the buttons give the quilt a special connection and story to my past.
Have a great week and happy hunting.
Glad you enjoy my vintage finds posts, Sarah 🙂 What a lovely inheritance and creative way to “display” them. I’d LOVE to see your quilt–maybe some day you could send me a photo?!! (no pressure!)
I always love seeing your finds, Diana! The print is lovely…a black, or even white frame would look nice!
Looking forward to seeing what the tool is!
I’m receiving double emails, too…one from Feedburner, the other from Mailchimp, if that helps!
I’m so glad you enjoy my finds, Linda 🙂 I’m leaning twd black right now–we’ll see 🙂 Thanks for the alert on my emails–I’m switching over and their have been glitches…
All fun finds! I have no idea what the tool is, but someone will guess it. I think those little 50cent flat trays could have a Christmas paper vignette put in them with buttons & lace, or something. They are cute with the crimped edges. Also like the art & I never buy it. You do have a good eye Diana.
Thanks for the sweet comments, Florence 🙂 And great idea for the crimped trays–they’re in the “to do” pile on my work bench. We’ll see how long it takes to get to them…
I just read everyone’s comments, hoping that someone knew what that tool was. My first thought was that it was used for placing trim, while upholdstering and to help place the tacks or nails.
My problem is that I love the hunt and discovery, but I haven’t yet really begun to sell, so my house looks like a thrift shop. I too would have bought the celery holder because of its beauty and also, what a great way to serve one of my favorite vegetables!
Ooh, I like that idea, that might be it, Susan! Sorry about your house looking like a thrift shop–join the club!! LOL. Have you looked into going into an antique center? That’s pretty much how I started out. Etsy another way to go, too. I liked it while I did it, but then I opened the “shop” on my blog. It’s a fun business 🙂 Let me know how I can help!
Hi Diana,
Cruising the internet, curious to see what that tool was…just clicked on the citrus fruit site…I was CERTAIN that it was an old tool for upholstering…how funny is that?
Thanks for the offer of help, I will take you up on it! I need that first “nudge” and once I get started, I will wonder, what was I nervous, afraid of, or hesitant about making the plunge?
This is why the internet community is so great, you or I wouldn’t meet because of where we live, but through the connectiveness of the internet, I can pick your brain (and your posts are a GREAT source of information) and you can help others. Win/win which is fantastic!
Have an awesome day and thanks for your generosity.
I feel like I’ve seen a tool like that before but don’t know what it is. If that’s skimpy I’d take it any day. LOL
Well if it comes back to you–be sure to let me know!!
i think i have seen it used by a seamstress/tailor to flatten inside seams down. just a guess
Good thinking Michelle; I can see how that might be a possibility! Thanks for chiming in 🙂
Love the buttons on their vintage cards. I collect those, too. I have quite a bunch of those and other old sewing supplies.
The graphics are so pretty, aren’t they? Love old buttons…
I love that you share your great ‘finds’ and include the price, that really helps me. The French picture is lovely…..I think I’m in it!!! (I wish) I don’t care for the frame at all….I think it needs a nice wide antiquey type frame or none at all. I went to an estate sale this morning and came away empty handed. They advertised vintage ladies clothing and lots of linens but someone beat me and ended up with some lovely items according to the pictures they posted. It was so crowded and I had only a short time because it was between appointments…..but I’ll find another one real soon. 🙂
I’m so glad you find my posts helpful Susan, and that you like the French flower market picture as much as I do 🙂 Bummer about the estate sale–here’s hoping the next one is fantastic!
Is the tool for sectioning grapefruits?
Good guess, Jay, but upon closer examination, I’m not seeing how that would be possible!! Thanks for helping out 🙂
I had a very vague memory of my grandparents coming home from Florida with huge bags of grapefruits and my grandfather using this. So I checked google with “vintage grapefruit sectioner” and up popped an Etsy item that had sold with the original box. You can’t read the directions because the photo is not sharp but the illustration will give you an idea on how to use the tool.
The title of the listing is Alfred Knobler Grapefruit Sectioner.
Thanks for prompting a fond memory of time spent with my grandparents — who I think had a drawer filled with any kitchen tool ever envented or on the market. 🙂
You’re a star, Jay!! Thanks for sticking with the investigation, despite my poo-pooing your idea 🙂 Upon MUCH closer examination, the tool has revealed itself to in fact be a grapefruit sectioner–a very ingenious one, I might add. I’ll be posting about this in a future “What My Readers are Saying” post, hopefully with a demo on how it works. Thanks again, Jay!
I can’t wait to see what you do with the heart tins. I have quite a few. Love seeing all of your ideas and finds.
So many possibilities…
I love seeing the treasures you find and hearing about your plans for them!
I’m so glad, Karee! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂
Gosh, I love that piece of art! The black frame would really set it off. I might also consider a really deep teal to pull out some of the blues and greens in the piece. Either way, it will be gorgeous!
Whew! Glad the mystery of that strange tool has been solved! I would have never guessed that it is a grapefruit sectioning tool.
As always, I love looking at your fabulous finds! My favorites this time are the little fluted tin trays and the buttons on their sweet vintage cards. I love buttons, too.
Thanks for sharing your finds!
Do you think the tool is used to make seam binding?
To photo clear glass, try a darker background behind and under the piece. I put a cut out piece of white paper the same size as the bottom under the piece. Then good lighting. Give it a try. Hope it works for you. Nice to know about the celery holder, I have one w a bit more carving on it and didn’t know what it was. Didn’t seem right to be a spooner. Happy hunting.
I love your idea of framing the button cards. Little 4×5 or 5×7 frames for a sewing area/room would be great decor! I would whaat the tin trays were used for; I wonder if they could have been chocolate molds/peanut brittle trays. I think they would make great chalkboards or frames for romantic ephemera like an old Valentine or Easter card! So many NEW holiday decorations are distressed tin….Anything that I find that looks like a celery holder or spooner usually gets used in my house as a flower vase for flowers with short stems! The heart tins are crying out to become Christmas or Valentine decorations, but they sure would make pretty little chocolate cakes just dusted with conf. sugar (and eaten while still warm)!