bubbledog blog

flea market season is officially open

I made an impromptu stop at a local flea market today and ended up leaving with (literally) armfuls of stuff.  Today's haul included some ceramics from the fifties and sixties, some Pyrex bowls (always my favorite find), character glasses from the 70s and 80s, as well as some other odds & ends.  The downside of this particular flea market is that you are literally ferreting around through boxes and piles of dirty things to find your treasures (I spent an hour soaking and cleaning all of this stuff when I got home).   Of course, the upside is the price... all of this was $23!  Here are some close up shots:

Everyone needs a ceramic daschsund planter, right?  The Pyrex snowflake pattern bowls are the first items I have with that design.  I am loving the design on the old bird seed tins.  And yes, you are right, the little ceramic cat is possibly the tackiest thing ever made in the world... complete with gold painted details and rhinestones (I can't help loving it as much as I hate it).

Just like every other male in his thirites, I desperately needed this butterscotch colored glass "granny" candy dish.  The Star Wars and Super Mario Brothers glasses are rocking my world and the Big Mac candy tin makes me smile every time I look at it!

This large fruit bowl is marked RANSBURG IND CO.  The paint is worn in some areas, but I think it adds to the charm.  My fruit is getting ready to move into this new home!

Last are these five plates marked "Bucks County" by Royal Sebring Ohio.  I was debating these until the dealer told me I could have all five for a $1... SOLD!

three day weekend

Why don't we have more three day weekends?  Presidents Day gave me the time to get caught up on things like laundry, bills, and cleaning while also leaving the preceding Saturday and Sundy to be left open for fun.   Ahhh... so nice :)

I spent Saturday on a multi-stop tour of local markets, bakeries, and thrift shops.  My partner and I bought so much candy and baked goods that our house was filled with sweets on Saturday night (they have been mysteriously disappearing every since).  As for the thrift stores, there were slim pickin's this time around, but I still managed to come home with: the most hideous 1980's candelabra you have ever seen (I coudln't resist the colors), a cool little woven ceramic dish, and a Fire King casserole dish.


I spent a lot of today taking care of little things that I have been putting off forever.  I plan to spend the final couple hours of my three day weekend in front of my tv with my dogs and finishing a couple of craft projects.  I have this huge tray of buttons to finish packaging, but for some reason, each staple causes my dogs a crazy amount of stress.  If you look at the pic below and see how many staples need to be applied, you will see that a lot of stress is coming their way tonight :(


I hope some of you had three day weekends too!  Counting down to Memorial Day :)

merry thrift-mas to me

I was headed out to the mall today to do some holiday returns when I passed a kind of down and out thrift shop that I seldom frequent.  I've stopped there a few times in the past, but they never really have anything that I am interested in as they seem to cater more towards clothing as opposed to housewares (which are my thrift store item of choice).  Well, today I felt the urge to stop and it must have been fate calling.  After walking in and grabbing five pyrex bowls, four holiday mugs, four holiday plates, and a few other little doo-dads, I was heading back to my car with my bundles.  Everything is in really great shape and I am almost ashamed to tell you the total price... ok, I'll tell... $10.25!!!

adding to my crafty collection

Here are two recent additions of craft items that I have aquired from other crafters.  First up is the amazing woodtype alphabet print by Pennycandy.  The colors are nice and vibrant and her prints come matted and ready to be framed.  You can find this print in Pennycandy's Etsy Shop and you can also purchase fabric with this print through Pennycandy's Spoonflower Shop.  My second crafty addition is this adorable ice cream sandwich guy that I got from My Paper Crane at Crafty Bastards this past Saturday.  If you have never been to My Paper Crane's website, go now... the cuteness is awe inspiring!

Speaking of Crafty Bastards, I had a great time on Saturday... as usual!  This show is so well run that it is probably one of very few events that could be successful even though there was major road construction going on along the entire length of the site AND that it was raining all day during the show...  even with all that, it was well attended, easy to navigate, and a lot of fun.  If you have never been to Crafty Bastards, you should really try and get there next year... you'lll love it!

1980's Hi Fi

So, the title of this blogpost sounds a lot more hip than the actual content.... I won't be writing about any sort of cool eighties sound system... no, I'm talking about an obnoxiously eighties dinnerware pattern by Studio Nova. 

 
I spotted this "Hi Fi" pattern at a Goodwill Store in Pennsylvania today and my first reaction was to chuckle in awe of how dated they were.  They were brazenly standing out from the dozens of beige and gray stoneware dish sets surrounding them.  The more I studied them, the more that the insane primary color bands began to seduce me.  Next thing I knew all 25 pieces were making their way into my cart and I was heading towards the checkout!  These things tend to happen from time to time. 

The set is in excellent condition and I walked away with 8 dinner plates, 5 bowls, 8 salad plates, 1 large serving bowl, and a creamer & sugar set... all for $21!  I'm looking forward to coordinating a very colorful meal for their debut :)

 

cars and trucks and things that go

 
I found this old copy of Cars and Trucks and Things That Go at a local flea market today.  It was in great shape and only $.50!  This was probably my favorite book that I had as a kid.  I remember looking through it for hours with my brothers. Not only are the illustrations amazing and super detailed, each page has the hunt for Goldbug (much better than Where's Waldo).  If your nostalgia senses are tingling, you can get yourself a new copy here. 

I also found a few other treasures this morning: a VOTE McDLT glass, a 7-Up glass, an amazing pyrex bowl ($1!!!), a My Melody figurine, and a few other little trinkets.  Total cost of the day: $6!

  

retro day

In some places in western New Jersey (where I reside) and as you cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, there are towns and roads that make you feel as if you have gone back in time.  Today, I found myself in Bethlehem, PA on a road I had never travelled before.  This was no small road, but more of a highway that was built up with many contemporary stores... but every so often, a building would pop up that seemed to be from a different era.  That is exactly what drew me into Josh Early's Candies... a place that is under a half an hour away from my house, but I had never heard of until today.  When I saw the building, I hoped that the inside would be untouched by time... and for once, I got my wish!  Now, let me tell you, this place was in tip-top shape, well maintained, and spotless!  That being said, once I was inside, you could have told me that it was 1979 and I would have believed you.  It was HUGE and there was candy everywhere!  It was the kind of charm that candy stores in the mall might try to replicate, but never get quite right.  It was unitentionally retro and retro in the purest sense of the word.  I could have stayed there all day, but I think the women working at the shop were thinking I was going to rob the place or something as I just couldn't stop looking over every inch of the store.  So, I purchased some nonpareils, orange wedges, and chocolate pretzels (all of which were delicious) and headed on my sweet way.  You can go to their website which is one hundred percent 21st century, but I recommend going to the shop for the experience :)

Following my little nostalgic-candy-shop-bliss, I spotted a Goodwill not far away and figured I would stop in for a quick peek.  Two lamps (still working) and several Pyrex containers later, I was wheeling my cart to my car and wondering what I was going to do with all this stuff.  HOARDERS... here I come!  Here is the haul....

 

vintage lamp find

A local church had their annual rummage sale yesterday. It was a huge sale and I was very disappointed that after scouring through ALL of the tables, I didn't find anything to buy. Right before I left, I found this vintage beauty tucked in a box under a table.  The acrylic side panels were off of the light fixture, covered in dust, and tossed in the box... so the lamp looked like junk. I quickly scooped it up and headed to the check out counter. After paying my $5, making the quick ride home, and giving it a little tender loving care, this beauty was ready to hang in splendor in my home!

jack and jill?

So, I found these two slightly hideous, yet totally AMAZING ceramic figures at a flea market yesterday.  As I saw them, I was chuckling about their appearance and yet at the same time, unconciously scooping them up and purchasing them - no haggling, just straight up purchasing.  They are almost square... six inches tall and four and a half inches wide and they are completely flat at only and inch and a half deep.  I think they might be Jack and Jill (fetching their pails of water), what do you think?  They are only marked "Japan" on the bottom.  Anyone have any info?

In other news... sorry, that I've been a little absent on the blog lately.  My August giveaway is still on deck.  I am hoping to post it tomorrow, so keep your eyes open :)

le canal

I found this Bernard Buffet print titled "Le Canal" at a thrift shop today.  It caught my eye originally because of the location of the signature, but as time went by, I really grew to like the print.  I'm guessing the original was painted in 1955 (due to the "55" in the signature), but the print is marked 1961.  Unfortunately, the frame and the matte are in need of some work, but the print is in good shape.  I can't wait to get it reframed and find a place to hang it in my house... it will fit right in!