Monday, January 24, 2011

What's Inside?

What's inside? That's exactly what I've been wondering ever since I got this little party cracker at the Brimfield Antique Show a few years ago. I didn't dare ruin it, so I tried to put it out of my mind. Until..... Laurie from Magpie Ethel opened up one of her crackers! Sheesh! The nerve she has opening a sacred vintage party cracker! Well, I figured if she could do it, then so could I! :)

So what's inside this little guy?

Whom whomp....

I was hoping for a cool charm like Laurie got, but instead I got a yucky pink balloon and a sheet of blurry fake "tat-oos". Oh yeah...and a little fortune too. Sigh...at least I was able to put my cracker back together easily and no one would ever be none-the-wiser.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Valentine's Day Update!

Joined at the Hip - $35

There are quite a few spun cotton characters here to choose from today. I hope you find one or two that tickle your fancy! :)

As you probably know by now, blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one of kind figures. If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available.

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. And of course email me if you have any questions! Happy Shopping!

Romantic Bunny Boy - SOLD
Romantic Bunny Girl - SOLD

Romantic Cat Boy - SOLD
Romantic Cat Girl - SOLD

Girl on a Glass Swing - SOLD
Girl on Nest - SOLD


Sweetie Pie - SOLD
Dapper Young Man - SOLD

Silver Rose Girl - SOLD
Sweet Young Man - SOLD

Sweet Lily - SOLD
Pink Princess - SOLD
Pink Balloon Girl - SOLD

Princess of Hearts - SOLD
Girl on Foil Hat (opens as a box) - $35
Cupid and Candy Girl - SOLD

Key to Your Heart Fairy - SOLD
Skunk - SOLD

Heart Elf - SOLD
Valentine's Day Juggler - $28
Angel- SOLD (my favorite)

Bouncy Ball Cat Girl - SOLD
Heart Head Man (paper mache sculpted head) - SOLD

White Heart Girl - SOLD
Heart Faced Girl - SOLD
Miss. Striped Socks - SOLD

Angel Ballerina - SOLD
Be Mine Girl - SOLD
Miss "V" - SOLD

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Update Annoucement!

There's a bunch of new characters that are just about ready to say "hello!"
Blog readers get first dibs and I can't wait to show you what I've been working on. They'll all be available:

Friday, January 21th. Here, the blog. 2:00 pm EST.

See you the day after tomorrow! :)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Kinda Neat...

Country Living Magazine is one of my very favorite magazines and like many of you, I've been reading it for years. I was recently looking through the latest December issue found something interesting...

A hundred year old brass door knob from a New York City public school. It's very decorative and has that oval shape many knobs from back in the day had. The best part?

I have the same exact one! And what I didn't know...it's worth 100 smackaroos. Wow. It was a gift from my friend Eric from the Brimfield Barn several years ago. I didn't really appreciate it as much as I should have when he first gave it to me, but now that I know some of it's history, I can really appreciate it all that much more. I'm planning on installing it in my new house when we move. Yay! Thanks Eric! :)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Valentine's Day Goodies!

Pink Elephant - SOLD
Sitting on a Nest Girl - SOLD

Fairy Angel - SOLD


Introducing...the characters of loooove....!

As per my new selling system, you blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one of kind figures! If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available.

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. And of course email me if you have any questions! Happy Shopping! :)

Flapper Girl - SOLD
String of Hearts Boy - SOLD

White as Snow Girl - SOLD
Sweet Cheeks - SOLD
White Fairy - SOLD


Weeeeeee! - SOLD

Big Bow Girl - SOLD
Mary Contrary - SOLD


Cupid Girl - SOLD
Red Heart Box Girl - SOLD
Three Arrowed Cupid - SOLD


White Heart Box Girl - SOLD
Two Arrowed Cupid - SOLD


Heart Balloon Cat Girl - SOLD
Heavy Lifting Cat Girl - SOLD
Look what I made! Cat Girl - SOLD



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Coming soon....Valentine's Day!

I've been busy busy busy making Valentine's Day goodies and I wanted to let you all know that I'll be posting them here on my blog first! Blog readers get first dibs and I can't wait to show you all of the finished pieces! When is the update you ask?

Thursday, January 13th. Here, the blog. 11:00 am EST.

See you the day after tomorrow! :)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Presents to myself...

Is it wrong to think of yourself around Christmas time? Well...whether it is or isn't, I did it anyway with some new treasures to bring home.

While I was visiting my parent's for Christmas, I made a visit to my favorite little thrift shop (one I'll be living just down the road from when we move in the spring!). They have a tiny closet-sized room filled from floor to ceiling with Christmas all year round. I love sifting through everything looking for the good stuff...I'm talking get down on your hands and knees sifting. The room this time around was surprisingly neat and tidy and I think they had just gotten some fresh drop offs, because I normally don't find anything too outstanding there. This time was different though. I compiled a collection of different types of icicles...I've got a good sized collection at home too and I think next year I'd like to do an icicle tree. Those metal ones and the tinsel one are to die for!

These pretty bells are much more elaborate than I've ever seen them before.

This little shop always has glass balls, but rarely nice vintage ones. I love these!

They even had figural ones too!!

And tiny figural ones! That little bird is precious and very small, and I love the walnut.

Ok...this isn't vintage and it wasn't found at the thrift store. The day after Christmas a beautiful home and garden store right near my parent's house (Schuyler Pond) has all holiday items 50% off. I was really drawn to this pink cockatoo. A for only a few bucks, why not? I like how it's made out of heavy thick glass.

Back to the thrift store....a collection of vintage candy canes with cellophane stripes never hurts to have (plus I saw them going for 10 bucks a pop at ABC Carpet and Home in NYC!!).

They had lots of pine cones, but I decided to pick out the vintage, painted or unusual ones to use for next year.

Vintage holiday foliage of all kinds is always good to have on hand.

These bottle brush trees aren't too old, but they are quite tall and I had to have them!

Two large Christmas glasses to add to my collection...which I've completely forgotten to take out and use the last two holiday seasons! Next year...

Some random craft supplies that I reckon will come in handy...including a big bag of heart confetti that's getting me excited about working on new Valentine's Day goodies!

Little ornaments and things that I thought were cute...especially the wooden birds singing under a mushroom cap. So cute!

Not sure what I'll do with these decorative bulbs, but the shapes were pretty and the price was right.

I've decided that my rotating holiday decor will include themes of seashells which will be displayed around the house all summer long and then stashed away for the cold months come fall. This little box was a must have for my collection.

This pretty shallow milk glass cake stand was the first thing I spotted when I walked in the door. I love it!!

And last but not least, these tiny thread covered balls have me thinking Independence Day and Hanukkah. I love the stripes!

I've been really itching to do even more treasure hunting, but winter is definitely here and the treasures love to hide during the cold months. Sigh...maybe I'll snoop around in an over priced antique store downtown just to get eye full. :)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Yay for Books!

With so many inspirational blogs out there today it's easy to sometimes forget about all the inspirational books that exist. I have a great collection of fabulous books and these three are the newest additions to my collection.

The Private World of Tasha Tudor by Tovah Martin is one that I borrow from the library over and over again. It's about time I finally had a copy of my own (thanks Mom!). Tasha Tudor has been a big inspiration to me for quite a few years now. I remember when I was a teenager my mom introduced me to her and I've admired her amazing way of living ever since. She died just a few years ago, but lived an amazing and fulfilled life as an illustrator and artist, the latter part of her life was captured in a couple of books and videos. She lived in a little cabin up in the Vermont mountains and was a true eccentric who loved all things early 19th century and felt she was born in the wrong century. She made her own soap, clothes, toys, etc. and had a bevy of farm animals from which she harvested the usual goat's milk, eggs, etc. Now I just need Tasha's Garden Book...they are all sooo good and fabulously inspirational!

And who could go wrong with one of Robert Brenner's collector's guides to the treasures of Christmas's past? This book showcases items from the '40's and '50's and is especially neat to look in because I actually own many of the items they showcase, which is always exciting.

I have those reindeer!

I have one of those paper pulp Santa's!

I have both of these!

But I could only hope to have these. Believe it or not they are old animals crackers, peanuts and marzipan fruit, carefully strung with tiny pieces of cord and lovingly stored for many years. I wonder how something edible survived so long! I love the slight variation in color and how they looked all gathered together.

And my two sister's hit the nail on the head with this Christmas gift. I LOVE I Spy books and this Spooky Night is really special. Perfect for some Halloween hunting!

This is my favorite photo from the book. How vintage and spooky! I can't stand it!!

This is a more simple image...but seriously, how cool is that?!

This little vintage book I picked up recently at a little store near my parent's house. It was only a buck 25 and for that price there was no way I was leaving without it!

It's a story about a gingerbread rabbit (way more interesting than a gingerbread man, right?)

He's simply rolled out one day...

Finds his way out of the kitchen and goes on a big adventure!

But the adventure is not without it's dangers of course.

But luckily he finds a happy ending with a pair of real rabbits who prefer to nibble carrots over gingerbread! :)

I would LOVE to hear about your favorite books!!