Thrift - Unicorn Mug

After more than a week off I ventured to the thrifts today. Finds mights be getting lean now that the Christmas season is taking off and yes, it gets earlier every year as I often talk to retailers about this.

Found a Bull Taylor & Ng mug (really should have started collecting them years ago instead of selling them) A sail boat mug from Kilkenney Ireland for the sis - nautical and horse racing crap seems to be popular there in addition to those ugly little fascinator hats (not all fascinators are ugly just ones by the endless slew of horrible Irish hat designers) And last an unicorn mug by Audrey Christie (found the cuteness rabbit mug by her too)

That's it. Chow. Off to enjoy traffic free roads, thanks to the government shutdown or Obamacare.

I Got A Package From Dublin

Coolest birthday gift from my sis. Irish linen apron and tea towel from The Cake Cafe Dublin. Design by Pony. Can't wait to visit!

Moms Finds

Mom found me a few things. More mod flower tins SOLD and an 80s Japanese lacquered jewelry box by Otagiri with a hidden mirror. An Australian, Florida souvenir and Irish surname tea towel. Thanks! And a Dansk Spider designed by IHQ SOLD.

Estate - Chemex Shemex

Arrived at an lake house estate sale 1 1/2 hours after opening. The estate lady said people were lined up at 5am! Things were CRAZY expensive! But of course there was a long line of people buying things.

Paid a lot for this small Chemex coffeemaker with filters dated 1967. Ben Seibel's hard to find Tempron Taste Tempters line, manufactured by Gilley, NY. The wrought iron frame handles are wrapped in sea grass for a Pyrex covered casserole. A very graphic unused "Knots, Hitches & Bends" Ulster Irish linen tea towel. Small blue linen Bo-Peep Provincial style tablecloth. I couldn't resist the squirrels and frolicking lambs.

Cheapest thing, I picked up was a Kosta Boda snowball for $2. Funny thing, I left it behind on a table and when I went back to retrieve it, I saw a lady look down very surprised and pick it up. I quickly explained to her that I'd forgotten it, turned out she was Swedish as she sorrowfully handed it to me.

And a Connemara Irish wool plaid throw with 2 small holes that hopefully Mom will repair. Passed on a plastic yellow Dansk mixing bowl for $5 that was in rotten shape.

Photos courtesy of: www.abenseibeldesign.com/Gilley_Tempron_pieces.html

Thrift - Eire Tea Towel

Stopped at my fave thrift and picked up a never-used Irish tea towel, 50% linen, 50% cotton, made in Ireland. It's probably quite recent and obviously made for the American tourist. Debating if I'll give to Mom since she's Irish (Go-Tipp) but probably not. Vintage German Advent red candles that are in rough shape but, I figure, I'll use them for something. GoodW was a bust. That's all for the excitement!

C'Ville Yeah Baby

So my sister's visiting from Dublin for a couple of weeks and she had a hankering for Mas Tapas in C'ville. We stopped at a few junk shops on the long drive down. At one shop, I found a retro abstract orange scarf (I can't resist the color) and a silk Peter Max scarf. Funny, how one finds multiples all at once. If you remember, I found one earlier this month Peter Max

At a second hand store I found this never used "Old Bleach" Irish linen tea towel. Ooo, my sister was so envious. In the same store she found a 1960's dress (I'll see if I can get a photo.)

At Mas Tapas we pigged out! Our favorites were grilled rare yellowfin tuna & grilled Catalan style shrimp. The cocktails were yummy and quickly drained! Our only disappointment was the Papas Bravas (potato dish) that is always a hit or miss. The the service is incredibly slow even for a weekday. The place really needs to high more people. Two people on the grill is not enough! But because we waited so long for our cappuccinos they were free. I recommend the cappuccinos they are rich, creamy and slightly sweet with steamed frothy milk.

Thrift - Arabia Anemone

Went to my thrifts today. From my old biddy store, little "Anemone" cup by Arabia of Finland designed in 1960 by Ulla Procope and handpainted by AR, I have yet to find out who the initials stand for? A lot of skill was required to paint the single tone blue. Photographs simple do not do the painting justice. While I originally thought that the cup might be missing a saucer it might be a stand alone mug? Confirmed by a Finn that there is a saucer to the cup.

At my fave thrift found tins from Belgium and England. And a diet scale from 1979 for my collection. Brightly colored Ulster linen tea towel "12 Days of Christmas" made in Ireland and never used. Sold.

Estate - Tea Towels From Mom

Irish linen tea towels from mom. Don't think they were ever used. Freshly laundered. Horse SOLD. Other For Sale

Ireland - Milk this Kerry Cow

Mom brought me home a mug and tray from Ireland.

Handmade Kerry Cow mug is signed "Muckross House" with the artist cartouche "S" Love the illustrated tag. Circa 1964. By "Muckross House Craft, Kilkenny. I don't know how the hubby and I missed visiting the house?

The melamine tray was probably a tourist souvenir from the Roman Baths made by Praesidium Ornamin Britain. Circa 1965 SOLD.

Err, I'm embarrassed to say, "The Little Mermaid" from Copenhagen SOLD, I found dumpster diving behind my sisters apartment in Dublin this past spring. (I found the same Mermaid souvenir for sale on Ebay for $49, I don't know about that!) The owners were cleaning out their parents house and kindly gave us a tour. They had the 1920's house refurbished in the late 1950 to early 60's. I should have taken photos of the funky light fixtures and 'state of the art' sound systems of the time. The father had worked in a sound recording studio and they had an unpublished studio recording of the Beatles that they were going to auction. Anyhoo, everything in the dumpster was really worn, really cheap, or really tacky, interesting though.