NE Loot

I'm back in San Francisco! Somehow every time I come back to California from visiting New England I always, always end up taking back an extra suitcase. This time I was extra embarrassed because they put a "heavy" tag on it... But, my dress form is in there! along with a whole lotta other random things... I even had hair clips from my grandmother's beauty shop shoved into the pockets of my coats... A day in the life of a traveling hoarder is all.

Anyway, I brought back a lot of silly things. Not as much clothing as I'd originally hoped, but I did stock up on things for sending out 1385 packages...

Like a nice 6" stack of old maps. (from my grandmother's house)



and a good pile of 1974 reprint Randolph Caldecott postcards (from Putnam)





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and string!!!!!!!!! I love string.. I think I forgot to add that my list yesterday. I guess I love any sort of old general store supplies. Because I do love old labels too... (all from my gram's attic)





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All sorts of bits, some to put in packages - some to keep (from gram's attic too!)





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And these crazy old lady shoes...A racing stripe down the back of a cork heel and embroidered flowers. Yes, they fit the crazy old lady bill quite perfectly. And I think they're going to be good for Spring. (these are part of this collection and were left behind in the move along with 5 or so other pairs... it's insanity!)



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This special little box once belonged to my Great Uncle, who's 93!! It's his First Communion attire and it's so sweetly placed into that box. I love that its been sitting like that for 80 years!





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I have a bunch of my grandmother's old Cosmetology certificates around the house. I love them because they look like fancy medical certificates - but, nahh - just for gussying gals up. Here's another nice one to add to my collection!



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I found a nice Owens Illinois canister for only $20 in Putnam.. People are always trying to sell these things for $30 - $60. So, if you want to start a collection, be patient!! I found 2 for $30 once at a flea market once! And some anemone bunches from the Ferry Building Farmer's Market ... I could seriously look at these flowers all day!





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And last but not least, and maybe my favorite thing - a little, little baby elephant who once belonged to my Aunt Bettie. My mom set him aside for me and he was waiting for me when I got back to MA two weeks ago. There was also a really sweet letter sitting next to him that my mom wrote to her mom when she was a little girl. Asking for a puddle (in little girl language that translates to a poodle) I took photos of it because it's so darn cute, but I think she might be a little embarrassed to have that on here! We'll see, we'll see ... it's kind of too cute not to post!





And that concludes my New England loot. Well, actually - there's a few more things I found in Putnam including a nice wool dress with a cowl neck, a few cotton Victorian blouses (amy, this means I'm working on a package for you!) and one more other thing that deserves its own blog post - but I can't resist showing a little sneak because it's THAT amazing.



You'll just have to guess at what it is for now!