Flea Market Finds and other Costly Adventures of my Week

Hi! Good weekend?


This past week I had to buy a new car...
I don't know about you but for me, buying a car ranks right up there with say, root canal? Maybe even worse?

I was so nervous the first day I slammed my hand in the car  door at the post office, mailing my etsy boxes. The car promptly locked, my hand squinched in the mechanisms of the latch.  You stand there looking for your hand....uh? Then, then, the damn door won't open!? Hello?
The next day I went to the Jeep dealer. Now I may be shy. I may be a woman shoppng alone for a car---but I know what I want, I know my budget and I spent many many years in the garment industry. I know how to haggle.

What's with these people anyway? They think a budget is just a suggestion? Wishful thinking? After shopping around I got my "deal"---my new Jeep will be very sufficient to my needs. but I will yearn after every Grand Cherokee Overland/ Limited I see for the next zillion years. Or...maybe not. I got a very good deal! And it isn't red.

All this bargaining made me have a very bad attitude:
do not waste my time!!!
 It carried over into Sunday's small but fun flea market.

I wanted these pale lavender apothecary bottles and I wanted them cheap!

 Here they are partially cleaned. I am wondering, should I sell them as is and let the buyer enjoy the purpling process?

If indeed they continue to deepen? I liked the funky "fogginess" of the old glass...and the hand-ground necks where there once were glass stoppers.

He gave me a good price, I offered half. I was willing to bicker over a dollar. And I won.

 I was even tough with my jewelry and silverware dealer-friend: she just wasn't cheap enough. Not after Jeep week.

Fun vintage pins/ brooches!

I've been using them on my white linen hearts.

Below is just for quick blog photos, NOT how they'll look when done....

Like all my supplies they do have to be a "bargain" or I can't sell the hearts for enough to cover my costs. This little man, below, is the cutest thing ever!  The little bee or ladybug is on a spring and vibrates! So adorable I may keep it. (And well, it is turquoise!).... 

I even made a video for you all to see it, lol:

This was a last minute toss in, because I 'll always buy hearts! Pretty, I thought, nice for a multi-chain bracelet...

I thought the chain and charms might even look good on a ring bearer's pillow, if a bride liked vintage-y bling.

When I got the necklace home and looked with my magnifyer I saw the piece is stering silver with marquisite and presumably zirconias, definitely not rhinestones! I may offer it on my etsy shop as is. So sweet!

I'll post a picture of the new Jeep when I pick it up! Wish me, uh...Bon Voyage?

love

   lizzy

......gone to the beach

Mermaid's Garden

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme~

And Greek  oregano, purple sage...

Hi everyone! Are you all gardening right now?

This year I am hoping to overcome my squeamishness about eating things that grow in my deck...and I am planting an herb garden.

Mostly because I want fresh tarragon for sauces and vinegars and dill for my homemade dill pickles....

I made this gift basket for a friend who grows lovely herbs on her deck, she is my inspiration!

I bought three unusual herbs at the fancy garden store, herbs she won't find at the farmers market.

Including that Greek oregano for salads and marinades and the purple sage. Because who can resist Purple sage! We'll dry it for autumn stuffings, for roasts and turkeys....

 I did some recycling here, even though it was to be a gift: a basket that held toiletries, the "grass" or wood shavings from a box of bath salts. (oooh, Sabon, yummy!).

I gave her the silver spoons for Christmas and got some for myself too. (Beach House Living and Seashaped)....

 I especially love BHL's Mermaid Garden spoon!

 Maybe it's meant for a seaside rock garden full of succulents and spiky things, and hydrangeas, edged with cockle-shells and whelks? But I wired it to a wooden skewer for her herb garden (and yes got one for me!). Added a starfish and used a cellophane bag from the craft store....

  

Isn't it so pretty? I think she loved it!

And if my own herb garden succumbs to the high winds and intense sun on my ocean-facing deck I can always run over to her bayside shady house and snip some wonderfully scented herbs. ;-)

   

A fun gift? Maybe even...Father's Day, if dad is a gardener? You could use a small wooden crate from the craft store or  a large Italian plum tomato tin? I'm sure Rita at BHL would make a Neptune's Garden spoon! Or like my friend's basket, a welcome birthday gift, or hostess gift.... If your budget is an issue, skip the silver spoons and use chopsticks or wooden skewers with little glued on paper flags.
 

The plan is to enjoy sweet summer herbs, right outside your back door!

enjoy.

love

            lizzy

  

gone to the beach~~~~~~~~~~~

World Oceans Day

 June 8 is World Oceans Day!

Oh thank goodness because I thought it was the 6th and hadn't written this post yet.

Here's the link.... And to quote, This is "our planet’s biggest celebration of the ocean held every June 8th. "

And so...what?: Well their suggestions include: "This year, we encourage you to reach out to young people in your community and help inspire them. The future of ocean conservation is in their hands!"
Yeah, I have a word or two for the brat who chases my seagulls!

More details.... Please check it out!

One catchphrase is "Wear Blue and Tell Two!"

Probably I'll be wearing blue---or aqua or some such ocean-y color. And I am always nagging about ocean/ beach awareness so I should be able to pull a thought out to share...hmmmm...
Well, here is one, something new to worry about!
Seahorses! We loooove seahorses, right? So adorable.

collage art from
black baroque on etsy

  
I very rarely find them on my beach: this one was plastic so I brought him home.

 
Here is another little soul, no longer living...

 
And a journal page with the only other seahorse skeleton I have ever found. And a tiny plastic charm also found on the beach....If you look closely, even the stamp has a seahorse, a red one.

from my summer journal


 So I was surpised to read in my local paper that these creatures colonize eelgrass seaweed beds nearby! I thought they were tropical animals only, but no! Some live locally. And they are in danger of extinction, due to loss of habitate and careless "harvesting"!

Yes, people harvest them...alive! Some are captured in commercial fishing nets and discarded. And some are taken because stupid humans want them as "pets"! or beachy decor! (I guess they let the little guys die?!) 

  

wonderful driftwood seahorse
fromOur Boathouse

My specimens were definitely dead and dry; I'd never take a live creature from the ocean. Nope, not even a fish.

 

The Newsday article went on to say that seahorses are social creatures (that argues brains and emotions, does it not? despite their tiny size!); it says they mate for life and if they are captured and put in aquariums alone that they become very sad. Ooooh.

also from black baroque, link above

  So, back to my post of a few days ago:

Please respect our beach and ocean creatures! This is their home; we are only visitors. Please be a welcome one.

 

Happy Oceans Day!

coastal collage in my journal

       love

               lizzy

****gone to the beach****