Treasures

Okay, let's be honest here.  I can have pretty great moments of lucky streaks.  Some moments of unlucky streaks, but some very good lucky streaks. And, those good moments really should not be neglected.  (this has nothing to do with cards, but come along and I'll attempt to make some sense of it all…)

      

You, yourself,  might not call it luck.  You might say, "Now, Vanessa, you have nice friends who like you, and find magical things to surprise you with."  And, yes, I would have to agree, most of the treasures I receive are pretty darn wonderful. But, these wonderful things are found by luck, aren't they? Even if they are found by other people?

Actually, Many of these objects are found by me…Walking down the street, I see something peeking out of the dirt, I pick it up….I pull, I tug, and Presto, Treasure.  I peek in little sheds, and again, Treasures….

      

I have to stop and ask, are these found and received items really treasures?  Or is it simply my perception that makes this item a treasure.  Perhaps it is only special to me?  Have I come to use that word all too liberally?  Treasures. Or, would these items be called something more on the lines of "junk" to you?

Some of the things I find here and there, are things like, A Ship…

      

An old fan that used to be at the museum pottery studio, with a huge cast iron stand.  It is a piece of art in itself.

      

A Scale

      

A treasure box with drawers made of old wood cheese boxes…

      

Mermaid Bottles that I have placed under glass domes…

      

And, there is much more junk, I mean treasures, but I have to save some for later…I just LOVE thrifting adventures!!!  I love them!!!

These are some of the things I keep in the country, as I am maxed out on space at my home in town. Snipettes can be seen here, here  and here.

I used to sit and look at my favorite book called

      

By Mary Randolph Carter, just wishing that I too could have country treasures.  Little did I know, I would have that in Catalina.  I wanted to be able to use all kinds of tattered things that just wouldn't work in my city home.  The fact that I have a place to do this,  is so dreamy to me…

      

Some pages from within the book (The one below to the left looks so much like my Mr. Lovee's hippie shack, it just ain't funny). I adore the kid in the pic to the right.  I almost want one just to be able dress up and use as a prop. I am joking…..

      

I just adore old Milagros, and those Chalkware Carnival Prizes! How I'd love my own stash…

      

I have loved this book to death…Have you seen it, or do you own it (Ithink it is out of print)?? It sure doesn't help reign in the treasure seeker, does it???

Oh I never ever, in all the times I have read through this book, seen the absolute back page…Look how cute!! (click to enlarge)

      

Thrifting and such, was not common to me as a kid.  But, when I got my dandy white rabbit convertible at16, I'll tell ya, the first thing I did was drive to a town with fabulous thrift stores.  It has always been magic to me.

My first experience with a vintage item was when I was 15 and my grandmother took me to the little door at the top of her stairs…She told me about some coats that my great aunt who had died left behind. I myself, almost died of intrigue.  I still have those coats, and wear them today.

All that said….

I veered off of the main subject which is.  Luck and treasures. 

The story I was going to tell goes like this…

So, there I am, in bed, lounging around, eating chocolates and watching a movie in my loftish space.  Locked away from the world. When I hear a knocking at what is, my still under-construction outside door and patio.  I peek out.  Why, It is Dick Arnold, from, "The Arnold Klingefus Ensemble."  I am shocked, I hop out of bed…Open the door, and Dick says, "I have a surprise for you, but you have to close your eyes."

I think, what?? Where? What can it be?  An instrument? A painting??? What What What????  Let me preface this by saying, I collect things with wheels.  (Not cars though)

So, I walk over to his car, and this is what proceeds to happen…

      

I see wood.  Or Bamboo?  Yes!  A bike entirely made of Bamboo???Wood???

      

      

I bring it inside to admire it, and determine if I want to remove the wheels and turn it into sculptural art??? Hanging from a wall perhaps?  Well, Mr. Arnold found this lovely item at a sale called "I don't want it anymore, it is yours."  He said it was the Art-iest thing they had and he thought of me!!! Lucky me or what??

      

IS that a lucky treat?  You tell me??? What is your favorite find, do you love junk?  Can you see yourself in a billowing skirt of your favorite kind, coming across a bin of trinkets, and squatting, your skirt billowing around you to search through piles and piles? Are you into it?  Or, would you prefer a clean little shop….I don't know.. I love tattered treasures…

I am also delighted to share that two of my favorite blogs to visit: With a Twist and a Turn she gets her Wish"   Queenie Carly, always smart and funny, and Allyson Hill, Miss Creative herself, have been so kind as to believe that I have a "Thinking Blog."  I am so glad, as I was getting concerned that I would be winning something for "The rambling blog." I think that such recognition from our fellow bloggers is very very special and important.  Afterall, we are the people who read eachothers blogs everyday (almost).  We are the ones who know what we like.

So the rules – straight from Miss Carly herself:

If you read even a few blogs, you've probably started to notice this little Thinking Blogger Award graphic around.  Apparently the blog world is having a heyday promoting all the blogs that its population of bloggers love to read. 

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think!
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme or blog that you enjoy.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.

So, I must participate you see, and I do love this sort of thing…Sooo, here we are. Here are my five choices, not in any particular order.  But Blogs that I love to read , I enjoy them tremendously, and they make me think…An Odd Duck, KnitSonya, My Marrakech, Cally Creates & Gilfling's Designs.

I can not say enough about these girls.  I wish I was allowed to list many many more.  All I have to say is, I love all the blogs I read to pieces.  So, if you see me in your neck of the woods, know, you are one of my dearest thinking blogs too. You know who you are. I know you know!!!