Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

Friday Estate Sale Finds

Here's a quickie share of a few recent Estate Sale finds.  Mostly scrap and ephemera.  This one up above is really nice and unexpected because of its large size, about 8 x 10 or so.  Paper.  I'm guessing that maybe it was cut out from an early sheet music.  I say "early" because my experience in this neck of the woods (So Cal)) is that most of the sheet music to be found is commonly from the 1930s through the 1950s.  My heart skips extra fast whenever I come upon a stash with great graphics from the 1920s or earlier.  I get the vapors should I stumble on sheet music from the turn of the century or before. Beautiful!

This Gibson Girl is a pretty common find but she is also large in size.  Better yet is that she turned out to be an actual pen & ink drawing. I always seem to find prints.  I am especially touched whenever I find a hand done piece or drawing.  I'm reminded of my own mortality. It's hard not to wonder if someome a hundred years from now will hold something that I created and wonder about me.

Loved the far away long ago image above. Not exactly sure what is going on there but I can guess.  What I do know is that I'd sure like to see the pic come alive before my very eyes.

Scary old grandma, oh bless your heart.  You amuse me and you followed me home. As long as you're not the last thing I see before I fall asleep at night, I'm fine and dandy with you being here.

Lucky Chance to See & Hear Desert Dwellers 2013

Above image from Lost in Sound and Draft Dodgers

Recently I found myself with the unexpected and last moment chance to see and hear Desert Dwellers at Zanzibar in SoCal. Couldn't pass that up now could I?

Pssssst. Afro Funke on Thursday nights.

https://www.facebook.com/desertdwellers Desert Dwellers on Facebook

Per the site Discogs:

"Desert Dwellers has their roots in the legendary Moontribe full moon gatherings that took place in southern California and nothern New Mexico. Originally a collaboration forged between Amani Friend (Global Dragon) and DJ Treavor Moontribe (aka Amani vs. Teapot), Desert Dwellers has grown to encompass virtually every style of electronic music ranging from full on psy-trance, progressive-tribal house, and glitchy breaks, to world fusion downtempo, ambient, and yoga dub music. Since its creation, Desert Dwellers has brought several other producers into their mix as collaborative partners, including Rara Avis, DJ Jonathan Grossman, DJ Kepi, and Craig Kohland of Shaman's Dream Music."

               

Wonderful really, what $10 can buy you these days (Thanks Zanzibar in Santa Monica!)

Looks like they won't make another appearance in this area until July 11th, at the next Lightning in a Bottle Event.  This is one of those events that I annouce to my husband that I plan to attend the following year. And then never seem to make it.  Wouldn't you know it, the next shindig is also planned for Temecula, CA in July.  Egads.  It's going to feel like Death Valley that time of year. 

But then again, dancing till you're weak in the knees does do wonders for the soul.

 

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1920s Flapper Flask?

This is a faux bark covered bottle with an aluminum top. It's decorated on the front with an image of a flapper gazing into a hand mirror.  Where I found it, how much I paid for it, I can no longer recall. It's been in my posession for so darn long.

 

Quite an odd piece really. I think that the whole rustic bark, camp thing was popular way back when. The 20s-40s? If anyone can shed an additonal light on this subject I would greatly appreciate it. I'm assuming that it was some souvenir thingy meant to hold booze. Perhaps from the Midwest? Some long ago camp?A prohibition era flask?

Now I find myself reminded of the Indian Love Call from the 1936 movie Rose Marie as sung by Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald. But I digress...

 

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Lipstick, Booze, and the Origins of Slut-Shaming: Dating in the 1920s

Flapper Chic - let's get Zelda's look!

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Wednesday, feathers and flappers...

Messy Nessy Chic The Forgotten 1950s Girl Gang

"You might have heard of the Teddy Boys, a 1950s rebel youth subculture in Britain characterized by an unlikely style of dress inspired by Edwardian dandies fused with American rock’n roll. They formed gangs from East London to North Kensington and became high profile rebels in the media. But an important sub-subculture of the Teddy Boys, an unlikely female element, has remained all but invisible from historical records. Meet The Teddy Girls."

via www.messynessychic.com

Victorian Velvet Parlour Table Cover With Hand Tied Fringe

 

I'm a Victorian era textile freak. If it's velvet and it has hand tied fringe or tassels, my knees go weak. This wonderful old thing was spotted at an estate sale all balled up and shoved under a table.

I should definitely know better by now but I almost didn't ask about it.  I could tell just by glancing at it that it wasn't your typical turn or the century (through the 20s) hand dyed velvet. Y'know what I'm talking about.  The ones that are most commonly rectangular in shape. They're often table runner in size unlike this which is pretty massive. It also has hand tied tassels on all sides. I was almost positive that it's asking price would be astronomical.

It wasn't!

I'm guesstimating that this table cover one is from turn of the century or older. Without any type of label or the discovery of any type of identification, I can't be sure.  I'm always learning, aways seeking.  It may be more recent (Arts & Craft period) but for now I'm going with my gut on this beauty.

Love the subdued and mottled colors, just the hint remaining of pale peach colored flowers here and there. 

Damage is minor and not really visible from the front. However,  there is an embellishment in the center, a large embroidered rose, that appears to have been wet at oen time.  I can just detect a hint of color that has run, barely.  It also looks as if one of the corners may have seen a bit of drama over the last 100 years or so.  Give or take a few.

    

Take a good look at the close up below. I've found that the older the velvet, the more stiff or brittle it seems to be.  Eventually the fibers start to gently fall off. I iamgine that this is partially  which why so many Victorian era (velvet) items are found with "bald" spots. This stiffness may also be furtther confirmation that it was indeed, wet once upon a time.

This lovely textile was discovered with several brass rings attached to one edge.  I'm guessing again that it was hung up at one time like a portiere.  But because of it's massive size and squareness in nature, I can't image where. Later when I have time maybe I'll close my eyeballs and try to imagine myself in the midst of a beautiful high ceilened. Hmmmm. Where would I........ 

Sentimental Circus-Bunny in a Top Hat

Sentimental Circus.  I may be old enough to be your mama, no, make that your grandmama, but I still couldn't resist overloading on this cute bunny in a top hat & his/her pals.

One of my new fave low budget hangouts is Daiso Japan in Torrance, CA  (where good and plenty is actually made in China.  But I digress...)

 How can anyone resist such darling details?

Now I didn't find these so-cute-you-almost-want-to-but-in-a-good-way folders in Daiso, but in the bookstore that is actually located in between Daiso and Marukai.  Forgive me but the name eludes me at the moment.

Each of these folders cost only $2 or so and there was no way I could resist their temptation.  Shown here you will only see the the folders but a whole range of Sentimental Circus items, baby bibs, pencil holders,notebooks

even tape,

are to be had. Similar to the infamous Hello Kitty line.

As usual, Little One also found this bunny and her friends irresistible. At one point he insisted on planting his cubby little behind on the carousel, much to my chagrin.








Trust me. I keep my most important papers in these things. What the hay. You only live once.

3 1/2 Antique Victorian Edwardian Bracelets

3 old bracelets.  I've had these so long that I no longer recall who, how or when I came upon them. 3 first one up above I believe to be made of brass and is composed of 3 or more sections. I learned this the hard way because I wore it so often. I have scrawny chicken bone wrists. Each time I put it on I had to gently bend it to hug me. & not fall to the floor. To my dismay, I realized one day that the bracelet was slowly coming apart in sections.  This baby is now taking a rest indefinitely in storage.  

It's a bit Art Nouveau-y in feel so I am guessing it to be from the late Victorian era to the early part of the turn of the century?  I don't see any type of marking or identification on it.  Bummer.

Bracelet number 2 is simple and plain.  Perhaps A mourning bracelet? Late Victorian? I've seen others with much more embellishment but I love mine in all its simplicity. 

These last  two bracelets I beleive to be gold filled. Probably from the same time period as the others.  Most likely Edwardian.  Bracelet on the inside is sized for baby or toddler.  Often this type is discovered wtih a name or the word BEBE etched on it.

Come to think of it I don't think that I paid more than 5 or $10 for any one of these. Love and cherish them all.   Wonderful treasures with tales to tell are out there and everywhere. 

I Have Your Heart – a Victorian themed animation by Crabapple, Boekbinder, & Batt

"I Have Your Heart – a delightfully dark, Victorian-inspired stop-motion animation “about a good girl with a bad heart and the boy whose death will save her.” A collaboration between artist Molly Crabapple (who illustrated this fantastic Salvador Dali manifesto), musician Kim Boekbinder, and animator Jim Batt."

via exp.lore.com

Images from The Human Race by Louise Figuier, Circa 1890's

Fig. 231-Thakombau, late king of the Fiji Islands.

The Human Race by Louis Figuier.  Old books vs. new books.  Someone posed this question recently on FB.  As if a true blue book freak could ever choose between the two. 

Fig. 1-Men and Women of Anatolia.

Books such as this are exactly the type that get my heart going.  Old and dusty Victorian era books in all their often politically incorrect glory.

Fig. 78-Nomadic Arabs.

That feeling you get when you spot a pile of books at an estate sale and your mind races in anticipation.  Will they be books that you're actually interested in?  I don't know about you but I don't collect books just to sit atop a coffee table.

No wait. I take that back.  I have been known to buy, or rather, rescue, a beat up old book given up for a goner.   I could never dismantle or manhandle a book in perfectly good shape but salvage a crusty old book to save a beautiful and unique cover? Yes.  Save a one of kind oh-so-detailed engraving? Naturally.

Fig. 227-Native of the Mozambique Coast.

 Like others passionate about the Victorian time period I would love to be able to time travel if even for just a few moments.  And old book like this is one way of accomplishing this.  A way of getting a glimpse into the Victorian mindset.

Which brings to mind the recent election and how one doesn't necessarily have to go beyond current politics to see a Victorian mindset.  But I digress.


Fig. 222-Mohave Indians.

Fig 135-Chinese Girl

 

Fig. -Bosniak Peasant

  Fig. 22-The Fandango.

Title page from My Patients were Zulus by John B. McCord, circa 1946. 

Another book that caught my eye.

Now the hunt is on to unearth a book on Thakombau, once upon a time King of the Fiji Islands.

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Edwardian Women Dressed Up as Men

 Well here's something you don't see every day.  At least not from this time period.  Sellers posting similar pics on Ebay often describe them as 'gay interest'. Huh?  

It's more likely just a fun loving 'women's group' playing dress up for some special event.

I do find it highly amusing that so many of them felt that in order to convey the proper male attitude of the day, they should pose whilst swigging booze and puffing on cigs.

The following close ups will show that they were indeed posing as none of the cigarettes appear to be lit.

Makes perfect sense for the young lady pictured below.   Don't see how one can puff on a cancer stick and properly play the ukelele at the same time .

Love to think that there was more than grape juice in the those glasses.  Here's to hoping that all were raised in a grand toast and promptly emptied after posing.