Hurrah, Huzzah, It's Carnival Day!

"On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet."
~George Gordon Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage

Today, Today is the time for the Carnival Soiree! Faerie Enchantment has invited everyone near and far to celebrate the magic of the carnival and circus. Remember a time when the animals, jugglers, and performers brought smiles and laughter to your childhood? Well, enter that special realm again and be amazed at the sights!

For my special treat, I decided to invite some dear elfin and childhood fairy-tale friends. They are so excited to be joining us:) And you too can invite them to your party- They are from my collection and can be incorporated into your artwork and crafts.

If you're a frequent reader of my blog, you know how much I adore ephemera. The pictures and words of yesteryear hold a dear place in my heart. The images remind us of dreams and memories long forgotten. Such small bits and pieces of life can make us recall our Mother's smile as she read "The Night Before Christmas" or our Sister's face as she presented us with a wonderful book of fairy-tales.

I hope you enjoyed this little visit to the circus... My dear fairy friends wish you good times and happy fortune as you visit more of the 3 ringed affair!

"No party is any fun unless seasoned with folly." ~Desiderius Erasmus

A Slumber Fete!

For the Love of Vintage is hosting a delightful slumber party! Since I'm a huge fan of antiques (and naps), I thought I'd share some "night time" pieces from an establishment that sells the most luxurious French Antiques. Sparrows is a direct importer of fine furnishings and decorative accessories. Their large showroom is certainly worth a visit if you're ever in the D.C. Metro region.

With its graceful curves and sensual design, this spectacular Louis XV style bed, c. 1890, would make any dreamer feel like a queen. The rich walnut boasts a spectacular patina with the history of its owners warmly soaked into the wood grain.

I included a close-up image showing the intricately carved basket motif which graces the footboard. Such details are what make these pieces truly stand out from the ordinary.
Another lovely piece in the Sparrows inventory includes this turn of the century mahogany bed boasting lavish bronze mounts. The Louis XV style bed showcases graceful lines and a detailed crest worthy of any museum acquisition.

Close-up view of the fine craftsmanship exhibited on the headboard

In addition to sharing these images of beautiful beds, I thought I would include a recipe worthy of any girls night slumber party! I've served this delectable treat at many a gathering and it's always a hit!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
Ingredients:
Simple white bread with the crusts removed
Low-fat plain cream cheese
Cinnamon
Sugar
Low Fat Butter

Remove crusts from bread. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese on each slice. Roll the bread up. Cut the roll into several small pieces. Dip the pieces into butter. Roll the pieces in the cinnamon and sugar (to your taste). Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 5 minutes (or until warm and gooey). Serve immediately - These babies are best served right out of the oven (as long as the cream cheese is not too hot).

I promise these little goodies will be gobbled up in a matter of minutes~!

So, I hope you've enjoyed your stop by my little slumber party ... I hope you'll take a little online journey to Sparrows and lovingly browse their spectacular inventory. It's the cheapest escape to France you'll ever find ...

*Ephemera image courtesy of Miss Mary's Gazette and must be purchased through her site.
**Furniture images courtesy of Sparrows Antiques Website.

Tootalie Loo!

With such a fun holiday just around the corner, I thought I'd share some fitting ephemera. Doesn't the little worm make you think of curling up with a good book and drinking a cup of joe?
I'm so excited about new Flotsam and Jetsam endeavors! First of all, I'm a contributing member of the Vintage Journal. The lovely Sue at Vintage Rescue Squad clued me in to this exciting blog featuring artisans and antiquers ... Check out my post featuring the Pink Poet (a fabulous vintage haven in Maryland)!

I've also started writing for the Rubylane Blog, Notes for the Lane. So far, I've only submitted posts I've written for this Flotsam and Jetsam site; however, I'm thinking of doing some special pieces geared more to the Rubylane reader.

One more quick note- I'll be doing a Vintage Bits and Baubles Trunk Show in Raleigh, NC on March 14th starting at 9am. The Downtown Designers Market is also happening that same weekend so they'll be lots of crafty goodness in the Ornamentea vicinity. I do have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but we'll leave those for later (including info on a show I'm doing this Fall!). So, did you notice this fabulous old Doctor's desk (my most recent find from SuzAnna's)? Isn't it the most wonderful shade of mint? And can we talk about the original "Sterilizer" glass ... OK, so you wouldn't put this piece in a man's office, But Still??? (Actually I didn't think about the whole "sterilizer" thing until I had it loaded in the car - But it wouldn't have changed my opinion in the least)!
Best of all- Look at the ever so kitschy doll handle ... The fabulously creative Bobbi at Catchpenny's MADE this little buddy using a vintage mold and plastic! She's making more of these and will have them available on her Etsy site soon (right now she has these amazing wolves made from an antique form).

If you're looking for tantilizing antique ephemera, be sure to check back this week for updates. I have some lovely 1910s ink blotter images as well as some fun old wine labels. Craftiness abounds!

Ladies and Gentleman, Drumroll Please!

The winner of my 100th Post prize is Chris from Creative Mischief! I want to thank everyone for leaving lovely comments and participating - It's been so much fun ... I know it's a little late (or early) for Christmas ephemera but I thought this was a perfect image to use in honor of the vintage give-away!
Be sure to check back this week for new Flotsam & Jetsam business updates and an exciting blogging announcement...

100th Post Give-Away & Creative Spaces

In honor of my 100th post, I thought a little give-away was in order! This event seems to be a rather big deal in "blogland" and I certainly want to commemorate this occasion ... So, I've collected a few items from my stash (which you'll view later in this post) that I think will make a great gift for someone. When I asked readers to share what their favorite collectible was, most mentioned small, delicate items and ephemera. So, that's what's in store for the winner!
The prize includes a fabulous Pope's Poems book inscribed to "Cora" on December 13th, 1884. The cover itself is stunning and will make a great addition to your library.

Additionally, the winner will receive mother of pearl button blanks, vintage glass buttons from Czechoslovakia, and vintage enamel cabochons (which are absolutely wonderful and quite rare!).

Last, but certainly not least, is a fabulous resource concerning antique and collectible buttons written by the well-known author and button aficionado Diana Epstein.

An detailed view of the enamel pieces

To enter, simply leave a comment on my blog (on any post) between now and Friday the 27th. The winner will be randomly selected and announced Saturday the 28th! Good luck everyone...

This past week I accomplished a MAJOR task - I cleaned my office! What an amazing feat this was... I wish I had before and after shots. Anyways, I find that I'm more creative now that I have organization and space to think and dream. I thought I'd share some images from my work space so you could see what an antique dealer's life consists of.

My LABELED! boxes of stock and miscellaneous goods


A Snapshot of My Bulletin Board (I'm a Bulletin Board Fanatic!)


My Vintage Ribbon and Millinery Collection

So, that's a sneak peek into the daily life of a pack rat, collector, and dealer. Let's hope my space stays like this... It's amazing how much more creative and energized I feel now that I have room to build and play- I've often heard that organized spaces encourage creativity...

Well, I'm off to put some new items on the Rubylane site. Be sure to stop by the shop this week and browse these fabulous treasures, including a tiny vintage porcelain doll, a wonderful ceramic gnome, and a tom-o-shanter Art Nouveau coin purse.

Happy Birthday to Me!

OK... So, it's not until Tuesday the 24th. But who says you can't start celebrating a few days earlier? And ... Celebrate I did!

For birthday gifts to myself, I purchased 2 things- 1 practical and the other... not so much:) The first item is a pair of fabulous new Rieker shoes. I have never worn a more comfortable shoe; I will definitely be buying more of these in the future. Plus, they're super cute as you can see!

The second item is a wonderful handmade English bear (named Alfie) from The Vintage Magpie. I am so very excited! He'll be on his way to America in 3 weeks. Let's hope he has a safe trip to his new home. (I cannot take credit for this adorable portrait of Alfie. Nicky took his photo for her website. Isn't he a handsome fellow?)...