Special Delivery!

Have admired this file cabinet (above) over at scissor variations for quite a while, so when I came upon a similar one (below) on a recent outing at Bottoms Up, I didn't hesitate ~ well, actually I did ~ I had to do some serious thinking as to where I could put it and if I should spend the money!

Since the foot of snow has melted, the man I bought it from is delivering it tomorrow ~ I will be making a temporary space for it in the garage so I can clean it before bringing it inside. My plan is to add some casters to the bottom and then put it in the foyer ~ it will be a great place to organize and store the magazines that I save. I'm not sure if I will keep the cordovan colored finish or not ~ but it will be another huge project I don't need to strip it if I decide to do that!

I was told that the cabinet came from a city office where there must have been a wall of cabinets like this ~ notice the mismatched drawers. Not sure of its age, but I would guess the 40's. Too bad those Budweiser lamps weren't included?! Ha ha!

Tagged!

Sharon at secret leaves paperworks has tagged me ~ here are 10 random things about me.....

1. I am an excellent speller.

2. I've been known to do my own plumbing now and then.

3. My first job was a Friendly's waitress.

4. I do not like lima beans in any shape or form.

5. I've broken 5 fingers at different times, broken my nose twice (set it myself once), and chipped my front tooth.

6. I have two scottish terriers ~ Speck (black, age 7.5) and Sprocket (wheaten, age 1.5).

7. I have a dog (Sprocket) that crows like a rooster and a boyfriend who could pass for Colonel Sanders.

8. Power tools are always on my Christmas wish list.

9. I am a hoarder of sorts ~ I hope to avoid an end like this.

10. I am obsessed with organizers ~ or objects I can use as an organizer. I quite possibly have the largest collection of picnic packs in the world! Here, here & here.

Sparks/White Cloud ~ Fall 09 ~ The Temptations

As promised, some photos of some of the things I saw at Sparks and White Cloud this year. I keep telling myself that I am spending less and buying less since I am taking more photos, but I'm not so sure. The things I am showing on this post I admired, but didn't buy ~ I'll show you what I purchased in tomorrow's post ~ it's sunny today and I am on vacation from my day job, so I ought to be able to get a few decent photos.

I find I am always drawn to sewing items ~ notions, buttons, clasps, pincushions, dress forms, sewing displays.......

{unique advertising pincushion ~ there were five in the series}

{tiny pincushions ~ especially love the mother of pearl disc one}

{great sewing displays from stores}

{loved this graphic and the name}

Another thing I admire is cast iron ~ I love old heating registers and grates, iron rests, fencing etc. ~ basically decorative iron work.

{lovely victorian fencing ~ $950 was probably reasonable, but more than I wanted to spend}

Then there are the drawers, cabinets, organizers etc.... I never come away from a flea market or antique sale without drooling over some of these. Lately, I am only looking ~ unless it is an amazing bargain or something I just cannot resist ~ I have no room in my house anymore ~ unless I get rid of something!

{nice handmade chest of drawers ~ love the handles}

{old mail boxes ~ would make a great organizer for something}

{great cake cabinet ~ this one was pricey ~ $100}

Groups of objects or collections also catch my eye ~ even if it isn't something I collect or am especially interested in. I'm always appreciative of a vendor's efforts to display their wares well.

{great collection of trophies}

{group of old piano rolls}

{advertising buttons}

{nicely organized scrabble tiles}

{nice grouping of games by color}

Of course, a day at a flea market isn't complete without at stop for a funnel cake or corn dog ~ certainly lots to tempt you here too!

Files, files, more files!

As promised, thanks to a day of good weather, here are the cabinet files I mentioned yesterday ~ black and white Hercules prescription files. I bought these several years ago ~ for some reason I actually remember where I got them too ~ sometimes it amazes me that I can remember where I have gotten most of my treasures, given that I go out so often! The white files came from Curious Sofa, the black files from no-longer-in-existence, State Line Antique Mall. I love these files ~ they stack nicely on top of each other and are great for holding all of my backup CDs ~ fabulous looking AND functional!

Below are yet some other prescription files ~ Phillips brand. Now that I have committed to the black and white versions, I have decided I will probably sell these ~ after all, I don't have room for everything! I'd bought these years ago as well at another now defunct antique mall ~ thinking I would repaint them and make my own label ~ instead they have been used as is to hold videos next to the tv ~ I guess the rather rough labels kind of grew on me.

Walnut 2009 ~ The Spoils!

McCracken prescription files ~ eight of them ~ filled with vintage prescriptions! These were my favorite find at Walnut this year ~ they will now replace the army green Phillips files I have been using for my video tapes near my tv ~ the black and white works better with my decor! I just love these ~ their graphics, the handles/knobs and their size ~ they serve as great organizers as a CD or video tapes fit perfectly. These are all separate files ~ I have some others that are a cabinet of 6 ~ I'll see if I can get a photo taken tomorrow to share with you.

Although the prescription papers aren't as old as I had hoped, they are still pretty neat ~ some of the papers are nicely patterned so I think they may work out well as collage papers. Anybody out there have any other ideas as to what to use them for?

Walnut 2009 ~ The Sights.2

Now that I carry a camera with me when I shop, I THINK I am spending less ~ but I haven't actually done the math, so I'll bet I am just doing some extra impressive rationalization! For those of you who like to window shop and for me as a photo album of stuff I like or find interesting, here are some more sights from Walnut 2009 ~ again, something for everyone!

{pretty transferware}

{embossed old tin}

{old tins everywhere!}

{handsome man}

{boys' hobby book}

{scary almost life size naked display figures}

{band of brothers}

{cast iron shoes ~ wondered what these were used for?}

{enough yardsticks for a lifetime ~ or two}

{wonderful painted wooden window frame}

{ice cream sign with Elsie the cow!}

{what better spokesman for nut products than a squirrel?}

{ancient box of alphabet blocks}

Then there are the cabinets and drawers ~ I guess it is a good thing I had no way to transport any of these since I have absolutely no room in my house or budget! Some day ~ I dream of rooms filled with organized and labeled drawers filled with all of my collections and miscellaneous stuff!

{lovely brass card holder detail}

{any of these would be great for a studio!}

{cigar box shelves}

The last, a one of a kind shelving unit with cigar box drawers ~ this was useable from both sides! So it could be used as shown or one could change out the boxes so that all of the cigar labels showed - or all of the hardware showed ~ just ingenious! I have some cigar boxes I am going to try something like this with ~ uh oh, another project!

Fabulous Find #8 ~ Store Display Cabinet

Since getting the puppy I have not been out to a flea market or antique show in weeks ~ I needed a fix! So, Friday after a busy week at work, I decided I would treat myself and stopped at one of my favorite antique malls ~ W D Pickers.

The cabinet below was my big find ~ I have a real hard time resisting anything with drawers. Initially I thought I might use it as a jewelry box, but it is really too large ~ it measures 14" across, 16" high and about 11" deep. The faces of the drawers are wood with decorative metal pulls ~ the rest of the drawer and the entire housing is tin/metal ~ the outside parts printed. In my excitement of finding such a treasure I forgot much of what the dealer told me about the cabinet ~ I do remember he mentioned that he thought it had come from an old store back east. Now, to fill it with something!

{great tin drawer dividers}

{hardware detail ~ these are what sold me on the piece}

{surprise on back ~ worn away original print with my initial!}

Walnut Antique Show 2008 ~ The Goods

I took quite a few photos this year ~ even though I lost some downloading them {curses!}, I still have plenty to show. There were many great items to pick from ~ those shown below are things I liked, but for one reason or another didn't get ~ at least I have a picture!

{pencil samples, shell boxes, trophies, great tin}

{mod collection of flower brooches}

{ancient ledger with beautiful penmanship ~ this was hard to pass up!}

{great chest of drawers ~ love the label plates}

{wooden hardware cabinets from old store ~ what I would do for one of these!}

{metal hardware cabinet ~ have never seen one like this before ~ it looked heavy!}

{great anatomical chart}

{charming display of worn baby shoes}

{distinctive display of doll heads ~ cool, but a little creepy}