One Gal's Trash

Beachy Goods and Bambi on the Bar-B-Que

2012-02-02T20:02:00.000-08:00

Here's what I got at the beach last weekend.

Two huge (10' x 6'!) vintage curtains made of adorable, storybook fabric.

A large galvanized tub, a sweet metal birdcage & a 1960's era Hawaiian girl having a bad hair day.

And this metal tray. I'm not sure exactly what is going on here, but I think Mr. Baggy Pants is throwing deer steaks onto an open flame. Um....Ugh.

A Break in our Regularly Scheduled Junk Programming

2012-01-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

See this kid?

This is my nephew Max. He's 23. He recently graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Since the time he could hold a crayon, it's been clear that Max has stunning artistic talent. Max is the designer and creator of Clump-o-Lumps, brilliant and adorable toys that are manufactured by Knock Knock. Here's what they wrote about Max on the Knock Knock website:

(Please note the part about the vintage suitcase, I like to think that's my influence!)

"Clump-o-Lumps: In the fall of 2010, while guest-lecturing at Pasadena’s famed Art Center College of Design, Knock Knock head honcho Jen Bilik met Max Knecht, an insanely talented industrial design student. Out of a vintage suitcase he pulled the first hand-sewn Clump-o-Lump prototypes, about as charming then as they are now. Jen was smitten.

We quickly acquired the line from Max, though he’s still involved with its creation, execution, and expansion, thank goodness. As we’ve shown the family of creatures to an ever-expanding inner circle, everybody who’s come into contact with Clump-o-Lump has fallen in love—in fact, no new product has ever been this unanimously embraced within the company."

Check out the Clump-o-Lump video here.

P.S. Hey Pottery Barn Kids people!...I know how to get a hold of him. *wink*

A Winner and a Sign in the Middle of Nowhere

2012-01-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Linda from A La Carte! Linda is a long time member of One Gal's Trashy Pals and is the winner of the vintage valentine goods I posted about here.

(Linda, send me your address and I'll get your stash in the mail.)

For years I have passed this sign on the way to the coast. It's just outside of Banks, Oregon. On Saturday afternoon, at a moment when the sun was actually shining, I stopped the Dodge long enough to get out and take a picture.

What used to be Heritage Farms is now a gravel and rock business, but lucky for us, the gravel and rock people never bothered to remove the Heritage Farms sign. Here's the other side...

Corn and grapes and an orange and a peach!...Created and attached separately to the background for a 3-D effect. Love it! Now, I just have to figure out how to get it in the back of the Dodge.

Next post...The junk I found in Tillamook County!

A Milestone and a Giveaway. Because I ♥ You!

2012-01-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's official: One Gal's Trashy Pals has 500 members! Hip Hip Hooray! As a token of my thanks and affection, I'm giving away some of my stash...festive and vintage Valentine's Day junk.

Loot includes: 3 valentines, a super cute beaded necklace, a beaded flower, some sweet napkins, a button ring made by yours truly, the key to my heart, pink & red nut cups, red foil doilies, spools of fabulous trim and a stack of vintage FRAGILE (handle with care) stickers.

You want in? Leave a comment here, and your name goes in the proverbial hat. I'll choose a name on January 26th.

My Favorite Raccoon

2012-01-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

We have raccoons living under the deck in our back yard. They're big and lumbering and mean. Sometimes we see them peering in back door plotting, we think, the demise of our beloved and not brilliant dog, Hazel.

I found this guy at a local thrift for 49 cents. But he doesn't worry me. He's so friendly!

Even his tail is friendly!

And he does tricks!

It's not a verb, it's not a noun, it's not an adjective.

2012-01-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

Someone hung a friendly, blue sign bearing a simple statement on this telephone pole on NE Fremont St. It's the most beautiful word in the English language. Yes.

Vintage Wallflowers!

2012-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

wall·flow·er/ˈwôlˌflouər/
Noun: A person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy or awkward at a party.

These wallpaper designs just knock my fuzzy pink socks off! I would venture to say that these flowers would NOT be found sulking around the perimeter of the dance floor. Oh no...these blooms would be the life of the party!

My personal favorite....

Which one do you like the best?

Models. But Not The Victoria's Secret Kind.

2012-01-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

My friend Astrid, a.k.a. Vintage Betti, discovered these food beauty shots at a sale years ago. Just look at them! All of the food groups are represented: Fatty meats, canned fruits and creamed vegetables....
Yummy! And each delectable item is served on a Fiesta dish.

They're even called "Food Models"...designed to assist you in planning delicious and nutritious meals.

I created my own fantasy meal...A pork chop, prunes, buttered cabbage and biscuits with butter. And for dessert? Apple pie with a chunk of American Cheese. Because, as a very wise woman once said: "Apple pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze!"

2012-01-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen such a gorgeous pile of rusty metal?

2011-12-30T09:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Here's wishing you a happy, healthy and very junky 2012!

A Tea Time Giveaway

2011-12-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

My friend Joan makes these clever and earth-friendly greeting cards. Who knew a recycled tea bag package could look so beautiful?

Joan is having a cozy giveaway on her lovely blog, Septmeber Tea. Head on over to win a set of 5 cards and get started on your Christmas thank you notes!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy and junky 2012!xoxPam

Christmas Shopping in Tillamook County

2011-12-24T13:48:00.000-08:00

No silly, not at Macy's or Bloomingdale's. I did my last minute holiday frenzy at places with names like The Kit & Caboodle, The Hope Chest thrift store and of course, Cart'M. Here's my loot...

REAL Christmas lights, like my dad used to put up. (Extra bulbs in this jumbo size are getting more scarce.) A milk glass pedestal bowl, Baby Jesus in a pimped out diorama and playing cards for crafting.

2 unusual mid century bowls. Anyone out there know anything about these?

2 framed vintage photos, a wood headed doll and my new boyfriend.

He's always game to make Spaghetti Carbonara and will be winking at me until doomsday.

This was my favorite find....Aluminium tree stems, 22 of them. It was a little like winning the lottery. Wait! That reminds me! I found this too....

An olive green ashtray promoting the Loterie Nationale. You know. The Lottery. In France. I'm considering taking up smoking Gitanes just so I can use it.

She Sometimes Got Distracted

2011-12-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

I was at the dermatologist this morning when a Newsweek magazine caught my eye. I opened it to a story about how kids in military families are getting a lousy education, due to lack of funding. The story was quite serious and gave examples of crumbling school buildings, lack of classroom computers and empty library shelves. I tried to give it the proper attention it deserved....but all I could think about was how to get my grubby hands on this classroom map.

Does that make me a bad person?
BTW, I stole this page right out of the magazine so I could tell you the story, but please don't be too mad at me. The issue was from last July.

Oh, Baby!

2011-12-17T16:34:00.000-08:00

It's bound to happen to all of us. You're on the bus or at a holiday party, and someone shows up with a baby. An ugly baby. What do you do when you come face to face with him/her? My mom always said the best response is: "Now, THERE'S a baby!"
That is exactly what I thought when I saw these vintage doll house infants at a sale. I was drawn to their itsy bitsy size, but on closer inspection, they're actually quite hideous.
Limbs fashioned from bump chenille (!), expressions of colicky misery on their tiny plastic faces. As a special bonus, they appear to be dressed in straight jackets. Maybe back in the day, that was the solution when Mommy needed a night of playing Bunco and drinking Margaritas with the girls.

Now, THERE'S a baby!

Breaking News!

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

I told you about my friend Anna here. We've been friends since the day she was born. Literally. Anna is an artist in Southern California who creates ~ among other works ~ whimsical prints of animals, polka dots included!

Tomorrow is the last day to grab yourself Anna's "minis" at a fantastic sale price. Check out her Facebook page &/or her website for details.

White Trash Truffles

2011-12-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

I got to have a play date with my friend Amy the other day. (You might know Amy from her beautiful and informative blogs Into Vintage and Vintage Market Guide.) Amy brought me these adorable chocolate bon bons. When she told me that they're called 'White Trash Truffles', I just about fell off my chair. Trust me girls, save yourselves a trip to Godiva and whip up a batch of these. Easy, cheap and yummy...just like me!

White Trash Truffles

1 20-oz package oreo cookies

2 8-oz bricks cream cheese

16-oz Dolci Frutta Hard Chocolate Shell for Fruit (found in the produce section)

Remove cream cheese from fridge and let soften at room temperature for 20 minutes. In a food processor, pulse oreo cookies until they are in small pieces, but not too powdery. Add cream cheese to cookie mixture in a mixing bowl and mash together until well blended. Roll oreo cream cheese mixture into 1” balls and place on a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Melt chocolate and dip each ball into the chocolate, turning until well coated. Return to wax paper. Repeat until all balls are coated with chocolate. Refrigerate truffles for 30 minutes to set chocolate.

To Hell With Christmas!

2011-12-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

The best part about decorating for Christmas is sorting through the ornaments we have accumulated over the years. Some of the most cherished ones belonged to grandma Millie, others were regulars on the trees from my childhood and are now loved by my kids.

This is one of our favorites, just for the sheer randomness of it. A few decades ago, somebody, somewhere was making ornaments out of egg shells. And she, (because of course it was a she) decided to do something really unexpected. "I know"...She mused..."I'll make a devil ornament. A girl devil ornament!" We think she's sinfully wonderful!

Metal Objects I Have Known and Loved

2011-12-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

In a frenzy of holiday vintage tinkering, I have been spending a lot of time pawing through drawers of my beloved junk. These 4 pieces speak to me...Why?

Because....

Top left (belt buckle) is gold tone with leafy vines and a flowery detail in the middle.

Top right (pendant) is big and bold and reminds me of Napoleon. See?

Bottom left (medal?) has a crown. Duh.

Bottom right (buckle) reminds me of a wrought iron gate in France.

Which one is your favorite and why? Please advise!

The Stuff She Makes....

2011-11-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

My previous post was all about Magpie Ethel and her studio. Now, you get to see what comes out of that happy, glittery place in SE Portland...

Santa's house

Party birds

A pink, blingy wreath

Charming little people made from spun heads, pipe cleaners, cupcake wrappers and various bits & bobs

Foil reflector flowers

A snowman's house

Christmas tree clips with vintage mushrooms and dapper snowmen.

An elf napping in a tart tin

Snowboys and snowgirls

Dear deer by the dozens

And Laurie's self portrait, Magpie Ethel style!

You can meet (and shop!) Laurie at the following events:

Laurelhurst Artisan Bazaar - December 4th - Laurelhurst School 840 NE 41st Ave.

Crafty Wonderland - December 10th & 11th - Portland Convention Center

Or head over to her Etsy shop!

They Call Her Magpie Ethel

2011-11-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Laurie...a.k.a Magpie Ethel. She is easily distracted by shiny objects. She makes magical creatures using vintage objects. She has naturally curly hair. Here she is, working in her studio which can best be described as a combination toy shop, candy store, Santa's workshop and glitter factory.

Our friend Kim, from Camp Whimsy, found this old wooden sign for Laurie/Ethel in an alley near her house. Something tells me there's more to the story, but for the sake of brevity, we'll continue our tour.

Laurie likes vintage paper party favors. A lot.

Babies of all shapes and sizes!

Laurie is organized....

Very organized.

This collection of vintage wire bells hangs from the light in her studio. I have asked her for it several times. Sadly, she always says no.

Happy stuff waiting to be transformed into something even happier.

Spun heads...by the hundreds.

Laurie keeps supplies in vintage suitcases...like foil reflectors, for instance.

A blissful array of color, texture and bling.

Next post: What she makes!

Strawberries in November

2011-11-14T09:25:00.001-08:00

I saw the corner of this bowl under a pile of rusty muffin tins and stained Tupperware...

"Hello, my beloved," I whispered.

"I think you'll be coming home with me."

The End

Knick Knack Patti Whack!

2011-11-11T18:15:00.001-08:00

My friend Patti is hosting a swell event at her shop in NE Portland this weekend. 4 local crafters have set up mini shops of their own within the Butter Bean walls of Patti's delightful space.

Let's have a look, shall we?

Nancy Goldman creates awesome brooches out of plastic animals, ribbon, wire and beads...

She up-cycles cast off sweaters into warm and whimsical hats...

Nancy also attaches images to canvas and adds bits and bobs to complete the picture. A cat with a crown and an Italian Count with a rhinestone earring, for example.

Julie Feuerborn is a master of glass transfers...

Aren't they wonderful? (The girl with the bird on her head in the first photo now belongs to yours truly.)
Laurie Buckley knits beautifully...

and makes lovely jewelry too!

Trina Hesson does amazing things with paper and glitter...

and paints colorful and unusual ornaments for your holiday tree.

Don't miss this show chock-full of charming and very reasonably priced goodies.

Patti Smith West

3746 NE 42nd - 1 block north of Fremont St.

Saturday 11/12 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Junky Junk and Holy Junk

2011-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

There was only one estate sale listed on Friday. It started at 9:00. I went at 11:00 to make sure I missed all the dealer fist fights. It was a good day.

Let's begin with the secular....

Hoot owl cutting board

6 Cheery 1980's Santa glasses, unsullied by dishwasher detergent.

Now, let's move on to the divine...

Lovely St. Anthony print, with Lilies & bagels (?!)

Religious pamplets...I'm working on committing "Our Moral Life" to memory.

A little something for my garden, and eventually, my grave. My husband has strict instructions. My headstone will read: "She was sometimes a headache, but she was never a bore."
This was the best thing, hands down.

A tiny white vase stuffed with beaded flowers. I adore beaded flowers. Look at the leaves! Price...

And a hearty Congratulations to Beth of Parsimonia: Second Hand with Style. Beth won the coveted Blue Ribbon Blogger Award from Country Living magazine. Her blog is funny and a feast for the eyes! Thanks to all of you for rooting for One Gal's Trash, and especially for following the ramblings of a crazy lady in Portland, Oregon.

xoxoxo

Pam

The Happiest Place on NE 42nd Ave.

2011-11-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

Patti Smith and I first met a few years ago when she came to one of my garage sales. I was clearing out some of my inventory and she was choosing the most interesting stuff. We started to chat and discovered we love the same junk and have the same birthday. We've been friends ever since. Patti opened up a shop of her own recently and I'd love to show you around...

Patti is planning a fantastic event next weekend. She will open her shop to showcase 4 Portland crafty/junky artists and their work. Here's the best part. She's calling it the "Knick Knack Patti Whack" event. How can you NOT love her? Portlanders...Don't miss it!

Friday, November 11 ~ 6:00 p.m

Patti Smith West

3746 NE 42nd Ave. (2 blocks north of Fremont St.)

Portland 97213

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

~Author Unknown

Something About a Girl with a Cake

2011-10-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

I couldn't leave this little miss on the shelf at the Sally Army. Something about her appealed to me...and it wasn't just the fact that she cost only a dollar. She's a girl, holding a cake. Sort of like this one that I posted about here.

Now, I have something else to add to my list of must finds. Girls with cakes. Just one more, and I'll officially have a collection!

Just one more...

2011-10-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is the last post I will do about creepy dolls...Pinky swear!

Back story: I've told you about my "friend" Julia. We met 25 years ago when we worked at the same crappy pizza restaurant in Paris. We were both from California, loved all things French and laughed at each other's jokes. These days, she lives at the edge of a magical forest and has 2 adorable French children with her fabulous French husband. The reason I refer to her as my "friend" is because I actually hate her. She spends her days driving around small French towns buying (and finding by the side of the rue) fantastic stuff that really belongs to me. Like this:

Julia follows this blog and knows that I have been posting about creepy dolls. As is her way, she has to out-do me. Again.

Julia tells me she found this...um, object, in the back of a closet. It is so ugly, so awful, so disturbing, that it turns some kind of corner and becomes wonderful. And I would KILL for those eyebrows.

Dolls From Hell and a Hallow-Winner!

2011-10-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because Halloween is on the horizon or perhaps it's due to the phases of the moon, but creepy dolls are everywhere. Amy from Into Vintage posted about a spectacularly terrifying sample here. Then I came across this one...

Armless and looking bereaved....

And this one, with nightmarish eyes. Also....

I recently offered this vintage Halloween booty in exchange for a swell trick or treat story. Thanks to everyone for playing along. I'm happy to announce the winner is Leah Dickey. I loved her description of her "Wonder Years" neighborhood at Halloween. Leah, please send your address to dotproblem (at) msn (dot) com, and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you!

The Stuff I Brought Home

2011-10-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here's my takeaway from the "Angels and a Whorehouse Bed" sale...

A milk glass bird candy dish and vintage coffee canister (both already listed in my Etsy shop!).

Teeny perfume bottles, owl pendants, tutti fruiti earrings that will soon be hair clips, a St. Christoper pill box (in case prayers don't heal you, meds will), and 2 fab bone china liquor decanter labels. I'm making these into necklaces...I don't care what anyone says. I'll sell them at the Plucky Maidens Junk Fest!

A sweet vintage framed bird print. At first I thought it was wallpaper, but it's actually fabric from 1955...It says so on the back. LOVE it!

Glittery sequined pears,

a pussy willow adorned serving bowl,

and a tapestry table top in autumn colors...The last 3 items can also be found in my Etsy shop!

See what you can come up with if you're willing to dig? What's your favorite thing?

Angels and a Whorehouse Bed

2011-10-14T19:49:00.001-07:00

I went to an estate sale at this house yesterday. Judging from the outside, I had a sense of what kind of stuff I might find, but it was so much more than I bargained for.

I would have paid anything for this, but it was sunk in concrete and wouldn't budge. Believe me, I tried. Let's go inside, shall we?

Glittery gold "art" was everywhere.

and angels...

lots of lots angels.

But this was the piece de resistance. A red tufted velvet headboard, suited for a princess. Or a hooker. Next post: The stuff I brought home.

Blatant Self Promotion - Gifts Included!

2011-10-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Seems like Autumn is the season of giveaways! Here's some Halloween stuff that I'll throw in a box and send off to someone out there...

The all-vintage booty includes: A Gurley Jack-o-Lantern candle, 3 creepy B & W postcards, black paper streamers, orange buttons, black seam binding, a beaded black flower and an October 1958 'Children's Playmate' magazine with swell graphics.

Here's how to win: Leave me a comment here and tell me about the best ~ or worst ~ trick or treat prize you ever got. If you don't have one, make one up. We don't have any fact checkers on staff here. And besides, if I've taught you anything girls, I've taught you to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I'll choose my favorite a week from today, on October 20th.

Oh! and if you're not already a member of One Gal's Trashy Pals, join up over there.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

(Members have a better chance of winning the booty. Just sayin'.)

Besides, I'm almost at 500 peeps....show me some OGT love!

Dolls Gone Bad

2011-10-10T23:37:00.000-07:00

I found these vintage Party Dolls and Dress Me Dolls at a thrift emporium. The kitsch factor was very high, but so was the creepy thing. Very creepy.

These babies look like satin-robed aliens.

And these girls are a little bit glam...and a little bit terrifying. What should I do with them? Please advise!

More Recipe Book Joy

2011-10-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Girls! I knew you would love the Fireside Cook Book! I'm posting more photos of the illustrations; there are so many delightful ones for you to see....

Can't you just smell the hay and the cotton candy?

I would so wear her outfit if it was real.

Magnifique!

"You know what too many Cooks do".

"There are as many good fish in the Sea as Ever came out of it". I have no idea what this means, but I love the image; and the fisherman caught Picasso's fish!

The splendid illustrations are by Alice and Martin Provensen.
P.S. Fun fact of the day: Martin was the creator of the original Tony the Tiger in 1952.

Vintage Cook Books

2011-10-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Don't you love them? I especially enjoy the ones with photos like these. I mean, who would eat this?

Or this?

I found The Fireside Cook Book while junking in Connecticut years ago. It's my all time favorite.

I'll show you why...

Who wouldn't want to buy chops from this man?

Pasta is yummy.

Oui, bien sur!

"Four persons are wanted to make a salad ~ A spendthrift for oil, a miser for vinegar, a counselor for salt and a madman to stir it all up".

The very best illustration in the book...Eggs, and what you can do to them.

I've never actually tried any of the recipes from the Fireside Cook Book. I just sit with it in my lap, late at night, and read it like normal people read a novel.

Halloween Flash Cards!

2011-09-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Wait. Ginormous flash cards?

Ginormous flash cards with purple ink?

Ginormous flash cards with purple Jack-o-Lanterns?
I've died and gone to vintage ephemera heaven.

Under the Sea in SE Portland

2011-09-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

I was wowed. I was stunned. I felt a little seasick, but was on dry land.

This amazing installation by Sayuri Sasaki Hemann is currently in the front window at Tilde in Sellwood.

Crafted from tulle, thread, ribbon, wool, wire and fabric, the artist created this elaborate and ethereal exhibit. If you are in or around Portland, stop by a.s.a.p. to see it.

The seascape is coming down on Saturday, October 1st. All of the elements are for sale and will be available to take home on the 1st. OGT bought a jellyfish and a sea urchin!

Tilde
7919 SE 13th Ave.
Portland 97202

And for the first time ever...an OGT Rerun

2011-09-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love to hate Bill O'Reilly. Since he has been in the news lately with that whole "I'm more powerful than anyone" business and the "I'm going to quit if my income taxes go up" shenanigans, I decided it was a good time to share a previous post from OGT. Although I wrote this almost 2 years ago, I'm sure that all of the details still apply. All of them. Read on, girls....

Some of you lovely gals asked for more details about my experience working with Bill O'Reilly when I mentioned him here. Back in the late 80's, I worked for Inside Edition as a producer and Bill was the anchor. He was not really known for his kind and thoughtful demeanor. Here's an example.

I mostly got to stay away from him except when he decided to go to Haiti to do a story. Bill's story concept was about how the entire population of Haiti is gripped by the claws of Voodoo. In fact, an extremely small percentage of Haitians embrace Voodoo, the people there are Catholic, and by a very large margin. However, as I learned working for 2 decades in TV news; never, ever, let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Anyway, I spoke enough French to be his translator, so I "got to" go. Let me just say that being in Haiti with Bill O'Reilly is like being in hell with Satan. He is literally incapable of speaking about anything other than himself. He is so obtuse, that when the waiter at our hotel asked him IN ENGLISH for his dinner order, Bill turned to me to order for him. So I did, IN ENGLISH.

Back in New York one night, a friend of one of the other producers had an alcohol soaked night of "passion" with him. She reported back, of course. I therefore have it on good authority that he is (as Lily Allen so beautifully puts it) "small in the game".

It May be Fall, but I'm Feeling Springy!

2011-09-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

I was searching and sorting and swearing in my studio this morning when I came across this vintage garden guide from the 1940's....

'Steps to Better Gardening'. See how they are stepping to better gardening? Nice Art Direction! And I always wear white heels when I'm heading out to dig in the dirt.

Look how happy they are! She gets bonus points for being a redhead.

And why shouldn't they be happy? They're about to plant Lipstick petunias!

...and Sweet Peas and Nasturtiums and Zinnias.
I think I'm inspired to head out and dig in the dirt myself today.
Now, where did I put my white pumps?

Let's Find the After Eight Mints!

2011-09-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

When we were kids, we always knew when my mom was having her Bridge group over....the tell-tale signs were everywhere. The high shelf booze and ashtrays were brought down, and there was candy. She bought the quality stuff for her friends and always tried to hide it. Sadly for her, there were four of us and it was pretty easy to divide, conquer and devour. Anyway, I'm getting off the subject here. I found these vintage Bridge Tally sets at recent and extraordinarily filthy sale. But I don't care. I love them, especially the windmill themed ones.

As a bonus, they still smell like gin and cigarettes.

It's the color of eggplants!

2011-09-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to find this vintage pitcher at a consignment-y thrift store in my neighborhood. It's not often that I come across something so very Frenchy and so very purple! Jugs like this one are used in French cafes to hold water...and in this case, advertise the name of the cafe. Sadly, Le Zinc no longer exists in Villefranche ~ near Nice in the south of France ~ but while doing a google search, I found this link. Le Petit Zinc in Paris is absolutely going on my bucket list. I'll be having the oysters and the Souffle au Grand Marnier.

...And a Hip Hip Hooray! goes to Gina from Vintage Junk in My Trunk. Gina won Country Living magazine's Blue Ribbon Blogger Reader's Choice Award. The magazine has not yet announced the Editor's pick for best "Collecting" blog...OGT is still in the running for that one. I'd LOVE to win the trip to New York City! I'll keep you posted.

Who Knew?

2011-09-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

This pretty little needlework sampler has been hanging on our kitchen wall for years. Lately, I find myself eyeing our beloved possessions to see what I can weed out and sell. So, during dinner last night, I said to the family, "Would anyone mind if I sell that Home Sweet Home cross stitch?"

The husband: "I never liked it."

The daughter: "It's pretty ugly."

The son: "I hate that thing!"

Just goes to show you...If you don't ask, you'll never know!

I'll slap a price tag on it, and sell it in time for Thanksgiving.

Yippee Ki Yo Ki Yay!

2011-09-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

There are 2 kinds of girls in this world. Girls who love horses and girls who don't. I fall into the latter category. I have been on a horse just twice in my life and both times it ended in tears. (Uncontrollable sobs of terror, actually.) We'll let those stories remain untold for the moment while I show you a gem I found at a recent sale.

Someone told me that these vintage metal horses were prizes or trophies at carnivals. And although I'm not a horse person, I think this guy is very handsome. And a much better prize than a skeevy stuffed animal or a gigantic inflatable hammer.

P.S. You can still vote (through 9/15) for One Gal's Trash in Country Living magazine's Blue Ribbon Blogger Reader's Choice Award. Click on the following link. Scroll down to "Click here to vote", the Collecting category is the first one listed. You'll find me there....Thanks!

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/blogger-awards-submission

Fruit, Flowers, Wood and Glass

2011-09-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to emptying the bags from last weekend's junk adventure on the Oregon coast.

Sweet plate painted with hydrangeas and figs.

White porcelain French plate with gold polka dot trim.

An old painted cedar float used for fishing nets. (Still smells a little briny!)

Milk Glass candlesticks...I'm thinking turquoise candles.

And Hazel Atlas glasses with a garden theme...including a white picket fence. (Does it get any better? I think not.) The set was priced at $1.99, but that day, blue stickers were 75% off. So that means....Wait, I have to do math, I'll be right back.

So that means, I got both of them for 49 cents.

Those Wacky French People

2011-09-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

I've had this picture for a very long time. I don't remember where I got it, but I do remember it set me back a whole 95 cents. The print is sort of haphazardly slapped on gold painted particle board, but I personally think that adds to its charm.

At first glance, it's a delightful little scene of French people dancing. But on closer inspection, it's clear that something else is happening...some sort of game involving blindfolds and a large wooden spoon. Can anyone out there tell me what the hell is going on?

P.S. One Gal's Trash is up for a Blue Ribbon Blogger Award given by Country Living. You can vote for me in the Reader's Choice Award here. If you tell 5 friends, and they tell 5 friends, and they tell 5 friends...I could win this thing. Go! Vote!

xoxo

Pam

A Stack of Strawberry Goodness

2011-09-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite junking spots on the Oregon Coast is the Kit & Caboodle Thrift Store in Tillamook. (Yes, as in the cheese.) I stopped by yesterday and found a boatload of stuff. This was my favorite find. Look at those delectable berries!

Recently, I have been drawn to strawberries in a way that I can't quite explain. So my heart skipped a beat when I saw this...

4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates and 2 bowls.

I would have been happy to pay the sticker price, but it was my lucky day. It was the annual "1/2 Off Everything Labor Day Weekend Sale". My heart skipped another beat.

You know what this means, of course. Yet another collection. Please don't tell my husband.

P.S. One Gal's Trash is a finalist in the Country Living Blue Ribbon Blog Awards! Please click on the Reader's Choice Award and cast your vote for yours truly. You can vote once a day if you are so inclined. Thank you and xo!

Pam

Smart Women Vote!

2011-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Girls! Look over there <<<<<<!

See it? It's the Country Living Magazine Blue Ribbon Blogger Award widget!

I'm a finalist in the "Collecting" category. I am bruised from head to toe from pinching myself. If OGT wins, I'll be going to New York City (my old stomping grounds) for an awards lunch on November 2nd.

There's also Reader's Choice Award and you can vote for me here...Scroll down to "Click here to vote" link. The "Collecting" blog category is the first one listed.

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/blogger-awards-submission?click=pp

So, if one of my posts ever made you laugh (either with me or at me) or cry, please consider voting for One Gal's Trash. Thanks and xoxoxox Pam

P.S. Some of you have asked...and the answer is YES! You can vote for me daily through September 15th.

I wonder why she didn't sell....

2011-08-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

I found her a few years ago at a junky antique shop on the Oregon Coast. I fell in love from across the room...her face, her hair and the sunlight on the meadow behind her. For $8, she was mine. When I got her home, I realized the object in her hands was not a fluffy hat after all. It's a chicken. A dead chicken. I was sort of horrified, but I liked her enough to keep her on my bedroom wall for awhile. Recently, I decided that she should find a new home. Here she is, up for sale at the Plucky Maidens Junk Fest. I wrote on her price tag: "Frenchy Girl About to Pluck a Dead Chicken". Perhaps that is why she was still there at the end of the day.

A new business, a great day and a special guest.

2011-08-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I recently partnered up with my friend Maria of collage to launch a business called Plucky Maidens. Our mission is to host 3 Junk Fest! sales a year, in and around Portland. The Fests! will have the finest vendors selling the most fabulous vintage and antique wares. August 18th was our inaugural Fest! held outdoors at McMenamins Edgefield. I am proud to tell you that it was an amazing success! We had 50 vendors selling great junk to large crowds of very happy customers.

And as a special bonus, look who showed up to shop...Emily Henderson, HGTV's Design Star 2010 and host of Secrets from a Stylist! Emily was gracious and adorable and even bought stuff! Here's a shot of Maria and Emily and me....

Want to come to our next event?

Plucky Maidens Junk Fest!

A Smorgasbord of Vintage Wares

The Holiday Event

November 19, 2011 10am - 4pm

Children's Cottage @ McMenamins Grand Lodge

Forest Grove, Oregon

P.S. The Grand Lodge is a full service hotel in a charming, historic building. So, if you would like to visit the Fest! and have a delightful night out....Book your room now! (877) 992-9533.

As if it fell from Heaven above

2011-08-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

I was pulling into a parking space at the grocery store when I saw a vision in turquoise from across the lot. There it was...alone and abandoned at the Salvation Army donation truck. The lines! The shape! The color! I couldn't possibly bring it home but decided the least I could do was take a photo of it. I drove away slowly, quietly weeping. Farewell, turquoise thing, farewell!

Playing with Scarves

2011-08-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

I love vintage scarves. I don't wear them, I just like to look at them. Especially when they're all stuffed into a fabulous old round suitcase.
View #1 - Colors, florals, patterns...

Then you stir and mix...and see all new colors, florals, patterns.

Wait! Do I see mushrooms?

Yes! Mushrooms and...cherubs! The colors are stunning, but I simply cannot fathom the relationship between fungus and arrow-wielding angels. Girls, help me out here.

P.S. I think I might have to actually wear this one for my next evening out on the town.

I've Got a New Attitude. Sort of.

2011-08-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

I mentioned here that my space at Found on Fremont is moving from downstairs to up. I'm a bit worried about what will happen to my sales; but mostly I'm annoyed about not being front and center (actually it was back and center, but let's not split hairs) anymore. The actual move was not the chaotic disaster I had envisioned. In fact, it's coming together quite nicely, thank you.

What do you think? Please advise!

Cocorico!

2011-07-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

French Pre-school children learn that roosters greet the morning with "Cocorico!" Isn't that so much better than "Cock-a-doodle-do!"?
I found this gorgeous lamp at a recent sale. The first thing that popped into my head was..."Look! A lamp with 2 cocks on it!" Price? $10. Magnifique!

We're not Happy

2011-07-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

Big changes are coming to the shop where I sell my junk. My friend Gail and I have been vendors there for a long time and currently have our spaces on the first floor. A new gal has signed the lease and, lo and behold, will be taking over the entire first floor. So that means that Gail and I will be moving upstairs. This photo sums up how we feel about that...

Thank you, Sherry!

2011-07-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

So the other day, while I was working at the shop, the phone rang. When I answered it, I heard the words we all live to hear, "Hi, my name is Sherry and my sister and I are cleaning out our Aunt Ethel's house...." All I heard after that was "Blah, blah, furniture..blah blah...dishes, old records...blah blah...donate to Goodwill..." I tried to stay calm, but it was impossible. I unwittingly shouted out: "NO!" I took a breath and said, "I'll be there as soon as I close the shop!" Here's (some of) what I got...

Royal typewriter from the 1940's,

wood boxes, garden tools, a floral print, chartreuse lamp, 1940's aluminium cooler, a hopper and...ahem, concrete.

Orange Damask drapes, a green trunk stuffed with linens, ancient copper heater and pink floral bin,

Galvanized buckets (2 of several) Pendleton wool blanket, and a mocha brown 1950's daybed,

2 sweet canvas topped seats,

and a box full (one of 4) of kitchen goodies. My favorites are the hard boiled egg slicer and the turkey lacing pins. I shoved a large wad of cash in Sherry's hand and drove off into the night.

I would show you the rest of the stash, but A) it's all piled in a friend's garage in SE Portland and B) that would just be boasting.

A Month from Today!

2011-07-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Dear One Gal's Trashy Pals,

I'm so excited! One Gal's Trash is partnering up with Maria from collage to host the junk show of the summer. It will be an afternoon of junking under the trees by the Little Red Shed at McMenamins Edgefield. A true Smorgasbord of Vintage Wares! We'll be junking into the evening...live music by ROOTDOWN starts at 6PM. All of Edgefield's pubs and restaurants will be open for the event. Rain or Shine and FREE to the public. Won't you join us?

Please take a minute to visit our Facebook page and "Like" us. Thanks!

If you would like to be a vendor at the Fest!, you still have time to let us know...Check out our Vendor Application here.

Thanks and xoxoxo!
Pam

My New Favorite Thing

2011-07-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived on the porch the other day...
A fabulous huge metal expandable stand thing-a-ma-jig!

My friend Laurie posted about finding one here. I pestered her with questions like..."Can I buy it?" "Can I trade you something for it?" "Can I do your laundry for the next 12 months in exchange for that object?" She said no.

But lucky for me, one of Laurie's readers had one in her attic. One thing led to another, emails were exchanged and a few days later...It's mine all mine. (Thanks, Elizabeth!)

And look at those metal prongs! I'll keep it handy for the next time I need a weapon.

P.S. The plates are antique Limoges china that I found at a high school rummage...$2 for 4 of them. But that's a story for another day.

A Thursday Night Surprise

2011-07-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

I was driving through the hood on Thursday evening when I saw the tell-tale signs of an estate sale. Cars parked all caddywompus along 15th Avenue, a bunch of malcontents blocking the sidewalk complaining about all the malcontents blocking the sidewalk. You know, the usual. Sure enough, it was indeed a sale...just a few minutes before it opened. I made a U-turn, brought Hazel the dog home and drove back, all in about 45 seconds. The sale was a little fancy pants for my taste, but I found a few goodies.

A couple of red oak farm chairs,

A fantastic olive green Smith Corona typewriter, a print of Lord Fauntleroy,

and 3 small French bowls. (You know how I love anything Frenchy.) The messages are: "Love transcends reason", "One is always 20 years old in some corner of the heart" and "Far from sight, close to my heart". Swoon.

Recent Finds That Thrill Me

2011-07-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

I recently posted on my Facebook page that after a marathon cleaning and sorting of my "inventory", I was never going to buy anything again. Ever. The responses I got from my dearest friends were along the lines of "LOL", "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" and "I think Pam is delusional!" Anyway, here is some of the stuff I uncovered...

Fab 1970's floral painting that reminds me of Tahiti, even though I have never been there.

Sweet floral bookends.

Ditto, but with a Lily of the Valley thing going on.

Swimming swans table top.

Hooooooo is the most handsome concrete owl in the world?

Which one do you like best? Please advise!

Random Things I Love About Portland - Independence Day Installment

2011-07-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Sign on the door of Miss Delta, a Southern style restaurant, on N. Mississippi Ave.

Happy 4th of July, everybody!

Who Wants to Play?

2011-07-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

A Call for Vendors

To all of my Trashy Pals,

Please consider joining us...as a vendor or a shopper at

Plucky Maidens Junk Fest!
A Smorgasbord of Vintage Wares

Thursday, August 18th 1PM - Dusk

Maria from collage and yours truly are putting together the junk show of the summer. Fabulous vendors selling vintage treasures under the trees by the Little Red Shed at McMenamins Edgefield....Just 20 minutes east of Portland. Oregon based band ROOTDOWN will play us into the night. All restaurants and pubs on the property will be open during the fest.

Junk + Food + Drink + Music = Free fun for the whole family!

Vendor Applications are available here

A Thrifty Book and 2 Winners!

2011-06-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

This sweet old book was recently for sale at the shop. The title caught my attention.

Who knew the term "self help" goes back 100 years? And the author? Samuel Smiles. Charming!

And there you have it in a nutshell.

In other news...Remember our ginormous vintage food posters contest?
We have 2 lucky winners: Shara and Amber. Those 2 Trashy Pals had the most inventive ideas on what they were used for. The Prize? Each Pal gets one of the posters of her very own. Girls, leave a comment here on which poster you want...No fighting and no pony tail pulling!

The Uncola as a Secret Ingredient

2011-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a 7-Up girl. Please don't serve me Sprite, and certainly not Sierra Mist. I was tickled to find this recipe book at a recent sale. It's called "7-Up goes to a Party!"

Who knew you could make all this great stuff with a soft drink?

Meat marinade, biscuits, salad dressing, "sophisticated" baked beans, and...

Anyone for a Jellied Tomato Olive Mold? Perhaps not.

But, I will be making this Frozen Fruit Loaf for our 4th of July party. I'll use blueberries and strawberries for color. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Bye Bye Bambi!

2011-06-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Remember this handsome fella?

I dug him out of a forest of vinca in a backyard in SE Portland. Since then, he's been the reigning king of the shop. I'm here to report that he has found a new home.

Yesterday, his new owner put him lovingly in the back of a Subaru. He looks like he's trying to see through the window...Don'tcha think? Happy trails, Bambi!

A Quandary

2011-06-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I drove one of these babies during my college years while living in The O.C. My 1977 Mustang was blue. All of the other students at UC Irvine drove chocolate brown convertible BMWs, but I'm not bitter or anything. Anyway, this golden girl is up for sale near our house. Meanwhile, a few blocks away...

this sweet thing is also on the market. I've been wanting to trade in the Dodge for a Super Duper Mini Cooper for EVER. The Cooper is adorable of course, but the Mustang has a lot more room for junk in the trunk. If I was going to get one, which one would you recommend?

A Contest

2011-06-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Once, when I was in college, I went to an all night diner that had menus with photos of the food only. No "Chili Cheese Dog" or "Pigs in a Blanket" written anywhere. But at 3 am, after a party, there was something kind of entertaining about pointing and saying: "I'll have one of these please, and a couple of those."

Recently, I found these huge photos at a sale on the garage floor. They are 18" square, printed on both sides and (I'm guessing) vintage 1980-ish. Not sure if they were used at a restaurant or cafeteria, but I'm drawn to them in a way I can't really explain.

Banana Split in a footed bowl.

Strawberries with ice cream and avocado. (!?)

Two tone green Jello square. On lettuce, of course.

Stuffed pineapple with a fern backdrop.

Girls...what were they used for? Chime in here. I'll pick the answer I like best and the winner will get one of them, whether she wants it or not.

Satin Ribbon, Floral Prints and 2 Smelly Brides

2011-06-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

Remember this sale? I went back today to see if there were any leftovers. It was 1/2 price day and I was hoping to score a cheap boatload. There was a boatload for sure, but even at half price, most of it wasn't cheap enough for me. I did bring home the following...

Spools of of satin ribbon...one of which is a glorious 2 tone.

Vintage florals ~ these 2 are my favorites.

And these 2 brides. I don't normally go for dolls...high creepy factor. But these were old and wearing satin gowns, for Pete's sake. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that they smell, and not in a good way. It's more than musty...it's more like cat spray, if you get my meaning. Girls, any suggestions on how to get the stench out?

Fabulous stuff I saw on NE 73rd Street

2011-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

As I turned the corner onto NE 73rd Street today, I spotted this car, just sitting there, looking stunning. The shape! The color! The adorable brake lights!

Further down the street, I saw this guy checking out this exercise bike which someone had left on the street. While I was frantically digging in my purse for my camera, he moved the bike closer to his car. Judging by the pile on top of his car, he had been "shopping" the neighborhood. Please note: garden hose, American flag and heaven only knows what's under the blue tarp. I think you can guess what happened next.

Up the bike went...right on top his other treasures. No rope, no bungee cord in sight; just sheer confidence that it would all stay there on the way home. Compared to this guy, I'm a total amateur.

To clean or to junk? That is the question.

2011-06-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

It was Saturday morning. The house was a disaster and 6 of my in-laws (including 2 year old twins) were coming to our house for a family party. I told Gail that I would not, under any circumstances, be joining her to go junking. But about 10 am, she called from a house on NE 52nd and whispered into the phone, "You better get over here!"

What was I supposed to do? Not go? Here's some of the booty I found...

Sweet Periwinkle wooden toy box. With sheep decals.

I ♥ old games. The Owl Puzzle-Peg is particularly fabulous.

A girl can never have enough sequined fruit. I have never seen a pumpkin before. It's very orange and very beautiful.

Big hot pink Scrapbook, pale pink address book and a bound Christmas list...all vintage, but never used.

Speaking of Christmas, I rescued these flocked deer from under a gigantic mountain of musty linens.

And finally, a trio of glittered Christmas trees.

Next post: Cafeteria dining for illiterates.

French Torture

2011-06-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

O.K. girls. First let me apologize for the grainy quality of these photos. My "friend" Julia sends them to me from her phone while cruising the small towns outside of Paris searching for STUFF THAT REALLY BELONGS TO ME.

Gilded horn-playing Cupid lamps

Ancient wood Nestle boxes. There was a mountain of them. Here's Julia's account of this particular find...."I came close to wetting myself when I saw this. Avenue de Suffren, 7ème arrondissement. 15-20 of them. I was loaded with pkgs so I grabbed one and ran for the car. Back in less than 10 mns. ALL GONE."

Marie Antoinette's mirror.

And this. This is a poster announcing a "Clean Out Your Attic" sale. People bring all the stuff they've been hoarding for years to the town square and practically give it away. Now, how am I going to get to Saintry-sur-Seine by the 26th of June?

Big News and a Favor...

2011-06-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of my Trashy Pals...
After years of attending junk sales and antiques shows, both as a buyer and a vendor, I am taking a big, but logical, step.

I'm thrilled to announce my collaboration with Maria Raleigh of Collage in creating the Plucky Maidens Junk Fest. Our first Fest will be held this summer at McMenamins Edgefield in beautiful Troutdale, Oregon. (Just about 20 minutes east of Portland.) The date is Thursday, August 18th from 1PM-dusk. All of the restaurants and pubs on the property will be open for our shoppers and there will be live music starting at 6 to play us into the twilight. Just leave a comment for me here if you would like more information about being a vendor at this fabulous new show!

Also....
Would you please visit our Facebook page and "LIKE" us? We are trying to get the word out for vendors (in the short term) and of course, shoppers. Lots and lots of shoppers!
Thanks,
xoxo
Pam

The Artistic Glory of Garbage

2011-05-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

On our recent trip to Cart'M, we found out we had missed the party of the year that was held the night before. It's called the TRASH BASH. Lucky for us, the art show was still in place.

Here's some of what we saw...Keep in mind, all of this gorgeous stuff was made with poubelle...which is the French word for garbage and sounds a lot more elegant.

It's blue hour.

A fiesty Fido made from an enamel roasting pan, rusty tools and casters.

A huge, creepy, crawly arachnid.

Lovely assemblages made by a local artist...

and my favorite objet...a dress made from wire and blue & white tulle. Someone actually wore this fabulous frock the night before at the "TRASHION SHOW".

Now, that's an event I will never miss again.

Dig Girls, Dig!

2011-05-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

We were at the beach over the weekend and naturally, I made my regular stop at Cart'M. The place was packed!

There were lovely items in the home decor department.

I spotted a bin crammed full of craft stuff. On the surface, it didn't look very promising...cheesy 1980's needlework kits and the like.

But look what I found when I dug to the bottom with both hands...

A large stash of vintage Aunt Martha's iron-on transfers, all in unused, pristine condition.
Hip Hip Hooray for Cart'M!

Next post: Scenes from the Cart'M art show

Fragile and Fabulous Weekend Finds

2011-05-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

2 spotty Bauer bowls

Hand painted daisy vase

Strawberry jars and Madonna...not this one.

She's dreaming...

Ooooooops!....A Belated Giveaway Winner

2011-05-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

I know, girls, I know. I'm very late in choosing a winner for the Rose Giveaway. I said I would pick a member of One Gal's Trashy Pals way back in April. But I got, um.....sidetracked. First, there was all that Royal Wedding business, then we started to see some sun here in Pacific Wonderland...and it was all downhill from there. So, I'm happy to announce that the winner is...

Mindy from Bits and Odd Pieces From the Kingdom. Hooray!
Thanks to everyone for playing along!

Mindy, please email me your address and I'll get your box of rosy goodness in the mail.

A Girls Weekend, Junk Included

2011-05-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, some of the Found on Fremont gals and I were vendors at the Junk Salvation show in Puyallup, Washington. My friend Joan showed up too, and helped me with the heavy lifting and booth beautifying. Here are some photos...

The S.S. One Gal's Trash and the cutest nautical hat in the universe.

English elf decal on dotty paper in a vintage frame, candy beads and a sweet floral print.

Home Sweet Home pillow (SOLD!), 1930's print.

A trip to the beach, anyone?

Yummy stuff on a yummy pink shelf.

Pick a number, any number...or letter!

Vera is ready for a dip in the pool. Gigantic flower frogs are practical and pretty.

A glass lamp with a fabulous shade...(SOLD!) and other wonderfulness.

Fruits and flowers.

Cork floats and driftwood and a green seahorse family (SOLD!). What thing would you like to get your hands on? Please advise!

Put A Bird On It

2011-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

We Portland peeps love the show Portlandia. Well, those of us who like to make fun of ourselves love the show Portlandia. Here's a recent clip that has gained a lot of traction. There are P.A.B.O.I. t-shirts and bumper stickers all over town.

I just found these 1958 activity books in someone's attic. There was a stack of them, all in pristine condition.

Some of the pages have instructions on what color to use. The books were published back in the day when you were never supposed to go outside the lines or (Heaven forbid!) choose your own color palette.

Birds for all seasons.

Now, where did I put my crayons?

The Rain will Eventually Stop...Won't It?

2011-05-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Two old glass floats + vintage shell encrusted vases + a "Seaswirl" boat nameplate =
Summer on a windowsill.

Golden Hour in the Rock Garden

2011-05-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I found this stunning glass lamp shade at a thrift and stuck it in the back yard, just because I could.

The other day, I caught a glimpse of it reflecting the setting sun. It looked like there was a flame burning inside of it...

As the sun set lower, the light got brighter.

Wow!

She Really Did Save Everything

2011-05-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here's some of the Christmas stuff I got at the "Little Lady" sale. There's more, but I didn't want to...um...gloat.

Holiday store display, 2 friends, and the winking Santa is part of a large roll of wrappping paper.

Festive vintage gift tags.

More wrapping paper that made me all weak in the knees.

And a fabulous Dennison package of Christmas seals...Sweet!

The 'They Weren't Kidding' Sale - Part I

2011-05-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

The photos on last weekend's estate sale posting told the whole story...costume jewelry, garden concrete, vintage clothes, piles of dishes and fabric. But the thing that really got me was this line:
"This little lady saved everything." Here's part I of what I bought:

Barkcloth covered boudoir chair

Green Naugahyde covered desk chair (I have its twin in our den.)

Tins and flowers and a toleware tray. Oh! And the best dotty glass I have ever laid eyes on.

A squat glass vintage candy jar..."Candy Treats 3 pounds"

A box stuffed with vintage wrapping paper and super cute stickers. Well, except for the creepy clown one.

And a boxful of cards for every occasion. Looks like Jesus needed a little catnap.

Next post: Part II ~ The Christmas stuff

My Mom and the Mashed Potato Bowl

2011-04-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is my mom, Sallie, in 1966. She was 38, had already had 4 kids and looked amazing! She reminds me a little of Joan but with slightly smaller curves. Here she is, happily painting shelves in our backyard in Garden Grove, California. A few days ago, I jumped a little when I found this at a local thrift.

This was our china pattern when I was growing up. I hardly ever see it. To find this piece was especially sweet. My mom used to serve mashed potatoes in one just like it. When I saw it, I suddenly missed her so much that my heart ached. My mom is 83 now and has dementia, but she's still as cheerful and delightful as she looks in this photograph. I think she'll remember the dishes and will be tickled to hear I found "her" bowl.
I can't wait to fill it up with mashed potatoes for my family.

More Festive Cakes

2011-04-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Last spring, I found a Better Homes & Gardens Book of Cake Decorating. I showed you some of the cakes here. I just found another copy and discovered more amazingly kitschy cakes that I somehow missed the last time. First of all, I am in love with the page that shows all the "decorating tubes"...

and "what they do"...

Sweet baby cake

Cupcakes, anyone?

Lambies and kitties and deers, Oh My!

Spring themes...watering can (!) and Hyacinth

I might even break my rule about never eating coconut for this number

Wait. A Fire King green cake with fruity marzipan? Sign me up!

Bet you've never tasted a barn cake.

Cinderella's pumpkin coach...and castle! Brilliant.

Which one do you want for your next birthday....Please advise!

What to Wear While Watching William's Wedding

2011-04-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember that Prince William and I go way back...indeed, back to when he was a baby. You can read about it here.

So in anticipation of Friday's big event, I threw together a couple of corsages/brooches/wall hangings/refrigerator magnets. It's times like these that I really understand why I keep drawers and drawers of various bits & bobs. Because someday, I might need them. What do you think?

What one girl will do to get her hands on a concrete deer

2011-04-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

As is my habit on Friday mornings, yesterday started with a trip to an estate sale.

This photo was one of several posted about an estate sale that promised "40 years of Christmas", which really got my attention. However, once Gail and I got there, I discovered that it should have been adverised as "40 years of Christmas garbage". But never mind. I headed into the yard and started to get an uncanny feeling that someone was looking at me. I spotted something by the back fence and as I got closer, I saw that my instincts were right. There was a deer looking at me. A concrete deer, my favorite kind.

See him there, lying in the Vinca behind the gigantic TV antenna? I didn't care that he only had one (broken) antler. It was love at first sight. The gal running the sale was glad to see him go for a song. So I dug him out, borrowed a dolly and rolled all 95 pounds of him across the lawn.

When we got to the Dodge, 2 guys were standing by the van. They asked how we planned to get the deer into the car. We batted our eyelashes and said something along the lines of "we thought you handsome gentlemen were waiting to help us"...

Garry, on the right, did most of the heavy lifting and got Bambi into the car. Jim offered moral support. Gail was the official photographer.

Straight to the shop we went. There he is in all his glory, holding a little Easter bunny on his lap. Isn't he wonderful?

Easter Cards and a Rosy Reminder

2011-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a festive gallery of sweet Easter cards....

Happy bunny couple...

Spring flower cart...

1940's pink, blue and silver landscape...

Pussy willows and dyed eggs...

Classic Easter lillies...

Lilacs and glitter....

Shepherdess and her menagerie...

Frolicking baby ducks....

Which one is your favorite? Please advise!

And girls, only 2 more days to join in for the Rose Giveaway. Click here for all the details.

OGT is so close to 500 followers...help me get there!
xoxoxo
Pam

A Rose by any Other Name Smells Like a Giveaway

2011-04-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since One Gal's Trash has had a giveaway. Since Spring is coming (allegedly), I'm thinking a floral theme is in order. I've recently found some fab rose-related vintage items that I want to pass on to you. Here's what's included in the giveaway:

A gorgeous fabric rose brooch, a set of 12 rose "Thank You" notes, a partial (43 cards) but fabulous deck of rose playing cards (perfect for crafting) and a vintage book on roses. Look at the inside covers of the book...Beautiful!

All of these goodies will be packed up in this super cute Peek Frean's Rose Basket biscuit tin.

You want in? Just sign up as a follower over on the left sidebar. You will then officially be a member of One Gal's Trashy Pals! I'll pick the winning name on Saturday April 23rd for the Rose-a-Palooza!

A Friend

2011-04-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a friend who was creative and talented and smart and beautiful? And when the planets were aligned in a particular fashion, that friend began to blossom in ways that even she never expected?

This is my friend Joan. We met over 40 years ago in a town called Garden Grove.

(I think we were about 17 in this photo.)

I told you about her here . Please visit this post on her September Tea blog to read about her latest accomplishment...her design work has just been published! In a book! Hip Hip Hooray!

Iron Horse Tour - Part II

2011-04-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Let's head back to the Iron Horse, shall we? Cozy goodness... A festive arrangement of golf clubs... Yee Haw! Love this little pea green chest... Cock-a-doodle-doo... Blue Ball jars and more... Random pile of delicious linens... What would you like to get your hands on? Iron Horse 210 NW Congress St. Bend, OR 97701

An interruption in our regularly scheduled programming

2011-04-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

O.K. I know I was supposed to take you on the second half of the Iron Horse tour, but I have breaking news. While out junking today I saw a sign for a moving sale, I only stopped because I was literally driving right by. It certainly didn't look promising. You know, gravel driveway, an inexplicable collection of shoes, vacuum cleaners, bikes and fake leather jackets hanging from a chain link fence. See?

But girls, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: Stop. Get. Out. Of. The. Car.
As I turned the corner around the Arborvitae, there it was.

A vintage windmill...metal...a bit mossy and totally fabulous. Not wanting to seem too eager...I forced myself to paw through old Tupperware, broken china angels and headphones. After a minute, I sauntered over to my beloved, turned to the 2 Russian babushkas sitting on the front porch, and casually asked: "How much for the this?" Babushka #1 says "10 dollars." I pause, then inquire: "Would you take five?"
As babushka #2 is nodding NO, babushka #1 says YES. Into the back of the Dodge it went. I drove directly to the shop, got it out of the van, put it on the sidewalk and hung a price tag on it. I bet my bottom dollar it will be gone within 24 hours.

The Iron Horse

2011-04-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Girls, if you ever find yourselves in Bend, Oregon, go directly to the Iron Horse. It's tucked in a residential area not far from the Deschutes River. The stuff is funky and fabulous.

Here's what you see when you walk in the door...Let's take a tour, shall we?

Eddie is the owner and official greeter. See Pat smiling from behind the cabinet? She thought she was out of the shot. Ha! I showed her!

Shelves stuffed with a delightful array of junk.

I love the Mannheimers sign.

The tour continues on my next post....

It was the best of sales, it was the worst of sales

2011-04-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

I recently went to an estate sale that advertised "97 years of accumulation". The sheer amount of stuff was overwhelming. So overwhelming in fact, that it didn't even occur to me to take photos. And decades of filth covered everything! I swung wildly between total joy and complete revulsion. But, you know me girls, I can find a diamond in the rough anywhere!

Vintage necklaces (the minty green one still has the original $2.95 price tag attached), old plastic baby hangers, miniature perfume bottles, "cross stitch" playing cards (never opened), FRAGILE mailing stickers and a package of Dennison St. Patrick's Day stickers.

2 lovely prints; one of some European bridge and the other one of some European dude chatting up some European babe in some European town square a couple of centuries ago. Filthy!

A bunch of Smokey Bear stuff. I especially like the blue foil ashtrays for stubbin' out your smokes instead of tossing them into a nearby forest.

I scored in the ephemera department. Floral greeting cards,

pink owl stationery,

kittens and more florals. When I got home, I took a long, hot shower.

It's a collage! It's an assemblage! It's a thing of beauty!

2011-03-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Gail is not only my partner in junk crime, but a crafty gal as well. I told you about her here and here. She created this masterpiece out of treasures found along the junk highway and gave it to me for my birthday.

Isn't it so festive and springy and F.U.N.? Here's a closer look...

Gail used all kinds of garden related stuff...flower frogs, a vintage gardening catalog, and other floral bits and bobs. See the tiny plate with the girl and her watering can?

There's Frenchy stuff too...porcelain blooms, the string of pearls entwined in ribbon and the jolie girl with her basket of fleurs.

Gail even included a vintage sprinkler head in the top corner! I love, love, love it!

A Fabulous Bag of Something

2011-03-27T18:56:00.001-07:00

My last post was about finding an empty (but fab!) bag while junking in Bend, Oregon. Here's the tale of an entirely different kind of bag.

This little hut/thrift store in Bend was having a "Fill a bag for $3" sale. So I did just that..I filled a bag for $3...and here's what I brought home:

A delicious variety of plastic grapes, a blue spotty enamel bowl, vintage millinery lemons & oranges, a picket fence for a fairy garden, 4 wooden doll forms and a troll who resembles Albert Einstein.

And these sweet, hand carved cartoonish animal...napkin holders (?) These fall into one of my favorite categories of junk: The "objects made by somebody's grandpa a long, long time ago" category. Not a bad haul for the price of a cappuccino. What treasure/s have you found recently for $3. Do tell!

A Fabulous Bag of Nothing

2011-03-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine NOT stopping at a thrift store that has a gigantic smiley face for a sign?

I didn't find much other than this leather bag. I like to think a physician carried it around while making house calls back in the day when physicians used to do that sort of thing.

This was my favorite part. Note that the price tag reads, not "Leather Bag" or "Vintage Bag", but "Empty Bag". Really, pricing people at St. Vincent De Paul's? Is that the best you can come up with?

Starstruck

2011-03-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Remember my tale about the best thing I have ever found?

The star is now hung ~ in all its ginormous glory ~ on the wall in my space at Found on Fremont. And in case it didn't make enough of a statement, I draped tiny white lights on it. Customers have asked if it's for sale...I don't think I want to let it go, but if I did, what price should I slap on it?
Please advise!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Feeling Green

2011-03-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Junking 3 days last week means I have a carload of stuff. It will be coming out box by box for the next couple of days. Here's today's haul.

A wood ironing board, fab blue galvanized hopper, vintage gold hat perched on a vintage globe, green metal drop leaf table (on wheels!) and a vintage aluminium folding chair. The chair is really lightweight and will accompany me to my sales...providing a comfortable and stylish place to sit.

I was feeling very green as you can see...flower vases of all shapes and sizes, a sweet vintage velvet apple pincushion and a totally over the top cup and saucer. A milk glass jar, a marble urn with tiny birds and a vintage bracelet round out this still life.

This is one of my favorite finds...a "Table of Meat Cookery" trivet. It's in perfect shape and so charming. I love the gal giving her man a taste of dinner straight from the oven. Yeah, I usually wear a skirt and heels when I cook too!

What will she think of next?

2011-03-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Emily, pondering her next big idea.

This is (part of) her paper rose installation at a gallery* in North Portland. She spent hours..no...days! crafting flowers. There was no stopping her.

The colors...
The textures...
The simple glory of paper!

*Emily's work is part of Portland Paper City - a collaborative installation showcasing abstract, figurative, and architectural representations of the City of Portland through the art of papercraft and paper sculpture. You can see Emily's (and other paper artists' amazing work) at:
Disjecta
8371 N. Interstate
Portland
Through March 26th

Turns out there is such a thing as going too far!

2011-03-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

Chime in here, girls. I'm speechless.
Addendum: Some of you have asked if I bought the object. It was priced at $10. Uh....No.

If you enjoy a heaping serving of vintage junk, a side order of crafting, a dash of food finds and an occasional sprinkling of lefty politics, then you're in the right place! You too can be one of One Gal's Trashy Pals! Join up over there on my sidebar under "Followers", sista!

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Good News, Bad News

2011-03-05T17:21:00.000-08:00

Let's start with the bad news...

I couldn't get any of THE WALLPAPER! I even asked permission and everything. But I could only manage to scrape off pieces about the size of a dime.
But never mind. We junkers are an intrepid lot. I just kept shopping and scored in the ephemera department....

This hand-tinted photo print. At first I thought it was China, but it's a street in Italy illuminated by gorgeous red lanterns.

A fun stack of greeting cards. The valentine with the spotted dog reads on the back "For Frisky from Patty" It was a puppy love card!

A series of illustrations of rooms with names like The Prunella and Queen of Roses and a sweet little street map of Paris,

Two fun bridge tallies,

and one of the best vintage cards I've seen..."Thinking of a Grand Person"!