The Book fairy ....and treasure hunting

I think the book fairy has been looking after me this week! I am an avid reader and collector of books. In particular I collect vintage children's books with a sub collection of Christmas themed books.
I visited a couple of op shops this week and found some really lovely treasures. Sometimes my local op shops are a bit overpriced but I did get some bargains this time around.

This lovely old hardback Christmas book was sitting on a table all by itself. Priced at a dollar I snatched it up quick smart! I love the vintage illustration on the cover.

Next I found The Poky Little Puppy and a couple of other hardback golden books for 50 cents each. I think they are from the 1970s era. Lovely condition!

Next a baby and toddler treasury of stories. I usually wouldn't have looked at this probably but it was a hardback in beautiful condition for just $3.

Then I came across this book.... The Enchanted Dolls House is just gorgeous! The hard cover is velvet embossed and inside there are 4 different pop up houses from different eras in time. Each of the pages is filled with little pop ups, lift the flaps and other surprises. It is just charming and I know as a new book it is quite expensive to buy. How could I leave it there for just $3? I do hope I have grandchildren some day!!!

Next I came across a 2 book set of Readers Digest Illustrated Dictionaries. Gorgeous condition, beautifully gilded and embossed covers for the bargain price of $5 each. I snatched them up quickly lest someone else lay eyes on them. On top of all this I was given a 10% pensioner discount at the checkout as they were having 'pensioners day'.

Move along to op shop number 2 which is my regular op shop but more expensive than some of the others I visit. I often spot treasures I would love to buy at this store but often leave things because I think they are asking too much.

The first item to catch my eye in the shop was this darling little cup and saucer. It was in the locked china cabinet so I knew it would be a higher priced item but I had to bring it home as it was so sweet. It cost me $15 and is stamped made in Czechoslovakia. It is smaller than a normal teacup but rounder so I'm not sure if it's a demitasse cup or just smallish because of the shape. I don't know much about china and usually just buy pieces that I think are pretty.

More books! Another thing I collect is quotes and sayings and I pick up any of these little quotation books whenever I see them. $2

They had $3 on this little lovely. It's a small book approx 6 inches by 6 inches and of course the cover caught my eye. Inside there are lots more lovely pictures and interestingly the history of lace!

More yummy vintage illustrations! I think they had $1 on this one. I have never seen a book so cheap in this particular shop before!

You just know I wasn't going to leave this one behind right? $1

This one perhaps not quite so old but I vaguely remembered having read this as a child so picked it up as well.
I've spoilt myself considerably this week with a few ebay purchases which I will share later and a few more books for the home library from book depository. At this rate by the time our extension is built we will need a new library wing added to the house! ;)
I have had problems with leaving comments this week so to my regular blog buddies I apologise. I have visited and in many instances tried to leave a comment but Blogger was not co-operating! Lets hope the Blogger gremlins are gone again soonest!

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Tuesday trinkets 10...

Today I'm sharing a few pretty floral brooches. It seems flowers have been the inspiration for jewellery makers since ....well forever!

This vintage beauty is a rare articulated brooch. Each of the individual petals can be moved to whatever position you would like to put them. I'm not sure what era it is from but it has been lovingly cared for and in almost perfect condition. Goldtone with yellow and white enamelled petals it has a cluster of clear rhinestones in the centre. If I had come across one of these without knowing what articulated mean't I would have presumed the jewellery to be broken!

This little brooch is really tiny measuring approximately barely 3/4 inch across. As you can see in the photograph it is made from the tiniest seashells ever!

This vintage beauty is rather shabby but was once beautifully enamelled. The enamelling on the leaves is still pretty well intact. I love the way the leaves turn over and are decorated with marcasite.

Another enamelled treasure that I suspect is from the same vintage as the previous brooch. Isn't that blue just fabulous? This one has kept it's enamelling but sadly has lost part of it's marcasite stem.

I tried and tried to get a good photo of this delicate floral brooch but this is the best I could get! It has tiny enamelled flowers dotted all over and each has a teensy diamante in the centre. It really is much prettier than my photo shows.

This brooch is a vintage plastic. I believe it is lucite which came into use for jewellery in the 1930s and was offered  as a cheaper alternative to Bakelite. My understanding of this type of brooch is that the pattern inside is carved into the back of the plastic and painted. The colour you see around the edges of this brooch are reflections in the bevelled edge. I have some much prettier examples of this type which I shall share when I find them. Lucite was very popular in the 1940s.

Another enamelled beauty I love the simplicity of this dogwood blossom. Again I am not sure of it's exact vintage but it is certainly a well made brooch that has been loved and cared for.

This is an exquisitely made little bunch of violets. The enamelling and detail is just gorgeous! I think I had a 'thing' for enamelled jewellery for a while lol.

More violets and I think a modern plastic. This one is stamped Avon.

wishing you sunshine in your shadows until next time
Helen

Silent Saturday...

My take on wordless wednesday ;)

Wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Tuesday trinkets 9 ...

Oh my gosh it's Tuesday again already. This week has just disappeared. It has been so cold and windy here we have retreated indoors unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside. (Unfortunately it usually is necessary at least once a day) I thought I'd share some diamante treasures this week and hope they brighten the day.

This beautiful blue brooch is probably 1940s vintage. It is a quality brooch with prong set stones but is unmarked. It is hard to tell in the photo but the tiny round diamante's are a paler blue.

This leaf shaped beauty is probably 1950s vintage. Again a quality brooch, prong set stones and this one has a smooth goldtone finish on the back. Note the large blue/green 'Rivoli' rhinestone at the bottom of the setting. Rivoli rhinestones are faceted foiled glass with the pointed end of the stone being used at the top - it looks like the stone has been placed in the setting upside down, but this is how it is supposed to be. They became popular in the 1950s and 1960s and are usually a prominent feature of any piece they are set in.

This unusal shaped brooch is from the 1950s. Aurora Borealis is featured on the stones on either side at the top. This brooch not only features an assortment of greens in the diamante's but also variations in shapes and sizes. The stones are prong set and the back is smooth goldtone finish. It is stamped Made in Austria.

I am not sure what era this beauty in shades of lavender is from. The paler stones are open backed which was often done to allow light to shine through plain glass. I suspect it is probably an earlier brooch, perhaps 1940s or earlier.

I saved the best till last today. I believe this lovely brooch is from the early 1900s. I'm not sure exactly when but probably pre 1930. It appears to be set in brass. It may have been gold plated at an earlier time but I don't think so. Note the beautiful filigree work and the plain glass stones. (pretty colours though) It has a simple C clasp on the back, another indicator that it is an earlier piece. The larger stones are open backed. For it's age the stones still have beautiful shine suggesting it was a well loved and cared for piece of jewellery.
I hope you have enjoyed this week's trinkets. It gives me much pleasure to show and share my collection.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen