Vintage Church Hats

When I was a young girl....we wore hats every Sunday to church.
By the time I was a teenager...hat wearing to church was out of style.
But my grandmothers always wore a hat on Sunday.



Many times these pretty church hats were little works of art.
Now, so many of us collect old hats for the fabulous flowers...
... to use in all sorts of creative art projects...



Whenever I am out thrifting or at the flea market I am drawn to these fashion accessories of the past...
I am not sure if it is the pretty feminine flowers or fruits that are affixed to them or if it is the feeling of nostalgia that I get when I see them...



These two beauties were at the flea market last weekend.
I don't really need any more hats...I have plenty.
But these two lovelies had me pause and ask the price.
Big mistake.
Really cheap.

The seller told me a story about them being in the attic of a house that had been in the same family for generations. (OK, if you say so....)
The seller bought the contents of the family home....and now he was selling these hats here at the flea market.

I couldn't walk away...they were both in remarkable shape...
...they were so pretty...look at that blue...
...look at all those tiny flowers and that rich purple velvet!

I simply couldn't leave them sitting there in that dusty old hatbox.



...which, by the way was included in the really cheap price.

Sigh. I'm hopeless.

Happy 64th Wedding Anniversary to Mr. Flea's wonderful parents!

Have a restful night and gee, I can't believe it's almost Thursday!
:)

Delicate

As much as I love the rustic, the rough and industrial look...
...I do have a feminine and romantic side...



I'm just saying...

The snow is starting to melt and I'm hoping by the weekend it will disappear....
...looking forward to having some time to do some arranging and take a few new pictures.

....There are some fun things happening this month... a few trips in the works ...some family birthdays...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to sister LYNN...TODAY!
...a big flea market down south...
... and girlfriend Evi will be participating in an Antique and Juried Craft Show in New Jersey.

Before you know it ....April will be here....my regular flea markets start up, crocuses and daffodils and tulips and violets will appear...
...there will be antiquing trips and visits to Paula and the Connecticut girls and TIME....

...and hopefully....no more snow!

:) I shall sleep so soundly thinking of all that fun! Good night!

Valentine Pinks

Tomorrow is Valentine's day...
...hope you celebrate with loved ones...



A few pretty pink collages...



Spring flowers...



Pink ribbons, feathers, millinery flowers, bits and bobs...all in a jar...
Busy weekend...
Will I ever get it all together?

Please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more Valentine/Pink Saturday Posts and don't forget to visit Joan at Anything Goes Here starting this evening for her Vintage Valentine Party.

Hope you have a happy weekend....no matter who you spend it with!
Hugs from a scattered, loopy Laura!

A Bit of Blue

A bit of blue....a bit romantic....
The angels are a clasp from a vintage Limoges box from Tongue in Cheek Antiques...

Heading into the weekend...lots of plans...things to accomplish...
Will do the best I can!
How about you? Any special plans?

Remember....Give Back details in a few days!
:) Good night!

Violets and Valentines

The weekend is almost here...
...do you have plans?

If you are in the area....Earth Angels will be having their Heart of Winter event in Warwick, NY.
This year it will be held at the Warwick Antique Barn...
....antiques and art....what could be better? :)

I had hoped to be there but will have to be at the office instead.. :(

If you get there, I am sure you will not be disappointed....take pictures to share!

Good night friends!
Laura

Last Flea at the Lake

I'm heading to the lake this weekend to meet a girlfriend driving over from Vermont and to go the Warrensburg garage sales and flea markets....
It's an annual affair and fun to trek around hunting for treasures!



The photos here show some of the finds I sent to the winners of my 200th post Give Back in August. These items were all found at the Madison Bouckville show where I shopped as the personal shopper for the winners.....
....so much fun!



So this weekend, I will be shopping for myself.....the Warrensburg event is much smaller but always fun as this little Adirondack town puts out all their junk and we flea marketing, yard saling scavengers happily paw through it all! I'm dressing in layers as the temperature has dropped and bringing my umbrella as rain is expected. On more than one occasion it has snowed this weekend at this sale!
... I hope you all have a great weekend! Happy Hunting!
Take care, Laura

And The Winner Of The 200th Post Give Back Is..........

Thank you for the overwhelming response to my little Give Back! I wish that I could be the personal shopper at the Madison Bouckville Antique Show and flea markets this week for each and every one of you but alas.....I had to pick a name....well, actually I decided to pick 3 names!



The first name picked was.....Lisa from Raleigh, N.C. ! Congratulations Lisa! I see from your blog pupylov that you like elephants! Wow! Please contact me to let me know more about what you would like me to search for....



The second name picked was Sharon from Wildflower House way out in Washington state...Sharon makes crazy quilts and says on her blog that she is always on the lookout for treasure to incorporate into her quilts...Congratulations Sharon!



The third name picked is Zita - Mlle Magpie from Montreal, Canada...Zita's blog says that she likes all things old and shabby......Congratulations Zita!



It has been really fun to read all your comments and see what all my blog friends like to collect....we are such an interesting group, aren't we?



I'm sorry to disappoint so many of you ....I will take as many pictures as possible over the next few days as we head off on our treasure hunt....hopefully you will enjoy seeing the sights ...



I must get ready for the girls now.....still some beds to be made and straightening up to do.....
We will be out and about all day and I want to be fully present for my house guests (not with my nose in my laptop)....So until I get to post again....I wish you all well and thank you again for participating in my Give Back.....but more importantly, I thank you for your kindness and all the support and encouragement you have given me since I began 52 FLEA back in February....
Take care, Laura :)

Vintage Easter Images

Easter Collage.....




As sister Mary Beth would say....these daffodils are the palest of pale yellows.....



These old German postcards are dated 1907........they are all addressed to a distant relative whose home we helped clean out years ago....



Two very old peeps in a sweet tiny basket.....



Two not so old bunnies with a vintage look about them.....



Doll sized old crown of millinery flowers ......



More millinery flowers formed into a head band this time for a child....with teeny ivory crochet purse....



Funky bunny.....



Darling German postcards........



Sweet little chicks.....



Charming vintage images from long ago......



As you travel about this Easter weekend, I wish you all a safe journey...........Happy Easter!