Shopping Freedom

Hope you’re finding a way to flourish during this pandemic. I must admit, I’ve found hunkering down is not very conducive to creativity. It would seem the perfect opportunity for days spent in imagination, but that wasn’t the way it worked for me, anyway.

So as stores have begun to open, I felt it my patriotic duty to go support them. Well, that and it feels extremely wonderful to go back to normal, even if I have to wear a mask!

One of my first stops was our local antique mall. True, some longtime vendors are gone. There were a lot of empty spots, but I found more than enough merchandise to delight me. I focused on smalls—it’s not as if I exactly needed anything. So I will share with you.

It was all terribly inexpensive except for the ornate sugar tongs, which really weren’t that pricey either. They’re marked Gorham Co. so I knew they had some value. Despite an exhaustive on-line search, I wasn’t able to locate the pattern or the mark stamped inside. Perhaps they aren’t the real deal, but then again, they could be incredibly old and valuable. I’m going with the latter theory. See how nicely they polished up?

I must admit to owning another pair of sugar tongs. They aren’t as elaborate and they’re too small to easily pick up a sugar cube. I found them at the famous Rose Bowl Swap Meet years ago and wouldn’t have considered buying another pair save for the fact they are disappeared. One of my granddaughters, whose name I won’t mention but starts with the letter Alexa, used to stash them in a chest of play jewelry. I once found them in a dress-up, red beaded purse. The girl has good taste, what can I say? But I can’t find them now and neither can she. The new pair is a definite upgrade. It must be time to make homemade sugar lumps and try them out.

Flower frogs are the predecessor of floral foam. They come in handy. I like to see flowers in the garden, but I’m inspired to bring in some roses.

Isn’t this a charming pastel-flowered creamer? I have one other and plan to look for more. In my mind, I picture an ornate tea table with personal creamers all around.

Lately, I’ve discovered interesting displays in head vases, mugs, teacups and even old spice containers. The tiny tree will work nicely for a Christmas arrangement. You can take a look at my Pinterest pages here https://www.pinterest.com/jegel/boards/. My inspiration can be found on the Holiday board but if you look through the fashion items on the dated boards, you’ll find clothes described in my books.

I wanted the red-and-white pitcher for a patriotic decoration. It’s Shenango china, made in the U.S.A. I consider this a real find since the mark indicates it was made in October of 1910. I think this pattern was my grandmother’s everyday china.

One last picture. I found another idea on Pinterest a couple of years ago and purchased a lone crystal salt shaker at a thrift store to try it out. It was so much harder to accomplish than it looks, but I’m pleased with the results. Maybe creativity is slowly returning to my house.

Hope things are getting back to normal for you too, even if it’s only in small ways. I’d love to hear what you’re up to.