Vintage Christmas Ornaments

We didn't realize, until a couple of years ago, that we collected vintage Christmas along with all the other collections.  We opened up the Holiday closet one day and it was full from top to bottom.  It was at that moment that we realized we had gotten "hooked" on Christmas, too.

It is hard to say what is our favorite but we do enjoying finding World War 2 ornaments with their original hangers.  Since war production had a monopoly on metals Christmas ornaments had to be hung with paper hangers.  This one is unusual.

These were made of light cardboard and painted silver.

You pinched the end of the hanger and slipped it into the ornament.

That was one way to get it on the tree.

We get most excited when we find the ornaments with the cardboard caps with string hangers though.  So many people replaced the hangers with metal ones after the war.  So we always thrilled to find them all together.

Merry Christmas!

Mid December Afternoon.

It has been an unusual December here in Oregon.  The weather, at least at the beach, has been beautiful.  Crisp sunny days, no clouds, no rain, no wind which is very unusual, indeed.

Yesterday I had to drive to Salem to go to the dentist.  I didn't want to make the trip.  Along the way I  started noticing bright spots of color among the bare trees.

I had to pull over and investigate.  What I was observing were apples left on their trees even though the leaves had dropped.  It provided such a sharp contrast.

By this time of year we normally have had strong enough storms that everything is blown away.  Literally!  But not this year.

I was struck by the stark beauty of it all.

They almost looked like Christmas ornaments.  There were probably 12 or 13 trees I noticed and wanted to photograph but traffic (log trucks) prohibited me from pulling over for them all.

I realized I was fortunate on this day.  The weather pattern is changing so these images are all that will remain of those beautiful spots I was so fortunate to see.

I was reminded, if only for a few hours, that it isn't about where I end up necessarily on my journeys. But it is really about noticing the beauty and lessons, along my path, that are gifted to me when I take the time to notice.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Christmas is fast approaching

And we have been very derelict in maintaing our blog.  I just wanted to share this wonderful folk art reindeer that Dan brought home a couple of nights ago.  I love the originality, the creativity and the rust!  It must be shared.  Enjoy the Holidays and step outside the norm and enjoy the Holidays for the love, the art and for friends and family.

Our 13th Anniverary as an Antique Mall

It has been a challenging turn of events the last few years.  But we have survived and adjusted to the new economy in a positive way.  This blog entry will be very specific.  Find this pink flamingo ornament in our Mall (and be the first person to do so) and you will receive and/or "win" a $50 VISA gift card. Good luck and happy hunting.

Rick and Dan

Our 13th Anniversary at the Little Antique Mall.

Dan and I actually started business in Lincoln City 20 years ago.  We were then known as The Little Antique Store and that we were.  With about 500 square feet in a small house, located a few blocks south of our present location, is where it all began.  For 7 years we operated as a stand alone shop.  We met many wonderful people who helped nurture our dream of opening an antique mall in Lincoln City.  13 years ago, Thanksgiving weekend, we did just that and we are celebrating that event with a multitude of activities.  

One of the activities we are doing is a storeroom sale.  

It will run the same time as our 13th Anniversary Sale which is 

November 25th, 26th and 27th...10AM - 6PM all three days.  Dan and Rick have accumulated so much stuff over the last 13 years in their storerooms that it is time for that stuff to find a new home.  Here are some pictures of some of the stuff we have found as we unpack it and price it.

Coke collectors will like what is coming up!

Children's things are surfacing as well.

Furniture and odds and ends!

Architectural pieces!

And some Morris Chairs that could use a little work!

So when you come visit us during our 13th Anniversary Sale don't forget to check out the storeroom located on the Holmes Road side of our building.  There are treasures there that have been buried a long time and these treasures are being priced to move!  These pictures show just the tip of the iceberg!

We look forward to seeing you all SOON!


http://www.littleantiquemall.com/index.html

Check out our new video

This was written and produced by Dave Price from Oregon Coast Today  We had a blast doing it yesterday.  Check it out.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150384348389273

See you soon!

It has been awhile since I last entered anything on our blog.  It has been a busy season.  Besides running the day to day operations of our Mall we have handled two estate sales.  The last one begins this Saturday.

While pricing this last estate sale we stumbled across a small package.  At first we thought it was just a random towelette and then Dan read the package.  We wanted to share it with you because it gave us a good laugh.

This towelette is for washing away your Sins!  It is handy reliable and heavenly scented.  You might also note that the anti-bacterial formula kills sins on contact!

On the back it claims to "Right your wrongs with a wipe!"

The directions clearly state:

1.)  remove moist towelette.

2.)  Devoutly wipe away wrong doings.

3.)  Spot check for stubborn guilt.

4.)  Wipe again as needed.

5.)  Discard sins in waste receptacle.

6.)  Go forth purified and moisturized.

I'm not sure if it is a simple as that to deal with guilt and sin.  And then maybe again it is!

All I know is that it gave us a good laugh and I will purchase this treasure and keep it close, handy to use, in case of an emergency!

That is the joy of doing what we do to make a living.  We get to see things people have produced the we would never see otherwise.

Iris Pride Festival 2011

It all begins tomorrow here in Lincoln City! More details coming in the morning. I am most anxious to see the B-52s Saturday night.

Location:Lincoln City, Oregon

Scary

I don't know what to think of this night light from Germany. Those eyes frighten me. I don't think this poor gal has blinked for years!


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AUGUST!

I have really missed my blog this month.  We have been so busy at the Antique Mall that it just hasn't left much time for here.  I guess that is a good problem.  I might also add that we are conducting an estate sale this weekend here in Lincoln City.  I will post some details and photos of that event here on the blog in a day or two.  We have been pricing like crazy and so far we've done lots and lots of Christmas, lots of sewing and craft supplies and some great vintage children things.  There is much more to do, however.  So until I put up pictures of the estate sale here I will share two things.

Dr. and Mrs. Michio Kaku recently visited our Mall.  Dr. Kaku is one of the world's leading theoretical physicists.  I love his television program.  Aaron and I were thrilled and we totally geeked out.  

What a privilege to meet him!

I have mentioned before that Danielle Herbert inspired me to begin blogging.  Danielle worked with us for a short while and then returned to her native Arizona.  We miss her terribly.  She is so gifted.  Here is a link to her blog.  Check it out and follow her.  I am amazed at her creativity and sensitivity!

http://daniellesserendipity.blogspot.com/

I will be back soon!

Collecting Children's Things

We have always liked collecting children's things whether it be toys, books, blankets or whatever.  Children's furniture has a special place in our hearts but that will have to be the subject of our blog in the future.  This blog begins with a couple of items that turned up lately in our Mall.  The first is an advertising banner for that ever popular product Johnson's Baby Powder.  The graphics are great and the colors so vivid.  This picture only represents one half of the banner and it seemed a fitting way to begin our blog today.

One of our Dealers brought in a store display piece for Playtex Baby Needs.  At first glance it seemed just like another advertising display piece.

And then I began to read the display categories!

Okay Playtex Transparent Baby Pants...that seemed harmless enough.  But then I noticed the Party Pants.

Not only did Playtex make Baby Party-Pants but they were available 

for both boys and girls.

I roared with laughter.  I'm not sure you could promote party pants for babys in todays market.    

I then read further and still can't make sense of this display comment on the bottom of the piece.

For the life of me I can't imagine what would make any baby "Un-socially acceptable" but whatever!  Playtex was certain their products would keep your baby "socially acceptable."  That is so funny.  If you read towards the top Playtex thoughtfully had Horoscope Bibs available, too.  That would be important information for a baby. 

There is no doubt that today the following category would cause some question and alarm among certain groups of people!  One might expect boycotts and rioting.

 You have to laugh or at least we hope you do.  We sure did.

As I mentioned we love children's things and for us it always comes back to family.  I still treasure my niece's first pair of shoes that my late mother so lovingly painted little flowers on.

I can't stand the thought of them ending up in a landfill somewhere so they remain with me in a box where I keep treasures.  In that box you will also find my niece's (Tatiana) first pair of high top sneakers. I think I bought them for her.  When she grew out of them I got them back somehow.  They hung on my rear view mirror in the car for a long time.  They are now tucked away in my treasure box.  I love Tatiana!  She turned 17 years of age not long ago and just finished a tough schedule of chemotherapy and radiation as she fought cancer.  Things look good today for her and her future appears to be very bright.  I stand in awe of her courage!

And since we've moved on to Rick's treasure box what do you find at the bottom of it?  His first baby quilt.  It is a "Three Little Pigs" themed quilt.  I have no idea what will become of it but for now it is my treasure box of keepsakes.  I do hope I was "socially acceptable" when my Mother packed me around in it and I also hope she had my party pants on!

I hope you are all having a good August.  Thank you for reading our blog and even a bigger thank you for all of the kind comments you have given me in our business.  Now...everyone put on your Playtex Party Pants and Rock ON!

Ducks and Decoys

We are often asked about our duck logo.  It has graced our business cards for almost 20 years and "the big red ducks" have been on the front of our building for 13 years.  The duck came about almost by accident.  When Dan and I decided to open a shop we needed a logo on our business cards.  Dan started doodling and the duck emerged.  It isn't a representation of any particular species of duck it is just a doodle!

Since Dan's doodle became our logo it only seemed natural that we would begin buying decoys to place in our shop and home.  This is one of the very first decoys we ever bought.  Dan found it at an estate sale in the Pacific City, Oregon area.  It is very special to us.

We branched out in selecting decoys.  This loon decoy is quite handsome.

Swan decoys are hard to find.  This one may very well have been for a store display or floral shop.  I love it.

This little hollow body decoy has had a rough life.  It looks good with the rest of our primitives though.

The snow goose decoy came from the Virginia Mitchell collection.  We called Virginia "The Queen!"  Virginia had a shop called "herselfs" and she had the very best in country and primitive antiques anywhere around.  She shopped on the east coast and this decoy came from one of those trips.  Virginia passed in 1998 and I miss her very much.

We handled an estate from Coos Bay, Oregon.  This little sandpiper decoy was there and no one bought it.  At the end of the sale I bought it and brought it home.  It is very sweet.

The nose of the sandpiper is made from a twig.  It is marked on the bottom but I have no idea who the carver was.

Many decoys were made to lure in the birds for hunters.  Some were made to be just folk art.  Certainly this one is falls into the folk art category.  A funky duck!!!

This next decoy is attributed to Charles Bergman.  Charles was a renowned decoy carver from Astoria, Oregon.  Charles Bergman lived from 1856-1946 and was well known along the Columbia River.  His decoys have been sold for thousands of dollars.  This one is currently available in our Mall and the Dealer is asking $1750.00 for it.  It is rare and spectacular!

I hope you enjoyed looking at some decoys today.  I love them!  This last photo isn't a decoy at all but a piece of garden art...it's a pelican!  I always know it's summer on the Oregon Coast when I see flocks of pelicans flying by headed north.

Enjoy summer!

Don't forget to smell the roses!

These cute little glass bricks came in the other day.  They were just too cute to pass up.  But what to do with them?  They are hollow with a small opening on one side.  Looks like potential vases to us!

Hey, they worked out great as vases.  All we needed to do was add a little water and roses.  The front roses are our favorite...Double Delights.  They are very fragrant and the colors so delicate.  We are always happy to cut a bouquet of Double Delights or any of our roses before the deer get them.

As the summer days race by don't forget to smell the roses!

July is always a busy month

Which means I haven't been able to blog much at all.  Our blog has been very much on my mind but there just have not been enough hours in the day!  Here is a brief update on what has been going on at the Little Antique Mall.

Darlene brought us a beautiful bouquet from her summer garden a few days ago.  Darlene has a gorgeous garden and this photo doesn't do her flowers justice!  We learned that Bee assembled the arrangement.  Bee is so talented, too.  I just love foxglove and was so happy she included some in this wonderful arrangement.  I wish my thumb was as green as Darlene's!

While Darlene was visiting Dan and our friend Jeff were busy in the front parking lot.  We have always prided ourselves in trying to make our building as handicap accessible as possible.  Our Holmes Road entrance has a curb cut and a nice ramp from that back entrance into our main mall.  This makes it convenient for some of our friends who know about that entrance.  We modified our public restroom to be easily usable for all of our guests when we leased our building almost 13 years ago.  But our front parking lot on Highway 101 has always been a challenge.  Dan and Jeff just made a nice concrete ramp (with agates in it) from the parking lot to the sidewalk that runs in front of our building and to our main entrance.  This will make it so much easier for our customers to find and to use.  This is a picture of Dan and Aaron testing out the new ramp to make sure it is going to be functional.

The Lincoln City Visitors Convention Bureau http://www.oregoncoast.org/ is doing

 a special "float drop" on several weekends throughout the summer.  The float fairies will be leaving vintage Japanese glass fishing floats on our Lincoln City beaches for visitors to discover and take home.  The publication 

Oregon Coast Today http://oregoncoasttoday.com/ featured an article on the float drop last week and included this picture of Rick holding a Japanese glass float.  I want to add that Oregon Coast Today is our favorite beach publication.  We have 7 miles of beautiful beach here so there is much to explore.

Meanwhile the Mall cat Stripes was watching the back door.  Stripes has quickly become a fixture at the Little Antique Mall.  He still won't let us pet him but I know with just a little more tuna, time and love it WILL happen.

I hope you are all having a great Summer!

This is what I bought today

This wonderful bust came into our Mall. I couldn't resist so I purchased it and brought it home. It made my day!


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PS!!!

I was walking around our Mall yesterday afternoon and was struck by the many red, white and blue items that were available.  I was drawn to so many of them. 

Some are as simple as beverage glasses.  I would most certainly use these to entertain on the 4th of July and most probably on election night as well.

I collect children's toys.  This red and blue truck with white tires would make a fine addition to my collection.

We have a lot of art by J. Hill from the Portland area.  This red, white and blue owl caught my eye yesterday.  I just had to share it on the blog.  I love 

J. Hill's art and this little patriotic owl.

And since we are at the beach "nautical" inspired objects always are popular.  What better centerpiece for your 4th of July party table then this red, white and blue boat?

It didn't occur to me until yesterday how much I love this Holiday.  The people, the beach, the food, the fireworks (sorry dogs, cats, birds, deer, etc.) and the red, white and blue.  This last photo taken of a little painting conveys a sweet message!  

Thank you for checking out my 4th of July "PS!"