My Window

My window has an interesting story. I first saw it at my fave antique collective in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California. The price was $750.00. I visited that shop several times a year, for about 5 years, and I would just stand there, coveting it. Wanting it so badly. And unable to part with that kind of coin. One day when I went into the store and made a beeline for it, the price had dropped to $500.00. I asked the shopkeeper where the window came from, and he said he thought it was from a restaurant that went out of business. Brian was with me that time and he thought it was cool too, but again, $500.00 just wasn't in the budget for a large stained glass window we can't really use.

One day I decided to take Holly up there to check out the collective, and when we went in, I said, "I have to show you this killer stained glass window!" The price was now $175.00. I wanted it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. She was trying valiantly to talk me into getting it (she and I are very accomplished at spending each other's money), but I was afraid to part with the money. I thought Brian would be mad or something. When we got back to Fairfax, I casually mentioned that the window had dropped in price to $175. Then Holly, my tactful (not) and fellow Year of the Dragon/Sagittarian, quickly pipes up with, "Yeah and I tried to get her to buy it, but, you know Jo. Didn't want to spend the money!" To which Brian exclaimed, "WHAT?! You didn't buy it? Oh my god what the hell is wrong with you!" and Holly shakes her head and says, "I told her....I tried....." I stared at them blankly and said, "So you guys think I should get it then?" In unison I got a very loud, "YES!". Brian actually made me drive back to Sebastopol the next morning to get it.

It's pretty large, about 3' across at the bottom and it's pretty tall too, and it's heavy. But it's absolutely exquisite. I guess it didn't sell because it was so name specific. I've always disliked my first name, but this time I was really glad that it it what it is. This photo does not do it justice at all.

It's still in the packing material, at the back of my closet, from when we moved up here 11 years ago. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it at all. It needs a wooden frame or something to stabilize the edges and keep it from twisting with the weight. Someday, maybe we'll be able to have a house where this can be custom installed in a west facing wall. It would be a shame not to display it.

Antiquing

I am one of those people for whom "antique" is a verb. I love, love, love going to antique stores, if for no other reason than to just look at old stuff. It's like being in a museum of Americana. Twice a year, there is a huge antique show sponsored by Palmer Wirfs of Portland, Oregon. It used to be in the Tacoma Dome but switched to the Puyallup Fairgrounds a few years ago.

I got up early in order to get the grocery shopping done so that I could be in Puyallup before the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. There was plenty of free parking and I entered at Blue Gate.

I find it curious that the Volcano Evacuation Route was pointing into the Fairgrounds. Sure, gather everyone in the same place and watch the lahar sweep them into oblivion.
I got my ticket and headed for the Showplex, one of the largest buildings at the fair.
I'd been looking forward to a Fisher Scone all week, so I was a bit crestfallen to see the Scone Wagon was closed.
However, once I got inside the Showplex, I saw that there was an open scone window inside!

YUMMY!!!!!
I spent the next 2 hours weaving my way up and down all of the aisles, taking in all of the cool, old stuff.
This booth was really beautiful with all Asian artwork, statues and the most amazing wood chests and trunks. Val, I looked for the horse & carriage from "Chinoiserie" but there wasn't one. (Click on the photos for a closer view.)

Some of my pics came out a bit blurry because I wasn't using a flash and trying to shoot without people noticing me.
These were the absolute CREEPIEST looking dolls and figurines. I would not want one in my house.
There were some people dressed in Civil War era clothes.

I could kill my mom for getting rid of all my lunchboxes, especially the metal ones.
Lots of duckies.

Of course I wanted to buy all of the pretty glass and sparkly jewelry.

I guess this explains the origin of the term "bombshell" when it comes to a pretty girl.



Huge, innit? Crowded too.
If there is one thing I wish, it's that MEN WOULD JUST STAY HOME! I don't understand why they feel the need to accompany their wives to these things, when all they do is stand there, in the middle of the aisles, with ZERO spatial awareness. Go home! Take your manhood back and stay home watching sports! Then there are the old men who like to 'set a-spell and spin a yarn' with various booth owners about the tools and wares, making it virtually impossible to inquire as to the price of items. Ladies, I'm begging you, leave the 'unnecessary accessories' at home to drink beer, watch TV and scratch!!

After I finally shopped my way through the Showplex, my feet and low back were killing me. I thought about getting a foot massage when I left.
The Civil War reenactors were outside, shooting their black powder rifles.

I don't go to the antique show with a list or anything. I just like to drift and see if anything catches my eye. This year, I scored a cute little Ontario license plate, which was probably a cereal premium. It's quite small, probably 2" x 5".

A nice linen postcard of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill in SF.

I love to collect postcard folders/books. They have many photos of different sights, all folded together in a little booklet.

Postmark from 1948.

This was one of my biggest scores, a booklet of photos showing the damage from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. It's postmarked 1908 and extremely fragile.

One of the pages isn't attached so I scanned it.

This was also a huge find, and is also very fragile, which is why I didn't try to scan the postcards inside. There's no date on this, unfortunately, but it's clearly from the early 20th century.

I don't collect fans, but this one caught my eye and was a steal at only $6. You HAVE to click on this one to see the amazing colours.

I also found this adorable little metal box with jewels on the lid and sides. "Packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes..."

I hadn't exactly planned on buying another antique beaded purse, but I could not take my eyes off this one. I knew if I walked away, someone else would buy it, so I scarfed it up. It dates from the 1920's.
That's the bottom. Isn't it cool? All my fave colours too!

So, all in all, a successful day at the antique show! I can't wait for the next time it blows through town in November!