Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

The boy and I went to the 6:30 a.m. Easter sunrise service at the Glen Foerd mansion on the Delaware river.  On the drive up, the sky was as beautiful as I've ever seen it, and once we got out of the car to walk to where the service was being held...  I just wish I'd bought my camera.  Due to some light fog, you couldn't tell where the sky ended and the river began, and in the middle was silhouetted the old cast iron statue of Little Ugly, the beloved family pet who sloughed off his mortal coil in 1871.  It would have made a stunning photograph.


Above is somebody else's photo of Little Ugly.    


Thursday, April 21, 2011

decan't always get what you want

But if you want a beautiful (and heavy!  Really heavy.) Bohemian or possibly Italian art glass decanter, I gotcha one right here:
Those dark areas aren't painted.  They're cutouts in the glass.  

Note that this is about 400% cooler in person than what you see in the photo.

that does not compute...

... said the robot on Lost in Space. Delivering that line and also 'Danger!  Danger!' were pretty much the extent of his role.  They're also pretty much the extent of my Lost in Space memories. 

Below is Robot 7.  Unlike the one on Lost in Space, he keeps his opinions to himself.



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

plastic jewels

It's pretty mind-blowing what old plastic jewelry goes for these days. 

And I'm not even talking bakelite.

I'm talking plain vanilla plastic.

Fortunately for me, I have recently been able to find a few nice examples for less than what my monthly mortgage costs me.  

Have a look!!





Saturday, April 9, 2011

material culture

I've recently come upon some really neat prints on vintage clothing:

 The skirt above is from the 1930's.  The print features everything from volcanoes to pirate ships to Helios driving his chariot across the sky.  

 A circa 1950 Pennleigh cotton seersucker shirt with BRIGHT Hawaiian motifs.  So much more comfortable for hot weather wear than rayon.  

 A 1980's Italian silk scarf with bicycling print.  Exquisite!