Piddlin’ Surcies – Page 2

Wedding Bells Are Ringing!

I hear wedding bells! 2012 has been deemed “The Year of Weddings” for many of my friends as well as Ryan and I. We have a wedding to attend in February and April, followed by three weddings in June, then our wedding arriving in September, and the most recent addition to the calendar is another Charleston wedding in November for a sorority sister. That adds up to 7 total! Did I mention that I am slated as a bridesmaid in a least four? Everyone told me it would happen this way and I must say, so far, it has really been FUN!!

With our engagement party last weekend,The shower season is finally upon us and in full swing. Now, in regards to piddlin’ matters I must first share with you a few antique sursies given to Ryan and By a few friends close to our heart, our engagement photog, the always fabulous, one and only, Sally Lund Freshour; our sweet matchmaker, Caroline Delongchamps; and my hardcore piddlin’ girlfriend Jessie (aka, for those of you who know her well, “The Pig” (a nickname her brother gave her as a young girl – haha everyone needs a brother!) So here goes: This perfectly vintage cake topper is the most fabulous one I have seen to date! Found at Charlotte, NC’s Seasonal International Antique Expo at Metrolina.

That Sally is some kind of awesome and I highly recommend her for any of your (engagement, wedding, baby, family, professional) photography needs! Added bonus: this girl will travel, so check out her website. And tell her I sent you! sallyfeshour.com This pretty, antique cross made of beadboard is from Sweet Caroline D and has already found its place in a prominent spot by the door in my town home (which is where Ryan and I will live after the Big Day!)

And then, this fab sign- a staple item for every antique collectors home! So fun!

At this point, I cannot continue any further without sharing an item we acquired this Christmas!! This “Flexible Flyer” sled is authentic as they get and was once ridden down the hills of Blacksburg, Virginia by my fiancé! How amazing is this sled?!

Ryan has been telling me about it since last Christmas so naturally it was the first thing I asked about upon our arrival to Ryan’s parents’ house on December 23rd! She is a beauty and I’m already looking forward to putting a big fat bow with a nice fresh spring of cedar and fir next Christmas season! This poor sled may never be ridden in snow again, but it will always have a place of honor in this home!! Love her!!! Never in my wildest dreams, did I think I would have such an authentic sled in this picker’s antique inventory!

There is so much more to show you, so for fear of overloading you with excitement, I will have to leave it here for now ~ to be continued!!

Life is FULL of Surprises!

Mom always said, “If you’re good, life will be full of surprises!” So let’s see…there were a few stops in Southport, NC for Thanksgiving where Ryan’s brother lives, even though I wasn’t entirely sure we’d have time what with all the cooking, eating, napping, and football watching we had in store this Thanksgiving (our first together). That was where I first saw and fell in love with this *GEM* which was later given to me from Ryan’s parents for Christmas! *Such* a fabulous, fabulous surprise!

Then there were the somewhat surprise stops in Landrum, SC and Inman, SC en route to Asheville, NC where we actually found some very fab vintage coke glasses for Uncle Tom-which he LOVED, a neat baguette board as seen in this picture holding the green and gold ornaments:

and then from Inman,SC : we found these very fun Spanish tiles which I plan to make into coasters very soon!!

That was early December so our next trip came on December 22nd as we drove to Elizabeth City, NC to celebrate Christmas with The Jennings Families! We stopped just outside of New Bern, NC (yes, the birthplace of Pepsi) and found this wonderfully unique “Maola” milk crate complete with heavy steel/aluminum bottom. SO AWESOME:

AND the other fab find was an addition to mom’s collection of Royal Doulton children’s dish line, “Bunnykins.” The find? …a bowl that pictures bunny’s picking peaches!! AH! I wanted to keep it for myself, but she started her collection first! Hopefully my name gets written down to inherit it (wink, wink)!!

As if these great finds weren’t enough, we even were gifted with some cool antiques this Christmas that ONLY mom could have found—she always finds the BEST stuff!

So first-this awesome red, brit-inspired, mailbox!!

and then this really cool vintage baseball game given to Ryan, that brought back memories for our parents and grandparents alike! It proved to be very fun- and addicting! If it is not yet obvious, we are baseball junkies. You should see our house!

Last but not least, my sweet fiance found some very perfect items at Antiques Market that reminded him of me, a small sampler chalkboard (not pictured) and this fun sign (I’m def a beach girl!- very perfect!)

That’s all for now, but there’s STILL more to follow! So stay tuned for another update from the piddlin’ ‘press!

Happy Piddlin!

Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

So as they say…good things come in threes. I don’t know that I have ever experienced this phenomenon in the past, but I can definitely speak for it now.

I managed to make it through every day of last week with a smile on my face (which is a huge accomplishment), received countless encouragements from my co-workers, and on Friday evening I received a wedding proposal that was out of this world amazing (more to come later.)

It may be hard to believe, but these aren’t even the three good things I intended to share with you.

On the night of my engagement I also received three antiques. They are three that I will forever associate with the happiest time in my life to date.

1. A “nautical” antique lantern: given as a third of five clues leading me to Ryan on the beach and the aforementioned wedding proposal!

pondering the initial use of a lantern like this one…

2. An antique I have been searching for everywhere since I first started piddlin’ with gusto: a fabulously old painter’s ladder with hardware to boot! Given as a gift from the one and only “sister Sara,” who is the sister of our dear neighbor Jessie Buck. (who we also call “the pig”- and that is a whole post for another day)

um…how piggin’ perfect is this ladder !?!?!

3. And finally, the most perfect ring I have ever seen and more than I ever dreamt it could be ….mine?! Yes. This is the third antique I was given after a beach dinner picnic and the 5 clues (baseballs with messages) leading up to it. I am not completely convinced that I deserve something of such stunning beauty, but I am forever thankful and quickly humbled by such a gift. I mean, just look at it: Found in Ryan’s very own Elizabeth City, North Carolina…a city just as beautiful as this ring and now, forever a part of our life together!

thering — The most unique 1910-1920s Art Deco Estate Gold Filigree & Platinum Engagement Ring anyone has ever seen!

SLF_1169 — after a trip to the jeweler…its back on my finger clean sparkling and fitting like a glove!

It has been a long week, but every time I look down at that ring on my left hand, I am reminded about how much I am loved…and not just by the giver of such a beautiful gift, but also I am reminded of the love of his parents and mine who have spent and sacrificed so much of their time to bring us to this point. We are all truly looking forward to planning and celebrating such a happy occasion.

Finally, I must add that tomorrow is THE TRIP of a LIFETIME…

Okay. well. maybe not a LIFEtime, but it is certainly a big trip for any piddler, because since I knew it existed I have always wanted to take a trip down south to Atlanta, Georgia’s very own Scott’s Antique Show. I have only ever heard stories but tomorrow and subsequently after work, travel and sleep time, (Saturday) I will finally lay eyes on the closest antique Mecca South of the Mason Dixon and East of the Mighty Mississippi….SCOTTS! FINALLY!

_________________

WHOOHOO!!! We’re finally getting married!!!! I am the happiest and luckiest girl in the world!!!!

I leave you with one of my favorite lines by Emily Bronte, taken from Wuthering Heights:

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

Stay tuned because there are sure to be all sorts of fun finds on the blog next week!

happy piddlin!

mcwd-charcoal-marycatherine-script

Florentine Finds!

FLORENCE, ~~Italy~~…ha! –I wish.

FLORENCE, SC– Dee and I met, grabbed a splash of gas, a drop of coffee, a quick breakfast sand’ and hit the road before dawn. We were like two mad women on a mission. Since I haven’t seen a good antique mall since say….August? I had been jonesin’ for a trip to seek and find at least one good piddlin’ spot. Here’s what we rummaged up…

some FAB shake/sundae glasses….for Ryan- who LOVE LOVE LOVEs my prized triple thick milkshakes! (be jealous)…

The Spinners Vintage Best Hits….OH YEAH! This is all Dad right here. I think he loved his sursie as well! I know I certainly was entertaining the ‘rents with some vintage dance moves. haha enough said–

argueably…my FAVORITE find of the trip! One for dee, one for me- Cross-stitched, Charleston “basket ladies.” Can I even begin to describe how GREAT these are? So Charleston, and just flat out awesome.

Sucker-Punch Sam – I had to name him, this is the first thing mom laid her hands on and she wanted to put it on the counter just 5 seconds after we had walked into Carolina Collectibles. He’s a heavy iron doorstop..a great conversation piece to add to her July decor!

…Check back later this weekend for THE FIND of the day! *You CANNOT miss this*

-the piggin’ piddler | mcw

Hello again!

So—left out a couple of pretty great finds. FIRST: I love Halloween and honestly will tell you it’s pretty much my favorite holiday and always has been…I could go on, but I’ll save it for October. ;) What I won’t save until then are these spooktacular holiday finds…is it bad that I’m already ready to decorate? WELL- since learning about Edgar Allen Poe on Sullivan’s Island as a little girl, to his macabre poems studied countless times since 7th grade Literature class, (and yes of course, adoring POES from the day it opened), I have a fond love of all things Poe so that explains these next finds:

…Annabelle Lee, herself!

also seen here, Edgar Allen Poe’s storied Raven…

Okay! At last…here’s the golden egg of the trip….

…after some humble researching this is what I have discovered. The above lovely piece of pine is called a “Hoosier” and named after the very popular Indiana company that made these kitchen cabinent solutions. At the time they were made, built in cabinets were rare as these served as a safe and rodent free way to store flour, sugar and the like in a “possum- belly” drawer that could not be chewed into. Check out some of the links (and pictures!) below…I can safely say, we got a serious steal on this piece! Wow- can’t wait to have my own house one day! …ENJOY!

Needless to say, I felt excited when we loaded this bad boy into mom’s car, but I feel like the luckiest piddlin’ girl in the world now that I own this unique piece of American Kitchen history…too cool. Can’t wait to find the perfect use for it! …thoughts of a permanent baking table are dancing through my mind right now. OOH joy- makes me want to get my mixer out right now and start baking for Easter!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier_cabinet

http://www.rubylane.com/item/496181-08-122/Possum-Belly-Kitchen-Cupboard

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0253314240?ie=UTF8&tag=lovetoknow-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0253314240

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/theoldgrainery/items/POSSUM_Belly_Hoosier_Sellers_Kitchen_Cupboard_Cabinet_

Now…for a little extra treat I have one more thing:

…for our dear “piggin'” friend, Jessie. These are for you!

Let there be no doubt about it – this is the piggin’ cutest pig that the pig herself has ever seen. Jessie – thanks for the voicemail…we laughed until we cried. SO SO Glad you LOVED the PIG SurPriSe!

Stay tuned for more piddlin’ trips…sure to come! | ❤the p.p.

Piddlin’ Treasures

“One man’s trash”, all found at the last Metrolina trip:

THE piddlin’ FIND of the day! My antique “work/drafting table”, with gorgeous wear…

…mom was thrilled to find this ole’ iron interlocking bed frame for $100 bucks even!

…a lovely and well worn pail with a punchy red stripe! LOVE.

…a handy muffin tray for organizing…

& the last find of the day and a gift from mama- a cameo with the three graces:

beauty, poise, and grace-

stay tuned. | keep piddlin’

Between Piddlin’ Trips

iron "doorstop" — a little piece of history for my architect beau; seen here as a front door stop

My mom has updated her booth recently! Sterling Silver Tradition has traded two dusty cases for a beautifully aged wood + glass case…swoonworthy.

Also, be sure to stop by throughout the week to see SST’s latest purchases fresh from Atlanta to you (via Scott’s Antique Market)

What did she bring home for me, you ask? Well…two very fabulous finds, if you don’t mind my braggin’.

first doughbowl!

…the first being my very own dough bowl!!! at long last, I have one to call mine! Can’t wait to serve up some steamin’ lowcountry boil…I can already smell the ole’ bay! MmMmMm! …can’t go wrong with a receipe like this! (via Garden & Gun Magazine)

The second surcie is equally as fun as it is functional, a pretty antique-French-blue fleur-de-lis which looks great on a bookshelf or even as a doorstop!

fleur de lis

Now- I must add, just a few other finds I’ve been lucky enough to stumble over in the past month:

: This chippy little wooden bucket with rusted bands is perfect for holding my current reading materials + later, just about anything else! (via Northbridge Antiques)

The best part about this desk is how we found its matching counterpart while in Walterboro: a sweet little matching blue school desk chair which will one day make quite the study table.

Cannot seem to collect enough of these antique washboards; they will be so pretty in my laundry closet!

until next time- keep piddlin’!!

| mcwd-charcoal-marycatherine-script