Cat pictures

Everyone who knows me knows that I love animals, and in particular that I have 3 cats. So I do have a soft spot for cat ornaments and pictures etc. A while back I was in a Lifeline shop when I saw this picture on their wall. It was $5.00 and I quickly took it down and carried it while still browsing. The only disappointing thing about it was that a staff member informed me that it came in as a part of a pair of prints but the other one had already sold! I often think about that other print and why the person bought only one of a pair - apparently it featured 2 cats so maybe they just liked those 2 cats. I think this is a reproduction of a Japanese print but I cannot find anything about the original print or who the artist is.

Japan cat print

This is another cat picture that I found in my local Vinnies store. It's an original sketch that I assume came from someone's holiday, perhaps in Vietnam. I really don't know anything about it. I had the frame already and it blended in perfectly. The sketch was only $2.50.

Cat sketch

Garage sale finds

Sometimes I like to get up early on a Saturday morning and have a look at the local garage (yard) sales in my area. There isn't always something I'm interested in buying, but it's fun to just have a look around. I actually hadn't been to a garage sale for a while after being bitterly disappointed by one that was advertised as having a number of collector pieces. When we all turned up at 8am the lady announced that she had sold most of the items as a lot to a dealer earlier in the week (for a very small sum I might add). As it turns out the items had been sold before the paper was even delivered to my house!
But last weekend there was an estate sale that I went to and bought a few nice items. They hadn't priced anything, which usually means I don't ask, but I decided to on this occasion and was pleasantly surprised.
First up is this green glass bowl. I've seen similar items in antique stores for quite a bit of money so wasn't sure what price she would want - as it turns out it was $2. And it came with some very tacky plastic grapes that I promptly threw away! As I went to put it in the car I am sure I heard the disappointed sigh of another customer who had missed seeing it!

Green glass bowl

 As I was leaving these two poodles caught my eye on a table filled with figurines. I asked how much and they were only $1 each! I bought them both even though they are identical. I think they are from the 1950's and one has a marking of 751 on the bottom but I can't find anything else out about them.

1950's Poodles

My other purchase was this large glass vase with a blue coloured top. I like it, but not as much as my green bowl. Again she asked for $2 for it and when my Mum said it was a bargain they attempted to change the price by asking us how much we think it's worth - Mum said $2 and that was that! I really don't know what it's worth. I guess if you are hosting a garage sale you need to think first about the prices you want for your items, research them and clearly label them - most people probably never ask and don't like to haggle either.

Glass bowl

Original artworks

I always look at the paintings when I'm in second hand shops. I don't expect to ever find one that is valuable (I wish!) but I do like to have unique paintings on my walls to brighten up the place and add interest.

The below painting of a blue wren only cost a few dollars a while back and is one of my favourites. I put it in another frame (also only a few dollars second hand) and he has pride of place on my shelf. The artist's name and details are on a small tag that came with the picture and I stuck them to the inside of the frame in case they ever become famous one day!

Blue Wren painting

The flowers painting below cost $3.00 and I think it's oil based work. It matches the bird picture well so I keep them near one another.

Flowers painted in oils

Another painting I love is this small picture that was only $1.00 from Vinnies. The original owner had written the origins on the back when they bought it on holidays in Mexico. It was finger painted while they watched the artist work. It's a small picture, only the size of a postcard, so is very flexible to move wherever I want it. I'm not likely to ever go to Mexico, but I'm happy to have something beautiful from their part of the world on my wall.

Finger painting from Mexico

Barsony Black Lady Lamp - Flamenco Dancer

This is by far my favourite purchase and was simply the case of being in the right place at the right time. About 3 years ago I was wandering in the furniture section of a Lifeline shop and on the way out noticed this lamp. I loved her straight away and quickly bought her for the marked price of $25. When I got home I looked her up on the Internet and found out a bit about these lamps and that they are quite collectible by a number of people and sell for around $750 (although I've seen this one with an asking price of $1500 - not sure if it sold for that price though). I don't plan on selling her and would love to find another one in a different pattern.

Barsony Black Lady Lamp

Small Bird Plates

These plates were bought in a Vinnies store about a year ago, so not a recent purchase. It's a set of 4 small plates although I'm really not sure if they would be just display plates or perhaps something you might serve butter etc on. Each plate features a different image of birds yet they all match in with each other due to their colourings. They are stamped Made in Japan, but don't have any other markings so I have been unable to look up their history. They only cost 50 cents each so a total of $2.00, but they were behind glass, stacked one on top of the others, in the display case and hard to actually see. I've yet to actually use them or even display them properly but I'm still glad I bought them.

Set of 4 plates featuring birds

Souvenirs while on holidays

 I don't normally buy many souvenirs while on holidays - I find them mostly pointless as they are often something you cannot display in your home for long. However, I love buying something that you might use everyday and when you look at it you're reminded of your holiday. I always seek out second hand shops when I'm away to find something more unusual to remind me of my holiday.

Recently I was in Japan visiting family and asked to be shown the local second hand shops. Second hand items aren't really very popular in Japan which keeps the prices low, and it's not charity run. However there are a few stores around it you know where to look. I visited quite a few times and came away with a few things to remind me of my time there.

This cat temperature gauge came from a lovely little shop near Yamadera Shrine in the Yamagata Prefecture. It's made out of cast iron so it's rather heavy for it's size. It only cost $12.00 but is by far the most expensive item I bought while op shopping in Japan!

Cat temperature gauge

Another place I visited was a branch of Book Off stores in Yonezawa, in the Yamagata Prefecture. It was actually quite a popular store with more than a few other shoppers browsing each time I was there. It was quite a large shop and I made 3 purchases there over the course of my trip - I could have bought much more but with checked baggage on the flight to think about it was not worth the trouble.

Dragonfly brooch - this is a cheap brooch but made really well. The gems are clearly not real diamonds (I wish they were!!) but it still looks quite elegant and I don't have to worry about losing it when I wear it. It was in with other cheap jewellery and cost $5.00.

Dragonfly Brooch

Bird patterned bowl - the shop had a lot of large plates and bowls, all with unique and beautiful patterns. This one features 2 birds in a nature scene and the colours are much deeper in real life. It cost $5.00 and as it's a large-ish bowl it caused the most trouble packing my carry on luggage on the flight home! It's suitable to use as a centrepiece bowl or maybe a fruit bowl.

Bird Bowl

This little ceramic container cost only $2 and is in perfect condition. I'm not actually sure what the traditional use for it is, perhaps a tea canister? It was located with the kitchenware items and there were a lot of them in assorted patterns. This one has gold colourings throughout the pattern which doesn't stand out well in the picture. I use it as a trinket box. 

Ceramic canister 

Linen Napkins

I don't actually use linen serviettes at home, paper always seems much more convenient to me. But while in Lifeline the other day I came across this unopened box with embroidered scenes from London on them. Normally I won't buy something I won't use as it's wasteful and I don't want to end up a hoarder. But at only $1.50 I knew I had to have them! I'm guessing someone bought those years ago either as a souvenir for themselves or a loved one, and never wanted to ruin them by opening the box. I've already got them out and will give them a good soak in Napisan and perhaps use them on special dinners.

Picture Frames

Waltherglas frame from Germany

Caldier Frame from Italy

I love photo frames - they're just so classic and elegant sitting around a room. I guess a lot of people get given them as gifts though as there are always heaps to choose from in second hand shops. I bought these 2 glass frames on the same day at different Vinnies shops. The square one was only $1.50 and is Waltherglas from Germany.  The larger one looks much nicer in real life than the picture and cost $4.00. It's Caldier from Italy. I've never heard of either brand before but both are well made and neither appear to have ever been used.

Royal Selangor Money Box

"Saving for a rainy day" Money Box

Corner view of Money Box

Lately I've been attracted to pewter items - though I'm not really sure why. At my local Vinnies shop I picked up this money box for $3.50. It's Royal Selangor and is called "Saving for a rainy day" which is written on the item. The top of it is actually shaped to resemble an umbrella and each side depicts scenes with teddy bears. Ideal for a child it must have been an unwanted present as it's in perfect condition and is still for sale both online and in stores for $120! Personally I would never pay that much for it but for what I paid it sure was a bargain!

Naaman Israel

Naaman Israel Seal and Bird figurines

I bought these two figurines (a seal and a bird) from a nearby Lifeline shop a little while back. I think they cost around $1.50 each, so not bad at all! I loved their flowing forms and how simple yet elegant they look. I had never heard of Naaman before so I looked them up online when I got home - some of their pieces are quite collectable (I think it depends on the actual design). Either way they look great sitting on a shelf at home.