My 'Picker' -- My Friend!

What's almost as much fun as going to estate sales?  Having an out-of-state friend who goes to estate sales for you!

I have a dear friend, Kally, who lives in Minnesota.  You might remember that I introduced her to the wonder of thrift shopping a few months ago -- now she can't get enough of it!  I laugh with her that, if she brings too much old  junk stuff into the house, her husband won't let her play with me anymore.  He says he doesn't mind, though, as long as it always leaves and comes to my house.  Some people just don't appreciate the thrill of the hunt or the beauty of inexpensive, rusty, or shabby.

Anyway, Kally and her husband came to see family back in Michigan over Christmas, and we got to have them here for a short visit.  She brought me two boxes of treasures!  One of them was hand-picked from her mother-in-law's downsizing garage sale.  The other was an entire BIG box of things picked up at estate sales in Minnesota (and they have some great sales there).

Here are some of the great things that her mother-in-law saved for me:

A collection of colored glass, including a couple of moon and star pieces

A Prince Charles & Princess Di wedding souvenir tray

Some vintage sewing things & a cookbook.  Check out the little lady (who sadly has no feet).  She has woven ribbon wrapped around her with a ribbon needle.  I'm not sure what they did with her.

Some Pyrex gooseberries, garland & some thermoware.  The plastic bowls are Cap'n Crunch giveaways

Some cool odds and ends.  See the laundry sprinkler in the front?  I've been looking for one of these for a year or more!  I was so excited I had to call her right away and thank her!

A candlewick plate (I think it's candlewick and not Boopie)

A child's luncheon plate with Mary & her little lamb

A very tiny set of fireplace tools & books + bookends -- for a doll's house

 There was also a woven sewing basket that looked like this, but yellow:

I gave to my son's fiance, who loves to sew and likes old things -- I was really happy for her to have it!

There were lots of things from estate sales, too.  The most exciting 'find' that Kally picked up was this collection of English Cornishware from the 1950s.  I think I'm going to do some research on it -- it's just gorgeous!

 Most of the pieces have a flaw or two, but it's still wonderful!  I just love it!  Here's how the pitcher (called a Dreadnought Pitcher) and the bowl (called a Pudding Bowl) look in my kitchen cabinet of 'pretties'.

 There were a few china pieces, including a Johnson Brothers sugar bowl and 3 casserole lids.  The lady at one of the sales collected the lids and hung them on the wall as decorations.  I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but they're very pretty!

Two painted Christmas trays

 There's LOTS of paper ephemera -- I just love it all, because it's such a window into history!

A collection of painting books & Pennsylvania Dutch patterns for large serving trays.  I've seen those trays everywhere, but never realized they were painted from patterns by people.

A thermometer set and some seed catalogs from the 1930s

LOTS of Meyercord decals -- I can't get enough of these!  There are also a few really large decals.

A collection of old pictures, including one of Ralph Lauren with his autograph.  The owner from the sale used to work for him. 

 Didn't Kally do a great job picking?  I'll let her shop for me ANY TIME (especially if she can come to visit to deliver it personally).  Thanks, Kal -- you're the best!