Victorian Parasol in a $5.00 bag of doll stuff ....

Thursday February 15, 2007 What a glorious day for a thrift shop find. I have been asking all over to every one that would listen if they possible new of any place to obtain working miniature frames for parasols? Each and everyone gave good thoughts, Even a direct link to a doll sight that has a speciality for beautiful little dolls....Thank You dear Connie, The price on line was $13.00 plus $3.95 s/h little steep for the amount I would need.....so I decided to take another thought from another of my friends who suggested to find a Micheal's ....I would be Happy with this store....the nearest Happiness store is 170 miles round trip for me....Tucson....Arizona...I thought...ok, On Saturday I can kidnap my hubby and say I am going to Wal-Marts and take a right turn instead of left and be on my way to Tucson...This has worked only once....with him...total surprise but good natured about it, I might not get away with it again....(BG).

So, up and off this morning early to hunt the Army Post thrift shop bookstore for a few good books ....cheap at the trip around $1.20 each....And it was very very slow with little or no books that I had not checked-in myself...So, for two of us to be their Liz my partner in crime, as I am her assistant...decided to check out the rest of the junk in the store...It is a hot bed of international items as most all of the PSC (permeated change of status) army lingo....from Japan, from France and most German families come from, they meet their future soldier and hubby and they transport to the USA. I have found terrific items of china, silks , wooden items unique to life International...as this for ti's a Military Intelligence Group, specializing in Russian and now Arabic and Asian Languages. You can pass at any time soldiers from Scotland, Russia and the different Navy's of the world. A small family of int ell.

Well, to keep this from truing into a book....I found a large plastic bag of doll items, as though someone had just emptied a box of all types of doll items, heads, feet, hands, heads of all sizes and types....I thought, heck for $5.00 I can explore the world of buttons and bows...hats and hands...I did get my two books, and a lace fabric to display items on. Well, I went on with my day, searching for a new tie for hubby and some silk shirts to be picked up for his approaching trip, and Found a Ross store not new to Sierra Vista, but new to me...Lord! what a place for tea pots! Did I say that I adore tea pots and tea cups...not so much as after nay new espresso machine gift of Christmas passed?

Well, I purchased 2 and then went back in and got another....really beautiful and actually I was blown away from the price...so darn inexpensive!

So, here I was happy as a pig in mud and when I got home I had a little girl that I used to give piano lessons waiting ...just siting on my bench on the front door. How long she had waited for my return, the gal next door said she told the little one that she had seen me drive off and had not returned yet...anyway, she was awaiting with a piece of music that I was in wonderment with....She has advanced so far I was actually afraid that I might have to say to her...that it was impossible for these old fingers to get a correct movement. SO, I limbered up my brain with an espresso and gave her a china white in a special china pot and her little own cup she keep here when she used to come each Monday...and set out to try and act like I actually could play this piece.....I was lucky and it was one that I had actually work on with her older sister....several years ago....so I managed to muddle through and she left with her beautiful hair shinning in the evening mist...I wondered into the work room and finally got an opportunity to take a rummage in this glorious plastic treasure of doll "stuff"...Half way through my rummaging...thinking not bad for parts...when low and behold I noticed a piece of cloth that looked like a small cut work...and when I reached in a pulled it out...My God! there was the most precious wood unique tooling of a tiny China parasol, it looks to be antique and came from Providence of China. SO very well made it made the one shown on the Internet look like a took pick. All of the spokes were hand carved, and it actually worked up and down....SO, not only do I have a well tooled parasol I have the exact measurements of the size parasol I need. The one pictured yeastier was slightly too large and I would call it medium?.

I still need to find an available place that has a reasonable price for lot sales but, imagine my thoughts when finding this little beauty? If their is a goddess of the parasols, I am extremely grateful for the ability to have one. So, my day's adventured was a great stash for me. Three Chins teapots one in my beloved French Tole...and an odd shaped unit called Germain Gardens and the last but not least of them was a big beautiful Bunny tea post surrounded by lavender flowers....now I am searching for violet and floral tea cup before Easter rolls around. All in all I really need to get out more but, if I did that not only would I be broke but I would never bee able to catch up, but a day away from this studio and designs and machines was a delight. Still the parasol need is there but I enjoy so the actual beauty of this little Darling. The photo does not due it justice, I will not dare try an clean the fabric as the cut work is so fragile, but It found its home with some one who can admire and cherish this for days to come.

As always, Silvery Moonbeams to Watch over you,

Sierra