I'm not a regular blogger I guess!

I guess a regular quick note each day would be good, instead of editorializing! LOL
Last Monday my DH took me to Padre Island, with three of our mutts. I took photos of him on the beach with two of the dogs...Oso (our gorgeous rust colored lab), and Buster (my little 'Jimmie Cagney' brindle mix terrier/beagle), and Bandit (our carmel colored female dog with the pretty face...who cried so much, we had to put her in the truck with the windows rolled down. She was afraid of the waves!)
I tried out my KODAK EASYSHARE V1273 Digital Camera, and I got such crisp, clear photos of the gorgeous blue sky with sea gulls, the sandpipers on the beach, the rolling ocean waves, my hubby with our Oso and Buster, in the water, the Bob Hall pier and tackle shop...even the exit sign looked great! Most of my photos look like professional quality! I couldn't even see the viewfinder with the bright sunlight, so I aimed and clicked....
I can't wait for more 'photo shoots'! LOL

It's late in the day...

It's almost midnight, and it's very quiet. All I hear is the ticking of my 1950's wall clock, and the clicking of the keyboard as I type. My hubby is in bed, as he has to work early in the morning. I work Mon. 11-7. I'm the 'night owl'...it goes with my job, I guess.
I really don't have time for this blogging, but I guess it is good therapy! LOL
You'd better watch what you blog...'big brother may be watching'! LOL Have you seen "Enemy of the State" with Will Smith and Gene Hackman? That was a 'good' movie!
I've purchased a few domain names, and will be working on a couple of websites. I have some pretty good ideas for what will be on them, and different themes for the front pages. I'm thinking of taking photos of vintage and doing collages in different themes, for the different sites. I don't know if Paint Shop Pro will be enough, or I'll have to buy a program to do that. Maybe something from Kodak?
I like to be creative, so I'd like to do it myself. Web pages are expensive too. One I liked was $350.00! It will come in time! :O)

Beautiful Bags! Purses with Pizzazz! Beaded Beauties!

I am a member of the VTLC (Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club) and I've become a 'Linen Addict' as I call myself! LOL And as some of you know...I'm becoming a 'Vintage Quilt Vixen'! I feel like a fox in a hen house attacking, when I've had occasion to run into an estate sale to grab quilts on the second day when they are reduced in price! LOL
But now...I have a growing collectors obsession with vintage handbags...'30's & '40's tapestries, Victorian drawstring purses, beaded handbags from the '40's. '50's & '60's! And they are so difficult to part with! I can't keep them all! My bedroom is over flowing...and my husband lives there too! LOL
So, please come up with a name for my newest obsession, but please be kind! :O)

Here are two (so far...) of my purses that I have dared to part with, if you'd like to take a look! :O)
www.bonanzle.com/luv2luvantiques













Vintage Whiting Davis Gold Clutch Bag /Purse!















Vintage Whiting Davis Black Mesh Bag / Purse!

'Going Green' With Estate Sales...

I'm finding myself wanting to expand on comments I'm leaving on friends' blogs today!
I find that there are more people attending estate sales, and the line ups are horrendous!!! More people are watching their money, so it isn't just antique 'pickers' like myself who are attending. More people are furnishing their homes with vintage.
Due to the economy, I think more people are 'going green' without realizing it. For example, I've seen a young couple looking for furniture for their apartment, and I've seen a middle aged couple thrilled to buy a 1970's china cabinet, that was beautiful wood, and much cheaper than a new one in a furniture store.
Alot of people attending these sales are friendly, and like to talk to other people about the items, and what they think is collectible. There are people I've grown to recognize, and will greet me, and other people, they meet. These are the antique & vintage luvers!
Most of the estate sales I have attended, promote courtesy at the sale, and respect for not blocking resident parking; these are sales by estate sellers I know. These estate businesses are run by people who give the personal touch...sharing their expertise about items, and giving regulars advance notice of upcoming sales.
I have been to family run estate sales where the people have been very nice also! There were only a couple of sales where I met rude people pushing for items...those were not put on by the main estate sellers in this area.
The last estate sale I attended was very professionally run, and it was an estate seller who I had not met before. I appreciated the personal touch of sharing his knowledge about the vintage jewelry for sale, and I will attend more of his sales in future. His business will be added to my list of favorites.

Fond memories of days gone by...

I had posted this on a friend's blog, but I thought I should post it here too:
Good things do come back to you! You gave a very thoughtful gift to your mother, and now you have it to enjoy, for many wonderful memories!
I know what this means...I had reupholstered a vintage wooden chair for my mother in law when she had asked me one time.
Later, when I came across a wooden antique footstool, I cleaned it up, made a cushion on top, and upholstered it to match her chair. My hubby and I gave this to his parents on their anniversary. This was one of the few times I saw her cry, and she was at a loss for words!
When she was in poor health, in her later years, she gave us the chair and stool. She died not too long afterward. These I will never part with....

My Friend's Reality Check...I'm having one too...

I was just reading A Sentimental Journey's Blog, and it really hit me hard, that quite a few people are having to deal with some very 'heavy' stuff lately!
Today's blog will not be an antique 'show off' or attempt to 'sell my 'wares! LOL
Instead, I'll be serious for a bit... My previous blog was about my favorite antique store closing...Now all of my vintage & antiques, and furnishings, right down to the decorative hooks on the walls...are now packed away at my home! That alone is bad enough! That was my stress relief, my fun, my passion, away from home and work! The worst thing is...my friend is trying to survive his 'baby' closing, after all the heart & soul he has put into that business!
My physical health, trying to cope with not being able to do what I did before, and fighting to keep my job and keep working...is so hard, but I'm determined not to cry...I want and need to stay angry, and all 'fired up', so I can keep going! My 'grit' and determination have not been 'called upon' for this long and hard a time, ever before! I'm not afraid of identity theft to express things here, as I'd luv for someone to steal my life and live it right now, taking over all my medical bills and other debts! They'd 'crack up'...they couldn't handle it! And they wouldn't have my DH for loving support!
The third thing, that I cannot control, is my mother dying...she's in paliative care right now, and I'm just waiting for the phone call! I won't be able to go to the funeral as it's in my home country, and no money, no time (have to keep my job!), and customs constraints (I'm a legal resident here.) My eldest sister sounded so depressed on the phone about me not being able to be with them when it happens....
Our 'sweetheart sis' (in the middle) is having trouble with a very bad broken bone near her hip not healing, and she can't work! She may have to sell her 1930's home and move into an apartment! :O(
A friend I work with here, had alot of family troubles, and her favorite nephew just died! He was in his early '20's! It seems like a 'bloody' soap opera (as the 'Brits' would say)! Are alot of people getting 'tested' in their lives lately? And I'm not just talking about the economy....
The fourth thing that I couldn't control, was my eldest son being in Iraq on his third tour of duty! He is now discharged from the army, moved into an apartment with his best friend in Austin, and signing up for college classes the end of May!
He stopped in briefly Thurs. to pick up his motorcycle, and a few things we were storing for him. He couldn't leave his 'girls' in the front of his truck too long! LOL He has two gorgeous, happy female brindle colored puppies, from the pit bull rescue in Tennessee! They were all excited to meet me, and forgot their manners (that my son is trying so hard to teach them!)...one of them gave me a big kiss right on the mouth! Ugh! LOL Pet therapy...my son is sooo smart! He'll be fine, and is getting his life on track! I can worry 'a little less' about him, and get less grey hair! LOL
Now I'm going to get all sentimental on you..."When a door closes...God opens a window!"
I think I'm greedy, but I'd luv another window to open...one for my youngest son...the dreamer and entrepreneur...he's trying to get a supply website going with a large corporation...I will keep praying on that! I want to see him reach his goal...he's waited so long....

Saying Goodbye to Brian's Antiques! :O(

If you will read my blog profile you will see that I'm one of the vendors at a very special antique store...Brian's Antiques in Corpus Christi, Texas.
But due to the current economy, Brian is forced to close his antique shop! Brian's Antiques will be officially closing March 31st.
I will be removing all my furnishings in the last few days, of this month. Until then, all the vendors, and Brian, are putting quite a few things on sale.
I will continue to sell as a vintage & antique vendor, on my new website, that I'm building.... www.Luv2LuvAntiques.com.