Sea shell souvenirs, I would never sell!

Over time, certain pieces make their way into your heart and before you know it....another collection!

I've bought and sold antiques and collectibles for many years, still do.  Over the years, getting up at 6 A.M to be the first in line at an estate sale, can pay off in some special finds.  On this White Wednesday at Faded Charm I'd like to share some "special finds", in my small shell collection.

You all know about the shell pieces made by sailors for their wives and sweethearts in the 1800s, none of mine are that old or high-dollar, but each one makes my heart sing!

  This is my FAVORITE piece, I just love this little baby. All of 4 inches tall, most likely from the 1950s, the flowers are made entirely of tiny, delicate shells glued to a larger shell with a wire handle added to hang it, definitely a souvenir piece.  She makes me smile every time I look at her!

This box, another souvenir pieces, is about the size of a cigar box and I'd guess from the 50s or 60s, pretty common but I love it.  The little purse on the left, found at an estate sale, is special........

    This sweet little purse was hand crafted from cardboard, covered with paper and then, shells. The handle is silk cord.  I'm thinking it was made by a young woman in the 1930s or 40s.  Photo below shows off the inside.

I bought the little book below from the daughter-in-law of the woman who made it, in her teens at summer camp, probably 1930s or 40s.

Look at what is inside!

  Pages, cut to fit, with seaweed specimens pressed, dried and glued to the paper.  She cut pieces of tissue paper and used them to separate each page.....how precious is that?  Holes were drilled and the book is held together with  a thin leather lace.

 

Last, but not least, this lovely comes with a special story........

Last September, I went to Camas to a street sale....in the pouring rain!  There they were, the dedicated, rain soaked dealers standing under their awnings, shivering but making the best of it!  In one booth, I spied the little beauty above, very reasonably priced... she was going home with me!

When the dealer and I started talking, I discovered she was from Bellingham, WA.  I asked her if she knew my friend, who was a dealer and shop owner in Bellingham for years....turns out, she not only knew her but she had worked for her.  I love "small world" stories, don't you?

That lovely lady was Debi from Ormolulu.

The rewards from antiquing are so much more than financial, it's the wonderful friends you make, the experiences you have and, once in a while, you score another precious piece for your collection!

These are definitely not white...but yet another small collection, I love, and they look so good with the shells!

 

A little out of focus....but who can resist old, worn velvet!

Enjoy your White Wednesday....I hope the sun is shining on you today!