Yard Sale Catch Up!

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Hey everybody! I know you have been waiting with anticipation, and I appreciate your loyalty! I am sooo sorry it has taken me so long to get my latest vintage treasure blog together. I’ve been having to work on other photo related projects, and my yard saling posts had to wait. Unfortunately, it rained this past weekend, washing away my regular Saturday yard sale adventures. But I still have a few new items to show you from a community yard sale from two weeks ago.

Community yard sales can go one way or the other. Most of the time “community” is a dirty word in my yard sale dictionary. LOLs. People just don’t put as much effort into these sales. But of course, your odds do get better the more people who participate. So out of curiosity, I still check each residence just to make sure no one is getting rid of their grandmother’s jewelry or grandfather’s camera collection. The not knowing what you will come across and the hunt are the two major factors that make yard saling such an addictive sport.

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Those of you, who may know me personally, may know my sister is a pianist. She loves anything piano related. So I had to get these two little figurines. The girl, playing the piano, was $1; the cat, sitting on top of the piano, was 50 cents. They are both music boxes.

Then I picked up this tiny vintage table. Yes, as Linus says, it needs a little love, but for $2 I was sold. I think it’s cute. It will make the perfect side table.

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One of the next houses I stopped at was selling someone’s wood carvings for only $1 a piece. I thought it was so sad. Somebody spent many hours, carving these little bears, Indians, etc. Anyone who had an antique or art related shop could have bought them and resold them easily. One particular carved animal caught my eye. You don’t often get the opportunity to buy one of a kind signed artwork for such a great price. So I adopted this old hound dog for only a dollar.

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At the same place I picked up this wooden cat. I am not sure if he was handmade like the dog, but it bares a striking resemblance to my Gracie. $1

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My Dad actually found the next item at an auction for $3. He surprised me with this little vanity mirror. It’s a very heavy piece. I just need to find a mirror or I could even make it into a picture frame. It has a little bowl at the bottom that would be good for rings and such. I believe it is little birds at the top, looking down into a nest of eggs at the bottom. If you interpret something different, let me know! Ha, ha.

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You know I love my old Christmas music. I work on additions to my holiday sound track all year round. At the community sale I also managed to come across some Christmas vinyl in excellent shape. Normally, I buy vinyl in most any condition…sometimes just for the album art. But I picked up the following records in almost mint condition from 25 cents to 98 cents a piece!

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Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand ~ I scored on some of the best of the best artists of holiday music. Since I’m talking about vinyl…I also bought these crates for $2 a piece to store some of my records in. They are the perfect size for vinyl, but my children seemed to think they made a great play pin!

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Yep, that’s my little girl and boy. All of my children have fur and four legs! If you don’t remember them from a previous post, Gracie is my calico baby and Dreamsicle is my big boy tabby. And back to Christmas…LOLs…you know it’s my favorite time of the year! I found this old plastic light up church for only $2. I’m almost positive I saw the same church in an antique shop for $25 last year. I think it will be beautiful in a vintage Christmas village. It also has a music box on the back.

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I always appreciate your continued visits to my blog! Make sure you click on the follow Jessica Casper button on the right hand side bar on the home page. You never know what I may come across next! I’m so excited about one of my next treasures that I just have to give you a sneak peek. I apologize in advance for the phone pic, but it was what I had to work with in the moment. I can’t wait to get this treasure home and bring it back to life. A diamond in the rough…

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Happy Friday Eve! Until next time!

And We’re Off…

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The season has officially begun! Finally, a decent listing of yard/garage sales in the paper, online, and did I mention I use an app on my phone? LOLs. No joke…it’s great at locating sales within several feet of me! From jewelry to furniture, the selection of yard sale inventory was the best it has been this early 2013 season. Let’s cut the small talk and get right into the treasures. I’ve been so excited to share them with you all week!

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At my very first stop of the morning, I spotted this child’s wicker rocking chair. It’s in great shape. It will be good for photographing small children or just for decorative purposes. It did come with this poor baby doll who had seen better days. The owner was selling the chair and doll for $8. I told the seller he could keep the baby, and I offered $5 for the chair. He accepted my offer. :)

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One of the next sales was definitely, as the American Pickers call it, a honey hole. All of the following items were from the same sale. I will start out small. If you know me personally, you know I love jewelry. From costume to real, vintage to brand new…I can appreciate it all. Check out my newest vintage bobs to decorate my lobes! Ha, ha. I couldn’t resist two pairs of earrings for $1!

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I am still searching for vintage glass knobs to complete the look of a sideboard I purchased last season. So if you have any, hook a sista up! Anyway, I’m sure that is why this cake container caught my eye. It has great color, and I love the glass knob. It’s multifunctional. It will not only be great for decorating but also storage. $3

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Still at the same sale, I saw this old milk glass/hobnail looking lamp. The milk glass looks great against a black and white interior design. I asked the seller about it. She said it was her grandmother’s, and they were very sentimental about the piece. I thought, “Well, why on earth are you selling it and for only $10?!”  Because I never pay the full sticker price, I offered $7. She said $8. I took it home! It looks fabulous on my black sideboard. The top and bottom light up.

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At another sale I came across a couple of Christmas tins. My sister collects them, so for 50 cents a piece it was a no brainer.

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I also came across this unique chair at the same sale where I found the tins. It is solid as a rock, and it just had this great Mid-Century Modern look. The chair was only $2! So I was willing to take a chance on it. After a little research, I found out it was a Thonet New York bentwood chair. The cheapest price on ebay was $89…pretty good investment if I do say so myself!

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My last treasure is my favorite find of the weekend! I love the TV series, Mad Men. I enjoy looking at the fashion and interior design on the show. This chair totally looks like it belongs on the set of the hit television series. I fell in love with the lines of this chair as soon as I saw it. Yes, it is covered in an atrocious orange fabric that you can see for miles, but its potential screams even louder to me. You will never believe how much I paid for it…wait for it…$2! And that ladies and gentlemen made my day!

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Thanks so much for your continued visits to my blog! Make sure you click on the follow Jessica Casper button on the right hand side bar on the home page. That way you will receive e-mail notifications when I have a new post. You don’t want to miss what I may find next Saturday! Have a great weekend!

Music to my Ears

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Hey everybody! Sorry I haven’t been able to post regularly lately. I appreciate your patience. I’ve almost fully recovered from a pollen coma! It’s nothing worse for a photographer than to see the world in bloom from the windowpane. Everything’s beautiful here in Virginia, but I’ve just got to lay low inside as much as possible until the bloomage settles down. But last weekend I took a dose of Allegra and broke free from my indoor confinement for some yard saling! If I had to wear a Michael Jackson mask, I was going! Ha, ha. There were not many sales. But as I’ve told you before, it only takes one stop to find that vintage treasure you just have to have that you didn’t know you needed so badly! Speaking of Michael Jackson, his music will sound great sitting on top of this…

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When I saw this antique/vintage radio cabinet, I was instantly drawn to it. (Again, sorry I couldn’t take it outside to photograph it, but this way Gracie could make another appearance! She luvs the attention.) The seller said it had been in her parents’ home for many years. Minus the missing knob, it is in pretty good shape. Plus, I have already replaced the knobs. It is beautiful as is and could even be painted. But I have left it in its natural state for now. I paid only $20 for it! It is already in my room, holding my record player.

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I also picked up these two records for 25 cents a piece. That was music to my ears. I try to never pay more than a dollar for records. They are the perfect additions, music and album art, to my ever growing Christmas vinyl collection.

That’s all for my latest vintage treasure post. We’ll have to go for quality not quantity today. I almost spent my whole yard sale budget on one piece! Ha, ha. But I’m pretty happy with it! Stay tuned for more! I see some flea markets in next weekend’s future! ;)

Slow Start

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I hope all of you have been surviving this week of POLLEN! My heart goes out to all of my fellow allergy sufferers, especially this time of year. With our first real week of warm temps here in Virginia, everything’s starting to turn green. Or should I say yellow?! Last Saturday was the first real weekend of the yard sale season. I couldn’t miss the initial unveiling of everyone’s vintage treasures that they had been hoarding all winter. It was still a cool morning; but the sun was shining, the trees were blooming, and the yard sale signs were popping up in ditches across America…Ok…town! LOLs. It was a very windy morning, and I never even thought about the wind impacting my sinuses with pollen! I have been so sick all week! :( I have just started to come up for air the past couple of days.

It was an exciting morning, being one of the first Saturdays of the yard sale season, but a very slow start. I started to not even blog about it, but I did find one great piece. The piece below is an antique mahogany footstool. My eye was instantly drawn to it because it was very similar to one of my grandma’s.

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I couldn’t believe what good shape it was in for its age. The owner’s wife pulled it out of the house, and it sounded like it was without his permission! The seller said it was her husband’s grandmother’s piece. She whispered that she had to sneak it out of the house into the yard sale. Well, I felt bad for the guy, but for only $10 it was better that it went to me than to an antique dealer! I think it’s beautiful. I can’t imagine putting all of that work into the needlepoint and then people resting their feet on it!

So, unfortunately that is the highlight treasure, folks. It’s a good one, but I know you want more! I did too! The sales were just blah, and by the end of the morning I was thankful for the footstool. I can’t get out of bed that early in vain! Hopefully, the season will only get better and better as the pollen evens out and the temps stay warm. BUT I did have pity on a couple of $1 Santas for my mom’s collection…

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Have you ever seen Santa, standing on a set of scales? The scales read 300 pounds. Poor thing. He’s so ugly that he’s cute! And of course…

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I couldn’t leave the traditional looking Santa behind. And as an animal lover, you know I luv the cat on the top of the chair. It is a nice size figurine too…definitely worth a dollar!

Thanks for checking out today’s vintage treasure post! Stay in touch, and follow me to see what I come across next. You just never know! Just click on the follow Jessica Casper button found in the right hand side bar on the home page to receive updates. Even though it was a very slow start to the yard sale season, I am confident things will pick up. Have a great weekend! Happy pickin’! :)

Easter at Bethany

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It was a cold and rainy morning in Smithfield, Virginia, but that didn’t keep the congregation of Bethany United Methodist Church from gathering together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Morning.

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Members of the choir greeted everyone with a joyful song as the people of the church made their way into the sanctuary.

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The cloudy skies couldn’t keep back some of Bethany’s most faithful members.

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It has always been a tradition for each member, young and old, to put a flower on the cross before entering the church on Easter morning.

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The service began in song as the children brought the cross into the sanctuary and laid their handmade flowers at the foot of the cross.

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Rev. Lowell D. Petry started the service with the members’ celebrations and concerns.

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All of the kids, decked out in their Easter attire, gathered at the front of the church for the children’s message.

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The Bethany choir’s Easter cantata was enjoyed by all.

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The sanctuary was decorated beautifully with lilies in memory and honor of loved ones.

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Capturing a different perspective is always a goal of mine in photography. As Rev. Lowell D. Petry brought his message to the congregation, I focused on the people in the pews who represent the body of the church of Bethany.

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These young babes particularly caught my eye. As you can see, every parent should get an award for keeping their little ones occupied during the sermon! From little sundresses to tiny vests and ties, they were all so precious.

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Oh and you can’t forget the efforts of your grandparents to keep you entertained…paper airplanes and all! LOLs.

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As the service came to a close, friends and family gathered to exchange words and hugs before entering into their Sunday school classes.

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As always, thank you for checking out my blog. Bethany members can be on the lookout to see some of the photo previews from the blog in their new directory. If you’d like to receive e-mail notifications of my current photography and/or vintage treasure projects, please click on the follow Jessica Casper button in the right hand sidebar on the home page. Thanks again. Happy Friday Eve! :)

Here is the church…

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And here is the steeple…

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Open the doors…

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And see all of the people…

Many of us grew up with that nursery rhyme as children. And there is no better real life illustration than Bethany United Methodist Church in Smithfield, Virginia. The little white country church in the woods has been in my family for generations, and its southern hospitality and charm has withstood the test of time.

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Once you enter the beautiful wood paneled sanctuary, you will be greeted with a warm smile and an open seat on the pew.

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Just before the traditional service starts, you can join in song with the contemporary band.

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The service begins with the entrance of the pastor and choir and the ceremonial lighting of the altar candles by the tiny acolytes. I, myself, spent many Sundays as a child, lighting Bethany’s candles.

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Despite the cold dreary weather, the congregation gathers in the warmth of the sanctuary to share each others celebrations and concerns and to worship together. One of my favorite photographers, Dorothea Lange, was known to say that she took pictures in her cloak of invisibility. Out of respect for the service, I tried to do the same and take photos from afar. Please enjoy some of the shots I captured throughout the service.

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The congregation joins in song, singing Shall We Gather at the River.

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The pastor’s wife, Mrs. Liz Petry, answers questions during the children’s message.

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Bethany’s choir delivers a choral special.

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The stained glass windows are not only beautiful, but also convey the essence of the Christian faith through elegant imagery.

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Rev. Lowell D. Petry preaches the message to his attentive congregation.

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The service comes to a close as the acolytes extinguish the altar candles and symbolically take the light of Christ from the sanctuary into the world.

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The nursery rhyme ends…

Close the doors

And listen to them pray.

Open the doors

And they all walk away.

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Thank you for checking out today’s blog. I appreciate your continued visits! If you’d like to receive e-mail notifications of my current projects, please click on the follow Jessica Casper button in the right hand sidebar on the home page. Until next time!

The Debut of Grace

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If you follow me regularly, you know that I am an avid animal lover. Growing up in the country, I have been surrounded by animals throughout my entire childhood. From kittens to puppies to chickens, I loved them all. As a young adult, I was fortunate enough to still have two of my feline babies from my childhood. I grew up with my Queenie and Dreamsicle, and they were a part of my family just as any human relative was. Unfortunately, cancer took my Queenie away from me this past January. She loved me unconditionally for almost 16 wonderful years, and I am so thankful to have grown up with such a loyal companion.

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Queenie Casper 4/12/1997 ~ 1/28/2013

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I will always luv my calico baby girl, and no one can or will ever replace her. The days and weeks after her death were hard on everyone. I was especially concerned about my orange and white tabby, Dreamsicle. He has had many health scares in his old age, and I did not want Queenie’s death to cause him to give up on his own life. He had lost his companion of many years as well, and he paced the floor for several nights.

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I felt extremely guilty to even think about adopting another cat…especially so soon. I didn’t want to be disrespectful or have anyone think that Queenie was replaceable to me. But something had to give. I was miserable. Dream was miserable. It was time to start looking into adoption. I know it was only several days, but it felt like weeks, searching the Internet for adoptable animals. I really had my heart set on a calico. But you could have shown me a purple kitten, and I would have loved it just as much. I found many beautiful cats, but I just didn’t feel a bond with anyone. After visiting several local shelters, I found my Grace at the very last stop. I felt we made an instant connection, and I just knew she was the one.

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This instagram was taken the very first time we met. Grace and the rest of her litter mates had been rescued as tiny kittens. Having little contact with humans, the litter was considered semi-feral. The veterinarian’s office could not believe her good behavior with me. After much patience and persistence, she allowed me to hold and play with her. All she needed was for somebody to be willing to work with her and bring her out of her shell. Not to say we didn’t have our moments between then and now…LOLs…but Gracie has transformed into quite the loving and nurturing baby in just a few short weeks. Together we have helped to rehabilitate each other. As for Dreamsicle’s reaction to his new baby sister…

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You would never believe from this instagram that these two were ever scared to death of each other when they first met! Dreamsicle wasn’t so sure he was ready to accept this little vivacious kitten and stayed as far away from her as possible. But as the two have since warmed up to each other, I am proud to say they have grown very fond of one another…Gracie a little more so than Dream! Ha, ha. But he’s learning to love his new little shadow more and more each day!

Please enjoy some of Grace’s photos from her first mini photo shoot. I know she’s mine, but she is gorgeous and such a natural. And to think I had to coach her out of her shell. What shell? The camera loves her!

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Gracie and Dream are now best snuggle buddies in their favorite little bed.

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I can’t believe Dreamsicle now allows Gracie to give him a facial (top photo). We have a 5-month-old grooming a 15-year-old!

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Come on! This child makes me want to pursue pet photography!

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This is her absolute favorite toy. This girl can play and play for hours.

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This is only the beginning for my little Gracie. She has a lot to live up to, but she has yet to cease to amaze me everyday. Thank you for taking the time to meet the newest addition to my family.