Pert N' Perky

We just ended a fun-filled week-long visit from my in-laws. This is the first time my husband has seen his mother on Mother's Day since he moved here from Seattle nine years ago. It is always nice when they visit, because I become a tourist in my own neighborhood...we went to Winterthur (the DuPont Family's measly 175-room country estate), the Herr's Potato Chip Factory and the 1704 Brinton House. And the best part? They are antique dealers, so we have the perfect excuse for visiting lots of antique stores & yard sales while they are here.

We went to an estate sale in Wilmington, DE that I read about on craigslist. It was a small house, but we were able to find a few goodies, including the blue & white chenille bedspread and the blue tin picnic basket. My husband, Chris, gets full credit for finding the tin basket.  He went to the basement first, and when I walked down the steps a few minutes later, I found him holding the basket. "You like this, right?" I jumped his bones right then and there. The ten piles of vintage Playboy Magazines certainly helped set the mood.

I won these little hand-painted shop signs on eBay last week. I don't think you would find the green sign in stores today. It says "Child's Pert N' Perky Dresses".  It just doesn't sound right.

My favorite find of the week...five old ledgers from a general store in Bridgeport, PA. I bought these in a great antiques store called Royal Port Antiques in Salem, NJ. The store is owned by the nicest couple, Suzanne and Michael Cooke. In 2003, they bought and renovated a huge abandoned warehouse and turned it into Royal Port, which specializes in Early American antiques and architectural pieces.

Do you remember my brush with movie stardom when I sold an umbrella to a Movie Props Guy at Renningers? That's peanuts compared to the Cookes. Did you ever see M. Night Shyamalan's The Village?  Many of the houses in the movie were furnished with pieces from their shop. They also provided furniture for M. Night's new movie, The Happening. This one isn't a movie, but it is just as cool...Urban Outfitters, Inc. has a new home & garden brand called Terrain. It is basically an Anthropologie store with plants instead of clothes (Joy talked about it here). And, lucky me, the first Terrain store just opened about 20 minutes away. It is a sight to behold. Anyway, the Terrain designers just bought some pieces from Royal Port to use for their funky displays. Bottom line...go to Royal Port Antiques if you are ever in the Philadelphia area!

I talked to the Cookes about my blog, and convinced them that they need to start their own. I'm sure they've got tons of cool stories to share. Get on it, Michael!

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On a totally separate topic, I'd like to thank a few swell people who said some really nice things about me. I know, I know...some of them said these things months ago, but better late than never. Thanks to all of you!

Stash Studios

Reclaiming Miss Havisham

Sandra from Find and Go Seek

Special thanks to JUNKMARKET's Sue & Ki, and their manager, Tim, for interviewing me for their American Junk Club newsletter. It is really an honor for me. I've been following their junking adventures ever since the first time they were in Country Home. I don't have a link because the newsletter is available to club members only, but here's where you can sign up: American Junk Club.

Comments

[vintagesue of VRS]

If anyone's googling "Pert & Perky" or "Pendulous Breasts" you'll hit the #1 spot....

You are so fantabulously lucky that your inlaws are into junking (and your husband)!!!

Give me those ledgers....

XOX

Fabulous post, as always...

[Stash]

Thanks for the mention!
Royal Port and Terrain are now both on my "someday" list.
Love your pert & perky score.

[linda thompson]

Aw man, I have the red tin basket but have always wanted to find the blue one too! Great find!! Your hubs is a keeper for sure!

[Stacy A]

What wonderful finds! Your last post still has me giggling so it was worth you digging through that trash. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful discoveries. I look forward to every post! Love Stacy

[Tiffany]

I'm in total love with your chenille bedspread!

BEAUTIFUL, you lucky girl!!

[Heidi Woodruff]

Great finds! Thanks for the info on the American Junk Club newsletter, I didn't know aout that!
*Heidi*
Everyday Cookies

[Kim]

I check back here every few days since stumbling over your blog and I am never disappointed. Your stuff is unutterably fabulous and a cooperative husband. I can't even imagine what that must be like. Do you have any tips for someone who has an irrational fear of approaching lawn sales? I am comfortable in an auction or an antique store, but I hesitate to approach people on their home ground -- where they most likely have crap from Kmart bought within the last 10 years - meaning I will have to back away politely without buying anything -- or where I will be trying to skin something good off of them. I know this is not an advice column but you obviously know what you are doing.

[Rosemary]

Love those ledger books.
Thanks for sharing your stories and goodies with us.
Rosemary

[Elizabeth]

Love the vintage signs! I'm feeling "pert and perky" today, myself! It's a fun title for a blog, isn't it?

[Kosik]

Thanks for mentioning Find & Go Seek and Perch home, Colleen!

I love reading your posts - for the stories and the cool stuff!

Sandra

[Becky]

I love all of your finds. You have an award to pick up at my site.

[Diana]

LOVE those little signs - GREAT finds!

[karen benson]

Are you considering selling the vintage ledger books? If so, how much? karen....
kben1334@sbcglobal.net