Small and Big

Well, it was a SMALL trip, but we had BIG fun. Daughter and I headed down to Grand Forks and Fargo for an overnight trip to a few shops - including two antique malls, natch.

As usual, I was on the lookout for goodies to add to my art studio. Happily, I found some great deals on a few SMALLS:

A vintage reindeer for my growing collection (I try to get one on every trip away from home), two pocket watches for parts (although one still does work!), a key that was in with one watch, an oval flower frog to display cards on, a vintage button card with "Latest Paris Novelty" written on the front, a great old lion head drawer pull, another silver creamer, two vintage office tins: correction tape and typewriter ribbon and a wonderful cast iron Victorian string holder daughter found for me!

Yep, some wonderful treasures indeed. But the best item I brought home was BIG.

Something I have been searching for at a decent price for nearly a year. I have BIG plans for it too:

Tawnee waiting for a ride

Thanks to Donna for posting this on Funky Junk Interiors last December, I have been wanting an old sled for my Christmas decor. The photo of her log-laden beauty was one of the very first pins I posted on Pinterest.

I haven't decided whether this Garton Silver Streak cutter sled will grace the fireplace leaning up on end all decked out with holly/fir, rusty sleigh bells and ribbon, or slide under the tree stacked with gifts or firewood... we'll have to see. All I need to do is add some old rope. I just LOVE it and after doing some research, discovered that these were manufactured from 1879 to the 1950s. This one looks early 1900's.

"To Victorian children, winter meant snowmen, snowball fights, hot chocolate and sled rides," comments O. Henry Mace, author of Collector's Guide to Victoriana. "Even before the first snow fell, the trusty wooden vehicles were pulled down from the shed rafters or out from beneath the bed, and were dusted and waxed in preparation of the big event."

And the best part? The owner took my first offer of only $30! I have seen smaller, newer sleds with broken runners or incomplete decks for up to $80 here.

So yup, it was a SMALL run across the border, but it yielded some BIG scores!

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