Another *LATE* Night...

SIDE-LINED BY "RESEARCH"...

The AUCTION-HOUSE near My SISTER has a "Signed"-NAUTICAL-PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINT by a Renowned PHOTOGRAPHER up FOR SALE later This Week... Despite IT actually being on The COVER of a Later-Published BOOK of the PHOTOGRAPHER's WORKS, I'm still trying to IDENTIFY IT from a Collection of *THOUSANDS* of "THUMBNAILS"!

And, the "HOUR" is LATE!

MEANWHILE... IT was just another BORING DAY... The *MOST* "Exciting" Thing I did was SHOVEL! -- THANKFULLY, just a Few-Inches of POWDER... Nevertheless, I spent the bulk of My Time Clearing-Off the SNOW from the ROOF-LINE. - The *very* HIGH "Line"...

Lots of "Stretching" with a LONG-Poled-BRUSH... I'll be "Feeling" it Tomorrow, no doubt...

oh! - AND, I got a Few more INCHES done on THE TWO HATS...

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some times... I really WISH that I Lived NEAR My SISTER...

AS THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT "ANTIQUE" AUCTIONS IN HER AREA!!

I could sooooo *FILL* a HOUSE with ALL of the Fabulous STUFF that They've got for Sale over THERE! -- Not to mention, the Odd ART PIECE... Such as THESE TWO SMALL ONES...

THEY had been almost totally *obscured* by some OTHER OBJECT in the AUCTION-SITE-PHOTOS, however, I did manage to catch a tiny "glimpse"... Enough to pique My Curiosity... It was SISTER who Snapped These Pics...

I'm still trying to find out "HOW MUCH" They went for..? - I had given Her a "Price-Range", based *only* on the afore-mentioned Visual-"Fragment". -- It's still UNclear as to whether She took the initiative to slightly "exceed" My "Limit" - [which, upon These Pics, I would have approved] - OR, if They had gone for a *much* HIGHER Price..?

And, as much as She has a Passion-for-PAINT, including a GIFT for *certain* "STYLES" of PAINTING and ARTISTIC-EXPRESSION, Her "Scholarship" however, of ART "History", Commercial "Values", etc. is - [along with the "confidence" of Her "BIDDING" Skills] - somewhat *lacking*..?

SO, it's likely DOUBTFUL that She "Acquired" THEM... a shame really... As, They would have taken the *Quality* of My "COLLECTION" UP a Few-Notches!

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Making up for Yesterday's LACK of "Celebratory"-PURCHASES...

ACTUALLY, I'M *HOPING*... That I made IT just under "The Wire" - on SOME *REMOTE* ISLAND, just EAST of the INTERNATIONAL-DATE-LINE..? -- You know... Just to make that *I LOVE YARN DAY* "EXCUSE" more "Plausible"...

Besides, *HOW* could I Pass-Up on the "HALF-PRICE" - [LION BRAND "FISHERMAN'S WOOL"] - and "50%-OFF-COUPONS"?!! Or, that "THRIFT"-STORE Pricing..?

At $1.99 per PACKAGE, I came across NINE, containing 10 or so Hanks of various EUROPEAN-Made TAPESTRY YARN. -- "ONE" of these Days, I might actually get *around* to DOING some of those NEEDLEPOINT CANVASSES I've got *STASHED* about... Or, perhaps, some CREWEL Work..??

whatever. At *That* Price, I wasn't about to Pass IT up! Or, *WAIT* until TUESDAY for the SENIORS' DISCOUNT -- IT would have been GONE by Then!

MEANWHILE, during the *Rest* of Our VISIT to VALUE-VILLAGE...

I came across THIS 3x5-Feet-ish Heavy-COTTON BATIK... IT was in the FABRIC-Section... NO Way was THIS *ever* meant to be "Cut-Up"!

IT's obviously a "ONE-PIECE"-PANEL.

And, "SIGNED"!


However, I have absolutely NO IDEA as to ITS "COUNTRY" and/or "CULTURE" of *ORIGIN*..?!!

Based on the Depictions, I can think of Several "Possibilities" -- ANYwhere from the WEST AFRICAN COAST to the EASTERN Ones and on toward the Rest of the INDIAN OCEAN COASTLINES...

[Does BALI have Elephants?]

So. IF *ANYONE* has a CLUE, "Theory", or actually *KNOWS* -- PLEASE, "COMMENT"!



Anyway, for $3.99, IT's a *COOL* Piece of "PRIMITIVE"-ART!

And, I even LIKE the COLOURS!!


All IT needs now, is to "Seam"-in a couple of Towels and IT'll be ready to HANG...









you know... I just had a weird-crazy-"out-of-the-box" thought... What are the chances that IT's *probably* just some kind of HOTEL-RESORT-TOURIST-"LOCAL"-ATTRACTIONS-*BANNER*..??!!

really... Except for that "Elephant", Everything ELSE can be Found at pretty much EVERY *TROPICAL* RESORT!

oh well... just ANOTHER "ADDITION" to My "RAIDERS-of-the-LOST-ARK"-SECRET-GOVERNMENT-WAREHOUSE-esque *CURIO*-COLLECTION...

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oh! -- I just "Bought" IT..?

OR, "HOW TO EXAMINE-DECIDE-BID-WIN IN 10-SECONDS"!! -- well... I really hadn't *bought* ANYthing ELSE all Day...

However, at $10. IT does somewhat *BREAK* My "$5. and UNDER"-ART-COLLECTION Budget. - But, then again, the Money is going *to* "CHARITY"...

so. DESPITE the rather GOOD WEATHER, We pretty much MISSED any GOOD YARD-SALES! -- Just One down-the-road-around-the-corner... And, a Regular One in BEACON HILL.

whatever... We ended up at The SALLY-ANN. There were some "Sales" going on and, the Monthly AUCTION... Which, was halfway DONE by the Time We got There. And, from "what" I could SEE of the ITEMS, there really wasn't Anything of "worthwhile" Interest..?

As MOTHER browsed about, I "ORBITTED" the AUCTION-Area... Looked around... And, kept an EAR-Out on the PROCEEDINGS... MOST of the ITEMS were going to the PRE-BID BOOK - [that I never did have a Chance to Look AT]. And, there seemed to be only a Handful of BIDDERS partaking...

I was a few feet away when the Word "NEEDLEWORK" *grabbed* My Complete ATTENTION! - THEY've had Other Large Framed NEEDLEPOINT at Previous AUCTIONS...

By the Time I got to SEE "IT", I *literally* had SECONDS to *DECIDE*!

What do YOU Think..?

GATE-GIRL..?

The PIC really *doesn't* show the Finer DETAILS... IT "looks" like SILK-THREAD on FINE-LINEN - [or even, Silk again?] - Also, EXPERTLY "FRAMED"! -- After 20-Years - [see the Label] - the PIECE is still PRISTINE!

Now. IF only *I* can "KEEP" IT *THAT* Way for the NEXT TWENTY!!?

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YARNing to SALE 2 the HEART of ART...

I COULD'VE BOUGHT A COUPLE MORE...

BUT, I would have gone WAY *over* "BUDGET"!! -- And then, there's that *LACK* of WALL-SPACE Issue...

Anyhoo, BEFORE We had wandered on over to that ESTATE-SALE Yesterday, We made a QUICKIE-STOP over to The SALLY-ANN. -- I wanted to CHECK-OUT the AUCTION LISTING. Several NEW-ITEMS had arrived Last Week, but I *couldn't* get a GOOD-Look at THEM, *Then*! - We weren't going to the AUCTION, however, I did want to SEE "WHAT"
I would have "Missed"!

AS IN, a FEW rather NICE "NAUTICAL" PAINTINGS! - Though, still a tad too Pricey...
-- We MOVED ON...

AFTER the ESTATE-SALE - and, on the WAY to TRAINYARDS - We stopped-by for a Short-Bit at Our FRIEND, BOB-THE-BUYER and His FAMILY at Their semi-Monthly CURBSIDE-SALE.

BOB buys and sells LOTS of ANTIQUE & ESTATE "TRINKETS" & CURIOS...

I'm thinking that He was likely a PAWN-BROKER in a "PREVIOUS"-LIFE

-- As I, was likely a CURATOR in at least TWO!!

He also, Posts TERRIFIC SALE-"SIGNS"!! -- NEON-GREEN, *Every* BLOCK - stating how Many Blocks "to go" in CLEAR READABLE-While-You-Drive-By-SCRIPT!

ANYWAY... He had a Few PAINTINGS that Caught My EYE... However, I just settled on the "ABOVE" 8x10-Inch ONE for $5. -- [Which I Suspect, might have been BELOW His *COSTS*?!]

He really Likes Us, and is always Offering Us STUFF *AT-"COST"*!
- A "Courtesy" that I try *not* to "abuse"...





So. I couldn't Find a "Date" on the PIECE, but from the Condition of the FRAMING and CANVAS-BACKING,
I think *over* 30-Years would be a "SAFE-BET"..?


-- Actually, at some point That FRAME *will* be getting TRASHED!



We only "Pilgrimaged" at MICHAEL'S for about an Hour... I just got - [SEE BELOW] - ONE BALL of PURPLE ROVING... Afterward, We headed to the ST.LAURENT MALL - I had a few Errands to do There...

Like, *finally* getting around to "Cashing-IN" My HBC-Points! -- Needless to say, I did a bit of "SHOPPING" LATER... BUT, *NOT* to Worry! - I *still* have MONEY "Left" on that HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY *GIFT CARD*!!

As We were heading to a CHECKOUT-COUNTER, We passed a "DISCOUNT-TABLE" of DISHWARE...

These TWO 4-INCH HEART-DISHES were just sitting there... Looking LONELY... I checked the STICKER. The PRICE was "Right". AND, THEY *were* from PORTUGAL... I really DIDN'T "NEED" THEM!

I walked away about 20-Feet... oh! what-the-hell! -- I SPUN *around* BACK and Snatched THEM UP! - After all, it was *just* the TWO of THEM... About to end up being for "FREE"!

-- HOW could I, Say "NO"?!

NEXT... We headed to a *Certain* ART-"SHOPPE", that shall remain Nameless! AS, Their "SALES"-PRICES really AREN'T *so* much!!

Their YARN was "20%-OFF"... Which, was still about 4% *ABOVE* MICHAEL'S -

[Who really *aren't* Noted for Their LOW "REGULAR"-PRICES, either.

Honestly, other than the FANTASTIC-STAFF and YARN-INVENTORY,

IT's Their SALES and COUPONS that keeps Me coming back!]

 - *REGULAR*-PRICE!?!

However, THEY also have a Couple of COLOURS that I haven't seen at MICHAEL'S... yet...

So, seeing as I had been getting BARGAINS and FREEBIES all Day, I decide to *SPLURGE* on These TWO BALLS of YELLOW!!

I think it was Those HEARTS that MADE Me *DO* IT!!

We FINISHED the Day with GROCERY-GETTING...

MEANWHILE, *Nothing* of NOTE for Today! -- Just the USUAL "SUNDAY-CHORES"...

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*BOOKS!* *BOOKS!* *BOOKS!* Oooo! LOOK!! *MORE* BOOKS!!

GEEZ! AFTER 40-YEARS OF WORKING IN LIBRARIES, YOU'D THINK THAT I'D NEVER WANT TO SEE *ANOTHER* BOOK?! - huh?

-- a 14-Inch-High-35-*PLUS*-Pounds-*STACK*-of-16-"REFERENCE"-TOMES Later...

nuts! - I *hope* there aren't any DOUBLES..? -- I really DO *need* to make a "BIBLIO-LIST"... ugh! "Cataloguing"... crap!

okay. sooo... LONG-STORY-PROBABLY-NOT-SO-SHORT... There was an ESTATE-SALE in BEACON HILL. Again.

MOST of the "STUFF" was Outside. -- THEY were only letting in a Few-People at a Time *into* THE HOUSE - We never did bother... Besides, I probably would have just been *too* TEMPTED to SPEND *more* MONEY!!

Anyhoo... "The-HUSBAND" had Passed-Away a Few Years back - [apparently He had been a SCIENTIST who used to Work for the *same* Government-Department that I used to!] - and "The-WIFE", who was 89, had Recently moved into "A HOME"... "The-FAMILY" was DOWN-SIZING!

As it turns out, THEY had a somewhat LARGE "Informative" LIBRARY!

The Laneway held SEVERAL *FULL* Bookshelving-UNITS... The Majority of My "HAUL" was from ONE-Bottom-Shelf. -- THAT was My "FIRST-LOAD"! And, a bit of a struggle to handle... IT's been a WHILE... Of course, IT was a Foot-High-25-Pound-"BAD"-ARM-*FULL*!!

Not to mention, the rather lovely MILKGLASS VASE that I was Trying *NOT* to Drop!! -- I'll Post a Pic of That, Tomorrow... As well as, of the OTHER *COOL* STUFF that I GOT Today!

The "SECOND-LOAD" was about a third *less*..? -- whatever... The BACKSEAT of The CAR looked like the Interior of a BOOK-MOBILE!! -- hmm...

Meanwhile, for the MEAGER Investment of $16., I'm certain that I've Acquired a FORTUNE of KNOWLEDGEABLE BIBLIO-ness!! -- Now, I just HAVE to "Live" LONG enough to get *through* THEM ALL!!

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CHINTZY on the CHEAP...

"WHY?" I BOUGHT THEM... [seeing as I am, *more* into "SEASCAPES"..]

• honestly?! That 50-Cent-EACH Price certainly *didn't* TWIST My *BAD-ARM* the "WRONG"-Way!!
• They'll go well with My "COLLECTIONS" of FLORAL NEEDLEWORK CANVASSES and FABRIC REMNANTS. And, GLASS... CERAMICS... Little WOODEN BOXES... TINS... - [btw, just STOP Me at *any* Time here!] - VINTAGE FURNITURE... That B&B I'll never Own and aren't "Domestic" enough to Operate *anyway*!!
• You know, I just Remembered... I have an ANTIQUE TIN that I'd gotten off of My Late-PATERNAL-GRANDMOTHER Decades ago that *would* also MATCH!!
• Besides, with *better* Frames, Their diminutive 8x10-Inch size will make Them even more "DECORATIF"..?
• DON'T need to be "Watered".
• and, oh yeah, did I mention..? *50-CENTS Each*!!

Meanwhile, This 6-Inch SUNFLOWER TIN-BOX only set Me back 25-Cents.


-- Just a little "COUNTRY"-CHINTZ!



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POST 1111 - [say..do those "ONES" look a little *too* Pointy..?]

TODAY'S "KEYWORD" -- *NEEDLE*-work... - [sorta...]

hmm... The SUN was OUT. WARM, but *not* Humid. And, with a Pleasant BREEZE...
-- A *PERFECT* Day in which to "Poke-In" on *The VAMPIRES*!

I had some Regular "Bloodwork" to have done... AS, did MOTHER... Although, SHE *wasn't* the ONE having *only* WATER for Breakfast!! -- THANKFULLY, She was Ready-to-Leave WHEN I was! And, that TRAFFIC was Light and PARKING was actually to be FOUND!

Despite a little nearby Grocery-Shopping thrown in, We still managed to get Back HOME within a HALF-HOUR! - [shock!] - Then, it was a quick "BRUNCH" for Me and We were OFF to MICHAEL'S...

NOT a Lot happening There, Today... I just Added to the RIBBON-*HOARD*... [Blame IT on the Blood-LOSS and 20%-OFF-Coupon!]

Meanwhile, seeing as IT was TUESDAY and "SENIORS'-DAY" at VALUE-VILLAGE, We headed on over There...

WHERE, I found These THREE "NEEDLE"-WORK SCREENS - [8.5x11" on the INSIDE] - for
90-Cents-Each after Discounts and Taxes! -- They're in Great Condition!

SOMEDAY, I'm going to HAVE TO "Dig-OUT" My THRIFTY-TAPESTRY-"THREADS" and *DO* One of THESE CANVASSES!! -- I'm kinda liking that One with the Pansies...

To Complete My "CHINTZY"-Purchases, I also Acquired THIS METER of Quilting-Quality COTTON FABRIC for $1.80... I've got absolutely NO CLUE as to *WHAT* I'm going to DO *with* IT - But, IT's NICE!

Well... MUST stay "on Point" and get back to My Knitting-*NEEDLES* now...

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"NEEDED": WALL-*SPACE*!!

THAT ART-"CURATION"-GENE WAS ON THE *SHOP-FARI* AGAIN...

Being TEMPTED by the Several Worthy CANDIDATES for My "5. & UNDER"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION that had crossed My PATH Today...

Alas, as ALLURING as THOSE TWO "$6.99" Ones at The SALLY-ANN were, They also had a tad TOO Much "MINOR-DAMAGE" and GRIME to make *Exception* to My current COST-"Criteria"... A Pity... One was actually on the OLDER side and from ENGLAND!

No matter... I made up it with The ABOVE WORK...

BTW, Remember LITTLE-OLD-ASIAN-NEIGHBOUR-LADY from Several Weeks ago..? - [SEE 19MAY2013 POST] - Well, We were Back THERE again...

Actually, She's had a Few MORE SALES since Then... We didn't get Anything at Them, BUT, *should* HAVE - MOTHER keeps harping about the Small-POWER-HAND-SAW that They had Last Week which She had Passed on!

Whatever... THIS was Where I had Picked-Up The PAINTING for $5. - after "Negotiations"...

MOTHER - [a Former ARTIST and somewhat Skilled-COPYIST] - *hates* IT! And, to be Honest, I'm not exactly *drooling* over IT, either... HOWEVER, IT *is* almost 60-Years-Old and in FAIR-Condition... LOCALLY Done, and, well, You know... "$5."! -- Besides, I don't believe that MOTHER has ever been a great "Fan" of the "IMPRESSIONIST"-Style anyway.

At any rate, "WHENEVER" the Day comes that I can Display "THE COLLECTION", THIS ONE will nevertheless "BLEND-IN" just Nicely with The OTHERS...

LATER ON, over at The SALLY-ANN, They were having Their MONTHLY-AUCTION.
-- We didn't Stay, as We still had OTHER-Stuff to do... Although, upon reflection, I Wish that We HAD! - As there had been a LARGE "Rural Winter" PIECE that had Caught My Attention which had been MIS-Numbered, with NO "Paperwork" in the AUCTION BOOK!

I really would have liked to have Known *HOW* Much IT had eventually gone FOR! -- IT would have made a rather Lovely "DECORATIVE"-Piece... AND, have went well with a Couple of My Previous - [SEE 15SEP2012 POST] - *ACQUISITIONS*!  - nuts!

Then again, I probably *wouldn't* have been ABLE to FIT IT "into" THE CAR!! - Not to mention, PAST FATHER!

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