Vacation All I Ever Wanted..

Well hello. Been a minute, I know. I haven't forgotten; it's just that with (waves hands vaguely in the air) all this - it's been difficult to find things to say about fun and funky finds, or curating a peaceful home environment, while it seems like everything is falling to sh- er, pieces, around us. Even though in such circumstances, having a tranquil home base is more important than ever. And while I could go into why it's problematic that only SOME people are allowed that relative tranquility at the present time; that's not what this blog is for. So yeah, I haven't had a lot to say.

But I did get some extra time off this summer, perks of having held this job more than five years (bit of a miracle for me, whose job track record is generally, I fixed your problems and now I'm bored, time to move on). And I recently made a few nice sales on Etsy, so I decided it was time for a road trip. Not a working, I'm doing an event, might as well hit the thrifts on the way trip, either; just a proper I've got nothing to do but treasure hunt and watch TV from a bed the size of my old bedroom kind of jaunt.

Naturally, as soon as I put my time off request in, I started looking for things to do along the way. Sadly, the Carousel Museum in Sandusky is only open weekends, and I was heading in that direction earlier in the week. I've been there before, but it's been years and I was hoping to visit again. I also strongly considered going to Lakeside in Marblehead - my family used to go there for summer retreat when I was quite small and it might've been nice to revisit. But between gate and parking fees simply to walk around and see if anything looked familiar, I decided to pass on that too.

But one thing I was sure to stop and see: Giant-Handed Jacques! That link will take you to Roadside America which gives some history. He's quite the tall fellow, and it was fun to see him in person. I wish there'd been a few more things like that to go see. Tho tbh, I did pass a couple other things while driving that were quirky; these aren't my pictures, though.

The first of these, The Igloo, is listed online as being an ice cream shop; but as the photo shows, that seems to have been a past incarnation. If it was actually a functional business, I might've doubled back; but instead I just glimpsed it while turning the corner. The next, a pedestrian bridge for the Toledo Zoo suddenly appeared ahead of me as I was driving along asking Google Maps if it actually did know where TF it was taking me. The photo doesn't do it justice; it's imposing and whimsical, and you can see people moving across it through the large central window. I had to rely on Google to capture this one because I wasn't about to stop in the middle of a busy highway to grab a snapshot.

And that goes double for this last view.

This was a real surprise - it looks like a cable bridge when you first see it on the horizon, but it's not exactly what you generally might think of as such (those are suspension bridges). The "Veterans' Glass City Skyway" is a cable-stayed bridge with a central pylon that apparently lights up at night.

Of course, the real point of this trip was to explore some new-to-me thrift stores. I'd stopped at a few on my way to the hotel - the Goodwills, as usual, had higher prices and less selection, but I still managed to find a few pieces. I had better luck at the Salvation Army. Here's a peek at the first day's haul:

The next day, I set out on a route I'd mapped out earlier (ok, a few weeks before; I like to be prepared!). I'd barely gotten started when I passed a minivan with its hood up just before an exit ramp - and then a little farther on, a woman walking on the verge with a little girl in tow. I couldn't NOT stop and offer some help. I didn't even know if they'd accept, but she said if it was ok with her husband, they would. Turns out her husband, just out of the hospital and on his way to a follow-up appointment, was back in the van.

So while they went back for him, I frantically cleared my backseat (aside from my shopping bag stash, there's various - stuff - back there). Once everyone was on board, we made a swing by a nearby Bob Evans so she could make a pit stop, then I took them on to his appointment. I was just happy to be able to help; they were still several miles from their destination whereas I had the day in front of me. I hope they were able to get back to the van and get it going.

I don't know if that gave my karma a boost for the day or what, but my very first stop turned out to be the highlight of the trip. This was a shop run by the American Cancer Society, and the last week of the month is 50% off everything there. The front of the store was filled with clothing racks and crowded with shoppers, but the back section was what I came for.

The lovely little cloisonne box is marred by the residue of I don't know what that spilled and then evaporated inside. I'm making an effort to clean it, because it's a lovely cobalt blue enamel underneath. I don't know that it will return to pristine condition, but hopefully I can get it looking better than it does now. And even if I have to sell it at a discount due to the damage, I got it so cheap it won't matter.

Next up was a full-size Miller Studios owl. I've got another owl from them I've had in the shop for a bit so I knew on sight what it was. And a pair of Homco sconces sure looked like Something - my instincts were right on that. I've not seen any with glass shades, however, so those might be an after-market addition (that will need a nice warm bath to evict the candle stubs lodged within).

And frankly, I'd've been content with those three. But as I made a pass down one more aisle, I glimpsed something back in a bottom corner - probably someone hoping they'd stay stashed; sorry about that! And I had just watched a MidMod Money video on the topic the night before, so when I saw two MINT CONDITION Pyrex bowls, boy howdy! Even at full asking price they would have been a find, but at fifty percent off? Indecently low. I expect them to bring more than ten times what I paid for them.

Another Salvation Army landed a couple more items - a palm frond candle holder, a folk art cutting board, and a children's craft book that's more than a half century old. I'm almost tempted to keep that last, because it looks to have some good ideas! But I get too many of those as it is, so off to be listed it goes.

Next was a Goodwill that somehow wasn't on my list, but was just up the road from the Greek diner where I had brunch - well, lunch, by that point. Also dinner and then breakfast the next day, since the portions were enormous and I had to get a to-go box. Goodwill this time was worth the stop - a cute little pottery planter that I later found is a specialty orchid pot; and a yellow, Art Deco-ish vase that I've not been able to identify. It resembles both McCoy and Shawnee designs from the late 30s or 1940s but doesn't seem to be either.

One thing I noticed while researching two-handled vases - many of them look like they're saying, You better have a good explanation for this, Mister! (i.e., hands on hips). But this one instead doesn't want to hear whatever you're saying - that is, it has its 'hands over its ears' - which does tend to be a McCoy hallmark. I must say, I'm learning quite a lot about midcentury ceramics since getting serious about vintage. I had no idea Ohio was home to so many art pottery studios - Roseville, of course; but also McCoy, Hull, Shawnee and Miller Studios. Maybe that's why I so often find these pieces on my Ohio shopping trips?

The last day of my trip, I really debated whether I needed to make any more stops, as I'd already acquired a nice haul. But I had a few marked down, so what the hey. I couldn't locate the Habitat ReStore - it may have been under another name, but didn't look likely to have much I'd be interested in. But there was still a Salvation Army; so sure, I let Google Maps lead the way. That's how I saw the Zoo walkway and the cable bridge (while secretly wondering if Google actually knew where it was taking me). But I finally tracked the place down and was not disappointed.

This was one of the shabbier stores I'd been to in a while - it reminded me of what thrift stores used to look like, before they got hip. Housed in a dusty old former supermarket, with well-worn griege industrial carpet that looked to be secondhand as well. Do not let appearances deceive! I came away with another set of Miller Studios plaques (not perfect condition, but at two bucks a throw..), a celestial tapestry, a pair of Cracker Barrel owl salt&pepper shakers, plus a couple things just for our house.

All in all, it was a nice little getaway even if only for a day or two. Of course I had plans for a week's worth of things I would have *liked* to accomplish (and in one case, am nearly overdue to get done). I could probably do with a full week off from work once a quarter or so, but that's not likely in this particular iteration of the universe. Still, it makes me happy to have a bunch of new things to list.

Which reminds me. Earlier this month, as mentioned, I had a gold star day.

Started the morning with that lovely little email: You've made a sale on Etsy! and later that afternoon thought my phone was glitching when that email popped up again. Nope - I made another sale, the biggest I've made to date, AND from my design shop! Gentle reader, I was well over the moon. I also now know what my most popular design is, as it's sold a couple of times (here's a hint):

I've been as bad at promoting my shops this summer as I have at keeping up this blog, I admit. I know all the things I should be doing, but I just haven't had the enthusiasm. Watching in horror as our country is destroyed by an aging, narcissistic madman doesn't lend itself to wanting to stage photos, create pins, or shoot reels for social media. In fact, any energy I might have for such things would more likely go towards doing whatever I can to help combat this slow-moving coup. I'm sorry to let such things intrude here; I try to keep this space more of the literal retreat it aspires to be. But when the horrors come knocking at your door, it just feels cowardly to pull down the shades, light a scented candle and pretend This Is Fine.

I'm writing now because I had a little something to share that felt 'normal' - whatever that word has come to signify anymore. And it may be a while before I'll find a similarly peaceful moment to write again. Or maybe not (I'm going far afield now; thank you if you're still with me!). I'm following an unfolding story that is only loosely fanfiction, and finding it inspiring in so many ways. I say loosely because it's an AU (Alternate Universe) where the main characters share names and physical descriptions but little else with the media that they're based on. It's better written than some things I've had out from the library, and it keeps describing a world that I wish I lived in - while also gently planting the question of why I don't. Which could in turn inspire - well, I'm not quite sure what yet; but something in the near future.

I'm half asleep as I finish this up - just home from working on the Giant Art Project that happens every fall - and I can see it wouldn't take much for me to spin off into the philosophical. Which is not what this blog's about, necessarily - or is it? The idea behind DakiniTrading is to provide small touches that make your life a little better, bring a smile every time you see them. Perhaps those small touches don't have to be solely physical objects. I don't know, but it's too late to sort that out now. I'm going to wrap this up, so I can move on to the business of getting new treasures up in the shop - and maybe even start creating some new things as well.

If you've gotten through to this point, know that I appreciate you so much! and hope we're all holding up as well as can be expected.

Til next time lovies, I leave you in perfect love and faerie dust..

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