We went to watch niece Lisa at a 4-H horse show today and told myself I was totally stopping on the way home at this antique store I've passed 1000 times before. They have an outside area with a lot of salvage windows & wrought iron fencing & yard art. Inside I swear you could look for a week and still not see everything. Mainly because it was a huge freakin' mess. Paintings stacked against the wall, stuff hanging from the ceiling, stuff everywhere, just crazy. But I found out in the barn / shed / fire trap a couple shelves of old bottles. I swear I have more than enough for my potion bottles, but these are just too awesome.
This is *supposedly* from the 1860s and it in horrible condition. Plaster & paint have chipped off the frame and the portrait has a huge nasty stain. However, it is 21x15 inches and has that awesome bubble glass. They originally were asking $65 for it, but she gave it to me for $35 !!! I have a non-Halloween plan for this, believe it or not! I am going to research Victorian clothes & hairstyles and (after restoring the frame) have a portrait made of Miss Angela and have it done in that sepia tone.
I have to think for a little bit - because they had another one of these bubble glass frames with a nice deer print - in MUCH better condition with an unusual shape, rounded across the top & flat on the bottom - for $45. Don't know what I'd do with it, tho.
I chatted with the owner for a bit when she asked what the bottles were for and told her my Halloween plans & she asked if I'd seen the wrought iron fencing out by the parking area. As a matter of fact, I had! It was 6 foot tall and had several sections, I didn't look at how many. Very ornate & cemetery-like. The tag said $300, but she was ready to give me a deal on it. I like that idea, but probably will pass on that. I don't think Randy would be very open to the idea of a permanent cemetery fence in the front yard!
