Saturday morning's estate sale was just what I needed: a quick sale nearby with just enough fun stuff to make me happy. There was a great tablecloth in excellent condition, a stack of bandanas (which always are reliable sellers) and some good additions to the Santa collection.
Just when I thought the Santa collection was complete, I found these three, all of which are new to me. The pull-toy Santa turns out to be pretty valuable as far as mid-century plastic Santa figures go (more valuable than skiing Santa, not as valuable as motorcycle Santa), and I haven't found a reference yet for the roly-poly Santa. The fellow at right is a candy container with an open sack.
I bought a junky dollar box of ornaments for the parrot light bulb but found some German paper ornaments that open to hide a present, and a light bulb shaped like a watch.
I don't know if I love the watch because it was a surprise or because it's adorable, but I do love it.
I'd have loved this game if only for the treasure-chest box design, but it was filled with cards, numbers printed on wooden discs, and square pieces of glass for markers. Because my husband and I were home Saturday night, paralyzed with the kind of fear that overtakes parents when their 18-year-old daughter takes the car out with her friends for the first time, we played a round. "You can say we played this on your blog," he suggested helpfully. "You can say it was fun." Consider it done, dear.
Because I'm such a fan of quantity, this bolt of vintage toweling is probably my favorite find. Right up there with the watch and the pull-toy Santa at least.
I have no idea how many yards of fabric must be on here, but I'm pretty sure there were entire departments of corporations dedicated to coming up with fun names for their products.
i love those santas! and the watch bulb is pretty amazing!
Posted by: rae | June 04, 2012 at 06:42 PM
Wonderful finds ! I cannot pick a favorite ... I think you have some kind of a Super-Fantastic-Find- Fairy that rides on your shoulder , I really do ! :)
Posted by: Lisa W. | June 04, 2012 at 06:44 PM
I think I had the light up nose Santa. Love your Twinkle! I never got rid of my 18 yards of yellow toweling - it looks identical to your red. Great finds!
Posted by: Tina | June 04, 2012 at 07:18 PM
If you ever want to sell the Twinkle board from the center of the toweling....let me know!! I collect all things stars or starish!! Including the word twinkle!!
Posted by: Jenny Sellars | June 04, 2012 at 07:31 PM
Holy crap that is a lot of toweling. LOL
Posted by: Sarah | June 04, 2012 at 08:22 PM
Love those santas. Especially love the bulbs. I collect Chinese lantern shaped ones. That clock is fantastic. Good for you!
Posted by: Musings from Kim K. | June 04, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Great finds! WooHoo on that toweling!!
Posted by: Mecky | June 04, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Great finds and I love that Mr. Oodles thought about your blog! That guy is a keeper.
Posted by: kathy | June 04, 2012 at 11:57 PM
Wow! You scored! Love the gigantic bolt of fabric!
Posted by: kim g. | June 05, 2012 at 12:35 AM
What are you going to do with the fabric?
Posted by: Ruth | June 05, 2012 at 04:07 AM
LOVE the fabric. What I love the most is that there is so much that I actually would cut off a few yards and make towels..and a runner...and big napkins. I stopped at an antiques store in Ballston Spa this weekend and there was a whole huge display of homespun. I wanted to just sit down in the middle of it and dream.
Posted by: Vicki | June 05, 2012 at 06:47 AM
Let me start by saying any one of these items would have made my estate sale year...the clock...the santa head with the bell...and oh my that toweling. I would have had to jump head first over Peter, Paul and Mary to lay claim...Amazing what treasures you find. You keep me going back for more....smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | June 05, 2012 at 07:41 AM
I used to work at a fabric store. To estimate yardage on a bolt, we would count the layers on one side of the bolt and two layers was approximately a yard. Just a little info if you want to estimate the yardage of your toweling.
Posted by: Mary Ann | June 05, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Oh my gosh, you've done it again. Just when I think I've seen the best.
Posted by: nanette | June 05, 2012 at 11:26 AM
You seriously always get the BEST stuff.
Posted by: Melissa | June 05, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Glad you got the first daughter/drive/friends out of the way with only a game of Lotto and not a stiff drink!
Good Santa finds - always nice to add to a collection.
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | June 05, 2012 at 03:10 PM
"Because Mr. Oodles and I were home Saturday night, paralyzed with the kind of fear that overtakes parents when their 18-year-old daughter takes the car out with her friends for the first time, we played a round."
Funniest thing I've read all week! You made me spit out my soda.
Posted by: Sue H. | June 05, 2012 at 11:57 PM
I am every shade of green imaginable about that roll of toweling.
I mean it. I think I would have fainted at the estate sale if I had come across that.
Posted by: Into Vintage | June 06, 2012 at 01:05 AM
I see I'm not the only visitor here that is eyeing up that bolt of linen toweling. I love to embroider tea towels and it's not easy or cheap to find nice towels to work on. Love your Santa finds!
Posted by: Linda Ruthie | June 06, 2012 at 09:06 AM
A friend referred me to your resource. Thank you for the details.
Posted by: Disc Springs | June 08, 2012 at 10:38 PM