My Kind of Valentines

Last weekend my family stumbled upon a very unique museum (Miracle of America Museum) in a small lakefront town called Polson, MT. I had passed by this place many times over the years that I first lived in Montana and would take road trips onto Missoula for some fun and shopping. I fell in love with a display of Victorian Valentine cards and snapped photos. They just don't make love notes like these anymore. Glad they are in a glass case to be preserved. Wish I had artistic talents like the ones who created these lovely pieces of history. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Toys of Yesteryear

Walking down Central Avenue in Great Falls, Montana has a lot to view with tons of people in town this week for the Montana State Fair.

One store I love to go into and browse at antiques is located at the corner of 3rd Street and Central. In the window display this week are some really neat toys from yesteryear and relating to dolls in celebration of the Doll and Pet Parade. I had to stop a for a few minutes and snap some pictures. I know these will bring back memories to some people.



I just love the colors that were used and how vibrant they are on the box lids even today. The illustrations are so sweet and have that "innocent" look that you don't see on toys and packaging today. The look today I just most of the time think of as "commercial" and not special, but then again down the road in the future if someone takes care of their childhood toys today; then they will become the "toys of yesteryear".



I also fell in love with this antique wooden toy display. I didn't even notice all the dust on the bottom level of the toy until I uploaded the pictures onto my computer to blog here. Still, it is lovely and a jewel to a collector who will probably snatch it up soon.

My newest acquisition of Victorian Art

I have always been swept away with victorian times, the lavish costumes, and delicate ways that are described in famous writings and pieces of artwork.

It seems like I tend to look for artwork for my walls more and more these days with the same theme. This is my most recent acquisition from the shopggoodwill.com auction site. (Actually, I just won another piece that should be on its way soon.)

When this lovely item arrived well packaged, I was very unhappy to find the glass was broken in several places even though it had been well wrapped and there were no dents in the outside box.

A trip to a local art frame shop and 3 weeks later it was as good as new with the shop owner taking great care in making sure the right size glass was installed (the true problem with the breakage to begin with), and using Q-tips to clean the intricate design on the original frame as shown. She also touched up one streak in the actual art piece with some pastels. It would take a very close and studying eye to find the correction.



I am so pleased with this framed work. It is placed in my hall way to admire daily on my ventures into various bedrooms to put things away for the kids and grandma.

I love to find treasures, especially those things I truly am pleased with.

Next, I want to find a pretty silver (or silver-plate) victorian tea set on a platter. There is an elaborate set in an antique shop on Central Avenue here, but the price range is way out of my league for spending pleasure at $350. So I will continue my search at the online sites.