Last weekend antique collectors flocked to Portland’s Expo buildings for the spring Palmer-Wirf Antique Show to look at over 1000 booths hunting for that special thing.  Sometimes when I’m around my friends who don’t collect, I begin to feel alone, but at these shows, I am reminded that I’m very far from alone.  This year, I observed and met loads of interesting people.  I met a man who has been on a 12 year hunt to collect photographs which were done by his great grandfather, and when sitting down for lunch I sat next to a woman dressed in early 20-century attire eating nachos. “I love your dress,” I commented, “Did you make it?” She nodded yes, and began to tell me how her and her husband are historical re -enactors who portray Teddy Roosevelt and his wife.  Such interesting people and such wonderful things to buy! What could be better?

As for the finds, it was a day of really good deals…

Rose Hat with Veil

This little number I just adore.  With its small cap, faux rose and veil, it screams I Love Lucy.  Also, I’m half tempted to wear it for my wedding, or at least my going away hat.  There are some condition issues, like the rose is a little flattened, and there are some rips in the netting, but overall, not too bad.  There is not label.  Cost: $3.00

Marche Exclusive Hat

Another classic 50s hat, one that says “Wear me on Easter Sunday”.  Like the other one, this one has some rips in the netting, but nothing too horrifying.  There are some remnants of fake leaves in the netting, which leads me to believe this too had some flowers of some sort.  The label here reads “Marche Exclusive” with “Finlan” (yes, “Finlan” not Finland) on the side. And this hat was an even better deal, $1.00!  Especially since my research is digging up an average of about $40.00 for this brand.

Beresford Fur Hat

This certainly was a day for hats, and white ones at that.  This one I couldn’t resist, especially since it was just fun and reminded me of some of the hats that a few Elvgren girls wear.  The top part is bunny fur, and soft as ever to the touch, and the label reads “Beresford”, but I’ve had little luck trying to dig up any info on it.  Cost: $8.00

1955 Montgomery Ward Catalog

I just love old catalogs.  They are wonderful portals into the past.  And this one provides so much insight! Clothes, BBQs, cameras, furniture, shoes, appliances, it’s fabulous!  It’s also interesting to see the cost of things.  $7.98 for dresses!  While that may seem like very little, you have to remember what minimum wages was a heck of a lot less!  But the quality of things made then was a million times better that what comes out of department stores today. Cost: $5.00

Starburst Platter

As you know, I collect Franciscan Starburst. I usually don’t anticipate buying any at Expo because it tends to be very expensive.  Condition is a particular issue with dishes, and especially with Starburst, and often can drastically bring down the price, which is all the better for me! I got this platter for $25.00 due to three small chips on the side.

In case you missed out on this March show, mark your calendars for the July show on the 10th and 11th! It’s bigger and better too!

Well, here we are, in October.  Classes just started on Tuesday, and I feel like I’m drowning already.  I’m taking classes about the American West, and World War II (both 400 level history courses), in addition to my history research seminar.  In my seminar, which is about Oregon History, we are asked to choose a topic (a fairly narrow one) and then write a 25 page research paper, from mostly primary sources.  Thankfully, our library has a rather impressive selection of manuscripts and documents.  My topic, you ask? Vice in the Rose City.  That’s Portland for all you non-Oregonians.  So, that is something that I’ll continue to post about.

Meanwhile, if you’ve been following, you’ll have noticed from previous entries that my dad and I have been making life-size Nightmare before Christmas characters for Halloween and Christmas decor.  Just yesterday, we finished up everything and got it all up.

Total cost: $460.03.  My dad thinks about 500 hours was put into this between him, myself, and the couple days that Patrick came to work.  Needless to say, I’m very satisfied with the outcome.  We also created a Santa Jack and the coffin sleigh and skeleton reindeer as well as other Christmas elements which will go up around Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, today some friends and I check out Bring Recycling in Springfield.  The place is a treasure trove for people who are renovating or are crazy artists.  Bring has everything from light fixtures to lockers to toilets to school desks – there was even a boat and the vintage weight-loss machine as demonstrated by moi on the left.  This type of machine was very popular in the 1950s and 60s, and were often depicted in pin-ups.  Whether they worked or not is another question.  I would have purchased it, had it not been $75.00.

But I didn’t leave Bring empty-handed.  I purchased another retro star patterned glass lamp cover for $2.00 and a small copper bullet shaped lamp (which works) for $4.00.

I also found about 40 drawer pulls in two different boomerang shapes, all at $0.25 a piece! I don’t even have drawer pulls in our apartment, but I couldn’t pass ‘em up because I may have a place in the near future that has drawer pulls.

Overall, it was a successful trip.  Tomorrow is the Canby Swapmeet, but I’m missing out because I have work. Oh well.