Happy New Year!

My new year started out with a bang.  The bang being my left leg hitting cement when my right ankle twisted after stepping on uneven pavement at 1 am New Year's Day.
I did manage to limp home (only a block) with relatively little pain...the pain hit when I removed my shoe once home.  It was only a mild sprain, and knowing it wasn't broken and that a doctor would probably only tell me to ice it and rest it, I went to my chiropractor who adjusted it.  And did suggest icing.  It could have been much worse:  I could have broken it, or severely sprained it.  I could have cracked my head on the bumper of the van that was right there.  I will admit, I babied it for a couple of days and took those two nights off work.

Because of my good fortune  in avoiding a more serious injury, I dredged up an old coupon code in my Etsy shop.  This will be valid on all items in my shop, excluding shipping, for the entire month of January.  If you purchase this month and enter LUCKY13 as a coupon code, you will save 13% on your purchase at Smudgekitty on Etsy. 


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I can't help but wonder if I am the only one who has subscribed to AllFreeCrochet/Hooked on Crochet's newsletters?  I had subscribed to their crochet newsletter as well as their 'special offers'.  Yes, I understand 'special offers' are from their advertisers, but most companies try to send offers that appeal to their subscriber base.
AFC/HoC??  Not so much.  The other day I received an email entitled 'Sugar Shocker Shakes Medical World'.  In the email was a link to an 'underground video'.  I could not believe this had come from the site, but figured they'd been hacked so I contacted them.
Wow.  Imagine my disappointment to hear that they *had* sent the email on behalf of one of their subscribers.  They went on to say that I could unsubscribe if I no longer wished to receive these.  This morning, another, I think it was something about weight loss.  I sort of got the impression that they'd send any crap from anyone as long as they were paid.  As for being a 'special offer'?  It's not so special if I receive several of these daily from spammers.
Not only did I unsubscribe from that newsletter, but also from their crochet one.  I figure anyone who cares so little about their subscribers doesn't want me as one.

HOT DOG!!!

Thought I'd have a bit of fun with an Etsy team creative challenge.
Each month, I find obscure 'special' occasions, draw out two, and members can challenge their creativity by crocheting something for one or both themes.
July's choices were National Hot Dog Month and Blueberry Month.  Guess which I chose?  :)
 The amigurumi ketchup and mustard bottles need some work, so the bottles will not be available for sale.  I am hoping to re-work them into something I'm happy with and have a pattern available before too long.

Vintage Fun

I have mentioned my Grandma Dobson previously...where I mentioned how sure I am that my love of glassware began with her.  I firmly believe my love of yard sales also started with a visit to Grandma.

This past weekend, my husband, oldest daughter and I went to the Treasure Hunting Flea Market at nearby Heritage Village.  My daughter thought perhaps she could find some items for a  low enough price that she could turn around and sell them on eBay.  After all, the end of her free education (well, not exactly free, we pay taxes) is soon coming to an end, and university is not cheap.  Especially if you plan on attending one that's not exactly within driving distance.

While there, we did find some goodies, and actually did buy a few.  Whether or not they are worth anything...well, I'm finding out now that searching for information is almost as fun as looking at everything at the flea market!
One item I did find was a Cap'n Crunch bank.  Years ago (for those too young to remember) breakfast cereal often had some cool freebies, either in the box, or fun things you could mail away for.  The Cap'n Crunch bank was one.  This guy was in very good shape, and I just had to have him.  I found out afterward, that they have been selling for anywhere from $14 US (not in very good condition) to $50 US!!

I currently have him listed on Etsy, and will leave him for a bit, but am also considering listing him on eBay instead.  Here, if I have heard correctly, I must thank those scammers on eBay who would list something for pennies with an exorbitant  shipping price to avoid paying eBay their final value fee--eBay now takes their FVF on the shipping cost as well.


I also picked up a set of 4 carnival glass goblets.  My daughter made me promise I would not keep these--we really don't have room in this house, but I LOVE carnival glass!  I have to take pics of these and list them on Etsy, or eBay, as well.
What really caught our eye was near the end of our 'shopping'.  On the ground under a large table was a box of frames.  On top, a framed black and white print of a man.  The original photo was vintage, you could tell from the pose, the clothes, the hair...but there was just something compelling about this man, and my daughter had to have the picture.  I agreed...we hadn't fully decided, when the man behind the table quoted us a not-to-be-turned down price on the whole box which helped us make our decision.
Once home, we looked at the picture.  The backing paper was brown, very dry and brittle, and glued along the back edges of the wood frame.  There were the numbers '12 04' in red, and a stamp below with the name of a business (the picture is downstairs at the moment, and I'll admit I just don't feel like running down just to do an exact quote right now), Tschirhart was the name.  The address was 85 Pitt St. East in Windsor.  Cool, local!  But, a Google map search, street view did not show us any such business, and a regular Google search showed lawyers at that address.
Which is understandable, I'm sure 'piano and player piano' businesses aren't exactly a dime a dozen nowadays.
So...how long ago did this business exist?  A look at the phone number on the stamp is a very good indication.  Now, phone numbers are 10 digits, you must dial the area code as well, and as long as I've been alive, we've had 7 digits for local calls.  The phone number for Tschirhart's shop?  896-K

THREE digits.  So far, the best  I could find was this was before the mid 50's.  My father is pretty sure it was much earlier.
So...way cool!
Again, I will have to take pics of this find.  I am not sure if we'll wind up putting him up for sale or keeping him, but I am having fun trying to learn about him.  If we do sell him, I honestly think I'll miss him.