Friday, September 9, 2011

Thank You Charles


I've been stalking the mail lady for several days now, waiting for my copy of the new Charles Faudree book, Details, to arrive.  You've all heard about it by now as almost everybody in Blogland has been talking about it.



I decided to see for myself what all the hoopla was about and I think I found my new best friend.  I LOVE this man!!!

Ever since I started reading this magnificent book the creative side of my brain has been on overdrive.  I now have myself convinced that I cannot live without an antique English Battersea box.  And my coffee table is suddenly begging me for a faux bois cup of fresh flowers.

Not really.

But something I've always secretly wanted that seems to be a staple in Traditional decor as evidenced in the elegant pages of Details, is a Staffordshire figure.  I would love a cow, but wouldn't mind a pair of dogs either (why are these sold separately on Ebay???).   They make a bold statement without screaming "chotchke."  So I did a search and stared in shock as I came face to screen with this lovely.


Holy Yardsale!  Could it be??  Is that what I think it is???

This sweet figurine, what I now know to be an antique pearlware bocage Staffordshire lady archer, has been sitting on the bottom shelf of my curio cabinet for over a year, a fifty-cent yardsale find that is now worth almost $500!  Say what????  I did the research (lots of it) and even though my pretty lady has a few imperfections, she is from the early 1800's and kinda rare.


Of course I moved her straight away to a more prominent place - my antique secretary.  I remember when I bought her, she seemed to have the look of a Staffordshire figure, but I didn't see anything on the bottom.  I've since learned that these particular figurines are open on the bottom.  To boot, the woman that I bought her from is a HUGE yardsale/auction afficionado and I thought for sure she would have known if it was the real thing.  Ha!  Lesson learned! And I have Charles to thank.  After all, it was his book that prompted me to look on Ebay in the first place.


Baby Bliss will be walking before I know it, and my pretty lady will have to go back into the curio.  But for now, I will admire her every time I walk into my living room.

What lessons have you learned lately?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulicious weekend!
xoxo,
Kim

12 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

How awesome...and I think Charles would approve!!

XO,
Jane

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh wow! how cool is that!

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

Welcome to the world of more is more. LOL I am a Faudre Follower too. I have his two other books and have not been to Barnes and Nobles yet to get this one....but soon, very very soon. :)

Traci said...

WOW!! That is amazing!!

Love Of Quilts said...

That book was worth its weight in gold...what a find. Trish

eleven-o-one said...

Sounds like antique road show. That's awesome!

Paula@SweetPea said...

Wow! Your desk vignette looks fabulous. Enjoy it while you can!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Kim, The Staffordshire figure is fabulous and what a great find. I am Faudree's biggest fan and I love his new book.
xo,
Sherry

At The Picket Fence said...

Wow! Kim, what a fun discovery! Your lady is very lovely and how great for her to have this story to go along with her. :-) I can't wait to get my hands on Faudree's new book too!
Vanessa

Jemsmom said...

Wow!!! That is an awesome find/discovery! You can keep the pretty lady out. We had a lot of our polish pottery and things out when Jemma was little and we just always told her "No touching" and she never bothered it! Amazingly enough!!! I just got some Staffordshire style dogs that were handmade for me in Ireland! I will post them soon!

Ricki Treleaven said...

I have not seen the book yet, but I have heard so much about it. Please tell us if you like it...I am dying to hear about it!

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

Wow Kim! From $.50 to $500.00, you didn't do bad did ya girl?! Good for you!!!!