$40

I’ve had this lovely lady for awhile now; she’s no relation!  She’s from a “boutique” thrift shop.  When the family gathers from out of town and a little too much champagne has been consumed, we try to guess her real name (there’s no clue as to who she really is).  Ethel?  Genevieve?  Betsy? Go ahead…you can play too!

one for the portrait collection

As you know, I'm against online auctions.  However, when Steve showed me this portrait of Maria Callas on Goodwill's auction site, I told him I had to have it, no matter what.  I loved it at first sight (Amy Butler says nothing comes home with her unless she loves loves loves it, and I've adopted that too - this portrait? = loves times three italicized).  Originally commissioned for a small opera house on the West Coast, its starting bid of $5 quickly turned into a pretty penny, however...I was happy to increase, increase, increase the bid.

Now, let's delight in the lip detail:

$25

Our newest resident painting is all things grandfatherly (and any art experts feel like sharing who/what this is?). The back is marked with some interesting things. First, it is signed Shawson. And then:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permit to Copy Issued
8 N 45

And then:

SEP 24 1946
Copy
From the Original in the
Metropolitan Museum
of Art

It's our own copied little masterpiece.

$2.99

It is hard to see photos like this in thrift stores because I can't imagine how they ever get there...so I rescue them.

.99

I know what you're thinking, "Madge is creeeeeepy." But seriously, can you resist Family Photo Rescue? I know I cannot. I am way too curious about family portraits that end up in thrift stores. Steve and I are "growing" a wall of portraits and other photographs we find while thrifting...now I'm probably really creepy-sounding. Oh dear!

Bonus: The first time I went to an antique store (age 8,9?), I came out with a baby portrait ca. 1910 for $1. I named the baby Lucy. It's a true story.