Vintage Charms

I've always had a thing for charm necklaces and bracelets, and I love collecting the charms themselves. When I say collecting, I really mean hoard. Most of the time, it takes me forever to get around to putting them on a necklace, etc. so I just display them in trays and dishes on my dresser.

My friend has been adding to her charm bracelet lately and got me to searching for some more myself. Here's my top pics that I can't justify buying:

Antique German Gnome with Mushroom

Silver Acorn with Squirrel Inside

Same as above but in closed position. Rad, right?

Vintage Hedgehog Smoking a Pipe

Yet another midcentury hedgehog!?

Just when I didn't think it was possible, the universe has produced yet another midcentury modern hedgehog.  I really thought hedgehogs were more in the realm of cute folksy woodland sweetness and not so much sleek modern cool redux.  But this is the proof that the hedgehog is revered and inspirational to all design:

 He can be purchased here.  I know, why am I not buying him?  My husband would never agree to a hundred dollar hedgehog :)    OK, I didn't ask, but I know better :)

A Beautiful Hike in Pacifica

Just before it started raining again, we went on a beautiful hike in Pacifica. For anyone that lives in the SF Bay Area, I highly recommend it. It's the Hazelnut Trail accessible in the San Pedro Valley County Park.

We passed by gorgeous oak trees, manzanita, tons and tons of wildflowers, plus birds, critters, and banana slugs. The air smelled wonderful, too. Oh yeah, and there were mushrooms that looked like toasted marshmallows.
 

Bavarian Gnome Cup & Saucer Plate Set

So, yes, I was wasting time doing gnome searches on ebay when I came across this! The sweetest plate set of all time.

I know that maybe I'm just a small niche market, but seriously, why can't there be more dinnerware like these? I mean, how many floral patterns does the world need? And plain white is certainly nice, but compared to gnomes...riding snails...taking walks with frogs...?

They're from Germany, of course, and have the cutest scenes on them, all different, and are from the 1930's. Get it here ...before I change my mind and buy them myself!

Mushroom Tea Set

I love this!!! If I could justify spending the money on a child's tea set for myself, I would absolutely buy this!


...could my cat use this? or my box turtles?

It's available at Mahar Drygoods for $140.

Yayyy!! A Unicorn Deer!

What's better than either a deer or a unicorn? A unicorn deer!

He lives in Italy, I wish I could visit him.

Really awesome dinner plates!

I just had to share this. I was looking online to replace a bowl that had broken from my dinnerware set (I know, how domestic of me) when I came across these plates. I'm thinking I might have to get them!
I saw them online here.