People often think I pick up my inventory at local estate sales, auctions and the like. While this happens from time to time, I find waking up early and standing in line to be activities for suckers. I’ve better things to do with my time and I don’t like putting myself in competitive situations. My motto is: There’s plenty of dead people’s stuff for everyone! Last I shared with you my budding relationship with Jean at Willamette View and my visits there begat this Friday Finds.

Bonnie works in The Carousel, (a private thrift shop at Willamette View) on Wednesdays and was there on one of my recent visits. Jean had asked me to bring a list of things I like to buy. Bonnie noticed she had several things on my list and called me up to come pay her a visit. I was delighted to find a variety of things nicely laid out in her clutterless home.

I often find myself invited places where there is more digging to be done. I’m used to rooms looking like this so a tidy situation is always a welcome surprise. When bonnie initially called she mentioned a dress in a Berg bag. “A Charles F. Berg bag?” I queried. Indeed it was.

The late 1960s lace dress by William Cahill is strikingly similar to one I purchased in December. It’s what I call the Priscilla Presley style. A fitted sheath lies beneath a billow of lace that flows out into a tiny train. It’s sure to look better on a body and I’m anxious to clean it and find out if I’m having a twinsies bridal shoot.

Dreamy purses abound including this one (seen in the bottom right corner) that I already managed to list on Etsy. The rest seen here will head into the Emporium for local purchase.

This white beaded purse was made in Japan and it resides in it’s original box. The original purse mirror is still wrapped in the tissue from the manufacturer. Find out more about it here.

Fur collars, hankies and gloves. Oh my! I under priced the Persian Lamb collar and it was the first thing to sell at last night’s Vintage Fashion Show.

I was tempted to keep these black and white leather driving gloves.

I find that having to work makes it difficult to both put together a smart outfit and do hair and make up. While I achieved all three this day, my hair didn’t come out quite right in the back. Which is why one should always have a back check mirror. Or more hours in the day. Regardless, I couldn’t believe the size of this intricate tatted collar that must have taken someone many an hour to complete. Think of the eye strain!

The more we chatted, the more I found out Bonnie and I have in common. When I started asking where she found all these lovely things, she mentioned she used to have a pal with a secondhand shop where Bonnie would consign things. The shop is closed now and she hasn’t had an outlet for her excess treasures in awhile. She also mentioned that she bought the nearly flawless 1920s balloon style tulle veil to cut up for doll clothes. The accordion pleated slips were purchased to make tiny lingerie. Mr. Man found this doll house in the front room and it revealed more about Bonnie and George.

Bonnie informed me that she and George build doll houses that they sell at doll and toy shows around the Pacific Northwest. Naturally, I asked if she would show us some of their work. We were led down a corridor to a room stacked with highly detailed diorama boxes. This one was my favorite.

I couldn’t get over the inlaid pinwheel floor. Turns out George originally built houses before his MS became too severe to work. Now a paraplegic, he works in their garage making smaller versions of his former work. Each of the dioramas were quite nicely lit. The Library had an outlet on the wall that I thought was decorative. When I asked Bonnie about it she mentioned that the lamp that plugs into that outlet is rather expensive and she doesn’t like to leave it plugged in.

While some of the books were purchased, Bonnie had to cover many of them herself. She said that a man in jail painted the miniature picture over the mantel. He did work for many people in their miniature social circle.

There were lots of squeals when I caught sight of the Christmas room.

A latch hook rug. A tiny Santa collection. What more could you ask for?!?

They even have a gentleman’s study with a tiny German stein collection on the mantle.

Complete with a cocktail by his side, a wine rack, a taxidermied bear head and more! I even recognized the carved ivory fish on the wall. It a piece of jewelry I’ve had on several occasions.

Then when Bonnie mentioned that George was out working in the garage we had to meet him! He was cutting wood for the floor of a 1/2 inch=1 foot scale house at the time.

He showed me the plans for what he was working on.

Then my eyes spied the largest doll house roof I’d ever seen just hanging from the ceiling.

Evidently someone had given George this picture from a newspaper advertisement for a bank offering loans to remodel and update your home.

As you can see from the center crease, this was just a fold over of a beautiful Victorian home. George went down to the Oregon Historical Society and discovered it was the John W. Kern residence located on 3oth and SE Powell from 1890-1947 when it was carelessly destroyed.

After finding the photos above, he made a tremendous 1/12 scale model of it. When he first completed it, one of the great granddaughters of John Kern came to the unveiling. The Kern house model is being stored in George’s work space and hasn’t been displayed recently. Beneath a little wood dust Mr. Man noticed the inlaid floor with a K monogrammed in the center.

The more the four of us spoke and looked at things the more Bonnie and I realized how much we had in common. She mentioned that she collects half dolls, as do I. Clearly Bonnie is the reason I only have about a dozen. It appears as if she bought all the rest!

This one was her Mother’s and it seems to have begun a life long collection.

My favorite was this large, colorful, decidedly Art Deco dame.

I’ve never seen one wearing a shawl before and this doll was as nice in the back as she looks in the front.

These half dolls were originally used to top silk pin cushions or clothing brushes from the turn of the Century to the 1930s or so. I have one that is a tape measure as well.

I spent a little time just marveling at the sheer quantity, but the more I looked the more usual things I saw. I bought a few old timey stick pins from Bonnie having no idea that she still had plenty to enjoy. Note the tiny gold baby ring.

She even had several in their original box. This was my favorite of them all. The olive green velvet box reads: Established 1862 Fred Sauter Jeweler 2713 Girard Ave Philidelphia.

I have a collection of German mechanical bottle stoppers inherited from my Great Aunt and grown upon as the years have passed. I spotted one by Weir in one of Bonnie’s cabinets.

I’ll be pricing many of the little gems we found at Bonnie and George’s house at the Emporium this weekend if you’d like to take a closer look.