Today's Haul

Some goodies from today's vintage haul: Sky blue American Tourister tote, embossed tangerine wallet with kiss-clasp, raw leather belt, and fabulous 70's Italian wool blanket in brown, lime green and yellow plaid (!) for Weinstocks. (Both my grannies worked at Weinstocks, so it was a great find to see their label).

Everything needs a little sprucing up, so it'll all be in the shop soon. Stay tuned!

d, xo
dahlila found

Red, White & Blue: Vintage 4th of July

I can't believe June is half way over already. Firework stands are going up around town and it's time to get out the red, white & blue.

Have fun & dress the part: vintage finds for your holiday picnic, bike ride and firework watching.

All pieces are in the shop, dahlila found.

The British Sparkle

I found this beautiful hand-beaded top at a thrift store. I love the label: "Made in British Crown Colony of Hong Kong". Now that could be from an expanse of eras, really, but I remember going to Hong Kong just before it was "returned" to the People's Republic of China by England in 1997. It was very exciting. And now with Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee--the glitter, the elegance, it just spoke to me. 

Dare I research it's past? Hm....will see. Still, it is entirely hand beaded & gorgeous. And will be posted in Dahlila Found by Friday.

Teacup Garden

Two things I love: vintage tea cups and succulents, and they just happen to go very well together. I don't have space for indoor plants so a few small teacups full on by stove top suits me just fine.

 The teacup is blue transferware and the gravy pitcher is hand painted Danish ware. Both salvaged.

Crisp white and blue accents are my favorite kitchen colors.
The succulents are snippets from larger potted plants in the yard and EASY to transplant, just gently push a snippet into the dirt. That's it!
I pinched the more succulent succulent in the teacup from a neighbor's yard while walking the dogs. It was a small piece off a large plant. It won't be missed. ;-)

d, xo

Yard Sale!

Every May my neighborhood has a blowout yard sale day. People stroll about on bikes, kids sell lemonade, mom's have charity bake sales. Some people drive--always a danger. The streets are all chaos. This year, I walked with my red roller basket, coffee, camera and wallet. It was perfect.

Tons of clothes and purses. 

 Some folks were obviously collectors, while others were just trying to get rid of last year's baby clothes.

 Check out the Fiestaware. Prices too high for me, but beautiful.

My red cruiser market basket! Packed with goodies in the first half-hour.

First round, home. Above and below: Beautiful bedspread, velvet floral pillbox hat, caulander, Converse tennies, embroidered carrying case.

Below: even advertising! "Cheap, cheap, cheap...and I don't mean chicken! Rapture blowout! Sorry, cat not for sale!"

Three orange school desks--not plastic, but mod fiberglass. $10 each. Tempting but I passed. 

Last round: Red and white hip bag, fuchsia Gloria Vanderbilt 80's handbag, faux Victorian parasol w/roses, pink and gold atomic serving dish.



Somewhere I was looking at a couch too, but when I went back to measure it, I couldn't find it. Just as well, it wouldn't fit in my basket. ;-)

d, xo

Fall Scarves at Dahlila Found

If you know me at all, you know I love scarves. They are the perfectly elegant accent to nearly any outfit. Toss it around your neck, tie it up in your hair, drape it over your shoulder, wrap it around your waist. People will always notice a touch of elegance.

Vintage silk Oscar de la Renta in plum, goldenrod marigolds.

Satiny bold vintage polka dots in black, white, copper. So fun!

Vintage Oscar de la Renta scarf in mauve, plum, dusty rose.

The Wild Card: Silk Vera Neumann in bold aqua, teal, yellow and pink florals.

Enjoy!

dahlila xxoo

Dahlila Found

California Family Retro

This is one of my favorite photos. Right now it's my shop banner, because to me it is quintissentially Califorina vintage. This is not some random photo either. This is my mother, left and my aunt sunning on the back of the family boat, circa 1950s. Grandma is surely stearing while grandpa--always with a camera--shot this photo. They were both avid water skiers. Love aunt G's scarf and glasses. So fabulous.

I scoured the cabin searching for these water skis, but I'm afraid they are long gone. I wanted to hang one above this photo in my living room. :-) Family history makes great art. 

dahlila xxoo 

Vintage In the City

A few weeks ago I walked with my camera through Sacramento and really looked at its past. The signs--literally--are fewer, so I wanted to catch them before they are gone. These are some favorites I found. Rodney's Cigars is the only one still in business.
When people regularly sewed there was a repair store to fix your machine. Remember those? Fix-it shops. There was a time when home items were repaired, instead of tossed. I'm hoping this recession will bring that back.

I love this sign: Rodney's Cigars & Liquors. Look at the graphics! Classic!
Since Dahlila, Found sells vintage luggage, this sign grabbed my attention. Specialty stores, fabulous.
And that's my mini tour update. Now go out into your city, town, neighborhood and take a look around. I bet there are some fabulous hidden treasures from the past. Save them.

dahlila xxoo

Walking Through the Past

I took a long walk with my camera in Sacramento today, something I never, ever do. I've lived here for years and today I walked around all wide eyed, looking up, staring down and snapping photos like an anthropologist. This city doesn't think too much of it's past. Old is out. New is in. The suburban landscape spreads and spreads, but I stay close to the center, the city, the grid. It just has more life.
I thought it would be fun to share some vintage shots before it all gets torn down, and it will. This is the old Tower Records on K Street Mall. It was the smallest of the 4 local Tower stores-- Broadway being the original, where I worked as the graphic, in-house artist many years ago.

I don't know who painted this elaborate, psychedelic ceiling, but I remember 1975 painted on it. It closed years ago, long before Russ Solomon closed all the Tower doors--an incredibly sad occasion for most cool local kids worked at Tower sometime in their life.

Now, this building sits empty, ceiling chipping away, drunks in the alcove, but I took a minute to look up and remember some great vintage memories. At least--as one rumor went--it won't become a Starbucks.

Interview on Catwalk Threads

Catwalk Creatives out of Manchester, England writes a vintage blog, Catwalk Threads that is great. This month she is featuring yours truly talking about vintage treasures, the perfect day & hot finds.
I was so pleased to be asked by Louise. She's terribly sweet. So visit Catwalk & DahlilaFound for great vintage finds. :-)
See the interview of DahlilaFound on Catwalk Threads. Thank you Louise!

Cream in My Coffee, Treasury

Dahlila, Found has had the honor of getting added to a lot of treasuries lately. It always feels special. This one really spoke to me: the beautiful oval bone white earrings, the supple cardigan & my Eliza Doolittle Train case. I could wear it all, take the case, filled with secret goodies and board the train to wherever. Who doesn't love an enchanting train trip. :-)
Thank you Uncorked for this beautiful treasury, dahlila xxoo

On the Hound; On the Front Page

My fabulous vintage brief case made the front page! (Inside a side pocket is a ticket stub from the Greyhound bus, 1962.) Now, that was a treasured find.

First Anniversary

I missed my first Etsy anniversary. It was last week. It came and went and I was non-the-wiser. I should really be better at this, having been schooled from a very young age to never forget a birthday, anniversary or RSVP requiring commemoration, even when it's my own.

So, without further adieu: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DAHLILA FOUND! I've done well, shopped fabulously, sleuthed in the farthest corners and found the best forgotten treasures. I've made some great new friends and customers, learned lessons, and given the upmost attention to my shop. (I'm giving myself a pat on the back, just for this special day, since I did it all by myself.)

I'm making a wish and blowing out the candles!

Thank you all,
dahlila♥
xxxooo

Treasury--teal & stilettos

DahlilaFound's beautiful brocade stilettos were added to this lovely treasury. Thank you Donna at Etsy's Fifthquadrant. Love the colors.

New Vintage Finds

Has it really been a week since I've checked in. Time flies when you've discovered Twitter. *Blush*. The writer's quick fix. Still, it isn't a blog post. It's not pretty, or colorful, or longer than 140 characters. There's nothing like a complete sentence.
Meanwhile, I've been to estate sales, new thrift stores, scavenging here, snooping there. I can spot a shiny goody, a fab purse, some great heels at 40 paces. It's so much fun. Can I add that under skills on my resume? Hm. . .
Here is a taste of some really great finds I made this week:

Vintage Stacy Adams wingtips, black & white patent leather, gorgeous!

Vintage mottle grey train case, Oshkosh, black leather trim, white stitching. Elegant.

The Really, really pink vintage handbag. Spring fabulous! More purses to come: vintage yellow, wicker & leather handbag, black patent leather evening bag. As soon as the rain stops I'll photograph them! Have a nice weekend,
dahlila.

Luella Luella

Wow. Dahlila Found got an incredible write-up on Luella Luella and I didn't even know it because the announcement went to spam. . . of all the important e-mails I really want to receive, this was one of them. They must think I'm awful. It was weeks ago and I never even thanked them! I'm having an etiquette freakout moment. Evil Yahoo spam filter. Grrrrr.
Well, it's better late than never to acknowledge one's blessings. So, thank you Luella Luella for taking the time to create such a great article. I appreciate it immensely. And for anyone visiting, please go visit LuellaLuella. It's a great promotional website with a lot of heart.

Yellow

Dahlila Found gets added to another great treasury. We're having quite the week! I love the buttery yellows: the swirly petticoat, the great pyrex. Ours is the Vegas Keno girl from the cover of an original 1976 Keno game. She's fabulous!
Thank you ForTheBettys for adding us!

Curious Wonders

This is CuriousRobin an Etsy shop created by Nissa Nicole, a sweet young artist and photographer, who just landed her first wedding gig. Yay, Nissa!

These are some photos of hers that I happen to love. Enjoy!

Baby Blue Vintage Chevrolet

Red Dahlia


Lost Soul Vintage Chair

Tea & Valentines

I love this tea tin. Made in England, it was surely once filled with English Breakfast, my favorite tea, sitting pretty alongside a breakfast nook with porcelain tea cups, sugar and cream. It would make a lovely Valentine's gift for a dear friend. It's new in the shop. Enjoy, dahlila.

Roses

Isn't this lovely. A beautiful estate sale find. I'm enamored with lamps lately. I've posted five and I have two more! I can't resist. They brighten up a home.