Bakelite Buttons

Have you ever purchased something online that seems to take forever to get to you?  I'm like a little kid when it comes to these purchases, I want it and I want it now!

With online businesses expecting their sellers to supply buyers with estimated delivery times, it's hard on the sellers.  I know it is.  I'd rather not know and of course, the sellers have found a way around it.  One such seller takes the time to supply you with a tracking number the day after the purchase, however, there's been no movement on the package, including it being scanned at the post office.  What does that mean?  Most likely, it hasn't even been sent yet.  Why?  Because if it was sent and let's just say the post office failed to scan it, someone along the lines would have scanned it OR I'd have it by now.  Not the case with one seller that has this beautiful "fast 'n free" icon by his name.  He got that icon by pretending to ship immediately.  So much for the fast shipping!  Anyway, back to the subject.

I collect Bakelite realistic/goofy buttons.  Most times, I buy one at a time and it takes time and money to purchase this way, so when I found a full set on eBay, I decided to watch them.  I realize they are black and black isn't the most desirable color but hey, it's a full set!  And something told me there's more to them.

Imagine my surprise when I won them on eBay for a total of $10.54 including shipping!!!  I paid, I waited and waited until the estimated time went by and still no buttons.  Email the seller and she had sent them but it was 5 days after I paid.  Um.  I ship the next business day, no excuses but I guess not everyone is like that.  I wait, I wait and today was the day!!!!  

The card isn't worth writing home about but it's still neat.

Woohoo!  I now have a full set of Bakelite fruit and veggies!

I love that Made in U.S.A. part!

But wait, there's more!!!  My gut told me there was, again, let's take a closer look!

YEP!!!!  A full set of BLUE, not black, Bakelite fruit and veggie buttons!

Doing the happy dance!  And the full set for under $11.00!  Well worth the wait!

Live and Learn

I'm an impulse buyer.  I try not to be, I've started bookmarking items and waiting a few days before purchasing and that seems to help.  But, there's times I just can't resist.  This is one of them.

I'm planning on remodeling my small powder room in a 1950's style.  Right now, I'm in the hunt and gather phase but it's moving right along and I'm really getting excited.  

So, I saw this on a web site and didn't give it much thought.  The description was vague, first red flag.  Didn't give a size or how to mount it etc.

Wow!  New old stock!  How awesome is this?  It holds an entire bar of soap, up and out of the way, push down the lever on the right side and the bar drops down into your hands.  It claims to keep your soap dry and out of the way.  Just look at that design, I had to have it.

Here are the colors it's available in:

Yep, black it is!

So, I get it today and was so disappointed.  It had a huge scuff mark on the upper right hand corner that was clearly visible.

It appears someone played with it because there are scratches near the handle:

And there were more scratches and scuffs all over it.  

This thing cost a small fortune plus another small fortune for shipping.  I had it in my mind that if I couldn't use it, I would turn it around and sell it, however, I wouldn't even attempt to sell this in the condition it is in.

They charged me $13.89 for shipping and it turns out, it's not very big or doesn't weigh that much, after all, it's plastic.  I called because a RGA number is required to return it.  So, do to the only fault of my own being that I'm an impulse buyer, I'll be out the original $13.89 shipping plus my $6.20 to return it.  It's a shame no one checked it out before sending it.  So, I hope I've learned my lesson.  And I'm SO over getting another one unless I find one a lot cheaper on eBay!

Who collects these things?

 

I do!

 Why?

Got me, maybe it's the colors????

Vintage Button Collection - Day 7 (I think)

Ah, more plastic realistics!

This little piggy got away from the other pigs!  Not sure how that happened.

I like the looks of these.

Is Cupid missing a hand?  I'll have to check into that.

Love the rocking horses.

Nothing great, some pieces from the Teenager set.

A complete set of World's Fair buttons.  

Some vases.  Can you tell they are hand painted?  LOL!  Pretty bad paint job on that second one!

The Toy Set, one of my favorite sets.

And my all time favorite!  Thanks to Cathy, I completed the set!

Vintage Button Collection - Day 4

Today is chunky Bakelite buttons!  Ah, I just love Bakelite.  I'm really trying not to find too many of these!

At first glance, these just look like plain black Bakelite BUT they are actually a wonderful blue Bakelite.  The top one has an added surprise, it has some type of something or other embedded inside it.  

This is a black Bakelite with a brass coat.

Black and green chunky ones.

Misc. shapes.  Not really sure what that first thing is, it screws apart.

These are cookies and logs.

Some fun shapes.

This is apple juice Bakelite with red Bakelite embedded in it.

Vintage Button Collection - Day 2

These are one of my favorite buttons!  They are all called Buffed Celluloids.  Enjoy VV!

Don't you just LOVE the little Scottie dog?

Look, a large blue one and small green one that match!

More matching ones and oh so retro!

 Love the art deco looking ones!

Saved my favorite ones for last! 

More vintage finds

I know my one and only peep is waiting for the rest of my finds, so here they are!

How cute are these?  They are like miniature blow molds!  Poor things had strings tied tightly around their necks so they must have been hanging somewhere.

Five elf stocking holders in plastic.

This is HUGE!  Blue Heaven Chop Plate, it's 12 inches across!

A little owl made completely of seashells.

Federal Glass mixing bowl with sunflowers on it!  Such a cheerful pattern.  Almost makes me want to bake. Almost...

Two pieces of luggage in ivory.

Craftsman tool box.

If anyone has any information about this one, I'd like to hear it!  I guess it's a file cabinet but it very different from ones I've ever seen.  It's metal, the top lifts up and the door opens to shelves.

It's that wonderful industrial grey color!

Vintage Make Over - Plastic Dishes!

I purchased some melmac/melamine dishes last week that I loved the pattern on.  They had some scratches which dirt had accumulated in and even with washing them with dish detergent and hot water, the scratches still showed.

Some of them were really bad!  So I set off to fix them!

First, I sprayed them with Clorox anywhere spray and left it sit for a few minutes.

Wiped that off and you could all ready see a difference, this loosens up the dirt and just makes you feel better knowing you disinfected!

Next, I got out my trusty, can't live without them, Mr. Clean Original Magic Eraser!

Scrubbed the plates with this and guess what?

Take a look at the difference!  Also, don't forget the backs of the plates, they are often embossed with information and dirt can get in there, too!

Use the same method as above and waalah!

Wash them one more time in soap and water to remove any cleaning agents.

My dishes are sparkling again and totally safe to use!  I don't want to sell them anymore!