Friday, March 22, 2013

Walnut Key Holder - Mystery Solved

Back in March of last year, I posted a photo of my late Great Grandmother in her home with my Uncle in front of a blurry little key holder. When I found the photo, I had already started my own nut craft collection and was tickled ten shades of pink that my Great Grandmother apparently dabbled in nut craft appreciation too. Still with me? Mocking me? So it goes. Let's all just admit that it's kind of a weird thing to have in common with a relative.





Anyway.... I had no idea what the little plaque said. Even when the photo was enlarged it was just too blurry to read. I did a bunch of eBay and Etsy searches but unfortunately, crafts made with nuts are a hard thing to pin down in searches. If you search anything with "walnut", you get a bazillion things made out of wood from walnut trees. After a while, I gave up the search, chalking it up to another one of life's mysteries. UNTIL last month when I got an e-mail from my girl Sara who just happened to come across a little plaque that she thought might be it on an e-Bay search. Color me ecstatic! I know it sounds crazy but I wanted that nut plaque like a good foot rub and an "It's A Brad, Brad World" marathon.

As the auction end date came around, I was a nervous wreck. Would anyone else bid against me? Would there be anyone else in the entire world interested in a key holder featuring a leering walnut guy?  Yes. I know. I'm totally delusional but anyway, I aced that auction and before long, the plaque arrived in my mailbox. Even though the Seller mailed it in a paper envelope ( A PAPER ENVELOPE! IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY - A PAPER ENVELOPE!!), it arrived in one piece and has taken its place on the sunporch wall.  Let's gaze upon it's glory, shall we?




I die. I've been bludgeoned with nut craft cuteness and a bark covered piece of log. 

And in the end, here is what it says:



Mystery Solved! 

Forget boring old house keys. This nut guy has the key to my heart.

Thanks to Sara for her eagle eye and for remembering my wacky wish to find this thing! Do any of you remember wacky tourist and/or decor items that your parents, grandparents or other relatives displayed in their homes?  Do tell! 

Until next time,
x's and o's, 
Eartha




24 comments:

Beth said...

Ok, that's pretty awesome. It reminds me of a dinner bell my grandma had that rested on a plaque. The plaque said 'Good bread, good meat, good gosh, let's eat!'

You know. Super classy.

Eartha Kitsch said...

Beth: Ha! I love that! Is it this one?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100369604/vintage-good-bread-good-meat-good-gosh

Tasha said...

LOVE that! And how fun to complete the circle.

Why have I never been able to unearth a cute vintage key holder that was meant to hold more than a couple of sets of keys, why oh why? lol

Lisa said...

Oh I love it! It's so great that a) your love of nut-based crafts is genetic and b) you were able to pin down this EXACT one like your grandma had! I can't believe the paper envelope. PEOPLE. I ordered a t-shirt the other day that had $10.00 shipping and handling, but I guess the handling cost $9.00 because the shirt was parachute packed in a tiny, tiny envelope, for 99 cents postage! Booooooo!

My grandma has a "weather rock" with the "if the rock is wet, it's raining. if the rock is swinging, it's windy. If the rock is gone, it's a tornado!" etc, etc. I love these sweet, sweet things.

MySpecialAgent said...

My Gran had a figurine of two women, one quite rotund and the other was her mini-me, and it said "I like to eat like there's no tomorrow." And underneath the mini-me it said "At the rate you're going, there won't be."
I remember it always made me laugh.

Dolly the Bird said...

OMGoshgolly, that's fab! Congrats on snagging it!! It was meant to be!
Do I remember any wacky tourist items? Honey, I HAVE THEM ALL, from the 'Great Smoky Mountains' naked victory rolled blonde with pink rhinestone nipples in the bathtub to tacky souvenir pillow covers from the western states to Mammy dolls from Williamsburg! My favourite is a teacup shaped like a toilet with a little wooden lid from "The Davy Crockett Birthplace, Limestone, Tenn". On the outside it says,
"Goodbye Cruel World
The moon may kiss the stars on high
The stars may kiss the bright blue sky
The dew drops may kiss the grass
But you my friend.......
Farewell."
When you open the lid, there's a little guy being flushed down the toilet! Priceless!

Rob and Monica said...

HORRAY I love the nut guy!!!!! he is great!

Rob and Monica said...

I think he is great too and, well, he sort of has googly eyes and that is always a plus!!! (Rob)

Rhubarbarians said...

Oh my gosh this is just awesome. SO adorable.
Trish

www.jellybonesblog.blogspot.com

Laura said...

Even if it isn't the exact one your great-grandmother had, it means something to have this one, doesn't it? I feel a little bit of comfort having items identical to ones my grandmother had. And yes, it's adorable cute!

Sara In AZ said...

Whoo-Hoo!!!! SO glad that you got it girl....it WAS totally meant to be! YAY!!!

I'm so happy I was able to help you find this little guy, as he is SOOOOO cute! Gosh, I may have to get one for myself if I ever find another one.

Unknown said...

you had me at nut craft, my friend.

Straight Talking Mama! said...

That is so fabulous, I love stuff like this!

Georgia Peachez said...

Love it and love that it is from the Great Smoky Mtns! My old 'hood'.
xo, suzy

DearHelenHartman said...

Love it. As with all good vintage stuff, the story (old and new) that comes with it is priceless!

Lauren T said...

Super-cute! Love it!

Lucky Charm Vintage said...

I love how eBay has evolved into this fabulous, ethereal lost and found. I have frequently gone there looking for some obscure gewgaw from my childhood and I usually find it and more. This walnut key holder is fab and it's so cool y'all found each other!

Dana@Mid2Mod said...

I love that you found the twin of your great-grandmother's nut key holder. All the classy items like that owned by my grandmothers were bought by yours truly at the dime store. In my eyes, the gifts I was giving them were as beautiful as anything at Neiman Marcus. To my grandmothers' credit, they proudly displayed every tacky thing I ever gave them! :)

Stacy @ Stacyverb said...

All hail the power of eBay! I remember this goofy painted plate that hung in a relative's house that said, "I'm the boss of this house and I have my wife's permission to say so." And it was airbrushed with the name of some less-than-fabulous vacation spot like, Virginia Beach or something. What a weird choice of souvenir.

Anonymous said...

Awww, he's cute! My grandmother had a wood carved old lady with a bonnet and toothless grin that read "So many men, so little time" on it. That used to make me laugh. And wonder...

Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Country said...

I love it! And I love your cute grandmother!

I would love to find an ashtray that sat on the back of my grandparents' toilet tank. There was a picture of a man in a top hat and coat on it and it said something about how the women should remain seated during the entire performance. I can't remember the rest of it but I do remember I was mesmerized by it because I couldn't figure out what it meant. I would love to have it now but I have no idea how I would even search for it!

I also would like to find a wooden key holder that was a dog house and all the dogs had the kids' names on them. Everyone always wanted their dog to be in the dog house.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, I love it! Any why oh why do ebay sellers pack stuff so awfully?! I got a bottle thrown in an unpadded bag. For the love of god people, really. I want a nut key holder now.

SUZY8-TRACK said...

That is so cute! Reminds me of a lot of the stuff my grandmother had when I was a kid.

@Greener Pastures: My granmother had that doghouse keyholder you mentioned! If I come across one I'll let you know.

letthemwin said...

I love your wacky blogs!!!! My grandparents had little key chain Topo Gigios that sat on the little lazy susan with the salt and pepper shakers. I would give anything to find duplicates.

Diane
Honey Stop The Car