The T-Cozy

Jingle Blend is Back

Not a fan of egg nog? How about some tea instead! Jingle Blend is T-Party's limited edition holiday loose leaf tea. And as a gift of gratitude to my loyal patrons this season, it will only be offered free with purchase through December.

All orders placed on my website, Tpartyantiques.com, of $20 or more (before shipping) will receive a free 2-ounce sample tin of T-Party's Jingle Blend. It’s a merry mix of of China and Ceylon black teas, Rooibos, peppermint and blue Mallow blossoms, delicately scented with vanilla.

Ever so fragrant when brewed, Jingle Blend's yummy aroma reminds me of a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie. At my former tea room, folks couldn't get enough of it. I do hope you'll enjoy it, too. This cozy blend is sure to enliven your tea time this winter.

Susan

A Picturesque Project: My New Tack Board

What do you get when you combine an old picture frame with a bark cloth remnant, a few squares of cork, and a chunk of foam core? You get a handmade one-of-a-kind tack board! I've been wanting to put this wooden frame, below,  to good use for some time now. And I've also been saving a fabulous piece of vintage bark cloth for just the right project. When I came across a new book called One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins, I found simple instructions for a useful addition to my studio.

I began with this large vintage picture frame which was given to me a few years ago by a generous T-Party patron. It was already painted a perfect shade of aqua. I found the Asian-inspired 1940's bark cloth remnant at the neighborhood estate sale I went to in October.

I headed over to Staples and purchased a pack of four cork bulletin board tiles. I pieced them together and used spray adhesive to attach them securely to a scrap piece of foam core left over from my kids' science fair projects. Then I trimmed the foam core so it was a bit larger than the frame's opening.

I ironed on fusible interfacing to the back of the bark cloth to reinforce it. Next, using a staple gun, I carefully stretched and stapled the bark cloth to the underside of the picture frame. Lastly, I attached the cork-covered foam core to the backside of the frame using heavy duty duct tape.

And there you have it! Isn't it fun? This board will be so handy for tacking up notes and bits of inspiration in my studio. And it will be pretty to have around even when I don't have anything pinned to it. You can't say that for most bulletin boards.

This picturesque project was super easy. And what a great way to repurposed a vintage frame and fabric.

Susan

A Day of Gratitude

Father, mother, daughter, son, neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
--- Mary Chapin Carpenter 

Wishing you and yours a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving,

Susan

Coming Attractions

Here's a peek at some of the retro goodies that I'll be listing in my Etsy shop this December . . .

 

. . . a vibrant Wilendur tablecloth with a Southwest motif, colorful candy tins, sailing ship bookends, a vintage Bingo game and, just in time for New Year's Eve, a couple of metal noise makers.

I also found a fabulous lot of original 1940's and 50's Meyercord decals. These were used to spice up kitchen cabinets, canisters, glassware, trays and more. They are easy to apply and can still be used today to give items that vintage appeal. (I plan to do a little tutorial on these, too.)

 

Plus, by the end of next month, I'll list these charming valentines from the 1930's and 40's. Seem early? Well, I like to think ahead!

Susan

A Charming Old Mystery Item Revealed

Every now and then, I feel lucky when I come across a vintage find brimming with heart and soul. The item below is just that . . .

I purchased it thinking it was some sort of tea towel. I love the pretty floral "oven mitt" sewn onto the center of this large square of white cheesecloth-like fabric. But I began to think that perhaps this wasn't a tea towel after all, for when I tried to fold it into thirds, the oven mitt was awkwardly in the way. So exactly what is this item for?

I had my answer when I realized there was something inside the mitt.

The original gift card was still inside! How cool is that?

Many moons ago, a woman named Elizabeth Banks gave this little treasure as a Christmas gift to her friend Marie. And her dear hand written note gave me the answer I was looking for. This vintage item is actually a dusting cloth. Elizabeth's sweet poem reads, "Put your hand inside this mitt, and dust up your house a bit. For I know you love to do it!" Utterly charming.

And sure enough, when I gave it a try, this dusting cloth is quite handy indeed.

What fun to discover a little history about this treasure. Now I wonder . . . did Elizabeth make the cloth herself? Was the floral fabric recycled from an old feed sack? Did Marie ever use it, or tuck it away as a keepsake of their friendship? Were these dusting cloths a popular item? I've certainly never seen one before. Have you?

I love things like this, filled with abundant heartfelt goodness. I'll share a few more vintage treasures I recently acquired, destined for my Etsy shop, in my next post. 

Susan

When Seventeen Magazine Came to My Hometown High School

It's been fun having our daughter in Seventeen magazine recently. Here is the closest I've ever come to appearing in its pages . . .

Back in 1975, Seventeen headed to my high school in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They did a profile of the school, where 2,900 students of widely varying ethnic backgrounds were a barometer of prevailing student temperament at that time. They concentrated on the senior class. And since I was only a junior at the time, my fellow classmates and I had to watch from the sidelines as this remarkable profile of our school was created.

 

In Seventeen's extensive article, they wrote about how Cleveland Heights High School's seniors "related to a country gripped by run-away inflation, mounting unemployment, low public morale, uncertain moral guideposts and discredited national leadership." Hmm, sound familiar?

The article also covered clothing trends of the time. (After all, it is a fashion magazine.)  In these pages, you'll see some Farrah Fawcett hairdos, platform shoes, bell bottoms and more. They even shot a couple of spreads of makeovers --- for guys, too! And every model in every photo was a senior at my school.

 

 

 

 

 

In the spring of 1975, these young, fresh-faced seniors walked out the front doors and across the courtyard of Cleveland Heights High for their final time, ready to make their mark on the world. I do hope they have all led happy, healthy and productive lives.

Susan

Now on Newsstands!

Hannah is gracing the pages of Seventeen magazine once again.

She looks pretty calm, cool and collected considering this spread, showing winter's latest layered trends, took five hours to shoot during a heat wave back in August.

 

Like her other two Seventeen appearances, Hannah's photo spread is part of the "real girl" part of the magazine. This section is filled with regular teenagers, not professional models, who come in all shapes and sizes.

 

Though Hannah is not a pro and doesn't earn a cent from these photos, she has really enjoyed the chance to spend an afternoon every now and then with a real fashion photographer, make-up artist, and clothing stylist. Hey, who wouldn't?!

Susan

Workspace Whimsy

I am the queen of office supplies. I always have loads of markers and colored pencils on hand, plus things like paper clips, scrap paper, and rubber bands in every color of the rainbow. To corral all of these sundry items, I prefer to use vintage pieces. No plastic desktop organizers here!

 

Vintage planters and flower pots, perfect for pens and markers, add just the right touch of whimsy to my studio. I also like to use old napkin holders to store paper, mail or file folders in. And I love my ancient metal tape dispenser.

 

 

It's hard not to smile when greeted with these kitschy creatures. The grinning monkey, above, lives on the antique spinet desk in our master bedroom. The happy little fellow, below, is for sale on my website here.

 

 

Gosh. I really do have a lot of scissors! The pink pebble flower pot, above, does a good job of keeping them within easy reach. (It's also for sale on my website here.)

 

This sweet fawn planter resides in my kitchen next to a pad of paper and the telephone. You'll find the pretty blue glass flower pot, below, for sale on my website here. I really like its scalloped design and ruffled edge.

 

 

This Asian inspired planter made by Shawnee Pottery, above, is an item I sold just this week. Isn't he cute?

Fun vintage pottery pieces like these will keep scissors near-at-hand in your sewing room, markers at the ready in your studio, or crochet needles close by in your craft room. I hope I've inspired you to try using a few vintage relics like these in your workspace.

Susan

A Farmers Market with a Mission

Bright and early last Saturday morning, my family and I headed over to Baltimore's 32nd Street Farmers Market. Such luscious produce and beautiful baked goods! There is nothing better than enjoying these sights, smells and tastes on a crisp fall morning.

 

 

 

Baltimore's 32nd Street Farmers Market, founded in 1980, is a non-profit organization offering baked goods, produce, fruit, prepared foods, and flowers to patrons from all economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds. And like many outdoor independent markets around the country, they have a worthy mission. As stated on their website: Our Market's mission is to provide a vehicle for independent vendors to survive large agribusiness competition, while making available a variety of produce, meat, bread, and plant selections to an under-served city community. Our vendors provide an opportunity for farmers to sell their products directly to the public, and for the public to benefit from access to fresh food that they would not otherwise have available to them in the immediate area. All funds collected from Market vendor space fees and membership donations are put toward market expenses. Any profits after expenses are paid are donated back to the community in the form of annual grants to local nonprofits.

I hope you are able to frequent a market like this in your town. To find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, go to the Local Harvest website here.

Susan

Beautiful Baltimore Views

In Baltimore last weekend, my family and I did a little sight seeing. Our first stop was the George Peabody Library.

 

Renowned for its striking architectural interior, the Peabody Stack Room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the enormous skylight 61 feet above the floor.

Opened in 1878, this building was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind. So impressive! My camera couldn't do it justice.

 

Containing more than 300,000 titles dating from the eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries, The George Peabody Library is part of Johns Hopkins University's Special Collections Department. It is a non-circulating collection open to the general public.

 

Beautiful architecture, like the church below, abounds in this elegant Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore

 

Across the street from this church and around the corner from the Peabody Library is the first architectural monument built to honor George Washington.

 

Construction of this white marble column began in 1815 and was completed in 1829. Rising 178 feet on a hill 100 feet above sea level, Baltimore's Washington Monument contains 228 steps spiraling up inside the column.

 

And of course, we just had to climb them! Once we reached the top, we were treated to one of the best panoramic views of Baltimore.

 

Though my legs were sore for two days afterward, the view was definitely worth the climb.

Susan

A Junque Hunter's Paradise

More from Baltimore. Right across the street from Golden West Cafe is a tiny shop brimming with all things kitsch. Called Hampden Junque, this store is stuffed top to bottom. It's hard to know where to look first!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a nice chat with Michal Makarovich, one of the store's owners. His funky shop reminds me of some of my favorite stores along Route 7 in Connecticut that have closed. Places like this have been driven out of business due to high rents in my area. They, too, were exploding with junk/treasures (depending on your viewpoint). I do miss these little local shops. How nice to discover Hampden Junque.

Susan

Powdering My Nose in Baltimore

We spent this past weekend in Baltimore, a city brimming with creative and quirky inspiration. On a previous trip, I shared pictures of a spectacular powder room in a (now closed) restaurant called Ixia. And here's another! Below are photos of the unique ladies room ceiling in a beloved Baltimore cafe called Golden West.

 

Aren't these paper parasols beautiful? What a dramatic yet simple way to hide a not-so-pretty ceiling.

This week, be sure to stop back for more inspiration from Baltimore.

Susan

The Perfect Family House

Next week, we will have lived in our home for 19 years. When we moved here in November of 1990, Hannah was only seven months old. Now, she is a sophomore in college. Gosh, where did the time go?

Home ownership began for me in the mid 1980's. I was a single gal in my twenties when I bought a tiny cottage here in Rowayton, Connecticut. After John and I married in 1988, we began to search for a larger family home. Our housing needs seemed simple enough. We wanted a place that was in Rowayton, didn't require major renovations, had four bedrooms, three baths, and enough space for me to work at home comfortably. After seven years, I decided to forgo commuting to Manhattan and have a home-based graphic design business. I knew this would be a good arrangement once we had kids. But in the late 1980's, houses generally didn't have a dedicated home office. (That was before email and laptops.) Finding a house that fit our requirements was tougher than we expected.

After a two year search, we finally found it --- a house that had everything on our wish list --- except a home office. So we decided to expand a small den by borrowing space from a large screened porch. Luckily, the house already had a recently renovated kitchen with a new adjoining family room, as well as a spacious master bedroom addition. Over the years, our home improvements were minor and mostly cosmetic.

This house has afforded me room to work and room for my many collections of vintage this and that. It has good bones with windows galore, making it light and bright even on the cloudiest days. Although after 19 years some of our furnishings are worn and dated, we think of them as having mellowed with age, kind of like us.

Come on in and have a look around . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Our mid-century colonial has been kind to us over the past two decades. It has graciously accommodated a growing family and enabled me to work at home near our children. It's everything we wanted and more.

Looking ahead, in less than two short years, Jacob will head off to college. Will our perfect family house then feel too big? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Susan

Cute or Ugly? Or Both?

Here's a face only a seven-year-old back in 1965 could love . . .

While rooting around in the attic this morning, I came across my troll dolls from the 1960's, complete with their vintage vinyl carrying case.

These odd looking dolls are just about the only toys I still have from my childhood. I remember carrying them in this handy case when I went over to play at friends' houses.

Back then, I was a budding fashion designer. I would collect the bits of fabric from my mother's sewing projects and create elaborate dresses for these unlikely models. None of my couture outfits have survived. However, the basic felt dress that came with the large troll is still intact. So is the circa 1965 braid I put in her hair.

I still find these kitschy troll dolls endearing. Just look at those faces! Are they ugly? Cute? Maybe a little of both.

Susan

Relics from Kitchens Past: Vintage Cook Booklets

Some of my favorite items offered in T-Party's Etsy shop are vintage cook booklets from the 1930's, 40's and 50's. Although times have changed since these gems were published, when it comes to feeding our families, we are still asked that familiar question, "What's for dinner?"

Back then, these booklets were offered free with the purchase of particular products. They were published by companies with extensive Home Economics Departments, led by Directors of Domestic Science, who were serious about not only hawking their wares but promoting healthful eating.

These relics from kitchens past are chock full of charming imagery, recipes and useful household hints and tips. I always get a kick out of thumbing through them. Every now and then, I find a recipe that, with a bit of tweaking (like substituting vegetable oil for lard, or using wheat instead of white flour), is worthy of being in today's best cookbook.

Susan