Isn't this demure blond in the charming cloche hat the sweetest? She is the lovely centerpiece of a tinted and embroidered runner that was part of the largelinen lot I bought earlier this month.
I love the soft, ethereal quality of the pastel tinting on this dresser scarf. Wouldn't it look perfect draped across a vintage vanity table? (Wish I had one to put it on!)
I read online that tinted linens were very popular during the 1900s through the 1950s, but I couldn't find much else about them. I figure they were probably sold as ready-to-embroider kits with floss and instructions and were then embroidered by the purchaser. I wish I knew more about them.
Is there anyone out there who can shed a little more light on vintage tinted linens?
Susan
P.S. Here's an update on our furry friend, Teddy the Pouting Bear. After 26 bids on eBay, he sold for $65. Yay! Yesterday he was shipped off to his new home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I hope Teddy will be happy there. Maybe he'll even crack a smile.
Here in the Northeast, we're having a blustery, rainy, wintry mix kind of week. Oh how I long for the beach and warm weather! But until those balmy days are upon us, my collection of vintage pottery in the colors of the sea is a nice reminder of warmer days to come.
When I gaze at these ceramics, I think of the ocean and sea glass.
You'll find this collection of green and blue glazed pottery on the built-in shelves in our family room.
Among the vintage goodness is a television and other obligatory techno-gadgets, along with books, storage baskets, and tins.
You can never have too many vases, teapots, and mixing bowls; that's my philosophy!
Above is my favorite Hall teapot, and four more beauties from Hall's Victorian teapot line are pictured below.
My pottery collection spans all shapes and sizes. Tiny vases grace this equally tiny child's cupboard. So cute!
Most of these pieces were made by McCoy, Shawnee, and Hall Pottery during the 1930s to the 50s. Found over time at flea markets, thrift shops, and neighborhood estate and tag sales, I've displayed this large collection together for more integrity and visual impact. Visitors who spy these shelves when they walk into our family room for the first time often have the same response. They usually utter "Wow!"
I sure hope that it's a good "wow" and not a this person is a crazy collector "wow." (It's probably a little of both!)
Because he's a "Pouting Animal" that was made in 1959 by the Knickerbocker Toy Company. I discovered this stuffed bear at a thrift store last Friday. Priced at $1.00, I just had to buy him --- not because he was so affordable --- because I remember seeing photos of John as a baby holding this very same bear.
This cherished toy was affectionately called "Teddy" and he was John's constant companion as a baby and toddler. Many years ago when we cleared out his childhood home, Teddy was stashed in a closet along with a few other old toys. So John's original bear, which has quite a bit of loose stuffing and a wobbly head, is now stored in our attic. For fun, I presented John with this new-found Teddy who looks as though he was hardly even played with.
But what I really wonder is, why would a toy company make a stuffed animal that is pouting? I don't get it. Shouldn't a child's cuddly bear be a little less sad?
John really got a kick out of my little gift. But unlike me, he's not a collector and doesn't feel compelled to hang on to this new bear when he still has his beloved Teddy in the attic. So this past weekend, we decided to pass this toy along and list him on eBay.
We're hoping we'll find someone out there who wants a 50-year-old bear with a puss on his face. And so far, this vintage toy has 25 26 bids! We'll see what the auction's outcome will be once it ends on Wednesday. Perhaps this sad looking bear will find his way to a happy new home.
One of the things I love about vintage items is that they often have a story to tell. I always wonder about an item's previous owner(s), where it came from, and who may have created it. Thanks to the internet, I'm able to dig a little deeper, and sometimes I discover that these items are linked to inspiring women entrepreneurs from the past. One such item was the Coffee and Waffles cookbook I wrote about last year. It was written in 1926 by Alice Foote MacDougall, who, with a quart of batter and an electric waffle iron, built a million-dollar coffee shop business.
Another item that has captured my fancy is this vintage hat . . .
Luckily, it still has its tag making it easier to do some sleuthing. Hmm, who was Lilly Daché?
In rags-to-riches
fashion, French born Daché arrived in New York in the the mid-1920s with $13 in her pocket. She walked into a milliner's shop that needed a designer and got the job. Her first creation was a turban made from scraps she found on the floor of the workroom. Twenty
years later, she was a household name and her hats were worn both on screen and off by Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Carole
Lombard and Loretta Young. Daché was also credited with the design of Carmen Miranda's towering turbans overflowing with
birds and fruit.
Here is Madame Daché adjusting her chapeau in a 1956 photo from LIFE magazine.
At the height of her fame in the 1930s and 40s, Lilly Daché had shops in Chicago and
Miami Beach, and employed 150 milliners at her flagship building off
Park Avenue in Manhattan. The story goes that she held meetings there with wholesale buyers while seated on a leopard-skin divan wearing a leopard-skin jacket and leopard-skin
slippers. And sometimes she conducted her morning business
from her bed while wrapped in a
leopard-skin robe. (I guess she really liked leopard-skin.)
Daché grew her company by launching her own dress, accessory and fragrance lines in the 1940s. In the early 1950s, she added coats, stockings,
cosmetics, and a couple of ready-to-wear millinery collections called Mlle. Lilly
and Dachettes, the line my hat is from.
Although Madame Daché was known to be a bit flamboyant, I think she came across rather understated when she appeared as a mystery guest on this 1955 episode of "What's My Line?"
So that's what I've learned about America's most famous milliner. I'll leave you with this quote from her: "Glamour is what makes a man ask for your telephone number. But it also is what makes a woman ask for the name of your dressmaker."
Have you felt glamorous lately? Can't say that I have either. Maybe it's time for a little leopard-skin.
Have a look at an extra special handkerchief that was part of the enormous vintage linen lot I shared with you last week. Ever see one like it?
Called a "Crying Hanky," this handkerchief has whimsical text and brightly colored illustrations depicting everyday frustrations that might cause one to shed a tear or two. Things like: I haven't a thing to wear, I'll never get done, It's always costing money, I never get a break, It always rains on weekends, Everything is taxable, No one ever helps me, It's too hot, It's too cold, and lots more.
Doing my income taxes and the snowy weather have had me on the verge of tears lately. How about you?
Click on the photo above for a closer look. Isn't it a riot?
I think this Crying Hanky is a hoot! Although it's for drying tears, it makes me smile instead. I love finding these fun, vintage relics. This handkerchief is definitely a keeper.
The serendipitous find from earlier this month has been added to the collection on my studio wall. To make room for it, I simply had to move down one photograph. Now my newest crewelwork cottage picture looks right at home.
I also hung up an unusual antique wall pocket crafted out of an old cigar box. This piece has a folk/tramp art vibe with a cut-out leaf design and its original aqua paint. However, I thought it needed some embellishment, so I decided to fill it with one of my whimsical handmade button bouquets.
I rooted around in my revamped and reorganized button storage cabinet where I found vintage buttons in similar colors as the flowers in the cottage gardens on the wall.
Isn't this new bouquet fun? And while I was at it, I made another one to spiff up the sweet old watering can on my windowsill.
It's a teeny button bouquet with a cluster of five blossoms. So cute!
And that's just some of what I was up to while housebound during last week's snow storm. Did you have a snow day, too? If so, what were you up to?
These charming valentines were listed in my Etsy shop over the past two months. But even though they've sold, they are not forgotten. With my trusty scanner and Photoshop, I created this valentine mosaic for your viewing pleasure. Isn't it sweet?
By the way --- the Valentine's Day movie was predictable and packed with Hollywood stars. It's a lot like "Love, American Style" (remember that show?) and is a flick to see if you're in the mood for light hearted fluff.
Happy Valentines Day! I hope you are able to spend today with someone who means the world to you.
This morning, I was pleased to be featured at a special Valentine Breakfast Tea hosted by the historical society in my town.
Headquartered in an historic house located in Pinkney Park on the picturesque Five Mile River, the Rowayton Historical Society (RHS) is devoted to preserving Rowayton's vibrant history.
I baked four dozen of T-Party's signature wild blueberry scones for the occasion. Tia, a volunteer at the RHS, provided the cutest homemade cookies and cupcakes.
I was even able to set up a table of T-Party wares for some last minute Valentine's Day gift shopping.
I'm so grateful that the RHS included me in this special event. I had such a nice morning catching up with old friends and meeting new neighbors. Tomorrow, they are hosting a wine and cheese reception for the opening of their Valentine exhibit. I'm looking forward to being there, as well.
Now we are off to see the Valentine's Day movie that just opened. I hope it's good. I'll let you know!
I am fortunate to have a sweet husband who often comes home from work with a pretty bouquet of flowers for me. However, every once in a while, I treat myself to a single, beautiful bloom.
I love the simplicity of one lovely rose placed in a bud vase. And even though I have over 35 vintage pottery vases in my collection, for a solo blossom, I always choose this favorite blown glass vase that we found on a Cape Cod vacation over 18 years ago. It was made by the Chatham Glass Company, a contemporary art glass studio that is still in operation today.
As Valentines Day approaches, florists nationwide are stocking up on hundreds of roses, the majority of which will be red in color. Most of us know that red roses are the ultimate symbol of romantic love and denote desire and passion. But did you know that coral roses do, too? I did some rosy research and discovered that the myriad of colors that roses come in denote certain things. Lilac roses reveal love at first sight or enchantment. Orange roses communicate enthusiasm and fascination. Peach roses express gratitude, appreciation, or admiration. Pink roses symbolize grace, gentility, and happiness. Pale pink roses connote joy and gratitude. Deep pink roses say "Thank you." White roses symbolize truth and innocence. Yellow roses mean friendship and convey congratulations, joy, and gladness. And yellow roses with red tips symbolize friendship and falling in love.
I had no idea that a rose's color is packed with so much meaning. I simply buy the one that catches my fancy, then place it on my desk and enjoy watching its pretty petals unfurl day by day. It smells wonderful, too.
Roses don't have to be just for Valentines Day or special occasions. Any day is a good day for the simplicity of a budget friendly, single rose. Go on; treat yourself to one sometime!
Over two feet high and weighing in at 19 pounds, I'd like to introduce you to my latest acquisition . . .
. . . this gargantuan lot of vintage linens!
Purchased from a well known dealer in my area, this savvy lady has had her own store for many years. Last May, she relocated to a trendy area filled with interesting shops and restaurants. But even in this vibrant district, she is feeling the effects of the slow economy. To stay afloat, she is creatively reinventing her shop by selling what the hip, younger crowd that frequents this neighborhood wants --- stylish new clothing and jewelry. Since she can no longer move the vintage linens that used to be her mainstay, she wanted to lighten her load and sell off some of her inventory. Lucky me!
I just adore vintage linens. Here's a closer look at my new stash.
This tablecloth assortment is from the 1930s to the 60s. A few are souvenir state cloths; a couple others have matching napkins.
Stitched by nimble hands from the past, these pretty pieces are flowery and feminine.
Just look at this amazing array of tea towels!
A vintage hanky box is filled with a selection of souvenir state handkerchiefs (along with an additional extra special one that I'll share with you in another post).
The paper insert at the bottom of the box shows how it can tuck into the corner of a dresser drawer. That's handy.
Lastly, the lot also includes a dozen vintage aprons that I haven't had a chance to wash, iron, or photograph yet.
Although I may keep a few items, most of these treasures will eventually make an appearance in my Etsy shop. I have a feeling that listing this enormous lot may keep me busy until spring.
This past weekend, I revamped an old metal storage cabinet that houses a portion of my vintage button collection.
Here is what it used to look like, below. For years, this cabinet has been hidden away in a closet because I hated its anemic tan color.
A little aqua spray paint goes a long way. Now this spruced up cabinet has a place of prominence along side the drafting table in my studio. It looks right at home there, doesn't it?
This handy vintage storage piece has 25 tiny plastic drawers --- perfect to hold some of my ever expanding button collection.
After I finished painting the cabinet, I reorganized its contents. Now these buttons are neat, tidy, and color coordinated.
They're a veritable vintage button rainbow. Love them buttons!
A Royledge ad from 1954 . . . These ladies are so pleased with their spruced up shelves. They have perked up their linen closets, libraries, and kitchens by performing a little "shelf magic" with Royledge lining paper. Just like the photo of my pie safe that I shared with you in my previous post, a little edging really can go a long way in adding charm to plain shelves.
So I guess I have something in common with these gals from 1954. I just wish it was my waistline!
Do you have a boring pantry? Why not transform it from blah to beautiful by using vintage canisters, stoneware bowls, cake keepers, glass mason jars, and pretty shelf papers like these, below.
Vintage liners, made from paper with a decorative edge, are a simple way to dress up shelves in the pantry. I'll be listing these four designs in my Etsy shop soon. I used the flower basket one to add a cheerful touch to my kitchen's pie safe, below. Isn't it fun?
For more ways to perk up the pantry, check out this appealing book called The Pantry, Its History and Modern Uses by Catherine Seiberling Pond, with photographs by Steve Gross and Sue Daley. Here's a brief synopsis: The Pantry ponders the history, return and rebirth of the kitchen pantry. With a nod toward the philosophy "a place for everything and everything in its place," author and historian Catherine Seiberling Pond delves into the past, present, and future possibilities of this important room, and finds ways to incorporate a pantry into any home. This well written, beautiful book is packed with useful information and inspiring photos. Click here to peek inside the book and view a slide show on Catherine Seiberling Pond's website. I particularly like the photo of the double pantry with the Hoosier cabinet in the middle. I could spend all day puttering around in that pantry!
Let me know if you decide to undertake a pretty-up-the-pantry project. I'd love to see your before and after photos.
It's another vintage crewelwork cottage to add to my collection! As I was making my way home from a trip to the accountant, I passed a thrift store in a very congested part of downtown Stamford, Connecticut. I don't frequent this shop very often as it's usually impossible to find a parking space on the street in front of the store. But today there was a spot, so I went in for a quick browse. I didn't see anything of merit and was making my way out when something caught my eye on the wall near the door. The loveliest framed crewelwork cottage was looking down at me! I took it off the wall and immediately fell in love with it. When I turned it over, I found the year "1929" written on the back, which must be when this piece was so beautifully stitched. But I couldn't find its price, so I headed to the front counter to ask the store's manager. I couldn't believe my ears when she told me the price. $5.00!
Oh happy day! How thrilling to find an incredible gem like this at such an amazing price. I guess it was meant to be. I can't wait to find a spot for it on the "great wall of cottages" in my studio.
Don't you just love finding something wonderful when you weren't even looking for it?
Susan
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