The T-Cozy

Labyrinth Walk

Yesterday, John and I took a walk --- not unusual for us on a Sunday. But this one was a bit different. 

I searched out a labyrinth in our town and John was kind enough to humor me and tag along on a walk that was more like a form of "body meditation."

Meandering yet purposeful, a labyrinth is an ancient symbol that combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral. It has only one unicursal path that leads you to the center and back out again.

Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. A maze is a left-brain exercise, like a puzzle requiring analytical thinking to find the correct path. Though it may look like one, a labyrinth isn't a maze at all. It's a right-brain task that involves intuition and imagery with only one choice to be made, whether to enter or not. To walk a labyrinth, a passive, receptive mindset is needed.

For my very first labyrinth walk, on the way in, I chose to focus on letting go and and releasing things that stand in my way. On the walk from the middle back out again, I thought about the good things I wanted to bring out from the center and back into my life.

The labyrinth can be a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are. I know that sounds awfully new-agey and you're probably wondering how many pairs of Birkenstocks I own (none!). However, our labyrinth walk really was a nice, relaxing and rewarding experience.

I did research online to find this labyrinth. There are a couple more public ones right in our area, so when time permits, John and I plan on trying each one. If you'd like to walk a labyrinth where you live, check out the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator's website here. Their database lists 3,400 labyrinths in over 70 countries, so there may just be one near you.

Susan

Movin' Merchandise

Guess what? I've added a new "Sale" section in my Etsy shop! 

Lately, I've been itching to go to the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market to see what goodies I can find there. But first, I'd like to move some merchandise to make room for new vintage treasures to sell. So from time to time, I'll be marking down items on Etsy that have been around for a while. I do like to keep things moving! 

Susan

Morning Light in My Studio

After four straight days of rain, the sun is finally out today. Without all of those clouds, the light streaming through the windows this morning seemed extra beautiful, so I grabbed my camera.

Along one wall of my studio, I have a funky cabinet made from salvaged elements. Last week, I hung an old wooden shelf to use for storage on the wall below the clock. And just yesterday, I bought a couple of wicker baskets at Home Goods that fit the shelf perfectly. I love how one of them has a wooden front covered in chalkboard paint. Isn't that clever?

On the floor under the shelf, I placed my stash of Studios magazines stacked in a 1940s wire market basket.

In my two new wicker baskets are some recently acquired buttons that I found on eBay. It was so nice when they arrived and I discovered that the seller had placed them into separate bags by color. How organized!

I love how my studio keeps evolving. Next week, I'll show you my new desk chair. It's nice and cheery, and very comfy, too.

Susan

Chenille Shenanigans

I've always had a thing for vintage chenille. I love how soft and cuddly it is. Over the years, I've collected all sorts of chenille bedspreads and made lots of pillows out of them that I sold at my shop and other stores around Connecticut. I also used several of them to create valences, pillows, and a slipcover for a chair and ottoman in Hannah's room.

I've decided it's time to part with my large stash of chenille scraps. They have been packed away in a big wicker basket in my guest room closet. I'd like to reclaim that space for much needed storage, so it's a good time to pass them along.

 

Yesterday, I washed and dried all of my chenille "cutters." Now they are fresh and fluffy; all ready to begin photographing them to list in my Etsy shop. I do hope they'll be discovered by some crafty folks who will sew up something wonderfully cozy out of them. 

Susan

Etsy Progress on a Rainy Sunday

I've been working on listing that large lot of pretty textiles on Etsy this weekend. As you know, I love to collect old tablecloths, so it can be hard to decide which ones to keep and which to sell. As much as I would like to, I can't keep everything. And I do like to pass along my vintage finds to those who will appreciate and enjoy them.

Four of my favorite "keeper" tablecloths are displayed on an old ladder in my studio. I used the same arrangement, but moved them to my porch, for this photo that appeared in my recent Studios magazine article.

Have you gotten the lastest issue of Studios yet? A portion of my article, on page 34, talks about displaying vintage textiles. If you have a collection of linens, why not display rather than tuck them away? That way, you can enjoy them daily, just like I do. 

On this rainy morning, I think I'll work on a few more Etsy listings before the rest of my family gets up. Have a nice Sunday!

Susan

Terrific Textiles

Just a quick heads up for all of you vintage linen fans. These textiles will begin to trickle into my Etsy shop starting tomorrow. 

Aren't they wonderful? 

Susan

Take a Walk Down Yummy Street

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, blogging seems to run in the family now that my daughter has begun one of her own. Called Yummy Street, it's where Hannah will share her adventures in Spain. What a great way to let family and friends in on what she is up to while abroad this semester.

Here she is standing in front of a majestic cathedral in Salamanca. How pretty!

As Hannah said in her very first blog post, "I love to write. I love food. I love writing about food." So I'm sure blogging will be a breeze for her. And it will be fun to see what culinary delights my foodie daughter will be feasting on all over Europe.

Hasta luego,

Susan

Blog Roll Blues

 

I have a confession to make; my blog roll is woefully outdated and incomplete. So sorry! Here’s where you can help. If you have been kind enough to include The T-Cozy on your blog roll and I have neglected to put you on mine, please leave a comment and let me know. I’ll be happy to reciprocate and add you to my soon-to-be updated blog roll. Thanks!

Susan

Eye Catchers

For the past month or so, it has been terribly hot and humid here in Connecticut. But this morning, it was cooler and much more comfortable. I headed out for my early morning walk, and instead of getting it over with as quickly as possible in order to get back inside an air conditioned house, I chose to slow down and enjoy the bright blue skies and fresh breezes. And I brought my camera along. Here's what caught my eye along the way . . .

What a glorious morning it was, though I missed walking with my husband. You see, on weekends, I always walk with John. But today I was on my own because he was down in Washington D.C. taking Hannah to meet her flight. My darling daughter is off to Madrid! She'll be gone for an entire semester and I sure will miss her. We hope to visit her in Spain in a few months.

Hannah has decided to start her own blog so she can write about her adventures abroad. I'll share its link once she has it up and running so you can check it out if you'd like. My sister has a blog, too. Perhaps blogging runs in the family!

Susan

More Wonderful and Whimsical Booklets

I love these kitschy vintage booklets. And they really are packed full of useful information. Here are a few more from my Etsy shop . . .

If you're a fan of classic graphic design (like me), you'll find this lettering book intriguing. Published in 1941, it's a celebration of poster art and hand lettering. Brimming with a myriad of interesting typefaces and detailed instruction on letter formation, it also has many examples of "modern" poster designs along with pages of vintage clip art.

This 1930 booklet is chock full of recipes for sandwiches, both plain and fancy. It definitely takes Wonder Bread to new levels, with a Forth of July sandwich that is red, white and blue, a Honeymoon Special in the shape of a heart, and even a Tower of Pisa sandwich that is leaning. Very clever, and kind of strange, too!

This charming recipe booklet was published in 1942. Adorable illustrations of wooden toy figures march throughout the pages and would be perfect to color copy for scrap booking projects. This vintage gem has 171 recipes that use Royal gelatin, pudding and tapioca products. You'll find desserts, fruit cups, puddings, cake fillings, ice box desserts, pies, ice creams, sauces, candies, fruit salads, main dishes, soups, hot dishes and gravies. Wow!

This booklet is a real find. And it shows just how far women have come in the last 60 years. Published in 1943 by the manufacturer of Kotex, it is filled with simple, good advice and information regarding a girl's transition from child to teenager. The illustrations are very sweet.

Remember that 1929 Book of Crystal Flowers I wrote about last month? It sold lickity split on Etsy, and once the booklet made it to its new home, I received the nicest message from the buyer. She told me that her great-grandmother made beaded flowers and sold them as corsages back in the 1930s and 40s. This technique was then passed down to her mother who eventually taught her. How cool is that?

Susan    

Baking, Canning, Gaming, Jell-O-ing!

I'd like to share a few more of the fun booklets I purchased at last month's Tabernacle Flea Market on Martha's Vineyard. I'm happy to report that they have finally made their way into my Etsy shop. 

This 1931 booklet will appeal to diehard Jell-O fans. It has all sorts of recipes for jiggly appetizers, relishes, luncheon plates, entrees, salads and desserts. I love the cover illustration of the lady holding a Jell-O mold.

In "Minute to Win It" fashion, this vintage 4-H Club booklet is filled with games that can be easily made at home. With a kitschy photo of a boy and girl on the cover, inside there are detailed instructions and diagrams for the all sorts of wacky games.

 

This soft-cover book was published in 1946 by the folks who make Ball glass canning jars. It's chock full of everything you'd ever want to know about canning and preserving, with hundreds of recipes and vibrant full-color photographs. Does anyone out there still can their own fruits and veggies? 

An apron bedecked mother and daughter are baking together using Spry pure vegetable shortening on the cover of this 1953 booklet. Inside, there are tons of recipes and step-by-step instructional photos for pastry, cakes, frostings, cookies, quick breads and more. 

Aren't these vintage pamphlets fabulous? Gotta love 'em! I promise to share more with you soon. Now that these are listed on Etsy, I'll be working on listing the stash of pretty textiles I acquired at the same sale. I just finished soaking, washing, and drying them. Time to start ironing!

Susan

You'll Fall For This Issue of Studios Magazine

Now on newsstands . . . a very special issue of Studios magazine that is sure to be a sell-out. It features an array of inspiring quilters' studios and takes you on a tour of eleven Halloween artists' spooky spaces. 

 

I'm so pleased to be included in this issue. A piece I wrote along with six of my original photographs can be found starting on page 34. My four-page article is part of the "Studios Organization" section. Entitled Textile TLC, The Care and Keeping of Vintage Finds, it provides tips on the best ways to clean, store, and display vintage textiles. I have also included instructions for making your own linen roll, just like my antique one.

 

I hope you are able to get a copy of this fall issue of Studios. If you have trouble finding it, you can order it online here.

Susan

Sawdust Art & Craft Festival

We're back from our trip to California. My, what fun we had! 

The very last place we visited was the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival. This annual summer-long event supports the careers of local Laguna Beach artists.

The three-acre site is set amid a beautiful eucalyptus grove. Sawdust-covered paths wind through a "village" of booths set up by over 200 exhibiting artists. 

The artists themselves build the unique collection of individual booths from the ground up each summer. Their architectural designs are as varied and interesting as the work they showcase.

Because the show is non-juried, enthusiastic amateurs display their work next to accomplished veteran artists.

Along with refreshments and live music, the festival also features demo booths such as glass blowing, complimentary hands-on art workshops, and a children's art booth. We spent some time watching a couple of glass blowers demonstrating their craft, below. Fascinating.

And here are a few of their finished pieces. Aren't they lovely?

Each year, the Sawdust Art Festival draws more than 200,000 visitors from across the country. What a special place! I'm so glad we were able to visit this summer.

Susan

More From the California Coast

Hello again from California! We are having a wonderful time. Our hotel in Dana Point is so lovely. Here are a few views . . .

We checked out San Clemente the other day.

 

Train tracks hug the coastline. Passengers on Amtrak's double-decker train, called the Surfliner, are treated to an amazing ocean view.

We enjoyed walking on San Clemente's wooden pier and watching the surfers and people fishing.

Later today, we are heading to Laguna Beach and their world famous Festival of Arts. I'm sure the highlight of our trip will be tonight's Pageant of the Masters, a show of "living pictures" where classical and contemporary works of art are recreated with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. It should be pretty cool.

Susan

Sunset Over the Pacific

Yesterday, we traveled to California for an impromptu mini-vacation. John has a trade show to attend, so the whole family tagged along. And boy, are we glad we did! We are at a resort in Dana Point that is breathtakingly beautiful.

Here's the sunset that we were able to enjoy during dinner last night. Isn't it spectacular?

The resort that is hosting John's show is the St. Regis Monarch Beach. Located in Orange County, we are looking forward to exploring the "left" coast of the country with plenty of down-time to relax by the pool overlooking the ocean. 

I'll share more from Dana Point soon. Have a nice Monday!

Susan