The T-Cozy

Sheep Herding Dreams: A 1909 Travelogue

I discovered this antique journal at a neighborhood tag sale. The marbled paper on its cover caught my eye, and when I peeked inside, I saw that it was filled with beautiful handwriting. I was intrigued and knew this item had to come home with me.

Even though I am aware that it is bad etiquette to read someone else's diary, in this instance, I just couldn't help myself.

On the very first page, I saw that the writer, a young man named Harold M. Willmott, was from Darien, Connecticut, the town right next to mine. His diary begins on Monday, May 3, 1909, the day he said good-bye to "Mama and Papa" and bravely left home to journey across the country.

After reading a bit, I learned that Harold yearned to work on a sheep herding ranch and would be traveling by train all the way to Miles City, Montana. Train travel was quite a bit slower back in 1909. For instance, it took Harold 3-1/2 hours to reach New York City, a ride that takes just under an hour today.

In Manhattan, he purchased a one-way ticket to Chicago for $18. Then took a boat to Jersey City and boarded a train to Illinois, where he proceeded to write about the many sights from his window along the way. Harold arrived in Chicago 28 hours later.

From there, he traveled on across the midwest. Harold finally got off the train in Steele, North Dakota where he planned to stay a while with some family friends, the Robinsons.

While in Steele, he enjoyed many walks over the prairie where he often spotted Native Americans. He stated, "I like this country pretty well. You can lead a grand free life and be your own boss."

On May 18, Harold left Steele for Montana where he hoped to find sheep herding work. Sadly, when he arrived in Miles City, his dreams were dashed. He found out that he was two weeks too late and all of the herding jobs had been taken.

Eventually, Harold found work on a farm, where he rose at 4:45 a.m. every morning to begin his chores — milking the cows, plowing the fields, and planting potatoes. A month after he left home, Harold writes, "The hours are awful long here. I work 17 hours and only sleep about seven."

Then, on June 11, he decided he'd had enough and quit his farm job. After doing odd jobs for a couple of weeks, he headed back to Steele where he found employment at the general store. Working in the dry goods department suited him and he seemed quite content.

Unfortunately, the entries in Harold's journal end abruptly on Tuesday, July 20, 1909, while he was still in North Dakota. Why did he stop writing so suddenly? Since I found this travelogue right here in Connecticut, I can only assume that Harold eventually headed home. And after reading this relic from cover to cover, I have decided it truly is a vintage treasure. So I will be donating it to the Darien Historical Society. 

I often wonder where the antiques I find have been. After all, every vintage item has a story. But few can share theirs as beautifully as this one does. 

Susan

My Latest Vintage Finds

Gleaned from several estate sales and our recent trip to Rhinebeck, NY, these new vintage discoveries are trickling into my Etsy shop. Have a peek . . .

 

Home decor with a history: Some fruity finds, a swell sewing tin, a hard-to-find soap powder dispenser, a glass pitcher with daffodils, and 1940s art pottery.

Packing it up: A wonderful paperboard suitcase once used by a Zanol Products traveling salesman.

Just for kids: A nursery rhyme print, grade school work books, a tartan plaid lunch box, a Little Miss Seamstress sewing set, a laptop desk for the budding artist, and a darling toy sprinkling can.

Good reads: A girl's chapter book with a lovely cover, a 6-volume set of The Mother's Encyclopedia, more chapter books with pretty covers, books for the bird lover, and a bound set of The Home Garden magazine from 1947.

I am really jazzed about these latest finds. And I have even more fabulous relics that I'll share with you tomorrow.

Susan

Popular Recipes of the 1940s

While rooting around in the drawers of the kitchen at a recent estate sale, I came across a Gold Medal Flour booklet filled with popular recipes from decades past. From the 1880s through the 1950s when the booklet was produced, it also shows trends of the times along with news headlines and popular songs for each era. Fun!

Here is the 1940s section . . .

And here is what folks were cooking up back then . . .

My mom was quite a baker and she used to make a mean Chiffon Cake. If you'd like to try baking one, here is Gold Medal's recipe.

A few more sweet treats from the 40s . . .

To see the ingredients more clearly, click on the photos for an enlarged view. Happy baking!

Susan

Turn Your Vision of a Dream Studio Space into a Reality

Hot off the press! A best-of compilation of articles and creative inspiration from Studios magazine, Inside the Creative Studio is chock full of innovative ideas to help you create your own one-of-a-kind artistic environment. Experts show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. Artists and crafters of all types share their stories, tips, and creative spaces. From spacious oases to cute and compact retreats, each studio offers countless ideas.

I am thrilled to be included in this fabulous book! You'll find my piece, titled "Organizing with Vintage Collectibles," on page 80.

You can special order Inside the Creative Studio, by Cate Coulacos Prato, at your local bookstore, or online here.

Susan

My Three Hoosiers, Revisited

Today I had the distinct pleasure of being a guest blogger on the Etsy Vintage Team's blog. They gave me free rein, so I chose to write about Hoosier cabinets, their history, and the trio I've owned.

Remember the two I used to have that sold in my shop/tea room?

And then there is my treasured oak model in our kitchen at home. It's the one I will never sell. Ever!

If you can, hop on over to read my post at the EVT blog here.

And while you're cyber-hopping, I was mentioned on a "Scoop.it" blog called whats cool on etsy this week. Nina, from Norway, is its talented curator. Very inspiring!

Susan

Inspiration For Your Art and Craft Space

I have some thrilling news! I am in the upcoming book titled Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato, the former editor of Studios magazine!

You can be sure that this new book will provide lots of innovative ideas to help you turn your vision of a dream studio space into a reality. As stated in its online summary, "Experts will show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. Artists and crafters of all types, including quilters, fiber artists, mixed-media artists, jewelry makers, sewists, painters, writers, bloggers, and more, share their stories, tips, and studios. Beautiful photographs and friendly dialogue walk you through these active spaces as if you were getting your own private tour. From spacious oases to cute and compact retreats, each space offers countless inspirational ideas." 

I am so honored to be a part of this wonderful book! For a peek at the Table of Contents, click here. As you can see, I have a piece in chapters three and four. So exciting!

Look for Inside the Creative Studio at a bookstore near you this November. It is also available for pre-order here.

Susan

Our Bright and Breezy Back Porch

Today, I had lunch in one of my favorite rooms — our screened porch. We added this unheated room to our house almost twenty years ago. We only use it in the warm weather, so it's kind of like a forgotten room that I get to discover all over again year after year.

Measuring 10 by 11 feet, it is just big enough for a small dining table, a comfy chaise lounge and a wicker chair. What more does one need in a warm weather space?

One wall of the room consists of three screen door panels. The outer two are stationary and the center panel is the actual door. In the cold weather, we replace the screens with glass windows and use the room to store outdoor items like teak deck furniture, adirondack chairs, flower pots, and more. 

The porch's upper walls and vaulted ceiling are painted the color of a cloudless summer sky. Its wooden floor is painted a darker blue-green like the ocean, and the bottom half of the walls are wrapped in crisp white wainscoting.

The porch is simply furnished and filled with things that I love, like the primitive cottage painting, below right, found at a neighbor's tag sale many years ago. Isn't it wonderful?

This vintage tray has folding legs and comes in really handy when I want to use my laptop computer while chaise lounging.

We enjoy eating at the wooden table and chairs in the corner. Having our meals in the porch is the next best thing to eating outside, which I tend to shy away from because the mosquitoes make a meal of me!

With a fan and two large skylights in the ceiling, our porch is always bright and breezy.

Hannah and I can't seem to leave any beach we go to without bringing home a free gift from the sea.

The origami crane mobile is from Vermont and the hand tinted landscape photo is a vintage find.

The chaise lounge is the most comfortable reading spot. It's a great place for a nap, too!

Right now, I'm reading At Home, A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. The book was a birthday gift from John who knows I am a Bryson fan. I've just started it, so I can't give you my review just yet, but here is a brief synopsis:

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.” The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has fig­ured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demonstrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture.

I hope you've enjoyed this peek at our back porch. Do you have a special summer place in your house?

Susan

Treasures from a Giant Tag Sale

As promised, here are some peeks at the vintage goodies I found last Saturday at a local church's annual tag sale. 

A fan of cozy chenille, I was thrilled when I came across three vintage beauties, so perfect for summer.

I found a stash of wonderful old gardening books. I am particularly enamored with the one below, titled Roses and Rose Gardens, published in 1911. 

This book has over forty full color plates of roses and gardens individually tipped onto cover stock. Every one is frame worthy!

I plan to sell the three books, below, together in my Etsy shop as an instant collection. Nature's Garden, published in 1900, is an aid to our knowledge of wild flowers and their insect visitors. A Woman's Hardy Garden, by Helena Rutherfurd Ely, was published in 1908. It is filled with nice black and white photos of the author's garden. The Wise Garden Encyclopedia, published in 1951, provides a complete and practical guide to every detail of gardening.

Love this one. The Burgess Flower Book for Children was published in 1923. 

Chock full of pretty pictures, it is a young reader's introduction to the fascinating world of flowers.

The Gardener's World, published in 1959, has the subhead "The great literature of plant lore and gardening from Homer to Thoreau, from Boccaccio to Edwin Way Teal."

Inside, it contains 128 selections spanning the whole of literature and covering virtually every aspect of man in nature and man, the gardener. It is filled with stunning illustrations printed on chartreuse paper stock.

Continuing the gardening theme — this bright blue wooden carrier would be useful to hold garden tools or books. Or how about little terracotta pots of flowers? 

This vintage art pottery vase has a cornflower blue glaze and is all ready for a bouquet of flowers from the cutting garden.

On to some kitchen items — this set of Bakeite handled flatware is perfect for a summer picnic.

A set of tomato and steak knives sports sunshine yellow Bakelite handles.

I love this cheerful Hazel Atlas nut grinder with its rose decal.

More books! I discovered a complete set of six of the My Bookhouse series from the 1920s, edited by Olive Beaupré Miller.

Filled with classic stories and rhymes, each volume is profusely illustrated. Just look at these beautiful drawings!

And just a couple more  — these two children's chapter books from 1924 will also be listed together in my Etsy shop.

Lastly, I found a great set of 1950s metal serving trays. I think they would be fun to use as placemats on a picnic table.

Or add a few magnets and they become instant message boards.

Quite a haul, don't you think? What fun I had finding these vintage treasures. Now the real work begins — getting them listed in my Etsy shop.

Susan

The Secret Life of Birds

I have had some lucky literary discoveries lately. My newest find is dedicated to the art of bird watching. This 1925 book, titled Bird-Life, was authored by Frank Chapman, the former Curator of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History. With 75 full-color bird drawings by the noted wildlife artist Ernest Thompson Seton, each plate is more beautiful than the next — definitely frame-worthy! 

I particularly like the cover with its tipped-on bird label.

This vintage book sold the moment I listed it in my Etsy Shop. Now it's heading off to Maine. However, I happen to have another copy of this gem and you can find it here.

I think this book would look great displayed alongside whimsical bird-themed collectibles, like the ones below.

A couple of days ago, I shared a little of The Home Educator book with you. (That one sold lickety-split, too!) Here are two bird-related pages from that lovely book. The first one shows eight different bird's nests.

Another page offers instructions on constructing a variety of bird houses, from simple to complex. 

I never knew you could make a bird house out of a tin can! 

Even though I'm not into ornithology, now that it is spring, I'm so happy to see birds back in my garden. And I especially love waking up to birdsong in the morning. Don't you?

Susan

Keeping the Kids Happy and Busy in 1924

In my travels, I came across a most charming book. Titled The Home Educator, this tome is brimming with comprehensive information about the education of children in the home. Filled with tips and advice for raising happy, creative children, it also is chock full of stunning illustrations and awesome low-tech art projects. 

Published in 1924 by W.F. Quarrie & Company of Chicago, this relic is divided into five sections: Foundation Stones, Infancy, Early Childhood, Later Childhood, and School Days. It has some lovely full-page color drawings, like the one above. 

Throughout its 384 pages are hundreds of beautiful black and white illustrations. In addition, this book has numerous diagrams for handmade toys and holiday-related art projects. Here is a sample project page, below.

Even though it is over 80 years old, I think this book could still be a useful resource for teachers or home-schooling moms. I wish I would have had it when my children were little. How handy it would have been when we needed something fun to do on a rainy day like today.

I am so fond of this book that I plan to share lots more of it with you in the coming months.

Have a nice holiday weekend!

Susan

A Dose of Nostalgia

I've been shopping at some interesting estate sales lately. For some reason, many of my recent finds have been vintage children's books. These discoveries have really brought me back to my childhood. Maybe they will for you, too. Have a look . . .

"Let's Play" was published a bit before my time, in 1952. It has the most charming, vibrant illustrations and even has its original price sticker on the front — a mere 19¢!

This 1954 "Romper Room Book of Nursery Songs" is filled with words and music to the songs children love best. Did you watch Romper Room on TV as a child? I certainly did! At the end of each show, Miss Barbara (the host of the show where I grew up in Northeast Ohio) would look through a pretend mirror and chant “Romper, bomper, stomper, boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today. Did all my friends have fun today? Did all my friends have fun with me today?” Then she would recite random names and say, "I see Tommy, and Alice, and Micky..." etc. It was always thrilling when she said some version of my name (Susie, Sue, Susan) as I was sure she could see me watching through the television screen! 

"Little Swimmers" was published in 1960. I wish I had this book back when I was learning to swim. I remember my mom taking me for swimming lessons at a local high school when I was five or six. Oh, how I dreaded them!

"Pussy Cat's Secret" was published in 1949. I love the 1940s imagery throughout this precious book. And the pink cover with its winking cat is awfully sweet, too.

Printed in 1951 in Great Britain, this Pixie Book is called "Woodland Babies." Just the right size for little hands, this book is divided into four stories about baby animals in the forrest: Bunny, a very small rabbit; Rusty, a fawn; Cuddles, a fox cub; and Tom, a baby bird. Cute!

These these nostaglic treasures will be trickling into my Etsy shop over the next few days. Don't they harken back to a simpler time? No cell phones, video games, eReaders — just a nice paper book to hold in your hand while you snuggle next to mom or dad on the sofa.

Susan

The Latest and Greatest Studios Magazine

Just a quick reminder to those of you who are readers of Studios magazine. The latest issue, Spring 2011, has just hit the newsstands!

I hope you'll enjoy my piece in this issue, which is all about sprucing your studio's exterior doors and mailboxes. Here are a few photos I shot for my article . . .

As always, Studios magazine is packed with loads of creative people sharing their wonderful spaces , so you are sure to be inspired.

Are you able to find Studios at your local newsstand? Try looking for it at large bookstores like Barnes & Noble or Borders. But if you can't find it, remember you can always order it online from the Interweave Press website here. If you prefer to forgo the paper variety, they also offer a downloadable digital version of the issue.

Susan

Coming Soon to a Newsstand Near You

It's almost that time again. Get ready for the upcoming spring issue of Studios magazine! With none other than Ty Pennington on the cover, there are over two dozen wonderful studios to drool over inside, all chock full of inspiration and ideas for your art and craft space. To me, there's nothing better than seeing where creative people create.

For this issue, I contributed a piece called "Art Lives Here" that is all about spiffing up your mailbox and studio entrance. Below is a peek at my studio's door as it appeared in the article. Isn't it pretty? It's all spruced up for spring.

Over the last few issues, not only have I styled, photographed and written articles, I've also been able to make some suggestions of studios to include. Such fun! For this issue, I helped my blogging buddy Claudia Hill of Mockingbird Hill Cottage get published. She is one of the featured studios! I'm so happy I could help Claudia share her sweet little studio with the world.

The Spring 2011 issue of Studios will be hitting the newsstands on February 22. Or you can pre-order a copy by clicking here.

I'd once again like to express my gratitude to the Studios editor, Cate Prato, for giving me another opportunity to contribute to this wonderful publication. Thank you, Cate!

Susan

Modern Romance à la 1952

Last month, I sold an issue of Modern Romances in my Etsy shop. Have you ever heard of this magazine? It was produced monthly by Dell Publications from 1931 until the 1970s. Filled with lurid articles about love and lust, it must have been quite racy for its time.

The issue I sold, from June 1952, has three sections. The first is comprised of booklengths and novelettes; the second section has short stories. And lastly, there is a modern family section with articles about home and family. Sprinkled throughout are ads for make-up, hair care, unusual beauty products, and lots more.

Here is a closer look at some of the issue's pulpier pieces . . .

The Loose Girl article has the subhead "Pity the boys who become her victims." (Oh my.)

Baby Born of Scandal is the story of a woman persecuted. It has the subhead, "Wanton was the word hurled at her." (Now that's a word you don't hear very ofter today.)

Kiss Intoxication has this intriguing subtitle: "What did he want of her? Tonight she would find out..."

The article entitled Who am I? is about a woman suffering from amnesia who finds herself in a mountain cabin after an accident. The subhead reads, "Was there a lover in her past? A job? Parents? Children? Was she married or single? Should she stay in the cabin with the hermit? Then one day a single secret from her forgotten past was revealed to her. She was a nurse..." (Yikes!)

This article is called How to Lose a Boyfriend. Its subhead reads, "Carol had everything — looks, figure, ability. How could any other girl hold her own against those heavy odds?" (Hmm, didn't they forget to mention brains?)

I Was Bait for Every Wolf is a career wife's story of her way up.

I've saved the best for last. The article called An Engaged Girl's Trickery has the subhead "Advice for those whose men are alter-shy." Love the photo! A woman is wearing a black negligée, holding a pair of tweezers, and gazing into a hand mirror while thinking to herself, "Why wasn't I married? I was average good-looking, correctly permanented, and all the rest."

Thank goodness we no longer have to be "correctly permanented." What a hoot!

Susan

Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By

I just received a review copy of this newly published book in the mail. Have you heard of it? 

It's been so busy around here, I haven't yet had a chance to crack it open. Here is a brief synopsis:

Let's Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By, by Lesley M. M. Blume.

When was the last time you wore a cape to the opera? Or white gloves to lunch? Why did we ever do away with bed curtains or cuckoo clocks? Whatever happened to parlor games, calling cards, double features, duels, monocles, riddles, turbans, and parasols? Well, let's bring them back! 

Whimsical and witty, this beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of nostalgia celebrates the elegant, mysterious, and delightful trappings of bygone ages. Based on author Lesley M. M. Blume's popular Huffington Post column of the same name and featuring entries from many contemporary icons of style, culture, and letters  -- including Kate Spade, James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Daniel Boulud, and Arianna Huffington -- Lets Bring Back . . . revels in the past and, above all, honors the timeless tradition of artful living. 

Well, it certainly sounds like my kind of book! We may have some snow this weekend, so I hope to park myself in front of the fire with a hot cup of tea and peruse this interesting ode to the past. 

Stay warm and have a great weekend!

Susan

Small Space Creativity in the Latest Studios Magazine

The winter issue of Studios magazine hits the newsstands this week. In this issue, many of the featured artists have fashioned creative studios in small spaces, some in 100 square feet or less.

Studio's editor, Cate Prato, asked me to contribute an article on small spaces/big style and making the most of what you have. (Thanks again for the opportunity, Cate!) I've always wanted to see if my beloved Hoosier cabinet could be transformed into a self-contained studio, so here was my chance to give it a try.

My Hoosier-turned-studio proved to me that a step-saving and stylish studio can be achieved in only 12 square feet. I have toyed with the idea of using my cabinet as a mini studio. And who knows? Down the road when we downsize, I may use it for just that. 

You can find my article, called "A Tiny, Tidy Home Studio," on page 27 of the magazine. Plus, I was pleased to be able to suggest two of my fellow Artsy Girls to the editor and they are both in this issue. Be sure to check out Laurie Davis's GlitterWorksStudio space on page 46. Laurie is known as the "Glitter Fairy." She'll apply glitter to just about anything! And on page 110, you'll find the snug and cozy home studio of illustrator Maggie Swanson. A supremely talented artist, Maggie had illustrated over 100 children's books.

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

Susan

Heidi Who?

When you hear the name "Heidi", who do you think of? Heidi Klum, Heidi Montag, or maybe even Heidi Fleiss? Well, let's not forget about this Heidi . . .

One of the most beloved children's stories of all time, Heidi was a favorite of mine when I was a child, both in book and movie form. Didn't you love the 1937 film starring Shirley Temple?

I have "Heidi" on the brain because at an estate sale last week, I discovered this 1946 edition of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. 

I like the cover with its pattern of leaves, pine branches and pine cones. When not in use, it would look great placed face out on a shelf; perfect for an autumn display.

Inside, there are four wonderful full-color illustrations along with lots of black-and-white drawings.

The lovely illustrations were done by Leonard Weisgard.

Skimming through this book has made me want to read it again. And it certainly would be fun to see the movie sometime.

Gosh, I don't believe my kids have ever seen the film or read the book. Have yours?

Susan

Bedtime Stories

With the cooler weather lately, there is nothing I like better then pulling up the covers and curling up with a good book before bed.

I've recently discovered a new author --- Sandra Kring. So far,  I'm really enjoying her novels. The first one I read is called Thank You for All Things. Loved it! Written in the voice of eleven-year-old Lucy McGowan, the author has the uncanny ability to think like a child. Right now, I'm in the middle of The Book of Bright Ideas. It, too, is written from the point of view of a young girl, nine-year-old Evelyn, called "Button" by her family and friends. So far this novel is equally compelling. I'm looking forward to reading a couple more of Kring's books that I have waiting for me on my Kindle: How High the Moon and Carry Me Home. 

If you'd like to grab a blanket and get cozy with any of these good books, you can read a synopsis of each one here: Thank You for All Things; The Book of Bright Ideas; How High the Moon; and Carry Me Home.

Happy reading!

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

Summer Reading

I've done a lot of reading lately. While working in my studio during the week, I try to take a mid-afternoon break. If the weather permits, I walk down the street to the beach with a book. If it's rainy or oppressively hot out, I park myself on the chaise lounge under the ceiling fan in our porch and read for an hour. 

These four books are the ones I've enjoyed the most this summer.

The Ballad of West Tenth Street by Marjorie Kernan
In a fine old brick townhouse on West Tenth Street in Manhattan, children Hamish and Deen manage to muddle along as best they can with a loving but distracted mother. Their whole world changes when the house next door gets a new owner, a mysterious Southerner who quickly endears himself to his new neighbors, taking them and their friends under his protective wing. In doing so, he transforms everything.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Set in the ethnic neighborhoods of Seattle during World War II and Japanese American internment camps of the era, this debut novel tells the heartwarming story of Chinese widower Henry Lee, his father, and his first love Keiko Okabe.

Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin
A modern day tale of the Prince of Wales (Freddy) and his princess (Fredericka), a royal couple known for their generosity with the media. They are sent off on a quest in which they must conquer a foreign and barbarous land — America.

Shelter Me by Juliette Fay
After Janie LaMarche's husband, Robby, dies in an accident, the 38-year-old widow embarks on a year of transformations in this wise and inspirational debut. The concerns of single motherhood after sudden tragedy come vividly to life, and as Janie learns to appreciate everyday miracles, readers will be charmed.

I am in the middle of reading Shelter Me right now. So far, I love it and don't want it to end. Don't you hate it when you finish a book you really like? Me, too.

If you happen to give any of these books a try, let me know what you think. What have your favorite books been this summer?

Happy reading!

Susan

Thinking About Winter

I'm so happy! I've been asked to write another article for Studios magazine! Once again, I have to thank editor Cate Prato for having faith in my and giving me this opportunity. 

On my desk, I have a note to myself reminding me to get working on the article; not that I really think I'd forget, but these summer days do seem to be flying by. 

I hope you had a chance to read "Bringing the Outdoors In," my article in the summer issue. As you know, that piece was my magazine writing and photography debut. I am pleased to announce that my second article, entitled "Textile TLC: The Care and Keeping of Vintage Finds," appears in the next issue of Studios due out on August 10. This fall issue is extra-special as it highlights quilters' studios. If you'd like to view its table of contents or pre-order a copy, click here.

I can't tell you too much about my next article yet, except that it will be in the winter issue. So even though we've had a sweltering summer, I'll need to shift into winter mode when I start working on the piece. I hope to shoot the photos tomorrow and write the article early next week in order to make my deadline. Wish me luck!

Susan

The Art of French Beaded Flowers

Here is another gem of a booklet from my latest finds . . .

Published in 1929 by Dritz-Traum Co. of New York and considered to be the first book on flower beading, this rare first edition Hiawatha beading pamphlet contains 17 floral designs based on the french beading technique of wrapping beaded wire around a central row of beads.

Many of the designs in this book would make great vintage-inspired jewelry pieces. Beaded flowers can also be used for bouquets, bridal headdresses, barrettes, corsages, and more. 

A list of supplies for each design, recommended colors, detailed instructions, and color illustrations are included for each project. This wonderful pamphlet is now for sale in my Esty shop here.

Have you ever made beaded flowers? Reading this booklet has really peaked my interest, so I thought I might try my hand at them. I stopped at the craft store yesterday to pick up the required supplies. Unfortunately, they didn't have what I needed, so when time permits, I'm going to search online to see if I can find everything. 

In the meantime, I'll enjoy these two beaded bouquets (not made by me) that I happen to have at home. 

I'm finding my new stash of vintage booklets very interesting. From beaded flowers, sewing with bias fold tape, cooking, shellcraft, canning, lettering, and even making homemade games, these how-to brochures have given me a better understanding of what handy women were up to 75 years ago. 

Susan

Sewing with Bias Tape, Circa 1931

My scanner has been getting a real workout today as I prepare my Etsy listings of the vintage pamphlets and books I purchased from Claire last week. Here's one I am particularly fond of that was published in 1931 by W. E. Wright & Sons of Orange, New Jersey. This booklet is chock full of charming illustrations, useful projects, and tips for sewing with bias fold tape. 

Bias tape is made from strips of fabric that have been cut and sewn together on the diagonal, or bias. Most often, bias tape is used to bind the raw edge of fabric. It is perfect for a decorative finish on a curved edge because it will bend without puckering or warping. 

Back in 1931, bias fold tape was not limited to binding edges. This gem of a pamphlet shows ways to use bias tape for much, much more. It was often used in garment construction and home decoration, embellishing such items as children's clothing, lingerie, pajamas, aprons, smocks, purses, scarves, cookbook covers, curtains, bed spreads, quilt blocks, pillows, and table runners.

Inside the booklet, the text indicates which Butterick pattern to use for the garments. Then it recommends a fabric and bias tape decoration. 

 

There is also a pattern sheet tucked inside showing how to cut, fold, and sew the tape for different effects. I had no idea that bias tape could be used to make pretty rosettes, flower buds, and even a cute puppy dog. Is this some kind of lost art form?

Alas, who has time these days to perfect these bias taping skills, or even to sew their own clothes anymore? 

So although I probably won't be running out to the store for some bias tape any time soon, I am a sucker for old booklets like these. I especially love the beautiful illustrations depicting a simpler time. They are pretty enough to frame, don't you think? 

Susan

Apron Allure

What is it about vintage aprons that makes them so appealing? I simply can't resist their designs sewn from cheerful fabrics and trims. If these vintage aprons could talk, I'm sure they'd have some interesting stories to tell. They probably witnessed a Thanksgiving dinner or two, and perhaps a few birthdays, bridge parties or coffee klatches of yore. 

 

The six books above are my favorites that celebrate the art of the apron. They discuss the apron in history and share wonderful stories, photographs and patterns for making new aprons. 

Two beautiful books by EllynAnne Geisel... The Apron Book, Making, Wearing and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort and Apronisms, Pocket Wisdom for Every Day. 

Two collectors guides by Judy Florence... Aprons of the Mid-20th Century: To Serve and Protect and Gingham Aprons of the '40s & '50s, A Checkered Past. 

And two more inspiring books is you'd like to sew your own apron... The Perfect Apron, 35 Fun and Flirty Designs for You to Make by Rob Merrett and A is for Apron, 25 Fresh and Flirty Designs by Natalie Mornu.

I think what I love most about aprons is that they are both pretty and functional --- the perfect combination. How about you?

Susan

Read All About It (and a little break)

Now on newsstands! It's the giant 148-page summer issue of Studios, the fabulous magazine from the folks at Cloth Paper Scissors. And I am so honored to have an article in the issue.

Brimming with ideas for artful work spaces, this issue showcases 30 truly inspiring studios. I love seeing where creative people create. Don't you?

So head out to your neighborhood newsstand and pick up your copy. If you are unable to find it, you can order it online here.

By the way, I'll be taking a little blogging break for the remainder of the week. In the meantime, if you get your copy of Studios, I'd love to hear what you think of my very first magazine article and photographs.

Susan

Perk Up Your Pantry

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.

Susan

Under the Weather No More

You may have noticed (or maybe not) that I have been keeping a low profile this past week. That's because I'm just coming off of the worst cold I've had in years. This nasty virus invaded our household more than a month ago when Jacob started to sneeze. That turned into a most wicked head cold, and I was determined to steer clear of it. I drank my Susan's Blend and disinfected everything in sight. John was the next to succumb and he came down with an even nastier version of the cold. Just about that time, Hannah arrived home for winter break. Poor thing; little did she know she was entering a den of germs. Sure enough, a week or so later, she had it, too. With Purell in hand, I was the sole survivor.

However, after we returned from Savannah, I, too, began to sneeze. Darn! I hadn't been sick in ages. And this cold was a whopper. With a tissue box by my side, I hunkered down, drank gallons of tea, and read a couple of fun, fluffy books. Christine, a favorite T-Party patron-turned-friend, lent me two novels by Jeanne Ray. The first, entitled Julie and Romeo, is a short and awfully sweet love story. The other, called Eat Cake, is about a family with problems where cake (with included recipes) is the solution. Both were very enjoyable light reading, perfect to keep my mind off my sniffles. Thank you Christine!

Now that I'm back to my healthy self, I'll be working on listing some vintage goodies in my Etsy shop. Plus, I have a long list of ideas for blog posts and lots of other fun stuff to share with you.

Yesterday, I created these tiny button jars. I'm always looking for interesting ways to sell and store craft supplies and these wee jars are the sweetest. Each has a button on the lid which shows the contents of the jar along with a darling little tag. Pretty cute, right?

Here's a quick peek at a few more things that will be making an appearance on Etsy and Kitsch Encounter in the near future . . .

For the rest of the week, I'll be doing my best to catch up from being under the weather. It sure feels good to feel good again!

Susan

Book Suggestions from the Whole Family

Here on the Connecticut coast, we had quite a bit of snow this past weekend. And what better way to spend a winter afternoon than curled up with a good book. Here's what we're reading at our house.

I'm half way into a delightful book called Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. Jacob, a tennis player and fan, is enjoying Open by Andre Agassi.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen
A book filled with humor and self-deprecating honesty. After a car wreck and the break-up of her marriage, Janzen moves back in with her Mennonite parents, prompting her to look at her childhood religion with fresh eyes.

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
From one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis.

John has almost finished Jacques Pépin's memoir, The Apprentice, filled with wonderful stories and recipes (one of which I make from time to time that you can find here). Waiting in the wings is Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith. Or next, he may read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a book that Hannah raved about when she read it in her "Intro to Fiction" class this past semester.

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pépin
In this fast-moving and often touching memoir, Pepin recounts his journey from the kitchen of his mother's humble restaurant in rural France to his current position as cookbook author, star of PBS cooking shows and dean of special programs at the French Culinary Institute in New York City.

Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom
A beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds -- two men, two faiths, two communities -- that will inspire readers everywhere.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Awesome in the totality of its vision, The Road is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

Ready and waiting on my Kindle is my book group's next selection, Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. I hope I'll like it as much as The Glass Castle, her compelling memoir I read two years ago.

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Walls brings us the story of her grandmother, Lily, who survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. Destined to become a classic.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
A story of triumph against all odds. This tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave Walls the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

Since Hannah was blown away by Cormac McCarthy's The Road, during her break from school, she has chosen to read his "Border Trilogy." The young men in these three books come of age on southwestern ranches in the 1930s, while across the border, Mexico beckons them with its desolate beauty and the cruel promise of a place where dreams are paid for in blood.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
A young John Grady Cole, dispossessed by the sale of his family's Texas ranch, heads across the border in search of the cowboy life. There he finds a job breaking horses and a dangerously ill-fated romance.

The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy
16-year-old Billy Parham captures a she-wolf that has been marauding his family's ranch and instead of killing it decides to take it on a perilous journey home to the mountains of Mexico.

Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy
A magnificent tale of friendship and passion. McCarthy's haunting evocation of two young men poised on the edge of a world about to change forever serves as a darkly beautiful elegy for the American frontier.

And that's what we are up to when we're feeling bookish. How about you? Have you read any good books lately?

Susan