The T-Cozy

Catching Up and 20% Off on Etsy

Now that I've finished my Studios magazine article, I can get back to some neglected duties, such as planting my window boxes, going to estate sales, and working on Etsy listings. The window boxes are almost done and the rest of the garden is looking good. We even have a new stone wall that I'll share photos of soon. This morning, I'll be stopping by a couple of estate sales, and later today, I will finish listing the vintage items shown below. 

New additions to my Etsy shop include jadeite Fire King, old cameras, rustic foot stools, paper ephemera, white art pottery, and more. I even found another Sew Master toy sewing machine. It seems that every time I list one, they fly out the door. The last two shipped all the way to South Korea.

As a thank you to my loyal customers, and to patrons yet to come, I am offering a 20% discount in my Etsy shop all weekend. Usually, I have a birthday sale, but this year it falls on Memorial Day and things will be a bit crazy here. So please enjoy 20% off today May 18 through Sunday, May 20. To receive the discount, you'll need to enter the coupon code SPRINGSALE at check out. By the way, for those of you who don't like using PayPal, I now accept credits cards on Etsy.

I'm looking forward to a busy week. We'll be heading down to Hannah's graduation as well as packing up both kids' stuff at college. Lots to do!

Enjoy this beautiful Spring weekend,

Susan

Paper Doll Dress Up

You may have noticed that I love to buy and sell vintage toys. Not only are these relics a welcome reminder of my childhood, I can play with them a little before they get discovered in my Etsy shop and ship off to a new home.

Yesterday, in order to photograph them for their Etsy debut, I played dress up for a while with this 1940s set of sister and brother paper dolls. Aren't they super cute? I love Sis's pigtails and her brother's cowlick. And their vintage clothes are fabulous, with paper attire for every occasion.

So sweet! I like the ensemble with the rolled-up dungarees and straw hats that looks like a cross between Huck Finn and Beaver Cleaver. Which outfit is your favorite? 

Susan

A Not So Lazy Susan

Last week, I found this vintage aluminum and glass serving piece. It's a Lazy Susan from the 1950s that will be making an appearance in my Etsy shop soon. She spins and can hold a variety of nuts or dips in her divided glass bowl, with plenty of room around the outside for chips or crudités. 

But before she gets discovered on Etsy, I had fun playing around with others ways Lazy Susan could be useful. Shown below, an old tea kettle-turned-planter is happy to employ her as a pedestal.

Miss Susan would also come in handy in a home studio or craft area. Her divided dish, and the addition of a few glass ramekins, can hold buttons, beads, or other small supplies within easy reach while working on a crafty project.

Or how about transforming her into a beach-inspired centerpiece? Arrange some sea shells around a vintage sand pail, and you can almost hear the ocean.

Well then . . . I guess this Susan isn't so lazy after all. 

Susan

Massachusetts Mementos

This week, I've been working on listing the vintage items below, my latest discoveries from our weekend away in Massachusetts. I'm making progress. A few of them have made their Etsy shop debut; the rest will be making an appearance soon.

I'm quite pleased with these finds. Aren't they fun? And there is yet another relic that I'll share with you, as soon as I figure out the best way to photograph it. So stay tuned!

Susan

Tray Story

I can never have too many vintage trays. And I seem to never run out of uses for them. Here's a peek at the array of trays around my house.

Even more vintage trays! These are offered for sale in my Etsy shop.

Trays are so helpful when serving tea, clearing the dining table, or treating someone to breakfast in bed. I like to tuck them behind items on a shelf or kitchen counter. Extra large trays transform an ottoman into a coffee table. Tiny trays provide a place for my watch and rings to rest at the end of the day. Vintage trays come in all shapes, sizes and materials. And best of all, they are both decorative and useful — the perfect combo!

Susan

Miniature Eye Candy

I just can't resist these miniature dressers. Once used to hold doll clothes, today, these relics become a focal point when perched on a full-sized piece of furniture. And their little drawers are perfect for storing small items, from jewelry to art supplies.

Just like babies, puppies and kittens — isn't everything cuter when it's in miniature?

Susan

Let's Do Lunch

Lunchboxes have been finding their way into my Etsy shop lately.

As you may know, I adore and collect old picnic tins, and these vintage relics are a smaller, cuter version that I find equally appealing. They evoke memories of my elementary school lunch room, where my box contained a PB&J sandwich, potato chips, carrots, and a chocolate chip cookie, or two. Yum.

What was in your childhood lunchbox?

Susan

The Case of the Upcycled Case

Every so often, I get the urge to transform an object that has seen better days and turn it into something useful once again. My latest project — a lighted makeup case from a local thrift store. Although its white vinyl, faux alligator exterior had seen better days, I was sure that this 1970s relic had potential. All it needed was a little upcycling.

I was so excited to begin working on this project that I completely forget to take a "before" photo. (Sorry!) So what you are seeing is the refurbished case that is now pretty as a picture. 

Originally manufactured by Dunston Leathers of New York, this makeup mirror's snazzy new look was achieved by applying vintage paper that was once 1940s curtains. (Yes, they actually made curtains out of paper back then!) It has a beautiful Asian-inspired pattern of branches, leaves and flowers in shades of pink, brown, black and green on a gold and cream background. Love it!

The case opens to reveal a round double-sided mirror and four bulbs that turn on via a switch on the cord. So theatrical! I've added a velvet ribbon at the bottom to help pull out the mirror section and place it on an angle for easy viewing.

Inside, you'll find a lift-up flap with a small compartment for storing makeup and one for the cord when the case is not in use. 

It also has two channels along each side which are where the bulbs go when the case is closed. 

I am very pleased with how this refurbished case turned out. Wouldn't it would look great on a vanity table or dresser? Just listed in my Etsy shop this morning, it is now a perfect mix of 1940s glam and 1970s functionality. I'm hoping it will be discovered by a girly girl with an appreciation for vintage things.

Susan

Green Day

Green is one of my favorite colors — tranquil and refreshing, it is the color of peace and ecology. As the emblematic color of Ireland, green represents the vast green hillsides and Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick. 

You will always find green items around my house and offered in my Etsy shop. And although I won't be wearing green today (it makes me look sickly), I'm sure there will be plenty of it around.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Susan

March (Listing) Madness

Happy March! Just a quick post to fill you in on what I've been up to lately — mainly listing these latest vintage finds in my Etsy shop. I've also been working on an upcycling project that is turning out way cool. Once it is done, I'll share it with you.

Love this stuff. Tomorrow, I am going to an estate sale right around the corner where I hope to find even more goodies for my shop. 

Guess what? Next week is my 5-year blogging anniversary! To celebrate, I am having a giveaway that you can read about in a post on March 6. Mark your calendar! 

Susan

Time Travel

I have all sorts of new vintage discoveries that will be making their debut in my Etsy shop this month. Here is a peek at three with a travel theme.

This past weekend, we drove Jacob back to school. I discovered this fabulous Tartan plaid train case in a shop near his college. When I opened the case, I found this badge pinned to the inside.

Before emoticons were all the rage, in the early 1970s, folks wore these smiley face buttons. This iconic graphic also appeared on coffee mugs, bumper stickers and t-shirts, with the accompanying mantra . . .

Have a nice day!  ;)

Susan

Really Rosy

It's February, and before you know it, Valentine's Day will be here. A dozen roses are often the gift of choice on that holiday. But who says they have to be in the form of flowers? Here are a dozen rosy items, both past and present, from my Etsy shop.  

Unlike expensive bouquets, these rose embellished relics won't wilt. And they're much more afforable, too!

Susan

Polka Dots & Morning Glories

This week, I acquired three vintage kitchen canisters with a most charming design. Embellished with morning glories and polka dots, I adore their 1940s vibe. Unfortunately, two of the canisters have seen better days. They have tons of wear and one is missing its lid. But the largest canister is in great shape. 

I like to share, so I listed it in my Etsy shop. Then I repurposed the smaller ones. Now they hold a couple of plants in my studio.

They are so cheerful — even on this rainy, gray day in Connecticut.

Have a nice weekend!

Susan

Speaking of Love

When it comes to vintage valentines, the 1930s is my favorite era. Many cards from that time have frame-worthy illustrations on their covers. But what I love most about them is what they have to say on the inside. (Click on any photo if you'd like a larger, more readable view.)

Aren't the verses sweet? The little drawings inside are adorable, too. As Valentine's Day approaches, my Etsy shop card stash from the 1930s is dwindling. So in the coming months, I'll be on the lookout for more to sell next year.

Susan

Playful Vintage Finds

I love old toys. They are whimsical and fun, and perfect to display in a sewing room, studio, kitchen, child's room — anywhere!

Here are some of my latest playful finds . . .

This is my fourth toy sewing machine. I prefer the Sew Master ones, made by KAY-an-EE, that have colorful floral decals on them.

This toy refrigerator also has a decal on it, but I'm fairly certain that it didn't come that way. I'll bet it was applied by its original owner back in the 1950s.

The inside of this fridge is awesome. Stocked full of realistically lithographed groceries, it even has a crisper drawer.

I found another 1950 first edition of Susie's New Stove. My all-time favorite Little Golden Book, whenever I come across one of these charmers, you can be sure it will come home with me.

To complete the toy kitchen, I found this 1950s Wolverine toy stove and Marx toy sink. 

Moving on to music — this 45 record from 1960 has the cutest little cowboy on its paper sleeve.

Here is something I've never come across before — a 1950s portable phonograph made by Zany Toys. It consists of a stand, a circular platform on which to place a record, a needle arm, and a crank to hand wind the record and make it play. So ingenious!

This 1930s print is titled "All Tuckered Out." After all, a full day of play can be tiring. 

By Maud Tousey Fangel, the premier children's artist in the U.S. during the first half of the twentieth century, this piece was lithographed in relief, and has a puffy, three dimensional surface.

Fun stuff!

Susan

Sweet Vintage Finds

Now that it is finally feeling like winter here in Connecticut, tag sale season has turned into estate sale season. And oh, how I love a good estate sale! What fun to walk through wonderful old houses and search for vintage goods from attic to cellar. 

When a sale sounds promising, I do my best to go, even if it is far from home. But it can be a bit of a risk, and certainly a huge time eater, when a sale ends up having nothing of merit. However, other times it is worth the long drive, like yesterday, when I ventured thirty miles from Rowayton to a couple of great sales. 

Here are a few of the many vintage goodies that came home with me.

Such sweet vintage finds — a pretty book with Mountain Laurel blossoms on the cover, two die-cast toy pickup trucks, the tiniest green ceramic pooch, a couple of 1940s curtain tie-back pins shaped like flowers pots, and a round tin with a beautiful geometric pattern.

I love finding wonderful things to sell. Back when I had my antiques shop and tea room, I enjoyed arranging my latest finds into interesting vignettes in the store. Now that I sell my items online, my time is spent photographing them and writing detailed descriptions for their Etsy listings. So if you'll indulge me, I may set up and post little vignettes like this one from time to time, just because I miss doing it so much.  :)

Susan

Repurposed Inspiration on Etsy

Yesterday morning, while having my breakfast, I dined in front of my laptop and browsed around Etsy. Before I knew it, my ten minute meal turned into a two hour Etsy foray! As you may know, I am a fan of using vintage objects in new contexts, and the talented sellers on Etsy always inspire me with their upcycled transformations. 

Here are my favorite discoveries. Some are complex, others are easy peasy — all are inspiring. Enjoy!

Reclaimed kitsch: Vintage Kettle Lamp by BeeJayKay. This colorful table lamp is composed of an aluminum tea kettle, croquet balls, Lite-Brite pegs and a metal spring. Made to look as if it is blowing its lid, the metal candle holder spring in the spout resembles steam. An added touch is the Lite-Brite pegs which glow when the lamp is turned on. 

Getting personal: Suitcase Cabinet by BenclifDesigns. This upcycled custom creation is made from a vintage suitcase. Complete with wall hanging hardware, lights, shelves, mirror, collectibles, and cork board, this seller gathers information regarding the buyer's personal style and creates a customized wall cabinet reflecting their interests.

Yardstick redo: Business Card Holder by RobertaGrove. This business card holder is made from 100% vintage, repurposed parts. Its perky green and yellow color combo is guaranteed to brighten up any office. 

Folk art with a story: Junk Fairy by krodenbach. Named Tripoli, this Junk Fairy is made of vintage recycled parts including a children's block, glass knob, bottle cap, veggie steamer, game pieces, dominoes, electrical caps and beads. Tripoli was given his name in honor of the high occurrence of the number "3" in his family. He is one of a set of triplets and always sneezes in threes.

The repurposed wrist: Mixed Tin Bangle by eaststreetpins. This colorful bracelet is made from a variety of tin cans; paprika, coffee, and olive oil to name a few, with several stripes from upc codes mixed in. The bangle's interior is tin with copper rivets, steel wire and embossed edges. 

Plaid whimsicality: Tartan Plaid Thermos Birdhouse by thedustyraven. When the wind blows up the kilts and your wee chickadees are chilly, this unusual birdhouse will keep them snug. It was created using a vintage thermos, a couple yards of barbed wire and a fanciful metal lid for the roof. 

Red gingham goodness: Magnetic Memo Board by ivorybird. This tin magnetic memo board sports a charming red and cream gingham and floral print. It is rustic, shabby, and very worthy of a place in a country style home. 

Makeover magic: Reclaimed cuckoo clock by bloomsburyloft. By using paint, bits of sweaters, fabric, vintage buttons, ornaments, enamel flowers, and a pretty bird, this upcycled cuckoo clock gets a charming makeover. 

Calm under pressure: Upcycled Doll Art by gjarvisjewelryetc. A little wall hanging to watch over you during those stressful days, this charmer is made from a couple of large plastic jar caps, a vintage doll, and other found objects cast in resin.

Aren't these Etsy sellers so inventive? I hope you have enjoyed this peek at their inspiring repurposed creations.

Susan

Going (Jadeite) Green

When I'm out trolling for vintage treasures to sell and keep, I invariably gravitate toward things that are Jadeite green.

For instance, last Friday, I found this 5-piece set of metal trays at a consignment store. Not only are they in the perfect shade of — you guessed it — green, they also have red cherries painted on them, and sweet scalloped edges, too.

How handy that the four small trays fit inside the large one. These will be useful for storing small bits and baubles in my studio.

I also found this lovely Hall China "Connie" teapot at the same store. It's just like one that I have in my collection. 

I'm pretty excited about this discovery, as I rarely come across these Victorian-style Hall teapots anymore. Destined for my Etsy shop, I'm sure this one will make some teapot collector very happy. 

This trash can is a new addition to my studio. Yes, it's green, too.

I sold this old rotary-dial telephone on Etsy last year. Great color.

Called the "Benjamin," this is another Hall China teapot from my personal collection. It's in the same lovely green shade. 

What can I say? I love green!

Susan

All Buttoned Up

Once upon a time, I acquired a lot of 25 vintage Japan salt shakers. I bought them because I knew they could become "vases" for my handmade button bouquets.

Little by little, when I was feeling crafty, I created a bouquet for each tiny shaker and listed it in my Etsy shop. Now there is only one left! 

I saved my favorite one, a salt shaker with colorful flowers, for last. It holds a button bouquet made to match in vibrant hues.

Gone but not forgotten, the three arrangements, below, sold last month. One shaker had a tiny landscape with a cottage painted on it in muted tones.

This shaker had a rather unusual design with a seagull flying over the waves and a yellow, black and orange color scheme.

I'm partial to the color aqua, so I particularly like the bouquet I put together for this windmill embellished shaker.

If you're like me and have a large stash of buttons, try making a button bouquet. You'll find a T-Party tutorial here. If you make one, or come up with other ways to up-cycle vintage buttons, please email me a photo and I'll share your creation in a T-Cozy post.

Susan

Vintage Textiles, Table Lamps, and More

As promised, here's a quick look at more of my latest finds . . .

Lovely linens: Risqué ladies, flowers baskets, sailboats, and a nifty comb and brush holder.

Vintage illumination: Decorative and whimsical ceramic table lamps. 

From the Roaring Twenties: A Wright's Bias Tape how-to booklet filled with darling, frame-worthy illustrations.

Chenille shenanigans: Cozy crib quilts and "cutter" bedspreads.

I'll be pretty busy over the next week or so doing the listings for these vintage goodies. Once they find their way into my Etsy shop, it will then be time to list an array of sweet old valentines. 

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

The Vintage Handyman

Isn't this a crazy time of year? So much to do! I have piles of yummy vintage finds that I had hoped to have in my Etsy shop by now. But it has been super busy around here and I still have loads of things to list — like this array of items featuring the vintage handyman. At estate sales, you'll usually find me rummaging around in the basement where I often come across interesting relics for the do-it-yourself-er. 

I found this kitschy dish towel featuring a Mr. Fix-it with issues.

I also found a 1955 volume of Popular Mechanics Do-It-Yourself Encyclopedia. It is chock full of useful projects with detailed instructions for making lamp shades, mail boxes, a Lazy Susan, a knitting table, lawn furniture and so much more. 

Pretty cool stuff! I'm certain that many of the items I sell and collect were handmade by some gent in his wood shop using a book like this for reference.

This Family Handyman magazine is from 1954. It has the subhead "the do-it-yourself magazine that tells you how in language your can understand."

Here is the other side of the towel. More problems for Mr. Fix-it . . .

Another how-to book, called It's Fun to Make It Yourself, was published in 1944. 

In its introduction it states: This book is essentially for the reader who enjoys doing things for himself — and to the average man there are few pleasures comparable to that which comes from the completion of a piece of work by his own hands.

I'll bet books like these were given as gifts to handy guys by their wife or kids. On this day fifty or more years ago, you'd probably find them all wrapped up and waiting for dad under the Christmas tree.

Susan

Vintage Gifts for the Sewing Enthusiast

Is there a sewing buff in your life? If so, here are a few offerings from my Etsy shop that would make great gifts for them.

Toy sewing machines are fun to display in a craft room, studio, or little girl's room. I think this 1940s one is super sweet, especially because of its pink color and charming rose decals. 

I always keep a nice selection of vintage textiles on hand in my shop. Etsy is helping to keep the crafting culture alive, so I offer old fabric for those who like to make their own throw pillows, tote bags, and more.

This notions box is filled with 24 Coats & Clark's wooden spools of thread in a rainbow of pretty colors. 

Perfect to store sewing or knitting supplies, this little cabinet would also be sweet in a little girl's room, or even next to a favorite reading chair holding books or magazines.

In my Etsy shop, you'll find an array of vintage buttons still on their original cards.

For those who like stitchery: the images in these Aunt Martha's embroidery patterns would look lovely sewn onto tea towels, aprons, pillow slips, quilts, clothing and tablecloths.

It doesn't get any sweeter than my Home Sweet Home embroidered picture! I offer the pattern of this design for purchase in my shop.

Recently sold: A musical sewing box with a lift-out plastic tray and a nice array of vintage sewing notions. This item is now on its way to Northern Ireland.

Many of my items have found new homes around the globe. They travel far and wide — and spread the vintage love!

Susan

Vintage Gifts for the Bibliophile

These days, many are choosing eReaders as their preferred reading device. But nothing can take the place of an actual book, like these vintage ones that you'll find in my Etsy shop. 

For the dog lover: Practical Dog Keeping, a 1929 book and a ceramic puppy companion.

An instant collection: a trio of old gardening books tied with antique lace and a rusty skeleton key.

More for the gardener: from 1961, the Better Homes & Gardens New Garden Book.

Classics from the Bard: The Temple Shakespeare, a set of six works bound in dark red leather.

Bird watching: two books and a ceramic bird vase for the ornithology enthusiast. 

Another classic: The Canterbury Tales, a 1946 special edition with portraits-in-miniature.

Read and bake: The Gingerbread Man, a 1954 children's book and a 2-in-1 cookie cutter.

Another instant collection: three chapter books embellished with a skeleton key and lace.

Learning to read: the charming 1939 children's second year primer titled We Grow Up.

Recently sold: Three rare Louisa May Alcott Books from the late 1800s.

Another recent sale: the 1957 Better Homes & Gardens Handyman's Book.

These well thumbed tomes may not be the latest best sellers, but they offer a look into the past and the sensory enjoyment that only a real book can provide.

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

Some Favorites from My Etsy Shop

Now that the holiday shopping season is officially upon us, I'd like to share a few favorites from my Etsy shop.

Isn't this primitive child's doll dresser a charmer? I'll bet it was made for a little girl by her dad, or someone else who loved her a whole lot. How do I know? Because they added a carved heart on the back. How sweet is that?

What a cutie! This little vase is shaped like a watering can. Made by Shawnee Pottery in the 1940s as part of their miniature vase series, these hard-to-find smaller pieces are highly collectible.

Here is a puppy that needs a new home. But this rustic old doorstop doesn't have to be relegated to the floor. It's perfect to display on a shelf, too. 

Check out those baby blue eyes and the matching bow on its collar. Simply adorable.

I think this fluted pottery vase is in the most sublime shade of aqua. LOVE IT.

Called 'Kant Slip' Spiral Tidy Fasteners, the little push pins shown below were used to hold crochet doilies in place on the arms and backs of sofas and chairs. As stated on the package, they are guaranteed to keep tidies straight and smooth. I never knew doilies were called "tidies." Did you? What a hoot!

These are just a few of the oldies but goodies gracing the shelves of my Etsy shop. Aren't they fun? Lately, I've been hitting the road and searching far and wide to find items that are brimming with vintage goodness. And there's lots more that I'll share with you soon.

Happy shopping!

Susan

Susie's New Stove

I recently acquired the dearest Little Golden Book ever!

You'd never know it by the amount of cooking I do today, but when I was a little girl, one of my favorite pastimes was pretending to cook on my toy stove. This book, titled Susie's New Stove, is a nostalgic look back at those days.

Even though this first edition book was printed before my time in 1950, its charming illustrations by Corinne Malvern take me right back to the mid-1960s, when I was called "Susie."

I've never seen a Golden Book that features an actual toy available for purchase in the story. However, in this book, Susie cooks on a "Little Chef" made by Tacoma Metal Products. It is similar to the toy I have listed in my Etsy shop. But Susie's stove is electric, has a plug and can really cook food.

Inside, the author, Annie North Bedford, includes a page on cooking safety along with easy little recipes for things like cocoa, scrambled egg, frozen vegetables, boiled frankfurter, canned soup and more.

Sometimes Susie gets creative in her toy kitchen with her brother Mike. Or she invites her friend Carol over for a culinary play date.

So sweet! This vintage book has truly captured my heart. 

Susan

Cute as a Button

This week, I sold my last vintage salt shaker and matching button bouquet. It has been a while since I've gotten crafty, so I brought out my button stash yesterday and made this . . .

Isn't it the sweetest? I love this old Nippon shaker with its tiny cottage and muted colors. 

I filled it with 13 of my handmade button blossoms to match.

This cute-as-a-button item is now listed in my Etsy shop. Plus, to get ready for the holiday rush, I've recently added all sorts of new listings. I'll share some of those vintage goodies with you next week.

Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

Susan

Gearing Up for the Holidays at T-Party

Before you know it, the holidays will be here. I like to be prepared, so over the last few days, I've listed these items in my Etsy shop that are perfect for the vintage Christmas gift enthusiast. 

I'll be adding new listings daily, so when the holiday rush truly arrives, I'll be ready!

Susan

Vintage Person-ality

There are many reasons I have a fondness for vintage items. I especially like that they have a history and aren't afraid to show their age. The more dings and worn spots, the better! These relics have survived the test of time, and if they could talk, I'm sure they would have interesting stories to tell. I often wonder where they have been and who their previous owners were. So I am always thrilled when a vintage piece provides a clue into its past, like the ones shown below.

This darling toy dresser has the original owner's name written in pencil on the back. Dorothy E. Rice must have received this piece for Christmas back in 1916. I wonder just what treasures she kept inside its tiny drawers?

The hand-tinted photo, below, is not a long-lost relative. It is a flea market discovery of Vivian French Shores in her lovely garden. 

Signed and dated 1933 on the back, this picture was given to someone named Bert for Christmas in New Hampshire that same year. Who were Vivian and Bert? Were they courting? Married? Brother and sister? 

I purchased the item, below, without knowing what it was. I was intrigued as to why a floral, hand-shaped mitt was sewn onto the center of a large square of white cheesecloth-like fabric. What is this item? I got the answer when I found a small envelope tucked inside.

It was the original gift card! Someone named Elizabeth Banks gave this little treasure as a Christmas gift to her friend Marie. A hand-written note revealed that it is actually a dusting cloth. Elizabeth's poem to Marie reads, "Put your hand inside this mitt, and dust up your house a bit. For I know you love to do it!" So sweet! Did Elizabeth sew this dusting cloth herself? I bet she did.

A recent find is this 1955 chapter book with a western theme. Titled Six Gun, it is a story about the Texas Rangers.

After I purchased the book, I found a sepia-toned photo of a dapper boy inside. Perhaps he is the book's original owner! The inside front cover has a bookplate with the name David Anderson typed in. Is that David in the picture?

I guess I'll never know the answers to my questions about these vintage goodies. But it is nice to peek into their past lives and find a hint or two about the person who once enjoyed them. 

Susan