Hanging On The Line

What are you wearing for Easter?

Something pretty in pink?  Maybe green or blue?

The darling outfits hanging on the line are only about 5-6 inches high

and are part of my vintage potholder collection.

(See more of my potholders here.)

Apple Blossom

Who remembers Kiddle Kologne?

This is Apple Blossom.

She's missing some of her pink hair ribbons, but she's still in pretty good vintage shape.

I had one when I was a kid, so I did the happy dance when I found her.

I had a Lily of the Valley Kiddle Kologne, too.

And I think my sister(s) had Honeysuckle and Violet.

How many of these sweetly scented Kiddles were there, anyway? 

Apple Blossom, Lily of the Valley, Honeysuckle,Violet,  Sweet Pea, ...????  

Can you help me remember all of their names?

I have such wonderful memories of fun play with these tiny dollies.

* * *

You'll find another Liddle Kiddle post here. 

 And Liddle Kiddle Paperdolls on my paper doll page.

Meant To Be

I noticed this little green table a few months ago.

But I walked away.

Later I told myself,

"If I ever go back to that shop and it's still there, it's mine."

Do you ever do that? 

Well.....

Some things are just meant to be.

:-)

Architectural Salvage

 I poked around at A&O Architectural Salvage yesterday afternoon. 

So many wonderful bits and pieces from the past:

Gingerbread trim, door knobs, lights, stained glass and fireplace mantels.

I loved this stained glass Mary.

And I thought the long piece of white lattice trim might look fun

hanging horizontally on the wall above the tv in the family room.

Now if I can just convince my husband to part with a bunch of do-re-mi...

Have you used salvaged pieces in your home?  

Gurley's

 Who else besides me collects these little wax Gurley's? 

 Deer.   

Trees.

Angels.

And you may recall the Gurley nativity and  choirboys (and girls) 

that I've pictured in past posts.

These novelty Christmas candles from the 40's, 50's and 60's really tug at my heartstrings

 and often make their way into my basket when out vintage shopping. 

Vintage Advent Tree

One of my favorite Christmas decorations is this felt advent tree 

that I hang in my front hallway every year. 

It has been in my family for a very looooong time.

My Mama found it at a church bazaar in the late 60's/early 70's.

It is such a perfect way to help little children count down the days til Christmas.

(The ornaments are numbered 1-25 on the reverse side.)

I'm noticing a few worn spots that need TLC.

So I'll have to perform felt and yarn surgery before I pack it away this year.

I have to keep it in good shape so it will last for another 40 years. 

The Goodies That Came Home With Me

Yesterday was so much fun!

I got to tag along on an adventure with Tami from Vintage Connections!

We stopped in at several antique/vintage/retro/gift shops, all of them new to me.

One was so huge, we only got through half of it.

(Yes, I do hope to go back and browse through the other half, very soon.)

I tend to gravitate towards retro/vintage rather than antique;

often things that remind me of my childhood.

So these are the little goodies that came home with me:

Pale blue gingham apron with smocking and ric-rac trim.

Long string of vintage mercury glass beads

Two Christmas tree brooches to add to my collection

Aluminum heart molds

Green and red felt/chenille/spun-head ornaments

Cornflower (Corning Ware) loaf pan 

Thank you so much for making my Saturday so much fun, Tami! 

I can't wait to get together again soon!

* * *

PS- Be sure to check back later this week.
I need to show you the sweet paperdolls that Tami gave to me.

Cheerful Cotton Tablecloths

Vintage cotton tablecloths.

Cheerful prints that make my table smile, even on gray, rainy days, like today.

The yellow bordered and red checked cloths (photo middle right) belonged to my Grandmother.

The others were found at various vintage shops over the years.

 I tend to bring home the blue and green ones.  

I bet you have a few of these printed cloths around your house, too.

Post a photo, and I'll add a link to your blog here.


Links:

Lil Red Hen posted a photo of her tablecloths a while back.

Pillows From Vintage Linens

You've probably seen some of these pillows in past posts. 

They are found in several different rooms around my house.

A wee bit of ric-rac, lace, chenille or gingham 

can quickly turn damaged, vintage linens into cute scatter pillows.

Embroidered kitty-cats, birds and flowers are my favorites motifs to use.

How do you use vintage linens in your home?

* * * * *

Note:

I did not do the embroidery work myself.  But I did sew several of the pillows.

Collection of Potholders

I think my little collection of blue and green crocheted potholders 

has grown over the past year.  

Multiplied like rabbits, I tell you.

I can't seem to walk away when I find one in a store. 

The sneaky things jump right into my basket!

Luckily for me they are inexpensive.

I love all the fun and intricate patterns.
Each one a little work of art.

What "calls your name" when you walk  through a vintage shop?

Swanky Swigs

"Posy" (1941)

Swanky swigs sitting on a little shelf in my kitchen.

Originally used as a promotional-ware

to package Kraft foods (cheese spreads, mustard, etc...) in the 30's, 40's and 50's,

these whimsical little 3.5 inch juice glasses never lost their popularity

and are still really fun to collect and use. 

They were made by the Hazel Atlas Glass Co, in partnership with Kraft,

and they came in a large variety of designs and colors.

 I love the flower and cute little animal designs in particular.

Top shelf: "Posy" pattern (1941) in Violet, Jonquil, Cornflower  and Tulip,

Middle shelf:  "Kiddie Kups" pattern (1956) in orange (dog/rooster), blue (pig/bear),
brown (squirrel/deer) and green (cat/rabbit)

Bottom shelf: "Cornflower" pattern (1947) in dark and light blue

The tiny yellow birdie glass on the far right isn't a swanky swig, it's a shot glass.
 I'm not a drinker, so here at my house it's a juice glass for little people.
(My Grandmother had one like it and I remember sipping orange juice from it.)

"Kiddie Kups" (1956)

Any swanky swig collectors out there?  

I'd love to learn more about these from you.  

Joining Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Colorado Lady.

Keep Me Safely

A few months ago, while poking around in a junk shop,

I discovered this old needlepoint bedtime prayer in a frame.
It was on the floor, covered in dust and it's paper backing was torn,
but I could still see faintly written in pencil:

"This needlepoint was made for Susan by her Grandmother Harrington 

when she was 6 years old".

I don't know Susan or her Grandmother.

And I have no idea how this came to be separated from them.

I wish they knew that their beautifully stitched prayer was safe with me.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Keep me safely through the night
And wake me with the morning light.

* * *

I'm linking to
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Colorado Lady

Pretty Crocheted Hearts

 Some of my readers asked about the basket full of crocheted hearts 

in the background of my last post photos.

(I did a post about these a couple of years ago, but it's time to do another.)

These pretty hearts were originally used as pincushions or drawer sachets. 

The largest was probably a decorative pillow on a bed.

Some are in good condition and still have their satin ribbon.

 Others are rather old and tattered looking.

But I love them all.

A few were found at estate sales stuck full of hundreds of  pins and needles.

 And I pulled every single one out. 

Let's just say it was a good thing I was up to date on my tetanus shot.

* * *

I'm linking to:

A Favorite Thing at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

* * *

Update:

I did not make the hearts in my collection.  However, I do have a pattern for 

crocheted pineapple hearts from an old issue of Annie's Crochet Newsletter.

Christmas All Through The House

Christmas is tucked into every corner of my home. 

Little Tomten (Swedish for elf) and his forest friends.

I made this little elf when I was a teen, to match one we found at a store. 

(See the store version down at  the other end of the piano.)

 Deer hide among the trees and family pictures.
(Many of the tree ornaments were given to us by my late MIL.)

Bright pixies frolic in a basket of wooden fruit.

(Those came from a fair trade store, where women from
underdeveloped nations sell their crafts to support their families.)

 Sequined felt trees.

(Made by my husband's Grandmother many years ago.)

More of Grandmother's trees.
(My mom found the smaller tree at a vintage shop.)

 A Gurley candle choir sings on the bookcase.

A candle nativity sits on a shelf.  

( This set belonged to my folks, and I played with it when I was a little girl.

It has seen better days, but I still love it.)

Wooly sheep safely graze inside the china cabinet.
(the cats can't get them there.)

The lamp post.

(We received 2-3 inches of heavy, wet snow last night.)

Dolls Of The Nations

The "Dolls of the Nations" from Hallmark,

 were illustrated by Vivan "Viv" Trillow Smith.

She's the same gal who did the Land of Make Believe dolls I shared last week

and the Little Women dolls from an older post.

Look closely.   Hawaii and Alaska are represented.

These cards were made in 1948.  Alaska and Hawaii did not gain statehood until 1959. 

 The 16 dolls included in this collection are:

Sing Toy of China

Maria from Mexico

Antoinette of France

Rita from Brazil

Katrinka of Holland

John, a Royal Canadian Mountie

Cowboy Joe

Ann of England

Kathleen of Ireland

Tautuk of Alaska

Christina of Sweden

Leilani of Hawaii

Monty of Australia

Barbel of Switzerland

Sandy of Scotland

Kusum of India

Hallmark created an album to keep the dolls safe

and to encourage children to collect them all.

The little girl on the cover is Luanna Patton,  

 star of Disney's "So Dear To My Heart".

Stop by again next week for more paperdolls.

Land Of Make Believe

A couple of years back I wrote a post about some of the paperdoll cards 

in Hallmark's "From the Land Of Make Believe" collection.  

But I neglected to update when I finally found the last doll.

 Here they are.

All 16 cards and the album to store them in.

We are missing a feather or two and a couple of sequins,

But those imperfections don't detract from the cuteness factor.

The dolls in this collection are:
1. Little Bo Peep
2. Cinderella
3. Mary Quite Contrary
4. Mary Had A Little Lamb
5. Little Red Riding Hood
6. Little Miss Muffet
7. Tommy Tucker
8. Little Boy Blue
9. My Pretty Maid
10. Little Girl With A Little Curl
11. The Queen of Hearts
12. Bobby Shaftoe
13. Little Polly Flinders
14.  Curly Locks
15 Polly Put The Kettle On
16. Peter Piper

 Vivian Trillow Smith (VIV)  illustrated each of the

 nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters in 1947 for Hallmark Cards.

I just love her work!  She is one of my favorite paperdoll artists.

The children who received these sweet cards

would have enjoyed the little stories printed on the inside as well.

I have another one of her paperdoll card collections to share with you 

next week, so be sure to check back.


* * * * *
Click here to see more of my paper dolls.

A Day In Lexington

 Today we visited historic Lexington.

It is filled with beautiful old homes, 

many of them pre-civil war era.

We nick- named the periwinkle house the "Angel House".

(Do you see them?)

Downtown is filled with lovely antique and gift shops.

We enjoyed a tasty lunch at a little tea house:

The Victorian Peddler.

I loved the amazing vintage tin ceiling.

I had a grilled chicken, swiss and avocado sandwich

with side salad and raspberry iced tea.

Mr. Garden ordered the reuben.

150 years ago, a battle was fought here. 

The Lafayette County Courthouse downtown still has a

cannonball lodged in the left column.

Oops, the Union Army didn't have very good aim.

Now a state historic site, the Anderson House 

was once right smack in the middle of The Battle of Lexington.

The battle waged for three days and many men died.

Each one of those men was someone's son.

I know this all happened a very long time ago, but

I had a hard time holding back tears when we walked out on the field.

 We stopped to take a peek inside this church.

Mr. Garden lit a candle as I oohed and ahhed my way down the aisle

to get a good look at the stained glass. 

And then we headed home.

 * * *

Do you have a favorite day-trip destination?