Ready To Go With Vera Bradley

When I returned my large duffel bag and clutch wallet at the Vera Bradley store earlier this month, I had decided to use my credit online to get the Grand Traveler instead. The online shop had a special sale going on at the time. I really love this "Rhythm and Blues" color, so that is what I chose - to go with the bag I already had. With my green crocheted sweater from a consignment store, and a teal shirt from a thrift shop, I am ready to travel in style!

I even added a pretty "thrifted" flower pin:

Now, instead of two separate bags plus a separate bag for my mini laptop, I can fit everything into this large bag.

It IS pretty heavy, though.

The Full Moon Visits Kelsey January 27, 2013

Salt And Pepper

I like my salt and pepper pretty, if you please.
So, I was happy to find these vintage Takahashi shakers at a shop downtown:

You can see a pair like them in the party photo below, which is from a 1968 issue of Seventeen Magazine:

I decided I wanted to put Lawry's Seasoned Salt in my large one:

When Lori and I went to Roseville, we went to Sur La Table, and I finally got some of those Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. I believe they will last me forever, but for some inexplicable reason I wanted that EXACT brand - nothing else would do for me. 
I'll never forget the freshly made-from-scratch fabulous french fries we used to serve at the restaurant I worked at in Columbia years ago (the Stagecoach Inn). They would sprinkle on that seasoned salt and they were SO good.
After I found those shakers in the pictures above, I found another set, below:

Oh, I truly do have WAY too many sets of salt and pepper shakers! I keep switching them out....

More Granny Square Love

Just a little more granny square love today. All from a Woman's Day Special magazine, circa 1974.
First up - a nice warm cap and matching scarf:

An afghan - oh, and I want this chair swing, by the way:

What a cute top!

 A handy bag made of granny squares:

And here's another afghan, blanket or bedspread with a pillow - very pretty in purple, this time:

Or, perhaps you need an afghan to keep you bundled up outdoors for your next sleigh ride?

Well, there you go!

Do You Recognize This?

Yes, you are correct.
It IS a pen.
But it's more than a pen.
Do you know, or rather - do you remember what the purpose of the other end of this pen was?
It has become virtually obsolete.
My husband found it in a desk drawer, and when he asked me, I did not know what it was.
HE remembered, but he's a little older than me.
In most of today's households, you would not need to use the top of this pen for it's original, intended use.
Here in our house, however, we still can:

If we need to.

What's Penny Wearing? # 84 Embroidered, Embellished & Bright

I found the jacket Penny is wearing today at a thrift store here in town. The first time I saw it, I tried it on. It fit me. I liked it. But I couldn't justify paying the price they were asking.

Every time thereafter that I went in, I looked to see if it was still there.
I wasn't surprised to see it still there - for weeks, actually - because: A. It's an XS (which makes it all the more surprising that it fits ME - and yet, it does).
 B. It's rather unusual - and colorful, and there may not be a whole lot of other women out there who would , shall we say, "appreciate" it's uniqueness.
C. For those whom it would fit, and who appreciated it's bright colors, there may not be too many of THEM who would buy it and WEAR it.
So, when it was still there the last time I went in, I figured it couldn't hurt to ask for a discount, at least.
 I explained that it HAD been there quite awhile, and asked the clerk if she would take a little less for it. She was willing to give me one-third off the original price, which is what I would have offered - so I finally brought it home.
My reasoning was that even though I really do like it, it still isn't something that I will wear terribly often, hence my hesitation to pay their full price on the tag when I first looked at it.
But I still wanted it.

I am SO all about color lately. I like the sequin embellishments, and the embroidery resembles rick rack, for Pete's sake!
And you KNOW I love me some rick rack.
Penny likes it, too.
For right now, SHE is wearing it.

More Recent Finds

Today I am sharing some of my best, and most recent, finds. We begin with a candle holder that looks to me as though it was probably made by the same company that made my mug trees from the 1970's that I like so much:

I have another one of these cute little couples in a different color. They need to sit side by side on a shelf - some day:

I found some more nice butterfly dishes and a pretty vintage mug:

This brightly hued flower napkin holder was made by Takahashi, one of my favorite companies:

An unusual thrift shop find was this parrot pitcher made in Czechoslovakia - I have very few Czech pieces in my bird collection:

Two more vintage mugs; that's Fire King Kimberly on the left:

A cool vintage wall clock with groovy flowers:

A pair of lovely pink gingham napkins with embroidered embellishments:

A tabletop ironing board that will come in quite handy:

Ironing things on this flower-power surface will make me smile every time!

A Granddaughter's Birthday And A Bit of Coloma History

Good morning here. I want to wish a Happy Birthday (a day late, since I post on Wednesdays) to my Granddaughter Natalie. Happy birthday, and enjoy your 14th year!

 Next I am going to share an excerpt from the Mountain Democrat, Placerville, from 65 years ago, January 22, 1948, "Coloma Goal of Thousands On Centennial."

 El Dorado County, through its county centennials committee, and people of Coloma and vicinity in particular, are prepared to participate Saturday in the observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill.

 The principal event of the day which the county centennials committee has arranged, is the historical parade at 11:15 o'clock Saturday morning, which will be led by the noted star of western films, Roy Rogers, riding his favorite horse, "Trigger".  Mrs. Rogers, Dale Evans of the films, will ride beside her husband.

 As has been the custom for several years, the people of Coloma and vicinity have arranged the gold discovery centennial dance in which costumes of the pioneer period will predominate, to be held Saturday night at the Coloma Community Hall.

I wish the parade was this Saturday, I would love to get a glimpse of Roy Rogers and Trigger.

First Vera Neumann Post Of 2013

Thought I would just do a quick post to show you my first few Vera Neumann finds of the year. We'll start with this pretty scarf. Lori asked me recently: how do I know when I see a vintage Vera scarf in a big bin or bunch of rumpled, wrinkled scarves at a thrift store? A very good question, and it has an answer that is difficult to explain. Sometimes, I just know. I see a little peek of colors, or patterns, or flowers, and I think "Hmm...is that a Vera?", and I pull it out for a closer look - and it IS.
I'm not always right - but a lot of the time, I am. I guess I simply can recognize her style fairly easily at this point.
I am drawn to them:

I showed you the Vera Christmas towel I got last month at Crate And Barrel in an earlier post. 

Well, when I went back to the store, I got another one:

So pretty and colorful:

And I also found a pair of vintage table napkins at a thrift store, as seen below:

Same as with the scarves - I'll be digging through and I'll think  "Oh, this might be one!"
And, it is.