New Home For A Singer

I showed you in this previous post my antique "New Home" sewing machine cabinet that I have had (and used) since Daddy removed the non-working machine back in the early 1970's and put a new top on the base to make it into a usable piece of furniture.

It has served many purposes over the years as I have moved from place to place, from a vanity table to a desk to sort of a buffet table. It's not exactly fine furniture, but it is one of my favorite pieces, in large part because Daddy worked on it.
That makes it very special to me.
I still intend to move it at some point to a different place from where it is now (in our den) to use it as a sewing table.

My Singer will sit on top of it some day (I am determined!), but for now, at least I have a nice rolling carrying case in which to keep it when it is not in use. (Umm.. that would be most of the time, though I have a number of things in the planning stages  - simple sewing projects that somebody like me can handle!)
I saw the case in the ad for JoAnn Fabrics, and  went in to check it out:

My model of sewing machine (one of the least expensive and simplest) has a handle, but it didn't come with any kind of an actual case, so this one fits the bill quite nicely:

A strap inside to hold it more securely:

It's the "Rolling Sewing Machine Tote", from their "Organizing Essentials" line:

Even though it is a useful and practical item that I truly felt I had a need for, I would not have purchased it had it not been on sale.
Regular price: $89.99.
Sale price: $39.99.
Now, THAT is the kind of deal I will take them up on!

And so, you see: a New Home for my Singer.

Two Colorful Finds In One Place

I went into one of my local thrift stores a couple of weeks ago and found two bright and colorful vintage items:

A mushroom stitchery picture, and a multicolored little afghan throw.
And, you know how much I love COLOR!
I think they're quite the pretty pair.

Models Revisited : Colleen Corby

Today, we have more vintage photos featuring the stunning Colleen Corby, about whom I have written many times before, (and will again!), because she is one of my favorite models from back in the 1960's and 1970's:

As usual, all of these are from the pages of Seventeen Magazines in my collection:

A Danskin advertisement:

Cute!

I love it when I get a new (old) magazine, and I find her on page after page.......

The one below is an ad for Ship N' Shore, I think:

The picture below is from an article about the young man shown who had the pleasure of interviewing her for the magazine:

A Pandora ad:

In an outfit from Carlette Jrs., below:

Honestly, I think all of the advertisers and photographers for fashion shoots for the magazines and catalogs
must have clamored for her.
 She had to have been a VERY busy lady back then.
 And she was popular for a reason!

Because she's gorgeous.

What's Penny Wearing? #106 A Purple Hawaiian Hibiscus Beauty

This beautiful formal length dress, which was made in Hawaii, was found at the same estate sale as the others I have been featuring on Penny recently:

I do not need to dress up very often, but I find myself wishing I were smaller so these dresses would fit me!
This is a really pretty one:

The fabric has a beautiful blooming print in shades of purple and white:

I would much rather wear a vintage dress than a new one, any day:

If only.......

Hey There, Tall, Dark And Handsome....

Oh my.
You may or may not be able to fathom my delight when I spied this gentleman sitting up high on a shelf at the thrift store:

Hello, there, you handsome devil, you:

Perhaps you and your friend would like to come home with me and live at MY house for, like, EVER?

What's that I hear?
You would, you say?
Believe me, the pleasure is all mine.
(Mr. Vodka is quite damaged, and I had decided that, as much as I wanted the pair, I was actually unwilling to pay the price they had on the messed-up one.  They were priced separately, you see.
The cashier mentioned the other one when I paid, and I explained that it just wasn't worth it to me because of the fact that it had been repaired (honestly, it's worse than what you can see in the photo - much of it in the back).
 Well, guess what?
She ran out the door after me and GAVE me the second one for free!
Are you kidding me?
 I thanked her profusely and remarked,
 "They DID need to be together!"
And home we all came, very happily, together.

Ribbon Cutting at Pizza Bene! on Main Street Placerville

Last Saturday I attended a ribbon cutting event by the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce at a great new restaurant on Main Street Placerville, Pizza Bene! I have discovered that food is the main entertainment at an event like this, especially at a restaurant. I had dragged my hubby along as my escort, and he was very happy about it, several pieces of pizza later!

My friends Waldie and Diana attended as Chamber Ambassadors. It was mid-morning and although it would become a hot day, the weather was perfect as we gathered to "cut" the ribbon. Actually the ribbon is attached by velcro... no cutting actually needed.

 Later that day was the Third Saturday Art Walk and also a celebration of the "Main Street Matters" painting of town, several storefronts were spruced up with new paint.

My friend Bev, a classmate from first grade through high school, owns Placerville Antiques. Her store was one of the lucky ones to be painted. We posed for a photo together.

Back inside we enjoyed the cool air and lovely finishes as we waited for the pizzas. Hubby (in blue center right) gathers us a beer and an iced tea.

Waldie checks to see "Is it pizza yet?"

I am ready for more ribbon cuttings! Hubby and I will be back here for dinner soon too!

Patterns From The Past: McCall's 6306 Cross Stitch On Gingham

Today's pattern from the past celebrates the beauty of the gingham fabrics I love so much embellished with cross stitch embroidery.
Quite simply: a marriage made in heaven:

Coincidentally, I found this pretty little gingham tablecloth on the same day:

I did not pay that much attention to the pattern when I picked it up and put it in my basket. I didn't read what it says along the left side.
I only knew that I wanted it.
I hadn't even realized that this is what was inside:

Color patterns to follow for your cross-stitching onto the beloved checked fabric.
I was so tickled to see that these were what was inside!
Nice big charts shown on different colors of gingham.
I love them:

Oh - and the day I found those was the very same day I had posted about picking up vintage rick rack whenever I see it - too funny!
So, naturally, I got these when I saw them:

I had never seen this brand before, "Warren's" Rick Rack.
I love adding new and different (old) brands to my collection. And these still have the price tag sticker on the back indicating that they were purchased at the old City Of Paris department store in San Francisco.
Which makes them even more special - to me.

Disneyland!!

Lori and I are headed for Disneyland today!
She has a convention there for the Close To My Heart company, and I am going along.
 I don't think I am going to be able to do any posts while we are there, so I am scheduling some during my absence, and I hope to do some Disneyland posts when I return home.
I do not usually ever go to Disneyland in the summertime when it is crowded, but I am hoping to make the best of the situation.
Because, you see - you must remember:
I will be at My Happiest Place.

I found this illustration in one of my vintage Seventeen magazines from 1966.
I LOVE it.
The artist's name is M. Ruddock, and that's all I know.
Except for that I think it's fabulous.

Some More Of My Finds

Sharing more of my recent thrift store finds this morning.
First, we have a vintage tray, hat stand, and tablecloth:

A cocktail mixer tumbler and two strawberry jars:

A vintage Bauer pink speckled pot:

I love these vintage Made In Japan mugs:

I always pick them up if the price and condition are right:

A "Bless This Mess"  wall plaque - Tina has one of these, and I've always liked it!

A tin which I think may be a repro - not sure, but I liked it either way:

Another pretty floral tablecloth and some embroidered napkins that look rather nice with it:

A tiered tidbit server scattered with golden stars:

This is one of my favorite cast iron tile trivets I have EVER found!

Pretty embellished coat hangers:

And last of all, a Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl and olive oil decanter. Now, if you have ever considered buying these retail, you know that they are not inexpensive items.
 I saw the bowls at Kohl's recently, and I believe the regular price was $25.99.
 I paid $1.50 for each of these items:

And that, my friends, is one of the many reasons why "thrifting" is fun for me!

Welcoming Summer With Suits From Seventeen

Let's usher in summertime with a wave of swimsuits from this vintage issue of Seventeen Magazine:

Keep cool, everybody, and if this summer finds you near the water, that's even better - and you are lucky, indeed!