More Vera Neumann Finds

Today, I have five Vera Neumann scarves to show you.
All of these have been purchased recently at thrift shops.
The first one here is my favorite:

It was tough to get a good photo of the next one.
 It's that semi-sheer sort of fabric  - I want to call it chiffon - I finally had to just fold it over on top of itself; this was the best I could do:

These two were found in the same shop:

Finding more than one at a time is always nice!

Loving the sun:

The last one, here below with the stripes has lovely colors, but unfortunately it also has a few spots.

I never know if they'll come out, and I have had colors run before, so I am always kind of afraid to even try to treat the stains!
Then again, even the ones with a bit of damage or small stains are pretty.
I mean: they're vintage, they're Vera, they've already got a LOT going for them, right?

My California (Tray)

I'm a California girl.
You probably already knew that.
I found this tray at a thrift store:

 You can find these types of souvenir trays all over.
Little scenes of favorite "hot spots", or tourist attractions.....

 Places throughout this wonderful Golden State of ours, many of which I happen to LOVE to visit:

 I'm not sure when the tray was made, but it did not escape my notice that Disneyland is not included:

 I'm not convinced that it was made prior to 1955, but who knows.

I didn't actually plan to keep it when I purchased it, but even though my Happiest Place isn't featured,
I am not sure that I am going to be able to part with it.
(I know - what was I thinking?)

What's Penny Wearing? #112 A Pretty New Outfit

It occurred to me the other day that it had been a good while since I had featured Penny here on the blog!
So, here she is today, modeling a colorful outfit for you.
I found this gorgeous blouse at a thrift store:

The cotton skirt is from Ross:

And I couldn't believe how perfectly the sash -  also a thrift find - goes with them both!

You KNOW how much I love rick rack, so I was pretty happy when I spotted this colorful blouse:

 Penny is very fond of the new outfit I put her in today:

 And, I must say, I like it a lot, myself!

Sunrise, Sunset in Kelsey California

Good morning. Tina here.

We have a lot going on here in Kelsey that takes up our time right now. I haven't been much into writing or researching, but I still have time to enjoy the sunrise and the sunset.

I love to check out the view from the deck in the morning as I wait for the coffee to brew.

We don't have a large view to the east like we do to the west, but it is still a beautiful start to the day.

Then in the evening I enjoy the sunsets reflected in our dining room window.

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as they gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

A Black Bates List Finder

I did a post back in May of 2011 about the vintage Bates List Finders.
(Click here to read it.)
Well, little did I know at the time that hiding in our little cupboard above the telephone nook here in our house that was built in the 1940's was one of our very own.
I was pleased as punch when I found it!

(Honestly, I did not believe there was anything else left to find, here in the house my husband grew up in!).
And yet find it I did, and I think it looks pretty great sitting next to our vintage red rotary telephone!

Patterns From The Past: McCall's # 5441 - A Vintage Blouse Of My Own

Today's pattern is from McCall's, a blouse pattern, number 5441.
 I actually showed this pattern before, back in May of 2011.
(Click here to go back and read that post, if you like.)

 Here's a close-up of one of the styles shown on the pattern front:

This one, another of McCall's "Carefree Patterns", dates back to 1977.
You know, I really DID think that pattern looked kind of familiar:
 Here's the back:

 So, guess what I dug out of a box of LONG-stored away clothing recently?
That would be this:

Yep, it's a blouse made from the pattern, all right:

I'm pretty sure Lori made it for me MANY years ago.
Like, back in 1977.
I used to pay her to sew for me.
You can see that an embroidered vintage handkerchief was used to make the little bodice portion, as suggested on the pattern:

A simple and pretty little floral print in cotton for the body of the blouse:

Oh, and eyelet trim - I LOVE me some eyelet!

So - get this - if it appears to be pristine, that's because it is.
It has never been worn.
Because it's never been hemmed.
Guess I couldn't even handle doing that by myself.
Good grief.

A Little Collection Of Houses

A quick post today, just to show you my little collection:

My little row of houses, made in the 1970's, mostly by Counterpoint I believe.
I have one more, which has not made it onto the top of the bookcase where the rest of them reside:

One of my smaller collections, but it's a NICE little one.

"I'm Chiquita Banana...."

...."and I'm here to show you my cute vintage recipe book"
I have had this vintage book for a long time, but it sort of got lost in the shuffle, and I came across it on a shelf last week.
It's from 1956, and just too darned cute:

Tips on bananas:

Suit the color to use:

Sing a little song:

Have a banana milk shake:

Or, how about some Banana Oatmeal Cookies?

Banana Tea Muffins more your style?

I don't have any bananas on hand at the moment, but I'm kind of wishing I did have!

A Few Cool Vintage Finds

A few finds today, starting with this vintage light switch cover.
 It may not be perfect, but I kind of love it anyway,  simply because it's so whimsical and colorful.
What could be better than a carousel unicorn, after all?:

A sweet little plate....
 "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing", as well.
Perhaps we can do it together:

A gorgeous blue and white cross-stitched pillow:

The sweetest little set; I'm calling it a dessert set, so perfect for coffee and cake:

"Strawberry Snail" an adorable tile trivet, from Taylor & Ng:

An unused vintage Hallmark recipe album:

And a truly lovely little enameled sauce pot:

More finds coming soon - because I'm always out there looking!

Before And After

Just a couple of little things today...
I found a small bag full of assorted hand-painted animal ornaments  from Mexico at a thrift store.
 I liked them, but I didn't much care for the matte finish on them:

I don't know whether you can really even tell the difference between the photos, but I coated them with some Mod Podge, and now they are glossy, and I like them much better.
There was a cute little red ladybug, too - but I gave that to my friend Heidi.

And I also rescued this kind of sad-looking and dusty vintage covered glass jar from a thrift shop:

"Viva Of California
 Original Specialties
 We're Designing For You"

Sorry, Viva, but I didn't care much for the design.
I removed the little dried flower arrangement (saving some of the little flowers), washed the jar and lid, and used it as a candy jar to hold Hershey's Kisses for Valentine's Day, instead!

Much better.