Found: Vintage Quilt Tops

I just happened to be in the right place at the right time recently.
The day I found these quilt tops:

This is the prettiest one:

And then, I believe this one is my next favorite:

 They aren't perfect, either, as most have a little spot or two ... or three.

Next choice for me would be this red checkerboard sort-of pattern

I don't really know their actual pattern names; I'm not a quilter - I just liked them:

I do not find this next one quite as appealing as the others I found:

But the price was right, so I picked it up, too:

And then, there's one more in red and white as well:

I like red and white:

But then, I pretty much like any colors, I suppose.
I'm pretty much a color freak.
"Too colorful", some might say (about some things - not necessarily these quilts, mind you..)??
But not me.
 Nope - those two words, in that order, probably not even in my vocabulary.
If you saw my house, you'd know that it's true.

"Plant Stand" A Sunset Stitchery Picture

Today's post is about this particular vintage Sunset Stitchery kit, "Plant Stand":

I found a framed version of this particular crewel stitchery at a thrift store a while back.
I probably posted a picture of it in a previous post.
What I find interesting is that the person who stitched it changed it up a bit.
I like that they "did their own thing"; I simply haven't particularly noticed that having been the case on any others I've come across.

You can see quite a few differences in the flowers, the plant stand, the pots, etc.
Here again, the picture on the front of the kit (which dates from 1977):

The person who did mine did not WANT pink flowers, apparently. And they didn't want to do the fern fronds, either.
Hey, I don't have any problem with that!
Here are the yarn colors that were provided with the kit at the time:

 OH! And I was pretty tickled to see this very same stitchery hanging on the wall on the set of "That 70's Show", when I was watching a couple of episodes last week! I thought that was kind of cool, actually!
 I was like "Hey - that's my stitchery I was going to write about!".
 It was in Kitty and Red's bedroom, as I recall.
 I was unable to find a single picture online of it in the TV show.
And believe me, I tried!

I happen to love the idea of taking a kit and just completely going crazy with color changes, as a matter of fact!
But I haven't done any crewel stitchery in a very, very long time.
(If I do any, I'll let you know, okay?  Yes with photos for proof, LOL!)
Right now I'm more focused on trying to get the vintage kits I have stored away ready for sale!
 I do not happen to have this one to sell, by the way - only the framed example shown in the second photo, which is hanging in my home and very likely to stay there.

Then And Now #107: Bisquick

Today's post features that versatile mix known as Bisquick.
Bisquick has been around for a good, long time!
Here's an advertisement from 1937.
I love that they're using the gorgeous Franciscan dishes! I have a small collection of that set (sorry I haven't time to try and share a photo of it with you today!) - but isn't it lovely in the aqua color?

And another one, this time - we have Bisquick biscuits in a basket. (Say that real fast five times!) from 1952:

And here we have two more vintage ads; these are both from 1954.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake looks pretty good.
It was one of our Daddy's favorite cakes:

Ooohh, and here's an ad for both Bisquick and Reddi-Wip.
Yes, Strawberry Shortcake looks good, too.
I must be hungry or something.....

Next up, we have an ad from 1964.
I will take some of that rolled turkey roast AND some of those sage biscuits, please......
definitely need something to eat ..

I found this cookbook at a thrift store, and I was sure I didn't have it:

I love the artwork inside:

And the food photos aren't bad, either:

Yum:

This advertisement is from 1964, also:

To send away for the cookbook that I DID already have - this one:

 (The other edition I found just recently was published in 1967.)
I do not remember seeing the Whole Wheat Baking Mix, and I don't know what year this advertisement dates from:

But the package I have in my pantry right now touts that it is "Heart Smart",
so, I mean - that's perfect for February, right?

I also found this recipe tin at a thrift store:

(So I added to my stacks of other cute vintage recipe file boxes I've already been collecting over the years.)
I decided I needed to make a recipe out of one of those cookbooks.
So I ended up with Peach Cobbler:

Here's the recipe from the vintage Bisquick cookbooks:

And the Shortcake recipe:

It was good; we liked it!

(I added a little cinnamon to mine.)

Yet Another Turn At "The Drawing Board"

I've got more fabulous and colorful stationery items from "The Drawing Board" to show you.
(I've written about this great company's items three times before - click here if you'd like to see my previous posts.)
I'll start with these wonderful flower power party invitations:

Precisely the kind of vintage artwork that I completely adore;
here they are in the original package, and a view of the inside:

And this little owl card is from The Drawing Board, too - how cool is HE?!

The next few are not ones that I own , but only wish I did - more  invitations with colorful flowers:

And invitations for a Bon Voyage Party:

A groovy mushroom stationery tablet:

And a lovely fluttering butterfly invitation:

I'd add every single one to my little collection, if that were possible!
Because I love them all.

Patterns From The Past: Simplicity 7456 A Cute Little Hand-Me-Down Dress & Shorts

Today's vintage pattern is Simplicity number 7456:

You could choose the dress alone, with or without pockets, or you could make the version with the epaulets at the shoulder, and the matching shorts to go underneath:

My sister Lori chose the latter version when she made this for herself back in 1967 or so.
 I'm sorry this photo, below is not a very good one - but I simply had to share it because she is wearing her dress!
The epaulets and pockets (and I think, maybe the shorts?) were a solid bright green, which matched the green in the adorable print fabric.
 That's me in the hat, and we are with our Mother.

I was delighted when Lori outgrew the cute outfit, because then it came to me!
And I am pretty sure I loved it as much as she did.
I mean, I remember wearing it until it simply didn't fit anymore, or it was falling apart - or maybe kind of both.
I even chose to wear it on class picture day, as you can see in my last photo, here:

And that talented little seamstress , whom I used to PAY to sew for me, because she could whip things up, while I seemed to spend agonizing hours at the sewing machine, making mistakes?
She happens to be celebrating a birthday today.
And I am headed over to see her, and my sister Tina, too!
Happy Birthday, Lori!!

The Fabulous Ole Furniture By Stanley, Once Again

I have more photos of the fabulous vintage "Ole" furniture from Stanley that I ADORE to show you today.
I think these pictures may have been from eBay, a while back?
The furniture was for sale, and you have to know that I'd have purchased it all, had I been able!
A dresser:

Desk with hutch top - oh, be still my heart!

Headboard:

The bed and a nightstand:

The nightstand alone:

And  the nightstand again, below - because it isn't possible to have too many photos of this insanely fantastic set of furniture:

A low bureau:

Along with the mirror that is meant to top it:

And the double dresser:

The two together:

And a chair or stool that is truly too cool for school:

And we will leave you with reflections on the absolute furniture of my dreams.....

.... my childhood dreams that remain intact, to this very day - and always will.