Charlotte Patera

I found a nice framed print of this poster, below, at a thrift shop a while back.
At first, when I spied it from across the room, I thought it was the crewel, but then upon closer inspection I realized it was a print.

 I remember the cashier making a comment something like "Well, that sure is a nice frame, but I don't know about the picture."
Now I ask you: what in the world is wrong with some people?
 For one thing, um ...  nobody asked her.
 I was buying it, so obviously I wanted it for some reason, right? Like gee - maybe because I LIKED it?!
 Do you think, maybe?
Oh - and the frame is nothing special at all. It's just a plain frame. Whatever, lady.
Her comment was unwanted and not at all appreciated.
Because I think it's completely fabulous.

Anyhow, when I got it, I knew nothing at all about who "Char '74" was, because my print does not have that information at the bottom, that you see, above. I guess the person who framed it had cut off the bottom to fit it into the frame.
A Stitching Exhibition?! At The Nut Tree?!
We used to LOVE going to the Nut Tree, back when were kids.
 Well, I surely do wish I'd been able to see that exhibition back in 1975; it must have really been something special.
Some time later, I found a partial photo of the poster when I was looking through my copy of "Vintage Craft Workshop", a great book authored by Cathy Callahan, who used to write a wonderful blog called "Cathy Of California", that I loved reading. The book is outstanding - you can find it on Amazon.
(I also found an article about Cathy on another blog, "While She Naps" - you can find it here.)

I kept looking up information, and I was so surprised to discover that Ms. Patera had actually lived close to where I grew up!
I'm sad to say, she passed away one year ago today.
You can read her obituary here.
 Oh, how I wish I had known she lived in Cameron Park!
Because I would have loved to have had the opportunity to meet such a talented  stitchery artist and author!
 Honestly, I would have tried to call her or something, because maybe I COULD have met her - maybe I could have even seen some of her beautiful work, in person!
I also discovered that I already owned one of her books, when I saw the cover, I recognized it immediately, and went and found it on my book shelf.
I have written before about "The Applique Book", back in this post.
(Please go back and have a look; I think you might enjoy seeing some of her fabulous designs!)
And I had even written a post about one of her designs four years ago - The Artful Artichoke (click here to go back and read about it).
She authored other books, too, including some about Mola techniques, and this one, "Cutwork Applique":

And here are some examples from that book:

 The "Sun Symbol":

 And a gorgeous dress:

 Now I want that book, too, of course!
I'll find myself a copy, you can bet on it.
You know, I am not much of a needlework person, nor a seamstress, but I so greatly admire the talented women who are, and were, and all of the beautiful items they create/created with their handiwork.
And I just wanted to write a post about Charlotte Patera, so that if you have never heard of her before, perhaps if you come across one of her books, or see a photo of  her work, you might now remember her name, as well.
What a talented lady she was.

Ring In The New Year With Susan Branch - And Perhaps A Cup Of Tea!

I'm more likely to drink herbal tea tonight than I am champagne, so perhaps it's fitting that I received some tea-themed gifts for Christmas.
I also received three Susan Branch calendars!
Lori gave me these two....

   ...which was very sweet and unexpected since we (ahem!) do not exchange gifts anymore!

 Thank you, Lor - I love them, and will use both, obviously!
My husband gave me the large desk blotter calendar, which I also love and use every year, seen below:

Here's a peek inside the other two:

 

 (See - tea cups, teapots - tea theme.)
 And my daughter-in-law gave me this lovely tea cup and saucer set, stack of tea tins, and honey spoons:

 And Alice In Wonderland surely fits in with my tea theme, right?
("We're all mad here...").
Oh, and by the way - a Very Merry Unbirthday to YOU!
My friend Heidi gave me these:

The teapot is also a little music box, and how totally cool is that bottle to hold your "Drink Me" potion?
Perfect.
So - have a cup of tea, or a glass of bubbly or a "cuppa" whatever you like, and ring in the New Year, everybody!
Fireworks optional, but preferable!

Potpourri Press Books By Irena Chalmers

I have a small collection of these fabulous little paperback cookbooks written by Irena Chalmers and published by Potpourri Press in Greensboro, North Carolina. All of mine were published during the years 1969-1977.
 This one, the only one that is NOT a cookbook, is the one that started it all for me,
 "Napkin Folding":

Here's one little bio and photo from the back cover of one of my books:

And here is another:

The first cookbook photo below, the "Cookie Book" is one that I do not have.
 I'm hoping to find it: I love the illustration on the cover:

I think I found nearly all of my others at thrift shops.
And I like the covers on all of them.
The next four volumes pictured here today all feature artwork by Bob Penny. 
"Crock-Pot Cookery":

"Lover's Dining":

"Cooking In Clay":

"Souffle Spectaculars":

"Wok And Tempura Cookery" was written with Barbara Farr and has drawings inside, also by Ms. Farr:

And "Crepes And Flaming Desserts" has cover artwork by Mr. Penny, with drawings inside done by Sara G. Skardon :

 In perusing these little cookbooks, I see a lot of recipes that I want to try.
Here's a Beef Stew recipe from "Crock-Pot Cookery":

 

 There are at least a half-dozen more that I do not have, but I'm still hoping to find them very inexpensively at thrift stores, rather than buying them on eBay.
Because I don't NEED them, you know?
 I'd just like to have them if I happen across them - and perhaps I will!

A Charming Cookbook

Lori found the cutest cookbook at a thrift store on one of her visits here to Sonora. and the illustrations inside by Barbara Corrigan are so charming that I just wanted to share some of them with you today.
The title of the vintage (1953) cookbook is "Early American Recipes", and it was written by Heloise Frost.
First up, for  "Chowders, Soups And Stews", we see the lady of the house getting the large soup tureen down from the top of her hutch:

 (I love the framed silhouettes on either side in that one.)
Just look at all the kitty cats clamoring for some of her
"Fish And Sea Foods", below:

"Cakes 'N' Cookies" are next, and all I have to say is  "Yes, please; I would also like to sit in that nice big red wing chair,  a sweet kitty by my side, with a nice book in MY lap and help myself to some of those cookies, as well!"
I mean, there's even a footstool on which to place my feet:

It appears that this rising bread may have gotten a bit out of control, here in the illustration for the chapter on Breads, Biscuits, and Muffins:

Bringing a nice pot of "Vegetables" to the table, here:

(Don't step on any of those sleeping puppies or their Mama!)

We also have Jams, Jellies and Relishes  - ready for a nice slice of toast, anyone?
Looks like Fido is ready, willing AND able to help Junior out with his, any time!

"Fillin" Dishes" ( including a big turkey on the table) are precisely what you need to have ready and waiting when you are expecting company, who just happen to have been traveling over the river and through the woods - and snow - to reach your house.....

Early American Recipes that are "Smackin' Good":

Hope you enjoyed seeing the illustrations!

Just Popping (Or Hopping?) In To Say Happy Easter!

I'm busy today as I imagine most of you are, but I did just want to pop in and wish you all a Happy Easter, with the decoration above (which was part of the stash of them I found in my last post), and a couple of the dearest illustrations from one of my "thrifted" books.
"The Easter Rabbit", a little story from "Folk Tales Children Love", edited by Watty Piper, printed by the Platt And Munk Co., Inc., in 1932:

 And beautiful "Spring", seen below:

(My book is incomplete and I did not find any other names.)

This Bunny Cake was in a vintage cookbook Lori found at a thrift store last week:

And I'll end with one more decoration, this one in pretty pastels:

Happy Easter to all and to all a good day!

April Has Arrived, And So Have My Last Illustrations From "The Year Around Book"

All right, so no (April) foolin' around here - this post marks my last installment of my monthly posting from my vintage find "The Year Around Book", written by Helen Jill Fletcher and illustrated by the fabulous Jerry Pinkney.

 What an adorable Easter Bunny, and his eggs are the absolute best, too! I would like some eggs like those, please.
 April got a two-page spread in this delightful vintage book (not every month did!), and deservedly so:

 The page below is, I simply must say, my favorite one in the entire book, so perhaps it is fitting that it should wind up being the last one I'm sharing with you:

Because I love everything about it.
Happy April, everyone!!

March, From The Year Around Book

March is more than half-way through, so with St. Patrick's Day already here, and the official start of spring only a few days away, here, finally, is my page from "The Year Around Book", by Helen Jill Fletcher, with illustrations by Jerry Pinkney:

I began showing you these delightfully illustrated pages last May, so I've only got one more to go next month!
And then I'll have to find something else to share, won't I?
I hope you are enjoying your St. Patrick's Day.
Lori came over for one night, and we worked on our booth yesterday at Mountain Treasures.
We happen to have had the most glorious day here today, weather-wise, and I got to go to the Flea Market, which is always fun!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

January - A New Year, And a New Illustration

Happy New Year, everyone!
I wanted to be sure and share my January illustration with you.

 From my thrift store book, "The Year Around Book", written by
Helen Jill Fletcher  and illustrated by the illustrious Jerry Pinkney.

 "January is the first month of the year.
We celebrate New Year's Day January 1.
We have parties.
We wear fancy hats.
We blow horns and whistles."

 I didn't do any fancy hats, parties, or horns and whistles - we were in bed before midnight!
We still welcome and celebrate the arrival of the New Year, though!
Just in a quieter way, I suppose.
:)

December, By Jerry Pinkney From" The Year Around Book"

Well, here we are eleven days into December already, and I'm finally remembering to share this wonderful illustration by Jerry Pinkney!

 Ring that bell, Santa!
Because I am totally digging that cool, colorful Christmas living room you have entered, here.
I love everything about it.
In fact, aside from the fact that ours is a "non-working" fireplace, I'd love to attempt to re-create that scene!
(From "The Year Around Book", by Helen Jill Fletcher, published in 1965.)

 I also wanted to just share a few quick photos of some Christmas items I've found recently.
Like these lovely vintage Shiny Brites:

I just adore beautiful vintage Shiny Brite glass balls, but I have so many ornaments that I simply do not have the space to store them all, so both of these boxes are for sale in our booth at Mountain Treasures in Sonora:

 The next box is a keeper for me, though  - I love the ones with stencils and stripes!
These by Franke:

 And I found this gorgeous felt and sequin wreath!

Because I can never have enough vintage,colorful felt and sequin goodness in my home at Christmas time!

The November Page From "The Year Around Book", With Illustrations by Jerry Pinkney

So... it's November 9th, and the elections are behind us.
Whether or not they resulted in what you had hoped for, I'm here to wish you a Happy November, now that it's all over!
And I wanted to share this month's page from my wonderful vintage (1965) tome "The Year Around Book" by Helen Jill Fletcher featuring the fabulous illustrations that I adore by the extremely talented artist Jerry Pinkney.

Coincidentally, just last week I purchased a vintage California school music textbook that also features his illustrations!
 "This Is Music" was published in 1968.
I was absolutely delighted when I found it (at a thrift shop).
Here's a turkey from that book, since we're talking about November and all:

And check out this colorful two-page spread:

"Friends And Family" - so cute and colorful with a friendly postman and a dog who actually appears happy to see him!
( I used to be a rural mail carrier - don't get me started on dogs and mail carriers!)
And by the way, hopefully you will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday later on this month with YOUR friends and family!
I'll leave you with this last illustration:

You know, that's the way I would truly like to be spending my time.
Yes, "Singing Through The Day" sounds pretty good to me!
(Just for the record: I'm not saying that I FEEL like singing through the day, nor that I am going to be.
Only that it does sound like a lovely thing to do.
If you love to sing.
And I do.
That's all.)