The Delightful Doris Day

I simply adore her. I love listening to her beautiful voice.
From "Sentimental Journey", recorded with Les Brown and his Orchestra Nov. 20th, 1944, which I love singing myself, by the way!:
To "Whatever Will Be, Will Be", which I feel like I've known my whole life (Mother must have taught it to us?)
I love her movies, from "Romance On The High Seas", to "With Six You Get Eggroll", from "The Pajama Game" to "Pillow Talk" and everything in between.( And yes, I watched the TV show, too!)
And I especially love her devotion to, and work on behalf of, animals.
She truly is delightful. Miss Day - "I'll Never Stop Loving You" !!

Lovely Blouses From Embroidered Linens

Luckily, I have managed to find three of these gorgeous creations. They all have labels from K.A.S. Originals of Fredericksburg, Texas. What a lovely idea to combine all sorts of vintage linens and quilted patchwork pieces into a pretty blouse! The front:
and back of the first one I found at a consignment shop here in town ( the back of the collar is flipped up to show what lies beneath).
And another front:and back - I love the back of the collar on this one, and the floral linens they used!
And the third one, a little different in style, with a table runner forming a bib front:
This style is less appealing to me - the sleeves on this one are my favorite, though.
And I would be willing to bet that the blouse worn here by Country Living Magazine Editor-In-Chief Nancy Soriano (shown at the Marburger Farm Antique Show in the April 2007 issue) was made by the same people.
They're beautiful, aren't they?

Vintage Stuff I've Sold - Handbags

This first one, below was gorgeous. Dark red snakeskin, a real beauty.
I liked this one, too. A lovely turquoise velvet and black vinyl ( I want to say patent leather, but I think it was vinyl - it was nice, though!)
These two dressy clutches were so pretty; both had the attached matching coin purses inside. In chocolate brown satin with cream colored satin lining:
And lovely red satin with blue lining and coin purse:
And this one was rather stylish, as well - sort of a faux alligator look - it was a nice olive green color (that's not quite it's true color in the photo)
You know, a lot of the time, after I sell something, I find myself feeling sorry that I did.
But I just can't keep EVERYTHING! (Many would say that I give it a real good try.)

Potholders Pretty And Practical

The first one shown below is lovely in a vintage floral fabric, but not thick enough to really be practical for use. I have it hanging on the side of the fridge because I like the colors.
And this pretty butterfly was made with a bit of batting, but again, not thick enough to protect hands from hot pots.
A more practical style - the good old quilted padded kind - this one for a pot handle still in it's original cellophane packaging.
And another truly useful one. I got a pair of these mitts because I so seldom find vintage ones in great, unused condition.
I have a collection of the lovely vintage crocheted ones, too- but perhaps I will write about those another day.
Happy cooking - don't get burned!

My Favorite Framed Prints #4

Another pair of pretty vintage framed floral prints.

I especially like these because of the maroon reverse painting and scalloped design on the glass.

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to wish a Happy Mother's Day to our Mother, and to my sisters and friends - and all of the other wonderful mothers out there!
I hope you have a very special day.

The Mother Lode Roundup Parade

In honor of the fact that it's parade weekend here in my town, I thought I would post some photos from years ago.

Yahoo!
They used to show the parade on the local cable station. I wish they still did that.

Vintage Bark Cloth Repurposed

I LOVE vintage bark cloth (barkcloth?). The colors, the textures, the florals and leaves - all are so pretty. Most of the time in shops or on eBay, the prices are beyond my budget, but I've managed to get a few smaller pieces of fabric or handmade items.

This purse, above needed a few changes- I had a new strap made out of a patchworked barkcloth piece, and a loop to go around the button. The one below was just right as made with it's pretty beaded trim and gorgeous hibiscus.

This patchwork pieced length of fabric proved just enough to be made into a pillow (with a big enough piece left over for the purse strap pictured above) front:
and back:
And I was so happy when I won the auction for this unfinished bark cloth patchwork quilt/blanket top. It's new home is now as a makeshift slipcover for a chair that was rather desperate. It fits perfectly!
I would love it if every window in my home had vintage barkcloth drapes, and every sofa and chair was covered in it, as well. But that ain't happening.
You should see my sister's house, though!!

Vintage Stuff I've Sold (Or Plan To) - Dresses

This bright lime green dress is gorgeous. The simple design reminds me of dresses designed by the late, great Oleg Cassini that were worn by Jackie Kennedy, and is also even reminiscent of a vintage Barbie dress I have. What a pretty dress for a wedding or spring luncheon - you know, if you're one of the Ladies Who Lunch.
The beading on this green beauty goes all the way around the neckline to include the back. (These first two dresses have not been sold yet.)
The simple shift above has an abstract design that reminds me of an M. C. Escher work. I did sell the white floral one below - the colors on that one were so pretty! I think the label inside was from I. Magnin. These all belonged to my mother-in-law.
As usual, if these fit me, I'd have worn them!

Favorite Trio(s)

The other day I got this lovely vintage box with assorted old cards inside:
Like these:
And these:
If you read my blog, you may already know how much I LOVE vintage cards. Especially ones with pink roses and/or sweet little bluebirds, but really almost any sweet or pretty vintage card! But the trio pictured below is my very favorite - my sisters and me. (Her hat is from Disneyland!)
And on the subject of trios - I also love The Kingston Trio!

Found At a Garage Sale

Just a quick post today with one picture. I have an appointment out of town this morning (70 miles away). This particular type of doctor isn't available in my own town. I really hate that. (Oh, poor, poor pitiful me!)
Anyway! I literally walked down the street last Friday to a garage sale - first time I have EVER done this - and I came home with this lovely pair of vintage boudoir lamps. I did not get them cheap - not garage sale prices! But I do believe they are worth more than I paid.
The picture doesn't quite do them justice, they are frosted glass in a paler blue than this shows - blue, not aqua like I think they look in the picture. Excellent condition, heavy glass shades. They were filthy, but cleaned up well! I also got a nice vintage beveled edge hanging mirror (couldn't get a decent picture of that), and an old frame. I was happy. I have the lamps on our piano, and they look nice.

His & Hers Whitman books

This book belonged to me when I was a little girl. So - obviously - I have had it for YEARS. The front:
And the back:
And this one belonged to my husband when he was little:
Now they sit side by side on the bookshelf. Both are complete with our juvenile signatures inside.
P.S. I read recently that Johnny Crawford from The Rifleman has a big band style orchestra now in southern California, and he is engaged to Kim Darby. I thought that was really cool!

Audrey Hepburn

...........was born on this date in 1929.
Oh, her movies are such favorites of mine!
I especially remember seeing Sabrina on TV years and years ago for the first time. I loved it SO much! Remember her watching the parties from the tree?
She didn't have a Funny Face at all.
No, she was truly beautiful, inside and out.
Wasn't she wonderful? Loverly.

My Favorite Framed Prints #3

These framed prints were one set that I found wrapped up and stored in a closet.
There was another pair exactly the same as these, if I remember correctly.
Pretty, huh?

Love Those Embroidered Linens

Like so many other women, I just love the embroidered work done on vintage linens. I don't have a huge collection, but I have some favorites that I am using so I get to see them every day! Like this one with gorgeous rose appliques:
The pretty lady below is on the front of a bag I found in Jamestown. The vintage embroidery thread and pink and blue ribbon bows were here in the house.
More pretty roses on a crochet-trimmed dresser scarf:
And the iris is one of my (very few)attempts at doing something of my own. This was on the back of a chambray denim shirt that was worn at a Sadie Hawkins Dance in high school! The shirt finally wore out completely, but I am determined to put my iris on a pillow or something someday!
I'm certainly no expert, but I was so proud of it back then.