Creative Stacking

What's a collecting gal to do when she has so many colorful things?

Well, when your space is limited, you just try to figure out a way to have as many of them on display as you are able.

That's where some creative stacking comes into play.

So that I can enjoy as many of my favorite colorful items on a daily basis as humanly possible!

Patterns From The Past: Lori's Thrift Finds

Hi everybody! Sis Lori here today.
I have found a lot of great vintage patterns lately.
You can see quite a few of them here today.
For dolls:

Vintage aprons:

Fabulous smocked pillows:

Even hats!

And scarves:

A Polynesian pattern:

A fancy or simple frock:

Holly Hobbie Fashions for girls:

Aren't these sweet?

An easy vintage Butterick bathing suit and cover-up:

This tiered old-fashioned style below is adorable!

"Nighty- nite!"

Baby doll pajamas, too:

And I'll end with another robe, nightgown, and PJ's:

I list vintage patterns as often as I can in my Etsy shop, Hangtown Vintage. I haven't quite gotten around to listing all of the ones shown here today - but I will!
Feel free to inquire (through Etsy) if you're interested in any of them.

Once Upon a Time in Placerville No. 22: The Spencer Home on Washington Street

Good morning. Tina here once again with another Once Upon a Time.

This is the Spencer house which was on Washington Street. Washington Street has been reconfigured, I believe when the freeway went through town, so this home may have been torn down then. It used to meet with Mosquito Road at some point near where Broadway now begins at the east end of Main Street. The photo below was dated 1889.

I wish I knew more about this home which was lost to the wrecking ball. At one time quite a few years ago these photos were for sale on ebay and I didn't win the bid, but I saved the copies of the photos.

The Spencers are gathered here in the photo above, circa 1899. It looks like they have upgraded the home with more porch additions and fencing. It also looks like the kids are getting older.

This shot of the street itself shows a fairly flat area. As the street now begins, it heads south up a steep hill and then for a bit goes fairly flat and then heads downhill again to Cedar Ravine.

The Spencer family plays croquet near their home in 1905. The elevated railway and possibly Hangtown Creek is behind them.  It isn't easy to read the names but they appear to be Maxine, George, Annie, Ray, Frank, Larry (or Lorrey?) and Mabel. I found Annie L. Spencer, housewife, in the Precinct Register for Placerville in 1938, and a Miss Lorena Spencer and N. L. Spencer Jr., a mechanic.

One last shot of "Our dear old home". When I think of all the old homes that are no longer standing in our lovely historic town, I get such a feeling of loss. Memories are gone to ash, streets are rearranged and trees and gardens destroyed. This little area above is completely unrecognizable. It just makes me sad.

I wish I knew more about the Spencers and their home, but hopefully I can help keep their memory alive just by sharing this post.

What's Penny Wearing? #139 She's Ready For A Fourth Of July Parade!

Penny is all ready for a holiday parade today in her red sleeveless dress I found at a thrift store:

I've had this patriotic cap with it's stripes and stars for years and years. I don't even remember where I got it!
Or why, for that matter?
Because it's actually too small for me.......

I found the cool vintage braided belt at a thrift store, too.
It's just like the kind they used to have on the Beacon blanket robes, so for all I know, it could have belonged with one at one time or another.
 I rather like it with the dress and cap.
But perhaps Penny would rather wear the hat below, the one Lady Edith was wearing in my post the other day:

The simple red belt seems to look better with that one:

Yes, I do think that full-brimmed hat would give better shade from the bright summer sun.
I took the red dress down and put it on my other dress form that I have at the shop, and my friend Ashley bought it!

So, I think the the only thing Penny is missing now is a flag!
(Except that she doesn't have any way to hold one....)
Wherever you are, I hope that perhaps you will get to enjoy a patriotic parade!
Happy Fourth Of July, everybody!

In The Mood For Some Vintage Stars And Stripes And Fireworks

We'll start off today with this fabulous vintage Uncle Sam, below.
He isn't mine; I found him on eBay:

Here's an oldie - this beauty on the cover of Motion Picture magazine:

Moving forward about four decades, we have the illustration below, which is by the very talented Tom Morrow.
Looks like everybody is having fun to me!

Circa 1969, below we have a boutique called "The Flag Pole", which was featured in the Los Angeles Times Home Magazine.
Seems as though it was the "happening" place to be:

Here are two very cool vintage bedrooms in red, white and blue:

And, as for the fireworks.....

Here they are in all their glory from the pages of my vintage "The Year Around Book" written by Helen Jill Fletcher that I am featuring each month:

I like the way illustrator Jerry Pinkney depicted the fireworks - and I love the colors!

I haven't seen fireworks since the last time I was at Disneyland two years ago.
I miss them.
Hope you get to see some this weekend, or tomorrow night!

Lady Edith's Hats #4 - All Set For Summer In The Sun

Lady Edith has it made in the shade in this vintage hat I found at a thrift store.

It has red bandanna-style print trimming the rim, and also forming the ties - the better to keep it on in the wind, you know, my dear....

I felt the need to tie a red bandanna around her neck:

That doesn't make her a redneck, does it?

Oh, heavens, no!
Not Lady Edith.
Certainly not!

More Peter Max Books!!

I have recently added a few more vintage Peter Max books to my collection.
Any time I manage to find vintage Peter Max ANYTHING, it's a good day for me!
First up, we have "Thought":

And next we have "God":

 These little books are completely and totally fantastic.
And I also found a fabulous vintage book that has 12 two-page spreads, such as the ones you see below - The Astrological Signs by Peter Max:

Oh, my gosh; I LOVE these so much!

And then, just for the heck of it, here are two more photos of some Peter Max things I have framed.

I may have shown you these before......

  ...but it's my Peter Max Happy Post Day, so what the heck!

Lounge Chair Road Trip No. 17: Inverness, California

Good morning. Tina here.

It seems like every time I need to write a post and it is hot, I want to go on a road trip to the coast.
Today is the same.

We are going to Inverness, where they have celebrated the 4th of July in style. This is a mad race from the seventies, below.

The boat below is grounded forever.

They may not be usable any more, but what fun to wade nearby and maybe have a picnic.

Nice cool sand for Fido's paws.

Or we could choose a shady grove for our picnic. And maybe a nap?

In its heyday, this little hamlet was a great place to spend the summer. Darling cottages and shingled hotels dotted the hillsides. Most of these lovely dwellings are still here. Little winding roadways sneak through the tree roots and climb up to find the refreshing breezes and views of Drakes Bay.

Highland Lodge looks like a cozy place to stay, the scent of eucalyptus and pine floating to us in the fog. Ahhh, fog, doesn't that sound nice and cool on a day like today, where it is supposed to be over 100 degrees in the foothills? I think Inverness will have highs in the sixties. I am so there!

Above, my favorite, Manka's Inverness Lodge, lost to fire. I still grieve. The little newer cabins we stayed in are still there, but our upstairs honeymoon room, the sweet inglenook at the entrance where we would have breakfast, and the amazing restaurant with its windows in the treetops are all gone.

The store and post office building above (also shown in the 4th of July race earlier in this post) still stand and have housed various businesses. It is the iconic spot that greets you when you first hit town.

I think I will pull out my old DVD of the movie "The Fog" which was filmed (partially) in Inverness. As a strange coincidence that movie came out in 1980, which was when my husband and I stayed in Inverness on our honeymoon. I am ready to be scared, just so I can imagine that creeping, cooling, darkening fog and cool off a bit. How about you?