Alphabet Cards

My sister found these adorable alphabet flash cards at a shop in Sutter Creek. Sorry about the letter "I" being so big at the end! Spelling out my name with them did not work as planned!


They just have the most adorable pictures on them! Apparently, they are reproduced from a 1940's book published in Great Britain.

They are from T. J. Whitney's Traditional Toys.
www.tjwhitneys.com
My sister plans to use them to help her grandson learn his ABC's!

More Recent Thrift Finds

I saved some of my recent finds to show you in this post. Below, a bright serape style runner, two great pieces of sheet music, and a set of potholders. The flowers on that lady's skirt remind me of my Ransburg canisters!:
A pristine Bobby Darin LP, great old songbook, and a lovely tome filled with Victorian illustrations:
More books (great recipes in that FJ Pie cookbook!), and a pair of folk art wall plaques:
Cutter linens, and a set of four squirrely linen placemats:
Miscellaneous including a crocheted potholder, bag of pretty trims, lovely box of vintage cards, and a restaurant china fork plate:
These last two pictures - less interesting and more utilitarian items - the two muslin-covered padded hangers were 39c each, and all of the others were free! The sturdy wooden ones will work well for holding heavy linens in the shop:
I can't pass up frames when they are cheap! A cast iron ship doorstop, my first Rolodex, a silk scarf, and I had to get the Mad book even though it's pretty thrashed.
That's it!

The Butterfly Chair

The iconic Butterfly Chair was designed in 1938 by Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari Hardoy. It even has a place in the permanent collection of the Museum Of Modern Art. I just plain think it's cool. One example is shown below in an ad for 7UP from 1956:
Also from 1956, this is from the cover of The American Home magazine:
They even made a child size version! (From 1958):
This is actress Constance Towers, (I just saw her recently in a "Cold Case" episode!) posing rather provocatively in a Butterfly Chair in Look Magazine, from 1959:
The picture on the left, below, was taken here at the house we now live in back in 1971, and on the right is by my brother-in-law's pool in 1978:

I have never had one of these chairs, and I'm not even sure I have ever had occasion to sit in one! But, like I said, I just think they look cool - that's all. ( I'm actually afraid that if I ever did sit in one, I might not be able to get out of it!)

The Enchanted Tiki Room Presented by Dole Pineapple

The Enchanted Tiki Room opened in Disneyland in 1963. I never get tired of it. I love the show every single time, and I enjoy singing along.
When we were there three weeks ago, we sat and waited outside for the next show to begin. It was dark out and I thoroughly enjoyed the little pre-show before the doors opened. If I have ever sat and experienced that entire show before, it was so long ago that I didn't remember it at all.

There is a short film about the history of the Dole company, and the Tiki Gods speak to you from every corner. I thought it was great!

At the Tiki Juice Bar Hosted by Dole, you can get a Dole Whip, and a few other Dole goodies.
This Dole magazine advertisement is from 1951:
So is this one:
And here is one from 1953:
And another from 1960:
I LOVE fresh pineapple - I think we'll start buying it more often.
And I'm ready to go back to Disneyland already.

Then And Now #37 - Nestle's Chocolate

Nestle's products are a staple in my kitchen. You never know when you might be in the mood for chocolate chip cookies- and for me, that means always having Toll House Morsels on hand - you know, in case of emergency! But I also like their candy bars, etc, etc! I can't even remember now where I found this mold:

I couldn't find a date on this booklet, but I'm guessing maybe late 40's?
This ad is from 1957:
Here's one from 1961:
And 1968:
1969, below - I must admit that I do not remember the mint morsels being around way back then! Perhaps they were not available in our area, or the store where Daddy shopped simply didn't carry them? :
One more ad and recipe from 1981:

This box of cocoa has been in my baking cupboard awhile. Good thing cocoa powder keeps very well. And I had to include Nesquik - this is a postcard I found somewhere:
And below - the way the packages of morsels look "Now":
Now I kind of want to go and bake some cookies!

A Happy Easter To You!

To celebrate Easter , I thought I would share with you some of my favorite cards and books. First up - I missed this one with the gorgeous lined envelope when I did my post about them awhile back. From the 30's:
This lovely book was published by Hermes House in 1999. Inside are floral projects, egg decorating ideas, recipes, and more:
One more beautiful card from the 1930's - a pink cottage!
A card with artwork by our beloved Tasha Tudor from Jenny Wren Press:
And my precious copy of Tasha's book, A Tale For Easter:
Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Gingham Is The Topic Today

Gingham just seems so happy and fresh, doesn't it? I love this blue apron with the rickrack trim:
I only have two gingham aprons - but I'm always on the lookout for more. Look at these two little cuties wearing theirs, helping Mom do the dishes!
The only two I have are red, as well:
Both have black embroidery:
There are all kinds of designs you can do!
Even more, in this old advertisement for Coats and Clark:
What a sweet little ruffled dress on this little girl!
And here, a pattern to make gingham toys, too:
Perhaps you want to dress a baby's room in gingham?
And I just had to include this vintage Easter card with it's gingham background:
Now, if you have the means to get really carried away - how about a gingham Rolls Royce?!
But, of course.

Easter Chocolates and Pins

Today, I just wanted to show you my small collection of Easter pins and some chocolates I made on Wednesday. The sequined and beaded eggs are little miniature works of art. I love them. I think my friend Tammy made the little carrot, and I'm also quite partial to the handpainted bunny and the little carton of eggs!
And here are some of my molded chocolates - had to show you before they get eaten!
Cute and colorful - they also taste good!
Happy Easter, Happy Spring, happy chocolate everything!