Oh, Sheet!

So, perhaps it was a good idea that I covered my design wall in UFOs. In just two nights I've managed to make some progress on one of those projects!

This is going to be a picnic quilt, which means picnics will be had this summer. It will also be the quilt I leave in the car for random things need covering and Mark is freezing me to death type emergencies.

Made from vintage sheets, it started out as plain four patches but has evolved into a more liberated style.  I love the movement that comes from recutting the original four patch blocks!

Once I get all these four patches sewn together my plan is to do a thin border of a solid(if I can find something in my stash) and a wider outer border using the yellow daisy sheet.

Hooray for progress!

Flea Market Finds and a Creepy Cymbal Playing Chimpanzee Freak

This past weekend we hit up one of our favorite local flea markets. Normally, I take my camera along and photograph things that make me smile, laugh, or want to run in the other direction.

One of those flea market field trips is here, and yet another can be found here.

This time around, I just wasn't feelin' it. It may have been that I was preoccupied with  getting my Halloween drops done for The Toy Society. It could also have been because my hands were too busy shoving hot, fresh caramel corn and roasted ears of corn on the cob into my face to take photos. Or perhaps it was because there was sooo much vintage goodness to be had that I just didn't think to grab the camera.

...except for when I decided to document this. I know I'm usually going to run across one at some point, but they still scare the crap out of me.  [[Shudder]]

Now that that's out of the way, I'll share some of the non-terrifying goodies that I managed to snag.

Mark bought this adorable ceramic/chalk(?) Scottie bank for me. I love this shade of green!

 We realized once we got it home that the lid doesn't really go w/this cookie jar. But no worries. It was only 3 bucks and looks cute over the kitchen counters.

I searched and searched through a large pile of vintage towel calendars for 1968. No luck. BUT I couldn't pass up these fun designs. I love the color combo on the barn. These may end up being tote bags.

Lovely vintage full apron for $2.00!

Just in case the city of Mad'ville ever hosts a Gatsby Summer Afternoon event, I snagged this hat for a dollar. Too bad it looks ridiculous on my extra large noggin. Sigh.

I thought these were so fun! Published in '59 & '60 and a whopping $.50 each!

Vintage coloring books from the 1960's.

First ever purchase of vintage hankies. I plan to use them as apron pockets or incorporate them into bags. I feel a new obsession coming on.

I LOVE this patchwork dog!  There's a pattern for one very similar on Denyse Schmidt's website if you are so inclined to make your own. My little guy is completely hand stitched and I believe there are several feedsack fabrics. He(and the doll) will be the newest residents in my school library. The little doll tells the story of Little Red riding hood. Her dress flips up to reveal each character & his/her part in the story. Check back for more pics of her on Vintage Thingies Thursday.

This tablecloth was my favorite find of the day at a mere 5 bucks! And yeah, I can see that it needs ironing. I'll do that later...really.

It was a great day...I finally got to spend a Saturday with Mark, the weather was gorgeous, my grand total was right around 30 bucks and I had my fill of caramel corn!  We finished off the day with a late lunch at Panera Bread and a Big Biting Pig Halloween-A-Thon. Nope, not a bad day at all!

Vintage Thingies Thursday--Cupcake pics and a disturbing doll.

I just stopped by Colorodo Lady's blog and saw that she's still hosting Vintage Thingies Thursday. HoooRaaay...I loves me some vintage thingies!

A few weeks ago the mister and I went up to Grand Rivers KY to see replicas of the Nina and the Pinta. On our way to and from, we stopped at some antique shops and flea markets. For my reappearance at VTT, I thought I'd share some things that I bought and a couple I left behind.

I love these little cupcake pics! I've been wanting some forever and don't come across them very often. These are smaller than the ones you normally see. So sweet! I should totally make mini cupcakes, and soon!

I fell in love with this vintage apron(surprise, surprise) with it's 60's calico cat and dog print and adorable green gingham ties/pocket detail! I think I gave a whopping three bucks for it. I would have paid more. Just sayin'.

Apron  Fabric

And what did I pass up?

Weeeellll.....THIS. I don't think an explanation of why I left this behind is really necessary, is it?

And THIS.

I Care. And I'm Creepy.


Can't get  enough vintage thingies? Head on over to Colorodo Lady's blog for more vintagey goodness!

Vintage BBQ Aprons

For this week's Vintage Thingies Thursday, I wanted to share more of my vintage apron collection. These are two I'm quite proud of! BBQ aprons for the fellas!

I've had this one a while, and I may have shared it before...so think of this as a return engagement! It was only with slight reluctance that I handed over 25 bucks in exchange for this apron at a local 4H flea market. At the time, it was the first vintage man's apron that I'd come across and I decided I couldn't live without it. The chef's head is a pocket. Still lovin' it!Last Monday I was at another flea market in the area and found this set that included not only the 50's graphic style illustration that I love so much, but a matching chef's hat! And it was a bargain compared to the first apron...only 12.50 for the set!I tried to get Mark to model these for me, but he declined.

Wanna see more fun vintage thingies? Head HERE!

Vintage Thingie Thursday--Vintage Aprons

I love adding to my vintage apron collection. As much as I love making aprons, I love finding vintage ones even more! It's fun to imagine the women who wore these aprons and the circumstances in which they might have worn them. And I'm drawn to the whimsical and sweetness of the fabrics used in these vintage beauties, even though there are gorgeous, fun and funky fabrics widely available today. I suppose it's the nostalgia of a vintage apron(heck, vintage anything)that gets me.

These are two of my more recent vintage apron finds.

This one is even more adorable in person. The print is little clowns/men holding umbrellas and giant raindrops. I love the shades of gray and brown w/the big orange border. SO sweet!And this. Swoon! Cobbler aprons are my favorite style...even though they aren't so figure flattering on me! I don't know why I'm drawn to these more, there's just something a little extra sassy about a cobbler apron!Earlier this week, I scored two more FABULOUS vintage aprons(one is for the fellas). I'll be sharing them next week!

Head over to Coloradolady's blog for more Vintage Thingies Thursday.

Vintage Thingies Thursday-Christmas Cards

I posted a few pics of my recently aquired vintage Christmas Cards a few days ago, so some of these photos might look familiar to a few of you.

Still, I did hold back a few for Vintage Thingies Thursdays. ...and might I add I was glad to learn that it is still alive and well thanks to ColoradoLady!

I mentioned in that earlier post that my husband bought some vintage Christmas cards at the Goodwill store a while back. Thus beginning my Holiday obsession. Here's what he brought home:

These, I think, were meant for children. The inside sentiments are childlike in nature. Very Sweet! These three were in the box w/the ones above. Definitely later. They remind me of a birthday card I once received. There were three matching turquoise envelopes in the box w/them. I wish there would have been more than just three...A while later we were at the Famous 4H Flea Market when I scored another stack, some of which are pictured here. Many of these had glitter on the front and/or some type of illustration included on the inside.THEN I had the bright idea to buy up more. I decided I wanted to send vintage cards for Christmas this year but the ones I had collected thus far did not have envelopes. SO I went on ebay and paid a highly inflated price for cards that started out life at $.49. And no, I didn't think of making my own envelopes until after I bought these. But they were so worth it.

As you might imagine, once they arrived and I sat down to look at everything, I suddenly realized I didn't want to give them away! I mean, look at them! They're fabulous!But after much thought I decided I was being silly since I bought them with the intention of sending to my friends and family. Doggone it, that's what I was going to do with them! Some people that receive them may not "get" how special they are, but it gave me great joy mailing them!

Thanks for stopping by and remember, there's more vintage thingies fun to be had over at Coloradolady's place!

Dilemma

I went a little crazy this year and spent more money than I should have on Christmas Cards. Vintage 50's Christmas cards, to be specific.

It' Mark's fault. He brought some home from Goodwill. I fell instanly in love w/them. Then I snagged a stack(minus envelopes) at a flea market. Ever obsessive, I bought a set still in the package on Ebay(with envelopes!).

They are darlin'! I realized today that Vintage Thingies Thursday is alive and well, so I'll save most photos of them for next week. But I'll give you a peek at a few of them...I love them. The sentiments are not too gushy and not too snarky, but just perfect! And the fonts are gorgeous. OK, reading that last sentence, I realize that only a true geek would gush over a font. Sheesh. But am I wrong?Here is my dilemma. I don't think I can bear to mail them! Is that insane or what? They're just so wonderful and such a fun piece of the past that I don't know that I want to part with them, but I certainly don't need more stuff junking up my house. But what if I mail them to someone who *gasp* throws it away after Christmas? I can't stand the thought.

Crazy, I know. Certifiable even.

What would y'all do?

Two Christmas Trees and a Birthday

The week of Thanksgiving, after much aggravation w/it falling over(twice) and having to buy a new tree stand, I got the first of my two Christmas trees up. Last year I waited till the week before Christmas to put just one up. I'm feeling ahead of the game Christmas-Spirit-wise. Gift wise, I'm SO behind...note the complete absence of gifts beneath the tree.

On to tree number two. I have wanted an aluminum 50's tree for as long as I can remember.

Knowing my love of all things vintage and kitschy, a lady at work offered me a 7 footer that had been sitting in her attic for years. Of course I jumped at the offer! I'm only slightly embarrassed to tell you it's been in the back end of my Jeep since Spring.

However, it's currently standing happily in a corner of my bedroom! Had I realized how big it was going to be, I'd have put it in the living room and the white one in the bedroom. Still, I must admit it looks fabulous right where it is! Don't you agree?

And now I am on a quest to find the perfect tree skirt...or fabric to make the perfect tree skirt. That big base that needs covering holds what used to be the inner workings of a rotating tree stand...it no longer rotates, but I can live with that!

The photos really don't do it justice.
I think I'm in love.And on hand to help me put up this delightful piece of Christmas past? The whole family. They'd come down for a Birthday lunch for Mom.A perfect way to end a terrific afternoon!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Another Trip to the 4H Flea Market

Since I am SO behind(see previous post) what better way to avoid getting anything done than to relive a recent trip to the 4H Flea Market? It's a beautiful October(told you I was behind) day...we're up at 6am to make it to the flea market before "all the good stuff is gone".

Put on your shades, grab a light jacket and let's head out!

First up on our trip through the vintage thingie goodness that is the 4H Flea Market, this adorable little doggie pull toy. Wait...something looks seriously wrong with his nose! I suppose when you're led around by your nose for years somethings bound to go wrong.And if he wasn't cute enough, here's this.Oh NO! Please....Tell me it's NOT...is that a Creepy Cymbal Playing Chimpanzee Freak I see??? No, thank goodness, it's just a semi-creepy-non-cymbal-playing-overall-wearing-chimpanzee-freak. Still creeps me out.

Bonjour! Parlez-vous le français ? Nous sommes Saumâtres et Poivrés! Nous sommes adorables!
I'd love to own a vintage cookie jar collection...just nowhere to keep one. This little bird is one of the cutest I've seen!I love anthropomorphic anything!
I fell in love with these. The color is perfect. I don't think I even bothered checking the price though, I doubt they were a bargain. Maybe Santa will bring them to me...Anyone know what this is? I KNOW it's a pie...but does it do something else? Looks like it might spin or something.We've been at this a while. Is anyone else ready for a snack? A cinnamon roll perhaps, maybe a nice cold drink?
Aaaah. I feel better. Ready for more flea market goodies? Let's go!

There's something really charming to me about vintage Halloween items. However, this one is a little scary...he's got Crazy Eyes.And these guys are laughing 'cause they know something Mr. Crazy-Eyes-Bad-Teeth Pumpkin doesn't know . That truck's heading for Mrs. Smith's Pumpkin Pie Headquarters.And speaking of Holidays, is anyone else swooning over this?Here we have the Barbie Townhouse, in the box. I had one exactly like this and it was my absolute favorite thing in the world. I BEGGED Mark to buy it. He didn't of course. And I didn't either. You didn't expect me to spend my apron and tablecloth money on a Barbie Townhouse that I don't really need, did you? But oh, how I would love to have it. I'm only slightly joking when I say I'd have played with it if he'd have bought it.One thing that I noticed at this Fall's 4H Flea Market that I haven't noticed in the past was an abundance of celebrities. Big names. Seriously. Luckily the paparazzi was on hand and they she I managed to get candid photos!

First up, Elsie the Cow. Word on the street was she had to take little Bessie to the Hospital while on a supervised visit or something like that...
Raggedy Ann was there. Is it just me or does she look like she's had some work done?
Speaking of a gal who's had some work done... can you say lipo? botox? boob job? That body and face can't possibly be that perfect on it's own after what? 50+ years?After years of estrangement, Burger King, Sprout and Donald Duck who haven't been seen together since the late 70's were there promoting their new movie, a remake of the Three Amigos. Not to be outdone, this famous boy band showed up touting their new album called Snap, Crackle and Pop Goes the World.And always the schmoozer, Colonel Sanders literally was showing up EVERYWHERE!What's his name from Planet of the Apes knew better than to hang around Colonel Sanders for long...he wouldn't want to come up missing...see that maniacal grin on the Colonel's face...yeah monkey boy was moving on outta there in a hurry as he left we heard him mutter "Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn!"

Trying to squeeze in on the coattails of the new Twilight movie, Count Dracula skulked in, but was promptly ushered out by 4H security.And if that's not enough celebrities for you...Steve Urkel popped by...and apparently tried to smush mini Steve Urkel.

Daryl Hannah was there...Even the King! A hunka-hunka burnin' love as usual!And the absolute highlight of the day? The one celebrity that got the whole entire crowd excited? Who else? SANTA! With one of his "helpers"!! He was as jolly as you would expect and yes, his belly did shake like a bowl full of jelly when he laughed!Man, that was fun! I don't know when I've seen so many silly and interesting things(not to mention celebs) all in one place. Anyone else ready for another snack before we hit the road? I'm thinking corn dog...I ask you...if anyone is still actually there...Where else can you spend a day for the mere cost of parking, caramel corn and a Coke and have this much fun?

MORE Vintage Thingies Here!