Fabulous Flea Market Finds

My vacation/stay-cation ends tonight.  Boo.  A few more hours and then it's back to work.  Yuk.  I have had a very nice time these past two weeks.  I have camped, canoed, eaten s'mores, and swam.  I've gotten tan and a few bug bites.  I've also gotten to hang out with my family and I've loved that!  I also got to sneak into a few of my favorite flea markets and junk shops.  That's where I found the Singer Sewing Machine Book.

This book was copyrighted in 1954, but I believe it was given as a gift to "Eleanor" in 1957 because of the inscription:  

I just love finding old handwritten notes.  It's so personal, isn't it?  Besides this awesome book, I also came across some pretty cool purses:

This was my favorite:

And look at these shoes!

Were ladies' feet smaller years ago?  It seems like vintage shoes are all so small!  Hmm.

While this vacation is almost over, I have another week scheduled the week after Father's Day.  So, I guess I shouldn't complain too much!

Tootles!

Some Flea Market Finds...Finally

It seems like forever since I posted some Flea Market Friday stuff!  So, here are some of my recent treasured finds:

 Aren't these terrific?!  A few weeks ago I found the Summer and Fall Simplicity catalogs from 1969!  They are full of fabulous photos and illustrations of fashions from that year.  (The photo I took of the Summer catalog would not post...for some unknown reason, it wouldn't appear right-side up??).  

Have a look at these vintage goodies:

These items were actually given to me by a friend who was cleaning out his mother's home.  It is mostly a bunch of vintage maps and several books of "green stamps."  I wonder if they are still worth anything??  I doubt it, but they are fun and bring back memories of my childhood.  The book of Value Stamps pictured above is from 1966.  No, I wasn't even born yet, but I do remember my mother collecting stamps in the early 1970s in turn in for dinnerware at the grocery store!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Toodles!

Angela  

Is That What is Called a Senior Moment?

Happy Saturday!  I just wanted to pop in and show off my completed Discovering Myself Journal!!  I've really had a great time working on this project, a first of a kind for me.  Bonnie's blog is so gorgeous and her designs are beautiful.  I'd love to learn how she creates her digital designs!  That's her next class maybe?  Anyway, while I didn't think I really needed to discover myself, and I don't feel I was lost and had find myself, completing some of the pages did force me to think about different parts of me and my personality:  The Good, The Bad, and The Down Right Ugly.  Also, just the physical aspect of creating the pages has really made me see and appreciate (even more) all you paper/mixed media artists out there!  That said, here are the rest of my journal pages:

Front Cover

I Am Beautiful

My Quirks

My Life Motto

Back Cover

I've also changed up a few of the first couple of pages.  If you'd like to see the entire project, click on Journals page on my side bar!

I think I had a "senior moment" when I came up with the name for the Wednesday Wonderisms project.  I had Wednesday and Wonderisms reversed.  I have no explaination for this other than I guess my mind works in reverse (some would say backwords) sometimes??  Anyway, I've corrected it and made a grab-able button for anyone who wants to play every Wednesday.  You can just grab it off my side bar.

Okay, I'm off to work on my Hepburn coat.  I have vowed to complete it this weekend! 

Toodles for now!

Flea Market Finds & Page 3

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thanks to all for your sweet comments regarding "My First Dress!"  I had a great time making October's dress and am already thinking about what to do for November's and December's dresses.  I'm totally bummed that the Dress Challenge 2010 will end with December's dress and  Margaret, unfortunately, has decided not host a Dress Challenge 2011.  I've been thinking about hosting it if unless one of the other participants already plans to.  Anyway, I wanted to show you some of the stuff I scored during my Flea Market Friday.  I also managed to hit a few thrift / vintage shops over the weekend. 

The first picture is of a silk (I think) circle.  I'm not sure what it is...I mean I can't call it a table cloth because it isn't very large.  I don't think I can call it a dresser scarf because it is a circle...so ??  Whatever it is called, it is beautiful.  The bird, tree, and flowers are embroidered.  I was told this silk circle came from the estate of a well known lady in the town I was visiting.  I also bought another item from this estate, however I plan on giving this to my daughter for her birthday, so I won't show a photo of it until after her big day!  These items, along with several others, were on sale in order to support the town's art society. 

The second picture is of a few vintage sewing patterns as well as a Vogue pattern catalogue from 1974!  Sew cool!  The last picture is of a collection of Foreign Travel magazine.  The collection begins in November 1934 and, save one, it is complete through December 1935!  I found collection, along with a ton of books, at a local thrift shop.  I feel I hit pay dirt here!  I found an entire room of books!  I actually felt guilty walking away from this store after only paying $2.00 for the magazine collection!  These magazines are full of terrific photos and graphics.  I originally went shopping to find cheap books to cut up for different paper crafts.  Honestly, I find the thought of cutting up books something I will have a hard time doing...even cheap books.  Is that weird?  Well, I will not cut up these magazines, however I did find a few books that will be sacrificed for the sake of art!

This then brings me to the third page of my Discovering Myself Journal.  I've finished this page and I "jazzed" up pages 1 and 2 with some stickers and gold thread.  I cut up my first book last night.  Well, I cut a page up; the page depicting Western Europe.  I glued Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden onto Page 3.  The ticket says, "What I Miss Most About Childhood..."

 My answer here:  No Fears.  I also miss people, places, and feelings.  You know the feeling at Christmas, the feeling like time moves so slowly, the feeling like you can fly, disappear, leap tall buildings.  I didn't have room for all these, so I stuck with, "No Fears." 

Here are my "jazzed" up Pages 1 and 2:

Well, that's all for now.  I hope to work on Page 4 ASAP.  I will post it when it is complete!  I hope you all have a super Wednesday and rest of the week!

Oh, be sure to click on Wendy's 12 Days of Christmas ATC Swap button on my sidebar and join in on the fun. 

Toodles for now!

Flea Market Friday! Bluebirds, Retro Sewing Patterns, and Scrapbooking?

Is this an awesome card or what?!  I love, repeat love, BLUEBIRDS!  I've always enjoyed birds..well, I haven't enjoyed real birds expect from afar...really afar.  But, bluebirds, well, I love them.  I started collecting them after my mom passed away almost six years ago.  You see she carried a little Bluebird of Happiness in her purse for years.  I don't know where or from whom she got it, but I think she must of thought of it as a sort of good luck charm.  After she died, I got this little glass sculpture and thus began my collection.  Over the years I have hunted them in flea markets, junk shops, antique malls, and even garage sales.  They are much harder to find than one might think.  I scored today, however.  My flea market Friday trip to Good JuJu paid off!  Have a look at my treasure.

Two BB of Happiness atop a glass heart

Today's find within my collection

I have never seen a BBH (Bluebird of Happiness) like this before.  There are actually two birds sitting on top of a heart.  Have you?  I think they are pretty cool.

Beside this BBH Big-Time Find today, I also found a few vintage sewing patterns.  As I wrote in a previous post, I am participating in the Hepburn Hepburn Project at Rhinestones and Telephones.  So, I am on the lookout for Hepburn-esque patterns.  I think I found two today.  Both are coats.  I'm not sure which one I will actually make.  I am leaning toward Simplicity 5301 because there isn't a collar to deal with...okay, it also says, "Simple To Sew."  Of course Simplicity 5526 states it is a "Look Slimmer Pattern."  Looking slimmer is always a plus.  What do you think?  Let's have a vote!  Comment your vote for which pattern I should use and state if you think your choice is more Katherine or Audrey-esque!

Look Slimmer Pattern or Simple to Sew?

Okay, one last thing.  I finally got signed up for an online journaling class.  It's called Discovering Myself.  Although I've started doing the ATCs recently, I've never done scrapbooking or journaling before, but I am super excited about this class.   I stumbled across Bonnie's blog (Bonnie VanEsch Designs AKA Scrapping Till The Cows Come Home) and found her designs and blog itself absolutely beautiful!  The class doesn't begin until September 24, so if you are interested, check it out! 

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe holiday weekend!

Toodles for now!

My Collection Begins Plus More 1970s Stuff!

Today I recieved my first Artist Trading Card!  My collection of these tiny masterpeices begins!  If you have not heard about them, they are sort of like baseball cards, except they are made by artists to swap with others.  I have joined the Blissfull ATC Swap and have partnered up with Wendy for this first swap month.    Wendy's work is fantastic.  Her blog is full of gorgeous photos of her art.  Check out what she made for me!

  Isn't is beautiful!  I love it!  I mailed Wendy the ATC I made, which, compared to her's is completely amaturish, by hey, it's my first!  When Wendy receives my card, she'll post a photo of it on her blog, so look for it!  Hopefully she'll receive it by Wednesday!  The theme for July's swap is "Sisters."  Next month's theme is "orange."  I guess that means anything orange goes!

Well, I'm sure everyone participating in Rewind Week: 1970s has been busy working on their projects right!  If you haven't signed up to participate, it isn't too late!  There is still time!  I have had a super time reminiscing, going through old photos and talking about those things that stick out in my mind from my childhood.  In a way, the 1970s don't seem that long ago.  On the other hand, it seems like we have "advanced" so far since that time.  For example, think about video games.  Look at Wii and Playstation.  These games are so realistic aren't they?  Now think back to the games in the 1970s.  I remember playing a tennis type game on our ginormous console television...no remote control thank you very much.  I can still remember the sound. Ping...ping...ping. Another example of this advancement in our technology is in the kitchen. No, switching from avacado green appliances to sleek stainless steel is not technology, it is just better taste. No, the technology is in the appliances. Remember the "radarange?"

Atari Pong

Amana

Retro Renovation

And then, of course, our fashions have advanced.  Well, sort of.  I actually see a lot of people wearing "retro" inspired clothing.  Personally, I find the clothes of this time pretty awful...even more horrendous than the styles of the 1980s!

Vintage Patterns

I am actually really looking forward to doing Rewind Week: 1980s.  I was a child in the 1970s, but I grew up in the 1980s.  I wised up in the 1990s!

Alright, remember to grab your button if you are a participant! 

Toodles for now!

Shaun Cassidy...Again I say, "No, you are not Vintage!"

A few weeks ago I snapped this photo during a Flea Market Friday outing.  This album was marked as "vintage hearthrob."  Vintage?  At the time I laughed, but later, thought, if Shaun is vintage...am I vintage, too?  I did have this album and poster and I watched The Hardy Boys (circa 1977)!  I say, "NO!"  No to both!  We are not vintage...just wiser.  Yeah, that's it.  Oh, and by the way, I also had a huge Andy Gibb poster.  I can still see it...his feathered blonde hair appeared to be moving in imaginary wind and his black, gigantic collared, shirt, unbuttoned a little too far...He had the whitest teeth didn't he?  I guess in thirty years Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus will be vintage, too...right?

Thanks again for the great response to the Rewind Week!  There is still time to sign up if you haven't done so.  Please remember, this event is open to everyone...even if you don't have a blog!  Just send me an email!To those who have signed up, I've posted your button and code on my sidebar, just below the participant link list.  I will also email you the code..just in case I messed something up in the scrollbox! 

As for the link list, please take the opportunity to click on the blogs.  All the blogs are terrific!  I've had a fantastic time checking out the blogs here as well as through the Bloggerette Sorority. 

Toodles for now!

Flea Market Friday! I'm Pooped!

Well, I returned to the land of the living today.  With the kidney stone far behind (hopefully never to return), I succeeded in Flea Market Friday!  I spent the day shopping "vintage" style and also managed to sneak into my favorite fabric shop, where I picked up some fabulous yardage as well as a few fat quarters.  During my retro shopping, I focused on purses; so many variations.  While I did not buy any, I photographed a lot of them and will post these tomorrow.  I did purchase a vintage sewing pattern, a few books, and a 1937 McCall's catalogue.  This was my most expensive purchase.

This magazine style catalogue is so cool!  I wish you could see it in person! 

Check out this 1971 Simplicity pattern for bags and spats!  "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!"

Alright, I have got to hit the hay.  I am wiped out!  I will post pictures of the great bags I saw today, as well as some of the other great stuff I found!

Toodles for now.

Droid Cell Phone Case Complete!

Droid Cell Phone Case (front)

Backside

Well, I finished the case for my new cell phone tonight.  I found the tutorial for the case at Sew Mama Sew a few days ago.  I thought I was going to have to alter the measurements for my phone, but luckily, I didn't have to!  This is great because measuring/math is not my forte.  That sounds terrible for a sewist doesn't it?  I'm getting better, but I've been very guilty of "eyeballing" my measurements in the past.  I now pinkie swear I will no longer do this...Anyway, I'm pretty happy with my results.  My new "Droid" phone (I'm not sure what that means) fits inside perfectly.  I used a fabric from Tina Givens' Free Spirit line called Rachael  for the outside and decided on a pale pink flannel for the lining.  I thought this would be softer on the phone, which it is, but it also makes it a bit bulkier since there is also a layer of batting.  I will definately make more of these since they don't take a lot of fabric and it was a pretty quick project from beginning to end.  Maybe I'll change the closure on the next case I make.  Maybe velcro or a snap?  What do you think?

Just one more thing.  Awhile back I signed up to receive newletters and discounts from Simplicity, McCall's, Vogue, and Butterick.  I usually get two or three of their adds every day.  I got one from Vogue a few days ago and just opened it today.  In it I found their new collection.  In this collection is one gorgeous dress.  It is Vintage Vogue 1171. 

Vintage Vogue 1171

 

I also found what I am certain is the most awful dress I have ever seen.  Tell me what you think of this Mrs. Roper number, otherwise known as Vogue 1181.

Vogue 1181

Pretty terrible huh?  I don't have anymore words for this.

Toodles for now!