The Fruits of Your Labor

I am sure most of you remember the quilt I finished last month for my son to take to his friend who is serving our country in the Air Force. It is so nice when you know the fruits of your labor have been appreciated and loved.

Here is Erika, my sons good friend with her new quilt. I am so pleased she loved it.

Erika sent me the sweetest thank you note expressing how special this gift was to her. That really made my day and I was so glad to do it, for her and for my son.

Just thought you'd enjoy seeing how warmly received that little patriotic quilt was by its new owner. I am thrilled she sent the pictures, that way, I have a record of the owner and the quilt that I made in the spring of 2010. Take care Erika, and may this little quilt bring you comfort and a lot of joy.

Vintage Thingies Thursday: A Treasure From My Past

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. I have gotten a few complaints about people linking in and not doing what is required, please, try and visit each and every participant, that is really important. I know we are all busy, but even if it takes a few days to do so, please do that. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

*****New Link Below:***** I am trying out a new link system from McLinky. This is really a neat concept and hope this works well for us here at Vintage Thingie Thursday.
(1) Add your URL in the spot provited, then add blog or post title in the second spot.
(2) upload a picture for you post today, you can crop photo once it has been loaded, follow instructions. (It does not have to be the first picture on your post, just upload the picture you want to show in the thumbnail) That's it. Mine is the FIRST link, I had to see how this worked for myself!!! Your blog name and link plus a photo should show up in the link if you do this correctly. I want to see how this works this week! I really sort of like this new system.

Today's post will be short and sweet.....I have had these pictures for a long time. They were acquired back in the fall of 1981. They came from down around Waco. I don't know why I kept these, as I can tell you for sure, I have nothing else saved from this short time in my life....and we will just leave it at that.

These are ceramic, and were sure vintage back in 1981. I have no idea how old this set is, but I know they are rather old. I really have always liked this set.

Don't you just love the little cottage in the woods?

This is a nice image too, so serene. Makes me want to take a walk down the path.


The back still has the original stickers. Yes, I am glad I saved these and need to find a place for them....they were discovered a few days ago when my husband and I cleaned out our garage. Now, they are inside....waiting for me to put them on the wall!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

What Next ??

All the time I have people ask me what I do with all of my plates and dishes. Well, the obvious answer would be I use them, enjoy them, and entertain with them. I have such a fondness and a rather large quantity of vintage dishes, that it seems they have spilled out from my cupboards.....literally.....

.....and into my yard......as an edging for a flower bed in the corner of my backyard. Now, this was a very easy project, with the exception of deciding which plates were moving from the inside of the house to the outdoors. I used the ones that had nicks around the rim of the plates, just buried that part under the soil. My inspiration came from a Spring magazine I looked at a few weeks ago. I saw this in a home and garden magazine and knew I was going to be doing this in my own yard.

A mismatched group of dinner plates and saucers make a rather charming border in my opinion. Granted, not everyone in my house shares this sentiment, my son especially......but it is my yard, my flowerbeds, and I like it.....my husband just shakes his head and leaves it at that. I really think he is just happy SOME of the plates are out of the cabinets. When I explained that this was in a brand new home and garden magazine....he stated......the magazine surely had fallen on desperate times for sure. Men....what do they know?


By adding a couple of very vintage chairs I had on my patio, they are serving as a planter holder for some of my pots. I then added a few of the chippy iron pieces, and a few statues from various other places in my yard.

This part of the yard gets a lot of shade, my hosta plants are coming up nicely, so I just added some inpatients flowers to the bed and pots. I may add a few more plants in a couple of weeks, but for now, this is all I have planted.

There you have it, my vintage little corner of the yard. Protested by various members of my family.....with the exception of the dogs...they were looking and sniffing the plates wondering where the food was.....after all, it is not everyday they freely see plates sitting on the ground at their eye level....they were just confused that there was not a single morsel of food on any of them.

I guess it is good to keep them guessing, and let them wonder....what will be next?
.....the family and the dogs.

Finished For Friday: Don't Throw Away Your Wrinkled Silk Flowers

This is a great tip if you have wrinkled, messed up from storing silk flowers and you really just want to toss them, and go buy new, fresh ones. Save your money folks....this is a great tip that will save you lots! I used these flowers almost three years ago, and they have been stored ever since. I took them out of the sack and started to just throw them away.

These were mashed, smashed and I thought there was little hope for them. But...I stopped myself. Why? Because I remember these were a little pricey when I purchased them, and two, they really were perfect for a project I am working on, and three, I was short of time. The Time factor will get me everytime.



The Fix: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Hold your flowers upside down over the boiling water and let the steam do its trick. Be careful, not to get the flowers wet from the boiling water. Note: Be careful, as the steam gets really hot quick. You should hold the flowers over the steam for about 1 minute or longer if they are really bad.



Once the steam has released the petals, shape if needed and lay on a flat surface to dry. I am amazed, really. I was going to throw these away and start all over. I am so glad I could not being myself to do that. I will say this..I tossed the flowers into the clothes dryer first to see if that would do the trick. Don't waste your time....did not work one bit!


Wall-a! all my flowers I saved to reuse, which I was sure were going to the landfill, now are refreshed and drying on my kitchen table. I saved lots of money, and time with this little trick. Not only is it economical, but environmentally smart too, reuse, re-purpose and keep as much "stuff" out of the landfills as possible.

I am happy to say, that of my long list of to-do things this week, this is one I can check off the list as finished. I am linking up to Lit and Laundries, Finished for Friday. Stop by for a visit and see what projects smart and talented bloggers have finished for this week....trust me, you will be inspired.

Vintage Thingies Thursday: It's In The Bag....Vintage Handbags

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. I have gotten a few complaints about people linking in and not doing what is required, please, try and visit each and every participant, that is really important. I know we are all busy, but even if it takes a few days to do so, please do that. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This week, I want to show you a few of my vintage purses....that I DO NOT COLLECT. Let me say that right up front.......ahem.....


I found these brand new, never used purses several months ago, at GW. When I first saw them, I immediately thought of my grandma. I studied these for several minutes, then passed them by, and headed straight to the housewares department. However, I could not get these purses off of my mind, or my grandmother for that matter. I swear, she had a purse exactly like this when I was a little girl. So, I decided they were calling to me and I had to take both of them home that day. So I have them......I don't use them......they are really Granny purses in every since of the word.....but they evoke a sweet memory for me, and they are happy living in my sewing room.....yes, they have a great home.....forever!

Now, this is just amazing....I received a gift in the mail this past week from a stranger......however, no longer a stranger......but this is only a peek at the goodness that was in that package. More on that in a couple of weeks, that evokes a post all by itself.....However, I had to show these ads to you today, as they go with my Granny purses.....in a way.

Just look at these ads from the 1950's....the prices.....the charm. I know you will love it as much as I do.

This great basket purse was a thrift store find.....I paid $2.00 for it, and once again, I noticed it, and went on my way.....had to double back before I left, and brought it home....it does not evoke a single memory for me, but for some reason, it called to me that day. It is really a great piece.

The inside is like brand new.

Now, this is really in a bit of a rough condition, but it did evoke a memory of my sweet auntie who had a very similar purse like this when I was a little girl. However, her purse was brown, and a little larger. I remember one Christmas, when I was staying with her on break, we had gone to the grocery store....well, she sat her purse on top of the car and drove off.....I am here to tell you these purses were very well made, because it crashed onto the pavement of the street with all the contents spilling all over the road. We hopped out of the car and very quickly grabbed everything up.....all the while my aunt was laughing....saying, "Oh, Gosh!!!" I can still her laughing today, and I never forgot about driving out of the HEB parking lot and hearing that purse hit the ground.....funny how things from your childhood just stick with you. Great memories of great folks.

I love the mushrooms on this purse, and while it is in a bit of rough condition, I may be able to redo the inside, and fix it up a bit.....no matter, it has a forever home.....

Now, this little black patent leather bag is indeed dreamy. I was fortunate enough to win a giveaway over at Tracy's blog, The Crazy Suburban Mom, and this was my wonderful handbag I received. There is a bit of history here too, this bag belonged to Tracy's 80 year old Auntie...and this one was left over from lots of handbags she sold for her aunt....how wonderful for me, because I really love it. This also had a great little purse mirror inside. This looks like it was never used....just lovely. Include in my box was this great dishtowel and these wonderful coffee mugs.....totally made my day. Thank you Tracy, so much!!!

So, like I said earlier, I don't collect vintage purses....I think they purses collect me.....and I promise, I don't ever start out looking for them, they just sorta find me. Have a wonderful Vintage Thingie Thursday....and remember, don't be afraid to bring home something that is normally out of your collection range....it might be calling out to you right there in the store and just might belong with you, and how sad to pass that up! Believe me, I know all about it!

A Lesson From My Furry Friends

Sometimes, we can learn important lessons from our furry friends...........


If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me.

~Author Unknown

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Vintage Colorado Souvenirs

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions.

Following up from last week, I'd like to share a few of the vintage souvenir items I have collected from Colorado in the past few years. I don't consider myself a serious collector of souvenir items, but a few have found their way into our home....ahem.....well, at least I don't really go looking for these things, they sorta just find me!

This is a mining shares certificate from Cripple Creek. This is from the Acacia Burns and Morning star mines. My brother purchased this off the internet and gave it to Steve and I one year for Christmas. It is really a great piece of history from Cripple Creek. I found a great link on different certificates from the mines in the area of Cripple Creek, click HERE if interested at seeing this bit of history.

Now, if you are after souvenirs from the past....I can help you with that! This is a vintage pillow cover and I really love this piece. It is classic mid century in design and fabrics. I picked this up I am sure at an estate sale several years ago, but I don't remember what I paid for this.

I really love the verse. I used to see these more often than I do now, so I am glad I have one from this great state.

This is a old souvenir pencil....looks like a Indian tom-tom. I paid 10 cents for this at a thrift store here in Ft. Worth several years ago.

It came from Santa Claus land, which is at the base of Pikes Peak. I used to love taking my kids there when they were little. It is Christmas year around at Santa Land, and it is really a fun place to take small children.

And speaking of Pikes Peak, this is one of the few collector plates I have from Colorado. This is rather old, and the elevation is not exactly correct on this plate. The correct elevation is 14,110 ft. This error was either an oversight or the mountain grew by 10 feet! The back still has the sticker that says Victoria Ceramics ~ Japan.

This is from Central City, Colorado. I likes this plate as it had the old Opera House, and I loved the edging of the little plate itself. This is only 4 inches across in diameter.

Here is another unusual plate, I liked this one because of the edging and design too. Not only are the major tourist attractions listed on this plate, but the design is very unusual.

Here is the closeup of the yellow border, I just love it.

Lastly, is a plate from Seven Falls, which is in the Colorado Springs area, this is a small plate too, only 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

I have several other pieces, but these are the ones I call my favorites, and the oldest ones I have. I hope you enjoyed seeing them today....we are planning our trip next month to Colorado, and I can hardly wait...I need the fresh air, mountains and critters to re-energize my soul!

Have a great week everyone, hope your weekend is very enjoyable. Take care....and happy treasure hunting!

Rise and Shine......

........or not!

The other morning, I was busy trying to get some housework done. I did not take too much time or effort, but I did spread up the comforter on the bed. I knew it might not be the best job, but it was straight and neat when I left the room. Not fifteen minutes later, this is what I saw......

What???? As I passed the bedroom door, I glanced inside my room, and decided I was either really losing it or someone was in trouble...take a close look!

Yes, I do have dogs that will unmake the bed, crawl inside, and cover themselves up, and take a early morning nap. Sophie's reply to the "Rise and Shine" was simply....I think not!

It is mornings like this that I'd like to follow suit....I am not even joking! I think my new motto will simply be......"if you can't beat them...join them!"

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Cripple Creek Class of 1913 Memory Book

This post is a little different than my usual, and because it is Picture loaded, the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday are HERE. Please take the time to read over them if you are unsure of what to do.

Please, let me say, this is picture LOADED, and because of that, I hope it does not take forever for the page to load. But, I think you will understand why I did not want to leave anything out. Remember you can click on the photos to enlarge and make it easier to read.

A couple of years ago, I purchased this scrapbook type book from an online auction. Being thrifty was tossed out the window. Cripple Creek is most special to me as is anything that has to do with this little mining town. So there was no way I could think about being thrifty. I would rather not say what I paid for this, as my husband sometimes reads my blog, but I will say it cost more than all of my yearbooks from grades 6-12 total.
Ahem......I had to have it at whatever the cost.

This is a red, leather bound book belonging to a young girl who graduated from Cripple Creek High School in 1913. It is in fairly good condition, and does not smell musty as some old books do, thank goodness.... Below, are the inside pages that are full of names, events, and a peek into a young persons life during the later ends of the Gold Rush. I hope you enjoy this, it is quiet special to me.

This is the information of the book, and who published it. (front of cover)

Love this old copyright page

This is the beginning.....the book was a gift to Mary Elizabeth Craig from her teacher. I am assuming the photo is of the teacher, the card on the left page was the actual inscription from the teacher.

Here is where Mary Elizabeth recorded the important information about her class. Just read the "yell" can you just imagine the kids today chanting something like this....hahahaha

These pages are signatures from classmates, she added a photo is it was available, and a clipping of the info on each student....For Anna Walker...her occupation: TALKING. Wow.

More classmates.....Clifford Holden's occupation: Minding his own business......interesting.

Ermine and Ashley must have been an item back then, the drawing is of them, and each is mentioned under their occupations......this has been so fascinating to me.

I wonder who in the world did the drawings, was it Mary Elizabeth? A classmate? Wish I knew.

The top left cut-out on the left page is for Mary Elizabeth Craig, "Mutt" (maybe that was her nickname. Her occupation was playing piano...so that tells me Mary Craig was a musician. Notice the drawings, they are fascinating.

More great writings by the classmates, these little poems or ditty's are so sweet. Sure tells of a much simpler time.....makes me wish I could have a better peak into what life was like back then.

The hand writings are wonderful, so charming.

These two pages seem to be greetings from the teachers.

Just look at these two pictures of her teachers. Look at the high collars and the hair.....these are original photos.

Can you just imagine the mischief this group could get into....look at their suits.


This is a note written by Mary, she recorded her thoughts of entertainment during her senior year. Notice she talks about where the teachers lived, very interesting. I wish I could have seen a photo of that.

These are just amazing photos. I am guessing classmates, just look at the dresses, hats and hair. Oh, the one on the left just gets me, I love that outfit...and can just see how it must have looked with these girls walking the old wooden sidewalks of Cripple Creek.

This book has several of these dance books. They are just amazing by themselves. Seems back then the girls were given a dance book, and they were filled out and important info was added to the book......
Look at the date, and place of dance.....

This is a hand written invitation to a get together during the time of a dance, it was found in the little envelope in the picture below.

Here is another dance book.

Each of these books have the names of the dances and the girls recorded who they danced with...I notice some of the songs have a "X" by it, so I am guessing that they sat that dance out!

This was a photo that must have taken place over the summer vacation......

This is a post card, and it appears to be from the same place, only it has listed the names of the kids who was there at the time.

Back view of post card.
This is a folded up info from Mary herself..it sits loose in the book.

This is a felt cut-out. I don't know what it is, or what it means. Maybe it was something that had to do with the school.

Snapshots of classmates. Love how all the names are listed.

More classmates

This girl on the right was according to Mary the Valedictorian.

Interesting......

more........

This is the ACTUAL graduation invitation for the class of 1913, Cripple Creek, Colorado

Inside of invitation...still has the original tissue paper.

This is the program from the graduation.

Inside information from the program.

This is a newspaper article about the graduating class. If you enlarge the photo, I think you can read it.

This is the dance book from the graduation dance....it is a green leather, feels like velvet it is so soft.

Info......

Class list for Jr.'s and Sr.'s I would think this might be like the modern day prom.

List of dances.......

More classmate notes...I just love these.... One says, "Don't forget what I saw Wayne do." and right under that...someone wrote, "Ditto".......now I just wonder what Wayne did??????

I wonder if the person who wrote this on the right side could have imagined that almost a hundred years later....the pages are not really yellow as she describes......

This is a newspaper clipping found inside the book. It is amazing to see....look at that quilt.

This is the back side of the paper....love the ads.

This is full of tales for someone with a wild imagination like myself.....trust me, I have really formed stories and thoughts on the people in this little scrapbook.

I have tried to research Mary Elizabeth Craig, but I have not had much luck. There is not even a photo of her here. I am going to take this to Colorado when we go this spring, there is a historical society there and maybe they would have some information. I have been told that a Hotel owner in town would be interested in buying this book, but being the hopeless romantic I am, I really would like to find the descendants of Mary Elizabeth. I can not imagine they would not want to have this back.

I was able to locate some information about some of the boys on the internet, but the girls proved to be much harder, due to the changing of their last names once they married.

When I purchased this book, I inquired about how they had come to own it. I was told, the book was purchased in an antique store in Northern Colorado in the early 1970's. That is all they knew....I wonder how it happened to come to the antique store, but most of all, I wonder what became of these kids in this graduating class. I think I must dig a little deeper when I am in Cripple Creek in May, then maybe I can get a lead on who really needs to be the owner of this wonderful treasure. I really hope I can find someone from Mary's family, they deserve to know their family member in an intimate way and through the eyes of a young girl during a special time in her life. I am most thankful, this is still intact and in good shape for its age.

Thanks for seeing this post to the end, I know it was rather long...but lots of vintage information to cover and show you in today's post! Have a great weekend everyone! And...if you happen to know any of these people in this book....let me know!

I feel sure Mary Elizabeth Craig of Cripple Creek, class of 1913, would love to have her book back, or at least, know her great grandchildren have it!