Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Salesman Button Cards

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!! 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.  Please only ONE link per week. 

Here it is time for Vintage Thingie Thursday and well, honestly, I had nothing......nothing that I had photographed or could find had ready to be photographed.
  
So....please forgive me this one time. I am going to show some neat vintage button cards and well....plug my newly opened Etsy Shop at the same time. (See link on Left Side Bar, at bottom of page)  I promise I won't do it again, just this once. If you want to stop in and browse, there will be a link on the sidebar of my blog. As you might have guessed, THESE photos were still on my computer from adding them to the shop, so that sorta made it a little easier for me.

These are vintage button salesman show cards that were used when calling on department stores and small shops that ordered and sold buttons. These are FANTASTIC in my opinion. I love them. I think they are very unusual and fun to see how buttons were ordered for selling in stores.

I was fortunate enough to come across so many of them in one location, so I purchased all of them. I decided that some of my favorite ones would be a great addition to my sewing room....in a frame.

I love this frame, a Goodwill find a few months ago. I love it and had saved it for just the right thing....I think these two make a great statement together....the button card and the frame!

So there you have it! I love how it turned out. And I am glad to have rescued these cards from the lady that was going to toss them if they did not sell. I have several styles and cards in the shop, would make a great gift for the quilter, seamstress or button collector. Just an idea!!

Have a great Vintage Thingie Thursday.....and promise.....you won't hear me mention the shop again.....I guess it is still too new not to be exciting to me!! Thanks in advance for you allowing me this one post on the subject!!

Have a great week Everyone!! And as always, there will be a link up for next Thursday! Here in the USA it is a holiday ~ It's Thanksgiving, but I always leave a link up so if you decide to do a post next week, just so you know, a link will be up!!

Vintage Thingies Thursday: LOVE-ly treasures

Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday. Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone. If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy!
To participate, all you have to do is:

* * * * Please everyone, follow these guidelines!

(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the link at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.


REMINDER: We have several new friends linking in for Vintage Thingie Thursday. I want to remind everyone that the link for VTT goes up on Wednesday evening and will run through Friday morning (early) then the link will be closed. I know it is hard to get in the habit of posting earlier than later, but try and get your link in before early Friday morning. I have to close the link to keep spam out of the link. Thanks!! And I know Wednesday is not Thursday, here...but it is Thursday for our friends who live on the other side of the globe!!

This week, with Valentine's day just around the corner, I thought I'd show some cute Valentine theme things.....nothing too fancy, just some of the things I love. I really like the idea of taking something old or vintage and giving it new life......

Someone took an old quilt, cut it up and made a cute little wreath....I love it, it is in my sewing room. I just love the vintage fabrics...love how someone reused the quilt, not saying I could have cut the quilt up......but.......

It really is a cute little wreath to look at......next, is a reworked small piece of handwork I purchased at an estate sale for $1.00.

This was sitting all by itself, the frame is one of the gold frames of years ago. I decided to spray paint the frame. I can see from this picture I may need to touch it up a bit!! I think this is cute...and it had hearts in the design, so appropriate for a Valentine week.

This is sorta a sneek peek at my Sunday post....but...I will say this, I just love a vintage jar filled with vintage buttons.....this is part of a Valentine centerpiece I put together this week for a party I am joining on Sunday. You'll have to stop back by on Sunday....I will say this, it has something to do with vintage valentines, an almost vintage bear, a Valentine story of love (well, that may be a stretch!) and well.....a GIVEAWAY.....so be sure to stop back by. And.....stop over at Anything Goes Here....it is a Vintage Valentine Card Party...and should be a lot of fun, and you maybe can still sign up to join in on the fun.

This little bird vase was a find at GW not long ago. I think it cost me 45 cents.....I thought it was sorta cute...may you receive lots of Valentines in the mail this week...just like the one this little bird is trying to deliver!

Here is the stamp on the bottom, marked Japan....I am sure it has no real value, but I liked it. He sits on the shelf in my laundry room.

Happy Vintage Thingies Thursday everyone....be sure to stop by on Sunday, and lets enjoy the Valentine Card Party!

Tagged, Sealed and Almost Delivered

The Trinity Valley Quilt show is this coming weekend and I know you guys remember me being rather bold and brave to enter my quilt in the show. Strictly for fun, and I am really looking forward to seeing all the amazing talented quilters and their quilts this weekend.

A requirement for dropping off your quilt for the show is that it has to be in a cloth bag and labeled with the quilt name and owners name. I really did not know what to make for a cloth bag. I searched on the Internet for some samples, but did not come up with much...so I did what most people would have done....made up my own design.

What do you think? I had the white fabric, it was from an estate sale and it is a heavy weight cotton. Out of my scrap bin, found some of the fabric that was used in the quilt itself and added it.....just because I thought it made a nice touch.

I was going to add a vintage button to close the flap, because you know how I like vintage things..but it just was not working. I did however, find my button maker kit and used the same fabric for the button....Oh....I love it.....this time, vintage just did not do.

Here is the quilt, nicely folded, and just peeking out from inside the bag.

And here is my label. I stitched this in the side seam of the bag, no chance of the label getting lost that way. So here is the signed part....label intact.

And here is the sealed part......now, all I have to do is deliver on Thursday morning and I am done. The awards are Friday morning at 9:00 am. The show starts on Friday morning at 10:00 am. I am going to go to the awards, not with the assumption I am going to win anything, but......... that I may never do this again, and want the whole experience. The whole She-bang.

I can not wait until Saturday, that is when we will go and really look at all the quilts on display. It should be fun. Don't worry, I will finish posting about this quilt with a recap of the quilt show.....lots of pictures....because it is so fun looking at other peoples works of art.......

VINTAGE THINGIES THURSDAY: Vintage Red, White and Blue

Hello Everyone!! Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday.

Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone.

If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy! The instructions are at the bottom of this post.

Since it is a huge holiday this weekend here in the United States, I decided to keep with the red, white and blue theme, and show what FEW red, white and blue items I found here at home. I really do not have too many things that fall into the patriotic category. Do you think that means I am not patriotic? Hopefully, not....I am going to say it just means I have not found too many things that "speak to me" in those colors.

I do have lots of vintage buttons. And well, because I have nothing else better to do with my time, I arranged these in a shape of the flag. Very Fourth of July looking I think. I love all of these buttons, and I was lucky enough to find the star button in my stash. As always, you can click on the picture to make them bigger for a closer look.

Here is a darling little Sunbonnet Sue dish towel. I purchased her at the Canton Trade Days last month. She was stained and so was the towel, so I got this for a bargain of .50 cents. She washed up just fine and serves well today with the patriotic theme.

You know, sometimes I almost feel guilty paying such a low price for a stained towel or tablecloth, knowing full well I am going to get these items looking good as new and spending little money......key word there....almost. Should I feel bad?

Here is a great vintage platter. I got this locally at the flea market. I think I paid about $3.00 for this platter. I liked the border around the edges of the plate.

This is the marking on the back of the platter. This is the only markings.

Well, that is about all I found....I told you I did not find too much. Oh, the cute little red and white tablecloth was an estate sale find too, and it just screams the words picnic to me. I love the red and white in this tablecloth, reminds me of the blue one my mom had when we were little.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you enjoyed these red, white and blue treasures. We may be seeing lots of patriotic colors today, since the 4th is so close, so if you are visiting from somewhere else in the world, just bear with us.....we tend to like our patriotic colors...well, some of us that is....I really can not speak for myself....ahem........ But hey, I am a big fan of vintage red.....alone....just the red!

Instructions below for participating in VTT!!


To participate, all you have to do is:
(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.

Thanks so much. Have a great Fourth of July weekend everyone, be safe.

Blue Monday : Turning Outdated Glass Jars into Art

A couple of weeks ago, I had an idea to turn outdated glass jars into something functional and more up to date. I am going to show you what you can do with some great yard sale, thrift store or Goodwill finds for little money. I know everyone remembers these glass containers with the designs on them from the 80's right? I see them all the time in thrift stores, and up until lately, I have left them sitting on the shelf.

It was not until my daughter started working at a Country Club and needed something to keep her tips in at home until she went to the bank, that I decided that these out of date jars just might be re-purposed into a more modern look and functional too.

All you need is some of these jars with lids. The one on the left, I bought for $1.00. When I got home, and took the tape off the lid, I saw the lid handle was broken off. I am going to file it as best I can, and go ahead and transform this into a much more desirable looking jar...the broken handle will not be missed. See the little jar in front. That is a jar from the 80's I am sure, I remember that pattern...cost....25 cents. Now grab a few jars next time you are out treasure hunting....

Along with a few scrapbook papers, a rubber stamp and ink pad, a paint brush, some mod podge and a few choice embellishments is all it takes to transform a dated glass container into something decorated with a updated look.

First, tear the papers into small pieces, mod Podge onto glass container and lid. For some reason, I do not have the pictures of the glass container being transformed....sorry, you will have to just follow along with the lid.

I used about three coats of mod Podge. There will be a few lumps and bubbles, but don't worry, once it dries, those will disappear for the most part.

I put this on pretty thick with a brush. Let dry in between coats.

I used a little sticker on the top with Alisha's initial. Then just mod podged over all of it.

Once you have let all the coats dry, it is time to embellish your work. I used some vintage lace and trim along with buttons, ribbons and flowers to embellish this one.

I used a stamp and wrote a message inside the jar. I stamped the paper before it was mod podged onto the outer glass, that way when you look inside, there is a message there. In the lower left are the words "I love you"....you can barely see it....but it is there to remind my daughter I love her!



Here is a look at the stamp work, stickers and little buttons that adorn the sides of the jar.

I used the vintage lace to make a flower, and glued the paper flower on top of the lace one. I like the soft look it gives the jar.

Here is the lid, finished. I used the vintage lace to go around the base of the lid, and put a cute little bow over the lace, the lock and key is a cute little romantic touch I think.

Here is the finished jar. This was made for holding Alisha's tip monies in. She needed something to keep her money in, and I thought this would help conceal her money and look cute sitting on her desk shelf at the same time. I think it turned out really cute. This is super easy...even if you are not a crafter.

So next time you are at Goodwill or garage sales and see those dated glass containers, remember they can be transformed for little money and without much effort. Just choose the colors and theme for your jar, and the sky is the limit. Be sure to report back if you make a jar and let me see your finished product....how fun will that be??

Visit Smiling Sally's Blog for more great Blue Monday participants and Blues. Have a great week everyone!!

Quilt Festival: Flower Basket Button Quilt

This afternoon while I was reading some of the blogs in my reader, I found this post about a Quilt Festival online through Handmade by Alissa's Blog. This wonderful event is being hosted by Park City Girl and My. Oh. My. What a wonderful collection of all kinds of quilts are posted there. What is even more wonderful are the stories about the quilts and why each one is special. Trust me, you won't want to miss this event, grab a cup of coffee, and plan to sit a spell, you will be glad you did.

I decided this would be a great opportunity for me to show off one of my favorite quilts....It was hard to choose, because all of my quilts are my favorites...but this one is very unique and it is special to my heart. Hope you enjoy! (Click on any photo to enlarge to see detail)

My children went to Catholic School through 8th grade. It was a small inter city school with around 230 children, give or take a few. The school principal Mrs. Zinno was a very talented Quilter. In fact, some of you may remember me showing you the quilted Christmas ornaments she made. If you would like to take a look back at those, click HERE.

Anyway, Mrs. Zinno came up with a wonderful plan for earning funds for the school by making a quilt each year and having the children participating in the making or design, then having a school wide raffle in the spring. She did this for four years we were at that school. I am happy to say, I won two of the four quilts. Unbelievable I know. I won the first one she ever made and the third one. This one is the third one. I had never been more excited in my life when I won this one, the donation of $40.00 has brought more joy than you can even imagine each time I look at this treasure.

This is a flower basket design, I think. All the pieces were cut out by the principal and sent home to different moms in the school to sew or stitch them together. Brave of her...right? Once that was complete, the squares were sent back to the school. Once they were all collected and returned, it was time for the children to have their hand in the quilt design.

Every student and staff member in the school got to pick a button from the button stash that was contributed by church and families of the school. And let me say this, I did get to take a look at the large box of buttons and I was just amazed at the different ones. Some antique, some vintage, some new, some cute and comical, some rather unique....it was such a wonderful meddling of all types of buttons, just like the people who made up the school community.


Each child got to choose their button, which would be the flowers on the quilt. Then the buttons were placed on a cardboard log with each child's name. I am sure this was not an easy task because the school had PK3-8th grade students. And if any of these kids were like myself...well, I would have had a hard time choosing just one!

Each button was added to the flower boxes as the flowers, then labeled with the child's name and grade, and then the flower stems were embroidered. So cute!

Many different colors were used in the quilt. My favorite happens to be the green and red plaid used as the filler fabric. This was the colors of the girls plaid jumpers. It just adds a nice touch to the quilt as well as fond memories, for me of those cute little plaid jumpers that were worn with little red sweaters. This square, has my daughter Alisha's button, she was in the 3rd grade when this was completed.

Here is a more masculine quilt square that happens to have my son, Jeff's button. Jeff was in the 8th grade that year, his last year at the school. Luckily, the boys did not have to wear any plaid, just blue pants and a white shirt....nothing cute!

It is amazing how each one is different and shows the uniqueness of each and everyone at the school. I love how this turned out. I like looking at the buttons and thinking about each of the children that went to school with my daughter and son. I can usually imagine why the child chose the button they did for this project. They really do reflect the likeliness of each child.

The size of the quilt is a King size, and I had forgotten it came with two matching pillow shams. I love how it fits on my bed, but I don't use it. It does have a hanger sewn in the back for hanging on a wall, I think this was used to display it at the school. I keep it safe in my quilt display box. I don't want to lose any of the delightful buttons. I am so thankful for the brilliant idea Mrs. Zinno had to raise funds for the school and share her talent with the community. Likewise, I am so thankful lady luck was smiling down on me and I was able to win not one but two delightful quilts.

I hope you enjoyed looking at one of my favorite quilts. It holds lots of memories for me and my family. I will pass this quilt on to my daughter one day....far away....one day!

Remember...."Friends are like flowers in the garden of life" just as this quilt clearly points out!

Now, be sure to hop on over to Park City Girl's blog, and enjoy all the wonderful display of quilts participating in the festival. Thanks Park City Girl for hosting this...I am so glad I found it!!

Happy Easter Greetings ~ Vintage Style

Vintage Happy Easter Greetings!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. No matter what you do today, take a minute and pause and remember what this day is all about.

...And may the food on your table be so good, that someone pops a button or two and they end up in your button stash!