I'M PONDERING PILLOWS AGAIN

I'm in a pillow making mood again. I've always wanted some wool pillows to use in the living room during the winter . Last year, I made one pillow from a wool Ralph Lauren skirt that I found at Goodwill (click here to read about that, if you wish). That was as far as my wool pillow project went last winter. This year, I'm determined to get an earlier start. (Is it too early to think about winter???)

Always on a budget, I checked out Goodwill for more suitable wool and found several pieces of new fabric from some one's fabric stash. It was $4 for as much as I could stuff in a plastic bag. I ended up with several different wools for a total of over 5 yards of wide fabric.

I decided on a monogram pillow, so I thought how hard could that be now that I had all of this luscious wool. At first I was thinking I could hand embroider the monogram like my grandmothers always did, but I decided that was too much work for these arthritic fingers. Since I have had some success with the satin stitch on my sewing machine, I thought that would be the answer. But as I was doing a sample run, my 41 year-old sewing machine decided it was tired of doing the zig-zag, and the lever broke. No replacement parts could be found by anyone for my trusty, old machine. It still sews a nice straight stitch, however. So, now on to plan C - applique. I decided to cut out my monogram from felt and sew it on. Did you know that you can buy felt made from recyclable plastic that washes and dries wonderfully?

In anything that I make, washability is important to me. I always prewash and dry all of my fabrics before making a project. I washed all of my Goodwill wools in Woolite in the machine, then dried them in the dryer on low. They came out great.

I used osnaburg (sometimes called hop sacking) for the background of the monogram. It's cheap - $2.99 per yard - and has a nice texture after laundering.

All in all, the pillow cover cost me under $2.00. The most expensive thing was the zipper for the closure and I had a 40% off coupon for that.

Just call me frugal --- but then I'm not even going to talk about what a new sewing machine is going to cost me!

I'm linking up to the following parties. Be sure to check them out for lots of fun posts.

Cindy at My Romantic Home
for her Friday Show and Tell.

Donna at Funky Junk Interiors
for her Saturday Night Special party.

MORE VINTAGE EASTER

Last week I posted about my Victorian milk glass Easter eggs, so now I would like to show you a little more of my vintage Easter stuff.

Several years ago, Bob gave me this vintage paper-mache Easter Bunny. It has a hollow body, and was originally a candy container. He is kind of fragile; therefore, perfect for under a cloche.

The small 4" sand pail is not necessarily Easter; but I keep it with my Easter stuff as it is so cute with tiny eggs in it.

Part of our collection of antique postcards, this is one of my favorites. It is propped up in one of my mother's old metal flower frogs.

These two glass chicken on nests belonged to my Grandmother. They originally held tiny Easter egg candy. I remember playing with them as a child; so how they survived without a scratch, I don't know.

Please check out the following blog parties going on for more fun stuff.

Suzanne at Colorado Lady
for Vintage Thingies Thursday

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life
for the Spring cloche party

Cindy at My Romantic Home
for Show & Tell Friday

May you all have a joyous Easter.

Sally

A LITTLE VINTAGE EASTER

Below is my small collection of Victorian milk glass Easter eggs. Two of them were my great grandmother's; the other two were just accumulated.

These eggs are hand blown, and have a pontil mark. They are flat on one side so that they will sit and not roll away. I understand that they are usually cold-painted, so the paint has a tendency to flake off. Therefore, they are difficult to find in perfect condition, as you can tell from my eggs.

These examples range in size from 7" to 4" point to point.

I'm especially enjoying them this year displayed in the huge brown transferware wash bowl that I recently acquired from my great grandparent's homestead.

I'm joining with Suzanne at Colorado Lady
for Vintage Thingie Thursday
and
Cindy at My Romantic Home
for Show and Tell Friday.

20th CENTURY BROWN TRANSFERWARE

I'm usually on the lookout for 19th century brown transferware, but I'll occasionally buy 20th century pieces if they are inexpensive. Awhile ago, I bought a box for $10 at auction that contained all of the following pieces.

The flower pot and the little creamer are both from England, Royal Crownford, in the Charlotte pattern from the 1940s. The Charlotte pattern is often different on various pieces, but they are all Victorian basket designs.

These two barrel-shaped shakers are by Clarice Cliff in the Tonquin pattern from England, also from the 1940s. They currently list for about $60 EACH, making the $10 box a real bargain!

The two covered butter dishes are both Mason's English transferware. The one on the left is the Bow Bells pattern and the one on the right is the Stratford pattern.

I just love a good deal, especially if it is transferware!

Please check out the following parties to find more wonderful vintage, thrifty things:

Suzanne at Colorado Lady
for Vintage Thingies Thursday

Cindy at My Romantic Home
for Show and Tell Friday

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality
for Monday's Thrifty Treasures

MY EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I have been looking at these four antique apothecary jars for about two years. They have been at a local antique mall for so long, but NOW they are at home with us. I told Bob that I knew what I wanted for Christmas, but I wanted my present early. So, last week we went shopping. I remember these types of candy jars in the ice cream/ bakery/candy stores of my youth. I loved them then, and doubly love them now!

Three of the jars are matching with the tallest one about 12 inches with the smallest at 7 inches. For now, I have filled them with old, special ornaments from my parents. There is one orange ball that reminds me so much of my mother, as she loved anything orange. There also are a couple of balls that have cardboard hangers from the WWII era when all metal was going to the war effort.

The fourth jar is very similar to the others - just a little different. I put one of my vintage bottle-brush trees in it.

I just know that I'm going to enjoy this present on every holiday. What should I put in them for Valentine's Day?

There are so many parties going on, and I hate to miss a good party; so I'm linking to the following blogs. Be sure to stop by to check them out. You won't be disappointed with all of the wonderful ideas being displayed.


Home for the Holidays, hosted by Rhoda at SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Vintage Thingies Thursday, hosted by Suzanne at COLORADO LADY

Show and Tell Friday, hosted by Cindy at ROMANTIC HOME

MY PERSONAL PILGRIM

Granted, it is a stretch during this Thanksgiving season to call him a pilgrim, but he definitely was my personal pioneer. This is my great, great Uncle Asa.

Uncle Asa was a logger in Parkman, Maine in the 1860s. He was involved in a logging accident and lost his leg. They told him that there was no place in the logging business for a one-legged logger; so he should go West where he could ride a horse.

So, with $100 loaned to him by the local Masonic Lodge and only the possessions he could carry; he headed West on the train to Denver. Once in Denver, he then walked to southeastern Colorado to homestead to farm and ranch. The year was 1876.

After Asa's brother, my great-grandfather, was widowed he soon was lured to Colorado by the promise of free land. He came to farm, ranch and raise his sons alone. And that is how I became a Colorado native.

I've been fortunate to inherit what few possessions Uncle Asa had. Among them was this walking stick. With a peg-leg, I'm sure this was a very important belonging.

We don't know the story behind this sampler, but evidently it was brought from Maine on his journey and was important to him. Was it made by his mother, or perhaps made by a lost love? He was a life-long bachelor.

The kitchen tools of a pioneer were simple. Most of these were hand-made.

And probably the most special is this bible. It is only 3x5 inches in size, and the print is so tiny. The inscription indicates that it was given to Uncle Asa's mother, Nancy, by a friend in 1846. And, she passed it on to Asa for his journey in 1876.

I never look at these few material things without thinking about the hardships endured by the pilgrims and/or pioneers in their efforts to establish America. How blessed we all are to live here and celebrate Thanksgiving.

Cindy at My Romantic Home is hosting show and tell Friday. Please check out her blog for a list of the other participants.

I'm also linking to the weekly party hosted by Mary of Little Red House.
She will have a list of participants showing off their creative mosaics.

Be sure to check out Cindy's and Mary's blogs for a special treat.

SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY

So just what do I store in that big cupboard?

Since it is Show and Tell Friday, I guess it is time to open the doors to view one of my addictions.

I've been collecting German Lustre dishes for over 20 years. I got started when I inherited some pieces from my Grandmother. Then I kept finding them while out junking, friends began to give them to me as gifts, and now after amassing over 140 pieces; I'm addicted!

German Lustre was in the early 20th century quite common and inexpensive. The dishware was an alternative to the more popular and expensive hand-painted dishes of that era. The cheaper variety were decorated with decals which with a magnifying glass, you can see the tiny dots that make up the decal. After the decal was applied, color around the edges was added, then a glaze containing metallic oxides was added. This gives the dishware that rainbow shine. Most of these dishes were made in Germany.

I've found the dishes in all forms and sizes. Above in the front is a butter dish, and below is a square cake plate; and in front are sets of children's play dishes.

Most have floral decals of primarily roses, but about a third of my collection have fruit decals.

I've often found dishes with the same decal used, but with different colors on the edges. That is a cheese keeper in the front below.

This cracker jar belonged to my grandmother.

The plate below has pretty Fall leaves with the fruit. This particular manufacturer always used molds with pretty, fancy edges. Most are marked on the back with either a manufacturer or just Germany.

I have dishes shaped like leaves, all sizes and shapes of pitchers, and a couple of berry sets.

Below is a very large plate, relish dishes, a bone dish, a pin tray, and toothpick holder.

I have many more beautiful plates and large bowls to show, but I'll save those for another day and another post.

Be sure to go check out Cindy at My Romantic Home.
She is hosting this party today, and you just know she will have something marvelous to show along with the other participants.