Friday's Vintage Find

This tiny framed print intrigues me.  I think it's the irony of the piece.  It's barely bigger than a 4 x 5 card.  The company issuing the piece is a mystery since they only left a couple of letters and numbers on the back.  The framing, the wood, the velvet ribbon inlaid on the front, the glass rather than plastic inset, and the aged metal eyelet hanger all tell me the piece is true vintage.

Here's the irony.  This is vintage trying to look antique.  Inside of the glass is either a reproduction or an original page of an 1800's children's grammar book -- hence the inclusion of the pronouns "thou" and "thy."

I do have a second framed page of the grammar book, but do you think I could find it today to photograph? How frustrating.  It's the print I'm keeping, and I probably placed it somewhere safe so that I would not confuse it with the print I was selling.  Hmmm . . . .another irony perhaps.

Enjoy your weekend.

Amy

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

Revelations 22:13

A New Use for Vintage Hankies!

Wow!  Marsha Greenberg is one talented clothing designer -- on a large or small scale.  When I say small scale, I really mean small scale -- try Barbie size, for example!  Although Marsha does design women's clothing, I know her for her vintage handkerchief designer line.  It's amazing.

In 2011, Running Press published Hankie Couture:  Handcrafted Fashions from Vintage Handkerchiefs, which features 125 gorgeous dresses on Marsha's custom-made doll.  The book features a pattern to get wanna-be hankie dress designers like myself started.   For vintage handkerchief collectors or admirers, this book is eye candy overload.

Marsha Greenberg also sells her handmade creations and her book through her colorful website. 

Visit her by clicking hankiecouture.com.

Do you have some vintage hankies?

Amy

"And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

John 10:28

Friday's Vintage Find

I love stamped samplers, don't you?  This Retirement Sampler definitley gave me cause for a chuckle when I read the sentiment at the bottom of the embroidered picture.

This sampler includes cross stitch, satin stitches, daisy stitches, french knots, and stem stitching on an ecru linen-blend background material.

I often wonder why the stitcher didn't finish her project by either framing the piece or stitching it into a pillow.  Many of these stitched pieces can be found on etsy and ebay left unframed.  Then, I remember that I have three finished pieces of needlework in my closet that have not been framed or stitched into pillows.  When I finally finished them, I was tired of the pattern, or I couldn't quite figure out what I wanted to do with the piece.  Perhaps, that's what happened with this one. 

My favorite part of this piece is the kitty who will not be disturbed regardless of what changes are going on with her homeowners.

Here's what I've been working on this week. 

Do you like them?

Have a wonderful weekend.

Amy

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: 

for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

Romans 1:16

Dinner with the Family

You'll have to set out your tablecloth if you read this book.  I brought a copy home from my local library and was pleasantly surprised by how well the authors captured my attention.  It wasn't that I expected to be bored -- I just didn't expect to be so entertained.  The Hour That Matters Most:  The Surprising Power of the Family Meal has four authors.  The authors comprise a psychologist, a therapist, and two moms who are the creative force behind the Dream Dinners business model and store. 

I have felt for a while that I needed to make more of an effort to bring my family to the dinner table more often.  My work schedule on some days goes later than my husband's, and more often than not, we found ourselves facing the TV eating supper at separate times.  When my son's soccer season begins, it's even more difficult to bring us together at the same time.  I'm sure that's why I checked the book out when I saw it on the library shelf.  The title hit a sensitive nerve.

The book is a quick read and is filled with Dream Dinner recipes.  Other chapters cover what to talk about and what not to talk about at the table, what benefits eating together will have on your family, and how to prepare frozen dinners for rushed evenings. 

I know I'm getting my own copy of this book.  If you need a copy, too, click here 

One item that I have included at meal time this past year with great success is the Red Plate.  Every once in a while, when we have dinner at the table, I serve my husband or my daughter or son their dinner on the red plate.  They love this!  Sometimes, we tell the person who has been awarded dinner on the red plate why we think they are special.  Sometimes, my children will try to award themselves the plate.  They've had to learn that they never receive the plate on a day that they ask for it.  Even my middle school daughter who has since dubbed many things "not so cool" still covets the red plate.

My red plate has been in my family for quite a while.  I found several online just like it at ebay if you'd like to get one for your family.

Have a happy dinner with your family.

Amy

"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him (Zacchaeus),

and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house."

Luke 19:5

Do you think Zacchaeus set out his best?

Friday's Vintage Find

Scandinavian design in cross stitch can generally be recognized by its reliance on geometric patterns.  Although this vintage pillow case has no specialty stitches like the popular Smyrna Cross, it's still beautiful and striking with the red on white coloring.  I really can't believe that it wasn't taken home as a treasure at the estate sale.  I found it at a thrift store that received all of the estate sale leftovers. 

It's a great piece to bring out at Christmas or Valentine's because of the red coloring.

And now, Sassy Cat,  you can go back to sleep . . . .

(She really lacks enthusiasm for vintage items, but I find her company quite soothing at times.)

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for visiting!

Amy

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: 

he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 55:22

Helping Bluebirds Sing

Recently, I came across this precious needlepoint picture from a new seller on Etsy.  I loved the subject matter -- a whimsical scene of a little girl playing an accordion (I thought that was unique.) for a little bird up in the tree.  The needlepoint was in excellent condition and contained some petit point detailing on the accordion and the bird.  The frame also appealed to me.  The wood has character with its dark stain, oval shape, and carved decorations.

Most of all, I just really enjoyed the subject matter.  I give music lessons every week for a living.  Sometimes my students need to hear an encouraging word when they feel discouraged about their lessons.  Just like the little girl supporting her bluebird's song with her playing, I feel a responsibility to support and uphold my students when they need that extra little push to succeed.

When I think of how many people God has placed in my life along the way to support me, I'm truly humbled.  Of course, in the beginning, I had my parents.  Then, along the journey came friends, teachers, and mentors that all would have special touches influencing certain paths that I would choose in my life.  I don't think any of them were with me by chance. 

God still has supportive people in my life  . . . my husband, other family members, and many dear friends.

Who has God given to you to encourage you along the way?

Philippians 1:6-7

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy."

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
Henry Van Dyke

To visit the new Etsy seller from which I purchased this item, click here.

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Setting Out the Tablecloth

We've had supper together at the table a couple more times this week than we usually do.  My children weren't too happy at first to leave their television show to come to the table,  but after one minute, they had each other laughing so hysterically I had to "remind" them we were trying to eat dinner.

The dining room table where we eat was bought in 1998 at a moving sale.  In its second life with my family, it has moved across the United States twice, survived two toddlers, served as a makeshift desktop/classroom for our homeschooling needs, and endured mass rotary cutting scratches when used as my sewing table.  Needless to say, the table has more than a few scratches, nicks, scars, and dents.  I almost always keep it covered now with a tablecloth.

I grew up with tablecloths.  Mom used them seasonally and underneath her special china that was used for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  Now, I'm a little too busy to keep cleaning and ironing tablecloths every day to put on the dinner table.  I decided to go to my local hardware store and had them cut a large thick piece of plexi-glass the same size as the top of my dining room table.  The plexi-glass weighs much less than real glass and is easier for me to work with when I need to change tablecloths.  The plexi-glass rests on top of my tablecloth and is really easy to clean.  It also wasn't very expensive.  (If you decide to try this, have the glass cutters curve the corner cuts.)

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy your dinner table . . . with a tablecloth?

(The vintage tablecloth pictured is available in my Etsy shop which you can visit by clicking here.)

Amy

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."  I Timothy 6:6