Scrappy Quilts

It's another cold and dreary winter day {{{sigh}}}. Whether you have to deal with mounds of snow and icy sidewalks or fog so dense you lose your bearings, it's nice to get home and cuddle up under a warm quilt. 

I think quilts are LOVE in a tangible form. I'll take an old fashioned scrappy quilt over a designer comforter any day! The only problem, like with childhood blankies and teddy bears, quilts passed through generations get loved to death and reach a point where you can't use them as they were meant to be. But they are still worthy.

I bought this fan quilt at an estate sale. Several people picked it up and admired it until seeing the flaws then casually tossed it aside. While they only saw imperfection I saw LOVE. Endless hours of tedious hand work, treasured scraps of fabric, memories, warmth, comfort...LOVE. 

Like this quilt. It was made in the late seventies by my grandmother with the help of my mom and aunts. I don't know who did the black stitching but I think it was done years earlier. I do remember the blocks being arranged and sewn together. 

I remember helping to tie the little pieces of green yarn. I was 13. It was the year my grandmother passed away. The prints are all scraps from my great-grandmother's dresses.  She had passed when I was about 7.  Four generations have had their hands on this fabric. Four generations separated for now, but tied together with little pieces of string. I hope that if this scrappy quilt ever finds it's way into a stranger's hands it will be recognized as LOVE worthy of saving.

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I want to apologize for not getting out to visit more of you. I'm kind of muddling through a lot of things right now. I hope you'll bear with me as I work on some other aspects of my life for a couple of months. I will be by from time to time.  Don't fret, I know how you all worry, everything is okay. I just need to get a handle on some things. I'll try to keep posting once a week or so but real life doesn't have a "preview" button so we'll have to see how it goes!

Perspective, A Happy Ending

Perspective is a funny thing.

Things aren't always what they appear.

Let's play a little word association game. If I said, "perfectionist" you might say, "neat freak". But is there any chance you would say "hoarder"? Not likely. The thing I've been most struck by on the shows about hoarding is that for many it really seems to be rooted in perfectionism.

One lady spoke of her dish collection (gasp! I hear all you tablescapers holding your breath. LOL!).

She bought tons of dishes. Even though no one could possibly come to dinner at her house. Even though she barely had room to make dinner for two. Even though those two had to eat in separate rooms. Why? The dishes were a symbol of the perfect dinner she would make for her family.

The need for that perfect family dinner was so strong it affected her perspective. She could no longer see the stacks of things in her kitchen that actually made it dangerous to cook. She could no longer see the precarious path from the front door, to the one spot to sit, to the stove. All she could see was the Norman Rockwell moment those dishes represented. So the dishes became more clutter.

The good news is she was making progress with the help of her daughter by the end of the show. But it made me wonder.

Where is the point that the perfectionism which drives the "neat freak" to be critical and controlling becomes the perfectionism that drives the "hoarder" to be lackadaisical and disconnected?

I received an advertisement for the Real Simple magazine in the mail recently. It had a Finnish proverb that said, "Happiness is the point between having too little and having too much". Well that makes it real simple! I hung it on my fridge with a bunch of other clutter.

So..I guess it all depends on your perspective.

Any one want some tea?

Have you ever...

brought home old fabric or wall paper books thinking you'll use them for...something?

held on to an item because someone else has one?

put away the nuts only to find 4 more cans in the back of the pantry?

been smitten by something that wasn't the direction you were heading

felt the adrenaline rush while treasure hunting?

kept friends at arms' length because your housework wasn't up to par?

given your kid the present you wanted but never got?

brought home a bathtub just because you could?

thought about bringing a 50 lb chunk of concrete into the house so no one would steal if from the spot where it's sat for 50 plus years?

stopped on the side of the road to pick up friends?

felt like life was passing you by while you're looking for the key?

Hubby and I watched a few episode of TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive recently. When the narrator said compulsive shopping was part of the problem Hubby laughed. When they came to the part about possible genetic causes I laughed. We're in big trouble.

I really enjoyed all your comments on the last post. I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit yet. I've been making plans to make sure we don't end up on that show. I got a glimpse of the light at the other end of the tunnel, and it was coming from a fellow blogger's halo! There are angels among us!

And just so you know, Mona, I will save what is truley important and treat it that way. And Garden of Daisies, your imagery of a "dead cat under mountains of garbage in the living room" should keep several of us from continuing to brake for yard sales!

Hugs

Dawn

Ripe for the Pickin'

Recipe booklets from the attic.

For some reason lately I keep getting comments about pickers. Even my mom and dad have mentioned the History Channel's "American Pickers" show to me recently. So after a long weekend I settled down in front of the TV last night to see what all the fuss was about. I gotta say I loved the show.


I asked Hubby if those guys were to show up here, could I start making deals or tell them to come back when he's here. His answer? "Tell them to leave and not come back." He said it with a smile but I know he was serious. Oh, he would love showing them around but sell something to them? Never.

I also watched TLC's "Hoarding: Buried Alive" last night... More thoughts on that later.
Hugs,
Dawn

Vintage Chocolate Posters from the ...Wash House?!

Ha! You thought I was going to say from the attic didn't you?

What do you mean you already knew?

Buddy told you yesterday? Humph!

I wondered why the key board was full of seeds!

I was quite surprised to find a gem like this out there.

But before you go getting jealous,

and saying it's not fair I've got an attic and a wash house,

let me give you a dose of reality...

from the door...

to the farthest corner,

the wash house is stacked to the rafters

with stuff

and dust

and cobwebs.

Ewe!

Now I love chocolate as much as the next girl,

probably more,

but I'm not dressing up

in a pink bunny outfit to get it.

Now this is better.

Make him work for your affection!

Santa Baby, flattery will get you everywhere!

And if all else fails,

whip up your own little love potion

and hide it in a box of chocolates!


No calories were consumed in the making of this post,

a few dust mites, maybe!

Rednesday ~1950's Pepsi Collectibles

I was wandering around the house , trying to come up with something for a Rednesday post when it struck me, right about 6: 00! I only look at it, like 20 or 30 times a day, I don't know why it hadn't dawned on me before...

Hubby's 1950's Pepsi clock. It's been hanging there forever, well, almost 60 years anyway. I've wanted to move it to another room but it's out of the question according to Hubby. It lights up and has served as a night light for as long as he can remember. Our dinning room is literally the center of our home and opens to 3 rooms plus the hall so this clock does provide a nice soft light for anyone looking for a midnight snack.

Hubby's grandfather, Hobo, owned a bar and we have a lot of the advertising items that were given to him. We even have a photo of him with the Budweiser Clydesdales in the 50's. I'll have to share it soon. The thermometer below also came from the bar. I shared it in a Wordless Wednesday post when I first started blogging. It only got 5 or so comments so I'm guessing not many of you saw it!

It was around 100 that day. Those days will be upon us again all to soon I'm afraid. At least I know we can always cool off with a nice cold Pepsi.

Please go by and visit Sue at It's a Very Cherry World. She always has cool vintage things to share and on Rednesday, you guessed it, they're red!

Feeling Groovy

How do you make laundry fun? Add some mod decals to brighten up the place! As you go through your chores this week be thankful for modern appliances! Can you imagine using a washboard or taking your clothes to the nearest creek?

From the Attic ~ Hummer

When I shared the postcards I found in the attic I highlighted two from a mother and daughter. The daughter was Hummer, my husband's maternal grandmother. The photo below was taken in 1912 , about 2 years after the postcards were written. It is a Sunday School class in Atwater,CA. Hummer is the third from the left in the middle row, I think the taller girl in the similar dress may be her sister. I'm not sure if her brother is pictured, I need to ask my MIL about that.

The postcards were to Hummer's father, Pop Smith. Hummer missed him and wanted to know when she could go visit. Pop Smith worked for the state highway department and must have spent a lot of time away from home judging by all the postcards to him at various locations. Hummer was born in 1902 so she would have been about 8 when she wrote the postcard and 10 in this photo.

The Sunday School teacher was Hummer's grandfather. He was appointed to Justice of the Peace in Atwater the year after this photo was taken. He retained the position in the election the following year and held the office until his death in 1943.

This 8x10 vintage artwork was in the same envelope with the photo.

The back was inscribed with Hummer's name, "From Grandpa Osborn, August 24, 1905" so it must have been a gift when Hummer was about 3 years old.

1912

early 1990's

Hummer saw most of the 20th century. We often talked about the enormous changes in technology and lifestyle that took place during her lifetime. Each time her eyes would sparkle and she would laugh and say "But we didn't know any better back then!"

Thanks for hanging out in the attic with me.

Dawn

Ringing in the New Year with Old Postcards

I finally got around to scanning some of the postcards I found in the attic. The postmark on this one is blurry but most of the cards were from 1907 to 1924. Fido is looking rather uncomfortable isn't he?

This one is a little easier to date. I almost didn't even look at the postmark but finally noticed it is January 1, 1910. Pretty cool ~ a genuine antique.

We have our noisemakers and confetti poppers ready and will spend tonight at home with the kids, watching TV and eating all their favorite party foods. Whether you ring in the New Year with a night on the town or curled up at home I hope you have a fun, safe New Year's Eve and a bright 2010!

Vintage Art from Penniwig's

Thank you Old Dame

for the wonderful free graphics!

Vintage Christmas Monday ~ At Mom's House

I spent most of this weekend with family at my parents' home so I thought I'd share some of mom's vintage and antique things for the last Vintage Christmas Monday. A great big Christmas hug for Joan at Anything Goes Here for hosting this memory filled meme. Please click on the VCM door on my right sidebar to visit Joan and see what everyone else has to offer for this final episode.

This is mom's vintage piano bought by my grandmother long ago. She has her cranberry glass pieces mixed in on top.

This little guy has been around as long as I can remember.

See the crack under his arm. My bad! I was bringing in groceries last year and bumped into a newly placed bakers rack. I couldn't get my hands out of the plastic bag handles fast enough so I tried to brake his fall with my leg and foot. We glued him back together but...

couldn't find all the pieces. You would think we could find a piece that big but it's still missing. I felt terrible but mom said not to worry it was just a "thing". Maybe so, but I still feel bad.

This antique fireplace surround came from an old home in San Francisco. It came from a bedroom and is smaller than would have been in a main room. She has a huge cut glass collection and displays some vases and pitchers here year round.

I was experimenting with camera settings and the first time the flash went off Santa started singing and dancing. My kids thought it was pretty funny to see me jump in surprise.

Here's some detail of the top. It's curved up and toward the front with a carved leather panel.

There is no actual fireplace here so mom uses screens or a decorated table to fill the space. This nativity is always displayed with an old family bible that has beautiful pages illustrating the birth of Christ. I love the angel placed on a glass block above the scene.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to my parent's home. I'll try to be back with one more post before Christmas, if not, please have a very merry Christmas!

Vintage Christmas Monday ~ It Takes a Village to Raise a Snowman

Vintage Christmas Monday is hosted by Joan at Anything Goes Here. There are a lot of fabulous things being shared so make sure you check it out.

As you can see I finally got the Italian Miniature Village set up in my hutch. I found a set of tiny lights that are battery powered but couldn't get a good photo with the houses lit up. I used a tiered spice rack and a couple of drawer dividers (upside down) for some levels under the felt snow. I also added some new trees and little snowmen.

We went to dinner with my MIL last night and she asked if I found the sleigh and the rest of the reindeer yet....the look on my face must have answered her question 'cause she laughed and said, "I guess have some more boxes to dig through."

Only one more Vintage Christmas Monday left. This time of year goes by so fast. Hope you're taking the time to enjoy it!