Dating Old Photograph

I picked up this old photo today for $1.00. I couldn't pass it up for that. The women in the antique store were trying to help me date it. We thought early 1900s, possibly 1905 - 1910, but that is a guess really. Can you help me date it?

I love her dress with all the details and buttons sewn as decoration. His suit - not so much.

The photograph is 3 3/4" x 5 1/2". The total with the backing is 6" x 9". The handwritten inscription in the lower left reads, From Eda and Roy, To Stella and Charley.

In the lower right of the matting is a little bird holding a card with embossed information. It reads: Garver Dodge City.

Click on photograph to enlarge.

Sorting Buttons - First Pass

I have been sorting buttons and putting them into divided plastic boxes. I did have them in plastic bags, and that certainly wasn't good for them. I didn't think to take pictures until they were already in the boxes so most of the pictures are just a peek into the boxes. I say this is the first pass for the sorting because I will need to do some additional sorting to separate some of the mother of pearl, glass & porcelain. Still, it is far more organized than what I had before, and the buttons should stay nicer too.

The divided box to the left has a variety of larger buttons as well a a compartment for some old costume jewelry. The Indian is a lid that I have kept because the graphic is so nice.

The box below contains mother of pearl shirt buttons.

The four boxes below are of mostly plastics.

A selection of glass buttons

Various metal buttons

Various glass, bone, rhinestone buttons

The two boxes below contain various sizes and shapes of mother of pearl buttons.

A Day in Idyllwild

My sister and I spent Saturday in Idyllwild. It is our favorite mountain community, and we enjoy going up there together. It has great shops, art galleries and restaurants. Here we are at The Bread Basket enjoying a nice lunch.

Idyllwild was celebrating its 20th Earth Festival anniversary. There were various conservation booths set up as well as booths with recycled artwork.

A large parachute canopy was hung overhead for shade. A band played and people danced. The weather was great - in the 80s. A lovely day all around.

Happy Mother's Day

The picture to the right is of my mother, and it was taken during her senior year in 1946. She had her whole life ahead of her that day. Life passes quickly, and we can seemingly remember it all in an instant.

The picture below is my mother holding me in 1949. And by the way, that is a new car in the picture. At the time of this photo, we were living at the Air Force Base in Sioux Falls, SD.

I love you mother.

Twenties Fashions

I found what I thought was the best buy a couple weeks ago. It was a large plastic bag with a Woman's Home Companion magazine from 1922, and close to 100 loose pages of ads from 1923, 1924 & 1925. I realize I have more stash than I could possibly use up in my lifetime, but I couldn't pass this up. I will use some of them in projects this summer.

The fashions of the twenties were beautiful. On reading some of the ads, I came to realize just how straight a woman's figure had to be to look good in those dresses. The designs were not made to be worn with a woman showing any curves what so ever.




The detailing in these dresses is spectacular.





Let's see what is underneath.























The women's breasts were supposed to be flattened.
























The waist wasn't suppose to go in and the hips
were not suppose to go out.

















They were scolded too.



















Then, they called them stout!



I always thought these bathing suits would be uncomfortable because of how much fabric was involved, but they probably were actually quite comfortable compared to wearing all the undergarmets and corsets required for the dresses.

An Afternoon in Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven

John and I enjoy attending the Bungalow Heaven home tour each year to see the wonderful Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s that have lovingly been restored. We had a beautiful day strolling along the California Live Oak lined streets, and the 70 degree temperature made it perfect. I realized late in the day that I hadn't taken many pictures, and only one picture is of a home on the tour (the one with the people on the front porch).

Twenties Hat Girl Quiltie - Photo Fabric Collage

I have used this image for past projects, and I printed it onto white cotton keeping the original size. I think the original photo is from a photo booth. All elements are vintage or antique, and collaged with quilt batting between layers.

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I used a celluloid button, mother of pearl shirt buttons, antique lace and various fabric scraps. The finished piece measures 6" x 9.5" .

Bobby Socks, Bobbed Hair & Bobby Pins

I picked up these two vintage bobby pin cards yesterday. Aren't they cute? Sure brings back memories of the 1950s when my mom pin curled my hair. I wore saddle shoes and bobby socks, and tried to dress like the older girls by wearing the circle cut skirts and the button sweater worn backwards with the scarf tied around my neck. And of course we watched and danced to American Bandstand.

My Aunt Britt

My Godmother, Aunt Britt, passed away on Easter Sunday morning. She was 90 and was in ill health for a long while. She was my favorite aunt, Godmother, and my mother's dearest sister.

I love this photo of her that was taken when she was a young woman and nurse. After nursing school, she served in both the Navy and then the Army as a nurse throughout World War II.

I have used this photo of her a couple of times in my fabric wall hangings. The picture belonged to my mother, and has been without a frame since we moved to California, arriving by bus - that is another story. After my cousin, my aunt's youngest daughter, returns home from her funeral, I plan to send this lovely photograph to her.

Rest in Peace Aunt Britt

Happy Easter

A Happy Easter Wish

To All Of You.