The T-Cozy

The Perfect Family House

2009-11-06T05:58:40-05:00

Next week, we will have lived in our home for 19 years. When we moved here in November of 1990, Hannah was only seven months old. Now, she is a sophomore in college. Gosh, where did the time go?

Home ownership began for me in the mid 1980's. I was a single gal in my twenties when I bought a tiny cottage here in Rowayton, Connecticut. After John and I married in 1988, we began to search for a larger family home. Our housing needs seemed simple enough. We wanted a place that was in Rowayton, didn't require major renovations, had four bedrooms, three baths, and enough space for me to work at home comfortably. After seven years, I decided to forgo commuting to Manhattan and have a home-based graphic design business. I knew this would be a good arrangement once we had kids. But in the late 1980's, houses generally didn't have a dedicated home office. (That was before email and laptops.) Finding a house that fit our requirements was tougher than we expected.

After a two year search, we finally found it --- a house that had everything on our wish list --- except a home office. So we decided to expand a small den by borrowing space from a large screened porch. Luckily, the house already had a recently renovated kitchen with a new adjoining family room, as well as a spacious master bedroom addition. Over the years, our home improvements were minor and mostly cosmetic.

This house has afforded me room to work and room for my many collections of vintage this and that. It has good bones with windows galore, making it light and bright even on the cloudiest days. Although after 19 years some of our furnishings are worn and dated, we think of them as having mellowed with age, kind of like us.

Come on in and have a look around . . .

Our mid-century colonial has been kind to us over the past two decades. It has graciously accommodated a growing family and enabled me to work at home near our children. It's everything we wanted and more.

Looking ahead, in less than two short years, Jacob will head off to college. Will our perfect family house then feel too big? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Susan

Cute or Ugly? Or Both?

2009-11-04T09:44:26-05:00

Here's a face only a seven-year-old back in 1965 could love . . .

While rooting around in the attic this morning, I came across my troll dolls from the 1960's, complete with their vintage vinyl carrying case.

These odd looking dolls are just about the only toys I still have from my childhood. I remember carrying them in this handy case when I went over to play at friends' houses.

Back then, I was a budding fashion designer. I would collect the bits of fabric from my mother's sewing projects and create elaborate dresses for these unlikely models. None of my couture outfits have survived. However, the basic felt dress that came with the large troll is still intact. So is the circa 1965 braid I put in her hair.

I still find these kitschy troll dolls endearing. Just look at those faces! Are they ugly? Cute? Maybe a little of both.

Susan

Relics from Kitchens Past: Vintage Cook Booklets

2009-11-02T08:45:05-05:00

Some of my favorite items offered in T-Party's Etsy shop are vintage cook booklets from the 1930's, 40's and 50's. Although times have changed since these gems were published, when it comes to feeding our families, we are still asked that familiar question, "What's for dinner?"

Back then, these booklets were offered free with the purchase of particular products. They were published by companies with extensive Home Economics Departments, led by Directors of Domestic Science, who were serious about not only hawking their wares but promoting healthful eating.

These relics from kitchens past are chock full of charming imagery, recipes and useful household hints and tips. I always get a kick out of thumbing through them. Every now and then, I find a recipe that, with a bit of tweaking (like substituting vegetable oil for lard, or using wheat instead of white flour), is worthy of being in today's best cookbook.

Susan

Views from an Autumn Morning

2009-10-31T11:10:32-04:00

On this Halloween, I am sharing views from my morning walk with you. Along my way today, I took a little detour into a nature preserve. This forest and tidal marsh, called Farm Creek Preserve, is a parcel of land located on Hart Peninsula in the Rowayton section of Norwalk. What a lovely autumn morning!

On my way out of the preserve, this cute little squirrel was kind enough to pose for me. He knows just how densely populated and over built this area of Connecticut is. Thank goodness for the Norwalk Land Trust and their initiative to save this open space from development. Now it will stay pristine and untouched so plant life, birds and animals can thrive.

I hope you've enjoyed these views from an autumn morning. Have a Happy Halloween!

Susan

A Birthday Celebration for John

2009-10-29T16:19:00-04:00

I wanted to do something extra special for John's 50th birthday. Although my husband doesn't like being the center of attention, he gave me the thumbs up to plan a party for twenty of his closest friends and family members.

I found a unique venue for our little soirée. It's a new place in our town called Sugar & Olives, and I love its concept. Jennifer Balin, the owner and talented chef, provides happy, healthy food in a loft-like setting. An old warehouse had been transformed into a comfortable cafe/lounge with an impressive professional kitchen that is in full view. Sugar & Olives has an ever changing menu for breakfast, lunch and dessert made from local and fresh ingredients. In addition, Jennifer holds cooking classes for adults and kids at a long bar which overlooks the kitchen. And lucky for us, she also offers private parties.

I love the interior of Sugar & Olives. The space has been painted a warm shade of gray with bright orange accents. You'll find comfortable white leather sofas, coffee tables, Lucite bar stools and other mod furnishings giving the place a fun, 1960's vibe.

Here's a little peek at our gathering for John . . .

The food at John's party was simply delicious. Brought out to us on small plates in several courses, it was a delight for both the eye and the palate. We finished off the evening with coffee, tea and, of course, our fondant covered fish cake. Plus, there was chocolate fondue. Yum!

Many thanks to Jennifer for making John's party so memorable. She has created a gem of a place that is absolutely refreshing. Maybe I'll check out her cooking classes sometime. Or we might stop by after a movie on a Saturday night. With a theater just up the road, Jennifer offers delectable desserts on Saturdays from 9:30 until midnight for the after movie crowd. Great idea, don't you think?

Susan

Feats of Fondant: A Fish Cake for John

2009-10-27T15:20:58-04:00

You don't turn fifty every day. So for John's birthday party last Saturday night, I wanted to make a very special cake. Back in April, my friend Sherri, John and I made a fondant covered creation for my daughter. Now, with Hannah's help, we were ready to try something a little more challenging for John.

Hannah and I got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning. The first task was to take the sheet cakes I baked the day before and carve them into the shape we wanted for John's cake.

Fishing is one of John's favorite pastimes so we decided to make the cake in the shape of a fish. I began carving while Hannah whipped up some Buttercream Icing. Then Sherri arrived to help. She and Hannah covered every square inch of the cake with frosting to smooth out any bumps and help the fondant adhere.

Sherri is very skilled at working with fondant; from kneading in the icing colors to rolling it out nice and thin. Once she had the piece large enough, we draped the fondant around the cake and tucked in all of the edges.

Hannah's forte was her attention to detail. She patiently cut out hundreds of tiny circles in a variety of colors for fish scales. I began to create the fins and other fishy details.

Then it was time to add these finishing touches. Lastly, we surrounded the fish with swirly blue fondant to look like water. That's when Sherri had a fabulous idea; while kneading the fondant for the water, she didn't blend the blue icing color in completely. That way, when she rolled it out, it would have a marbled effect that looked exactly like water. Brilliant!

Tada! Here's our finished fish cake, complete with a real hook and sidewinder lure in its mouth.

Hannah, Sherri and I made a good team. The cake took four hours to complete and we were all very pleased with how it turned out. John loved it, too. And it even tasted good!

Making this fondant cake was a lot of fun, as was the party later that evening. I'll share more of John's special birthday celebration with you in my next post.

Susan

A Weekend of Ups and Downs

2009-10-25T19:21:24-04:00

What a weekend! On Friday, I was in the midst of preparations for a very special birthday celebration for my husband John when I got a phone call that every parent of a high school athlete dreads.

The sports trainer at my son's school called to inform me that Jacob, the goalie of his varsity soccer team, had been hit in the head. He needed to be taken to the Emergency Room, so I dropped everything and rushed to his school. When I picked him up, he was coherent but dazed. However, he had no recollection of how he was injured and didn't even know what day it was. Needless to say, that really freaked me out.

Off we raced to the hospital. We spent the next four hours in the ER where it was confirmed that he had a concussion. Fortunately, the CAT scan revealed that everything was fine and we were finally able to head home. Poor Jacob had some nausea and a wicked headache, but over the course of the evening, his condition improved. He slowly regained his memory, too.

By the next morning, he was feeling a lot better and was well enough for us to proceed with John's party that evening. To help us celebrate, Hannah took the train in from college. It had been two months since we had seen her and it was so wonderful to have her home. Plus, my sister and brother-in-law came in from Cleveland.

Surrounded by twenty of John's closest friends and family members, the party was a huge success. One highlight was the fondant-covered creation that Hannah and my good friend Sherri helped me make. I'll be sharing photos of this very special cake and the party with you in my next post.

But for now, I'm wiped out. I think I'll have a cup of Susan's Blend, read for a while, and turn in early.

Susan

Suzy's Keeper

2009-10-23T10:15:49-04:00

What a busy week. I've been shipping tea, teapots, and vintage goodies all across the globe. Items have been flying out the door here at T-Party, like the vintage floral fabric, shown below.

I discovered several yards of it on Martha's Vineyard this summer. It's so pretty that I had a feeling it wouldn't be around for long. I just sold the last piece a couple of days ago, but I made sure to keep a tiny bit for myself.

My blogging buddy Suzy, of Georgia Peachez, bought some back in August. And feast your eyes on what she created with it . . .

Isn't it yummy? Suzy decided to keep this purse for herself (who wouldn't?) but she has made other lovely bags in a similar style. You can see more of Suzy's beautiful handiwork in her Etsy shop here.

How fun for me to see what became of this textile in her talented hands. Suzy's keeper is an inspiring example of using "old" to make "new."

I wonder what will become of this fabric's other yardage that was sent off to folks in Virginia, Arizona and California.

Susan

Seven Weeks of Oil Painting

2009-10-21T16:55:57-04:00

Today was my last painting class and I finally progressed to adding color to my second oil portrait. (You can view my first attempt, a monochromatic painting, here.) Working in color wasn't as scary as I expected; just very challenging and thrilling, actually.

Even though I have barely scratched the surface of all there is to learn about painting, I do feel I made some steady progress over the last seven weeks. Now that this once-a-week class is over, I hope to continue painting on my own. I'm told that after about 1,000 or so awful paintings, I should start to feel comfortable working in oils. I guess I'm on my way!

My sincere gratitude to my talented teacher, Joanne Roy. She has awakened my desire to revisited my artist roots. And thanks to my dear friend Nancy, who urged me to take the class with her.

Susan

Oodles of Etsy Listings

2009-10-20T06:24:02-04:00

I've been busy, busy, busy. You'll now find most of the vintage goodness from my recent estate sale foray listed in my Etsy shop.

Whew! Oodles of great stuff takes oodles of time to list. A few items have even sold already. Yay!

I hope to have the remaining estate sale goodies (tea towels, a couple more tablecloths and lots of hankies) listed by week's end.

Susan

My Pretty Lillypilly Pendant

2009-10-17T14:16:46-04:00

Yesterday, I spent almost the entire day listing some of my recent estate sale finds in my Etsy shop. But by early afternoon, I started to get a bit stir crazy. I took a little break and headed over to a bead shop, called Beadz Boutique, a couple of miles down the road. I've been looking for a pendant to wear with a particular sweater, but I've had no luck finding one I liked. So I decided, why not make one?

With the help of Amanda, who works at the boutique, here's what we created. I love it!

Strung on a simple cord with three beads as embellishment, my new pendant is a natural brown tab shell that has been engraved by Lillypilly Designs Inc. Isn't is beautiful?

The artist, Heidi Viau, began Lillypilly Designs in 2003. She uses a CO2 laser to intricately engrave beautiful designs into various natural materials (tab shell, mother of pearl and blacklip shell) in her Colorado studio. Below are more samples of her designs. Aren't they stunning? They really are little works of art.

To view more of Heidi's exquisite pendants, click here. They come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. For more interest, a smaller piece can be layered atop a larger one. Wouldn't that be pretty?

I plan to order more online and have some fun creating Lillypilly pendant necklaces for family and friends.

Susan

Pressed Flowers Revealed

2009-10-15T09:13:47-04:00

Two weeks have passed and it's time to open my flower press. Here in Connecticut, the temperature is only in the 40's today, so it's nice to reveal these little reminders of summer.

Not too bad for a first attempt. I may try pressing some colorful autumn leaves next.

Susan

Estate Sale Bliss

2009-10-13T15:35:33-04:00

I don't go to many estate sales. From past experience in my town, I usually find them a waste of time. One must arrive at the crack of dawn to get a number, wait in a long line, and when finally inside, discover that most items are overpriced.

But every now and then, I'll happen upon a neighborhood sale that is already underway and stop in, like last Thursday when I entered an older home that was chock full of items that spoke to me. It was estate sale bliss! There was a dazzling array of kitsch along with some wonderful vintage textiles.

Here's what came home with me . . .

The lovely floral tablecloths I purchased, below, scared most people off because they were yellowed and dingy. All they needed was some TLC. A weekend spent soaking in my laundry sink brightened them right up.

I love these old paper fans.

And here's a trio of colorful vintage tea towels.

I found some of the prettiest handkerchiefs, don't you think?

These vintage booklets are lots of fun.

And even more floral tablecloths. They had a good long soak, too. For more information about how I launder vintage linens, click here for my T-Party tutorial.

Great stuff! Is there something that has caught your eye from my estate sale foray? If so, be sure to stop by my Etsy shop. When time permits, I'll be listing these vintage goodies over the coming weeks.

Susan

The Lucky Giveaway Winner

2009-10-12T09:51:33-04:00

Bonnie! Congratulations, you are the winner of the latest T-Cozy giveaway! (Please email me at info@tpartyantiques.com with your mailing address so that I can send you your items.) This morning, I used an online random number generator to select a number between 1 and 44. It selected #20, so the giveaway goodies will go to Bonnie as she was the person who left the twentieth comment.

My sincere gratitude to those who were kind enough to leave a comment and enter my giveaway. It was so nice to hear from you.

And to all of you out there, thank you. Please know that I truly appreciate your readership, comments, and kind support.

Susan

Picture Perfect Pink

2009-10-10T03:15:00-04:00

Happy Pink Saturday! These photos say it all . . . fabulous hats, Audrey Hepburn, and the color pink.

Pink perfection.

Beverly of the blog How Sweet the Sound, is once again graciously hosting Pink Saturday today. Pop over to How Sweet the Sound for links to everyone getting in on the pink fun this week.

And don't forget to enter my giveaway. Simply leave a comment on the previous post by tomorrow for a chance to win.

Susan

A "Just Because I Want to Say Thank You" Giveaway

2009-10-08T09:36:38-04:00

I'm having a giveaway! Why, you might ask? Just because every now and then I like to express my gratitude to all of you out there --- my loyal T-Cozy readers, friends and T-Party patrons.

Here's what you could win . . .

A lined notebook with a vintage bark cloth cover. This 80-page blank journal is nestled inside my handmade floral bark cloth notebook cozy embellished with two vintage buttons and bright yellow rick rack trim.

A two-ounce tin of T-Party's popular Vintage Rose loose leaf tea. This fragrant blend is a Victorian Earl Grey of black teas, rose petals, lavender, rosemary and Bergamot oil.

A stainless steel tea ball. This 2-cup fine mesh ball with clamp closure, chain and hook comes in its own pink organza storage bag. To use, fill to half its capacity with loose leaf tea and steep for at least three minutes.

A fluffy and fun novel. High Tea by Sandra Harper is a story about four women working together in an English tea shop in Los Angeles. It includes recipes, too.

If you'd like a chance to win these items, please leave a comment on this post by midnight Sunday, October 11. I'll announce the winner on Monday, October 12. For those of you who are shy about leaving a comment, please don't be. I'd love to hear from you. And if you're new to leaving comments and are not sure how to do so, I have simple instructions shown on the right.

Even if you choose not to enter this giveaway, please know that I appreciate your readership, comments and kind support over these last 2-1/2 years and 520 posts. Many thanks!

Susan

Kindling a Love of Reading

2009-10-05T11:05:54-04:00

I love to read. How about you? Right now, I'm in the middle of My Life in France by Julia Child. It's my book group's selection for this month and, so far, I'm loving it.

The Kindle that my family bought me for my birthday last May has helped make reading a lot easier. No more trips to the library or bookstore. Anywhere, any time, day or night, I can order a book and have it arrive on my Kindle within seconds. Plus, I can download a sample of a book for free, usually about a chapter or two, so I can decide if I want to go forward and read the entire book. What a great feature. And best of all, most of my books have been free by using the points on my credit card toward Amazon gift cards.

My Kindle has become my constant companion. Waiting for my son in the parking lot after school, I read. In the doctor's waiting room, I read. While having my cup of afternoon tea, I read. Looking back, I've read ten books on my Kindle since it arrived four months ago. Here's what's on my Kindle bookshelf so far . . .

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women in a story of social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide.

Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz
A memoir about the complexities of forgiveness when a young widow discovers her husband's secret life after his death.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
In the winter of 1909, Ralph Truitt waits on a train platform for the woman who answered his ad for "a reliable wife." But when Catherine Land steps off the train, she's not what he is expecting.

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman
Three sisters have a fate each must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination.

Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman
The engaging tale of three generations of a family haunted by love.

The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman
A magical and stunningly original story that charts the lives of three women in love with the wrong men.

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
A miraculous, enthralling tale of a woman who is struck by lightning, and finds her frozen heart is suddenly burning.

(Yes, I'm a big Alice Hoffman fan!)

The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
The mesmerizing story of Edgar Drake, commissioned by the British War Office in 1886 to travel to hostile Burma to repair a rare piano vital to the Crown's strategic interests.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
A retired school teacher is the axix around which thirteen narratives offer profound insights into the human condition.

I'm So Happy for You by Lucinda Rosenfeld
What if your best friend, whom you've always counted on to flounder in life and love, suddenly starts to surpass you in every way?

Some of these recent reads were for my book group, others were recommended to me by the readers of this blog (thank you!), and some I happened upon on my own. I've enjoyed each and every one of them. Have you read any good books lately? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Susan

Giving Clothes a Second Life

2009-10-03T16:09:24-04:00

I spent the morning parked in front of my dresser and closet. Now that autumn is here, I performed the annual task of switching my lighter, summer weight clothes over to heavier, winter ones.

I love doing this switch because my dresser drawers get a much needed clean up. And it feels like a fresh start when I reacquaint myself with favorite winter clothes I haven't seen in a while. I make sure to remove the clothes I no longer wear. I just took those over to Goodwill and the homeless shelter in my town.

Remember the book I sometimes mention called 365 Ways to Save the Earth? Here's what it says about unwanted clothes . . .

Give your clothes a second life.
Fashions change and clothes gradually accumulate in wardrobes. If they are in good condition, they can be put back into circulation on the second-hand market, sold cheaply, or distributed to charities. The second-hand market offers an economic, environmentally friendly alternative to new clothes. On average, the manufacture of 1,000 items of clothing produces 500 pounds of waste cloth, paper, and packaging. To work, however, the second-hand market needs consumers.
Sift through your clothes, and donate those that have gone out of fashion to charitable organizations (such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries International, Inc.) that put out collection containers, or organize door-to-door collections. Your town hall can also tell you about clothing collections. And remember to patronize second-hand shops.

For more simple ways to be kinder to our planet, click on the category in the right-hand column of this blog entitled "Save the Earth Saturdays."

Susan

Trying Out My Vintage Flower Press

2009-10-01T14:03:38-04:00

Before I sell the flower press I found, I thought I'd give it a try.

Here are the blossoms I collected from my garden. Into the press they go, four layers of pretty blooms. It's like making a flower sandwich!

I don't have any flower pressing experience, so I'm curious to see how these will turn out. I have a feeling a few varieties will be too juicy to dry out well. We'll see in a couple of weeks. It will be hard not to peek before then!

Susan

Parting with Personal Favorites

2009-09-29T06:46:50-04:00

As a collector and seller of all things vintage, I've learned over the years that, as much as I would like to, I just can't keep everything.

In the spirit of sharing great finds, here are some of my personal favorites that I'm passing along in my sweet little Etsy shop and on The T-Cozy's sister blog, Kitsch Encounter. I do hope they will all find happy new homes.

Susan

Learning the Fine Art of Portrait Painting

2009-09-26T16:15:04-04:00

So far, I have three oil painting classes under my belt. What a wonderful experience this portrait class has been for me.

So much to learn. Although I have a fine arts degree, my focus was commercial design and I never really learned to paint. I love to draw, but painting is another skill entirely. To say it is difficult is putting it mildly!

For our first few classes, our talented teacher, Joanne Roy, guided us through painting mono-chromatically so that we would focus on areas of light and dark without getting bogged down with color. Gillian Marshall, our model, is a gifted artist in her own right. See her amazing photographs here.

During class, I struggled along and tried my best to capture Gillian. Joanne began to show us how to add color, as you can glimpse in her painting to the right of mine. Her paintings are magical. You can view Joanne's work on her web site here.

This Rowayton Arts Center class has been a refreshing departure for me. It's an enormous challenge and I'm enjoying using my brain power in a new way. In next week's class, we'll have a new model and begin to work in full color. Yikes! I'm nervous!

Susan

The Well-Dressed Toaster

2009-09-23T08:44:03-04:00

I had a guest in my studio this past weekend. It was a toaster!

Appliances aren't that attractive and some people prefer to keep theirs concealed under a decorative cover. Marjorie, a patron from my former antiques shop and tea room, gave me a call last week. A few years back, I made a cover for her two slice toaster, shown here. Marjorie has just upgraded to a four slice model, so she wanted a new custom made toaster cozy.

When she stopped by to select the fabric for her new cozy, she chose the cheerful floral tablecloth, above. I always like to rescue less than perfect vintage linens and reuse them in sewing projects. This one is a cutter with some issues, but it still has plenty of usable yardage.

I spent the morning on Monday sewing up the new cozy. I really like how it turned out. And when Marjorie picked it up yesterday, she was pleased with it, too. Isn't it sweet?

Now that's a well-dressed toaster!

Susan

Preserving the Last Blooms of Summer

2009-09-21T10:00:19-04:00

Say goodbye to summer! Although tomorrow marks the first official day of autumn, one of my recent finds will help to preserve what's left of summer's beautiful blossoms.

This clever contraption is a vintage flower press. They are fairly easy to construct and I'm sure this one was hand crafted by someone. I love the painted flowers on the top.

Inside, there are still a few pressed flowers from its previous owner. I bought this piece with the intention of reselling it, but I may try my hand at pressing some of the flowers from my garden first.

If you'd like to construct a flower press like my vintage one, I found some easy directions at a blog called Crafty Daisies here.

Even if you don't have a flower press, you can achieve the same result with a few heavy books. Here's how: Simply gather the plant material you'd like to press. Almost any flower, herb, or leaf can be pressed to preserve its beauty. Make sure there are no overlapping petals or leaves within the flower; if there is an obstructive stem or leaf, remove it from the plant. Lay out a piece of cardboard, then a sheet of wax or acid free paper. Next arrange your blooms and carefully cover them with another sheet of paper. You can continue this process, one layer on top of the other, until all your flowers are prepared. Finish off the stack with another piece of cardboard and lay several heavy books on top. Allow the flowers to press for two weeks before checking to make sure they are completely dry. Then you can frame them, use them in scrap booking projects, and make bookmarks or greeting cards with them.

Now I'm off to my garden to enjoy this last day of summer and to collect some blooms for pressing.

Susan

Fun! Vintage Board Games

2009-09-17T15:43:53-04:00

I have just listed four nostalgic board games in my Etsy shop.

The first is a real treasure. What fond memories I have of playing the Barbie Queen of the Prom Game with my grade school friends.

This is the original game from 1960. It allows you to buy a formal dress, get a steady boyfriend and be elected club president. And if you're lucky, you'll get to be queen of the prom!

Some of the playing cards show actual Barbie outfits at the time. I remember my sister and I had both the Enchanted Evening and the Let's Dance ensembles for our dolls, shown below.

And then there are the boy friends. I recall no one wanting to get Poindexter, but I think he's cute.

Another game in my Etsy shop features Hanna-Barbera's Flintstones cartoon cast. This game dates back to 1962. As a kid, I loved watching The Flintstones TV show.

Remember Monty Hall? This 1964 Let’s Make A Deal board game is based on the popular NBC TV game show of the 1960’s and 70’s.

Made by the Milton Bradley Company in 1985, the board game, below, features Hanna-Barbera's Jetsons family. When I used to watch them on TV, I thought that by 2009, we'd all be flying around in space cars like the Jetsons had.

Fun stuff! I love playing board games with my family. And these vintage ones are extra special.

Susan

Lesley's Swiss Kitsch Doll House

2009-09-15T09:43:06-04:00

Remember my friend Lesley's wonderful Caribbean doll house I wrote about in August? Last week, she invited me over for a tour of another treasure --- her kitschy Swiss chalet!

Back in the mid 1960's, Lesley's grandmother purchased this doll house for her at New York's F.A.O. Schwarz. Isn't it incredible?

For years, this doll house resided in the third floor attic of Lesley's childhood home in Scarsdale. A couple of decades later, her husband Henry spotted it there and suggested they take it home to Rowayton. Lesley has been working on it ever since. And it has become a labor of love, not only for Lesley, but for many members of her family, too. Have a look inside. (You can click on any photo for a larger view.)

Isn't it spectacular? The attention to detail is inspiring. Did you notice the cuckoo clock? How about the false teeth on the dresser? In the kitchen, you'll find bread in the oven, a rolling pin in the hutch and the table set for tea. Each bed has a chamber pot and beautiful bedding. If you open drawers and cabinets, they, too, are filled to perfection. The tiny artwork on the walls is so sweet. The alpine picture on the right is actually a framed Swiss chocolate candy wrapper!

Knowing I wanted to come by for a peek, Lesley spent a good twelve hours dusting and cleaning the chalet. Her mom, Nancy, helped wash and rehang the tiny curtains. Years ago, she also helped sew the bedding.

This doll house has really been a family affair. Lesley has had the support of her son Willy and late husband Henry, plus many others who contributed to the project. Originally from Austria, her father Frederick's family owned an art gallery in Lucerne and they spent a lot of time in Switzerland. When her Aunt Frances took trips to Europe, she brought back animals, folkloric furniture and people for the doll house. Some items were found at local shops like Eileen Godfrey Miniatures in Pound Ridge, New York. Some of the furnishing are handmade. Lesley can always count on her good friend Jill to help with that. And we can't forget Grandmother Ada, who started it all by purchasing this toy chalet over 40 years ago.

This whimsical doll house is kitschy, clever and infused with Lesley's droll and witty sense of humor. I'm so glad she allowed me to have a peek. I hope you've enjoyed viewing it, too.

Susan

Revisiting the Lucky Sew-it-yourself Book

2009-09-13T09:09:49-04:00

Time for another look at The Lucky Sew-it-yourself Book by Camille Sokol. I promised to share some of its easy sewing projects with you.

The first project is a scarf. This book is from 1964 and, at the tender age of six, I remember wearing little scarves like this.

If needed, you can view pages 12 and 13, the spread about about measuring your cloth, in my previous post here.

That's lesson #1! Feel free to share it with your kids, grandchildren, or anyone who wants to learn sewing basics. I'll share this book's other sewing projects for a simple pocketbook, apron, and pin cushion in posts to come.

Susan

I Can't Type!

2009-09-10T19:20:07-04:00

Finally, the truth comes out. I can't type! Seriously. I have to be the worst typist on the planet. My typing technique is known as "hunt and peck." I use both index fingers exclusively and leave the rest of my other eight useful fingers behind. Why, you may ask? Because I never completed my typing class back in high school.

The only class I ever dropped in my life was typing. I was fairly certain I'd be heading to art school, so I said to myself, what do I need typing skills for? I became a graphic designer after college and back then, layouts were still done the old fashioned way, on a drafting table with a T-square and type galleys. But eventually, the Macintosh computer changed everything. So I found myself in front of a computer keyboard, typing away all day.

After a 24 year career, I took a break from graphic design in 2005. But there is no still way to avoid typing. I have this blog, plus all of the other things I have grown accustomed to doing on a computer.

Oh well. Instead of enrolling in an oil painting class, perhaps I should really be taking typing.

Susan

A T-Cozy Show & Tell

2009-09-09T07:46:45-04:00

Every now and then I like to present some T-Party Tutorials. I love it when I receive emails from those who have tried a project of two. Here are a few nice folks who have been kind enough to share their terrific tutorial results with me.

Christine, one of my favorite local customers, read about cropping photos in my Photography 101 series. In her bird feeder before and after photos, she shows us what a little bit of cropping can do. Don't you think the after photo has much more impact than the original on the left? Great job Christine! To read more about cropping pictures, click here.

Like me, Lorraine, of the blog LP Vintage, is a vintage button enthusiast. She was so inspired by my button bouquet tutorial, she decided to create some of her own. What a beautiful bouquet! I just love her button combinations. To view my button bouquet tutorial, click here.

My niece, Hilary, is pretty handy. When she saw my no sew throw, she decided to create one for her friend's new baby. She referred back to my tutorial and made the sweetest baby blanket. Isn't it adorable? I love how she combined the animal print fleece on the front with the cloud pattern on the back. Looks mighty cozy! As the weather turns cooler, maybe you'd like to give one of these easy blankets a try. Click here for my no sew throw tutorial.

Thanks to Christine, Lorraine and Hilary for sharing their creations!

It's always fun to try new things. And today, I'll be doing just that. I'm going to a portrait painting class this morning. Though I have a bachelor of fine arts degree, painting is one area I have very little experience in. Wish me luck!

Susan

Little Tins of Vintage Buttons

2009-09-06T15:11:06-04:00

Are you having a nice Labor Day weekend so far? The weather is divine here, so I opened up my studio windows this morning to enjoy the fresh air and work on a little project for my Etsy shop.

I brought out eight small tins that I have on hand for loose leaf tin. Then I filled each with three dozen color coordinated buttons.

Next I designed some button motif labels for the tins.

Doing these labels brought me back to my graphic design days. I really had fun working on them.

What do you think? I love the way they turned out.

Each tin is filled with an nice array of vintage buttons from my personal collection.

Click here to check out these sets of buttons in my Etsy shop.

Now we are off to a picnic with friends on picturesque Sprite Island. I hope you enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.

Susan

My Hoosier Cabinet

2009-09-03T07:20:45-04:00

I am the proud owner of a marvelous antique Hoosier cabinet. It resides along a prominent wall that spans our kitchen and adjoining family room.

If you’re not familiar with this type of cabinet, here’s a little background information. Founded in 1898 in Indiana, The Hoosier Manufacturing Company came up with the clever idea of taking a standard cupboard and turning it into an efficient and compact baking center. These free standing work stations had every “modern” convenience such as a tilt-out flour bin that could hold 50 pounds of flour with a built-in sifter in its base. With an enamel pull-out work surface, they also boasted a sugar bin, spice rack, tin lined bread drawer, additional drawers for utensils, and shelves behind the doors for more storage. Most had a roll-down tambour door tucked just below the top doors to hide away clutter.

Between 1900 and 1940, several other manufacturers such as Sellers, McDougall, Wilson and Boone, turned out slightly different versions, with great success. (The name “Hoosier” stuck, even if the cupboard was produced by another maker.) Earlier cabinets were made from sturdy oak; later versions used lesser grade woods painted to match kitchen color trends of that time. These ingenious cabinets could be purchased from the Sears catalog or other merchants and delivered anywhere within reach of a railroad. The Hoosier cabinet fell out of favor when built-in kitchen cabinets became all the rage in the 1940s.

My extra-wide Hoosier is one of the older oak models. It has lovely etched glass in the upper cabinets and lots of extra drawers. It provides an amazing amount of storage and houses all of our bake ware, cookie sheets, mixer, placements, cloth napkins, glass serving pieces, and more. It has a pull-out enamel top and a wooden cutting board along with its original roll-down tambour door.

On top of our Hoosier sit three of my vintage 1940's wooden soap powder dispensers.

Along the side, I've hung the sweetest wooden Dutch girl. Out of all of my vintage pieces, this one may be my favorite!

A set of pretty floral Japanese pottery canisters rests behind the tambour door.

Inside the top doors, you'll find my collection of vintage glass ware; lots of cake pedestals, bowls and platters. I like to use glass serving pieces because they blend with any of our dishes. Plus, they are inexpensive and can be found at most thrift stores and flea markets.

My oak Hoosier is unusual; along with having large drawers in the bottom unit, it has three smaller drawers in the upper portion below the tambour door. One of them holds a collection of vintage cutlery with bright red bakelite handles.

Hoosier cabinets make wonderful display pieces. In my former antiques shop and tea room, I had a couple of different cupboards in the front room. Above on the left is a white Sellers brand cabinet with red bakelite knobs and deco stencils. It was sold at T-Party to a gentleman from New York City who planned to use it in his guest bathroom to hold extra towels and toiletries. Then I acquired a 1933 green cabinet with original art deco stenciling on the upper doors. It still had the old sifter and flour bin with an oval glass window so one could see how much flour was remaining. It even had a meat grinder. I sold it at T-Party to a couple planning on using it in their beach cottage kitchen.

I love Hoosier cabinets. If I ever have another antiques shop, I envision having all sorts Hoosiers lining the room filled with wonderful old kitchen ware. Wouldn't that be fun?

Susan