Wm. Silverman of New York Vintage Hat...1930's Djer Kiss Vanity Box...1950's Bathroom Curtains with Poodles!

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I've had so much fun at weekend estate sales lately, I thought it was about time that I shared some of my recent purchases with you!  Welcome to Heavenly Finds Sunday - where each week I'll be showing off some of my great buys...and fabulous finds that make my heart sing...

When I walk in the door of an estate sale, usually the first place I head is the bedroom - with the hopes of finding vintage clothing or accessories.  Yesterday I found this sweet little hat, probably from the 1950's.  I am intrigued with the colored bands of mocha, dove gray, black and a hint of red at the front.  The single long black feather adds a touch of drama.

This is a Wm Silverman of New York designed hat...

I'm always intrigued by vintage clothing labels, and this one has two!

I just put this hat up for auction on eBay (bidding ends Sunday 7/18).

Click here if you'd like to take a peek...

I think these pretty sweater clips are so...nifty!  This one is still on the original card...

Here's a close-up.  Look at all the tiny pink & gold colorful confetti inside!

And here I am modeling the sweater guard with a pink sweater.  Very sweet! 

(This one is hard to give up, but I just posted it for auction on eBay.  Take a peek - the auction ends on Wednesday night, July 21.)

Here's a fabulous find, probably from the 1930's - possibly earlier...  A Djer Kiss Parfum box for your vanity!

Inside it's a lovely pinky salmon, and it has the Djer Kiss label on the lid.  I suppose this might have been a gift set, filled with talcum powder, cologne or perfume, etc.

 

Here's a close-up of the fabulous illustration on the cover of the box!

These next three items are my super buys of the weekend.  Each cost me just $1.00...

Okay...I'll admit that there's a catch.  One has a chip, and two have cracks - but displayed on the shelf above my piano, or in my curio cabinet, I'm the only one who will ever know!

 

Isn't this a lovely bud vase?  It's probably from the 1920's, maybe a bit earlier.

This porcelain vase (early 1900's, possibly as late as 1920's?)  is decorated with soft peach lustre and has a lovely transfer on the front.  Marked "Germany" on the base.  At 10" tall, it's not small.  And, yes - it was just $1.00!    I would definitely have paid more than a buck for this - but I won't complain...

Here's a close-up of the baby and little girl.  They're enchanted with the butterfly.

The baby's face is rather adult looking, wouldn't you say? But it just adds to the charm.

Isn't she lovely...

And my third $1.00 find is this pretty yellow planter, marked "Ransbottom, Roseville" on the bottom.  (Robinson Ransbottom Pottery Co. of Roseville, Ohio mark is often confused with Roseville Pottery Co. which was also located in Roseville, Ohio.)

 

I really love the nice textures on this piece.  What a deal!

The mission style plant stand, ca. 1920's or 30's, was a bit of a splurge....$8.00.

When I bought these 1950's (or 40's?) drapes, my intention was to turn around and sell them right away.  But when I brought them home, I thought I'd try them out in my bedroom - and they were perfect!

I love the subtly textured fabric, and the soft green trees against the crisp white background.  

 

I spend so much time in bed reading....it will be nice to have this new lovely view...

I've still got another pair of these drapes. Hmm...maybe I could be resourceful and turn them into a long matching robe - like Scarlett did in Gone With the Wind.

And finally....another set of curtains....with a very different theme.  Poodles!

When I first spotted these vintage 1950's vinyl curtains at an estate sale yesterday, I thought it was a shower curtain.  But when I held it up, I realized it was a bit too short - 54".  Plus there was a matching panel.  Clearly this was meant to be used as a bathroom curtain for the window above a bathtub. 

What makes these bathroom curtains special is that they're sprinkled with poodles!

Aren't these crazy!

I'd keep these curtains too, if I had the right window in my bathroom.  But no such luck!  So...I'm selling them on eBay this week (bidding ends Sunday, 7/18).  Click here to take a closer look at the curtains and some of my other items up for auction this week...a vintage cake topper, sewing patterns and an Oscar de la Renta scarf.

I've got lots more to share, but I think I'll save some for next Sunday!  Hope you all have a wonderful week...

Sarsaparilla Saturday: Waldorf Tissue Presents "Bobby Crybaby"

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Happy Saturday morning to you!  

I've been up since 5 a.m., sipping a latte and paging through a couple of vintage Movie Story magazines (an eBay purchase) that arrived in the mail the other day.  These magazines are full of little surprises.  I'm having so much fun!

Here's a quirky ad for Waldorf's Scott Tissue from the August 1938 issue of Movie Story that I couldn't resist sharing with you.  Gosh, who would have thought that toilet tissue could be so dangerous!  Mother should have known better...

I hope you'll join me next week for another Sarsaparilla Saturday.  I'll be on the lookout for some more fun to satisfy the kid in you...

Thirties Thursday and a Mystery Solved: A 1930's Vintage Smock!

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This past Monday, the delightful Baroness Von Vintage of Tea With the Vintage Baroness blogged about a couple of 1930's smock patterns that she found at Cemetarian.  Here's one of the patterns she found:

The Baroness commented that these 1930's smocks are so scarce that when someone happens to find one, they don't quite know what it is that they've got.  And when they try to sell it, it's common for the smock to be mislabeled as clothing from another era, and possibly even a mini dress!

Well, I was one of the lucky ones that happened to stumble across one of these smocks a number of years ago.  And just as the Baroness said - I didn't know what in the world it was!  It hung in my closet, unsold, for the longest time because I didn't know what era it was from, or how it should be worn.  It was a mystery. All I knew was that I found the design and fabric absolutely intriguing!

Everything about this smock is so DRAMATIC!

Look at the bold orange pointed collar and very full sleeves... (front view)

....and the buttons down the back.

I love those wide orange cuffs with buttons...

...and the diagonal patch pockets.

Oh, and it was so carefully sewn.  Sweet!

A closeup of the fabric.  Definitely 1930's, don't you think?

When I finally sold it on eBay last year, I came pretty close to getting the label right.  I called it: "INTRIGUING Vintage 1930s APRON with ARTISTIC FLAIR."   It attracted a lot of attention even though I called it an Apron.  The word "Smock" completely escaped me!  So I'm grateful that I can now call it by its proper name.  

Okay, and I have to admit - I also mentioned in my eBay description that it could be worn as a dress.  I didn't say mini dress, but it definitely would have been.  Silly me - now I know better...  :-)

Be sure to stop by next week for another Thirties Thursday!   Enjoy your weekend! 

1928 Fashion Show and the Voice of an Angel - Annette Cranshaw

It's time for another Twenties Tuesday and an intimate look at the Roaring 20's.

This week, you're invited to a fashion show!  So grab a flop (flapperese for "take a seat") and let's watch Corliss Palmer, Raquel Torres, Laura La Plante and Ruth Elder get all dolled up to model the hottest fashions of 1928.

I think all of these fashions are the cat's meow - but if I could pick just one to own, I'd take Raquel Torres' hat and matching bag with appliqued felt flowers.  What's your favorite?

If you enjoy the fashion of the 1920's, 30's and 40's, take a peek at the glamourdaze channel on youtube.com for this video, and much more. You'll be in vintage fashion heaven!



By the way, the song from the video is called "Love Me Tonight" and is sung by Annette Hanshaw (1901-1985).  Lovely, isn't it?   Visit Annette Hanshaw: Voice of An Angel for a wonderful little website dedicated to her life and music - plus photos like this charmer:

This photo is from the Collection of Murray Kent.  She looks like a real sweetheart, doesn't she? 

Miss Hanshaw's discography (courtesy of Red Hot Jazz) includes songs like: Ain't He Sweet; Button Up Your Overcoat; Cooking Breakfast for the One I Love; If I Had a Talking Picture of You; I Faw Down and Go 'Boom; Tip Toe Through the Tulips With Me; I Want a Good Man (and I Want Him Bad) - and many more.

Yes, there is actually a song called "I Faw Down and Go Boom."  Only in the Roaring Twenties could they get away with such nonsense!

For Love of Country

America

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!











My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.


Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.
 
       -- Samuel Francis Smith, 1831
 

Love American Style

I'm still new at blogging, and have been a little shy about sharing my latest venture with family and friends. But I'm slowly getting the word out there. 

I asked my parents to take a peek last week - knowing that I can always count on my Mom for some glowing praise to boost the spirits. And then just last night I sent my siblings a "Happy Independence Day!" email, with a plea to visit my blog and leave a comment - so that I'll look like I'm more popular than I am! 

I expect that I might get a visit from a sib or two today.  So...Kathy, Mary, Joe, Linda, Becki, Jenny and Chris - here's a bit of patriotic family nostalgia just for you:

This photo was taken on July 4, 1976 - America's Bicentennial.  I love the knitted poncho that my youngest sister Jenny is wearing.  And that's me at 16, on the far right - in the sailboat halter, white hip hugger jeans, and wire frame glasses.  I'm sure that I was attempting to look "hot" - now it just makes me laugh!

I recall that I was the instigator behind all the red, white and blue clothing.  Most of the family rolled their eyes at my request, but went along with it anyway.  But my Dad stubbornly dressed in brown & yellow polyester.

My sister Kathy (the oldest) is missing from this photo because she was taking the picture.  If I am remembering correctly, she was wearing the ultimate in 70's coolness - an all-white jumpsuit.  Wish I had a photo of that jumpsuit that I could share with you - I'm sure it would bring a smile.

Digging through one of my several boxes of "memories" that I've saved over the years - I came across the octagon wire frames that I'm wearing in the Bicentennial photo!  Here they are with a "Peace" print from my eighth grade art class.  Groovy!

I'll leave you with a "patriotic" tune from the TV show Love American Style, an hour-long television sitcom anthology which aired between September 1969 and January 1974.  In its first year, the show's theme song was sung by the Cowsills, a clean-cut family singing group popular in the late 1960's, with hit songs like "Indian Lake" and "Hair."  (video by Klaatubes - thank you!)

A big Happy Fourth of July to all of you! I hope you enjoy some fireworks tonight with those you love...

Fun with Vintage "Made in Hong Kong" Plastic Cake Toppers!

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It's Saturday morning, and time for another Sarsaparilla Saturday! 

After a long and sometimes stressful week at work, Saturdays are a good day to unwind with some lighthearted fun.  Each Saturday, we'll be traveling back to the kid's world of vintage toys, dolls, games and cartoons - or an adult world that's whimsical, weird, comical or maybe even a little naughty.  In any case, my goal is to make you smile.

This morning I wanted to to share with you a fun collection of plastic whimsies from the 1950's and 60's.  Most of them are Made in Hong Kong - and most are Cake Toppers!  I recently purchased all of these little items from the estate of a 91-year-old woman.  Her granddaughter proudly, and a little apologetically, told me:  "She was in the catering business for 35 years, and never threw anything away..."

 

I've already shared a photo of these colorful plastic bridesmaids and groomsmen on heart stands with you - in my recent post on vintage weddings.  But they're so much fun I thought I'd give you another peek. 

I love these little plastic bonnets in pretty pastel colors.  Perfect for a spring birthday or wedding shower!

Isn't she sweet?  Tina the plastic ballerina...

She came with two bags filled with tiny pink ballerinas in silver and "chocolate" tutus - to decorate cupcakes!

These two "Li'l Professor" trolls in plastic cases are 3" tall - and so sweet.  Perfect to top a Graduation Cake! The card inside the case says:  "JANZ Trolls and Dolls - for the best-dressed dolls" - from House of Ideas, Naperville, Ill.  You could also purchase for your trolls a Play Mite Set with tiny furniture and Troll Fads clothes, or a Magic Mountain Troll Cave!

Ain't she purty!

Here's an intriguing little cake topper for a baby shower - a 6-inch tall stork with a baby tied around it's neck with a pink ribbon.  There's a "Western Germany - U.S. Zone" tag on the leg, probably dating it to the early 1950's.

This rubber baby is borderline scary...don't you think?

Talk about scary....here come the CLOWNS!

A child's nightmare...a box filled with clown heads, come to life!

Actually, I think the clowns with the big red noses in this second box - Made in Japan - are adorable. 

This "Diligent Porgies" (what a name!) plastic toy was Made in Hong Kong and is friction powered.  I love the squiggly tails on the porgies.   

This mini plastic golf bag with 8 woods and irons, about 5" long, would be great fun for Dad's birthday. 

Look at these 9" long miniature skis!  I'm not sure who the maker is, but they are surprisingly detailed.    Everything's plastic but the spring that attaches the shoes to the skis.

And here is my favorite of the whole lot.  A box of plastic racing cars!

I grew up in a family of 7 girls andjust  2 boys, and I don't remember playing with cars at all when I was a kid.

So I was surprised that I was so fascinated with these little plastic racers.  I spent a good hour "playing" with them: opening up the boxes and researching the car makes (most are from the 50's).  After sorting them all out, I discovered that this is apparently a series of 10 different cars - and I have at least one sample of each:  M.G. Midget; Mercedes Benz; Cunningham; Aston Marton; Triumph TR2; Vanwall; Connaught; H.W.M.; Jaguar Type-D and Masserati. 

So maybe the detailing on the cars is a bit fuzzy, and the wheels barely turn - but isn't that all part of the charm of these plastic vintage toys?

Thirties Thursday: Judy Garland and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" 1939

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Each week on Thursday, I'll be featuring music, films or fashions from the 1930's.

I'm starting things off with a classic from my personal all-time favorite film,"The Wizard of Oz" - 1939. Here's the unforgettable Judy Garland singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." (Courtesy of Monteinke, YouTube.  The subtitles are in Portuguese - lovely!)

No matter how many times I hear Judy Garland sing this, I'm always completely enchanted. Enjoy...