I Come Bearing Gifts: A Vintage Christmas GIVEAWAY

Back in April when I timidly wrote my first blog post, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  My kids were shocked that their techno-primitive mother managed to figure out how to design a blog.  Then I was shocked when I got my first follower, and then 2 and 3...

And now seven months and 74 posts later, I'm celebrating 100+ followers!   Yay!  Thanks so much for hanging in there with me over these past months.  I couldn't have done it without your support and friendship.  You were my inspiration...and my free therapy!

You helped me survive the breakup of a relationship, another birthday, blogger's burnout and seller's block.  You were there to help share in the excitement of my estate sale finds each week.  You forgave me for my sometimes outrageously looong posts.  And most recently...you helped me celebrate finally getting Sarsaparilla's Boudoir up and running on Etsy. 

And guess what? I already sold 8 items!  I'm not bragging - just surprised!  I need to restock soon!  Thanks so much for your encouragement and good suggestions.  You're the best!

You've given me so much - and now it's time for me to give a little back.  So, I'm having a little vintage Christmas Giveaway...

I'm going to pick TWO winners.  And each winner gets to pick one gift package from my selection of four.  I thought it might be nice for you to have a few options so that you can choose the giveaway you like best.

If both winners pick the same item for their first choice - then I'll toss a coin (or something like that) to figure out who gets to choose first.  Sound reasonable?   I really wish I could give all four packages away - but I don't want to spoil you too much...  :-)

Gift #1 - 1960's Vintage Christmas collection.

or...
Gift #2 - 1930's and 40's Paper collection.

or...
Gift #3 - 1960's Frilly Pink Nylon Negligee

or...
Gift #4 - 1960's 2-Piece Green Dress

Here's how to enter: 

Just leave me a comment by Tuesday, December 21 (first day of winter) at midnight!  AND since it's the holiday season, it would be really great if in your comment you'd be willing to share one of your favorite winter holiday traditions...   (Not required - just an idea!)  To get things rolling, I'll share one of mine.  Each year on the night that my little family decorated our Christmas tree, my daughter and I used to pull out the bed on the sleeper sofa in our living room - which is right in front of the Christmas tree - and  we would have a little Christmas slumber party with music and reading Christmas stories and staring at the pretty Christmas tree lights.  Okay....your turn!

If you aren't already a follower, I'd love it if you'd like to start following my blog.  But I'm not going to make you!  As long as you leave a comment, your entry will have the same weight as everyone else's.  If you don't have a blog with an email listing, please make sure to leave your email address in your comment so that I can find you if you win!

Note:  one exception to "every entry will have the same weight."   If you mention my giveaway in your blog, with a link, I would be so appreciative - and will throw your name in twice!  Just let me know...

I live in the United States - but please, please, please know that if you are the winner I will be very happy to ship to Ireland or New Zealand or France or Norway or wherever you are.  I'm not worried about the shipping cost.  It's the least I can do for all the joy you bring to me each day!

Here are some more photos of the giveaway options...

These ceramic singers have a Ucagco - Japan sticker.

Soft vinyl reindeer - heads turn!  Made in Japan.

Pair of vintage Santa Mugs, Napco - Japan stickers.

Set of 6 "The Family Circle" magazines.  All are from 1940.  These are slim mags, with approx. 18 - 24 pages each. 

Set of 5 Culinary Arts Institute softcover cook books from 1940 and 1941.

Two "human hair" hairnets in bright packages - probably 1950s.

A variety of sheet music, ranging from 1925 to 1943.

This frilly 1960's 100% nylon pink negligee / nightie has an extra layer of filmy chiffon in the front.  The gown can be tied at the waist - or the tie can be removed and it can be worn like the first photo above.

I love these rows of feminine ruffles!  The sleeves are wide enough to form a bit of a cap across the shoulder.  The label:  Size M - Penney's "Adonna"  (sounds like a Greek goddess!)

Here's what the green dress (photo above) looks like underneath the little sleeveless blouse.  The top portion is a smooth satiny material.  That same material is used as slip underneath the skirt.

Here are the labels inside the dress - "Carl Naftal Originals - California."  100% Dacron Polyester.  Size 12. (Seems to be about a medium, but I will post the measurements soon!)

My favorite detail - the pockets with sparkly rhinestone buttons!

Those of you who saw my previous post about this dress...I know what you're thinking - "She's giving the dress away because she doesn't want to have to worry about losing those 10 lbs..."

Ha! Not true. I'm actually looking forward to the weight just slipping off with all the exercise I've been doing.  I'm giving it away because I know that several of you really liked the dress - and it would bring me joy, especially at this time of year, to make someone happy!

I look forward to reading your holiday tradition comments.  Thanks again for your friendship!

p.s. No need to figure out now what gift you like best.  You can decide when you win!

Oops - please ignore that last post!

This morning I was just starting to write about my upcoming Vintage Christmas GIVEAWAY - and then had to rush off to work.  I had only written one sentence - but in my rush, instead of pressing SAVE NOW I apparently hit PUBLISH POST. 

Several hours later I discovered my mistake.  Anyone who saw it must have been totally puzzled. Sorry for the confusion!  There truly is going to be a giveaway - I just need a little more time to write about the details!

More about the giveaway later this evening...  Stay tuned!

How many vintage coats does it take to make it through a long Minnesota winter?

I'm a pretty sensible and practical woman most of the time, but when it comes to vintage winter coats, my head goes foggy and my heart takes over.   If I see a pretty coat at an estate sale for a reasonable price, I just can't seem to pass it up!

The crazy thing about it is that I already have [walking over to my closet to count right now] NINE vintage winter coats - and most of them I've never worn yet.   Nine coats!   That's a little overboard, don't you think?   I promise you that I'm not like this with other types of clothes - generally, I'm Ms. Frugal - but there's something about coats...
 
Here are two that I bought at a sale this past July.  I remember it was bleepin' hot out that day and the estate sale was crowded with hot, sweaty shoppers - and there I was in the middle of the chaos trying on these wonderful vintage coats, attempting to catch a glimpse of myself in a little mirror. I got lots of smiles (who is this crazy woman?) but nobody seemed to want to bother with lugging around a heavy winter coat on a hot day.  Nobody except me.  And so I got some great deals!
 
This black coat has a "Stuart's - Milwaukee" label and the sweetest ball-shaped fabric buttons.

I think that my favorite feature on this first coat - the thing that convinced me that I had to buy it - is the embroidered "arrows" detailing on the back and front.  I'm also a sucker for curly lamb trim.  (Thanks Kitty and Kim Bombshell for reminding me that "curly lamb" is more often called Astrakhan or Persian lamb.)

This next vintage coat (mid 1950's?) is a much longer style, in a navy blue - and the label is: "Made expressly for Bloomingdale's."

 

This one's perfect for keeping warm during a cold Minnesota winter.  It's long and heavy - and has the softest brown fur in the world on the collar and cuffs.  I love the look from the back, with the gentle folds...

What do you think - is it a keeper?

But wait until you see the sweetheart of a coat, in chocolate brown, that I bought a few weeks ago!  It's got a lovely "Brucewood - Maurice L. Rothschild - Young Quinlan Co" label.

(I have a thing for vintage clothing labels - anyone else with me on that obsession?) 

As for the rest of the coat...I'll share some photos soon.  Then maybe you would be willing to help me figure out which coat should be The Coat that will carry me through this winter?  And I can eventually sell the others. 

OR...I suppose I could keep all nine - one for each day of the week, plus a couple just for evenings - but that seems a bit on the greedy side, doesn't it?  And I don't want to give the impression that I am a Greedy Grinch. 

I'd like to think that my heart, like the Grinch's on Christmas Day, expands to three times its size at this time of year....

Narrator: "And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!"

Narrator: "Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand."



This song sends shivers up my spine, and puts tears in my eyes.   It's so joyful and uplifting! - one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time...

Silly me. I have no idea how I managed to turn the discussion from vintage coats to this 1966 Dr. Seuss Christmas television classic.  I guess it means that I must be starting to get into the Christmas spirit.  Hope you are too!

Warm holiday wishes, 

Susan

Holiday Lights Blink A Bright Red, Green...and Pink

Well, my little family survived our ovenless Thanksgiving just fine - thanks to an electric roaster loan from a friend.   I'm trying to finish up the leftovers as quickly as possible so I can start my holiday diet. 

Oddly, I tend to gain weight in the summer and then lose it during the winter months.  I'm counting on that happening again this year!

My incentive is this great Mad Men era two-piece dress that I bought at an estate sale yesterday. The 60's label: "Carl Naftal Original - California."

I can just barely squeeze into it right now...and I wouldn't want to risk wearing it until I've lost about 10 pounds...but I can already tell it's going to look great! 
 
The dress is in a textured Dacron Polyester, and it has these wonderful sparkly gold and green rhinestone buttons on the pockets. Even though this is sleeveless, I think it could be great for a holiday party - especially with a vintage fur collar or wrap for a little extra warmth.  What do you think?
 

Here are some more greens and reds to help unleash your Christmas spirit!

Everything you see here will be up for grabs at Sarsaparilla's Boudoir (Etsy) or Sarsaparilla on eBay either tonight (Sunday) or sometime during the coming week.

Musical 1960's Hickory Dickory Christmas Clock with Dancing Santa; Made In Japan

Vintage 1960's "Cherry Humps" Candy Bars Display Box; Schuler Chocolates Inc, Winona, Minn.

Vintage 1940's, 50's Dutch Boy & Girl Salt/Pepper - Made in Japan - never used! - F. W. Woolworth 39 cents price tag on hat

Simplicity 1950's Sewing Pattern 2757 - Skirt & Weskit

"In the Rough" Golf Balls of Pure Castille Soap; 1955 by MEM Company, NY

1950's Harold Gale 14" Display Santa Claus

Olga Baclanova - June 1929 Photoplay - (Cover illustration only) 

"Night Before Christmas" - 1958 Whitman book - illustrated by Florence Sarah Winship

1960's Red knit two-piece dress: "Lofties, Designed by Lawrence"

Vintage 60's Christmas Elf Apron

The Four Seasons of Romance - Fanny Farmer Candies Vintage Tin

And here's a bit of Holiday Pink for good measure!

10" Magic Skin "Snookie" Baby Doll - by Ideal - 1951 to 1955; with original box!

Retro Pastel Christmas Trees Hankie, pink rolled edge

Vintage Pink Flamingo Ornament, Spun Cotton & Feathers

All this color! But sometimes the best things in life are in black and white...

Here's Bing Crosby in a 1965 Christmas special singing "Wonderful White World of Winter."  Love the dancers in the first number!   If this were about two years later, the women would probably have long hair and go-go boots, instead of suits & hats.

Hope your first week of December is a merry one!

The News From (a city near) Lake Wobegon

First the good news:  I'm staying home for Thanksgiving this year!  That makes me happy because I'm a big chicken when it comes to driving in snowy weather - and this holiday is notorious for dishing out nasty weather either during the drive to my parents' house, or on my way back home.

Now the bad news:  My oven died about a month or two ago - and procrastinator and penny pincher that I am, I haven't managed to get it fixed yet.  So my Turkey Dinner will need to be cooked in the microwave or on my stove top...

Collier's magazine cover, November 16, 1932

Actually, I'm not too concerned.  There will be just three of us for dinner on Thursday - me and my two munchkins.  And as long as my son gets his pumpkin pie, my daughter gets her spinach dip, and I get my mashed potatoes and gravy, we will all be perfectly happy.

My children, Daniel and Rachel, toasting Times Square - 2008 trip to New York City.

This year's Thanksgiving gathering at our home is special for a couple of reasons.  My son Daniel moved out of the house shortly before Halloween to live in Rochester, Minnesota (near the Mayo Clinic), so this will be his first holiday homecoming.  And now my daughter Rachel has decided to follow his lead. She just found an apartment a couple of miles away from home, and plans to move out on December 1.  I'm losing my babies!

Okay, I will admit that for the past few years I have actually been looking forward to having my house to myself.  (Just think, I will have two empty bedrooms to spread out my antiques in!) 

But now that it's only a week away from happening, I just want to turn back the clock about 20 years and be able to curl up next to them in bed at night and read "Goodnight Moon" over and over again. 

Oh, look at me complaining again - when I have so much to be grateful for!

It's always something, isn't it?

Or as this little pup says, "If it isn't Booze, it's Something Else..."  (Ha! I'd like to read that story - too bad I've only got the magazine cover...)

To those of you who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Thursday - my very best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday!   And to those of you who will be heading to work that day, as usual - perhaps when you get home you can have a nice glass of wine or two, and toast your American friends.  And if you forget, I promise to have an extra glass for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. For those of you who have no idea what "The News From Lake Wobegon" refers to, and haven't had the pleasure of listening to Garrison Keillor's radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion" - here's a little taste of quirky Minnesota humor for you.  Watch it to the end to catch the fun Be-Bop-A-Re-Bop Rhubarb Pie ditty.