My Vintage Soul

Pay It Forward

I bagged my biggest Spring Cleanup find ever when I went back to the huge box of vintage fabric for, ironically, a hunting print fabric, which has images of deer, hunters and pheasants on it. It's now in my Etsy shop.*

As I traveled home with my fabric, there on the side of the road, was something I had always wanted: A garden arbor. It was one of those plastic ones and it appeared to be in good condition. I had visions of it framing the entry to our garden.

But there was no way that I could fit it into my Subaru Forester and I certainly would need help to get it on top. Further complicating matters was that it was getting dark and that I was on a fairly busy road. And I knew if I drove home without it that I'd be kissing it goodbye. Someone else would quickly snatch it up.

What do do? What to do? 

As I pondered that dilemma, help came from an unlikely duo: a mother-daughter team of metal junkers who had actually stopped at our house when we put out our castoffs a few weeks earlier. We had given them several metal items and they told us that they sold metal to be able to put gas in their old pickup truck. Which made me appreciate what I have all the more.

And now, they were helping me put the arbor on top of my car and tie it down. Luckily I didn'’t have too far to go, so I drove slowly, just like an old lady, with flasher lights on all the way. Back home, I got the arbor off the car and tied it to the deck, so it wouldn’'t blow over, and that was where Mr. VS found it the next morning.

When he caught up with me later in the day, the conversation between us went something like this: 

Mr VS: How big was the cat that helped you drag that thing home last night?

Me: I had some help.

Mr. VS: I’'m sure you did. Who?

Me: Shut the truck down! (Which is what the metal-seeking mama said to her younguns when we gave them a rusted-out grill, metal pieces from our dismantled swingset and some old tools).

Mr. VS: Shut the truck down? You'’re kidding.

No, I wasn'’t. I guess that if you pay it forward that sometimes your reward is greater than just knowing that you'’ve done a good deed. 

And now, the arbor is in place as the gateway to our newly fenced garden, or as Mr. VS calls it "the gulag for vegetables."’’ By mid-July, I hope to see morning glories blooming up the sides of the arbor and zinnias framing it on either side. But, if that’'s gonna happen, I better get busy now. 

* BTW, there are many, many yards of the hunting fabric just in case you're looking to redecorate a mancave for Father's Day.

And speaking of fabric, the winner of the turquoise floral print is Michelle, who doesn't have a blog.

And finally, thank you for your kind thoughts about the passing of my father. The support of the blogging community never fails to amaze me.

 

 

Dad

My dad and me, with my daughters, Grace and Emily.

On May 3, after a 14-month fight against lung cancer, my father passed away. He was 74.

For as long as I can remember he called me his "little girl with the curl in the middle of her back head." I never knew where that phrase came from, so I Googled it. It's a nursery rhyme, except it's the "little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead." Which is so like my dad. He knew how to turn a phrase and make it his own, and he was always goofy around little kids.

He taught me how to drive a car, which was not easy, considering he was dealing with a bawling 16-year-old who kept stalling out a Dodge Dart that had the stick shift on the steering column.

He also taught me to work hard, that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy and that you shouldn't quit one job until you have another one. Many times he told my sister and I, when we tried to rush through washing the dishes after supper, that "haste makes waste." Yes, we groaned at that one. Still do.

He was a salesman, so his "office" was the trunk of his car. I remember him doing paperwork at night, sitting at the kitchen table, using what I thought was the coolest colored pencil. It was blue on one end and red on the other. I wish I had one of those pencils now.

He took me to Cincinnati Reds'’ games and we sat way up in the nosebleed seats.

He and my mom were brave enough to drive four kids under the age of 10, from Ohio to Cape Cod on vacation. I'm sure that we must have asked if we were there yet at least 1,000 times.

He brought home pepperoni pizza every Friday night.

He never failed to tell me that he loved me every time I talked with him, or to tell me how proud he was of my daughters, who are two of his 11 grandchildren.

The loves of his life were his family and the game of golf. At his calling hours, I met many of the guys that he played with for more than 40 years. It was nice to know that he had so many buddies.

He was a fighter to the very end. A few weeks before he passed, he talked about getting his strength back to be able to golf again. I hope now that he's hitting every tee shot long and straight and that he's sinking his putts.

Dad, I love you and I miss you.

Vintage Fabric Jackpot

If you happen to find a big box of vintage fabric by the side of the road, then be prepared to do a whole lot of washing and ironing. You might even wash, as I did, eight loads of fabrics, followed by three hours of ironing.

But your time will be time well spent.

Because when you stand back to admire all the neat little piles of fabrics that now cover your kitchen table, you can only smile, knowing that you rescued it from the dump and maybe better yet, it was all free. And then, you'll have a happy debate about which ones are your favorites.

Could it be the blues?

Which include just about the cutest bluebird print that you've ever seen?

Or the pinks? Love that poodle print.

Or maybe the Mid-Century prints in all their graphic glory?

But then there are also those cowboy curtain prints.

And those groovy 1960s terry cloth patterns.

And of course the feedsacks. The three patterns above are complete sacks and there's more than one of each of them. There are three of the pink floral print in the middle and two each of the brown and aqua print on the left and the red, yellow and green square print on the right.

And there are also scraps of several other feedsack patterns that are just perfect for quilting.

Why there are even a few actual feedsacks.

And that, my friends, is just about half of the fabric that I brought home during week four of Spring Cleanup. If you see something that you like, feel free to ask how much yardage there is. Some of the pieces are large, but most are scraps of varying sizes and shapes. Most of it will eventually end up in my Etsy shop.

And speaking of fabric, there's still time to enter this week's giveway, which is 2 yards of this fabric. I also have a much larger piece of this print, about 9 yards, that will go in the shop soon. To win the 2-yard piece, leave a comment in the previous post before midnight Friday.

 

Week 4: Double-Down Junkin' and a Giveaway

An unexpected trip out of town took me out of commission for week three of Spring Cleanup. But I doubled down and made up for it this week. In fact, I found something in quantities that I could never have imagined.

Here's a clue:

As for the other finds, there were these miniature vintage Christmas ornaments. They were attached to a wreath with the kind of twist ties that you find in the produce department of your local grocery (and, yes, I was too lazy to take them off for the photo).

A couple of vintage card boxes.

Two pieces of 1960s wall art: The roses on the left are Syrocowood and the plastic sconce on the right is by Dart.

Another vintage suitcase. I swear I really am NOT collecting them but this is the third one I've found in as many weeks, and I certainly couldn't walk away from anything so cute in Jadeite green.

And speaking of suitcases, I also found these matching pieces, which I later found out are wig cases from the 1960s.

Mr. VS took one look at the girl on the cases and said "Liza Minnelli." Well, maybe. My first thought was Audrey Hepburn or maybe Twiggy. What do you think?

I also found several vintage patterns for doll clothes, and, yes, that is the same pattern in the top row in three different sizes. I found them in a box with a few pieces of fabric.

Which brings me back to this:

Have you guessed what I found in vast quanities? Yes, vintage fabric. After discovering the patterns, I thought that maybe there could be a few more, so I started poking around my favorite kind of pile of junk, the one that's in front of an old lady house.

I lifted the lid of an enormous box, gasped at all the fabric inside, and started to dig. And dig. And my pile of what I wanted started to grow. And grow. At one point, I thought maybe it was just easier to take the whole box and sort through it at home. But it was too big and too heavy for just little old me (and I'm not little) to lift into my van.

So, I kept digging. Floral prints. Mid-century prints. Cowboy prints. Old kitschy kitchen curtains. Even a few old dresses. It all went into my pile.

And feedsacks. Yes, feedsacks. Even some real feedsacks.

There's so much fabric, in fact, that it deserves a post all its own. That's coming up.

For now, here's this week's giveaway, which, appropriately, is fabric. It's about 2 yards of 1970s-ish green and turquoise floral cotton print. The original price was 37 cents a yard.

The centers of the flowers are somewhat amoeba-like. If you want it, leave a comment before midnight Friday. Back with the rest of the fabric soon.

Last week's winner (of the little ceramic Christmas tree) is Pattie Donahue, who doesn't have a blog.

Week 2: CSI Spring Cleanup

In a decade of Spring Cleanups, I thought that I had seen just about everything tossed to the curb: typewriters, toilets, Christmas ornaments, golf clubs, bowling balls, lawn furniture, lamps, silver trays ... You get the idea.

But on Sunday, I added a new entry to my log: body parts. Yes, I did say body parts.

But thankfully, not the sort that had me on speed dial to 911. These were from a vintage model of what I thought was the Invisible Man.

Oh, excuse me. Make that the Invisible Woman. And I apologize if this blog is no longer G-rated.

I also found these vintage models of the heart. One is marked "1959 Merck," and I'm guessing that it might have been an educational model.

I didn't grab these immediately. In fact, I drove away and about a minute later, turned around. Yes, they were in a rather disgusting pile of junk (see "a couple of piles of gross") in front of a rather creepy-looking house, and I confess that I didn't look to see if the name on the mailbox was Frankenstein.

But I decided that unlike the musty ledger in the same pile that I really wanted but was way beyond saving, that these body parts could withstand a thorough cleaning, and that they were just quirky enough to go on Etsy, maybe around Halloween.

And so, I spent some of my Sunday afternoon taking apart the Invisible Woman, bone by bone and organ by organ. After the cleaning, I grabbed the Goo Gone to remove a lot of 1960s-era cellophane tape. And now? Well I have to figure out how to put her back together again.

The ankle bone is connected to the leg bone, right?

As for my other finds:

A pretty piece of blue and roses fabric.

Another cherry red vintage train case, although this one looks too new to have been used much on a train. It's more 1960s Pan Am.

And, no, I am not collecting them. At least not until I have three to make it an official collection.

And this cute ceramic Christmas tree, which is this week's giveaway. It's much smaller than the traditional tabletop ceramic Christmas trees and is about 6 inches tall. Despite a couple of missing bulbs, it's in good shape and would complement a Christmas village nicely.

If you want it, leave a comment by Friday at midnight. The winner of the dresser scarf from last week is Kathy.

Week 1: Beginner's Luck and a Giveaway

This is my youngest daughter, Grace, the child who would always roll her eyes when mom would go looking for junk during the annual Spring Cleanup.

But then Grace discovered the perks of being initiated into mom's picking club, which included this vintage, cherry red train case

and this sweet little sewing box

that has a handy ruler and a thread shelf built right in.

Grace was home from college for Easter weekend and she tagged along as I went on the route for week one of Spring Cleanup.Cleanup, by the way, is the annual roadside-picking extravaganza in my little corner of Central New York. It lasts for six weeks each April and May, and I always find amazing stuff.

At first Grace was a little reluctant about our mission, especially when I slowed the van to assess what she called "a couple of piles of gross." But one train case, one sewing box and a half dozen juice glasses later, and she was hooked. And I think she was actually having fun.

We also found a pretty tin with some old linens inside. A little Oxy Clean, and they were good to go.

We also picked up this vintage ironing board, which I debated but finally decided that I could put in the laundry room.

The best part of Cleanup is finding vintage Christmas. I love vintage Christmas and I can never understand why someone would toss it. This set must have been very popular because over the years, I've managed to collect just about every part of it but never in almost one piece.

I even had the missing Santa down in the basement in my stash of Christmas odds and ends. I might also have some extra deer to replace the ones on this set that need some antler repair.

And where did I discover the sleigh? Well, in the only "pile of gross" that will make me pull over.

That's the pile that's in front of what looks like an little old lady house.

And now for the giveaway:

Each week of town cleanup, I give away one of my finds. This week's offering was found in that tin of linens. It's a dresser scarf that's embroidered with brightly colored cattails that are made of French knots.

The scarf is made of a textured cotton fabric. The embroidery is in pretty good shape but there are a few spots that might need minor repair. It has been washed (and soaked in Oxy-Clean). It could be used as a dresser scarf, or it could be cut in half and made into a couple of pillows.

If you want it, leave a comment below before midnight Friday. I'll announce the winner in my report about week two of cleanup.

The Double Dipper

I wasn't the early bird at Saturday's sale. Actually, I wasn't even early, more like two hours in. But, because the sale was so close to my house, I was the double dipper, going back on Sunday for the reduced prices.

The Christmas items that I found on Saturday included a box of pink Polish ornaments and two tree toppers.

And on Sunday, I bought another almost-box of pink Polish ornaments that I hadn't seen on Saturday.

The house was a split level with a room over the garage and that was where the Christmas stuff was stored. There were several boxes of solid silver and red ornaments and a few pink ones. But I had to wonder if there might have been other ornaments earlier. And then I read Barbara's blog and I knew that she was the extra-early bird.

I also found four vintage patterns from the 1940s and 1950s. On Sunday, I bought all four for what I would have paid for one on Saturday.

The lady running the sale threw this camero print fabric scrap in for free, and I wish there was more of it.

Especially when I saw this border which, sadly, had been trimmed down to just three ladies.

My favorite find was a collection of assorted millinery fruit that was scattered across the floor in the Christmas closet. (And, yes, I was on hands and knees, picking them up.)

Each plump frosted bouquet -- there are eight -- is made of four smaller pieces that are wired together.

There was also a dozen of these mixed fruit clusters with the original F.W. Woolworth Co. price tags included.

I bought them on Saturday and I didn't hesitate to do so. I've learned the hard way that if you really want something, it usually doesn't pay to wait until Sunday.

 

The Early Bird

I'm not an estate sale early bird. Why? Because it's all too much. Too early. Too much waiting in the car. Too much rushing around once you're inside.

But last Saturday, I made an exception for what sounded like a really good sale. I went so early that it was still dark when I left my house. So early that I had to wait for three -- wait, here comes another -- four deer to cross a city street. So early that I managed to be No. 9 on the list.

Ultimately, my insanity paid off because I found a lot of treasures. Besides the Harry and David baskets in the previous posts, there were enamel flower pins.

And a beautiful Syroco crucifix.

And some Meyercord decals that are perfect for the retro kitchen.

A lifetime supply of nature and animal stickers.

Some flocked Easter baskets filled with flocked chicks and eggs.

All well and good. But was there Christmas? I went extra early for the Christmas. Well, yes, there was a little bit, and because I was the early bird, I had first pick.

So I helped myself to a trio of honeycomb Santas.

And three boxes of made-in-Poland ornaments.

Now there's another sale nearby this Saturday morning. I just might have to be an early bird again.

 

 

 

A Tisket A Tasket, Fill Your Etsy Basket

Eighty degrees in March? In Upstate New York? Well, we all knew that it couldn't last. Tonight, temperatures are expected to dip into the 20s. And, yes, I'm more than a little concerned about my beloved lilacs and their little exposed buds.

But warm weather or not, one thing is for certain. Easter will soon be here, a fact that I was reminded of when I saw this trio of vintage Harry and David baskets at a sale this weekend. I bought them to sell but now I've fallen in love with at least two of them, because I think they'll make perfect Easter baskets for my little bunnies. The center one is for sale in my Etsy shop. As are lots of other Easter goodies.

So make like a bunny and hop on over. Here's some of what you'll find:

Retro egg cartons that are perfect for displaying Easter eggs or for just being displayed on a shelf.

A handmade Easter banner made by my own two hands.

A bunch of vintage Easter cards. Not made or signed by me but people who were alive before I was.

Super cute Easter bunny picks.

Lots and lots of 1960s-era florist paper that I think would look great as a table covering for Easter dinner (especially if you're having Mad Men over for dinner). And it's so cheap that you won't care if Don Draper spills a drink all over it. Plus, mention that you saw it on my blog and I'll throw in an extra yard.

And, finally, a trio of Easter Gurley candles.

As for what else I found this weekend (in addition to those baskets), stayed tuned for my next post. I promise that it will be worth the suspense.

 

Springtime Celebration

Today was a day worth celebrating. It was the first day of spring, but the temperatures seemed more like summer. Which is why the forsythia is already in bloom. Usually around here, I don't see that until well into April. But this winter has been far from normal. Less than 50 inches of snow fell, which is just about nothing for Syracuse. Last year, we had almost 200 inches.

And, yes, I know that we'll pay for it next year.

Secondly, I found a new thrift store that's super cheap and within walking distance of my job. That could be a very dangerous combination, especially for someone like me, who wants to buy less and sell more. Fortunately, most of what was there was truly junk. Still, I managed to find a few treasures.

First was a charming blowmold snowman, who asked to come home and pose among the forsythia.

As did these super-cute 1950s doll clothes patterns.

Actually, it was the cowgirl that made me do it. It's not easy to say no to a 21-inch doll who's got a lasso and is packing heat. By the way, the pattern includes pieces to make her hat, her boots and the gun holster.

Gun not included. I think.