Hollyhocks

Great Sleeping Weather

That's what the weather forecasters around here call it when the cool evening temps. finally arrive. This is a new-with-tags, thrifted Ralph Lauren duvet. Perfect for the guest bedroom, better known as the dog's napping bed. In a few weeks it will be filled with a down comforter and ready for one of our winters.

Also from the thrift shop. I've never seen striped bias trim before.

Just the trim. I had the milk glass stuff.

Estate sale hanky. I liked the edging...

Vintage gold rick rack. I love it. I found silver on Saturday.

Simple window "treatment" for an opaque window that just needed something. Monogrammed guest towels. I bought a dozen at an estate sale for a song. Now for a few photos from a yard sale we just happened to be driving by. Total cost $2.00.

Here's a bit of a closer look at a few of the things...

I am hoping for a peek at the October British Country Living soon. What a beautiful magazine. We had breakfast out and a nice walk in the park today. It's 78 and sunny and the Bills have just won their first game since the football season started. There's really no better place to be than right here, right now. Last weekend, as I was waiting for an estate sale to start, I spoke with a man I see frequently. We were talking about estate sales and how we feel about going into people's homes. He said that every time he goes to a sale, he is reminded that we Americans are so lucky. Not only do so many of us have enough, we have so much that we have to store the extra possessions in attics, cellars and garages. I suspect that those of you reading this in the UK, Australia and Denmark feel the same. We are all so lucky...Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

Everyone knows it's Windy

Here it is Friday and I am scrambling to post for Tablecloth THURSDAY! Yikes. I went outside to take tablecloth photos and discovered that it had grown very windy. So windy in fact that a mangy family of robins may be looking for a FEMA trailer to rebuild upon. This years-old nest blew out of the eaves and landed on the ground, empty thank goodness. But since I'm a crafter, I couldn't help but notice that, although the nest is soundly constructed, it lacks a certain "robin style". Let's face it, this nest might as well belong to a family of sparrows. It needs color, texture, definition. Next year, at the end of winter, before nest-building season, I think I'll make up a little care package of colorful yarns and roving. I'll leave it on the balcony near the eaves and see if the birds take advantage of the supplies. But I digress, here are 2 of my favorite tablecloths...

I really do own an iron. Corded AND cordless, in fact. Please stop at a pretty site for more Tablecloth Thursday...and... here's another little collection...

I buy one whenever I see a color I don't have...I'm a bit dog obsessed. Now for the rest of the Christmas kitsch from last week...lots of you seem to like it as much as I do...

Sometime this weekend I'll post about thrifty finds from earlier today. You won't believe the one item...such a find... and some really unusual vintage trim. I hope this finds all of you enjoying early autumn. If you live in Western NY you must take Route 78 (Transit Road) past Lockport and Newfane, almost to Olcott Beach, stop at Bye's Popcorn for some fresh caramel cashew, caramel or caramel peanut popcorn and continue down 78 a bit to Lake Ontario. You can walk the dog around the park while you collect acorns and leaves. A perfect fall afternoon! Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks.

If I'd Have Known You Were Coming I'd Have Bought a Vintage Cake Taker

I know, I know, I apologize for that title but it had to be a "B" word. "Purchased" just wouldn't have the same feeling. How about this little beauty. Even the estate sale people were admiring it's retro panache. It is in near pristine condition. I feel like baking a cake just to use it. I used to bake when I was stressed. Now I nap. Now, instead of getting fat, I appear to be lazy. Hey, if you lived here where it is cold and dark for several months each year, you'd bake and nap too. It has to be a real nap. Plumped pillow, down comforter, labrador retriever and at least an hour and a half...Hmmm, I could go for a nap now.

...and this little chenille spread. I just adore these. I don't even have kids, but they are irresistible ($5 if you were wondering...)

I know what you are going to say...whatever... for your information, the 2nd and 4th were found in the original packages and may be used as actual bed linens on the guest bed.

Garage sale finds. The tin is just so nice... $1 each

Vintage linen tea towels 50 cents each...

Bowl O' Birds...priceless...($1.50)

Christmas Kitsch

more kitsch...

I LOVE BUTTONS!!!! ($3 for a huge bag)

Sweet child's apron...

...and more of my favorite little things...for pennies. Tomorrow, I organize..and start preparing myself for the possibility of selling some of these pretties... I also bought a huge piece of the softest Italian wool, in dark lavender at the estate sale of a former seamstress. I went there looking for the linen that was advertised and found that...horrors...it was a blend! Yes. Really. I also met a really nice woman who makes all kinds of lovely things from vintage wallpaper. Stop by her Etsy shop and have a look. I want the black and white frame and notecards... See you soon.

Is it Vintage Tablecloth Thursday Already?

I almost forgot! I was minding my own business, picking out a few little surprises to send to a couple of fellow bloggers who've had a rough week and I remembered...yikes!!! Tablecloth Thursday...Ignore the wrinkles please. My sewing room "theme" is yellow roses, so I have been collecting this yellow rose china. It turns out that this very pattern was my mom's china as a young bride... please check out Jerusalem's blog for her edition of TT.

A $4 tiered server and a sneak preview of some sewing kits filled with vintage notions for my future Etsy shop... They are loaded with vintage trims, buttons, trinkets and thimbles...

More girly table setting stuff...

More future Etsy stuff...vintage sheets in the prettiest, softest prints, cut into fat quarters and 1/2 yards...and now for today's thrifting finds...

The most adorable child's tool set ever, complete with miter box. Don't even ask. It was quite a deal... I may have to part with this one...o.k., it was $3...

A really nice book of letters about a garden, vintage Rudolph and, can I tell you how much I loved Encyclopedia Brown mysteries when I was a kid. My teacher would read them to us and we would try to solve the mystery...

Glittery bird lights...and...

Of course, more vintage sheets for fabric and 4 aqua Buffalo China plates...all for about $15...What fun. We do have amazing thrifting here... and the weather has been uncharacteristically warm and sunny...I love Western NY! Well, gentle readers, thank you so much for visiting. Hollyhocks wouldn't be the same without you...well, let's face it, Hollyhocks wouldn't BE without you. Have a great Thursday.

Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers

Look folks, more tatting thread and, am I the only one who finds these too realistic rubber babies creepy? But I can't throw them out...I think somehow, throwing out a realistic rubber baby may bring about some sort of negative energy...I think they can "nap" in a tin somewhere.

Pillowcase yardage

Assorted vintage sewing fun...5 cents each. The lady mentioned that they had just sold "2 big tins of buttons, people must really like those..." Must... get... up... earlier... on... Saturdays...

More little wooden people. Stop the Madness! No more little wooden people. The universe is sending them to me and they are just so darn cute. Now for some finds from way back in August. All from one estate sale. Sorry about the photo quality. It was the day before vacation and I was in a huge rush.

The dress is silk and it was a dollar. It was hanging in a cellar all by itself. I had to buy it. There are a million places I can wear it...NOT! But it's just so festive!

Crochet pot covers. 3 for $5.

2 rose aprons and a picnic tin. I bet Fred likes the tin collection...

...I will leave you with a little something that some of you will understand immediately...husbands...would a woman ever use the "good towel" I ask you?  Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks... I had a really nice morning visiting your blogs.

Tablecloth Thursday

Welcome to Tablecloth Thursday. Recently I found out that Sarah collects vintage tablecloths. Well, I collect them too...

So I thought, why not see if Sarah wants to join me in a blog feature...Sarah was agreeable, so when you leave here please stop at The Misadventures of Mama and Jack and check out her tablecloth post. Now all we need is you!!! Let me know that you will be posting a vintage tablecloth...and which Thursday...and I will link to your blog on mine. The more the merrier. For the record, Sarah has about 125!!! and I have about 50. So, if you have fewer tablecloths, you can use those numbers (with the significant other) as evidence that you have lots of self-control... and really need to find more tablecloths!

Most of my tablecloths are from the 1940s and 50s. I like the printed kind, although the embroidered cloths are beautiful too. Many are Wilendur, a popular name for cloths that often consist of four, nine or twelve "bouquets". I started collecting in 2001 after a coworker showed me how to use Ebay...big mistake! Now I buy most from estate sales. I am pretty picky now because I have so many.

My stepsister and brother-in-law gave me this book last Christmas, along with a vintage tablecloth from his family. What a thoughtful and treasured gift.

It's always fun to find one of mine in the book, but I don't get too excited about price because it's hard to find a cloth in mint condition. So, now that we have Tablecloth Thursday on the map, anyone for Hanky Sunday?

I've got a LOT of hankies!

 

Potholder Friday...

Tea Towel Tuesday?  Just kidding. I do hope you'll join us for Tablecloth Thursday though. Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

Note: Apparently what I need is a calendar...I thought I was posting on Weds. night for Thurs. and it's only Tuesday...Well, that gives all of you time to get ready for Tablecloth Thursday on your blogs...yeah, I meant to do that...

He's Not the Only One Who's Going to Have a Great Fall

 

Will I tell you about my day readers? (paraphrasing a little Irish boy who asked his mom that same question when I was visiting them 10 years ago). Make yourself a cup of tea and I'll tell you what it's like to be a fledgling sewing teacher to a group of 12 chatty teenagers...and, I'll show you some estate sale finds from earlier today...all purchased for under $20.00

I have 2 classes that meet 2X each per week. The students are at-risk high schoolers (my favorite kind, mouthy but incredibly insightful). Wednesday I taught 2 classes and immediately upon my return home, took a 3 hour nap...It was the first day of school and the kids were all hopped up on excitement about being back to school and taking a brand-new class. I went home questioning my ability to maintain order and actually teach them something. After the nap it hit me... energy and enthusiasm will help...and I have to keep them so busy that they don't have time to breathe, much less speak. Today was wonderful. They sewed straight and curved lines on paper with no thread, asked for extra sheets to try again and I, my 1 aide, the students and 1 former aide who helped out (bless her heart) had...dare I say it...a blast. That 40 minutes was so much fun that I might have to send part of my paycheck back. Now I see why these teachers like the work so much. So here's what I found after work....1 Humpty Dumpty Lamp--so cute---

 

an enamel pin...

3 fifty cent hankies...

36 vintage spun cotton bunnies...

Crochet thread...for hankie edging

2 cheery vintage dresses

1 sweet apron

binding and sewing stuff...and some of the sweetest vintage wrapping paper ever...here's a sampling...

Ladies, I think we're all going to have a great fall...Thank you so much for stopping by. please put your cup in the dishwasher.

Japanese Fabric and American Fabric...Separated at Birth?

The fabric on the right is a Japanese import, purchased several months ago from superbuzzy.  The fabric on the left is vintage American, purchased from a basket in a dusty barn above Keuka Lake in NY. Is it just me or are they incredibly similar? Which brings me to the question that must face all designers...How do you keep influence from turning into imitation or...how do you get fresh new ideas? I would be so afraid of unknowingly copying someone else's idea. I just thought it was interesting.

Just some photos of Japanese fairy tale fabric and stuff.

Here are the books I read to brush up on my Japanese...just kidding. I look at the pictures like everybody else. Well, except the Japanese...

These were just too cute for words. I am going to give them with the appropriate handmade items...except for the orange juice one. I never make orange juice. Western NY is not known for its orange juice...

I love dog stuff...and...these

Those clever Clover (like the alliteration? that's what decades of student loans buys you) yo-yo makers. I, early adopter that I am , ordered them from an Etsy seller in Japan because I wanted to have them before they got to the US. Darned if I can figure them out and everybody I hand them to for help says "Uh...you know these directions are in Japanese..." I am very tempted to "duh!" those people. Too many overheard episodes of the Simpsons I guess.

These are just some good old-fashioned embroidered items that I found at a tiny antiques sale in Wheatfield, NY. I thought the baby cradle placed precariously close to the roaring fire was kind of funny. When I show it to people though, they often fail to see the humor...

I will leave you with a plea, crafty folks...How do you get your bottom to sit down in the chair and sew on a regular basis? Now that Autumn is nigh, I need to get sewing. I don't want to get into that work, eat, TV rut this winter...

2 really nice looking estate sales (these estate sale people post pictures pre-sale...there's that alliteration again, I am the next Dr. Seuss)  this weekend. Wish me luck.

I wish you were all going...Nicky and Pam and Melissa and Bronwyn and Debbie and Annie and Fred and Hayley and Sandy and Rita and Barbara and Michelle and Jayne, Felicia, Kristi, LeAnn, Tanya, Betty, Carolyn and Shannon ...and all of the other nice people who stop by, except that we would all be looking for the same things. Imagine this,  people...the doors open and 100 craft and vintage bloggers enter an estate sale...

I am so glad that about 100 of you visit every day. I am really trying to improve my photography skills. Bear with me...and thanks for visiting Hollyhocks...

Find me a Find

Meet my favorite vacation find. The lemon-guy lamp was $1.99 at the Canandaigua Salvation Army. He had a layer of dirt on him that wiped right off. I can't wait to put a nice white shade on him with some pom-pom trim. He inspired the search for the other wooden people. The blue shorts gal is from Wild Goose Chase Antiques near Keuka Lake and the cork is part of a set purchased  here in Hammondsport, NY.

The angels are part of a mobile...purchased at One Potato Two in Bloomfield, NY

6 magazines for $2.40. I spent a happy vacation evening tearing out inspiring pages. I am always so happy when they feature a person who collects something I collect. The red fabric is from Lake Country Quilts in Hammondsport.

Cute chidren's books, a Swanky Swigs glass for the collection and vintage fabric that bears an eerie resemblance to some Japanese fabric I recently purchased...

Vintage fat quarters from Another Time Antiques in Caledonia, NY...

More feedsacks! The top 2 are from Another Time and the bottom 2 from Over The Bridge Antiques in Hammondsport. Friendly owner and the displays are so pretty. She posts relevant pages from Country Living Magazine next to some items. This makes you want to buy enough of the item for a new collection!

Pretty fabrics from a lovely shop in Naples, NY. We quilters have to stop whenever we see one. The owner is really nice and welcoming and you have to love a quilt shop with a porch and rockers...

Neat collaged matchboxes from a shop in Naples called Artizanns...and

Chenille Christmas picks from One Potato Two

...and a doll-sized dresser that I am going to paint in a lighter shade. It looks to me like it is a refurbished old piece. The frame looks old in the back and underneath, the mirror is old and the drawers and paint are new. I think it has such a great shape. I may use it  to store vintage hankies.... We also stopped at...

Glenn and Marcia have been featured on The Food Network. They make the BEST GRANOLA ON EARTH. Try some. It is made from organic ingredients and the story behind its development is like a little love story. We met Glenn and he is just as warm and friendly as you would imagine an organic granola maker to be. I bought some to give as gifts.

Happy Hunting and thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

Canandaigua, Brie and a Recipe

 

We've been away. I planned the last few posts before we left to...well... post, while I was on vacation. We spent 7 days in the Finger Lakes region of New York. This is what I woke up to every morning...

That's the view from the master bedroom!!!! Not that  my usual view of my neighbor's garage isn't just as lovely when the sun hits it just right, but...what a view!!!! We woke up to watch the sunrise almost every morning. The yard looked like this...

I can't imagine cutting all of that grass. The place has a gardener, a grass cutter and a pool guy.

This was just before dinner one night when it was just the 3 of us (Cadbury is under the table) Cadbury is the dog...just in case you thought somebody else was under the table.

Cadbury swam and swam...

and ate doggie sundaes. Lots of places had frozen bananas dipped in chocolate. Very thoughtful offering for those of us who don't want travel to be broadening! However, when we entertained family and friends...we had this...

St. Andre triple creme cheese (not a Brie the lady corrected me, but a triple creme because it has more butterfat...great, more butterfat), Little baguette rounds, toasted in the oven on broil for a very short time..watch 'em, they burn easily, raspberry sauce (I just microwave raspberry jam), Tupelo honey (or any mild honey) and toasted almond slices (I toasted them for a minute or 2 in the microwave).

Put some triple creme cheese and a few sliced almonds on a toasted round, drizzle a bit of honey on it, put a tiny smidge of raspberry sauce on the side of the bread and you have yourself a new, expensive, fattening addiction. You're welcome.

It was a wonderful vacation. We loved having overnight guests and we loved our time alone. If you live anywhere near New York, you should tour the Finger Lakes. There is a winery on every hill, the scenery is breathaking and the farm stands have the most amazing array of vegetables and fruits. I hope you had a good week.

I'll post what I bought later...I'm kind of hungry now...