TALES FROM A VINTAGE WARDROBE

A VINTAGE BOUDOIR VANITY

I've always had a fascination with vintage vanities~~ever since my grandmother auctioned away some amazing Art Deco mahogany furniture at her country farm estate auction, I have carried within the belated realization that every child should/must be taught about antiques and heritage, about the importance of family heirlooms and preserving history, about how to determine whether this should be chosen over that, to learn which things one must never, ever part with, simply about how to know what one should inherently know~~from those who have come and gone before. . .

 

 

 

 

 

I have,since, taken this task very seriously with my daughter.  We make a weekly ritual out of visiting various antique stores, museums, estates,  yard sales, thrift stores & consignment shops for the sheer motive of educating her in what is truly

 

LOVELY

VALUABLE

CRAFTSMANSHIP

ART

IRREPLACEABLE

SENTIMENTAL

with the high hopes that my little princess, born into a very modern world, will find some way to show/express appreciation for what has come and gone before her. . .Now she will say "Mom, why would anyone ever want to get rid of that?  It was probably their great, great, great, great grandmothers and here it is at Goodwill~~What's wrong with people????"

I couldn't be more proud than at that very moment.

She gets it.

And so, one day, she will get this:

 

as part of her inheritance. . .

 

A lovely gift from my adored grandmother when I was just a young teen, this antique desk which, over time, has become my vanity. ..

A place to sit, each day, and take a moment to remember, reflect, refresh & prepare for what may, or may not,

ever come . . .

A place to be with one's own private self, to prepare to become the public person we all must be at some point every day,

with the comfort of being close to loved one's lost, yet still greatly loved, for the simple reason that this was where she once sat

doing the very same thing. . .

 

Do you have a vanity?  A dressing table?

Claudia at The Paris Apartment is collecting photographs of vanities to be used in a wonderful book she is working on and is inviting everyone to submit their photographs for consideration! 

What?  You don't have a vanity or dressing table?

Well, now you have the perfect excuse to create one for yourself. 

After all, every vintage loving gal must have one!

 

 

 

 

BOOK~O~PHILIA

"SOME DAY YOU WILL BE OLD ENOUGH TO START READING FAIRY TALES AGAIN."  C.S. Lewis

Books are, to me, the absolute best gift we can give ourselves and others.  I have loved books and reading since I was a little girl, and my adoration for them has only grown through the years.  Thankfully, my daughter has that same love. . .I can see it in her eyes when we walk into the library and the sheer joy she feels just being surrounded by them,  the smell of them, and the pleasure of lingering in an aisle, running her little finger tips over the bindings in search of the one that is just right. . .I vowed to never say no to a visit to the library or bookstore, and I somehow think she knows that!

Just yesterday my Aunt (who is a Librarian and lifetime student) sent my daughter these two lovely books; from the Wish List to her own little growing library! 

  She even had them signed by the author, Gail Carson Levine, and the illustrator, David Christiana~~both of whom are amazingly talented.  I can't wait to read them, for although my taste in books has matured, I think I am just aboutold enough to start reading fairy tales again. . . Thank you, Auntie Di! xoxoxo

"I WOULD BE MOST CONTENT IF MY CHILDREN GREW UP TO BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO THINK DECORATING CONSISTS MOSTLY OF BUILDING ENOUGH BOOKSHELVES."  Anna Quindlen

While my library has a wide assortment of books and literature, there are a few indulgences I have yet to make.  Here's a peek at my Wish List: 

 

 

"TO SIT ALONE IN THE LAMPLIGHT WITH A BOOK SPREAD OUT BEFORE YOU, AND HOLD INTIMATE CONVERSE WITH MEN OF UNSEEN GENERATIONS ~ SUCH IS A PLEASURE BEYOND COMPARE."  Kenko Yoshida

 

 

"THE LOVE OF LEARNING, THE SEQUESTERED NOOKS, AND ALL THE SWEET SERENITY OF BOOKS."  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 

 

"BOOKS ARE NOT MADE FOR FURNITURE, BUT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY FURNISHES A HOUSE."  Henry Ward Beecher

 

 

Why not take a walk to your public library today?  In this modern, techno~crazed world, it is truly refreshing to sit in the peace and quiet of an old building filled with beautiful books. . .make it part of your world and that of your children's. . .it is a wonderful, lifelong gift you can give them.

 

 

DARN IT

In light of the fact that the entire globe is in an unprecedented, staggering economic crisis, I thought I would devote this post to a very simple, old fashioned, somewhat outdated past~time:

  DARNING : (noun) 1. Mending holes in clothes, the work of repairing holes in clothing or fabric with long interwoven stitches.

  MENDING : (noun) 1. articles, especially clothes, to be mended.

 

SYNONYMS :  Restoration, patch~up, healing, renovation

It used to be that every domestic diva had a basket full of things that needed mending.  A bit of attention with needle and thread could extend the life of a garment by years and that used to matter to people.  As the years passed, this simple past~time gave way to the notion that "it's a lot easier to throw it away and buy a new one".  Businesses were booming, advertising took on a major role in society, and mass production of just about everything left lots of grandmother's shaking their heads and wondering if the day would come when not one bride~to~be would know how to thread a needle, much less know how to mend something.

But now, it seems, consumers are not so quick to throw things away.  Many are actually choosing to "make do" with what they already have and if it needs a little TLC, well that is better than having to purchase a new one.  While this poses a challenge for those of us in the "Retail" sector or some version of it, I still find this trend heart~warming in a way.  After all, if my adored vintage frocks were not cared for the way they were, I wouldn't have the pleasure of working with such beautifully crafted garments.  And so. . .

From socks to cars~~people are choosing to be:

THRIFTY :  (adjective) 1.careful with money and resources, managing money and resources in a cautious and sensible way so as to waste as little as possible.  2. Prosperous

Isn't that interesting: PROSPEROUS was the archaic meaning of the word THRIFTY!

In our day, being thrifty has generally been equated with being cheap, tight~fisted, even poor.  And yet now being "Thrifty" is suddenly in style.  Everywhere.  Good Morning America ran a prime time segment on "Secrets of a Thrift Store Shopper" . . .their retail business is booming!!   Not to mention that thrift/resale/consignment store shopping is a wonderful way to "Recycle".  Check out this interview with clothing designer Elizabeth Kramer and take a peek at her creative flat/studio infused with vintage finds.  A far cry from this story of CEO extravagance by Mark Patinkin in the same section of my Providence Sunday Journal. 

Perhaps the antiquated meaning of "Thrifty" will come to be in fashion once again. . .while we usually equate prosperity with wealth, this beautiful word means far more. . .

PROSPEROUS : (adjective) 1. thriving  2. flourishing  3. abounding  4. successful

Doesn't that put a lovely new angle on "Prosperity"? 

It's who we have, not what we have, that makes us prosper in the most genuine sense of the word. . .and in lean times, remembering that can make a big difference in our outlook every day.

 

  I'm going to try to think about that while I'm sewing today. . .but of course I will be tuned in at half time to watch you know who!

 

 

 

                            

 

 

 

 

To Family

After a rather long hiatus, I am pleased to say the new website is almost completely up and running, although the things I wished to change seemed, in the end, not so important to change.  I wanted a more professional, store~front look to the boutique, but as I am not exactly website designer savvy & was hoping to avoid a big investment for a small dream I explored all my options and did what was in my power to do~~ a cosmetic makeover.

I think life can be like that. . .we harbor over things we think should be different, but in the end, realize "that " difference would not have made such a big difference after all. 

Because when what seems to big & important seems to assume "Polly" stature is when REAL LIFE  kicks in. . .

And real life kicked in for me a week ago Tuesday when my mom called to say my grandmother had been rushed to the hospital. . . and this was the beginning of a three day vigil at her bedside.  A massive stroke led to a coma which led to her unwanted yet very peaceful death. . .

This is a "Generations" photograph we took at my mom's last year.  She had the most beautiful white, glistening hair & twinkling blue eyes. . . she didn't really smile in this photo which I regret but when she did she could make a whole room full of people smile.

So this has been a sad ,sorrowful time, but also a time of reflection for what is truly important & worthwhile. . .I didn't want to make this a place for self~indulgence but I feel it would be an injustice to not note this important person in my family's history. . .

Best,

Michelle

Lazin' On A Sunny Afternoon. . .

Greetings from the Rhode Island Coast!  We've been on our boat since Tuesday. . .the weather was wonderful up until yesterday~~it turned a bit damp and drizzily. . .but vacation is still a great dose of R & R no matter what the weather is!

Lots of lounging around the pool. . .

Lots of fresh~picked clams and cold, crisp wine to wash them down. . .

Hurry up, get the crackers, we have guests. . .

A precious moment. . .

Hope your summer vacation is wonderful!!

Graduation Girl

June. The month for brides and graduates. . .and in this house we have a

. GRADUATE!!!

Our little girl graduated from Kindergarden last Friday!!  I don't know what has happended to me but I have turned into the biggest mush bucket on the planet!  Can anyone out there relate??  I have resorted to stashing mini packets of tissues everywhere & to purchasing water proof mascara~~aka tar for eyelash enhancement!

You keep smiling sweetie, only 12 more years to go!!

Sorry about the photo quality~~the lighting in the school gym left little to be desired!!

Daddy's so proud!!

Followed by a visit to JOHNNY ROCKETS to celebrate!!!

Thanks, Mom!!

Next, how about a bit of SHOE SHOPPING??!!  And a visit to Brown University Book Store??!! 

 Now you'll have even more time to read!

CONGRATULATIONS PUMPKIN GIRL!!  NOW GO PLAY!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame III

CLAM BOIL!!

( If you just logged on go back a few posts to Take Me Out To
The Ballgame I & II so you know what we are talking about!! )

This beautiful ad is from House & Garden many, many moons ago to advertise how wonderful it is to have a Clambake. . .(she looks a lot like THIS blogger vintage beauty!)

A Clam Bake is cooked in the ground with seaweed (and usually at the beach which it isn't quite warm enough for) so to make it a lot easier we chose to do a Clam Boil and this is what it looked like:

A good old fashioned Clam Boil~~so delicious!!!  And here we are enjoying it:  Handsome Hubby, Uncle Bunckle, Arden, long lost orphan friend Brad who excels at self extended invitations to park it at our kitchen table (we are thinking of adding him as a write off this year!) LOL! and my little pumpkin girl. (I, of course, am balancing on a chair taking the picture!)

I guess the dress code has altered once again. . .it's a bit on the messy side anyway so I wouldn't get too dressed up for it, even if I did live in the 50's.

Oh!  the joy of a weekend with family, friends & yummy food tastes better than ever!!! 

Michelle

Take Me Out to the Ballgame II

So anyway:

We went to see the Pawtucket Red Sox at Mc Coy Stadium on Sunday afternoon and here are some fun photos for you:

With our beloved Auntie Brandi ( aka "Arden")

And here I am with my little tomboy!!

Here's Uncle Bunckle with Daddy Warbucks~~LOL!

They invited all the kids to run the bases so we got in line. . . oh the things in life we line up for!!  Must say this was well worth the 15 minute wait:

She's off and running. . .

There's no stopping her now!!

Clearing third. . .there's s no end in sight!!!

We have a winner~~well, at least according to Mom & Dad!!

By the way, did I tell you before my husband decided to become a chiropractor he wanted to be a baseball player???  That is another post for another day, isn't it? 

And after all of that we celebrated with a good old fashioned. . .(see next post, I ran out of room!)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame I

We are big Red Sox fans around here, but truth be told, going into Boston for a game is becoming more and more of a burden than an adventure.  And now that I am the big 40~~I find that less is more. . . in many, many ways. . .

We started the weekend celebrating three of my five siblings Wedding Anniversaries at Mom's house~~since we all were married in April it has become a sort of tradtition to "go to Mom's for anniversary dinner".  . .she loves and dreads it at the same time, I'm sure.  Family matriarch that she is she would never admit it, but I know just from being my age that having 15 over for dinner is a blessing and a curse at the same time.  Besides the fact that she and my step father downsized to an absolutely adorable house that is great for them but when company rolls around Mom goes into panic attack~~or as Rue would refer to it, the turkey dance!

Anyway, here is one adorable photo I was able to snap at some point during the festivities:

That's my zany brother Andrew  playing with the kids~~They are actually wooping his butt as I used to many moons ago. . .and here is his gorgeous wife Stacy . . .

She will probably take me to court for posting these pictures but I'll plead jealousy since most of my Vintage Treasures would look fantabulous on her 6 foot Size 0 frame! She is your dream Vintage Model by every count~~if only she lived closer I would use her to model my stuff!

Later on, while I was doing dishes the three little pumpkins surfaced again:

Hmmm, why aren't you over here helping me clean up?

They are so sweet together, our three daughters.  They love each other to the simple little girl core ~~my brothers are my step brothers but you could never convince me of that~~they have been as dear to me as any flesh and blood~~possibly more so. . . for all the stress that comes with second time around make~shift families. . .I am just thankful we all find something to love about the other~~we have all been blessed more than we know. . .

And the next day we woke up to an amazing blue sky & that was beyond perfect for:

Yes, my favorite. . .an afternoon at the ball park!

This amazing image is from Westfield on Weekend  you must visit their site to see more beautiful Vintage Ballpark watercolors. . .I was looking for an image to add to my post and when I found this site I just had to share it. . .