homebody

I spent most of the weekend home. I love being home. I am a total homebody. I mostly worked, cleaning and organizing. Still, it was great, especially with the windows open and the sound and the smell of the rain outside.

My love of being home is one of the reasons I like this 8x10 photograph in my collection so much. I also really love seeing the insides of people's houses in old photographs and the forties are one of my favorite times for designs and textiles. This photograph looks like it was taken in the late 40's or early 50's. Unfortunately there is no writing on the back. Click to see bigger image.

you're invited

I got a couple of very different invitations this last weekend at the postcard club meeting. I love old invitations. I love that people kept them in such perfect condition for so long. I imagine it was because they had an especially good time at this party.

Below is an invitation from July 12th 1907. This seems to be a photograph actually. Handmade and then printed like a photograph on thin paper.

It's an invitation to a Card Party and Dance put on by The Officers mess, Fort Stanton, N Mex


This invitation is in incredible shape considering it is from 1880. It looks like it is less than ten years old. These people had money. It's high quality paper and beautiful letterpressing.

In 1880 James Garfield was President and the first electric streetlight was installed in Indiana.

Celebrating their 25th Anniversary on October 2nd, means they were married in 1855.
That was a time when there was no electricity, but sewing machines and the telegraph were exciting new inventions.

I have more invitations to share with you in the future. Do you keep your invitations? Hope you have fun at some parties this upcoming holiday season.

friend to friend

A little heartfelt message for you today on this sunny fall day. I have been happily taking care of many computer related projects today. If I only had about 1000 more days like this I might get caught up.

I added a couple listings to The Cedar Chest today. You have no idea how many things I have that I want to list in the shop. Just need to get the time. Today I listed a couple vintage 80's sewing patterns of my mom's and some really neat 1914 illustrated postcards of animals.

And one more thing, just between us, friend to friend. I got a somewhat exciting message from the legal dept of Warner Brothers a couple weeks ago asking if they could use a scan of a trade card I posted online for a film. I asked them, of course, what film it would be for. Figuring it would be some unknown small thing.

But, no, it is for the new Sherlock Holmes film! So, somewhere on the set of Sherlock Holmes apartment in the new Sherlock Holmes II film there will be a bulletin board and the trade card below will be there (from this earlier post).

I know that it probably won't even be visible, but I love that it will be there. And I think set dressing is so interesting and impressive. Every single item has to be made, bought or created. So much work and few people even see most of it! One of the things I like about watching movies I've seen many times is looking past the speaking actors and looking at the room, the decorations or the extras in the back.

Hope you all have a nice week!

singular

I had a discussion with someone recently about collecting old photographs and she mentioned she likes to collect photos of women standing by themselves looking strong and solid. As soon as she mentioned it I realized that I am drawn to and collect those, too, without really realizing it.

The first image I thought of when she said that was this one of Ethel, that I absolutely adore.

I also really love this one. Just now after scanning it I could have lightened up to see more of the background, but it looks so good in the original dark state. I really like her outfit here. Such soft prettiness next to the industrial setting is great here.

This next one is more about the freedom to have fun to me. I love the old Rink sign and that she had a fun filled day of skating, presumably, in that hat and long dress. Perhaps something that was scandolous and wild to the older generation.