small packages

I am always enchanted by little Christmas cards. Most of these are about 4" x 2.5".

Below is a very sweet small card from 1910. This is for sale in my Etsy shop. Just listed.

This is an actual Real Photo Postcard. It was done on a Brownie and is called a Brownie Souvenir. It's hard to tell here, but it is a little card. I love seeing the old Christmas trees. This is Edwin and Wayne's Christmas Tree from 1912.

Below are two more pretty small Christmas cards. Lots of Christmas cards added to the shop recently. New Years cards will be coming soon.  Please like us on facebook to see all the new listings.

birthday bird

From Papa 1908
on the back:
addressed to Wilbur Westervelt, 646 Monroe Ave, City

It kills me when they just put City in for the town's name. I am guessing this would be like someone sending a postcard to Portland from a farm town 60 miles away.

This postcard was made in Germany and is really pretty. The bird is raised and sort of a fuzzy fabric. It must have been so beautiful new. It is in good shape. Someone took care of it for a long time.

I am posting a birthday postcard for The Best Hearts are Crunchy. She hosts the Postcard Friendship Friday and is having a birthday this Monday. Happy Birthday!!

You might want to make a little visit to her blog and see all the other blogs who have posted today for PFF.

a love story

This image is a scan of a vintage slide. This is my grandfather and the golden eagle that lived with him for 16 years. They had a very strong bond.

I love this photo because this is part of what you saw as you looked out of the big window in my grandparents small house.

Here is another slide from the living room. They lived near Santa Barbara, looking over the Santa Ynez valley.





















I loved that room. This is where the men would talk (usually just my Dad and Grandad) while my mother, aunt and grandmother worked in the kitchen or sat in the other room chatting. I loved being in this room with the men. They would talk slow and take their time to really flesh out their point. They would discuss animals and nature, real estate and the news. I would color in my coloring book and enjoy the sound of their voices.

As for the eagle, her name was Lady and she and my Grandfather had a long term relationship. She considered him her mate and laid eggs that he replaced with fertile eggs - except eaglet eggs are hard to come by, so she raised geese and owls, too (her natural prey).

I am slowly scanning many slides from my father and grandfather's collection. I did many of my grandfather and Lady that you can see them on my flickr account. If you are interested more in the story of Lady and Ed, you can find more information here.

Love's Echoes

Time is running out for Valentine season, so I want to post at least one more sweet vintage Valentine.

I like the poem on this Valentine. It looks like the receiver of this token took the stamp from the envelope and put it on the card. The poem says:

Love's Echoes
Tell me, precious little maiden
Tell me now, and tell me true
Will you love me Dear, forever
Just as much as I love you?

bridge tallys

I have never played bridge, but I couldn't pass up these pretty bridge tally cards when I found them a few years ago. I find it interesting that they are made like bookmarks. I wonder if there is a book involved in bridge.


I just love lantern images. It is one of my favorites. I thought I would do something with these, with copies of them, of course, but I have not yet. I still might. Have I mentioned I got a sticker maker for Christmas? I haven't played with it yet.

Victorian Die Cut Decorations

Just in time for Valentines Day, I recently found some antique Victorian die cut embellishments. These are originals, not reproductions and are in wonderful condition.

They are so charming. They were very popular and were used for scrapbooks and for making cards and valentines.

I have a few listings of some of these to add tomorrow night. But, here is a little preview.