Vintage Sewing Time Capsules

I am going to have to admit this in public!  I am a fanatic when it comes to vintage sewing boxes.  If I see one at a garage or estate sale, I just cannot pass it up.  I have to stop and check out the contents.  "Back in the day" you did not always have a department store handy or even enough money to purchase anything in a store.  You made due with what was on hand so it was very important not to waste anything.  This is where the sewing box comes in.  This is where your grandmother (or mother, depending upon your age) stashed anything and everything she thought she might need again.  It did not have to be a fancy wood box that looked like a piece of furniture.  It could be an old toffee or cookie tin (I love the graphics of old cookie tins).  It was what was inside that counted!  I have found such treasures as old tax tokens from Washington State.  Lots of hooks and eyes (you may not know what these are but they took the place of a button on a lot of
garments).  Tons of darning eggs.  I have actually practiced using one of these little things and they are pretty nifty.  Darning a small hole in a linen or sock was preferred to throwing the item out and losing the entire piece.  Seam binding tape, replacement shoulder straps, replacement garters, etc.  If you don't know what a garter is, you are sooooo lucky!  They are early torture devices used to hold up nylon stockings.  Heaven help you if one broke or came loose.  Lets just say, it was not a pretty sight.   I have found bone sewing implements to help thread elastic and ribbon through holes.  There are usually a few packets of needles present.  They were usually free "give away" samples printed with the local department or grocery store name and address.  Some of these needle packets are terrific works of art!  There were always little wood tubes filled with replacement sewing machine needles.  Lots of shears and scissors that have lasted decades and are still very useful. Little bits of embroidery floss and lots of wood spools of thread.  Bits and pieces of lace and fabric scraps waiting for the next quilt to be made.  And then of course, there are the buttons!  My favorite part!  Buttons!  You never threw out a totally worn garment with the buttons still attached!  They were removed and added to the button box. Buttons

are a topic all their own in another blog post, but suffice it to say, you can get lost in the world of buttons!  I drool and have to purchase the entire sewing basket if I find a Bakelite or old coat button!  If a member of the family served in the military, you will always find those old uniform buttons (which are collectible today).  You may find half finished tatting projects with the shuttle and thread still attached.   There was a way of making the most

functional item look like a work of art.  Whimsical and beautiful pin cushions are a great example of this (the little lady to the right is a pin cushion with a measuring tape that you will find if you pull on her nose). My point is, we now live in a disposable world that does not take time to "repair" a garment or linen.  Sewing on a missing button is a lost art!  Maybe this is something we should look at carefully; maybe our ancestors had something special that we are missing.  Time to sit in a chair and visit while doing needlework or taking pride in being a "thrifty" homemaker for our families.  Don't pass up these little "time capsules".  They are so much fun to paw through and you never know what you will find!

                     She is a porcelain half doll pincushion

Pretty quilted pink sewing box filled with treasures!

These old toffee tins made great button boxes

Old cookie tins had wonderful graphics!

Summer Sippers

The beautiful weather that comes with summer gives us the opportunity for outdoor and casual dining.  Some of the glassware from the depression era through mid century are perfect for sprucing up a luncheon or picnic table!  This "Sailboat" pattern from Hazel Atlas is a great example.  They were made in about the 1930's and have such a distinctive design and classic color they are timeless.  Beautiful cobalt blue against a crisp white or blue checked tablecloth is a feast for the eyes!  Another beautiful pattern/color is the Royal Ruby Red made by Anchor Hocking from 1938 - 1960's.  It also has a distinctive color that makes any table look elegant and yet can be used for casual dining.  This Royal Ruby ball pitcher and glass set is beautiful!  

The depression era did bring us some beautiful colors and designs in glassware and bar-ware, but so did the mid century years.  I think one of my favorites is this "Merry-Go_Round" set produced by Libby in the 1950's.  The tumblers are tall and frosted with colorful carousel animals running round the outside.  This one comes in a carrier that may or may not be original to the set but is still really cute!  The Raffia ware burlap tumblers from the 1960's are also colorful and make a nice casual addition to any dining table.  The anodized aluminum sets that are still out there are packed with beautiful colors and seem to last forever!  Sturdy tumblers that will be there for years to come.  All of this depression era and mid century glassware and bar-ware are still around today and should be treasured and used daily to bring color and interest to any table setting!

Fits Like A Glove........

Back in the 1950's, women were really tuned into fashion trends by watching the movies.  They wanted to look as glamorous as the actresses on the big screen.  There was also closer attention paid to proper etiquette.  It was not fashionable, nor was it proper, for a woman to be at any type of social function without having a pair of gloves on.  The function dictated the length and type of glove. Short gloves were for daytime use and the longer gloves were for more formal use.  Some women liked to match their millinery colors with their glove colors. It was generally felt, if you wore a pair of gloves the same color as the cuff of your shirt, it would make your arms appear longer.  Whew!  You needed to wear them when going to church, out to the theater, dining, etc.  There was even a proper etiquette as to when to take them off.  If you handed your coat to a coat check person, you kept your gloves and hat on until you reached your table.  At that time, you took your gloves off.  Wow!! Way to much to remember then!  What that left us with was a lot of beautiful storage boxes in which they kept their gloves, and even handkerchiefs.  We get to enjoy these little treasures today.  They come in many different materials.  Quilted fabric, metal, wood, etc.  Some even had intricate wood-burned patterns on them.  Today, they make great trinket boxes for whatever special thing you want to store.  Even a pair of gloves!  Check out the selection of great glove and hankie boxes at South End Antique Mall.  We even have a selection of "proper" ladies gloves!

Beautiful bright yellow gloves for
daytime use.

 This little square, gold box is actually a
handkerchief keeper.  Beautiful quilted
fabric covering.

Pretty pale green glove box with pink gloves
and even a pearl collar!

Sheer white gloves with little pearl buttons
at the cuff

Strawberry Fun In Aurora!!

If you have not yet planned your weekend activities, be sure to check out the strawberry social that is happening on Sunday, June 26th at the Aurora Colony Museum!  From 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., you can partake of strawberry shortcake and ice cream under the shade trees of the Aurora Colony Museum.  There will be old time fiddlers as well!! A great opportunity to help support this beautiful historic museum.  When you are full of shortcake, come on down to the South End Antique Mall and check out the "strawberries" we have sprinkled around the store.  Everything from those great cased glass strawberry jam jars to vintage velvet strawberries!  Nothing like a vintage milk glass reamer filled with strawberries for a beautiful summer table decoration!

Restaurant Dining in Style

The days of lunch counters and drugstore soda fountains are long gone, but there is a part of that era that we can still enjoy.  That is collecting restaurant ware china.  Even though this particular type of china was made sturdy to withstand heavy use, that did not mean these very utilitarian pieces were not made aesthetically pleasing!  The big names in restaurant china were Homer Laughlin, Shenango, Jackson, Wallace, Syracuse, Tepco and Buffalo.  The manufacturers did a lot with airbrushing designs onto the china.  Beautiful patterns and crisp colors.   The decorations ranged from simple top lines to elaborate western cowboy themes.  This type of china is very sturdy, which is why you can still find some of it.  It has a heavy solid feel with a clean, crisp and glossy appearance.  If you lift one, you will know right away what you have!  Thicker cup walls and sturdy handles.  These china lines were made for railroads, ship lines, hotel lines and even the military.  This is a fast growing collectible item!  Some focus on a specific industry where others look at patterns or special pieces such as just cups or just butter pats.  Think about a collection of these to set of a brunch or luncheon table!  Nothing says you must have a perfectly matched set of anything anymore; do a mix and match collection of these wonderful pieces for a table setting with character.  If you decide to start collecting these gems, just pay attention to their condition.  Those with cracks, chips or obvious wear patterns are not as valuable so watch what you pay.  The collectors all agree, older is better!  There are some great books out there to guide you in collecting restaurant ware china.  Don't miss the selections available at South End Antique Mall!

Simple colorful band at the top

Beautiful airbrushed designs

These little individual creamers make great collectibles!

                                          

Get Your RED, WHITE & BLUE on!

Each quarter, the staff and vendors at South End Antique Mall change the decor of our entryway.  It is always fun to see what the next theme will be!  This one is very patriotic!  We are celebrating the "red, white, and blue" of the season.  Great up-cycled furniture in patriotic colors is available as well as small decorative items. There are still some great outdoor garden items available from the last sale.  Come check it all out!

Some of the old Spode, Blue Willow and Johnson Bros. china make great accents for a red, white and blue theme!

 Add a pop of red color to a corner to brighten a room.  Crisp white and deep blue make great table top accents.

This is my kind of pot holder!! An up-cycled bench arm/base coated with a pop of red color!

Dog Days of Summer!!

I think the last few days would probably confirm that we truly have made it to summer!! Now is the time of year for outdoor entertaining and what better way to do that than to use beautiful retro accessories.  Those wonderful anodized aluminum drinking cups and pitchers that pop with color!  Those old tin litho picnic baskets are so cute!  They hold a lot and let you transport your picnic in style! Don't miss the great drinking glass sets that you will find here and there.  Great for serving lemonade on the patio! Make your way down to South End Antique Mall for a terrific selection of retro kitchenware and bar-ware. We change out the decor in our entryway each season and they are busily putting together our summer display now.  A peek at the results will be posted later in the week!  Stop by and check it out if you are in the area.