Satan and the Suffragette

A personal favorite from my small collection of early suffrage items.   This is a full page illustration from Collier's The National Weekly and appears in the Easter Number, 1909.  Certainly it was a flair to the incredibly oversized hats of the day ... and mi' lady's frivolous nature.  Oh the thought that the gentlemen could easily win the arguments by mere flattery.  A tempestuous tale!

A Springtime Fantasy - Easter Number

by Wallace Irwin -  Illustrated by F T. Richards,   c. 1909
The Collier's, The National Weekly

Click image for a larger view.

American Life Through Catalogs

For the past several weeks I have been reviewing many vintage booklets, catalogs, pamphlets and books in my personal library.  My how they accumulate over the years.  I remember several estate attics with corners stuffed with so many wonderful old catalogs that the floor boards creaked when I hauled them all downstairs!  

These were a staple in American homes in 20th century.  I remember being a teen in the 60s and spending wonderful time going through the pages of mom's JCPenny's and the Sears catalogs.  It was common to have a Spring Summer and then a Fall Winter editions,  What a great way to learn new trends and color schemes for the season.   Two of my favorites, The Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs, are so jam packed with goodies I dare say there isn't a thing you couldn't find in them!  

 Literally everything from the kitchen sink to the corners of the garage!  I marvel at how much time and money it had to take to produce aa 800 to 1200 page volume twice a year.  And every season - they change.

By 1990, with the ease and excitement of online shopping from the home computer, the catalog excitement surely faced it's demise.   Looking at these volumes now, there is a new appreciation for the story they tell. Perhaps the most striking idea came to me that these are complete encyclopedia's of mainstream American middle class households and life.   Going through a large mail order catalog shows every nuance of color, pattern, artistic style, materials used to name a few. When you start to string together year after year of these editions, it is easy to see the changes most homes and family members moved through.  These massive volumes are great resources for dating collectibles!

With the current trend of megga online shopping stores, I doubt we will see these types of books published again.  I guess that's why I love my vintage treasures.  They really are a stroll down memory lane ... even when the power is off! 

"What's in your ...closet..?"

I love the commercials that Samuel Jackson does for the credit card company where he always ends with "What's in your wallet?"   I often think of that phrase when it comes to antiquing:  what's in your closet?

A lot of "experts" would like you to think that what's in your closet is unnecessary junk and the stuff needs to get thrown out.   While there is certainly a small train of thought for that idea, perhaps the better phrase would be to give it some new energy and get it flowing!  That's what the world of working in antiques has taught me most:  keep the flow going.

As a student of metaphysical teachings, I've come to learn that the larger picture can be endless.  When the door closes and we clam up, the energy stagnates and ceases.   It's not the "stuff" in that closet that's causing the blockage.  Rather, it is one's perception of that stuff.  What has or has not happened to their own personal energy flow determines how an object is perceived.   A keystone can be misinterpreted and become a burden instead.  

I love working with small bits of "things" because each little thing has a huge story behind it.  One of my favorite examples is a piece of lace.  You can approach it as technical construction and what the object is or you can feel the hands that wrapped those threads together to create something.   What was her day like that day?  Did she live in simple abode or lushness?  Was this a labor of love or a gift to give? A necessary need that could only be fulfilled by making it?  Was it a simple act of creating just for pleasure?  Made by machine?  Where was the factory?  Who operated it?  What was the town like?

All through the years since the lace was created, how did it eventually wind up in the closet or cedar chest now?  Who passed it along?  Why did they save this particular piece?  What was their life like?

Tickling your fancy with questions from the heart can give new life to the plainest of the plain.  The process opens the curious mind and energy flows forth again.  It is a powerful cycle.  Whatever is in that quiet closet, before you think about tossing it away be sure to give it a curious thought.   You might be surprised at the riches that flow forth in all their many forms.

Oh that linen

I have a confession - sometimes I avoid more elaborate pieces of vintage linens because of the time needed to prepare a presentation properly for online showing.  Well of course that, in itself, is a silly oxymoron because I remain a true believer that linens are something you just have to experience with your own eyes and hands.

As I've been working through my cupboard to get items listed, I came to two treasures for the formal dining table.  One is a beautiful Idrian lace tablecloth and napkins set and the second is a lush linen cutwork embroidery tablecloth and napkins set.  Both of these are shown fully on separate pages here.  (Tabs above).

But what I wanted to share here is the flush of memory that came flowing forth as I worked on these linens.   After finding my original inventory record from 2006 (THAT was a miracle!) I found myself completely transposed to the dining room of the woman from whom I bought the linens.  I can still see that dining room table and chairs full of amazing linens and laces that her Italian mother (and grandmother) brought here and cherished!  It was an incredible Awww feeling. Sometimes I truly think we today think we will forever see such treasures, but I'm not so sure.

Taking on the responsibility of respectfully handling someone's long time heritage keepsakes is a job I take very seriously.  There is love abundant in those threads beginning from the very day they began to be created!   Just imagine - those that planned the project ... those that physically created the project ... those that made the initial presentation to give it a home ... to those who purchased, used and loved the pieces ... and on and on it goes!   It just makes my head spin with delightful flowing warm energy!  There is a connection in family linens that binds the heart.

There was so much to purchase from that wonderful elderly lady that day I could not possibly handle the finances all in one swoop and give her the just due she should receive.  So, asking for her trust, we made an arrangement that we both would feel complete satisfaction.  That was often my practice back in my buying days - and it sure beats credit cards of today!  Spending nearly half a day with her helped me to absorb all that was being offered.  I remember it so well.

So, now I have the pieces presented at Etsy.  Take a look at the two pages here with all the photographs.  The Idrian lace especially is quite a rare find and lace lovers will enjoy the massiveness of this work!  Treat yourself ... you can have a moment in that dining room so many years ago too.