On Vacation

Taking a little break...can't wait to relax...!  I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks.  And if all goes as planned, I will take you all on a field trip or two when I return.

See you back here in August! 

Image found via Google.com image search.

Fortunate Finds: Vintage View-Master Collection

Just so you know, I've decided to combine all vintage collections / thrifting posts by using the "Fortunate Finds" tag.  I'll still be participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, but I also want to participate in other link parties as well!

Did you love your View-Master when you were a kid?  I really loved mine. So imagine my happiness when I stumbled over this vintage View-Master and my husband gave me the accompanying vintage reels as a gift:

The putty colored View-Master (it has seen better days) was produced and distributed by Sawyer and it is a Model G, which is the first series to be made of plastic rather than Bakelite.  Although the box has no date, it probably dates to a three-year span of 1962- 1965. 

I have two different Cinderella sets, one of which was produced for Disney in 1965 and features animation cells from the movie.

The single disk in the photo is much older, as the tiny blue accompanying booklet has a copyright date of 1946.  It is entitled, "Cinderella and the Glass Slipper"  and has only seven images. I love its uniqueness: the figures in the scenes are molded out of clay!

(Forgive the fuzziness of the following images.  I actually took the photos by holding my camera lens up to my modern View-Master so you could see a few of the actual images on the disks).

"Preparation for the Ball"

"Cinderella Dances with the Prince"

The other disk set features images of Paris and Montmartre by day and night.  It was produced by Sawyers but was marketed by Sawyer's Europe, and the language on the disks and the jacket is French.  It's possible that it may have been a souvenir for an American tourist.  It also dates from 1965:

"La Facade et La Place Du Parvis"  (Facade of Notre Dame)

This romantic image is entitled "Repas en Plein Air, Place Du Tertre" (outdoor dining)

I have a few modern reels as well, but this is the extent of my vintage collection so far.  So how many of you, dear readers, still have a View-Master?  I'm keeping mine forever!

Madison Avenue Monday: Fabulosa!

I wish someone would knit this dress for me.

From Vogue Knitting, Spring-Summer 1965

Summer Recipe: Santa Fe Salad

I've spent the last week updating the shop so I've been pretty busy (I modified the look and feel a bit too...you can check it out here). And the weather has been hot. I mean HOT. When it is so hot that cooking over a stove sounds like cruel and unusual punishment, I make Santa Fe Salad, adapted from the recipe in Mary Englebreit's Queen of the Kitchen Cookbook. 

Image from the aforementioned cookbook.

2 cups cooked black beans, drained and rinsed if canned
1 1/2 cups sweet cherry tomatoes, homegrown if possible, halved
  (option: use a mix of red and yellow tomatoes)
1 cup fresh, thawed frozen, or drained canned sweet corn kernels
  (option:  use frozen roasted corn kernels)
4 green onions (scallions), minced
1 jalapeno chile (for mild heat remove seeds and ribs), minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or more to taste)
2-4 small garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs. fruity olive oil
Juice from one lime
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste, or for more heat, use cayenne pepper to taste
1 avocado, cubed (optional)

In a large bowl, combine everything and toss well until mixed.  Add avocado cubes, if using, and toss lightly.

Serve with tortilla chips for dipping or over salad greens.  Serves 2-3 as a main salad course.

Enjoy!

Madison Avenue Monday: 4th of July Edition

The Great American Crafts Revolution!  From McCall's Needlework and Crafts, Spring - Summer 1972

 For those who are celebrating, have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Fortunate Finds: Danger Points in Your Home, June 1942

Today is the last day of June (where does the time go?).  I have been going through some of my papers and found this edition of the Los Angeles Times Home section from June 14, 1942 that I picked up at an estate sale last year:

One of the articles in the insert is "Danger Points in Your Home" that features a cute series of educational cartoons:

There were many, many written tips in this article that we've all heard before.  But here's a familiar one for you sewists and crafters out there:  "Put your scissors or knife down before walking to another room; avoid carrying pencils, thumbtacks, collar buttons, and pins in your mouth"!   Guilty as charged.

Madison Avenue Monday: Italian Ices

From Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 1967

Craft Update: Simplicity 2936 in progress

Just a quick little update.  A couple of months ago I found this cute little pattern at my last visit to the big box craft store that I thought would be perfect for summer blouses:

I am making view F in the topmost left corner, with ruffled sleeves and collar.  As I have a full bust, I have learned that in blouse patterns I am probably always going to have to add to the bust line, as most patterns are designed for a B size cup.   I am still learning slowly to fit patterns though in everything I have to have my sewing instructor help me out.  As you can see, we slashed the original pattern (my instructor does not like to trace off patterns) and added width at the bust line and to the sides:

We weren't very neat about it were we?

Having done this for the first time I'd like to learn how to do an actual full bust adjustment because by doing it this way we had to make two small bust darts to get rid of some of the extra fullness near the armholes, and because the sleeves are raglan style we had to add width and length to the sleeves because the armscye was larger.  This meant we had to make two muslins of the sleeves alone because they ended up being too full!  All-in-all, it takes a great deal of time to fit a pattern in class because I only get a fraction of my instructor's time in sewing class, and we've been working on this for 6 weeks. 

As I've only sewed the front to back bodice at this point I decided not to unveil it just yet.  But here's a peek at the bodice so you can see the fabric:

It's a bit like a dotted swiss and is somewhat sheer.  It cost all of $1 per yard - I've mentioned this before - at the FIDM Scholarship Store!  That's my kind of deal.

I'll be working on this more in the coming weeks now that the worst is over and hope to have it finished soon.

Have a great weekend, filled with crafting,

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men

Father's Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than why commemorating those crafty men out there. For this Vintage Thingies Thursday, I bring you Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men, published in 1973:

Some of you may remember that Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier played football for both the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s and later he began a successful acting career.

This is a fortunate find from a used bookshop, and I just couldn't put it down. I don't think that there is another book like it in existence! How could someone just give this rare little gem up? It is signed by Rosey himself:

A couple of photos of Rosey in action:

 

Surrounded by a few completed projects.  I like the frog pillow:

The caption says, "Me, with most of my menagerie.  I may be too old to sleep
with a panda, but I sure can needlepoint one."  Too cute.

An example of one of the easy needlepoint designs in the book for the guy into sports (and by the way, enlarge the photo and you can print it out and use it too!):

 

A photo of Rosey with a finished commissioned canvas:

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Vintage Thingies Thursday.  Be sure to visit the other participants at Coloradolady's blog.  And a happy early Father's Day to all the dads out there, including my own, who played poker with Rosey a few times and told me that he's a really nice guy!

Madison Avenue Monday: Ribbon Becomes You

From Vogue Knitting Book, Spring-Summer 1961