A Purse By Any Other Name...

When I was a youngster, the women in my family usually referred to their "pocketbook" rather than "purse" or "handbag." Nowadays, I almost always call that carrying-container brimful of what I deem necessities for a day out and about... a purse.

Image courtesy of NYPL Digital Gallery

I am often fascinated by words and how their usage changes over time. Today, the word purse has decidedly feminine connotations, but there was a time when a purse was simply a small bag or pouch, usually leather, in which to carry money. A man could have a purse and no one would bat an eye... and a woman could carry a purse and not end up with bursitis in her shoulder.  ;)

I am also fascinated by purses and how their styles change over time. If only I could choose one era of handbags to love... there are just too many wonderful styles - from the beautiful mesh bags of the late 1800s to the quirky "telephone cord" purses of the 1930s to the tailored Kelly bags of the 1950s. Really, can a girl ever have too many handbags?

Here, in celebration of that accessory of necessity by whatever name you prefer, are just a few delightful examples available from four of my favorite Etsy shops...

From Stella Ranae Vintage, this adorable Puppy and Kitty Purse

 Art Deco Dame offers this fabulous Beaded & Sequin Clutch

From Vintage Pickle, this Shiny Gold Woven Box Purse

And FuzzyLizzie offers this lovely Victorian Miser's Purse

So, what is your favorite era of purse, pocketbook, or handbag?

A Hundred Gold Stars to the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery!

The other day, my Mister remarked about how amazing he thinks the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery is. 

Now, this was the first I'd heard of NYPL's online library of images, so, of course, I had to see for myself. Let me just say that he wasn't exaggerating... it is an AMAZING resource for all manner of images. I found photographs, fashion illustrations, book jackets, sheet music, and postcards, to name a few, ranging from the distant past to the recent past. Just search a year, a place, a person, a topic and you'll be presented with hundreds of images to browse, study, or even embed, as I've done here.

And did I mention that this incredible resource is FREE? Thank goodness for public libraries!

And while I'm on the subject of libraries...

 

...Visit, use, and, 
most of all, support your local library! :)

In Memory of My Grandma Jane...

I count myself among the lucky for having known all four of my grandparents (and even a great-grandparent!) while growing up. I am greatly saddened though, that my last grandparent still living passed away on Monday night. I'll miss my Grandma Jane very much.

Elnora Jane was born in 1918 near the end of the First World War, or the Great War, as it was known then. She grew up on a farm, was the middle daughter of three girls, and lived the majority of her life in the same Pennsylvania county in which she was born.


Jane (she always went by her middle name) probably never experienced the decadence of the "roaring 20s", but she was teenager during the Depression, the new bride of an army soldier during the Second World War, and a high school "cafeteria lady" in the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1930s or very early 1940s, Jane, one of her sisters, and a cousin all went to New Jersey to work in a button factory for awhile. I often think that must have been a great adventure for three young women at the time.

Since my Grandma Jane has appeared in a few of my past posts (here and here and here), I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos of her...

On her wedding day in Hugo, Oklahoma, 1943. She traveled there to be
married because my Grandpa Alf was stationed at Camp Maxey in Texas.

All dressed up, possibly for her high school graduation in 1936.

Probably sometime in 1944. Grandpa Alf was likely on leave.
My grandmother still had the vase of poppies picture (in the upper
right corner of photo) hanging in her room at the personal care
home where she lived for the past seven years.

Jane, the middle daughter, seated between her two sisters,
Marge and Helen.
I love the bold print on her dress!


Gone fishin' ... in Canada. (circa late 1950s/early 1960s)
This is one of my absolute favorite photos of my grandmother!


Jane and her granddaughter.
I treasure my memories of the times I spent with my Grandma Jane.


Elnora Jane, 1918-2011
Rest in peace, Grandma.

**I chose "Bluebird of Happiness" as one of the songs to go along with this post because my grandmother was quite fond of those handblown glass bluebirds of happiness that were popular many years ago. She gave me a pair of them when I was younger that I still have.**

Skating on the Pond...

(Illustration from The Household Magazine, January 1935)

This time of year always brings to mind those happy winter days of my childhood spent ice skating on the neighbor's pond.

Of course, before any skating could be done, Dad (or someone responsible enough to use an axe) had to chop a hole in the ice to make sure it was thick enough. We certainly didn't want to replay the "falling through thin ice" scene from It's a Wonderful Life!

I usually had to wear good ol' thermal long underwear underneath my jeans and sweater and winter coat, along with two pairs of socks - it seems like it was colder in those days. But I always preferred to imagine I was wearing a lovely red or blue velvet skating costume with furry trim... you know, á la Sonja Henie... with matching skates. Or maybe just a little something like these lovely ladies are wearing...

(Photo from Woman's Home Companion, December 1940)

Or maybe even something in a green velvet, like this Chesterfield lady...

(Advertisement from The Household Magazine, January 1935)

Sure, a skirt isn't the most practical when skating in the great out-of-doors in single-digit-January temperatures, but it looks real swell whilst twirling and spinning on the ice. And even when sitting prettily and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.

Just for fun, I had a look-around on Etsy and was amazed to find this terrific 1940s red velvet skating costume from AdelinesAttic:

Lovely, don't you think?

And this fabulous 40s ice skating costume sewing pattern from TheVintageDesignShop:

How I wish I could sew well enough to make something like this!

I also found this neat little 1940s embroidery-trimmed skating skirt from Bombshell1939:

So adorable!


Well, I'd probably take a spill and break a hip, but I sure feel like some good old-fashioned ice skating after writing this post! Now, where'd I put those ice skates?

Hmm, maybe I'll just settle for a steaming mug of hot chocolate.


What outdoor winter fun do you remember from your childhood?

A Few of My Favorite Fall Things...

One of my favorite vintage magazine covers includes a few of my favorite fall things...

McCall's, September, 1944

...going to an orchard for apples and cider, seeing the sky a shade of blue that only happens in autumn, having a fun fall outing as a reason to wear cute overalls and braids.

This weekend, my mister and I will be off on our annual October excursion for apples, cheese, maple syrup, and hopefully a bit "leaf-peeping" (see this post about our swell lunch stop on last year's trip). At the moment, the fall foliage isn't too fabulous in this area. The recent rain knocked most of the leaves off the trees that had already turned, but I must say, I'm still hopeful.

Our autumn excursion always includes stops at Jayne's Orchard, LeRaysville Cheese Factory, and Back Achers Farm, as well as an interesting lunch spot. In past years, we've sometimes just stopped at a roadside rest to enjoy a snack of apples, cheese, and cider. Yum!

One of my most favorite fall things is seeing the asters in bloom. I love the purple petals with the yellowish-orange center. Here's one of the spots in my yard where I have asters blooming even as we speak...

Hope you're enjoying this autumn season too, wherever you may be!

1940s Goodies Giveaway at This Homemade Life!

My pal, Kristen, over at This Homemade Life is offering a fun 40s giveaway... and it's a giveaway within a giveaway. The main package is shown in the pic above - and isn't it darling?! The top secret bonus prize is, well, top secret, but Kristen provides a little teaser in her post. Now, Miss CherryBubbles wants you to head right on over and get your entry in... the drawing is next week!

And while you're there, check out This Homemade Life... Kristen is peachy keen and posts lots of interesting things :)

Coming Soon, or, My Land! I Have Sew Many Patterns!

I've been busily working away at transforming my Vintage Selling Stash Room (yes, it has consumed an entire room!) into a full-fledged Sewing and Handicraft Room. Let me just say that the process is taking longer than I want it to, but I'm trying to stay true to my vision of a comfortable, well-lit, reasonably organized, spacious work area. Okay, so that could take years ;)

Anyway, whilst shoveling (well, it felt like shoveling) out the scads of things in the VSSR, I struck oil, er, I mean the motherlode... of sewing patterns. There are so many that I've decided to un-hiatus my Etsy shop, just to get these terrific patterns to new homes where they'll be loved. So, if you love vintage sewing patterns, keep an eye out on CherryBubblesVintage on Etsy.

Here are a few pics to whet your appetite...






If you see something that catches your fancy, drop me an email. I'll be glad to get it listed sooner.

May your bobbins always be full!
~ Author Unknown

Cure for the "January Thaw"

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy warm weather and rainy days... in their proper season.

Being a winter baby, born in February, I love snow! Seeing bare brown ground outside my window the past several days has made me feel blue. But just a little while ago, I was looking through old family photos and came across something that turned my frown upside down.

Isn't this just the cutest winter time photo?

This is my Grandma Jane and my mom, probably early in 1945. I believe my grandfather was still in Germany at that point. He was a Staff Sergeant in the army during WWII. This photo was likely one that she sent to him while he was away... a memento of home and a reminder of who was waiting for him there.

Grandma Jane and Mom look as if they had fun that day on the sled in the snow on my great-grandfather's farm...

C'mon now, admit it - you smiled too, didn't you ;)