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! :)

Have You Visited the Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en?

They're the hosts with the most!

Kelly and Paul of Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en

It goes without saying that one of my favorite web series, or vodcasts if you prefer, is the Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en... oh heck, I'll say it anyway! I love this show! While at Ohana: Luau at the Lake last weekend, I was pleased as punch to meet Kelly and Paul, those kitschy-kool kids who bring us all the fabulous tips, advice, and cocktails needed for mid-century modern living.

Love the matching togs made by Kelly herself!

Kelly not only makes fabulous hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, she's quite a crafty seamstress as well. Paul is a music maestro and grillmaster extraordinaire. Their shows cover all sorts of fun subjects, including camping, how to survive in a bomb shelter, midnight snacks, and, most recently, a visit from hippies!

This particular episode is chock-full of tips for your next cocktail party...

What are you waiting for? Head over to the Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en now - you'll be glad you did!

Miss CherryBubbles enjoys a tiki-fied hot dog at Ohana, courtesy of Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en!

Father's Day...

Here's to all the swell dads and granddads who've been a part of our lives and made living them that much more wonderful!

Little Miss CherryBubbles and her very own swell Dad


Happy Father's Day!

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.**

It's Chiffon! And I don't mean the margarine ;)

After yesterday's post about the fabulous vintage look and feel of Twin Peaks, I got to thinking about the red chiffon dress that Audrey Horne wears in the second season...

Aren't chiffon dresses too dreamy?

Just for fun, I decided to do a search for similar vintage chiffon dresses on Etsy. I found quite a few, so thought I'd share in case any of you are looking for a lovely spring/summer party dress.

Here's a sunny yellow surplice bodice dress from SalvageLife...


Or if yellow isn't your color, how about this lovely fuchsia dress from Sustalux...


Maybe you prefer a little mystery with your chiffon, like this midnight black dress from LipStickWhiskey...


Or perhaps you're sweet and innocent, so this pretty pink dress from FabVintage might be more your style...


For the woman with dangerous curves, how about this figure-hugging mint green chiffon dress from FastEddiesRetroRags...


And finally, if you love red most of all, here are three lovely red chiffon dresses....

from Bohemiennes


from TimelessVixenVintage

from MyFavoriteVintage

I find it difficult to choose a favorite from amongst these fabulous frocks, but I do lean toward the midnight black one. I like mystery ;)

Which chic chiffon confection would you choose?

Sophisticated Cats...

I've had this nifty set of three kitty cat plaques for 10 years:

They were my Grandma Elverna's, and I'm thrilled that they made their way to my wall. My Grandma Elverna and Grandpa Bud built their house in the mid-1950s, in a brand new housing development near a small city. They furnished their house with "blonde" Heywood Wakefield. They liked modern things...

A couple months ago, I bought several vintage catalogs from an antique shop not far from my home. Mostly Sears Roebuck, but one was a Montgomery Ward catalog from 1963. Imagine my surprise when my dearest, while perusing our latest acquisitions, came across this:

There on page 1112 of the Fall/Winter 1963 Montgomery Ward catalog were my Grandma Elverna's kitty cats!

According to the description, these are "Sophisticated Cats" (obviously!) which will "enhance the modern decor" (but, of course). Well now, I'm sure you can see why my grandmother wanted them.

Occasionally, I come across one of my own vintage dresses in old catalogs, but, somehow, this discovery meant a lot more to me. I can just imagine my Grandma Elverna browsing through the Montgomery Ward catalog, delightedly coming across the cats, and deciding that they were worth the $8.99 price tag. She would have filled out and mailed the order form in the back of the catalog....in an envelope... with a stamp... and, most likely, actual cash enclosed. Things have changed, haven't they?