Yet Another Store

I've opened another store, this time on Artfire at http://www.artfire.com/users/CatnipHillTwo.  I will be adding some more items there periodically and will try to have different items than are in my Etsy store.

I have a question to ask of my followers.  What kind of vintage clothing do you buy?  What era?

I have a lot of things to list from the Edwardian era and pre World War II, but don't know if it is selling well.  Is there a market?

Update!!  I closed my Artfire store some time ago.

New Endeavor

First of all, I apologize for not posting anything for a month.  Living got in the way of blogging.  I promise to be better this winter when there are fewer distractions.  That said, I have an announcement to make.

Over at my Etsy store I have just put up some items I have been working on for a few weeks--Feral Cat Hats.  While not everyone's cup of tea, they will appeal to the young at heart and lovers of cats everywhere.  A friend of mine runs a T-N-R called Carol's Ferals here in Grand Rapids, Michigan and that was my inspiration for the hats.  A portion of every sale goes to Carol's Ferals for neutering and caring for feral cats.

They come in S thru XL, 20" thru 24".  I'm not making children's sizes because of the added hassle of federal regulations.  Surely there is someone on your holiday list that would wear one of these proudly.  I am selling them at random because I make them as I'm inspired by the colors, so you never know what you will get.  Sort of like kittens.

Poodley Poo

What could be more ubiquitous to the 1950's than  poodles?  Poodle accessories?  Or poodle wallpaper?

Or this?

I think it looks more like a llama.

This lovely accessory and even some pekingese abominations are to be found in this American Thread Co Star Gift Book No 140, now available at my Etsy store.  If you're really into poodles, don't overlook the dishtowel and the other craft book.  Just put poodle in the search box when you get to my store.

Incidentally, the hat above is called a "Jibber" in the instructions.  I have no idea why.  Different definitions for this word lead me to sailboats, stealing, balking, blogging, snowboarding, and Mr T.  Anyone have any idea where this name came from?

Baby Cat Needs A Blanket

Baby cat went looking for a blanket.   He found this yummy seamist green one.

But it was wayyyyy too big for him.

Then he found this nice sea-shelly one.

He like the colors but it was wayyyy too big.

Then he found this nice stripey one.

He liked it very much, but it was still wayyyyy too big.

He tried another stripey one.

It was smaller, but still wayyyy too big.

Then he spotted this one!

Just  Right!

These baby blankets made by my Mom are so pretty and soft it makes you want to have a baby!  Ummmmm,  no thanks!  She's frustrated that my brothers and I didn't produce enough offspring to satisfy her knitting and crocheting needs so she just keeps making blankets in the hope she can find some babies to give them to.  The blanket closet is getting a little full so she gave some to me to sell on Etsy.  They will be available shortly for all your baby cuddling needs.  Buy one for yourself!

Another Shameless Plug

"Jane, I've got the best idea!", Ann whispered evilly.  "See that couple over there with the horrible matching sweaters?  Let's try to break them up!  We can do it, we've got our granny square bikinis on underneath our clothes today."

"Make sure you swish your skirt !"

"That ought to get his attention away from that matching sweater freak."

"Oh, look!  There's Olivia! Are those leather pants she's wearing?"

"You're the one that I want you karma chameleon, you!"

The above illustrations are from some knitting and crafting books I just put in my Etsy store.  The following just didn't fit into the story line but are equally worthy of mention.

Remember when you were little and would wait eagerly until the next McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazine came out and your mother bought it?  Remember all the strange little things you could make out of odds and ends like paperclips and hairpins?  Who thought up all of that weirdness like twig sculpture

pebble and macrame jewelry

toys made out of apricot pits

knitted lions wearing clothes

giant hamburger pillows?

(that skewer looks dangerous!)

And then there's the beautiful.  I love this sequinned Chanel jacket.

Say what!!??

A Tale of Betty and Catherine

I found this wonderful scrapbook recently here in Grand Rapids at an estate sale.  When I got home I discovered that inside were some mementos and a picture.  More on that later.
The illustrations were signed "Betty Betz", so, being me, I looked her up on Google.  It seems she was a socialite illustrator and writer of teenage advice books and a cartoonist.  She had the first advice column for teenagers.  She also was one of the first female celebrities to have a tv show.  She designed clothes for teens.  She had a pretty remarkable career.  I found her obituary in the Palm Beach Post and the Palm Beach Daily News.  She died at age 90 on 17 April 2010 in Bermuda.

There are a lot of products with her illustrations on them, and this woman features some of them in her museum and website.

Now, back to the former owner of the scrapbook.  Here is her picture:

Her name is Catherine Terze and she received this book as a gift from her aunt and uncle in 1956.  She graduated from St Mary High School in Jackson, Michigan in 1961.  When I Googled her name I found that she may still be alive and living in Jackson, Michigan.

   

So it looks like her book made it's way to Grand Rapids via a relative or some one who bought it at an estate sale.I recently sold the scrapbook in my Etsy store, but kept the graduation announcement and picture.  Catherine, if you're out there, let me know if you want your picture back!

You Know What They Say About Men Who Wear Bow Ties. . .

"I should have listened when my girlfriends told me never to date a man who wears a bow tie.  And look at the atrocious color!" 

"Where's his other hand?"

"Oh No! Now he's spinning it and waiting for my reaction!"

"It's a good thing I thought to bring my Mad Money!"

Here's what Clarice didn't see.  Didn't I tell you yesterday?  Put Hollywood on it and everyone will buy it! 

Virtually undetectable.  Except, of course, for that gigantic red motor sticking out of your neck.  No one will ever know.  Made in Hong Kong.

Here's another novelty item totally unrelated to the others.

"Children will love clipping their nails this new fun way."

Useful.  Safe.  Attractive.  Decorative.  Made in Hong Kong.

There is even a removeable plug on the back foot (feet?) for those errant nails.

What is the reason for featuring these quality items, you ask?  Why, it's a shameless plug for my Etsy store, again!  Surely you know some discerning individual who is looking for useful, attractive items?  No?  Well, then, how about "gifting" someone with them?

Demented Dishes, Rotten Vegetables, and Depressed Tableware

Honestly, does that face make you feel happy?  Is this something you would wear to keep the children out of the kitchen?  And what about these faces?

What do you suppose has happened to mommy plate?  Did the monster tureen kill her?  Are the spoons being kidnapped?

Why is Mr Plate so angry?  And check out Bat Garlic.

Mr Rotten Red Pepper is making some sort of indecent proposition to Miss Lettuce and love is in the air with the sugar  bowl and tea cup.

The peas are just hanging around , the beets are dancing, and the teakettle is oblivious.

They all live on this vintage badly printed apron from a disturbing time in the past.  If you wish to become more intimately acquainted with these characters the apron is available for sale at my Etsy site. (shameless plug)

Why?

Is your little girl just too active in her full skirt and blouse and you always find yourself saying "Tuck your blouse back in!" or just doing it yourself?  Is her full slip always falling off because of stretched elastic on the waistband?    Does she go out WITHOUT her slip?

Well, here's the solution:  the BlouseSlip!

Yes, that is what they call this.  If you're worried about the blouse pouffing up over the waistband, however, that is still going to happen if she is playing on the monkeybars.  But if she is doing that, you have other worries!

Shameless Plug:  You can buy this wonderful pattern if you are so inclined, at my Etsy site.