By Lynn, on April 19th, 2012%
Going through some more old photos of folks I’ve adopted into my photograph family, I kept wishing so very much that this lady in the cloche, looking totally like 1930 or earlier, was a bit clearer. I would love to be able to make this picture completely sharp so that we might see details, but just as the lady in the picture is most certainly probably gone from us, the picture is faded nearly completely away.
I have been playing around with my scanner and gimp, and here is the same photo scanned in at 1200 dpi, put into GIMP and auto-adjusted as far as the color levels.
Not sure how much of a difference there is, really. Gotta be some more tricks to make it clearer!! (Just imagine what they’ll have available for this sort of stuff in 50 more years!)
The photo above is very reminiscent of a picture of a real family member of mine, my great aunt Ella Vasti, but everyone called her Aunt Bass.
I am not sure exactly when this was taken — I will have to ask my mom, but I do know that Aunt Bass was born in 1898. I am thinking this was about 1927.
Does it make you want a hat? A cloche? A bright red one?
cloche [French, from Old French, bell, from Medieval Latin clocca] — n. A close-fitting woman’s hat with a bell-like shape.
One of my favorite collected pictures of all time…
Gracious me! All these women stand out, their strong personalities shining through in their choice of hats! Which hat are YOU drawn to. I have to admit that for me it’s the cloche, second from right. I think I might have to have a cute bell-shaped cloche for the summertime! After all, I need to keep the sun out of my eyes! Right? Was looking around Sears and found some cute hats.
Straw Cloche
Made of 65% paper straw, 15% polyster and 20% cotton. ONE size fits most, fitting up to 7-1/4. Crown measures 4 inches deep, with self tie band. Brim measures 2 -4 inches wide, downward. Thick, stiff, soft and cool material. UPF 50+ sun protection, packable and crushable Hand wash only. Available in tan/tweed, black/tweed and white/tweed. Imported
Black Cotton Cloche
Made of 50% cotton and 50% paper straw. One size fits most, fitting up to 7 1/8(M size). Crown measures 4 inches deep, bell shape with hat band. Brim measures 2 inches wide, downward. Soft, thick and cool material. Packable and crushable. Hand wash only. Imported. Available in black, brown and green.
Cloche Ribbon Round Crown Hat
Made of 100% paper straw. One size fits most, fitting up to 7 1/4. Crown measures 4 inches deep with ribbon band. Brim measures 2 inches wide, upturned. Thick, cool and stiff material. Crushable and packable. Hand wash only. Available in tan, brown/tweed, black, tan/tweed and white. Imported.
But then I went to Etsy, and my oh my oh my! This!!…
Oh my! (Did I say that already?) Found in Etsy shop Bonnie’s Knitting here: 1920s Dark Chocolate and Cream Linen Cloche.
And this one!! Be still my retro heart. I know what’s gonna happen. Don’t hold your breath, cause you know I’m slow, but you’ll see one of these modeled right here on this blog at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Just one more thing to share. In going through more pictures from when I was a little girl, I found a real keeper of me, my dad, his brother and a couple of twin cousins. Those were the days. Makes me want to see my cousins.
Well, I gotta run. Life is unfolding before me. Today is planned to be full of fun things. Some painting. Some thrifting. Some visiting. Delivering a special package. And moving a small piece of furniture or two.
Remember to Enjoy This Day!
By Lynn, on April 17th, 2012%
Happy Tuesday! I have been going through old photos again and remembering my sweet dad, gone from us now for seven years. I kept coming across pictures of his amazing cars and was just inspired to gather up a few of them to share. I wish I had more because these do not begin to do justice to the cars he did have, how he took care of them, and how skilled he was at driving! He actually used to drag race, and I grew up taking for granted a shelf full of trophies he had won doing so!
Now, I may be wrong, but I think this was a 1957 Chevy. The picture is marked March 1958. It actually looks to me like my dad is holding a trophy as he sits in the seat of his car. As far as his racing, I am not sure what the car looked like — I was only a twinkle in someone’s eye at this time in history, but one of his racers was named Run-Around Sue! What I am really hoping is that my sweet mother will chime in — I want her to get brave and leave a comment with some info!
Mother?
While the car behind me was not ours, it does represent a time in history, and I felt compelled to include this photo because of that. Also because I think you have a right to know that our neighbors Jean and Danny had a daughter named Michelle who was about my age. Michelle and I thought it would be a good idea to brush our teeth using water from the commode. Glad I lived to hear and tell about that! Also, Jean’s mother apparently was quite the funny bird and used to say that when you first met your husband-to-be you’d be so crazy about him that you could eat him up, but then after you married him you’d wish you had. 
The photo above was taken in Smyrna, Tennessee, in military housing. My dad was stationed there in the Air Force.
Awwww. Not even sure what kind of car this was. Not the typical racer type I can picture my dad in, but here I am standing in front of it in my cute pink dress and black shoes. Those were the days. Cannot remember what all sorts of trouble I got into here. I just know that my dad was probably just home from Vietnam and I had a little record player that he let me play his Beatles album on. I used to twist and shout.
Once again, I am at a loss as to exactly which car this is. And my dad had a habit of putting pens to his mouth; pens and big cigars. No telling what he is holding to his mouth here. Anyway, I LOVE that red interior! What I would give to drive that around now!! Whoa.
Tall. Slim. Sharp dresser. Fast driver. Smooth talker. Yep. That’s him, George, above on the right. Again, I wish so much that I knew all about this car. Funny when we are little we don’t really feel a need to know these things, but then later we’d love to have the chance to ask a million questions.
Do you remember old things from your parents? Are there things — like seeing an old car on the highway — that bring back memories of those you loved?
Hmmmmmmmm.
Well, in thrifty fashion news, before I say goodbye, I found the cutest spring dress a few weeks ago and I don’t think I have shared it yet, though I have worn it several times already.
Dress, Signature by Robbie Bee, thrifted
Silver shoes, Amanda Smith, thrifted
ENJOY THIS DAY!!
By Lynn, on April 16th, 2012%
Ahhh, we have rolled blissfully through another weekend and now here we sit parked right on top of Monday! How can it be! I needed extra coffee to get me rolling this morning! How ’bout you?
Let’s get right down to business! Shall we? No, I have not found my lavender crinoline yet for the pretty short-ish dress that I posted about a couple of month back, but I did spot a gorgeous skirt recently at G.W. Boutique that I knew was too short from the first glance. But oh my, the cut and the fabric and the pretty sash made right onto the skirt! I carried it around the store, wondering what I could do with it.
The thoughts of cutting it up just for fabric (it’s a stretchy material) or trying to make a bag or apron from it just did not appeal to me. I walked around holding it, wondering if I could add a tier of fabric at the bottom to make it longer.
But what color? White, or a color that was already in the skirt?
I decided to take the plunge, take a chance, and so I walked over to the white skirts in G.W. Boutique and began to look.
I looked until I found a skirt that had a fabric I liked and a ruffle I liked. In order not to have to do too much altering, I choose a skirt that was about the same circumference at its ruffle level as the bottom of the floral skirt. I actually found one! So basically all that was required was to cut the bottom of the white skirt off evenly. I then pinned it in place around the bottom of the floral skirt and took it to the sewing machine. When I do the next one (and oh I do plan to do this again!) I will take pictures or do a video tutorial for you!
I do believe this is now one of my favorite skirts!!
In garden and creature news, I visited with a couple of creatures in a new garden spot I have been checking out and sizing up!
A spider in the sky, it would seem.
And a green anole that tried its best to get away from me and my camera.
But I was relentless.
For at least long enough to get a few shots.
Remember to Enjoy This Day!
By Lynn, on April 14th, 2012%
Just wanted to pop in this morning and say Happy Day, as well as to share a couple of thoughts.
I work on things in spurts. Sometimes I get on a clay binge and cannot think of anything but clay. Then it will be paper items. And sometimes I just want to paint. (Mom, that pretty corner in your greenhouse inspired me!)
Not that I am amazing. I know I need lessons. But do you ever just feel that if you don’t make something… Paint something… If you don’t do something, you’ll explode?
This painting has a long ways to go, but it is answering a call to create that welled up in me after the visit to my mom’s and seeing her lovely greenhouse.
Bright colors have taken hold of me over the past year. All anchors that held me in that port I was in have been cut loose or pulled up and I find myself in different waters. It cannot be helped. New colors and a change of scenery are good right now. By the way, I love this vintage pin I found years ago; I love the green.
About the tags. I am going to give a few more hours today before we pull the name from the hat. I am thinking it would be fun to pull it at about 9 tonight. So tune in and see which name one of the kids pulls out. Ya.
For those of you just tuning in, if you are interested in receiving free, 9 vintage-y gift tags decorated in images from old Sears Roebuck images, be sure and leave your name in a comment! We will draw a name out on Saturday, 4/14/2012 at 9 p.m.
Remember to enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on April 13th, 2012%
It might just be the perfect retro find. Something I was looking for, but didn’t know it.
Standing on a sidewalk in historic Louisburg, North Carolina, I feel like part of the old downtown. The brick buildings. The clock on the corner. Maybe it’s more a wanting to fit in than actually fitting.
Wanting to touch a part of the past that’s gone. The voices in the bricks. The faces in the windows.
The hands on the spinning wheel. The dolls in the carriages. There but not there.
I think I have felt this way in every old, historic North Carolina town I have ever visited. Did some of those brave settlers I descended from walk any of these someday-to-be-streets?
You know how antiquing is. It’s something you want to find but you don’t know what it is, and you’ll know it when you see it. It’s not like going out to find a white dress shirt or a red tie, where you know exactly what you need, where to find it (though it may take a couple of stores) and there is no mystery involved. To the contrary, it is knowing where you need to go but having no idea what it is that will settle your craving — borne from a voice you don’t even know.
She pulled hard on my heart strings, and is still pulling, and I may have to break down and call the shop owner and pay the price. Heavy as lead, made by a North Carolina artist, I will never see another one like it.
I pictured some of my “adopted photograph relatives” and wondered if any of those dirt-covered little faces ever smiled in one of these as they flew wildly down a hill.
I stood, looking, and remembered the talk of men going to the moon. Should men even be on the moon? Would it bring an end to the world?
And finally.
At the last store I visited.
When in my mind I was done shopping. I would buy nothing. I saw this.
What a beauty of a retro thing! Dresses, scraps, the past, voices, hands, faces, all sewn up into one bright and beautiful thing for my bedroom.
Gently washed. Carefully dried. Spread out on the bed. Loved. Wondered over.
Read on. Slept under. Admired. Mine, all mine.
Tempting.
Too tempting!
C’mon, Annie! Jump! And she did. But only after I did.
ENJOY this day!
By Lynn, on April 12th, 2012%
I just think girls love clothes. From the time they are old enough to realize what clothes are! Does it mean that they will automatically be prissy girlie-girls? Why, no. I remember when my own little Michaela was about 2, she would only wear cowboy boots on her feet, with whatever she was wearing otherwise. Even to bed. And she LOVED wearing her brothers’ clothing! I think the cowboy boots and their clothes made her feel a certain way, and she was too little to even voice it but boy could she show it! Clothes appeal to us in so many ways! The fabric — whether its for comfort or show. There’s even something to be said for longing to just get into your gray sweats and extra large T-shirt. It’s how clothes make us feel!
I am completely aware that obsessions with clothing can turn into a vanity that we would not want to be consumed with, but aren’t clothes fun! I told you one time that I would share a little history about my clothing “past,” and it really explains more about why I am so fascinated with clothing now! I have always loved clothes. Whenever I say that, it reminds me of my mother telling me a story of myself when I was very young. She was carrying a basket of clean clothes through the house. When she dropped a piece unawares, I said, “Mommy, you dropped a clo.” I think it’s at least sort of cool that I had picked up on grammar enough to realize that if “clothes” was plural, then there must be a singular. To this day, though, I struggle with what that is! Maybe I should pull the dictionary out and settle it once and for all!
So to make a long story short, I was an assistant manager in two different clothing stores in two different malls (in succession — not at the same time) while I paid my way through Peace College. Yes, I worked a full time schedule and attended college full time. It was so much fun for my college mates to pop in and shop while I was working! It was loads of fun to open and check in crates of new merchandise! Can you just imagine?! It was fun putting up displays. It was something I would have done on and on, except that I got married and was soon expecting and I knew a schedule in retail would not be the best for a new family. Those days were long ago! But I still love clothes!
As you may already know, I have a collection of old photographs from all over the place. While the people in these photos are not my biological family, I can hardly bear to walk past certain photos in thrift and antique stores without adopting the people in them! I mean, where is this once-little-girl’s family? Why was this donated? She needs a home! I adopted her for 25 cents. Just look at her dress and her shoes. What I would love to know is what makes up the pattern on her dress. When I zoom in, the pattern becomes distorted. Anyone recognize this old fabric or know what that is on the dress?
I won’t bore you with more words today, and I must run out the door soon this morning. Here are a couple more sweet folks I adopted into my photo family yesterday.
Doesn’t she look happy?
Again, wish I could zoom in and make it crispy-clear, but I don’t have that knowledge or capability at this point. Wouldn’t you love to know the colors of her clothing?
And this, ahhh this one! I love it! She looks radiant! So excited! On the back of this picture is written: senior reception June 1952. I wish her name had been put on there too.
Now, I promise to share a few more pictures of my mother’s beautiful yard soon, but I don’t have any more ready for uploading at this point. And today is full of the hope of fun plans and errands, so I must run! I will leave you with a few pictures of another Leslie Fay vintage, some comfy-cute shoes, and Annie Fatso Beagle of the Universe who loves to find inviting scents in the grass and then roll in them.
Dress, vintage Leslie Fay, thrifted
Knee socks, Rue 21, new
Shoes, X-appeal “Tina”, thrifted
Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on April 10th, 2012%
Good morning! Would you pull up a chair and let’s talk? I would love that! I also cherish each comment and every bit of feedback from you all! And if you do leave a comment or question, be sure and check back — some of the best convos take place right here in the comment section!
A couple of vintage chairs in my mom’s garden.
Exercisers! Players! Kids, young and old! Continuing on with the theme of what children did as, well, children! And have girls really changed that much? I introduce to you the Balla Rolla! A vintage toy that I picked up on a thrift store outing years ago. I knew the children (and I) would love it, and so we do!
An exercise and balance toy from the 1950s and 1960s.
The board goes on top of the roller (shown standing on end).
Just step aboard and balance! And what you end up with is a recipe for fun and toned-up thighs, or disaster, depending on your balancing tendencies!
Dare I step on?
Yep. I think I will.
Actually we have never had anyone get hurt on it, and I found after practicing that I am really rather good at it! It is very sturdy and will only rock so far in either direction, so I have found that it is pretty hard to actually fall, though I have lost my balance and sort of jumped off before! I do very much feel the pull on the muscles in my thighs when balancing, so I try to spend a few minutes on it every day.
The children love it! Even children who come over for a visit find that they have to try it out. Michaela and one of her friends had fun dressing up in my dresses and trying to balance on the Balla Rolla.
After purchasing the Balla Rolla, I wondered about its history. I do see on the label that it was made by Carrom Industries, a company which apparently has been around for a long, long time. I am not sure exactly when this Balla Rolla was made, or if there were knock-offs, but I did find a picture from my July 1954 Good Housekeeping showing a little girl on a Balla Rolla or something similar.
Picture source: July 1954 Good Housekeeping
I guess, once again, our children have not really changed so much. They want and need attention and good, clean fun!
Red shirt, thrifted, Style & Co
Polka dot skirt, thrifted, Confessions (okay — a favorite)
Red leather belt, thrifted
Gray over-the-knee socks, new, Rue 21
Red leather shoes, thrifted, Banana Republic
Rosy brooch, made by yours truly
Before I go, I have a little treat that we want to mail to someone! We want to do the old-fashioned pull-a-name-from-a-hat!
If you are interested in receiving free, 9 vintage-y gift tags decorated in images from old Sears Roebuck images, be sure and leave your name in a comment! We will draw a name out on Saturday, 4/14/2012.
Remember to enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on April 6th, 2012%
My dear readers, Happy Good Friday to all! I put a post on this morning, but lo and behold 95% got lost in transit when I hit “publish.” That has never happened before and I did NOT have time to do it again at that moment. At any rate, at least my pictures were ready to quickly upload again, so here I have returned to wish everyone a Happy Good Friday!
Yesterday was a glorious day off, and celebrate I did! I visited a local store called Vintage Revival. I have taken you there before, but I think it was back at Christmastime! Now all has been transformed to pink and white and all the lovely pastels of spring!
There were lots of flowers.
A vintage red dress.
Lots of lovelies in a Hoosier.
Dresser tops.
And be still my heart, I do not remember seeing all this the last time I was there! Do you know just how cute cowboy boots are with a vintage dress?’
And wouldn’t ya know! Right across the room! Vintage dresses. Ahhh.
I caught a glimpse of the prettiest little hat stand. And myself.
I found a vintage dress to try on.
Or two.
The polka dot was cute…? Well, not really. And the arm holes were just too small. Wondering who wore it! But the first one was way cute! And I love the way the bodice was made. I did not get it, but left to think it over. I am in no way a label connoisseur yet, so perhaps a bit of research is in order first.
I drooled over this beautifully lit bed.
The pictures, as you may have noticed, are not the best quality, and really do not do the store justice, but all I had with me was my camera phone. Still, I thought you’d want to see something from my visit there!
On another beautiful note, I stopped by a friend’s antique store and added about 15 more vintage postcards to my collection, three of which are rather timely!
Do remember to enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on April 5th, 2012%
Happy Thursday, dear readers! Is spring in the air for you? Are you enjoying spring blooms? Are you thinking of cleaning out and making your homes nice and bright and airy for summertime? I know I am! And it feels so good!
Let’s get right to the point. You know I have veered way off the path of my normal clothing habits back at the old house, when I was running outside throughout the day to care for bun-buns and pull a few weeds on my breaks. I suppose without a garden to care for, my interest had to be focused on some sort of fun, new hobby to entertain an idle mind. We don’t want to be idle! At any rate, I have just become totally fascinated with not only the clothes but the culture of the 1950s and 1960s. And even 1940s. And maybe 1930s. Not that I want to live it. I don’t mean that. It’s just that I have always taken for granted that I just knew what that time period was all about! After all, it’s not that far removed from where we are on the timeline now! But I don’t really know. I keep uncovering ideas and trends and thoughts that have piqued my interest to no end!
So I realize that this outfit is not anything authentically vintage. In fact, the shirt is a stretchy 1970s looking knit with a pattern that I would not have given even a second glance to a year ago, but here I am wearing it, and with a white ruffled skirt! And a belt. And anklets. And platform sandals. Yah. Honestly, I think I may be too old to run about town in anklets and sandals, but it is way fun for the apartment, for walking Annie, for keeping my toes warm while I sit and type all day. And here again, Lynn has lost her mind over retro, so bear with me!
Maybe the main thing I want you to take from this picture is the very fun chain of paper dolls that my mother made for me. Do you know I can remember sitting in her lap or snuggled close beside her in the 1960s and having her teach me how to do this myself? How to fold paper and cut a doll so that when you opened the paper up the dolls were all attached? Yes! And my mother has recently taken this craft to a whole new level for her farmer’s market booth, with painted dollies on heavy paper! What a smart, industrious lady she is! I feel another request for a guest post coming on!
My hair is tied up with a scarf-turned-headband and then put in a very loose bun on top of the scarf. It works. The pins just go on and around the scarf — whatever it takes to hold the hair. My general rule for holding up a hair bun is 10 long bobby pins. I count usually. One through ten.
Interested in a tutorial? Maybe I can combine the updo with a skin care tutorial — not that I am so perfect in the skin department. I have loads of laugh and smile lines! But I do have some ideas about things!
On the food front, I have tried to be really good, but the flesh is weak! I have had a very hard time finding time to get to the gym (although I have been fitting in some situps and pushups around the apartment in the evenings) and my sweet tooth has acted up a few times!
Enter a little cup of cherry vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.
Yum!
Now, as a final treat for you, not that you don’t already seen enough of me (sorry) but I wanted to share another grandmother picture. My paternal grandmother. And let’s test you to see if you see her in me. Several of you saw my maternal grandmother in me. Are you ready?
She was another one who loved clothes! And hats! Oh my, did this woman love (and could so wear) a hat!! Both of my grandmothers, I can easily say, were fashionistas!
Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on April 3rd, 2012%
My dear friends, Happy Tuesday morning! It’s a beautiful day here today! The air is perfect — not too hot, not too cool. The sun is shining. It feels like a beautiful spring day!
Recently, my sweet mother gave me some bits and bobs from an old jewelry stash. In it was this very cool vintage pin. Neither of us knows how old it is, but it has a lovely patina and it feels and looks quite vintage. The only problem was that it was missing some of its faux gems.
I did not see the need in running out to try and find something exact for this piece of costume-style jewelry when I could fill in the gaps with similarly-colored, tiny beads from my craft stash.
The large center “gem” was missing too, and I have no idea what had been there originally, but I decided to use a large, pretty bead from my bead box that seemed somewhere in between the dark blue and the bright white of the other “stones.” 
Friends, while this is not a professional jewelry repair tutorial, I suspect (if you are like me) you have seen costume jewelry pieces before that you passed over because they were missing stones or gems. Quality beads and Krazy glue did the job! I say quality beads because truly these are not simply the easily-scuffed plastic beads you find in children’s bead kits, but rather beads I have purchased for the purpose of brooch making and other clay crafts that I do. Actually, these came from Rare Earth Beads.
As I mentioned in a comment from yesterday, I have been drawn greatly lately to plaids, stripes, polka dots, and lots of blues and reds! It’s amazing how huge life changes and times of challenge and growth change us in every way and make us look to things we had not considered before.
Today’s Outfit:
tan ruffled skirt, thrifted, (no tag)
plaid shirt by Lots of Love, thrifted
over the knee socks, new, Rue 21
platform sandals by Report, thrifted
vintage pin, gift from mom, repaired by me
ENJOY THIS DAY!
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About Lynn 
Approaching-50 mother of four. Thrifter. Content with lots of clothes bought for very little money. Loves retro. (That could be styles from the 40s and 50s. And sometimes stuff even older than that. And sometimes stuff from all time, all mixed up together!) Bluffs about decluttering but secretly loves STUFF. Goes through stages. Has standing and staring spells before rearranging the entire home. Just because. Tune in each day to see what new outfit comes home from G.W. Boutique next. (That's Goodwill, by the way.) Oh, and she owns a spoiled beagle named Annie. And this blog.
Grab A Button <div align="center"><a href="http://www.amothersjournal.com" title="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong"><img src="http://www.innatelygray.com/images/abitofbirdsong_120_200.jpg" alt="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong" style="border:none;" /></a></div> The Players
Lil Ol' Me
Son Daniel, 23
Son, Big Joe, 21
Son, John, 17
Daughter, Michaela, 13
Annie Fatso Beagle
My Symphony
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing
1810-1884
What You Do Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Contact Me 
I would  for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
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