Autograph book

Hi beautiful,

Today i happened upon an autograph book from 1947-49. Remember those multicoloured paged booklets, usually with "Autographs" embossed on the front cover? I had at least one back in my youth, now buried in a box in a cupboard somewhere.....

It was too tempting to pass this book by. Every page has been written on by the owner's school friends. Many identify as being in Form 3A at a country High School in New South Wales. The owner has written her name and address very neatly inside the front cover. From that information, i know she was 13 in 1947 when the first entries were made. The majority of the entries are by girls. Some wish the owner "good luck" and are dated November or December 1949, no doubt they were finishing school.

Verses are a mix of both serious and silly, meant for a laugh! Some are very familiar to me. Here's a few for you to enjoy.

"1 1 was a racehorse
2 2 was 1 2
1 1 1 1 race
2 2 1 1 2."

"In your chain of friendship
Consider me a link."

"Little dabs of powder,
Little dabs of paint,
Make little {name}
Just what she ain't."

I love the personal touch of these autograph books; written by hand by friends and family at a moment in time.

The next junk journal I make will be an autograph book. I certainly have plenty of bright coloured copy pages just waiting to be used and written on!

Happy memories!
Cara

Treasures found

Hi beautiful

It's always fun browsing and hunting for that little treasure at the annual Antiques Show held by the RSL at the Gold Coast Casino. Yesterday was no different! I love all things with a story or reminiscent of the past and my 3 little purchases reflect this. 

First of all - a 1954 Souvenir Royal Visit sugar spoon. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were visiting Brisbane when I was a newborn still in the Royal Women's Hospital. So this spoon was a must have. It's very pretty too. 

Souvenir Royal Visit 1954 sugar shovel

Close up

Next was an unworked Semco embroidery tray set! It was just too wonderful to pass by. I love all the pieces that make up this set - so yesteryear. A stitching project just waiting. It still had the price tag attached - Finney's 15/11. (15 shillings 11 pence). The instructions for threads and crochet edge are also intact!

Semco Design 43 Heston Embroidery

Instructions attached

6 pieces set

My third discovery was a fishing tackle box. This brought wonderful memories of my father who enjoyed beach fishing on our holidays. The box is Bakelite and identical to the one he used. All the little compartments are amazing and I can still see in my mind's eye, all the swivels, sinkers and hooks stored inside. This will be just perfect for buttons and tiny sewing things.

Alvey Fishing Tackle box lid

Lid, base and insert

I love my new treasures! 

Have fun looking for the treasures in your day.

Cara

PS Historical note - Finney's was a Department Store at 196 Queen Street, Brisbane. It was taken over by David Jones in 1955, though continued trading as Finney's for a few more years. So this embroidery set was on sale in Finney's pre 1966 (intro of decimal currency)!!

Disappearing wooden thread reels

Hi beautiful

A different tack today. As I've been so fortunate to have been given the remaining bits and pieces of a great aunt's, aunts' and a mother's sewing supplies over the years, I thought it high time to gather the common elements together and celebrate their stories.

First up, I'm starting with the common cotton reel, those we use in our machine sewing as a matter of course. It came as a surprise today when I came upon four wooden cotton reels.

Wooden thread reels

It suddenly hit me how long it had been since I'd used wooden ones. I have a wide variety of reels as no doubt do you, but most of these are made either from cardboard or plastic. Relying on my own memory, I'd say that wooden reels were last used in the 1960's. I have rather a soft spot for these reels.

I was especially taken with the large reel of Barbour's linen thread. It stands at 2.25" high and 1.75" in diameter. I think this one will remain unused as I love its old warm look. I think of treadle sewing machines.

Top of reel

Bottom of reel

The smaller reels are tiny, compared to today's, being 1.5" high and 1 and 7/8" in diameter. Petite, to be treasured also.

Small reel - top & bottom labels

Wooden cotton reels - love them.

Are any hiding in your sewing basket?

Till next time.

Cara

Doily Love

Hi lovely person!

Do you love doilies? I do. I have a varied collection - a mix of some I've stitched and others passed on to me.

I love embroidering the doily, crocheting around the edge and using them. Yesterday was wash day for the doilies which had been gathering in the bottom of the dirty linen bag for some time. Roughly 12 feet of clothesline was bedecked with these wonderful treasures! 

My doily collection has been gradually accumulating since the age of 10 - the age I sewed my very first one on a piece of lawn on which my mother had drawn a basket of flowers. That one was hemmed. 

My first doily set

Over the years, I've always had a doily in the making. Holidays were the main times when I sewed. It's a most delightfully relaxing pastime, especially when you've swum in the surf all morning and walked home in the summer heat. Too weary to do anything for a few hours, but chill out in a comfy deck chair and stitch.

Doily set

Not all my doilies have been stitched by me. Some were engagement / wedding gifts; others were my mothers, passed on when she moved from her home to aged care. 

Doily done by my Mum

I love the old world look of a doily - it speaks to me of happy times and a cosy home. Some doilies are crochet while others are tatted.

Mix of crocheted and tatted doilies

Strange as it may sound, the ceremony of dampening, starching (these days I use Fabulon!) and ironing the cleaned doilies is a pleasure. It gives me reminisce time as I iron each one.

I'm still enjoying stitching doilies. I finished a table runner just last week and yet to be washed and ironed. The crinoline lady is a favourite of mine.

Crinoline lady doily

If you have doilies in your home, treasure them. If only they could talk!

Happy creating!

Love Cara

Treasures found

A wonderful time was had browsing all the lovely antiques at the Rotary Antiques Fair. We came away quite thrilled with our purchases.

A copy press used 1870's to 1920's by legal firms and the like. Maggie checked it out and confirmed it was a goodie.

Two delightful birthday books - the ones you record friends' birthdays. Both inscribed by the owners. Longfellow 1914 and Shakespeare 1885.

Enjoyed researching the owners and names listed in each book. 

Beechworth vintage

Another of my favourite haunts is the Victorian town of Beechworth. Always a treasure or two to find.

Wonderful old shops and sandstone buildings from the gold rushes in 1850's.

Here's a glimpse. 

Games we played

A great find yesterday at a favourite retro - vintage shop in Redcliffe - china robe.com. Worth checking out if you're in the neighbourhood.
http://www.chinarobe.com

So more on the find... carpet bias bowls!! I remember playing with these as a child and am looking forward to playing with again.

The bowls are made of Duperite, one of the bakelite family. 

Printer's tray

There's nothing like a printer's tray to add a bygone era look. This one is for 14 pt. Heavy Gills font. The identifying badge is still on the front of the drawer.

Today I added some contents - shop stamps and card inserts. Rather like the look.

Top

Bottom

The odd one out

Enjoyed polishing this morning. As usual rearranged the setting on the sideboard to include some different treasures.

Question: Which is the odd one out?

Answer: The sugar caster!! Everything else is a desk accessory.

Tambour writing desk

 Fell in love with this tambour writing desk. Such a beautiful piece from the late 1880's, walnut burl top with 2 inkwells intact. 

To open, pull out the drawer and the tambour cover rolls back to reveal 4 shelves for envelopes, letters. 

Spice canisters

I couldn't resist these cute spice canisters with scoops!

Interestingly the scoops are slightly different colours.

Made by Marquis Australia 1930's, they have screw top lids. They make a nice addition to my 3 other Bakelite sets.

This set probably started out as five - Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, AllSpice and Pepper. I'm missing Pepper.

Kitchenalia et al

Atop the wooden cupboard are a mixed grouping. 

Kitchen scales with weights - used for many a cake baking.

Laundry stick used to stir the washing in the copper. 

Aluminium cake tins - held many a delicious cake! Stacked set and single sets with bakelite knobs. 

Sewing machine case - machine inside.

Kewpie dolls in their own knitted outfits (includes undies!) Made by my mother-in-law. 

Kitchen canisters

There's something magical about the petite spice canisters used in 1950's.

This wonderful set of four bakelite spice canisters have the earlier screw top lid. Maker was IPLEX - Industrial Plastics, Adelaide.

Red and cream with labels - Ginger, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg.

The green and cream set of 5 spice canisters have no maker mark.

Labels are on four - Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves. The lids just sit on top.

All look great today on the kitchen shelves.

Gingham delight

This is a real beauty. Gingham place mat completed in cross stitch. In the  bottom right hand corner is a special tab where the matching napkin is placed. 




Don't you just love the 1950's!
Stay tuned for more gingham delights. One of my great aunts specialised in stitching cross stitch on gingham material.

Treasures from the linen cupboard

Treasures of the past

Delight and enrich again.

I've been sorting through linen from my Mum's and various Aunts' collections.  Spurred on by "Caroline of Things I do", I thought you may enjoy this selection.

Handkerchief holder
Embroidered linen with crochet edge

Embroidered guest towels 1940's

 

Potholder set
Embroidered

Potholders with holder

Semco Potholder
Embroidered 

Teddy and Brianna

What a fine couple Teddy and Brianna make!

Teddy grew up in Horsham in 1950's with Mr. G. Loved so much, he lost his fur. Mrs C. knitted him a brand new coat and sewed long pants.

Brianna joined the family in 2000. Made with love by my own fair hand.

The perfect match!

Tea set

Another treasure from my childhood - this delightful china tea set with shelves. 

Many a tea party was enjoyed with my dolly. 

I delight in it every day as it is proudly on display in the dining room. 

Clock money box

While doing a clean up, going through the garage cupboards, I found my clock!! This is a money box given me when I was around 6 years old. It survived the 1974 flood. One of very few childhood possessions I still have.

Put a penny in the chimney slot and push the lever on top of the roof. Hey presto, the cuckoo pops out. Don't you just love it! Now pride of place in my treasures.

 

Beechworth visit

I always enjoy Beechworth - its antique shops, historic buildings, crafts, treelined streets. Found a couple of treasures ..

Retro wine glasses

Creative soul heart (front)

Creative soul heart - back