A Vintage Family Christmas

Folks on Twitter are posting #childhoodchristmas and I had to join in. These are a few of my very favorite winter photos, growing up in the deep white snow. :-) 



 Dad plowing the driveway in the old scout with Boomer hanging out in the snow (note: mom was WAY better at plowing, as dad always hit the garage divider when the scout slid down our steep drive. Boom! Mom was a rocking plow gal. Also, I learned to drive in the scout). 

My first, and second to last, ski race. Alpine Meadows, 1972. Dig the outfit. 

No one can agree on what year this is, but I'm probably 13-15 years old. This may be the year I HAD to cut down the tree with an AXE...just me and my best friend...in a snowstorm.  The axe failed. We ended with a saw. It took us HOURS. Crazy kids.

That's it for this Christmas eve. Off to the yearly family party, parents and all. Merry Christmas!

d, xo

Found: Booby-Trap!

I spotted the old board game box box amongst a plethora of jigsaw puzzles at the thrift store, an original Booby-Trap game by Parker Brother, 1965. I gasped & nabbed it with that exhilaration reserved for great finds like Famolare wedge heels, Spirographs, a pink Samsonite train case. :-) I slipped it into my cart with a hint of glee on my face & went on my way.

As with everything, I thought it would be a great piece for the shop. Who didn't love Booby-Trap? But EBay is surprisingly covered with them and I'm a bit relieved, because now I can keep it.

I grew up in the mountains, snowbound all winter. We kids thrilled to be outdoors, building snow forts, sledding down deadly inclines, and precariously hanging from the the second story deck rail and falling into snowbanks, but eventually we'd get cold and spend the day indoors playing board games: Clue, Masterpiece, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Battleship, Life, Stratego, Booby-trap.

I don't know where the game came from, as it was toted as a bar game, not a kid game, but we had one and I loved to play. SNAP, went the trap, as you eased the wood pieces out of their tight squeeze. It was a vintage version of Jenga or pick-up sticks, it required skill, patience and a long winter.

I think I'll take this up to my parents house and teach my niece to play. We'll make popcorn and sit around the table with the family who still loves to play board games. :-)

d xo

School House Rock

Who didn't love School House Rock? I learned more watching it than I learned in grade school all together. It was certainly more fun and you got to sing about it at the top of your lungs while eating cereal in your pjs. Schools should take heed.
Today, I found this great School House Rock wallet and snatched it up in good memories. It is not, however, vintage. SO, I'm having a FREEBIE contest, a little "Where's Waldo?" in my Etsy shop.

It's simple: 1) You find the photo of the wallet hidden amongst my shop goodies. 2) You post a direct message to me on my Twitter page of where you found it (what item it was hidden with). And baby, that wallet is yours!
Have fun, and while your searching, remember which School House Rock song you liked the best and sing it, preferably at the top of your lungs. ;-)
d. xxoo

She Wore Sunglasses At Night

I want these specs for my new avatar, but the photo's not quite right. Still, they are fabulous, possibly the most fabulous sunglasses ever. And even better, they belonged to my grandmother. Stylish woman that she was. Thank you, grandma. :-)
P.S. They aren't for sale. Not now, not ever. I don't care what my mother says. ;-)

Thinking of Dahlila

Dahlila has gotten little if any attention for a while. Her shelves are quiet, neglected. The typewriter a bit dusty, the ribbon, faded.

And then a surprise. A customer returned from last summer, bought a card and a favorite bracelet: Mixed Salad, a colorful mixture of vintage buttons that remind me of it's name sake: radishes, squash, mixed greens, lemon cucumbers, tomatoes.

I have only two bracelets left to sell. I don't know if I will make more. They are time consuming, hand stitched, more a labor of love than lucrative, which is what I need to focus on just now. Don't we all.
Still, I am grateful this customer came back. It gave me a chance to visit my button box, bracelets, typed words and cards. The later of which I hope to make more, however computer typed this time. My fingers and the typewriter...ridiculous.

Thinking of you, dahlila xxoo

Rescuing the Family Jewels

My mother called. She was up to her elbows in the sacred moth balled closet that protects the family heirlooms--hat boxes, satin coverlets, a plethora of cocktail jewelry--Monet, Trifari, Marvella--kid gloves, evening wear, Vera, pearls, and a 1970s, hand tailored, virgin wool men's suit, from Hollywood, with the pimpiest lining a straight man ever wore.

She sounded nearly in tears.

I want it all gone! she cried. She had obviously been attacked by Spring Cleaning Fever, a deadly virus, when one more necklace, lace hat, cocktail dress, unworn stilettos, were going to break down her closet and her nerves. I know this feeling. I have it at least once a week. I pleaded, "Just hold on! I'll drive up today." I dropped everything, grabbed the Vintage Bible, my camera, the dog and headed out.

Luckily, my step-father coaxed my mother away and took her to lunch. A wise maneuver. When all is overwhelming, walk away from it all, is a my favorite motto--at least for coffee, cake, or a shot of Jack Daniels, if necessary.

Upon arrival, "The Albertson Ladies"--present and past, in body and spirit, strewn the closet content onto the carpet, played dress-up, strolled down memory lane and told stories of my great-grandmother, nanny, granny and a gaggle of eccentric aunties who had left this all behind. It was terribly fun. My mother looked much calmer. A weight had been lifted and she--and her closet--could breath once more.

The next day, I took away a car load of goods, all--I promised--to be sold in my shop. (You know I will keep some pieces, but only in the name of "I love it; I want it," and not for "familial obligation." I swear--(repeat this mantra as need be.)
Now, it is all in my little home. And please, don't tell, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed now too. Though, please don't worry! I have a plan--organize, photograph, edit, price, post. It's just going to take some time. There is only one of me.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have so much to do and a fabulous estate sale to attend. It's crazy, I know, but it's all part of my job. ;-)

P.S. If you see anything that makes your heart flutter, please let me know. A fabulous follower like yourself, deserves first dibs. ;-)

Buttons

I made this bracelet last spring and it's still one of my favorites. I've been enamored by buttons since I was a kid when I would pour my mother's button jar out on the floor and play with the plethora of buttons. They're colorful, textured, smooth. They make great jewelry, lovely pocket charms. I love stringing them together to hold all my wishes, dreams and hopes then wearing them for good luck. This bracelet is called Pink Bubblegum. It would make a lovely Valentine's gift for someone special.