Christmas at Old World Wisconsin

It's easy for most of us to get so caught up in the busyness of the season that we forget to enjoy the season.  Yesterday we took time out to visit Old World Wisconsin for The Spirit of Christmas Past.

With loads of fresh snow, sunny skies, moderate temps and good friends along, the day could not have been more perfect.  We joined in the old-fashioned carol sing in the church, tasted gingerbread baked in a wood stove and strolled from building to building cherishing the beautiful scenery along the way.  Enjoy the photos!

Christmas Santa and Saint Nick Books

I've been trying to ignore the huge Santa and snowman on the neighbor's lawn.  They've been all lit up like, well...Christmas... for the past two weeks.  Until then I'd been feeling a little proud of myself for getting my autumnal decor up before Thanksgiving.  Fact is, it's time to face reality. 

Christmas IS coming.  Getting together with family and friends to celebrate the Savior's birth is a few weeks away, but in the world of retail, time is running out.  It's time to discover what little Christmas goodies came home from local estates this year.   Over the next few weeks we'll show you some of our fun finds.  Here are two for starters:

This little Santa was waiting at the door for me. He's about 5" tall and was made in Japan about 50-60 years ago. He's rather serious looking, don't you think?

Next came a box; Santa posed in front of it for me.  Old Christmas boxes make great platforms for displaying Santas, elves, angels or what-have-you.  This one piqued my interest when I read the label.  "Child's Saint Nick Boot".  I'd love to see the boots that came in this box...anyone know what they looked like?   

Etsy - Buy or Sell Vintage Items... You'll Love It!

A few months ago my friend Pam of Vintage Girl Stuff encouraged me to open a shop on etsy.com.I had known etsy as THE place to shop for unique and beautiful handcrafted items, but hadn't realized that vintage items were also eagerly sought and bought on the site.  In fact, it seems that many buyers and sellers of great old things have all but abandoned ebay.com in favor of the more friendly etsy.com

Selling under the name cobblecreek since 1998, eBay has been good to me and I have no plans to abandon it.  There have been massive changes there over the years, however, and ever-higher fees and more big-brotherish policies in place discourage many of us from making it our primary marketplace.   With Pam's prompting I soon opened Gracie's Cottage on etsy.  Immediately I felt welcomed into a community where my success is encouraged by management, where customers become friends and where other shop owners welcome newcomers with open arms.

If you've never been to etsy.com I encourage you to make a visit.  Allow yourself plenty of time. The artisans and vintage sellers of etsy have beautiful and amazing things for you to see.  It's easy to lose yourself among all the treasures to be found.   Here are links to a few of my favorites to get you started:

Mouth Watering Juicy Cherry Handmade Soap  by Naturalynn  Perfect stocking stuffer.

Photo Bracelet by new seller JMFDesign  So pretty and would make a great gift.


Vintage Art Deco Blue Beaded Flapper Necklace by Vintage Girl Stuff  Flapperfaboo!

Vintage French Fish Pictures by  Petite Brocante  The French make everything look romantic..


Vintage Mercury Glass Beaded Garland from 32 North Supplies  Dreamy colors

Victory Songs Vintage Paper Wreath by  Simple Joys Paperie  I love the way she uses old paper


Eco Felt Christmas Stocking  by RikRak Unexpected colors & fun flowers - a winner!

Cottage Rose Felted Wool Handbag (pictured below),  by Seaside Siren.  I'm drooling!

 

1966 Career Girl Game ... No Self-Esteem for YOU!

I recently picked up a game for girls from 1966.  Having grown up in that era, I was left wondering how I ever made it to adulthood with any self-worth!

 

What Shall I Be? The Exciting Game of Career Girls.  Players learn what it takes to become a teacher, ballerina, nurse, model, actress, and airline stewardess. 


The stereotypes and statements are hilarious and perfectly illustrate the options for young women in the sixties. You could go to Ballet School, Charm School, College, Nursing School, Drama School or Airline Training School.  The game cards tell it like it is without regard for self esteem:  "Your make-up is too sloppy. Bad for Airline Hostess and Model."  "Hair Styling, Good for Airline Hostess, Actress and Model."  "You are strong, good for Ballet Dancer and Nurse".  "You are overweight, Bad for Airline Hostess, Ballet Dancer and Model", "You are clumsy, Bad for Airline Hostess, Ballet Dancer, Model and Nurse". "You Have Patience, Good for Ballet Dancer, Nurse and Teacher".

Does anyone remember any other games that treated us all with such cruelty?

House In the Woods Auction Gallery - Closing Tonight

Tucked into a beautiful spot in the Kettle Moraine Forest, The House in the Woods Auction Gallery is closing tonight.  Fixtures and furnishings will be sold and the lights will be switched off.  For the past thirty years, Carl & Lynne Seitz have been in the auction business.  Scores of faithful buyers have attended the weekly auctions.  Specialty auctions have drawn customers from around the country. 

About twelve years ago I attended my first House In The Woods auction; it was one of their famous July 4th events.  The gallery was packed with buyers and I'd never seen so many fine antiques at one auction.  The seating was comfortable, there were overhead TV monitors to view the items as they were being sold, and the kitchen served up terrific homemade food.  I've been attending auctions there ever since, whenever my schedule permitted.  The scenic drive and the glorious bit of nature surrounding the facility never fail to inspire me.  Besides finding some great items to offer my customers, I've made friends among the regulars.  There are some that have been attending auctions there since the very beginning.

The time has come for Carl & Lynne to sit back, relax and enjoy their retirement.  In a week they'll be packed up and headed for Florida.  Their faithful staff will move on, and a host of people near Eagle, Wisconsin will be left wondering what to do with all those evenings.  

 

Enjoy your retirement Carl & Lynne, and goodbye to the House In The Woods... you'll be missed.

**This wonderful piece of real estate is available...any auctioneers out there looking for a venue?

 

 

Bloomington Third Sunday Market, Zap and FOUND

This past weekend I shared a booth with my friend Kathy, (of Heritage Antiques), at the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington, Illinois.  We'd never been there, but had heard good things about the market so decided to head down and give it a whirl.  It turned out to be a fun and successful show and we'd love to return next season.

While good sales are the primary goal for any show, it's always a hoot to meet the fun people that shop the shows. The "most interesting buyer" award this week is shared by my first and last customers of the market.

Doing some early buying, Bill of ZAP Antiques and Props in Chicago stopped at our booth on Saturday.  Bill's company provides design services for restaurants, rents props for stage & movie productions and sells antiques & collectibles.   With a high energy level and a creative mind it's easy to see that he's found the perfect line of work.  You can rent anything from a surfboard to a 1925 Rolls Royce from Bill.

Mary, the owner of FOUND in Ann Arbor, Michigan stopped by near the end of the show. After chatting with her and later viewing her blog, I know that if I ever opened a shop it would be much like FOUND.  The shop is stocked with what I call "schnibbles"...bits & pieces of interesting old things. Paper, game pieces, sewing items, architectural remnants and more are on display.  Art made with found objects is also sold in Mary's shop.  I have feeling that I'll have a great time getting lost in FOUND on my next trip to Michigan.

With the Third Sunday Market in the rear view mirror, we are now moving forward into the holiday season.  Great summer finds are surfacing from our storage area - stay tuned for more info!

Elkhorn Antique Flea Market - Last One of the Year

Anyone that sells at an antique market knows that there is a lot of work involved. You spend days preparing for each show, then load up, set up, rise before dawn on show day, sell and then break it down, load up again and head home.  This year, I teamed up with my friend Kathy of Heritage Antiques to sell at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Having someone along that laughs at the same things I do makes the effort half the work and twice the fun!

This past weekend was the last show of the season at Elkhorn.   There are four shows a year here, with 400-500 dealers selling only vintage and antique items, along with a few select growers bringing in seasonal produce.  There are no knock-off purses, office supplies or t-shirts here.  This is one of the best shows in our area and Nona & Skip of N. L. Promotions do a great job of running it.

Sunday was a beautiful early-autumn day and there was a good crowd of buyers from the 7:00 a.m. opening right up until closing at 3:00.  Small inexpensive vintage items were snapped up.  Hats, which normally do well for us, were not as popular this time. The smart brown wool 40's number went to a vintage-savvy college student. It looked great on her.

Vintage theatre marquee letters were my best sellers.  One  lady purchased the initials of her four children to hang over their hat & mitten cubbies in the mudroom.  Some folks spelled out their last names.  Others purchased their initials to hang over a doorway. 

The favorite 'brings a smile' sighting of the day was these two ladies wearing marching band Shakos they had just purchased.  I've never been a fan of the red hat thing, but I could potentially get into wearing a Shako now and then...aren't they fun?

 










The only bad thing about selling at Elkhorn is that there is no time to shop there....maybe next year we'll find a way to do both!

Marquee A B C - Letter Love

Letters. I love letters. Not love letters, but alphabet letters. Tiny typeset letters, initial brooches, Scrabble tiles,and letters from outdoor signs. There's something pleasing about rummaging through a random pile of letters and finding just what you are looking for.

Perfect for decorating, letters make an easy statement. Spell out your family name on the mantle. Gift a friend with their initial. Hang words that have special meaning to you like " faith", " beach", or "love" above your doorways. A stairway wall is the perfect place to hang your family's initials. The possibilities are limited only by your creativity.

Recently I was fortunate enough to acquire the letters from the marquee of the old Esquire Theatre in Milwaukee. The Esquire was on Wisconsin Ave in downtown Milwaukee from 1947-1981. It was torn down to make room for the Reuss Federal Building. Fortunately someone had the foresight to rescue the marquee letters and store them away in the loft of an old garage. Here they sat for the past twenty-eight years, neatly stacked under the eaves. With my van loaded down I brought them home and cleaned them up.

Made of cast aluminum, they are 10" tall. There are two colors; a solid beachy-blue, and two-tone with a seaside aqua outlined in that same beachy-blue. I can't wait to pull out the two-tone letters S E A and hang them near my assemblage of fishing floats & sea shells. We have plenty of letters to share and will be offering some of them online and at shows in the coming weeks.

If you are an avowed letter-lover, subscribe to our blog, (see the link at top right), and in the comments section describe your favorite way to re-purpose old letters. Tell us what state or province you're in. On Sept. 28 th, one person in the U.S. or Canada will be randomly selected to receive the letter of their choice;  we'll ship it to them as a gift from us!

Research Tools: Vintage Catalog - Sewing Patterns

Vintage catalogs are a valuable resource often overlooked when building a reference library. Take this Ideal Patterns catalog, for example. It showcases sewing patterns for Spring & Summer, 1918.

The obvious value of the information in this catalog would be for collectors of sewing patterns. Early patterns were not all dated when issued. A complete collection of pattern catalogs would allow the collector to reference the date of issue.

Vintage catalogs added to your library are useful in other ways. Using the example of this pattern catalog, we get valuable insight into the fashion trends of 1918. We can see that skirt lengths were rising, baring the ankle a bit. Collars tended to be wide, and proportions were generous. Hair was swept up providing support for the hats which were still an important element of Edwardian style. French heels were popular. The cover of the catalog even shows us what sort of vehicles were driven in 1918. It's easy to see that this catalog has value far beyond researching pattern dates.


Furniture, clothing, hardware, toys, farm equipment and more were all sold via catalog. When you are on the hunt for antiques & collectibles pick up old catalogs when you find them. You'll get a glimpse into history, further your understanding of an era and have one more tool at your fingertips for future research.

Mother Of Pearl Needlework Tools

One of the finest reference books in my library is An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools, by Gay Ann Rogers. I remember saving up to purchase it, after finding it in the library while researching a Shaker pincushion. The book is now out of print, but copies are available on the secondary marked.

Over the years, I've browsed through the book many times marveling at the intricate artistry of 19th century sewing implements. Photos of fitted boxes, beautifully crafted and filled with complete sets of tools underscore the importance of needlework in 19th century life.

Rogers writes: "The fitted needlework box was carefully made and exquisitely decorated because it was an integral part of the social life of privileged women ...in the first half of the nineteenth century."

"...women often carried their elegantly fitted needlework boxes on visits to one another. The boxes furnished an endless source of conversation and amusement for those in need of something delightful to occupy their time. Implements would be admired as needlework and conversation went on together"

Tools were commonly made of ivory, silver and mother of pearl, combined with steel if the implement called for it. Beauty and function went hand in hand. By late in the 19th century, moderately priced mass produced kits with celluloid handles were available in the United States.

While celluloid sewing tools are easily found, and sterling thimbles and scissors come along regularly, I'd never found any of the mother of pearl tools that I've admired in photos. You can imagine my delight then, when this group came up for auction recently. There were silk winders, spools, pincushions, emeries, a tape measure, scissors and more. Each is a little work of art. (The little carved fish are often called silk winders, but it's likely that they originally were produced as game markers. Victorian ladies saw the potential for a handy place to store a prized bit a silk thread, and used them.)

Had I been wearing a monitor you would have seen my heart rate spike, as I realized that the entire group was being sold together, rather than piece by piece. The chant of the auctioneer was nearly drowned out by the pounding in my ears. Mercifully, the battle was brief and I emerged victorious. If I had been able to purchase nothing else that day, I still would have returned home happy. These items are simply beautiful...don't you agree?

Nuclear Fallout Detector - Every Home Should Have One

*Note - In the interest of full disclosure: We currently have this item for sale and the following is the description in the listing. We are using it today because it's been a very busy weekend and we have nothing else to bring to the table. Besides, it's a rather fun item, in an odd sort of way!

Everyone should have one of these near the entrance to the fallout shelter so you can seal yourself in on a moment's notice! I'm, (sadly), old enough to have actually been in a fallout shelter as a very young child. Someone down the block built one and we had a brief tour. All I recall is that there was lots of concrete and it was rather dark and dismal.

This is the nu-klear Fallout Detector made by Minutemen Industries Inc, Chicago Ill. It's made of plastic and measures about 3 3/4" across and 2 1/2" tall. The directions on top instruct "Shake Gently Until Some Beads Float, Seek Shelter at Once if All Beads Drop, Remain In Shelter Until Some Beads Float". (Terrifying, don't you think?: "DAD, DAD...the beads all dropped!" "QUICK KIDS - GET TO THE SHELTER!!!")

I'm happy to report that shaking the device causes some of the beads to cling to the side of the sphere rather than falling like dead ducks; we are, for the moment safe from radiation here in the sunroom.

For further info on this gadget read this excellent article posted by Oak Ridge Associated Universities

RPPC Ships At Sea - Dating Real Photo Postcards

Real photo postcards, (RPPC), are great fun. I love to get out my loupe and see what details I can spot. Recently, some postcards of WWI era ships caught my eye. For those unfamiliar with RPPCs, a brief history: In 1903, Kodak came up with a camera that used postcard-size film, allowing pictures to be printed directly onto postcard backs. Photographers traveled and documented the people, buildings and events they ran across. Ordinary folks who owned a camera would snap all manner of photos of the family, the animals or the farm and have multiple copies printed to send to all the relatives.

Real photo postcards, also known as RPPC, became the Facebook of the day and were most popular up until the 1930s. It was a way to let your out of town relatives know what was going on in your life, see how much the kids had grown, or view the home you'd just built.

It's not uncommon to find RPPCs that were never mailed with no date stated. The good news is that it's fairly easy to verify a time frame for them, thanks to the stamp box. Many companies produced the paper that the cards were printed on. The mark on the back indicating where to place the stamp usually had the company name. The stamp box might be changed over time, and at the respected postcard site Playle.com, there's a comprehensive list showing RPPC stamp boxes with the dates they were produced.

As a fan of "the ocean", Deadliest Catch, and most anything having to do with big water, I find these RPPCs of ships in heavy seas fascinating. Waves crash over the bow and some give such a true sense of the rolling deck that it nearly makes me queasy! I'm no student of naval history, but it's fairly easy to tell that these date from the WWI era. Just to verify, I headed over to Playle's.

The stamp box is from AZO. The center reads "Place Stamp Here" with "AZO" forming the square. In each corner is a triangle. On the top the triangles both point up, and on the bottom they both point down. Using Playle's reference , I can see that this stamp box was used by AZO from 1910-1930. History tells me that these lean toward the early side of that date range.

Next time you run across an undated real photo postcard, give it a closer look. Note the details; any clothing, signs, or vehicles which will help establish the time period. If you get stuck or just want to verify your hunch, head on over to Playle's to find the stamp box. Enjoy the photos!

Falling In Love With the Library

Holding Mom's hand, I walked up the steps and into the most wonderful building I'd ever seen. Wood floors, high ceilings, and books everywhere. I must have been about six years old when Mom took me into the public library for the first time. It was amazing to learn that I could get all the books I wanted, whenever I wanted, for FREE!

That first visit to the library was the start of hundreds more over the next ten years. I loved the children's section in the cool, dark basement, and read every Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew ever written.

Growing up in a small farm town, I was a child of the most "old-fashioned" parents in town. (At least I thought so.) In my elementary years we had no TV and never went anywhere for fun. Reading was my escape. I learned that life could be different. There were towns with skating rinks, huge department stores with escalators, drive-ins, boardwalks and endless possibilities for fun. I knew that when I was grown I would not stay in Willows.

Browsing eBay a few years ago, I saw a postcard of the Willows Library and purchased it. The library was built in 1910 and the postcard is from that era. In my memory, the library was a huge building; the photo shows the reality! Today, the public library is in a more modern building, and the old library site is used as a museum. It's good to know that a building that holds such great memories for me has been preserved to showcase the heritage of a small town.

A Little Racy Friday Fun - CanCan Girl

These little coasters are headed for Etsy, but I figured they were worth a stop here to share a smile with you first. These would have been considered quite risque in their day, but decades later seem rather tame. Wishing you all a wonderful 'old' weekend!

Re-Post Mr. Melvin Miller's Marvelous Gardenscape

**This entry was originally posted last summer. I was thinking today that I need to get some annuals planted and remembered how much I enjoyed seeing Mr Miller's gardens.  

 Whizzing down busy Hwy 50 near Bristol, Wisconsin, my attention was diverted by a line of cars parked along the shoulder. Every good treasure hunter knows that a lot of cars can be an indicator of a sale, and so I slowed down to check it out. Sure enough, at the end of the driveway was a "rummage sale" sign.

The Riverport Chorus of the Sweet Adelines were holding a fund-raising rummage at the home of one of their members. As I walked up the driveway I was captivated by the landscape. Outbuildings sported white paint and were trimmed in the cheeriest red. Lush foilage surrounded the buildings and red pots were hung from the white siding. Everywhere I turned was another beautiful feature.

After finding a few items to purchase, I asked if I could take some snapshots. One of the Sweet Adelines, directed me to the hostess of the sale, Mrs. Miller. She readily gave permission and pointed out her husband. I spent a few pleasant minutes chatting with him. Mr. Miller is the type of person you think of when you hear the word "Grandpa". Friendly, unpretentious and happy to answer questions, he told me that he's spent the past eight years transforming the property into what it is today. He spends each morning watering and maintaining his plants, strictly for the enjoyment of himself and his family.

There are gardeners everywhere who toil as Mr. Miller does, not to impress others, but simply because they enjoy the process as well as the results. As I left the sale that day, I knew that the real treasure I'd found wasn't what I had purchased, but the opportunity to meet Mr. Miller and enjoy his handiwork.

Garden Ornaments - Two Favorites

We are always on the hunt for fun things to offer our customers. While gathering items for our booth at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market this Sunday, we ran across two garden statues that we picked up earlier this summer.



This cherubic little guy holding a dolphin is probably at least 100 years old, and shows his age. The dolphin was a symbol of resurrection used by the early Christians. It's been used by many cultures and religions since then, usually denoting positive qualities. The details and proportions are 'just right'. Notice the shells around the base. This piece would fit equally well in a classic or cottage garden.




The little mid-century elf, on the other hand, is pure kitsch. He's cartoonish rather than classic. You'll never find anything like this in the gardens of Biltmore, and yet there's something endearing about him. He'll make you smile.




These two little statues have little in common and yet illustrate the fact that gardens are very personal. Whether you prefer a well-manicured formal garden, a hodge-podge of plants that you love, or an easy-going cottage garden, it will be different than any other. Ornament it however you like! Kitsch or classy, you'll never be wrong.

Old World Wisconsin - A Slice of History

You can travel back in time. At Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, Wisconsin, the past is alive. The 600 acre site was opened in 1976 and is comprised of more than sixty historic Wisconsin structures. Each was carefully dismantled, moved and reconstructed precisely as they had been originally built, in an appropriate setting. Gardens are planted each year with heirloom plants and tended with 19th century implements. You'll find chickens wandering the yards and oxen at work in the fields.

This is the country's largest museum of rural life. Settlers of the time are represented in various villages including Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, "Yankee" and African-American. Walking into each building you'll find the authentically costumed "residents" cooking on wood stoves, making soap, sewing, washing clothes and going about daily life.

We took our 5 & 6 year old granddaughters to visit last week, and made our first stop at St. Peter's church. Kari sang along as the organist played 'Amazing Grace' on the pump organ.

We watched the blacksmith make an S hook and then wandered into the Thomas General Store.

The girls enjoyed lifting the lids to see what was in each bin. They found flour, cornmeal, rice and more.

At Four Mile Inn, the innkeeper's wife modestly explained the many layers she was wearing, and revealed her bustle so the girls could see exactly what that was! In the Peterson Farmhouse, we spotted a chamberpot. Kelli was horrified to learn that as the youngest child, she would be expected to empty it in the morning, while Kari fetched water from the pump. Our last stop of the day was the Raspberry Schoolhouse, where the girls attended class and enjoyed writing on the slates.

If you've never been to Old World Wisconsin, we encourage you to make a visit. The site is open from June 15th thru October 31st each year, and special events & workshops are offered throughout the season. If you love history, antiques, or just being out in a beautiful setting, you will enjoy it! The entire site reflects the spirit of our early settlers, stated aptly in a motto on the schoolhouse chalkboard: American ends in "I can" not "I can't".

Lisbeth In Her Rented Costume

Old photos fascinate me and I love this one. Lisbeth came to me in a group of real photo postcards. Real photo postcards became popular in the U.S. after 1906, when Kodak invented an affordable camera with negatives the size of a postcard. It allowed folks to have their photos printed right onto postcard paper and mail them off to the relatives. Studio photographers also offered real photo postcards, often with elaborate backdrops and props.

This photo was taken by photographer Herm R Miller of Milwaukee. Noted on the back is "Jan 1916, Lisbeth Noske, rented costume, (married 3-23-1916)". Every detail on her cowgirl costume is just right. She holds a braided whip with a smile that suggests that she'd have no idea how to use it.

Lisbeth is a bit of a mystery. I have several other photos of her in costume with notations "worn on stage at Pabst Theater" suggesting that she was an actress. When time permits, I'll research her a bit; in the meantime, I'll just enjoy the photo.

Road Trip! Baraboo Part II - Oak Street Antiques

Part II of Road Trip! Baraboo



While waiting in line for the estate sale to open, we met Jennifer Blau. Jennifer is the proprietor of Oak Street Antiques and invited us to stop by her shop, on the square in Baraboo. After leaving the sale we had lunch at the charming Garden Party Cafe, which Jennifer had recommended. Pumpkin ravioli anyone? Delicious!



Walking up to Oak Street Antiques we knew we were in for a treat. Located on a corner of the square, the historic building is graced with huge windows. The displays were show-stopping; a feast for the eyes. On one side, the Baraboo Button Club was showcased. An old machine for making shell buttons was the centerpiece of the display.

The corner window was a mix of furniture, architectural pieces and smalls, skillfully arranged so that they looked like they'd just fallen into place. Inside, the staging was impeccable as well. The large store has high ceilings and abundant light and Jennifer has taken full advantage of the setting. Each piece of furniture formed the basis for a vignette that incorporated smalls of every description. Hats, advertising, lamps, toys, glassware... it was all there.

When we walked in Jennifer told us of another estate sale in town that we should check out right away. With a promise to return, we left for the sale. If the first sale of the day was a '10', this one was a '1'. Items were strewn about the garage and in the house. Nothing was priced and the floors were covered with boxes of stuff. Kathy & I are not easily deterred, however, and dug in to find a few items to purchase.



We returned to Oak Street Antiques for a leisurely exploration of the shop and left with some small purchases, as well as more info from Jennifer on places to shop on the way home. By the time we had shopped the Antiques Mall of Portage and the Pardeeville Antiques Mall, my van was full and we had no choice but to go home...our 'golden' day had come to an end.

If you ever have a chance to visit Baraboo, Wisconsin, you'll find great food, historical attractions and Oak Street Antiques...don't miss it!