• Heritage

    The White Sisters

    As you know, I’ve been blogging for awhile. During the month of October as I’m participating in Write 31 Days, I am sharing “re-runs” of some of my past posts on the weekends. Today’s post is one of my favorites. Here’s the back story: Early in 2008 I had encouraged my aunt, Rachel, to start a blog. She’s only a…

  • Literary Pursuits

    The Workbasket Magazine

    Several years ago, while out garage-saling, I “scored” a stack of 25 vintage Workbasket magazines from the early 1950s for $2! At the time I was thinking there might be some vintage crochet patterns I would enjoy making… but there is, oh, so much more! Just so many “precious” things, I have to share. The Workbasket was very popular in…

  • Heritage

    Welcome Visitor

    A few weeks ago we were helping with some cleaning at church and came across these charming vintage “Welcome Visitor” cards. Don’t you just love the picture of the snazzily dressed couple shaking hands with the pastor? This was from an era when people dressed up to go to church, complete with hats and ties for the men… (Mr. Visitor…

  • Heritage

    A Pre-Christmas Memory

    I’m thinkin’ it must have been about 40 Christmases ago… (Which is completely impossible, of course, because there’s no way 1974 was actually 40 years ago. My math must be off somewhere.) Anyway, somewhere along in through there… My mother, an accomplished and professional seamstress, sewed many of our Christmas gifts when we were growing up. Her project that year…

  • Literary Pursuits

    The Workbasket – July 1953

    This installment from my collection of vintage Workbasket magazines comes to you from July 1953. I thought the cover doily was so pretty that I made it myself! That was a fun project. And while they got off to a good start with such a lovely crochet pattern, it must have been the month to recruit Christmas card salesmen… er,…

  • Heritage

    Home Movie Stills

    Among the “thou-shalt-not-touch” treasures tucked away in the secret storage places of my parents’ bedroom was a movie camera. I don’t remember where it came from. Perhaps my mother got it with S&H Green Stamps or something. What I do remember is that we had no projector for watching any home movies that had been filmed on it, so on…

  • Heritage

    44 Years Ago

    About lunchtime today, I got an interesting text message from one of my aunts. She asked if I knew the address of the house my family lived in back in 1969. I was 3. Now… I do have a pretty good memory. And I remember quite a few things from when I was 3. But the address of the house…

  • Literary Pursuits

    The Workbasket – June 1953

    Time for some more scans from my collection of vintage Workbasket magazines, this one from June 1953. (Which I guess I should have posted in June, huh?) Anyway, 60 years ago. “Here is a hat which will keep you looking cool on the warmest days and is a perfect match for those casual summer dresses.” So, I’m supposed to believe…

  • Literary Pursuits

    The Workbasket – March 1953

    The next issue of The Workbasket that I have is from March 1953– almost exactly 60 years ago. The only comment I’ll make as to the cover is that women’s foundation garments in the 1950s were very different from what they are now. Goodness! The popularity of cheap, synthetic fabrics amuses me. “This striking fast color makes unusual blouses, curtains,…