frame it

in Flemish Art-look (aka antique pyrography) frames,

circa 1901 !!!

These are the authentic old-time homemade deal,

not Flemish Art. 

 but with Flemish Art, you don't get a date on the back.

That's July 6th, 1901.

History's Beautifulest

Weiss rhinestone necklace.

An exquisite thing for the bride (this would be perfect for the 'old' requirement of 'Something old, something new...')

The Lady's Letter-Writer: Letter III

Here we are with the third letter from the book...

Letter III

On More Intimate Acquaintance

(i.e. yet another follow-up to the first letter: 'A young Lady, in Answer to the Proposal of a Gentleman who had met her the previous Evening')

Hempstead, May 1, 18...

Dear ...

We shall all be very happy to see you here for a little evening festival to the children of the village.  When I say we, it of course includes some one in whose heart you now hold a place, with whose fondest thoughts and prayers your name has been associated for some months past.  I believe we are to perform charades, or something of that sort, and I have been occupied half the week in cutting old window curtains and soft-covers into absurd costumes, supposed to be Oriental.  I know you are very clever at that sort of nonsense, so I hope you will come and have a good laugh with and at

                                                                 Your affectionate .....,

To....,

P. S. Come early.  I have something to say to you.  Besides, you can do everything; and we want you to assist in arranging the scenery -- such as it is.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

I have way more stuff I wanted to post today, but my camera is waiting for a part (sort of a part.  not really a part, but kinda) to come in, and until then, I got nothing to show you.

But that has nothing to do with the Tuesday Song of the Week.

Obviously.

But I just wanted you to know.
=================================

Saturday evening, the hubs and I were here:

 

the building in the back.  We weren't in front of the statue.

In fact, I didn't even notice the statue.

Here's what the inside looks like:

this is a picture pulled of the 'net.  

Where is 'here' ??

It's the Grand Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and it is a bo impressive wooden structure, built in the 1890s.

Ocean Grove is pretty much synonymous with the 'Ocean Grove Camp Meeting,' which was founded by some Methodist clergymen way back when.  Therefore, Ocean Grove is very lovely and Christian and sweet.  

'Why are you telling me this,' you ask.  'I signed up for the song of the week, not a travelogue.'

Give me time.

this is clip art.  Not from Ocean Grove.  It's intended to keep you reading.

We were there for the Johnny Mathis concert, featuring the man himself in person.

It was maaaahvelous.  He looks fantastic, especially considering he's turning 79 next month, and his voice is sounds exactly as it did when he first recorded all his never-to-be-forgotten hits.  Plus, he had Gary Mule Deer, who had the hubs in stitches (even though, objectively, the hubs could go rings around Mr. Mule Deer, hilariousness-wise).

Here's something that was really neat, and a pleasant reminder that the whole world hasn't yet gone to the dark side:

Before the concert started, a guy on stage led us all in prayer, and then we -- all Idunnohowmany thousands of us - sang the national anthem.

How cool is that ??

Now onto our song:

when those first few notes were played, the crowd went NUTS.

'Chances Are' - Johnny Mathis

And now onto our other song:

yes.  today, you're getting a twofer.

The hubs really liked this one.

'99 Miles from L.A.' - Johnny Mathis

The Lady's Letter-Writer: Letter II

As promised last week, every Thursday, I'll be posting a letter from this book.  

This week's letter...

Letter II

Another, More Favorable

(i.e. this is a follow-up to last week's letter: 'A young Lady, in Answer to the Proposal of a Gentleman who had met her the previous Evening')

Hempstead, Sept. 1st, 18-

Sir: Although your letter of this morning comes upon me in a strangely unexpected manner, I feel that your intimate friendship with my kind hostess, Mrs. ...., perhaps excuses a precipitation which could scarcely be justified on ordinary grounds.  At the same time, I cannot think of giving a sanction to further attentions on your part without consulting Mrs. .... on the subject, and I have, therefore, placed your letter in her hands.  I cannot deny that I feel some pleasure in having elicited sentiments from you, which appear to be founded in honorable good feeling, but must for a time beg of you, to excuse me giving you any further sanction to your addresses.

                                               I remain, 

             Your sincere well-wisher and friend,

Mother's Little Helper, Victorian version

From a way WAY old Cape May County, NJ estate.

How old?

Well, those white spots are lint from the last toweling after I spent a half-hour trying to remove a hundred+ years of dirt and grease.  

BUGS!

Yet some more marvelousness from Saturday's auction.

bug sunglasses

BIG bug sunglasses

The kitty - you've noticed the kitty, right? -- is Tippy, on her way to chill under one of the shrubs for a minute or two, before wanting to go back into the house.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

This week's song is a fine example of how art follows business, i.e.  at that auction (where the shoes came from) I also got a collection of fezez.  (fez plural)

This is the business part.

Which brings us to the song:

'The Fez' - Steely Dan

This is the art part.

vintage shoes for youse

Hubs and I went to a maaahvelous on-site auction on Saturday, which offered lotsa awesome stuff, especially in the area of vintage clothing and accessories, including some very cool shoes, such as...

 this divine pair of Spring-O-Lators

with lucite heels with rhinestones on 'em!!

alas, the shoes are very very tiny.

VERY. 

These are very attractive, but I think they're missing something,

since the straps are not going to tie the shoes to your foot.

These are tiny, too. 

 Aren't these cute?

Yep, also tiny.

Now these are just da (circa 1910) bomb!

 I've seen tons and tons of shoes from this period, but nothing in this style.

Of course, these are tiny.  They always are.

These are my favorites.  So so green and attractive.

Tiny.

I got more shoes at this auction, but they're still in the car.  Which brings us to an awesome pair of shoes not from the auction, but from a thrift shop:

Now, they may not look like much in the photo, but they're fantastic in person.  They happen to fit me, and when I put them on, I morphed into my inner 4-year old, and I didn't want to take them off because they really REALLY look good on the feet. 

However, amma sell them because a) I have nowhere to wear them, and b) I fear that walking too far in them might encourage my bunions to rear their ugly heads.

(Actually, I really don't have bunions no more -- thank you, Dr. Shinder - but I'm taking no chances.)

Victorian book: The Lady's Letter-Writer

I found this book at the flea marked, entitled The Lady's Letter-Writer, which has form letters for just about any event a Victorian-era lady might expect, and which might require a letter.

Such as 'Requesting a Friend to Execute a Commission,' and 'on receiving a Miniature from Her Suitor,' etc. etc.

The book is not in sellable shape, so I've decided to treat you, my faithful followers, with one letter from the book every Thursday, for your entertainment and edification.

Letter I

A young Lady, in Answer to the Proposal of a Gentleman who had met her the previous Evening:

Hempstead, July 5th, 18--

Sir:-- Although it is the highest compliment that can be paid to our sex, to receive offers calculated to ensure a lasting acquaintance, I must still complain of the preciptate character of your address to one who, till last night was a total stranger to you.  Without wishing to say anything harsh, I must confess that I do not feel any motive to entertain so hasty a proposal, and have felt bound to lay your letter before my parents, as I could not think of concealing from them any correspondence of such a description.
      Trusting that you will see the matter in its proper light,

                                          I remain,
                                               Sir,
                                            Yours respectfully

Now, wasn't that interesting?

latest vintage clothing and such like

Actually, I have lots more in the pipeline, but here's what jumped into my Etsy store today:

First up, History's Most 1980s Nightclub Dress...

ultra-drapey, utter delight

can of mousse not included. 

Next we have the Mesh Hat with Velveteen Birds, in midnight blue.

It doesn't get unique-er than this, milliner-arily speaking.

Now these are something cool...

vintage Made in Brazil Aeresoles shoes, tooled effect.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

What an odd day.  The weather's straight out of November (wind, rain, depression), and we found out today that Robin Williams is no more.

Not that I was a fan, exactly, but I have to admit the guy was buhRILLiant.

And so this week's Tuesday Song of the Week is dedicated to him.

'Missing' - Everything But the Girl

weekend finds

Well, well, well, some nifty finds this weekend.

Saturday, I got...

this old incense burner

AND this old incense

and the HISTORY'S PINKEST RHINESTONE BRACELET

AND this bo cool NOS Fantasies by Robbins bracelet, featuring

Monaco's Coat of Arms in enamel

and for the MIJ collector, two classic cruets

I also got two ADORABLE little puzzles, and two of those McDonalds miniature Madame Alexander dolls, and a very cool glass lion figurine.

This week's finds

Well, most of this week's finds.  The 1950s calico circle skirt I found yesterday at the Sal is resting comfortably in my storage locker, on accounta I got someone coming Monday to buy from me. 

Anyway...

adorable 1950s plastic floral brooch

even adorabler retro dotted plastic bangle bracelet

 1960s high school jacket originally owned by a member of

the Future Farmers of America

His name was Rob.

I got two more pieces of jewelry, but was unable to get a good photo of either one.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

This was a difficult choice.  I really wanted to post a version of '12th Street Rag' similar to what I heard last summer at the Rotary Bandstand in Cape May.  The small orchestra - the name of which escapes me -- performed the most brilliantly chaotic version of the tune you could possibly imagine.  But all YouTube has are these slow, boring, sedate versions. 

Phooey.

Well, here's something peppy:

'Ain't Nobody's Business Buy My Own' - Tennessee Ernie Ford and Kay Starr

I'm baaaack !!

Back from vacation, which is why you dinna get a Tuesday Song of the Week last week.

But - oh! - what a vacation we had.

We took a whale watching boat ride and saw...

a humpback whale

this is clip art.  not our actual whale.

AND we saw -- and this was sooooo much cooler ....

See, I saw something in the distance.  It looked gold-ish and a little coral-ish, and I couldn't tell if it was something in the water for boats, or just some trash, or something alive.  But as it swam closer and closer, I saw that it was...

a honking HUGE sea turtle.

above is not the actual turtle.  It's clip art.

My other big first time nature sighting was on the roof of the hotel where we were staying.  The building has a shingled roof, and there are windows in the bathroom, that look over the roof.  

On the roof I'd see three little sparrows, one of which would be picking idunnowhat off the roof, and putting it in the mouth of one of the other sparrows.  I saw them doing this practically every day.

These are not the actual sparrows, as you may have guessed.