a little bit of soap

80 year-old soap!

Deck your walls

with awesomeness!

The Lady's Letter Writer: Letter XVI

I'm sorry I forgot all about this yesterday.  Anyway...

Letter XVI

To the Gentleman

(as relates to the last two letters)

Newport, September 10th, 18--

My Dear Sir:-- You will be delighted to hear that mamma is in every way favorable to our attachment.  I must say our -- for I now feel under no restraint in confessing that my partiality for you is closely akin to a deeper feeling.  Let us, however (as she herself advises,) seek to know each other's temperament and character more thoroughly ere we take too decided steps.  Let us learn each other's little humors and wishes, that we may the better know wherein we have to make allowance for, and yield to, one another.

I trust I shall see mamma in a few days, when I am sure her favorable opinion of you will be more and more confirmed.

                                           Believe me, my dear sir,

                                           Very sincerely yours,

                                                             ........ ...........

To: ...., Esq.

That's a croc

Specifically a crocodile briefcase.

 even more specifically, black horned crocodile brief case

and more specifically than that, a GENUINE black horned crocodile briefcase.

or attache case.

  Your choice.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

Ella!

'I'm Beginning to See the Light' - Ella Fitzgerald

When I was a kid, I thought her name was 'Elephants Gerald.'

lion bank

A last 1960s classic!

dopey like a fox

dragon the line

 Mad Men era smoking set avec

 

golden dragons 

 mahvelous, no?

The Lady's Letter Writer: Letter XV

I had a such a hard time locating the book today that I briefly considered substituting today's post with material from an 1862 edition of Oddfellows Companion that I'll soon be selling.  But it did finally turn up, so here goes...

Letter XV

The Answer 

(i.e. to last week's letter) 

New York, September 7, 18--

My Dearest Child:-- Make yourself perfectly easy as to my consent to anything that can promote your happiness.  If Mr. .... be what you represent, my fondest wishes that you might meet with a desirable partner in life will be realized.  At the same time, do not be to hasty in giving an unqualified assent to his proposals, but take time to learn those minute shades of disposition and character which nothing but constant acquaintance can display. 

I shall be at Newport on the ....th, and shall not only be delighted to meet by dear child again, but to be introduced to the man of whom she has thought so worthy of her affections.  

                                     Your ever-loving mother

To Miss ....

Mandrake the Magician

This is a tiny tiny pin, so even while I'd love to sell it, most of the time I can't even find it.

grapes in

bone.

Is this not amazing, considering how detailed and such and such it is?  

By the by, if you haven't figured it out, it's a brooch.

mucho macho

candlesticks.

 

Of course, they didn't begin life as candlesticks.

That's part of their charm.

So if one of you macho steamfitters or boilermakers or welders out there

wants to invite your coworkers home for a dinner featuring an industrial vat of homemade chili and 37 different craft beers, these would look just ducky on the table.

the Tuesday Song of the Week

Classy and classic.

'My Cup Runneth Over' - Ed Ames

Thank you very

Mucha.

Art Nouveau pretty lady in bisque 

Not as yellow in person, but just as lovely.

Mid-Century Modern

watch box !

I bet the watch was really cool.

The Lady's Letter-Writer: Letter XIV

Letter XIV

From a young Lady to her Mother

Newport, September 3rd, 18--

My Dear Mamma:-- From what you know of Newport you will not be surprised to hear that I have enjoyed an incessant round of gaiety and pleasure; my health, too, is completely recruited, and my friends are so kind, that I almost feel at home.

But I have a more serious matter to confess to you, at which I hope you will not feel angry.  It seems almost ungrateful to think of loving any one but you, but, oh manna, if you saw Henry..., you would forgive me, I'm sure.  He is so handsome, so gentle in his manners, and yet so sensible and accomplished.  We met at the .... Ball, and he scarcely quitted my side the whole evening.  Mrs. .... has so high an opinion of him, that she has repeatedly inviting him to her home, until his visits have become of almost daily occurrence.  He is most honorable and straight-forward, and only waits permission to write to you, in order to give you the full particulars of his condition and prospects.

Pray, dear Mamma, forgive me when I confess that my feelings are deeply enlisted in his favor, and that I feel as if much of my future happiness depended upon our union.  I wish you were here to counsel and advise with me, for never before did I so much feel my own heart master of my reason.

I hope you will write directly, or come immediately to your affectionate, but anxious child.

                                    ...........   ...............

To Mrs. .....

Something to see

The above plate depicts Robert Burns.

We (the hubbage and I) buy this kind of thing for home decor.

History's MOST adorable...

little Christmas elf:

He's not just an adorable Christmas elf.

He's also musical!

Wind him up and you'll hear 'Jingle Bells.'

AND you won't just hear 'Jingle Bells,' you'll also get to see him bop a little to the tune.

Even if he wasn't musical and was unable to bop, who could resist that happy face??

the Tuesday Song of the Week

OK, I realize that today is Wednesday, and I didn't deliver on time.  

Please forgive.

And when you're done doing that, dig:

'Eso Noche' - Cafe Tacvba

I have no idea what the words are, but they're sure delivered in a very passionate manner.

Royal Albert roses

Isn't this lovely?

My maw had a bunch of this in the china closet in the dining room.  

Lotsa maws like this kind of thing.

Scottie dogs

HOW

CUTE

IS

THIS???

Above are Larry and Prospero.

They run a business, renting out the box thingie behind them.

It's perfect for holding pencils, Pixie Stix, coins, keys, and directions to people's houses.

The Lady's Letter Writer: Letter XIII

Letter XIII

On receiving a Miniature from her Suitor

                            Hanover, June 3rd, 18--

My Dear....:-- I never thought that any fresh proof of your attachment was needed; nevertheless I have this day received another, and that one of the most acceptable I could have desired, viz. the portrait of whom, of all others, I am most desirous to keep in recollection.  In contemplating this specimen of the artist's skill, I feel that it will ever recall you forcibly to my recollection, and in so doing, will be a constant source of delight to my mind, and will afford me some kind of solace during your absence.  I need scarcely add that I accept your gift with unspeakable delight, although, at present, I have nothing better to send you in return than a fresh assurance of my most constant attachment, which, I trust, may prove as welcome to you as your treasured miniature has prove to me, and in this hope I remain,

                                                My dear ...., 

                                                    Ever your's affectionately,

                                                                            .............  ...........

Victorian clock housing

Clock long gone,

awesome late Victorian housing remains.

All you have to do is refinish or stain it, and you got something really neat.

You could stick a figurine in there, or a doll, or a picture, or a ...  

Alas, it sold already, but I thought you'd still find it a source of inspiration.

latest Goodwill Outlet finds

Not much, but awesome nevertheless:

The above sells for anywhere from $25 to $125 ! 

On Etsy, these start at around $40.  Even though this is MINT, amma start it cheaper.   

cute adorable stuff 

circa 1960 tin litho noisemaker

the Tuesday Song of the Week

Proof positive that the Eighties were the pinnacle of musical awesomeness* !!

'Dancing with Myself' - Billy Idol

A hundred years ago, I had a job with a videography company, as second camera for shooting weddings.  At one wedding, the couple's first dance was done to this song, and halfway through some angry old coot came storming to the DJ, demanding that the song cease, because it was inappropriate (i.e. not slow and mushy enough) for a couple's first dance.  

The DJ retorted, "I'm not takin' the heat for this.  This is the song they wanted."

*This assertion does not include Madonna and her ilk.  

bang! bang!

Yes, folks, it's a box with a gun molded into the lid.

Perfect for stashing your loot.

Plus it's attractive

mahvelous Victorian...

fork!

People often assume that Victorian flatware is all flowers and curlicues, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Got this from Dollar Boy

Here's some more from my collection: