Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Sewing - A Dress from 1955

 


A yoked summer dress to draft from the instructions on page 2.  Free pattern from now-defunct woman's magazine Britannia & Eve, July 1955.

Monday, May 30, 2022

Vintage Images - Memorial Day

 


The Australian Women's Weekly, Jun 7th, 1941.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

I POSTED THIS 10 YEARS AGO AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED

 


Lord, give to men who are old and rougher

The things that little children suffer. ~ John Masefield

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Sewing - A Petal Cape from 1950

 


From the Summer, 1950 Simplicity sewing magazine, a cape to cover "All Your Summer Confections."  Free download (in black and white, alas) at the Internet Archive.  

(The line drawings in the back should be of interest to anyone who dresses vintage dolls or does costuming - the magazines range from 1949 to 1974).

Monday, May 23, 2022

Vintage Advertising - Merchant Marine Recruitment Poster

 

poster courtesy US Naval Institute

May 22nd is National Maritime Day.  As the US Naval Institute reminds us, the Merchant Marine - although technically not a branch of the Armed Forces - suffered the highest casualty rate of any of the American uniformed services during WWII.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Friday, May 20, 2022

Quote Of The Day

 


If you cannot get a compliment any other way pay yourself one. ~ Mark Twain

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Other Crafts - Military Lapel Charms from 1943

 


For nostalgia buffs - From the March, 1943 issue of Workbasket magazine, little pins to make in the uniform of the (then) three branches of the US military - although the instructions are sketchy to say the least.  Judging from the variety and frequency that lapel charms show up in 1940s and 1950s copies of Workbasket, they must have been quite popular.  Free download of the entire issue can be found at the Antique Pattern Library.

Monday, May 16, 2022

Vintage Advertising - Bird's Custard


 From Woman and Home, September, 1943.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Friday, May 13, 2022

Quote Of The Day

 

Image from politico

If it was about babies, we'd have excellent and free universal maternal care.  You wouldn't be charged a cent to give birth, no matter how complicated your delivery was.  If it was about babies, we'd have months and months of parental leave, for everyone.

If it was about babies, we'd have free lactation consultants, free diapers, free formula.  If it was about babies, we'd have free and excellent childcare from newborns on.  If it was about babies, we'd have universal and pre-k and guaranteed after school placements. ~ Leila Cohan.

Quote Of The Day

 


It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. ~ Mark Twain

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Sewing - A Hanger Bag from 1941

 


From Let's Make A Gift, by the prolific Ruth Wyeth Spears, left-click to enlarge.  The full text can be found at Hathi Trust.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Friday, May 6, 2022

National Nurses Week, May 6-12th

 

"Nurse," by Francisco Jose Perez

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.  This is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Knitting - A Lace Edging From 1961

 


A pretty if oddly named ("Space Lace") edging from Workbasket magazine, July 1961.  The entire issue is available as a free download from the Internet Archive, and includes a poodle made from wire coathangers and cardboard toilet paper rolls.

Monday, May 2, 2022

April Showers Bring May Flowers

 

copyright-free image from the Graphics Fairy

So Saturday evening when the tornado sirens went off, I had just taken a steak out from under the broiler.  While I was distracted, a certain furry little opportunist decided to help himself to our supper.

As you can see from his expression, he was not successful (note: it went SE of us, no damage except to my ears from the dogs' howling).