Vintage Swim Caps

We hit an interesting estate sale recently where I found these two vintage bathing caps. This sale was an interesting one in that there were rooms and rooms of ladies clothing, shoes and purses up for sale. Most of what was for sale was newer clothing suitable for an older woman size 12. I dug around briefly, not thinking I was going to find anything at all. Low and behold I stumbled upon these cute caps. They cost $3 for the both. I was probably the only person there who would have considered even buying them. LOL

I bought them solely for display - although I appreciate how cute they are. They look like flower puffs. Ladies of the 1950's sure had quite the style thing going on. Can you imagine wearing these to hang out by the pool? No frizzy summer hair anywhere to be seen! I know my frizzy hair is struggling right now during this hot and humid Pittsburgh summer.

I happen to have 2 hat stands that didn't have hats on them so I decided to display these bathing caps on the stands on my mantle for summer. They are part of my summer display that I will be showing you soon.

Here is a picture of some ladies wearing similar hats back in the day. We should take a page out of these ladie's book on fashion. I think they look great!

Picture source: Vogue 1955 - Found on THIS blog.

Picture source: HERE

 KayteeJane

Hangers for Art

I found this box of wood trouser hangers at a yard sale recently.

I didn't buy them to use for clothing, instead I bought them to use as picture and artwork hangers.

I don't know about you, but I have a stack of photos, artwork, etc. that I want to frame but never seem to get it to - either because it is too expensive or I just don't make the time to do it. Finding this box of hangers has helped me to get some of these pictures out of the basement to be hung and enjoyed.

Here is an altered vintage photo that I made a while ago. It has remained hidden in the basement until now.

Using one of the hangers, it is now hanging from my country cupboard. I tied a ribbon on the hanger to decorate it a bit.

I found this needle point sentiment at an estate sale recently. I was thinking of framing it, but until I get around to doing that, a hanger holds it just as nicely.

While playing with these I thought how great these would be for hanging up my kid's artwork. The pictures can be changed out easily as new ones are created. My girl's bring home lots of great pictures from school and I have good intentions to frame them - but never seem to get around to it. Now I have the solution. The artwork can be out on display and then I can change the pictures monthly or yearly.

KayteeJane

Creativity Bekons

The summer is usually the time of year when I do most of my crafting, sewing and creating. Over the past two days I have hit both Michael's and JoAnn's stocking up on some things to do some projects I have in mind.

While at Michael's I couldn't resist their dollar bins. They have some great things in there! Here is what I bought.

I didn't go crazy, just got a few things. Sherbert colored doilies, polka dot cupcake liners and mini chalkboard signs that clip onto things. I don't have any specific projects in mind for these, just thought I'd stock up for later. At a $1 a pack they are tough to pass up.

I bought the chalkboard signs in both red and green. They are made of wood and have a mini clothespin attached to the back. If you can think of a cool way to use these please leave me a comment. I'd love to know your thoughts. I thought they would be cute as cupcake toppers attached to a toothpick. Each cupcake could have a different word on it.

At JoAnn's I found this great British craft magazine called Mollie Makes.I guess I am behind the times because it is already on issue #14.  It is pretty pricey, as it is an import, but since I love all things British I couldn't resist buying it simply for the visual inspiration inside. It came with a wedding "lookbook" that had a great vintage brooch bouquet pictured on the front. Although I am not getting married or planning a wedding I now have a desire to make one of these bouquets. I am going to be on the lookout this summer while yard saleing for cool vintage flower pins and brooches. If you like this idea too Google "Miranda Lambert's Wedding Bouquet" - she was the first person that I've heard of that had a brooch bouquet at her wedding.

I love the trend for "vintage-style" weddings that is all the rage now. Wish that 16 years ago I would have thought to incorporate my love of vintage into my wedding.

Happy Creating!
KayteeJane

Baby Shower

I recently hosted a baby "sprinkle" at my house. A "sprinkle" is a baby shower for someone who is having their second baby.

I decided to decorate using my vintage baby collectibles.

Here are some pictures.

This is the table that welcomed guests as they arrived. I decorated using an old baby scale, baby shoe planters, a Johnson's Baby Powder tin and some old baby cards. A metal store sign holds a homemade welcome sign.

This baby scale is used to hold the favors - which were a bag of Trader Joe's kettle corn (love the blue & white stripes) and a drinking cup.

I used some of my favorite vintage baby planters to hold flowers.

Blue McCoy baby shoes

Vintage flash cards & more baby shoe planters

Old baby blocks spell out the baby's initials. Little plastic "Kewpie" dolls are part of the decorations too.

Another baby scale is used to hold cups.

A table outside is decorated with vintage flash cards, an old book with a great title, vintage baby hangers & more pottery.

I LOVE this idea so much. I hung 3 umbrellas from our clothesline. I had some crystals left over from a broken chandelier that I saved and I hung those from the line as well. The crystals are the rain drops.

My chalkboards were put to use too. This one on the front porch welcomes people.

One of my favorite scriptures that I think is perfect for a new mother or baby.

I had such a good time decorating using items from my own collections. I didn't have to buy one thing to decorate with! I love how it all turned out. The best part...I get to keep all of these decorations to enjoy again and again.

KayteeJane

What I Found This Weekend

Here is what I found this weekend at yard sales. I didn't figure I would find much and I was pleasantly surprised. Here is the recap...

Some linens: A pillowcase ($1) 2 linen dishtowels ($1 each), cherry fabric remnant ($1), Christmas dish towel ($1)

This cool desk - found at an estate sale. It hangs on the wall. The 90 year old man who owned the house made it himself. It was $10.

The door opens to reveal the desk. I am going to paint it white and hang it in my younger daughter's room.

A retro clock in my favorite shape of butter yellow. I paid a bit more for this clock than I usually do for something at an estate sale ($8). There was just something about it that I really liked so I splurged! Now that it is home I'm not even sure I have a place for it. Oh well.

Some jewelry, a metal table & a milk glass dish (jewelry 50 cents each, metal table $8)

The fabric on the back of the rocker shown here is actually 2 curtains. I love the material - with pretty green and blue flowers. I saw them hanging up inside the house at an estate sale. I asked the lady if they were for sale. She said yes - for $1. I took them down, brought them home and washed them. The water was dark brown during the wash - they were that dirty. I am happy to report that after 2 washes they came out fresh and super soft - ready to be made into some new curtains & pillows for my living room. The moral of this story - if it isn't nailed down it may be for sale. Just ask.

A milk glass bowl (25 cents) and an avocado-green vintage pyrex bowl ($1).

A brown & white transferware dish. Not sure what I will use this for but I like the muted worn colors.

KayteeJane

Vintage Alphabet Flash Cards

Decorating with vintage flash cards.

Each letter is clipped to a ribbon using mini clothes pins.

Make any word - as long as the same letter isn't used twice.

If you don't own your own set of letter flash cards, make some of your own by printing letters on card stock and then cutting out.

KayteeJane



Old School - New School

As I've mentioned before, I am an elementary teacher. But, I'm not a teacher in the traditional sense because I teach cyber school.


This is where I teach all day.

This is me with my microphone and headset - how I communicate with my students on-line instead of in person.

This school year is almost over and preparations are already underway for next school year. Part of those preparations involve cleaning out and giving away some old books that have been hanging around. Since they were throwing these away I took a stack of them home. I love old school books. They have great graphics and fonts. I mostly use these in craft projects but they are fun to read sometimes too.

This one in particular is so interesting.

Copyright 1931. "Modern" Junior Mathematics

Here is what they were teaching in Math back in 1931...how to write a check & borrow money from the bank. There is also a chapter on buying stocks. Interesting because the stock market crashed in 1929. I guess educators felt that students needed to learn about proper investing.:)

I'm actually going to read this book over the summer. It is neat.
(In case you were wondering...we've never used these old books as part of our school curriculum)
I love the contrast between teaching the "new" way - virtually and teaching the "old" way - with great text books.
KayteeJane