Show & Tell Friday

Show & Tell Friday is so much fun! Won't you please join us? Don't miss out - take a look at all the Show & Tell's over at Kelli's House. You'll be glad you did!

Today, I chose to share about my pin money bank collection. I've been collecting the banks for about 5 years. Pin money banks were very popular in the 40's to 50's. The term "pin money" is actually very old. It was money given by a man to his wife for her own use. Long long ago, men would give their wives money to set aside. The ladies then would usually save up to buy pins for their hats. Here is a picture of the first bank I purchased. It is made by Lefton and is from the 50's.

Over the years I have added to my collection. I was first attracted to them because of the applied roses and flowers - oh and the rhinestones too...
A few years ago, my hubby constructed a cornice shelf above our living room window so I'd have a place to display the banks.

Also displayed with the banks are some pieces from my applied flowers vase and planter collection.

I really love the different purse styles. You can find them in a variety of pastel colors: pink, white, purple, blue, yellow. I'm always drawn to pink...

The most common makers of the banks are: Lefton, Norcrest and Artmark. The middle purse in the bottom picture is made by Artmark. This is probably the most rare that I have. Hard to see in the picture, but it has Dresden type lace on it.

Here is an overall picture of the banks displayed on the cornice.

I was so excited to find a bank on Thursday to add to my collection. I don't find them often, so that was a treat!

Thanks so much for visiting today. Have a most enjoyable weekend!!!

Thriftin' and Antiquing Today

Since I have some Christmas money still burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to do a little antiquing today. I was so thrilled to find a pin money bank! I very rarely find these in antique malls around here - I couldn't pass this one up cuz it was cheap! I found this charming "small change" bank in the same booth - had to have it too...

My main goal was to find some old Easter postcards and I was successful in my search. Yeah... I had to bring home a couple that had roses too... one has really neat pink fringe all around - I love it!

I collect German elfinware (on the left) and when I spotted the little covered trinket dish I snatched it up - $3.00 what a bargain! I also found the sweet little bone china posy and I can hardly ever resist a Lefton piece with applied roses...

I have a weakness for Victorian funeral baskets so naturally this was going home with me as soon as I found it. This one is HUGE and so beautiful - I need to do some re-arranging to find a good spot for it.
Daphne and I managed to do a little thrifting too while Sydney was at school. Thursday's at Value Village is a great day since they offer 50% off a certain colored tag. At first, shopping was looking kind of glum... I then spotted this vintage 60's lace and chiffon formal. It's so very retro cool! It was 50% off - I paid $3.50 and was thrilled!!

Oh... and lastly I picked up this cute box that has a Victorian look to it. It'll make a great storage box for craft supplies. Our dog Dexter couldn't stop sniffin' ...

Fun Trade & A Bunny Pin Cushion

A week or so ago I posted some pictures of a couple vintage tablecloth pillows I made for my friend Cheryl. We did the deal as a trade and here are the treasures she sent me. I was so excited opening the boxes....

She sent me a ton of vintage tablecloths - look how pretty! Lots of great colors to work with.
Check out the super sweet old books - they all have fabulous illustrations in them too. She also sent me vintage bride and groom cake toppers, metal flower frogs (which I have been obsessed with recently), a couple MOP compacts (perfect for my vanity), a darling old wind up crawling baby, cute vintage cards, a sweet pink dish with applied flower, a darling old baby picture that looks so cute already displayed in one of the frogs, some aprons, a baby doll dress, a cd with vintage card illustrations, some cloth napkins made from the coolest rose print, and an absolutely fabulous vintage rose needle book which is just perfect for my little sewing display! Whew!! I've been having so much fun finding places for all my new treasures. I love everything!Thanks so much Cheryl, you're the best!!!

Oh, and by the way, you all should check out her new blog. Her home is so amazingly cool! Wait until you see all her fantastic collections and displays.
OK, now after all that excitment, I thought I'd share a few pictures of the pin cushion I made yesterday...

The cushion is made from 6 different Cath Kidston fabrics. The bunny is a vintage Norcrest which is a lot like my Lefton bunnies. I glittered her up cuz you can never have too much sparkle! I used vintage crocheted lace, rick rack, velvet ribbon, vintage jewelry pieces, and lots of vintage buttons for embellishing.

She really makes me smile everytime I look at her. I especially love all the old buttons!

Seattle Roadster Show

For the last 5 years this weekend in March, we have traveled with my parents down to the Portland Roadster Show in Oregon - not this year though. One reason I love going down to the show is because the big Portland Antique Expo takes place the same weekend, so that's where my mom and I hang out while my daddy and hubby do the car thing. I missed Expo this year which was a total bummer!!

Today we spent the afternoon hanging out at the Seattle Roadster Show. My daddy entered his '32 Ford roadster in the Seattle show this year instead of Portland. Hot Rod shows are a big part of our life. My hubby and daddy are both car enthusiasts, so we do lots of car shows together. Both Sydney and Daphne have fun checking out the cool cars and posing in front of Grandpa's car for mommy...

Here's a better picture of my daddy's car. He built it himself. The only thing he didn't do was the paint and upholstery. Unlike a lot of cars at this show, he drives his on the street. It's so fun to cruise in!!!

Grandpa's turn to pose with the girls. The girls were pretty happy the awards show was over so they could "drive" the hot rod. Better yet, it was almost time to go out for ice cream!

Ruffler & Mom's Tote

For Christmas, I received this weird looking attachment for my sewing machine. I was so excited to get it - I figured anything that could make a ruffle without me having to gather it by hand would be a dream and I needed to try it.

It's taken me this long to use it...I was a tad intimidated at first. Now, I want to put a ruffle on everything! It is really slick! Here is a tote bag I finished yesterday for my Mom. I was able to make the ruffle for the top in no time. No breaking threads - that was the best!

Show & Tell Friday

Happy Friday everyone!

For show and tell this week, I thought I'd share some of my pink depression glass collection.

I started collecting pink depression glass when my parents returned home from a vacation in 1996 bringing with them a pair of tea cups and saucers as my souvenir. Over the years I have picked up different pieces here and there. My favorite patterns are Old Colony, Old Cafe', Manhattan, Rosemary, Homespun, and Diana just to name a few. Some of my collection is displayed in our dining room on a bookshelf that I modified and hung on the wall. I have a few pieces displayed in our living room in one of my favorite cabinets using an old window as the door.

I have quite a few pieces that aren't displayed only because I use them often. I love setting my table with these pieces. Someday I'd love to have enough place settings to set my entire table with pink depression glass. Hmm....in my dreams....

Thanks for visiting today! Please stop by Kelli's House for more Show & Tell fun!

Preschool Field Trip Fun

Sydney's class had a field trip today at a fire station display center.

What used to be an fully operating station is now a place for kids to go and learn about fire safety. Sydney loved climbing all over the truck and enjoyed driving it as well. She thought her Grandpa S who was a volunteer fireman for many many years would be so proud.

Wearing a real fireman's suit was pretty cool.
But sliding down the pole was the best!

Even Daphne got to join in the fun a bit too.