Hazel's Vintage Pretties

One Root Canal and Crown, Coming Right Up!

Hi everyone...Well, it looks like I'm in for a root canal and a crown ($$$$$)...Oh well, what's a gal to do?  I'm making aprons, bibs, headbands and pillows, to raise some dental funds!  I'm also on a spending diet...It's amazing how much we spend without really realizing it...I took my credit card out of my wallet, and I'm spending cash only, and not carrying much of it with me...I only use my debit card for necessities...This is new for me...I'm not a shopaholic or anything, but I know I could spend less than I do... My mom says, "one way to have more money is to spend less"...(Not just to earn more)
     I've also started exercising more...This has been in the last few days, so I wouldn't call it a trend yet, but I'm working on it!  My son drives now, so for the first time in my life, I'm sharing my car...Today I let him take the car for most of the day, and boy did I do a lot of walking...It feels good to make small, positive changes...(Just between you and me, I was so proud of all the exercise I got today, that I stopped at a crepe cafe very near my home, and bought myself a whipped cream and strawberry/nutella crepe, and I ate the whole thing myself!)...One step forward, two steps back...Have a good day...Katie

You Never Know What a Day Will Bring

     Today was one of those days that held unforeseen circumstances, more sad than usual.  I was driving along, and much to my dismay, I saw a tiny little dog laying in the road ahead of me.  I got out of my car and went to the dog.  I wasn't sure if the dog was dead or alive, but a man who had stopped said he thought she was shivering.  I picked up the sweet little angel, not knowing exactly what I was going to do with her, but knowing that I had to get her out of the street. 
     In that instant when I lifted her very tiny body, I loved that dog.  It didn't matter that I didn't know her; I just loved her.  A neighbor helped me to locate the dog's owner, very quickly.  She was at home with her little child, and she was very distraught, understandably.  I went to the nearest veterinary clinic with her, cradling the dog the entire time, as the owner needed to hold her child.  They took her to another room for a couple of minutes, and returned with her wrapped in a blanket, informing us that she was dead.
     It almost seemed like some kind of a dream, but the blood on my shirt, shoes, and arms reminded me that it was not. 
      Even though this was a very sad experience, it was also something that I'm glad I was there for.  I'm glad that I was able to offer some comfort to the owner, who is a very sweet woman.  We can offer our compassion and caring to people and animals that we don't know, because we don't have to know them.  All we have to know is that they are hurting, and they need someone.  Please say a little prayer for this family, and their sweet little dog, "Henny."  Take care, Katie

Studio? What Studio?

Hi everyone...I've been reading other people's blogs, and I see many photos and posts about people's studios...The places they've carved out for themselves where they can create.  I have a book that features women's creative spaces, and one of them is a carriage house on the woman's estate...Yes, an entire carriage house! 
     Let's face it, I'm a little jealous.  I love my home, and I'm not trying to complain here, and have you feel sorry for me...I'm not rich by any means, but I'm not poor either.  But I think I am jealous when I see these incredible studios that people have.  My family is getting the most use out of every square inch of our home.  My two kids each have their own room at this point, but for two or three years, my son actually used part of our living room, separated by a large curtain, as his room.  (He didn't have friends over very much during that time)...Since then, my wonderful husband, Greg, has remodeled our basement, adding a beautiful bedroom and bathroom for our son, who is now seventeen. 
     My husband and I each have our own business, and my husband's  "office" is a small area in our basement.  My "studio" is now the room that has been carved out of our living room.  I didn't bother hanging up a curtain.  I simply arranged the furniture in such a way that it's obvious that my area is separate from the rest of the living room. 
     No, it's not ideal, but it's mine.  There's a big picture window on one side, and a smaller window on the other, and I've tried to make my mark on it, and surround myself with beautiful, inspiring things, that no one else has to like.  Sometimes I do wish it were a more detached part of the house, (carriage house?), but it's what I have, and it's enough.  We aren't the type of people who will be building "our dream home", so this is it.  I love my home, even though it's not as big as some, because it's mine, and it's good enough... My mom says, "God's will is at least partially expressed by what you can afford"...So, I'm going to try not to be jealous of others' spaces, because it doesn't feel good...Instead, I'll be grateful for all that I have, which includes an incredible family, that I treasure more than anything.  Have a good day, and I'll talk with you soon...Katie









PS I set up a small 'shipping area" on a table in my basement, which included a box with tissue paper, and "Goldie" my cat, decided that it would make a very nice bed, so she's been sleeping there ever since...Oh well!    

Mini Me, For Better or Worse

At one point, my husband and I had "decided" that we were going to have one child, our son.  He was our first and only child, a few years went by, and no other child showed up, so we thought we were done.  Funny how life is what happens while you're making other plans (someone famous said that, but I can't remember who)...One day we learned that we would be having another child, and a few weeks later, that it would be a girl.  A girl. A girl. 
     I had given up on having a daughter, and I thought I was fine with that.  I adored my son, had so much joy in my heart from having him, and really didn't feel like I needed a daughter.  Boy, was I wrong (pun intended)...My daughter and I have an unexplainable bond.  It's been so much fun having another female in the house.  It's also been a lot of other things, which we won't go into here:)...But, mostly fun...One of the things we do together, is go to antique stores...Last weekend we went to a little antique show, and my gal found some little iron doll house furniture, which she promptly added to a doll house that I found for her at an estate sale a couple of years ago. 
     She has this doll house decorated like you wouldn't believe...Here are some photos of mini me, doing her thing:

Show and Tell Sunday! Vintage Hankies

Hi everyone...Today is Show and Tell Sunday, hosted this week by the lovely and sweet Miss Analise at Sugar*Sugar.  I didn't do individual photos of each hanky, because frankly, I was feeling a bit lazy!  So, here they are:



 







   

Junque in My Trunk Swap

I just participated in my first blogland swap, and it was really fun.  It was called "Junque In My Trunk", and was hosted by Heather of Pretty Petals Boutique.  My lovely partner was a southern gal named "Rebecca", whose blog is called "Our Back Porch". 
     You can see photos of both of our boxes at Rebecca's blog.  I can't thank Rebecca enough...She was a wonderful swap partner!  Have a great day, everybody...It's one of the first sunny, warm days we've seen in quite some time, here in Seattle, and my garden is calling, so here I go....Katie

PS Here's a sneak peek at my vintage hankies that I'll be posting for Sunday's Show and Tell.

Antique Show Finds

 

Last Sunday, my eight year~old daughter, Anna, and I went to a small local antique show.  We managed to bring home a few goodies...I will do a post about some of Anna's finds in a couple of days or so.  I picked up everything in the above photo, including the stool.





These pillowcases caught my eye...They are super soft, so I plan to actually use them...I have a small collection of vintage pillowcases that are too pretty to use, but I do display them (You understand)

I couldn't pass up these dishes...The platter has pink dogwoods (one of my favorites), and I have some kind of an addiction to pretty vintage creamers.

                                                                                 
                                                                                 

I was also fortunate to find some wonderful ephemera...The first card, the one with the little girl, has the most exquisite colors!  It's (surprisingly) a cigarette advertisement!  It says, "Pet Cigarettes Are the Best...Allen & Ginter Manufacturers, Richmond Virginia." (What that sweet little girl has to do with cigarettes, I don't know!)

I love the little "Let's Make a Garden" booklet...The illustration is so sweet. I hope you've enjoyed my

little show and tell.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

I also picked up a cute little tin that was once used for sending tulip bulbs...I thought it was pretty cute, and I'd never seen one before.

This is not pictured in the top photo, because I already had it hanging on my wall, and forgot to include it (oops)...A very pretty "Marie Antoinette" style print.  I just really liked it, and the gal went from $35 to $25, making it impossible to turn down!  Check out the funny little dog!  I bet he's a yipper!
Thanks for stopping by!...Katie

PS  Since we're doing show and tell, I have to admit that yes, I purchased another antique cupboard...It's another one of my minor addictions...It was so much fun to choose what to put in it...I've only had it a couple of weeks, and I've rearranged the contents at least twice...It's funny, I remember doing many of the same kinds of things when I was a young girl...Rearranging my furniture, re~decorating, loving the scent of latex paint, because it meant a room makeover...Were any of you like that when you were growing up?...Katie

 

A Quote For Today

Hi everyone...Just a short post today, with one of my favorite quotes...I'm sorry I don't know who said it: "Be kind.  Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden."....Thanks for stopping by...Katie

Millinery Show and Tell

Hi Gals! Today, some bloggers are showing their vintage millinery flowers, hats, etc.  I have a small collection, mostly flowers that are attached to things, but I thought I'd join in...Thanks for stopping by...Katie

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Well, I'm usually a little more on top of things, but I'm way late with the vintage button thing that's been going on here in Blogland...I don't have tons and tons of vintage buttons.  I find that the competition to pick them up at estate sales is quite intense, and the really good ones never end up at the antique stores I haunt.  However, I have been able to come up with a few that I really love, and they are in these photos.  One of the photos shows a painted old drawer that I display some of my pretties in, including a card of buttons, so I thought I'd include that just for fun...Hope you enjoy the photos!  Happy button collecting...Katie