1928 calendar

1918 calendar

Antique treasures

I'm back from my 5-day trip to Phoenix. So wonderful to feel that 74-degree sunshine, although Phoenix residents find it chilly! Here are some bakelite buttons from an antiques market in Scottsdale.

This precious home-made school room was priced at $250. A steal.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Both of Us

This is quite a production for a Christmas Card -- it's a 6-page stapled booklet with witty verse and lively illustrations that evoke the mid-1950s...

...when people still shopped "downtown" instead of the mall.

Men still wore hats and there was a lot of fabric and swing in a woman's coat. 

I couldn't help but think about how some people relish the mad rush of Christmas shopping! This card certainly makes it all sound like madcap fun.

Something about the faces of this comic couple reminds me of Pete and Trudy Campbell of Mad Men. Perky and eager to please!

I loved finding this card in an antique shop sometime over the last year and a half.

The McMeans who sent this out sound like real cards, you should excuse the pun! 

Nice little signature illustration on the back, too. 

For a very Sweet Girl at Christmas, ca. 1950

Norcross, no artist signature. Dress and hat are flocked.

One World Needle Book, Germany, ca. 1920s

I love the graphics on this needle book and it's one world message. It's made in Germany, which has me stumped. Could this have been made during the Third Reich? It doesn't seem likely. That's why I date it circa 1920s.

But the plane near the Eiffel Tower and the bus seem more like 1930s vintage. Hmmm. Has to be the 1920s...Egypt was the rage. King Tut's tomb and all that.

It's quite nice inside, too.

Sally and her Friends by Fern Bisel Peat

Children's PlayMate, Nov. 1943

Children's PlayMate, November 1943

Boraxine trade card, 1882

Bridge Tally, ca. 1920s

Bridge tallies are one of my favorite things to find at a paper doll convention. The colors and artwork are wonderful.  Amazing how common these tallies were at one time.

The Chestnut Vendor, 14th Street, woodcut, ca. 1930s

This 4x4 print appear to have been removed from a book; there's no printing on the back. 
It has a perfect November kind of mood about it.

German? paper doll ca. 1920s

Jolly Cat, articulated paper doll, ca. 1950s

This jolly fellow followed me home from the convention. 12 inches, no markings.

Do you know me?

Mask workshop

Special Exhibits: Pat Rooney's vintage closet

Pat Rooney saved her outfits from the 1960s-early 1970s -- and we are glad she did!

Who can forget the platform shoes?

Sweet Mary Janes in bright orange.

Beaded handbags were trendy.

A fabulous velvet minidress with large white collar. 

I'm betting this poster hung in Pat's room.

The Artists Gallery: Ralph Hodgdon

The Artists Gallery

Sandy threw many people off with the wig! She created a clever paper doll set 

that featured the outfits she wore at the convention. 

Sylvia Kleindinst showcased her original art

Anita Korsonsky, attending her first convention, displayed a paper castle from her collection.

Karen Hunter's amazing artwork -- she captures the stars from some of our favorite TV shows. 

That's Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey) top left, and 

 Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York from Bewitched.

Karen also collects Betsy McCall paper dolls and figurines that she shared in Special Exhibits.