Of Peeps and Postcards: Thrifty Easter Fun

The grey of skies and the white of snow made some Easter decor I uncovered this week at Tuesday Morning seem all the brighter and pastellier! 

What I liked in particular about these finds are they all are straight from original Victorian postcards. Like this cute pair of chicks here brandishing colored egg bouquets...

Chicks just like these were mainstays on postcards from the early 1900s, and it's just as whimsical for me to see them hatched to life in 3-D here.
I have a number of cards like this in my collection but would hesitate to display them on my front door, which gets a lot of sunlight. This way, the good ol' cards stay preserved but the look is very authentic!

You can see a few of these cards up more closely. Here children ride on Easter eggs pulled by energetic donkeys...
Here, a boy and girl stand in a garden of garland, eggs and glitter.
And my favorite, this young lady rides in the stylish Ford Yolkmobile, which sports a dual-lamb engine.
And now, after that pun, I run sheepishly away until next post!

Of Peeps and Postcards: Thrifty Easter Fun

The grey of skies and the white of snow made some Easter decor I uncovered this week at Tuesday Morning seem all the brighter and pastellier! 

What I liked in particular about these finds are they all are straight from original Victorian postcards. Like this cute pair of chicks here brandishing colored egg bouquets...

Chicks just like these were mainstays on postcards from the early 1900s, and it's just as whimsical for me to see them hatched to life in 3-D here.
I have a number of cards like this in my collection but would hesitate to display them on my front door, which gets a lot of sunlight. This way, the good ol' cards stay preserved but the look is very authentic!

You can see a few of these cards up more closely. Here children ride on Easter eggs pulled by energetic donkeys...
Here, a boy and girl stand in a garden of garland, eggs and glitter.
And my favorite, this young lady rides in the stylish Ford Yolkmobile, which sports a dual-lamb engine.
And now, after that pun, I run sheepishly away until next post!

Treasure Box Thursday: Victorian Cards, Cut-outs and Cuties

Over the weekend I'd done a little shopping in Pittsburgh's Strip District (don't worry-- no stripping involved!-- it's a warehouse district where you can buy all sorts of interesting fresh foods). And this is also the location of Mahla Antiques. That's where I picked up a few examples of paper history-- some Victorian fringed greeting cards and some brilliantly-colored paper items once in a Victorian scrapbook.

One of the cards is as pretty on one side as it is the other...
And it's hard to believe after all these years the fringe is still bright and intact!...
This is the second of the cards I'd gotten. I thought it was particularly interesting because, even though it's a Christmas card, too, it doesn't have the look of what we think as "Christmas" today...
We tend not to use bouquets of flowers to represent the season these days unless they're, perhaps, red roses or holly.

Last is the bag of cutout goodies. I particularly wanted it for the cherub and the dove... They may get displayed at Christmas somehow with the cards...
And that pretty much seals up this week's Treasure Box. I'm sorry I'm late with it this week. I actually forgot what day it was yesterday and went off to work without posting!

Bad blogger! BAAAAD blogger. :)

Hope to see you again on Sunday for the next post. That is, if I remember when it's Sunday. :)

Treasure Box Thursday: Victorian Cards, Cut-outs and Cuties

Over the weekend I'd done a little shopping in Pittsburgh's Strip District (don't worry-- no stripping involved!-- it's a warehouse district where you can buy all sorts of interesting fresh foods). And this is also the location of Mahla Antiques. That's where I picked up a few examples of paper history-- some Victorian fringed greeting cards and some brilliantly-colored paper items once in a Victorian scrapbook.

One of the cards is as pretty on one side as it is the other...
And it's hard to believe after all these years the fringe is still bright and intact!...
This is the second of the cards I'd gotten. I thought it was particularly interesting because, even though it's a Christmas card, too, it doesn't have the look of what we think as "Christmas" today...
We tend not to use bouquets of flowers to represent the season these days unless they're, perhaps, red roses or holly.

Last is the bag of cutout goodies. I particularly wanted it for the cherub and the dove... They may get displayed at Christmas somehow with the cards...
And that pretty much seals up this week's Treasure Box. I'm sorry I'm late with it this week. I actually forgot what day it was yesterday and went off to work without posting!

Bad blogger! BAAAAD blogger. :)

Hope to see you again on Sunday for the next post. That is, if I remember when it's Sunday. :)

Treasure Box Wednesday: Posies and Placesettings

As we take a step or two into May, this week has been one filled with pleasant little surprises. Two of them, of the floral variety.

Folks who checked out Sunday's post on "Good Cheer"-- the early 1900s booklet of Edwardian positive thinking-- already know about one of these finds. But my haul of highly-decorative books of advice actually came in bulk. There were six all together-- and here are four of the most heavily illustrated...
I know I'd told a few folks on Twitter how I was going with one of my friends to the Fiesta outlet. She was looking for a few things in particular. But before we even made it into their parking lot, we were pleasantly sidetracked by a small local flea market.

When you see unexpected flea market aisles, and you have the time, it seems almost foolish not to at least get out and peruse! How could we resist?

And that's where I found a number of early 1900s postcards-- same style as the books, really!...
It was a nice mix of Christmas (which I strangely don't have very many cards celebrating), and general correspondence from the period. The "To My Dear Old Pal" cracked me up a bit. I think today's card would be worded a little differently.

Then at home, I have been playing around with some of my Anchor Hocking Moonstone hobnail pieces in the form of tablescapes...
I'm happy with how well the opalescent white shows up on colored tablecloths. When the light hits it just right, you can see a tinge of blue-green or red, depending on the angle. Jadite candlesticks, green hydrangeas and a Smith Glass iridescent vase complete the look...
I only have two plates so far, but as you folks already know, no good collection is ever built quickly. (Or rather I should say, 'no budget-oriented collection'.)

To carry the green and white theme over to the mantle in that room, I used some thrifted white cherub planters I had, another green hydrangea and candlesticks in a palette that's the reverse of the ones on the table...
So, that's what I've been up to this week, folks. And with that, the Treasure Box closes again until next Wednesday.

Take care!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Posies and Placesettings

As we take a step or two into May, this week has been one filled with pleasant little surprises. Two of them, of the floral variety.

Folks who checked out Sunday's post on "Good Cheer"-- the early 1900s booklet of Edwardian positive thinking-- already know about one of these finds. But my haul of highly-decorative books of advice actually came in bulk. There were six all together-- and here are four of the most heavily illustrated...
I know I'd told a few folks on Twitter how I was going with one of my friends to the Fiesta outlet. She was looking for a few things in particular. But before we even made it into their parking lot, we were pleasantly sidetracked by a small local flea market.

When you see unexpected flea market aisles, and you have the time, it seems almost foolish not to at least get out and peruse! How could we resist?

And that's where I found a number of early 1900s postcards-- same style as the books, really!...
It was a nice mix of Christmas (which I strangely don't have very many cards celebrating), and general correspondence from the period. The "To My Dear Old Pal" cracked me up a bit. I think today's card would be worded a little differently.

Then at home, I have been playing around with some of my Anchor Hocking Moonstone hobnail pieces in the form of tablescapes...
I'm happy with how well the opalescent white shows up on colored tablecloths. When the light hits it just right, you can see a tinge of blue-green or red, depending on the angle. Jadite candlesticks, green hydrangeas and a Smith Glass iridescent vase complete the look...
I only have two plates so far, but as you folks already know, no good collection is ever built quickly. (Or rather I should say, 'no budget-oriented collection'.)

To carry the green and white theme over to the mantle in that room, I used some thrifted white cherub planters I had, another green hydrangea and candlesticks in a palette that's the reverse of the ones on the table...
So, that's what I've been up to this week, folks. And with that, the Treasure Box closes again until next Wednesday.

Take care!

Love Gets Cheeky with Funny Victorian Postcards

When we look back into the past-- particularly around the Victorian era-- we tend to envision stuffed shirts and rigid corsets... lots of black and grim faces.

But during the Golden Age of Postcards, there was a whole genre of communications that were as playfully colorful in tone as they were in design. Witty phrases, sly puns, and bawdy romantic situations arrived in the mail with a wink and a snicker. And the senders themselves added personalized flair to them, with some clever allusions of their own.

Like this bathing beauty postcard from 1913.


The card reads:

"Those bathing costumes make you ladies look awfully short."
"Yes; but they make you men look longer."

Queen Victoria would have been turning over in her grave, I think. Look at those shameless ankles!

And speaking of ankles, the card below has them in triplicate!

"Having an El-leg-ant time in Poke Hollow."

I got a good kick out of the message on the back, from "Maggie."

Oh you Orlo:
How are you since you went to Vinco with Myrtle. I hear something and wondered how you was. We miss both you boys an awful lot, especially at church night. Goodbye.

I don't know if Maggie was a friend, a sister or some other relative, but it's funny to imagine sending this card to Orlo and then chatting about church.

Now here, we have:

A clerical error

If you look carefully in the margins you can see the editorializing the sender did.

"These are some of my family."

On the back, the sender wrote:

Hello May:-
How is the weather in the M.T.? It came- yes, the rain
Har Har Get busy and do your duty. Don't talk to the Boys so much HA HA
Answer soon

Judging from the sense of humor displayed by May's friend, I suspect she would have found this card pretty funny, as well...

It reads:

"Where is the page, Mary?"
"He's helping me to clean up after the plumber."

I see he is!

And it looks like some clothes are going to need some cleaning after this next postcard, too...

"I have a kind of Hay Fever," the card proclaims.

The back reads:

Hello Edna
How are you. I received you postal. I will have to tell Moses you have another down there. O you postal cards.

Hulda

I love how these cards often carried simple well wishes and random thoughts, in the same way we might use Twitter or dash off an email today.


The one above reads:

Dear D:
Have had a lot of hard work lately
Will write soon
Don't worry!
Yours S

The S written into the blank is Sara, who had this to say:

Hello. I had a post card this morning from Walter. He said he left Washington 9am Saturday for Raleigh. Would arrive there at 5pm Ida came out Sunday morning and she said she got 6 postals from him. Sally is mad that she didn't get any to-day. She is saying all kind of Sunday School words. Did you get any from him? If you hear from Walter please leave us know. If you wish come up Sat. eve.

Sara

Ah, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Six cards? Sounds like Walter is fond of this Ida. I hope Sally eventually got a card from him!

Some humor of the era does seem to be lost to the pages of time. "Chickens"?...

Everybody loves a Chicken
But Three's a Crowd.

The "Three's a Crowd" was handwritten in by the sender, who also seems to have numbered this card as one in a series.

Given it was from Paul to Emil and no other message included, I'm guessing it was a not-so-subtle way for Paul to tell his friend to back off on some young lady they both liked.

I get a laugh from this next one, not only from the comedic imagery...


But from the message written in big, childlike letters on the back:

Billie and
Grace Mind
Billie looken

SIS

And this card gives me a smile with the kind of phrasing you just don't hear much nowadays...

Unless you're, possibly, watching a Bogart film...

Kid, you've got some eyes

Lastly, we have one of my favorite cards...


Not only do I love that gorgeous velvet Victorian settee, you can't beat the sentiment.

"Some people spell parlour-
P-A-R-L-O-R"
"Yes; but how much better it is with U in it."

Thank U, er, you all for hanging out with me in the parlour today. I agree, it's always wonderful to have U here.

• If you missed getting to see last Wednesday's post on thoughtful gifts from friends, click here to check that out.

And thanks for stopping by, my friends-- it's been a real card!

Love Gets Cheeky with Funny Victorian Postcards

When we look back into the past-- particularly around the Victorian era-- we tend to envision stuffed shirts and rigid corsets... lots of black and grim faces.

But during the Golden Age of Postcards, there was a whole genre of communications that were as playfully colorful in tone as they were in design. Witty phrases, sly puns, and bawdy romantic situations arrived in the mail with a wink and a snicker. And the senders themselves added personalized flair to them, with some clever allusions of their own.

Like this bathing beauty postcard from 1913.


The card reads:

"Those bathing costumes make you ladies look awfully short."
"Yes; but they make you men look longer."

Queen Victoria would have been turning over in her grave, I think. Look at those shameless ankles!

And speaking of ankles, the card below has them in triplicate!

"Having an El-leg-ant time in Poke Hollow."

I got a good kick out of the message on the back, from "Maggie."

Oh you Orlo:
How are you since you went to Vinco with Myrtle. I hear something and wondered how you was. We miss both you boys an awful lot, especially at church night. Goodbye.

I don't know if Maggie was a friend, a sister or some other relative, but it's funny to imagine sending this card to Orlo and then chatting about church.

Now here, we have:

A clerical error

If you look carefully in the margins you can see the editorializing the sender did.

"These are some of my family."

On the back, the sender wrote:

Hello May:-
How is the weather in the M.T.? It came- yes, the rain
Har Har Get busy and do your duty. Don't talk to the Boys so much HA HA
Answer soon

Judging from the sense of humor displayed by May's friend, I suspect she would have found this card pretty funny, as well...

It reads:

"Where is the page, Mary?"
"He's helping me to clean up after the plumber."

I see he is!

And it looks like some clothes are going to need some cleaning after this next postcard, too...

"I have a kind of Hay Fever," the card proclaims.

The back reads:

Hello Edna
How are you. I received you postal. I will have to tell Moses you have another down there. O you postal cards.

Hulda

I love how these cards often carried simple well wishes and random thoughts, in the same way we might use Twitter or dash off an email today.


The one above reads:

Dear D:
Have had a lot of hard work lately
Will write soon
Don't worry!
Yours S

The S written into the blank is Sara, who had this to say:

Hello. I had a post card this morning from Walter. He said he left Washington 9am Saturday for Raleigh. Would arrive there at 5pm Ida came out Sunday morning and she said she got 6 postals from him. Sally is mad that she didn't get any to-day. She is saying all kind of Sunday School words. Did you get any from him? If you hear from Walter please leave us know. If you wish come up Sat. eve.

Sara

Ah, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Six cards? Sounds like Walter is fond of this Ida. I hope Sally eventually got a card from him!

Some humor of the era does seem to be lost to the pages of time. "Chickens"?...

Everybody loves a Chicken
But Three's a Crowd.

The "Three's a Crowd" was handwritten in by the sender, who also seems to have numbered this card as one in a series.

Given it was from Paul to Emil and no other message included, I'm guessing it was a not-so-subtle way for Paul to tell his friend to back off on some young lady they both liked.

I get a laugh from this next one, not only from the comedic imagery...


But from the message written in big, childlike letters on the back:

Billie and
Grace Mind
Billie looken

SIS

And this card gives me a smile with the kind of phrasing you just don't hear much nowadays...

Unless you're, possibly, watching a Bogart film...

Kid, you've got some eyes

Lastly, we have one of my favorite cards...


Not only do I love that gorgeous velvet Victorian settee, you can't beat the sentiment.

"Some people spell parlour-
P-A-R-L-O-R"
"Yes; but how much better it is with U in it."

Thank U, er, you all for hanging out with me in the parlour today. I agree, it's always wonderful to have U here.

• If you missed getting to see last Wednesday's post on thoughtful gifts from friends, click here to check that out.

And thanks for stopping by, my friends-- it's been a real card!