April Fool's, 2013
My roundup of cyber-foolery for this spring's April Fool's Day. Google Nose. Because smelling is believing. George Takei cast in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars reboot, as a Jedi master. Roku Streaming Shades -...
View ArticleDIY Vinyasa Scarf from hammersandhighheels.blogspot.com
Britta asked me to try making her this DIY version of the Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf from Hammers & High Heels, which I did. I actually made two of them from the same piece of soft, flowy grey jersey...
View ArticleMore antique wardrobe trunks
I found another old wardrobe trunk last week. I will share some photos of it when I get some taken. It's pretty special. In the meantime, here are pictures of another that we have had for some while. I...
View ArticleMore vintage luggage used as storage: a Bar Harbor square case
I love this cutie pie. It's tall and boxy and shaped like no normal, self-respecting suitcase. The tag is tiny, just an inch or so long, and reads "Bar Harbor by Dresner", with tiny pictures of a...
View ArticleAnd now the ultimate in luxury luggage: A Hartmann wardrobe trunk, probably...
Lost momentum there. I took my pictures for this post, then we had family visit and I forgot all about it. Look at this baby: It's a Hartmann top-of-the-line wardrobe trunk from probably about 1925. It...
View ArticleArion fasciatus slug, I think - look at this guy!
He (rather it) appeared on our sidewalk before church. S/he was still there when I got home, though had traveled across the sidewalk. S/he is huge, 4.5 inches when stretched out fully, and has the most...
View ArticleAnother Hartmann Tourobe traveling case
Here is another wonderful Hartmann travel case made in Racine, Wisconsin. Single clasp. This one is missing the strap to hold hung up clothes in place during transit and one leather handle has broken.
View ArticleThe Burger vs Borger Controversy
In my mother's family there was a great controversy: Whether her father's family name was Burger or Borger. I was raised believing that all right-thinking people spelled it Burger, because that was...
View ArticleName spelling variations in family history
Here's another example of the difficulty with name spellings. Here we have William Henry Burger (with a U) celebrating the 61st anniversary of his wedding to... whom? When she wrote her own name, it...
View ArticleProject post: Waterfall buffet/dresser repaint
Repaint, sinners! I was raised NEVER to even CONSIDER painting wood. We stripped wood, we didn't paint it. So what did I do recently? I painted an old waterfall style buffet which I use as a dresser. I...
View ArticleProject Post: Bedroom Wall Paint and Window Treatments
Alice's Room at Mayowood Mansion Our bedroom was dark and cozy. Too dark. Too cozy. It looked like something might be lurking in there. (And to be honest there usually is - at least one cat is usually...
View ArticleProject Post: Pendulum Clock with Oak Case - Family Picture
I found this oak clock case at Goodwill for seven bucks. It was someone's craft project. There was a broken quartz clock in it (without pendulum) and a cross-stitched clock face with a picture of a...
View ArticleProject Post: Braided/Woven Wool Rug
One more of these and I think I'm caught up for a while. I took a class a couple of winters ago sponsored by the New Albin City Library on braided woven rugs (a.k.a. braid-in rugs). I did one small rug...
View ArticleHandling my mother's estate and what I learned from it
My precious mama's hand in mine, shortly before her death. I just finished administering my mother's estate. It was a simple estate, as estates go, and yet it still took about 5 months. Still, many...
View Article1940s Columbus Coated Fabrics "Blenback" Oilcloth Samples
I have three oilcloth sample books in my possession. I finally scanned the 1940 book to share because it is cool and because they don't last forever, and I'm amazed this one is still in as good shape...
View Article1950 "Golden Anniversary" Columbus Blenback Oil Cloth Sample Book
Okay, so it was a shorter one and didn't take long. Figured while I was at it... 1950 Columbus Blenback Oil Cloth Sample Book Bigger pieces of fabric for each sample, but fewer fabrics represented....
View ArticleAntique reflector type floor lamp rewire project
I have had this old floor lamp which needed rewiring for a long time. Finally decided to check that task off my project list. Last week I bought the lamp wire and a new switch, and rewired it using the...
View ArticleNon-plastic beeswax blend food wraps project
A few months ago I ordered my first set of waxed fabric food wraps from etee.com (etee stands for Everything Touches Everything Else). I had never tried wax wraps before. Once I had the family trained...
View ArticleGoodwill find: Printed cotton yardage from Cameroon
I realized I had this post in draft from last summer and never posted it. No time like the present! While thrifting at Goodwill, I found two 5-yard pieces of printed cotton yardage from Cameroon, West...
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