I Hearted Paper Dolls

When I was in grade school in Rome, Illinois, in the 1930's and early 1940's, my siblings and I certainly did not have a lot of toys, books and games that the kids of today have.  Our parents were recovering from the big depression.  However, that does not mean that we were unhappy or bored or felt cheated.  We each had a bicycle (I was 10 when I got mine) a big yard and the riverbank where we could play and lots of kids in the little town of Rome in the same boat as we were that we could play with.  One of my loves in life was paper dolls - if I ever got a dime (sometimes my grandfather gave me one) I would go to the dimestore and buy a book of paper dolls.  I remember having Gone With the Wind and King George and his family which included Queen Elizabeth of today as a little girl along with her sister Margaret.  They were in my age bracket and Margaret Rose and I had the same birthdate.  Then there were the free paper dolls that were in the Sunday "funny papers".   My dad usually bought the Sunday Chicago paper which I think was the  Herald American.  There was the Tribune, also, and he may have bought both, but I am not certain about that.

Jane Arden - the doll above - was in the paper a lot.  Jane was sweet and fun to have, but she wasn't my favorite.

Here is my favorite - Brenda Staar with the redhair and sparkle in her eye.  I loved it when there was a new Brenda paper doll!  I had a friend who was a year younger than I who also was paper doll crazy and we would play with them for hours.  Her name was Fern Davis and Fern and I would  design dresses for them, color them and cut them out.  We were also into movie star pictures.  I was kind of envious of Fern because she had scrapbooks for individual stars and couples while my pictures were in a big box.  I spent many fun hours with Fern! 

Gorgeous!!  Brenda and wedding dresses.

And then there was Mopsy - or Flapper Fanny in the earlier days.  So darling.  I wonder if little girls still play with paper dolls--I think I was still playing with them in late elementary school.  At that time it was more the designing and coloring of the clothes but it was still fun.  I will always have a softspot for those little paper people!!

This picture is in an earlier post, but here we are - me and Fern Davis!  Fern lived across the street from our grade school which you can see in the background.  It had gone from a one-room school to a four-room school.  Happy Days!

Postcard Friendly Friday

 Friday is almost over,  but here is a cute moon picture on this day of August's blue moon.  Love the message of the "heartbroken Romeo" to his Sue.  An adorable card and fun message.

 

Thank you,  Beth, at http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ for hosting.  Go to her blog and check out the postcards listed there.  Happy PFF!

Some Out of the Past Sewing Related Pieces

Pinterest is such a fun place - such wonderful pictures to look at and enjoy.   I have one board I call "For Old Sew and Sews" and that's where I pin great pictures of lovely, nostalgic items dealing with sewing.  Above is an old sewing basket - there are many of these great old items.  I have one that I have had for many years and it sits on the table in my living room holding odds and ends relating to my sewing and quilting.

Here is a beautiful spool cabinet.  These sat on counters in general stores and department stores holding thread.  Lovely piece.  across all  three drawers. 

Here is my spool cabinet.  It has glass in the drawers and I had enough of the old wooden spools (have been sewing for 65 or more year) to line the fronts.  We put legs on this, but they can be taken off easily one day if so desired.  Below is the first chamber pot in my collection.  On top, my wonderful $1.50 pitcher and bowl from an old hotel in Ft. Madison.  My start into a modest collection of cool antiques.

I learned to sew on a machine like this - the old treadle.  They did a beautiful job and many of them are still around.

One of the reasons I so love Pinterest.  What a gorgeous wreath made from old wooden spools of thread!  How neat is this?  I would hang this in my house anytime, but don't have enough old spools to make one even if I took them out of my spool cabinet!   If you would like to check out my boards on Pinterest, click on the button at the top of my sidebar and you will go there.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Found this cute old postcard that is rather timely since school will be starting soon.  Cardcow has such fun cards when you search around a while - and, as I've said before - I love the ones with messages.

Whoever is sending this to Miss Mary (maybe her mom?) notes "You know dear Royal will like you better if you follow this advice."    Funny little card.  Thanks to our hostess Beth - stop by at http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/  and check out this weeks cards.  Happy PFF!

I Love the Twenties and Thirties

Source: squidoo.com via Carol on Pinterest

 Here is a cute video of people doing the Charleston back in the Roaring Twenties - great music and great dancing.  Just click on the picture and I think it will take you to my Pinterest page where you click on the picture again to get it started.  Enjoy. 

Postcard Friendship Friday

Here's a funny little card I found some time ago at Cardcow.   There are some great old postcards there and I especially like the ones that have been used.

Esther has written a message to Charley Parsons (maybe a brother?) about Cale (?) who I am thinking may be her son and his family, home and auto. She may stay all summer!  Fun to think about what the actual circumstances were behind the cards. No date - but from the pictures on the front probably in the early 1900's.


Thanks, Beth, for being our hostess.  To see the rest of the postcards, go to http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/
Happy PFF.

Some Little Kids from Long Ago

Ain't she sweet?  I found this darling little gal on the internet quite some time ago and thought she was about as cute as you can get.  I figure she is somewhere around my age - which is almost 84 - since there is a picture of me on my bedroom wall that shows a very similar haircut and it appears we are about the same size.

Here is another cute little girl - this time it is actually me, but not the one in my bedroom.  Don't you think there is a similarity between these two little girls?  I would venture to say this was taken in one of those photobooths that were all over the ten cent stores back in the days. I think I am wearing a snowsuit of some sort.

Another little girl - adorable with curly hair!!!!   That was just about the time Shirley Temple reigned as the darling of the movies and all little girls wanted her curls.  What a sweet smile, pose and hairbow!   I think these little girls are all three as cute as buttons.  Hope you enjoyed meeting them.