Something Vintage – Or: Mastering the Science of Right Living

It started out as another morning run to the farmer’s market – this time for peaches.

The sunflowers were amazing and so, too, were the other veggies. It was attracting quite a crowd.

But the big crowd pleaser was the annual vintage car ride, going north on Old 27 from Coldwater in the south to Cheboygan on the northern coast, bordering Lake Michigan.

It was the route we all used to travel, long before expressways. It was the route I remembered my parents taking north when I was just a little kid.

As they parked in the reserved spots on Main Street, it looked like a step back in time.

I couldn’t help admiring some with my favorite blue…

…and a brilliant yellow.

Of course, there were lots of people looking…

…and the drivers made it quite convenient!

All of the cars were in terrific shape, and it was great fun to see them on parade.

In an effort to avoid the traffic, I decided to take the back roads through town and saw a sign for an estate sale. Everything was half-off or fill a bag for five dollars. When one of the first thing I spotted was these, I knew it was going to be very, very good!

It’s amazing how much stuff you can stuff into a plastic grocery bag, like all of these books, some music, some poetry – all for ripping up and gluing to something else! (Although I think I’ll hold onto the 1932 World Book annual, which with its pre-war era is quite fascinating.)

I loved this “diorama” picture – I have a couple and remember making up stories about them as a kid. This one was in great shape.

A few cat baubles – and someone’s Santa pic in a pretty paper frame.

Bottle brush trees – a couple were old; most not, but they’ll be fine for bleaching!

Vintage linens – two pairs of pillowcases and three tablecloths – two are here…

…and here is the other.

This one is large and has a wonderful berry border.

I manage to squeeze the cute little kitty dresser scarf in, too!

And these three pink glass pieces – two are depression glass, the other I just liked!

And here are those paper dolls again, with their already-cut wardrobe (thank you!)

I loved how each one was named. Sometimes twice!

And if you wonder how those peaches looked in that dish – well, I think they were great!

If that wasn’t a good enough day, there was art time. I painted some of my paper clay embellishments…

…and finished up a half-done piece I’m still not sure I’m satisfied with, but it’s better.

Lizzie Cosette lapped up trying to escape from the porch…

…and the nights had glorious sunsets.

I would say that with out a doubt, at least at this time, on this day, I am the…  well, I’ll let the book title speak for itself.

Now if only Labor Day is as lovely! I'm off now!

Enjoy!

Pack It Up! An Altered Vintage Train Case

Headed out on a holiday anytime soon? Next time I go, I'll be taking a weekend's worth of art supplies in my new altered train case!

Dusty DeHaven of SmittenDust has opened a wonderful new studio in mid-Michigan and bringing in a variety of local and out-of-towners to teach (including Kari McKnight Holbrook and Jen Crossley in May!).

I was fortunate to attend the first workshop in her new studio, where we altered vintage hard surfaced train cases, the kind people our mom's ages (well, my mom's age!) used to use!

Dusty is a good teacher. She brought several of her own to inspire us, gave us a great supply list prior to the class, and we were ready to go.

It also helped having her bring several samples she already did. There was variety and you could see all the ways one might go.

 

The case I had was blue and had nice pockets within. I covered the bottom with an Asian cat fabric (thank you, Jane Rosemont's Garage Sale!). We used polymer medium to stick the fabric to the case.

 

The top was covered with pages from several French books and some additional collaged bits.

I wasn't pleased with how some of the polymer medium was showing through the light fabric. Thanks to good suggestions from the class, a light and gently tinted polymer glaze was strategically placed. It pulled in the green in the fabric as well as covering the trouble spots!

Dusty helped us with putting cork on the bottom of the case to keep the fabric tidy.

 

And a caution -- if you are using a fabric with a specific pattern, matching can be a challenge. Here's the back of mine.

Of course you do the inside, too!

What's fun is that everyone's was different. Here's a photo of Jan who used bright and cheery colors. Very different from mine and Dusty's, which of course is the point!

Because I didn't have all the embellishments I needed from home, I finished mine later. But basically, the class (which was $47) went from 10-4 and because I couldn't finish I was done with the lion's share of  the project at 3:30. That time frame (and cost) included a very nice lunch.

At home I finished off the plastic handle, wrapping it with silk ribbon and added several buttons inside and out.

And when it's good to go -- it looks just like this!

Three cheers to Dusty for creating a space filled with mixed media opportunities right here in mid-Michigan.

If you're in the mid-Michigan area and interested in learning about upcoming SmittenDust classes, visit the site HERE. There are several good ones coming up (including workshops with Kari McKnight Holbrook!)

For more detailed instructions on how to create your own train case, and to get to know Dusty better, check out Dusty's this Detroit News article HERE.

The Scary Masks of Krampus

Last March, as part of a greater exhibit on masks, our MSU Museum had a lovely small exhibit on "The Scary Mask of Krampus.

In Southern Germany and Austria, St. Nicholas comes to visit children on December 5 to see if they have been well behaved and done their schoolwork.

If they have, they receive a treat. If not, they have to answer to Krampus, the devilish and frightening traveling companion of the good St. Nicholas.

The exhibited depicted the good St. Nick and the evil Krampus.

Also included were other Santa masks, advertising and ephemera. (The mask below is from J.C. Penney Company.)

The beautifully curated exhibit (by the museum's Val Berryman, the ultimate holiday fan!) all featured masks (a theme at the museum this year) and other displayed items had some relationship to the story of Krampus or to Santa in general.

Collectively, the exhibit helps tell the story of "Santa" and the advantages of "being good" in cultures around the world. while also emphasizing the merriment and the intrigue of being concealed by a mask.

In Russia, Grandfather Frost is the Russian Version of Santa Claus. He and his granddaughter Snegurochka come to the children on New Year's Eve, rather than Christmas. The travel in a sleigh pulled by three horses.

Grandfather Frost pulls his gifts from a babushka or a scarf he has made into a bag.

The exhibit combines the vintage and the contemporary.

This Krampus mask (above) was made in 2004 in the shop of woodcarver Josef Streitfelder (Berchtesgaden, Germany) by his 26-year-old son, Stefan. Stefan also plays Krampus in the December 5 and 6 Saint Nicholas processions.

Modern day masks reflect Hollywood horror movie demons, such as the one above, made with real goat horns and fur pelts from long-meadow sheep.

Marketers have never been immune to using Santa to their advantage. The mask above was one given to children to promote a Christmas Savings Club at a bank in Auburn, Maine. (1930s/'40s)

This mask (linen-backed paper) was given out by the M&R Show Company of Toledo, Ohio.

This beautifully rendered mask (1920s-30s) advertises Bradley's Knit Wear.

Even restaurants took advantage of the "merry old elf." The menu below was given to children dining at the restaurant in the Strawbridge and Clothiers chain in Pennsylvania and Delaware in the 1940s and '50s.

The menu is printed on the back, with a full meal costing about 50 to 65 cents!

Of course, commercialism in the holidays and using Santa's image to sell is nothing new!

Santa appeared in a Parker Pens ad, while everyone familiar with Whitman Chocolates know they pull the heartstrings to sell candy at the holidays.

Many masks in the display were given as advertising premiums by various businesses, so even children could play Santa Claus. In larger stores, Santa himself handed out the masks. This jolly elf came from Mellingers, a California grocery store, estimated to be late 20th century.

The Book of Magic was a special children's section in the December 25, 1921 edition of the Boston Sunday Advertiser.

It had a two-page spread with an oversized, full color Santa Claus mask. The user would cut it out and mount card board or fabric.

If you have some of these more recent boxes in your stash, consider yourself lucky!

This exhibit not only looked at the older, more traditional masks, but those from contemporary technology as well.

The advent of plastic offered cheap masks, not designed to last more than a season, the one below is late 1960s-70s (Hong Kong).

We started this post talking about Krampus. If you think he's only a character of German and Austrian holiday lore, think again!

The Grinch clearly has Krampus origins and he remains a holiday favorite today.

To see related posts on other MSU Museum holiday exhibits from years past, check out THIS POST (Santa adverting), THIS POST (Holiday Crackers) or THIS ONE (Christmas tea tins).

(My thanks to the MSU Museum, on the campus of Michigan State University. Val Berryman has curated a new exhibit and I hope to get over there in the next week or so, so that I can share it with you! And all the info in this post is from that posted by Val at the site. Thanks!)