Storytelling Saturday: Objects That Tell Tales

Here's another antique find, this time found inside a storage tub labeled "Sewing & Craft Items" that I stumbled  upon in a little local thrift store that specializes in storage locker finds. The box was full of great stuff: vintage patterns, old embroidery kits & even an old hair pin box, but one of the most interesting finds was this little squirrel pincushion, probably from the 30's. It's heavier than you would think, for it's size, more than likely filled with a sand type substance, rather than a newer fiberfill type toy. The squirrel design makes it look more like an old child's toy, pressed into service as a pincushion, than something that was deliberately made as a pincushion & this may be the case, given its age. Re-purposing was a hallmark of the 30's (& earlier), when clothes were passedd from child to child until they could no longer be worn & then cut into pieces to make quilts for winter. Anything that could be used, was used & re-used in a variety of forms & even art was done on & with re-purposed materials. The squirrel has pins in it, the stuffing material seems to be great at keeping the pins sharp, but it seems likely to have started out as a childs toy. What memories did this little sqirrel hold, for adult & child alike? Was it a favorite toy? Was it filled with memories of a child, long since grown up? Of a mother lovingly stitching away for that child? For her family? Of course, we'll never really know, but it's fun to think of all the stories this little creature holds...

Favorite Things: Week One

Gorgeous old house in Savannah, GA...

Amazing home in California...

Doorway
Savannah, GA

















Beautiful houses & architectural details...

Our country was built on freedom: freedom to travel, freedom to create, freedom to build lives, homes & businesses, freedom to succeed & freedom to fail, to leave behind a legacy or fade into obscurity, no guarantees, but freedom, nonetheless...

Happy 4th of July!



* All photos are the property of the photographer. Please do not copy without permission.

12 Days of Christmas

Recently, my mother sent me this great piece (author unknown) all about different Christmas traditions around the world (some with gorgeous photos) & at the very end of this piece was a description of the hidden meaning in the 12 days of Christmas song. It was an interesting bit of history:
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
While I can't top the story, it sparked an idea to do a 12 days of Christmas promotion, so for each day until Christmas I will post a Christmas special through my shop/shops on Twitter. If you don't already follow, add me to you list so that you can see the specials. For anyone who does not have a Twitter account, I will edit this post, each day to include these specials.
Do you know of any interesting holiday historical facts?
I hope everyone has a wonderful '12 days of Christmas' or is having a great season, whatever holidays you do or do not celebrate! SAM

Day one: Vintage rhinestone 'party' pin set with case

Day 2 Tattoo Sailor Girl Sails the Seas of Peace OOAK skirt

Day 3 The King & Queen of Hearts framed embroidery set

Day 4 While the City Sleeps Messenger Bag

Day 5 Hidden Dragons bag

Day 6 Peace, Love & Balance a small easel framed embroidery samsstuff on ArtFire

Day 7 Pink Keepsake Box

Day 8 Rhinestone Hearts & Skulls Bracelet

Day 9 Peace Dots Keepsake Box

Day 10 Sunshine Keepsake Box


Day 11 Peace & Balance Choker

Day 12 Pretty Bird Bracelet

I've gotten behind on this (work, etc.) I'll catch up & leave everything up until 1/1/10. Buy a little something for yourself? New Year's? Start early for Valentine's Day?