New Digital Software...more to come later!

Update: 10/16/11

This past weekend we got to go for a little ride to Ky and ended up at the Florence Antique Mall. Alas, we didn't find anything we had to have, but I did spy this cute booth that made me smile.........

Just full of red and white goodies. And, we did see the most interesting folks in other booths............

There were frightfully fun to visit with. Then on Sunday afternoon we stopped at a nieghbor who was having

an Estate Sale where I found all this vintage booty........

Of course I found some vintage embroidery and a toaster cover that'll make great appliques, as well as these hand-tatted doilies. Naturally I couldn't pass on a few vintage cookbooks. This one from the State of Maine, Potato Cookbook, is my favorite. It's from the late 40 early 50's, but what is really cool is I think it may have been the inspiration for my neighbors kitchen/family room when they built the home in the 50's...at least it sure looks like this.

I found a pack of found an old pack of dressmakers transfer paper...wasn't gonna show the pic, but what I noticed was the price tag when I got home. It's from an old department store called Arlan's here in Cincy. It was slightly more upscale than Woolworth's, but it was a visit made at least once a week when at my Grandma's. Sadly, it closed in 1969-70.

The tablecloth is the one I got from Cindy Adkins, but the large checked napkin (3) is a find and I'm gonna make a little runner I think of the 3. Mrs. Butterworth never looked so good. My Nieghbor loved to paint...er...dress her in country cookin finery. And, yes another Cookbook!

I was so happy to find that sweet little rose planter in the basement and find it's mark......

I also, found this little transferware saucer with its
mark.....................

We also purchased a vintage hand-plow our Nieghbor let my Dad borrow when we put in our first veggie garden in '77 when we first moved in. The wood is a little weathers, it's missing a handle end and has a wonderful rusted patina on the plow attatchments now, but it'll look great as a garden ornie. There is also a vintage mirror Jim found in the basement from the 30-40's, but  it needs some work before it makes a pic debut. Wonder what the cost of all this vintage goodness was?........$16.00

The past weekend was a good one. Think next weekend will be a clean the yard one since it's supposed to be nice. Don't forget to read on about some software I won and the digi art I created. Oh, and rememb er to visit all the blog parties too!

See I'm Back. Sorry for the blog interruption, but I had to check out this new software. I am soooo excited.

A week or two ago I entered a giveaway, sponsored by My Memories over at

Daniella Hayes' blog ...................................

'Daniella Hayes....Layers of  Creativity. and, boy is it ever chocked full of creativity. If you haven't stopped by check her out here...........

Well, seems I was the lucky recipient of her  giveaway which was a digital software package called,

'My Memories Suite'. Now you all have heard and some have personally seen how digitally impaired I am...

no snickering or giggles......but after going over the software for two days...OMG it is SUITE. ...er...SWEET!

And, the My Memories site it wonderful. Filled with inspiration, kits, ideas.....oh you have got to visit them.

Here, after you see what I did below..relatively quickly....go to

Alright.  You've already seen my first digi design in the ad for my Etsy Shop, Apronation. remember these are my first practice designs, sooooooo...............

This is form of art is definately outta  the box for me, but it is awesome!

Dont' forget to join all my Blogpals at my Weekly Blog Parties HERE to see other artworks, vintage finds,

and meet some really fun folks!

Seen What's Cookin' at Brown Gingham?

Have you seen what's been cookin' at Brown Gingham? As you probably already know I love vintage aprons. All types, colors, and motifs. I have begun collecting them to add to my line of designs.

I hand-embroider and embellish them

On this one I embroidered the cart and embellished with rhinestone studs and a 1940's button that looked like a wheelhub.With all the flowers, if you look closely I accented with butterfly appliques.

This fun find was tucked in some baskets on a shelf in a ladies storage area.

Its a 1940's souvenir apron from the Ohio State Fair. Its was a wonderful chiffon with a flocked design. I added little buttons where the ties and apron body come together for reinforcement. It still had the sale tag on it!!

I'm even getting ready for Christmas with holiday motif aprons. This was in good condition, but the flocking was worn..a few simple embroidery stitches and it's like new!

I was really excited by my newest find........

This Child's apron of spring green gingham was accented by matching cross stitch. Add some daisy appliques and utensil charms and it's a little cook's best accessory. I even found this to accompany it....

Doesn't it make a cute gift set?

All my apron creations come with a little vintage cook book...I think it looks so forlorn or incomplete without one. Truly I don't know which is more fun creating the apron or looking for the vintage cook books? And, Ive been warned about bringing in new cookbooks to my collection...we'll start to see some new Nascar collectibles and sports memorabilia if I don't' thin it out!!!!

My favorite creation with a cookin' theme has to have been the one that took me the longest to find all the components.

I began with the 1940's doll in her original tattered satin dress with plain apron. I reworked the dress, embroidered the apron with little daisies and added vintage hand-crocheted edging that matched the faded satin. Her maid bonnet missing, I replaced it with a new crocheted and beaded 'tam'. Her eyelet wings began as 1960's ruffles. The cutting board and wooded spoon were easy. The vintage recipe box was tricky to locate. I needed to find one to compliment the dolls color combo....voile'. A wonderful 1960's metal Stylcraft recipe box in a colonial motif fit nicely! It even still has the sale tag glued to the bottom with the Pogue's name and price! For those not from the Cincy area, this was a fashionable Department Store into the late 70's until after a couple of sales is now Macy's It even contained the original recipe cards that the previous owner collected. I tied it together with bits of the edging and eyelet. Weeks later I found this wonderful baking cookbook.........

It's 1940 Hostess Book of Baking Recipes distributed by the General Foods Corp. advertising the Swan's Down Cake Flour and Calumet Baking Powder. What makes it sooooo unusual is the vintage 1940's doll motif in the photo shots.

You all know how I love vintage cook book's so this was really hard to part with since it's so different! But, it really completed this design. I thought it'd be great on a kitchen counter..or remove the book and close the lid..it becomes a nice centerpiece for the kitchen or dining room table.

What do ya think?

My last little view is of a creation yet to be finished...didn't realize how much stitching would go into this!! but it'll be worth it....

The top picture is a 1930-40 apron that I will have to hand-embroider and embellish . Aren't those little flower carts too cute? The next pic is a wonderful 1940's card table cloth with napkins that matches the apron..won't that be a ....fun set? This is what I started on first...wow are there a lot of little stitches in this, but I will get it done..............before my next craft show......

I hope.........it'll definitely be on my Etsy site.(sigh)

Have you started a new project or found something wonderfully vintage you didn't expect to find? I'd love to hear about it!

It has been a very busy past month. Now that it is June I can now slow down a bit for summer. I love to relax on my porch swing and just sew away....when I'm home. Around here it's flea market season, yard sale time, and antique hunting season. Last weekend we went to the Ohio Valley Antique Mall. We hadn't stopped by there for a couple of months, so things seemed to be

bustling. They have added new vendors in some of the empty booths and are adding additional booths to lease. Glad to see that. Everyone seems to be geared for a good summer as far as vintage is concerned. Booths were filled. I guess it was a book day.

In one of the first booths we went in they had a basket of old cookbooks...if you haven't read one of my past posts I love vintage cookbooks.....hardcover, pamphlets, cookware inserts, it doesn't matter (check out my side panel for the Vintage Alphabet March C for Cookbook). These two delightful Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks help to complete my set. I have 6, that was all I thought there were, but it must have been a 12 set collection. Now I have to find the last 4! Don't you just love searching? There are some really good ideas in the party cookbook and the exotic dishes in the foreign cookbook would be great for a gathering....hum do I smell the grill??

The next booths have interesting offerings, but nothing jumped into my hands. Wait..........what is that peeking out from under a tablecloth....another basket filled with vintage soft cover cookbooks and pamphlets.

Eureka! A 1953 cookbook pamphlet....Home Baking Made Easy for the beginner or expert. It was published by the Lever Bros. Co. For Spry Vegetable Shortening. This will go perfect with a young girl/child's apron I found several weeks ago at the Webb's Antique Mall in Indiana. I need to get my vintage transfers...let's see, which to choose.....dancing bowls, singing silverware...
In past posts I mentioned finding vintage towels given away at the Ruth Lyons Show ...Google her to find out some interesting Cincy TV history.......during the 40's-50's. I turned one into a lovely pillow with hand-embroidery highlighting the floral frame, portrait of Ruth Lyons and her signature.

Well, what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a book I've been searching for to complete the set.

This book tells the story of her life. Her loves, The tragedies...the loss of her beloved daughter.... and people she met along the way, the famous and celebrity.

It was a surprisingly good read. I loved the trip down memory lane of all the old actors of the vintage films and the TV personalities of the 60's. I'm going to list this on my website with the pillow as a set. I'm debating on placing on Etsy too.

Well, my trip through the antique mall it almost done. Oh boy, another stack of books......

I love, love the illustration of this 1945 General Foods Favorite Recipes For Country Kitchen. The inside black and white stills and illustrations are just as great. I had to snatch it up at only $3. If you look real close you'll notice 'Mom' is wearing an apron that was made to match her dress and so is the little girl. Isn't that so... 40's? I was thinking of adding this to a themed apron, but sorry, this is mine. I can't bear to part with it. It reminds me of my great Grand-Parents (both sides) old farms and gardens. I may frame this for a kitchen wall hanging...maybe in a way so it can be easily taken out and used.....gotta think on that one.

Seems my trip through the antique mall was a 'fruitful' one with a lot of ideas 'cookin' in my mind. Have you been to any good antique malls lately? Have you made any cool vintage finds?

Let's here about it. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Thanks for visiting!

Melody

Vintage Alphabet

This Month's Vintage Alphabet is "C" for Cookbooks
Spring is finally beginning to bloom all over. We're all thinking of flowers and vegetable gardens, re-doing our 'Outdoor Rooms' and making plans for entertaining around the grill. Food is a major part of the Spring and Summer picnics, potlucks, and social gatherings. I use cookbooks and recipes to help create themes for my get together's. I might create a cowboy theme using my Lodge skillets, enamelled dishes, and the Cowboy Cookbook. An Amish quilt party would be planned using my Dutch oven for chicken and dumplings and the Amish Cookbook. A retro patio party would be cool using my 1950's serving trays and recipes from one of my Better Homes and Garden Cookbooks.

I began collecting recipes..hand-writing them....at the age of 10. I purchased this wooden box in 1970 and filled it by the time I was 12.
Even back then I found these bits of paper as treasures to be saved. I wondered who had used them, what occasions were celebrated with them, and wondered how old the recipe was. As I find myself perusing antique malls and flea market those questions still intrigue me today, but now the vintage cookbooks seem more like snippets of time. They give us an insight into the kitchens of the past and to the homemakers who used them. Below you will find some of my favorite vintage (and not so vintage) cookbooks. Maybe they can give you some ideas for your own gatherings and, hopefully, while your out antique/flea/thrift/estate sale/yard sale cruising you'll find your own copies or equally wonderful vintage cookbooks.

These were the first two cookbooks I purchased to begin my collection. The Pioneer Cookbook is from 1970 and Colonial Kitchen Herbs from 1972.

The page on the left, from the Pioneer Cookbook, shows recipes that were the first things I'd ever baked all by myself. The other two pages are from the Colonial Cookbook and they still help me create more flavorful dishes. I use these books to create old timey birthday and Christmas gifts.
You can enlarge these three pages to copy.

These two books are just plain fun. Aunt Bea's Mayberry Cookbook and Aunt Bea's Delightful Desserts are a collection of recipes that Aunt Bea would have made with love for Andy and Opie. Some are recipes from certain episodes, and others are given by people who worked on the show. Throughout you'll find food related snippets from episodes, show memories, and even recipes from the diner in Andy Griffith's real hometown in North Carolina. I love to plan a menu Mayberry style and watch old episodes while eating.

During the 1930, 40, and 50's, small pamphlets were distributed by food companies like the ones shown here. These small jewels were big on impact when advertising. The graphics and colors are wonderful and the recipes, tips, and serving suggestions were and are still very useful. They are readily available and quite inexpensive. When I create a vintage inspired apron I always like to include a vintage food pamphlet. It adds a warmth to the fabric, it even lends a theme to the apron for a gift set.

This over-sized pamphlet was distributed by the General Foods Co. in 1940. I was so excited when I found it last summer. As you can see by the cover, it has been very used and there are checks by recipes that the homemaker found

especially good. Each chapter begins with a calender and each day has a corresponding recipe suggested for the day. If you click on the pic it should enlarge for a better view. I love to open the calender and see what surprise I can make for Jim on that day.

I found this Better Homes and Gardens All-time favorites Cookbook in the late 90's through Publisher's Clearinghouse, of all places. It has great recipes spanning the 1930's-1990's. A little over a year ago I found the Better Homes and Gardens Best Buffet cookbook from 1960. Over a little time I found the trio of books dating from the late 1950's.

The pages above gives a little insight as to how food was presented and served. Even the picnic seems fancy.

Last month I found these Better Homes and Garden Cookbooks.

Pies and Cakes, Dessert, and Holiday.They are later dates of the 60's, but just as colorful and full of inspiration.

These books, The Ball Book published by the Ball Canning Jar Co from 1939 and the McCall's Cook Book from 1940, were both my Grandma's. I love her hand-written notes and the accumulated recipes she clipped from the newspaper, magazines, food packaging, and appliance manufacturers. I would love to have a canning party utilizing some of the wonderful recipes in the Ball Book, but alas my kitchen is too small. I do use the McCall book quite a lot for everyday cooking ideas. When I use the books....Grandma just seems closer. Maybe that's why I like vintage cookbooks, all the accumulated memories fill the pages too.

I hope you have been inspired to get your old cookbooks out and decorate with them. They add quick splashes of color. Have a get together and surprize the invited to a vintage spread or give your family some old fashioned goodness you don't find at the drive-thru . Vintage cookbooks are chocked full of suggetions and memories.