Patriotic Decorating with Crafty Ribbon Flag

 Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are enjoying some 

sweet summer pastimes.

This special season goes by quickly, so I am trying to 

savor every moment. 

Especially with time spent outdoors. 

Now that we are 'retired', we love 

just hanging out at home and making our little 

slice of paradise as cozy as possible. 

Most of you know that I love decorating for holidays

and that usually involves some type of sewing or craft project. 

For Independence Day, I decided to try my hand at making 

a fun ribbon flag! 

I found the idea in an old issue of one of my favorite magazines. 

It's from the summer of 2018. 

It was so easy and quick to do. 

I used a straight stick (a dowel would work, too), 

and went through my stash of ribbons and trims 

for anything red and white. 

Rick-rack, lace, seam binding, holiday ribbons - it all works. 

I cut them all to length, starting with the widest ribbons. 

For the length, I just went by sight. 

It would depend on how large you want your flag to be. 

I hot-glued the widest ribbons on first, spacing them out evenly

and filled in with the rest.

Then I cut a rectangle of blue from a tea-towel and fringed the edges

a bit and sewed on buttons from my collection for 'stars'. 

(The magazine flag used denim and fabric paint to stamp stars.) 

Once that was glued on, I covered the front edge of the stick with 

a length of rick-rack to hide the glue. 

I tied a string to both ends to make a hanger. 

And Voila'! 

It looks so pretty with the sun shining through it, fluttering in the breeze! 

(The bottom corner of the blue cloth curled up a bit)

It only took me a couple of hours of an enjoyable afternoon, 

using my deck table as a work surface. 

Of course, I had to sew a cushion cover to match! 

I used two patriotic handkerchiefs I found at my local department store. 

Flags and potted geraniums complete the patriotic theme. 

I found the red bucket and vintage sign at a flea market a while back. 

I had almost forgotten that I had them and had to go searching...

The Mr. recently replaced the top of my little potting bench. 

xx

I just love it. 

xx

Even my hummingbird feeder adds to the theme. :)

Kai seems to approve. 

I continued the patriotic theme with a sweet table setting, too. 

Everything was gathered over time. It's fun when it all comes together. 

I just found the red gingham plates. 

I had the blue enamel dishes and the utensils are from way back when. 

xx

I plopped the flags into a vintage Pepsi bottle. 

I put my flag pillow on the daybed to bring the theme inside. 

I made it from tea-towels a couple of years ago. 

A little bowl of leftover trims. 

xx

Even though we won't be home to celebrate Independence Day, 

I wanted to show my patriotic spirit! 

I think it is pretty enough to keep all summer. 

It has a sweet 'picnic' vibe. 

I hope all of my American friends have a fun and safe 4th. 

We will be going to my daughter, Jennie's lake house 

with the family. There will be a bbq and even a little boat parade! 

I'll be sure to take some photos to share. 

Happy Independence Day!! 

xx

"True Patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, 

freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people 

on earth. 

-Eleanor Roosevelt-

"I think Patriotism is like charity - it begins at home."

-Henry James-

"We're blessed with the opportunity to stand for something - for

liberty and freedom and fairness. 

And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting 

our lives to."

-Ronald Reagan-

"The fate of America cannot depend on any one man. 

The greatness of America is grounded in principles

and not any single personality."

-Franklin Roosevelt-

"Ask not what your country can do for you, 

ask what you can do for your country."

-John F. Kennedy-

xx

The Ads of Christmas Past

 

Hello Dear Friends, now that Christmas is just around the corner, 

I thought it would be fun to travel back in time 

to the advertisements of Christmas past! 

xx

These Cody gift sets were beautiful, and who wouldn't wear 

a red ball-gown with black elbow-length gloves

while opening them all under a gigantic melting tree? 

xx

This ad is so cute with the old glass display case, 

the sweet little boys with snow on their boots, 

and the adorable dog with jacket. 

But can you imagine children buying a lighter? 

Times have certainly changed, thank goodness! 

xx

Here's an Avon ad from 1966. 

You can see why the bottles and jars are so collectible. 

I love this ad with the vintage stove and kitchen, 

and of course, the wonderful vintage Plymouth. 

So many wonderful details! 

A whisk broom hung on the cabinet and the notes 

on the calendar are two of them. 

Another great Plymouth ad. 

But what's up with the big, white reindeer head?

This ad is from 1960. 

The era of 'fins' and white-wall tires. 

I do like the color, but the style is a 'bit much'. 

Back in the days when you could drive your car

right onto the ski run, I guess. 

haha! xx

I would much rather have this little beauty! 

Wouldn't this be a nice Christmas surprise! 

For all the 'foodies' in your life, a new, shiny appliance 

is a welcome gift! Especially if they looked like one of these vintage beauties.

Or how about the aluminum Christmas tree? 

I really like the fabulous 50's pink dress, too.  

My Dad worked for Reynold's Aluminum as a tool and die maker. 

He was also the President

of his local Steelworker's Union there.  

He was a hard worker, a kind person, and a devoted family man. 

I miss him, especially this time of year. 

This is an attractive ad, but a little misleading.

It promotes Pepsi as a 'light' refreshment. 

Oh, how innocent we used to be...

I do love the colors of her pretty outfit 

with her gold bracelets and slippers. 

Another ad promoting the same line. 

Don't you love her pretty red suit? 

He's thinking, "Gee, she sure is pretty, 

but what's going on with that hat?"

xx

I collect Whitman Sampler boxes for my sewing room. 

They are sturdy with pretty designs for different holidays. 

I have cardboard ones like this, and also some tin ones. 

They are great for storing little odds and ends.

She's thinking, "Gee, I wonder if I will get to eat any before he gobbles 

them all up, but at least I'll have the box."

This one could be an advertisement for a movie thriller. 

Is she thinking, "I'm finally getting my silver spoons", 

or 

is she desperately clutching the angel because she is 

being held hostage? 

Gives new meaning to the words, 

"Yours to live with...Yours to love...For Keeps". 

Just look at her face and you decide. 

xx

A holiday party - maybe old friends?

Again, I love all of the details in this illustration. 

The jewelry, the clothes, even a 5 o'clock shadow on the guys. 

Obviously, an ad for some type of beer. 

It does look refreshing! 

Wouldn't it be nice to get the keys to a Cadillac for Christmas!?

Love the angel in the tree. 

I had a boyfriend in high-school who picked me up 

every morning in a vintage pink Cadillac that looked 

very much like this one. 

Ramblin' Man and I had broken up and 

this boy was waiting in the wings...

He brought me a sugar donut and a red rose 

every day, and was so sweet and nice, 

but alas, my heart belonged to someone else. 

xx

Honestly, who wants a vacuum cleaner for Christmas? 

Especially this big clunker. 

I used to have my own one-woman cleaning business 

and usually used my own little canister vacuum. 

But this one obnoxious gentleman I worked for insisted I use his very 

old and very heavy upright vacuum that looked just like this. 

It weighed more than I did! 

Someday I will tell you some of the crazy tales of my days as 'the little housekeeper'. 

What's not to love about this ad? 

Cute little pooches and a nice bottle of Scotch. 

Another nice illustration. 

Love the beautiful clothes, the pretty buildings, and the nice leather watches. 

Have you ever gone caroling? 

When I was young, my sister and I always 

joined in with the neighborhood carolers. 

It was so fun, and so many people offered us nice treats. 

One house even had home-made donuts, 

coffee and hot chocolate. 

Who doesn't love Barbie? 

Her swinging chair and ski set are darling. 

I never knew Barbie had wigs - how fun! 

Coca-Cola always had the best advertisements. 

All the little elves are hard at work and Santa looks 

so happy and friendly. 

Check out his wonderful window with the heart shutters. 

My Mom and Dad always decorated their front fence with red lights 

like these. 

For many years these larger bulbs were hard to find, 

but they have recently become popular once more. 

The vintage packaging is highly collectible. 

Love these. 

Tree candy. 

Another wonderful Pepsi ad. 

Love the purple tree and all the pretty dresses and shoes. 

This is such a soft, pretty ad. 

This is a wonderful advertisement. 

The glowing horizon, the city street with vintage cars and decorated trees, the snow...

the shop's glow on the sidewalk - you feel like you are right there, ready to walk in. 

This is a great ad for Thermos, showing many of their products 

as they are being used and wrapped by this Marilyn Monroe look-alike. 

I love them all and the plaid carry-all is really special. 

This appears to be the same Santa as the previous Coca-Cola ad. 

There's no sense improving on a good thing! 

The year is 1945 and times are good, the war is over, 

and people are ready to celebrate

with new cars and new dreams. 

Back when televisions were in their infancy. 

I do love the portable model, 

but at $199. 95, I don't think I would 

have been able to afford it back when 

that would most likely be a month's salary! 

If you are a fan of old movies, (and old crooner's), 

you will recognize these famous fellows. 

Arthur Godfrey, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Bob Hope.

There's nothing like a carton of smokes for Christmas! 

Holy smokes! 

Bob Hope traveled around the world visiting the troops

with various beauties and stars for 50 years - through WWII, 

to the Gulf War, for the USO (United Service Organization).

My Dad was stationed in Cold Bay Alaska on a remote outpost

in the Aleutian Islands during the Korean War, when he was in the Army Air Corps, 

and got to sit next to Bob when he 

came to entertain the troops with Martha Raye one lonely Thanksgiving. 

They didn't have turkey, so they ate wild goose. 

I guess you could say his goose was cooked. 

xx

I have the movie camera that my Dad took all of his home movies with. 

It is similar to this one.

Unfortunately, the movies are long gone.  

Times were so hard during WWII, and everyone had to do their part. 

Don't you just love her pin-curls and little red pinafore?

My Dad smoked a pipe. 

I have one of them. 

It still smells faintly of his favorite 

apple scented tobacco. 

Although a toaster doesn't seem to me to be the 'perfect gift', 

if it was this little beauty, 

I might make an exception! 

The price is $22.00. 

Considering that the average yearly household income 

was $3,320 in 1948, 

this seems expensive to me. 

We complain about prices today, but they have always 

kept pace with the average salary. 

I'll leave you with this marvelous little illustration. 

Judging by the cars and the styles, it looks like the early 1960's. 

There are so many wonderful details! 

A happy holiday scene. 

We need to treasure these sweet, simple moments of daily life.

xx

I hope that you enjoyed this little trip back to the days of

Christmas Past, Dear Friends!

xx 

Which one is your favorite? 

xoxo