Biased Against Boys

So says my husband as we’re hanging this charming oil painting last night. His point was that I seem to pick up art that shows women or girls and not those with men. He does have a point. I think it all goes back to my love of Old Dutch Masters art – especially those scenes painted by Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684). He is often overshadowed these days by Johannes Vermeer but de Hooch’s art was so peaceful and filled with light that it’s worth turning to Google and looking him up. Studying and traveling to see these works has shaped those things that catch my eye, and invariably they include females.

This charming oil was in an on-line presale recently for a local church rummage sale (there’s a great word for what I love to do – rummage: search unsystematically and untidily through a mass). She is painted on a linoleum-type board which creates the odd dot texture. However, her colors and brushwork appealed to me so I bought her sight unseen for $50. The signature is a mystery and no date, but I’m putting her in the 1970s based on the coloring.  

The image is timeless which is something that always appeals to me. A young girl in a fancy outfit tying her white shoes. The detail spent on her hair and face, with the recognition of deep shadow is very well executed. And, of course, the triangle shape she makes is a classic painting device which attracts the eye. Geometry shows up even in paintings (and quilting!) and while you may not be aware of it, it informs those works that are well done. The style is very Impressionist as there is no real focus on details around her – unlike those paintings by de Hooch which could almost seem photographic. This piece reminds me of a dear sister with her dark hair – the only one of my siblings with dark hair as had my mother – so I will call her Jane. Sorry Dick, I really do prefer Jane.

Quirky Pieces Too

This sculpture caught my eye and I took it home from a thrift store for a few dollars. Why did it catch my eye? Parts of it were clearly old, it was one of a kind, handmade, and a little bit quirky.

How did I sense the wood was old? As a child I would go to flea markets of varying types with my mom in CT in the 1970s. These were very primitive outdoor sales compared to what we attend now a days. I recall one day she bought a long piece of wood. Seemed odd to me – about as long as my arm and as thick as my thigh (stop the jokes – not listening). It had a bunch of metal embedded in it, especially a band at the top and bottom. Mom explained it was a very old (this was in the 1970s so we’re talking mid 1800s) printing roll for fabric or wallpaper. The raised designs would press against the fabric with dye and create a repeat pattern. Obviously they would wear out, or be made obsolete by industrial improvement. Mom had it wired into a lamp, which was in their home for many years. The wood on this sculpture has the very same feel, with the bands and the nailed design.

The clock baffles me though. The original timepiece could not be repaired and I replaced it. Based on the age of the (very yellow) original one, the entire thing is likely 1970s. But back to the clock – just why? Was there a hole in the wood that needed to be filled and the timepiece fit the bill? Or was the idea to make a very quirky clock? Got me.

The top wired structure is rather industrious. Have you ever tried to bend wire into a pleasing shape? Good luck to you. How this was done is a mystery, though I suspect there were structures involved to wrap around. The two birds in the trees are adorable. Wooden carved one and wire built one. And not just a tree or two, a veritable forest, complete with small toadstools.

The charm of these silly items never ceases to make me smile. Love all the quirky pieces out there. People too.

Forget the Silver, I Covet the Quilt!

Starting a blog has introduced me to many new ideas, contacts and information. One wonderful upshot has been connecting with people near and far. After my post regarding my great grandfather Ben Strong, I heard from my New Zealand cousin, and he shared a document he’s working on cataloging all the family heirlooms my Aunt and Uncle have in NZ.  It appears that while my mother had not a single sentimental bone in her body, my dad’s younger brother and his charming NZ wife most certainly did.

My mom blithely got rid of all sorts of things that had been in the family. I distinctly remember a sterling silver wedding bowl gifted to my grandparents by some men’s club members which was in a box of old family things in our attic in Darien. That hit the garbage. The Strong family bible I remember her throwing out in 1987 in Pittsburgh. A number of items my parents had also ended up being handed “down” to my Aunt and Uncle, who then moved their 2 young sons to NZ in 1985.

 According to my cousin’s write up, there is a huge chest of drawers which is identified as having been given to my aunt and uncle by  my parents “when they were redoing Erica’s room which came from the Litchfield, Ct property.” Good grief! That most certainly is not making the journey back across the sea.

Now, the silver! I think it’s a good thing my aunt and uncle had all this as I suspect my mother would have sold it all to be melted down back in the 1980s when silver was sky high. There is a huge sterling tea set, numerous large bowls, gravy boat, bread basket, lots of silverware (including a fruit set – knives and forks specifically for eating fruit), and the most astonishing standing sterling silver jewelry box (yes envy). To say nothing of the Tiffany enamel smoking set owned by Ben Strong (double digit envy).

 But the one photo that made my heart stop was the CRAZY QUILT made by my great grandfather’s sister Aunt Jane Strong (2/18/1866 to 10/1955) She never married and I have numerous photos of her – including one of her sewing!

Jane Strong 1866-1955 sewing in Woods Hole, MA

Sigh. Forget all the silver, I covet the quilt!

Heidi Heads Home

I need to go backwards for a moment to explain where this idea for a Blog came from. It started two weeks back with a thrift shop purchase. I often scour my local thrift shop for vintage and handmade items, and this charming bust of a woman came home with me for $2.00. Husband thought it seemed very old, and after cleaning and looking – with reading glasses and strong light – I found a date and signature in pencil: “1976 Heidi” (unfortunately her last name is illegible).

Made me start to think about the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 when handcrafts, especially “olden times” ones like sewing and quilting, became all the rage. (Gunny Sack dresses anyone?!) I actually recall working on a Bicentennial quilt for a school fundraiser…and yes, I sewed the dang thing right to my pants!

Now we are looking at a 250 years -Quarter Millennium Celebration. I find it sad that, in our busy, hyper-modern lives, people are less interested in handcrafts. Hand-painted, hand-stitched, hand-molded, hand-carved items are frequently offloaded to local thrifts store when family members pass away and the stories attached to the items lose relevance. 

Yes, I get it, having “stuff” is not necessarily helpful in life. But, these treasures bring me Maire Kondo-level joy. My goal is to write about the things I have picked up – whether from thrift shops, flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, or Ebay. Or, family heirlooms that were passed on to me. My writing will celebrate these one-of-a-kind items that are made with love and effort and have a home in my house.

Now, back to our sweet Heidi. No idea where she made it, but I am guessing it was a high school art project. Yes, she’s a bit wonky, but heck, you take a lump of clay and do your best to create a bust of a woman and see how you do! Love the deep groves etched into the clay to make her hair and hat – a vintage cloche! My husband is correct, cloche hats were worn in the 1920s, so Heidi was channeling a true vintage vibe in 1976. A time we were all looking into the past when handcrafts were an integral part of our every day lives.

https://konmari.com/marie-kondo-rules-of-tidying-sparks-joy/

Reading Smut in 14K

Hadn’t intended to move onto my great grandfather, but since I mentioned him in passing a few days back, it seemed appropriate. Benjamin Strong (1872 -1926) had a successful life but not a happy one. He married Margaret LeBoutillier (1874-1903) but unfortunately after 4 children, she died when my grandmother was an infant. His second marriage did not end well either, though not through suicide thankfully.

History knows him as having started the Federal Reserve after WWI and there is a portrait of him hanging in the board room of the NY Fed (at least there was when I visited ages ago). So here is a photo of the portrait at the NY Fed:

I have a ridiculous amount of old family papers, photographs, books, and heirlooms handed down from my father’s mother and father. By default, I became the keeper of the family history, and oddly it was my mom who shared much of the family lore. Oddly because Mom’s history is much more limited – orphan German immigrants which was wildly different from the Mayflower era Puritan family she married into.

 For now, I’ll leave you with a photo of Ben’s 14k reading glasses…because, duh, we all need 14k glasses! Funny enough I’m now at the age where these darn glasses work just perfectly for my reading. Maybe I can add some class to my smutty reading? (My dear friend insists I inform you that I enjoy silly bodice ripping trash and NOT porn! But hey, either way I suspect Ben would be rather befuddled)

Good Night Mouse

10-25-2023

So I had a number of different ideas to post today but my husband has trumped them all. Last night celebrating 36 years of marriage he says to me he is proud of what we’ve built – the ways we’ve grown and the wonderful children we have raised. Well dang.

So I want to share a gift I gave him. Actually, wasn’t the one I gave him last night, but this one means a bunch to us:

Thrift shop – maybe $2? Can’t recall but I could NOT pass him up. We’ve decided it is a mouse (note the tail) but hey,  nose is a bit off and ears look like an elephant so who knows?! Seriously, someone’s child made this of clay and put A LOT of work into it – look at that adorable colored quilt! And who knows what the funny doodad on the far side of his nut bed is?! So this orphan mouse with serious extremity issues has come to live on hubby’s dresser. Oddly he is often mentioned – as in “why the heck would someone throw that away?”. No idea how old he is. Guessing made in the 1990s or so. We are glad he resides with us – and can do without the live ones that also do. Goodnight Mouse.

Happy Anniversary

10-24-2023

Today is my 36th anniversary. And yes, that vintage needlepoint is amusing and somewhat spot on. The thing I am constantly surprised by is the number of handmade items people sell or donate. Clearly some woman - and yes I’m guessing it was a woman - made this probably in the 1980s or so. Spent a good deal of money to have it framed nicely. And then it was given away.

I am more than happy to find these treasures - but I do wish people would treasure these handmade pieces. And ask their family members about the histories. Once our relatives pass away, so much history is lost. I am planning to write going forward about the fun items I have collected - almost always handmade - from thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, ebay. Most are American made though not all. And while some may be for sale (ebay or etsy) many are not. Many are family heirlooms…I even have my great grandfather’s 14k reading glasses! Hope you enjoy the hunt as much as I enjoy it!