Reverse Pin Tucks Revisited - From the 1920s and the 1970s

A while back, I posted about reverse pin tucks as used in the 1920s, design courtesy of Ruth Wyeth Spears, on the cuffs and hemline of a blouse.

And then I found this inspiring pattern, which features - you guessed it - reverse pin tucks on skirts and pants! The pattern is Vogue 7099 from 1978, and currently in my shop. Artful design endures. :)

Miss Lillian's Postcards: Vintage Tweets from the 1900s - Effie in California

Postcard 005

Sender: Effie McGovern, Bolinas, San Marin Co., Cal
Addressee: Miss Lillian Maguire, 3004 Vine Grove Avenue, St Louis, MO
Postmark: Bolinas, CAL
Date: August 27, 1906
Image: Goat River Cañon from below Elko BC, Canadian Pacific Railway
Message: 

received your postal Come again

Effie McGovern

Bolinas

Marin Co Cal

 

 So, we have a Canadian postcard, mailed from Bolinas, California. Effie says come again, so what do you think? Did Lillian visit Effie in California? Did anyone go to British Columbia, Canada?

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Sewing a Calot-Style Felt Hat

Are you ready for another cute hat? They are so fun to design and wear! The hat in this tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears provides instructions for sewing a calot-style cloche. The brim is turned back and has a wonderful double "slip through the slot" wing accents. Delightful!

As usual, click the image with template and print it out to use as your template for sewing this hat, per Ruth's instructions. Happy sewing!

Miss Lillian's Postcards: Vintage Tweets from the 1900s - Christine in Illinois

Postcard 004

Sender: Christine
Addressee: Miss Lillian Maguire, 3004 Vine Grove St., St Louis, MO
Postmark: Pana, Illinois
Date: August 14, 1906
Image: Reproduction of a painted nature scene
Message: [This is the second "picture post" with no message, but the sender's handwriting matches up nicely with the previous postcard.]

The nature scene on this postcard is rather generic, but it is evocative of the small town of Pana, Illinois. The image below is taken from the Pana Chamber of Commerce website, and includes a bridge dated 1910 - built only a few years after Christine visited the town. Since Pana, Illinois is a very small town, I am guessing that Christine is perhaps visiting friends or family there.

1939 Tips for Staying Fresh as a Daisy in the Summer Heat

Here is a picture of the beautiful Olivia de Havilland gracing a 1939 Home Arts article on "staying fresh as a daisy the summer through". This would have been about the time that "Gone with the Wind" came out.

So what are the tips for looking and feeling serene, fresh, and dainty despite the heat and humidity of summer? In 1939, the recommendations include:

• Twice as many baths
  Twice as many baths is the rule for the summer months. [I have to ask - how many is "twice as many"? Just how frequently did people take baths in the late 1930s? Once a week? More often? I do not know, and the article does not give a hint.] The tip goes on to recommend that the more soap and water you use, the better you will feel and look. So don't stint on the soap - be sure to lather yourself from head to foot! ;)

• Use a deodorant regularly
  [I guess this had to be stated explicitly!] The tip states that you should use a deodorant or "non-perspirant" as religiously as you use your toothpaste. A deodorant or an eau de Cologne combined with a powder which has deodorant qualities is a needed addition to your routine for summer.

• Ridding yourself of superfluous hair
  [To be quite honest, I did not know that hair removal was a "thing" this early!] The tips states that "superfluous hair is a trial at best, but if it appears on the face, it approaches the tragic." Unless you can afford expert care by an electrolysist, the solutions recommended include a depilatory for the arms or legs, and a razor or cream for removing hair from the armpits.

• The prevention of sunburn
  The tip recommends that you take your sun baths in small doses at first until your skin and body have become accustomed to them. You should apply a sunburn cream or lotion to exposed areas every two hours or so in order to prevent "getting sunburn poisoning". ;) [Indeed!]

• The finishing touches
  Wash your hair more frequently
  Use your hairbrush diligently
  Wear a simple hair style
  Choose your powder foundation with care
  Use less rouge
  Go light on mascara and eye shadow
  Cleanse your face as frequently as possible
  Be extra meticulous about personal cleanliness

There you have it - how to keep cool in "torrid weather". :D

Miss Lillian's Postcards: Vintage Tweets from the 1900s - Christine in NY

Postcard 003

Sender: Christine
Addressee: Miss Lillian Maguire, 3004 Vine Grove St., St Louis, MO
Postmark: New York, NY
Date: August 6, 1906
Image: Flat Iron Building, New York (the marvel of its day! Select the link, then scroll down the page to view a video clip, filmed in 1902. This was probably very much what it looked like to Christine in 1906.)
Message: [This is a "picture post" with no message, but the sender dates and signs the postcard front. Note that the postcard was postmarked at its point of origination in New York, as well as at its destination in St. Louis. Also note that each postmark include the time (!) as well as the date. So it left NY at 11:30 AM on 8/6/06 and arrived in St Louis at 6 PM on 8/7/06 - that is pretty decent delivery speed. :)]

 Aug, 6, '06                        Christine

Who is Christine? I suspect a friend, though she could be relative. She seems to be on a summer trip and this is her first postcard to Lillian.

Is Life a Bowl of Cherries?

It is cherry season now - what a wonderful and delicious fruit - completely irresistible! This endearing drawing is from the cover of Home Arts, August 1939. Cherry earrings anyone?