Constant Comments

Happy Memorial Day!

Jan — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:34:49 +0000

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

More …

I hope everyone has a safe and happy day!

Jan

Kitchen Utility Sets

Jan — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:42:04 +0000

It always surprises me the toy items made in Japan for a child’s kitchen. They were made for the mass market and not very well done. But are they ever cute!

I started collecting the Flower Pot kitchen utility pieces soon after I saw a little set in one of Doris Lechler’s books. I really just wanted the reamer and a couple of the mixing bowls, but after I got started, I just couldn’t stop!

I have found 3 different Flower Pot patterns, but I’m sure there could be more. The set on the left with a flower pot in front of a picket fence.And the picture on the right shows two flower pots on steps.

I have found two different flower pot patterns on the steps. The pot and flowers are different.

These two little bowls below show the other Flower Pot pattern with the little pots on steps.

They were sold in various packing. I’ve seen them in plain brown boxes and also wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow.

There are pancake warmers, syrup sets, shakers, trivets … and many other nice kitchen utility items. What more could any little girl want?

I’ve listed some of these on My Vintage Toy Tea Sets website.

Jan

Have a Blessed Easter

Jan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:30:22 +0000

Like Mother’s

Jan — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:36:20 +0000

I love the “Like Mother’s”™ cook and bake sets made by Mirro.

This little tin litho stove has the logo “Like Mother’s” Registered Trademark on it, and although it’s not marked with anything else, I believe it was made by Mirro to go along with all of the little sets of pots and pans they made.

I listed 4 stoves this week and have already sold 3 of them, including this little tin litho one.

These little pots and pan sets came with everything a child cook might need. And they looked just like the sets a little girls mother might have. This is the boxed set that’s displayed on the stove now.And they’re a perfect fit for the “Like Mother’s” stove!

I received the books I spoke of in my last blog and am enjoying reading both of them.

I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed in the Housekeeping Toys, but that may be because I didn’t see anything new or unusual in it. If you collect tin litho, it has a lengthy section on it. It’s a small size book and doesn’t cost much (I think I paid under $10 for mine including shipping on eBay) and it’s still a good reference guide for the beginning collector.

I really enjoyed the Hot Kitchen Collectibles book. Lots of fun pictures of kitchen and housekeeping collectibles, plus a section on Dime-Store Beauty & Health that I really enjoyed. It’s also a very informative book and I’m still reading the great articles in it.

I’m giving this one for sure!

I hope you all are getting some nice Spring weather. We’ve dipped down into the 20’s this week and I’m anxiously awaiting this cold, rainy spell to end so I can tend to my garden. The greenhouse is overflowing with plants that are wanting outside in the ground.

Happy Easter!

Jan

Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles

Jan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:08:58 +0000

I have some exciting news this morning!

I got a call from the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles this last week wanting to know if I would like to submit some photos of my toy kitchen items for her next book. I told her I would love to work with her on it. There is a small section in her current book that covers the toy kitchen items and she is wanting to expand on it in her next book.

She had emailed me last year and I just couldn’t do it at that time, but I’m really excited about it now and looking forward to working with her on it.

I haven’t read Dianne’s book yet, but before my big kitchen remodel last year, my kitchen was done in 40’s / 50’s style and I’ve always loved the retro kitschy kitchen collectibles. I have ordered it and look forward to getting it. She also has another book, Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes, that you might enjoy reading and she is the editor of I Antique Online

When I spoke with her, she mentioned a book that was out now on toy kitchen items. I ordered that book online too and it should be here in the next few days. It’s called Collector’s Guide to Housekeeping Toys. I’m looking forward to getting it and will probably read it cover-to-cover as soon as it comes in.When I receive the Housekeeping Toys book, I’ll let you all know what great new treasures I find in it. And I want to see if I have things that are not included in the book so they can be included in Dianne’s book.

And if any of you have ideas for what you’d like to see in print, let me know!

We’ve had some pretty weather this week along with some rainy days. And as hard as it is to believe, we have predictions of snow for tonight and tomorrow. Hard to believe for the end of March!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jan

Spring Cleaning …

Jan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Yes, it’s that time of year again, the annual Spring Cleaning that we all feel we must do. I think it’s some kind of law and I’m fearful of answering the door, afraid it’s that woman with the white glove, checking to see if I’ve cleaned yet. What happens if I don’t? Will all the neighbors know? Will there be a white glove with an X thru it painted on my forehead for all to see? I’m trying to get a few things packed away so I can paint the kitchen during this annual Spring Cleaning mission that I’m on. One of my favorite things is this little Cass Kitchen Cabinet. I’ve just cleaned it with Murphy’s wood cleaner bubble wrapped it carefully and put it in a box. I’ll miss it for awhile, but know if it doesn’t sell, it will be back on a shelf here in my kitchen! I love that it has the little pull-out pastry board and a tin flour bin in front. It’s almost like the one I had many years ago, only mine was adult size. There used to be so many cute, functional, “just like mother’s” toys for little girls to play with. As you can see, my Spring Cleaning has already taken a backseat to playing with my toys. Alas, the best I can do is offer the white-glove lady a cup of tea and some memories of days gone by when she knocks on the door.

Maybe bake some cookies?

But for now, I think I’ll find something else to play with.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

What are you doing?

Jan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:39:01 +0000

What are you doing?That’s the question I’m asked when I log into my Twitter account.

Over the last several months I kept hearing about Twitter. You can’t watch TV, even the news, without hearing about Twitter. This is what Wikipedia has to say:

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 bytes in length. Updates are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.

So I finally registered a Twitter account for myself and set out to find out what it’s all about.

I’ve made a few posts, mainly to let people know about my websites and blog posts here. I really doubt that anyone is interested in what I’m really doing when I’m asked “What are you doing” by Twitter! Does anyone care that I’m chasing my 2 year old grandson? … or washing dishes? … I think not!

I’m also following some other users and get their updates about topics ranging from eBay and world news to recipes and soap operas. This pretty much fills up my Twitter page and makes me feel like I’ve got a handle on this Twittering thing. Do people really have enough time to read all of the tweets? By the time I read one, there are 10 more on my feed.

I was checking out some Twitter widgets yesterday and stumbled across the one you see in the right sidebar showing the Twitter posts (tweets) that I make.

And I also added a TwitThis button to the posts here that will allow you to share a blog post here on Twitter, if indeed you Twitter, too!

The button will ask for your Twitter ID and password, and then post a URL to this blog. You can also add a button to your browser toolbar to TwitThis for any page you might find interesting on the web.

In closing, I want to add that my favorite definition of Twitter came from Prevuze:

“The Prevuze unabashed dictionary defines “Twitter” as “Social nitwitting.”

…and that explains it to me as well as anything else does! And answers the question about what someone is called that posts tweets on Twitter — it must be a nitwit!

Happy Twittering from one Nitwit to another!

Jan

Jazze Junque

Jan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:38:03 +0000

I visited a great website and blog over the weekend. Jazze Junque Inc. Chicago’s 1st Cookie Jar Shop. The owner, Mercedes, contacted me and told me she is currently working on adding a toy kitchen museum to her shop. She also mentioned on her website that she has been on the Oprah Winfrey show with some of her antique cookie jars and also supplied cookie jars for a couple of movies.She has a fun blog that you might want to visit. Jazze Junque Inc. BlogI love all of the kitschy 50’s kitchen items she has and this cute clock really caught my eye!

Do you have a website or blog you’d like me to link to? If so, just let me know! Although I’m not good at keeping my own blog updated, I love looking at other people’s blogs and websites.Happy Blogging!Jan

Waiting for Spring …

Jan — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:40:07 +0000

It’s that time of year again — Daylight Saving Time starts and we set our clocks forward. What I like best about this is the Spring Forward part. I know that Spring is almost here!

My inner body clock started a few weeks ago, preparing for the official time change. I’m already dozing off before my bedtime and waking up earlier in the morning. I should be good to go in the morning, right ?

We’ve had a couple of beautiful days with the high in the 70’s and 80’s. Although it’s too early to plant something, however tempted I am, it was perfect for getting outside and cleaning out a few flower pots and putting the first of the veggies (lettuce and tomatoes) into the greenhouse. They’ve been started for a few weeks now under lights in the basement. They were very happy to see some real sunshine.

And I am too!

Jan

My customers say the nicest things …

Jan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:57:08 +0000

My customer received her little Wear-Ever teakettle and was very happy with it. When she ordered it she said “I have some full-sized Wear-Ever Hallite, BTW, and I thought this would make a cute addition.”

I got an email from her yesterday:

Jan, just wanted you to know the toy tea kettle arrived today and it’s even cuter than I thought! It looks just like my full-sized Hallite, and is a great addition to my 40s and 50s kitchenware collection.

This reminded me that I had sold the complete set of the Hallite Jr. not long ago and that customer was just as please. I always enjoying reading my emails and knowing why someone is attracted to something, and even more important, if it was what they expected.

This is from the customer that purchased it:

There are no words to even begin to tell you how thrilled I am about this set! My mother just passed away a few weeks ago and I have been going through her things and those pots and pans were such a part of our lives that I couldn’t imagine parting with them. What I really wanted was the memory. This wonderful little set is absolutely perfect for that! I collect way too many things — but I KNOW that this set is always going to be incredibly special to me. Thanks so much for your wonderful site!

And that’s what makes it easier to sell my little treasures; knowing that someone else is getting as much enjoyment from them that I did.

We’re expecting some sunshine today and I’m soooo ready for it. Maybe a day to take my grandson out on the deck and see what mischief we can get into.

I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed day.

Jan