This photo of Charles Blackburn's on Midsummer Murders

I love to watch Midsummer Murders.  Sometime I just want to see an old versions so I choose to view the series on Netflix with my I-pad.

I was truly surprised when I was watching the "Noble Art" on Midsummer Murders and the show was about boxing. A scene in the agent's  office there where hung this photo of Charles Blackburn my husband's grandfather.

 This is the vintage photo that the family had in the original glass frame.

Charles Blackburn was born 1872 -1950 and was the lightweight Champion of lancashire.

Watch carefully and you will see he made it to Midsummer Murders

Charles Blackburn went on to own a pub in Liverpool

Today I am very happy:
 I love pinterest and have a board dedicated to things that have precious memories for me.
On that board I placed a picture of some melamine dishes that were purchased by my parent in 1957. When my family bought land in 1956  in Collingwood and  built a cottage we had these dishes as the first set of dishes in our new house.
My daughter a accomplished interior decorator has very specific taste in decorating and has not wanted any of the "Old" things I had boxed away so you could imagine how excited I was when she saw these dishes on my pinterest board and said she could probably use them.  I am so pleased that something that has great sentimental meaning for me may go on for a while with her.
Funny how, as I get older the things that make me happy.

http://pinterest.com/collectvintage/

Robbie Burns "A birthday Mug"

My mother Aniela Bannish was born on January 25, 1919 and she was given this mug from a friend who told her that she shared a Birthday with the Famous Rabbie Burns.
 I have no Idea when this mug came into her possession ( guessing about 40 years ago) but I always remember it being on the side of the fireplace mantle every January. I suspect that there were reasons for this but I can only say that it was maybe her way of reminding us of her birthday.
The mug has information about Robert Burns his birth place and death. My mother passed away in 1999 but I cannot  throw it away since today it still reminds me of my mom and I have a good tradition to put it out every Robbie Burns day to continue to celebrate her.

Hockey at Dixie Arena in the 1970's

My son the "Collector" I had no idea that he kept all the souvenirs from his hockey time at the Long gone Dixie arena   He played Goalie for the Mississauga Reps he was good too I often feel I should have insisted that he continue.

Clothing on Instalments 1940

This is the actual booklet of payments to the Kerns Dress Shop on Yonge Street Toronto.  My mother Aniela (Jean) was a wonderful dresser and she purchased her clothing on payments which was quite acceptable at the time. She arrived from Manitoba Late 1939 to seek employment and met and married my father and was welcomed into a large Italian family and we were raised with family members all living on Niagara Street Toronto..  Money was scarce but she purchased her clothing on payments of  2.00 per week and notice that even the extra .10 cents was noted. This book shows the payments starting on July 27th, 1940. The address on the booklet was originally 704 Richmond Street were my mother first lived when arriving from Selkirk Manitoba. Interesting  visit my new web in progress at vintagecollector.ca and my etsy store at vintagecatwalks

St. Mary's girls Club 1950's

This was taken on the front lawn of St. Mary's Catholic School around 1948.  On the left side of the picture is the new St. Mary's School were I attended while on the right side is the building that was the original School were my Father and Aunts attended.  This original school later became a school for children with learning disabilities and it was also used as a social club were I  along with many girls who were in school with me would look forward to organized activities. I sure would like to know where some of my childhood friends who are listed on the write up  are today.  Where are you girls????

      If any of you girls read this please post and entry I would love to hear from you

St.Mary's School Adelaide St. Toronto 1925

This is a rare photo of my father Solino taken with his sister's school mates in around 1925. The story as I know it is that his sisters went to the original St. Mary's school at Bathurst and Adelaide and it was not the school that sits on the  west side it is the building that is at the back of St. Mary's Church near the present rectory house.  There was a building there that was the school note the wooden floor and the buttresses of the church. The present school was built shortly after and than the original school building was used as a boys and girls club. My father's sister Sabina (back row end on right side of picture) was responsible for him that day and she took him along with her on picture day and he was told to sit there and he became part of the group.

Unknown relative Liverpool England

We inherited some photos of my husband's family and this elegant ladies we suspect my have been a relative of his mothers.  I was especially fascinated with her since I am a lover of vintage fur and the fox stole and muff was incredibly beautiful but what interested me most was the fact that she wore fur with feathers in her hat.  I thought that  to-day that would  not be a fashion combination.

School System In Toronto 1940's

This is a photo of me and my mother in 1942, standing in front of Niagara Street School on the corner of Niagara and Adelaide Street in Toronto.  My mother eventually tires to register me at that school since she felt the school being directly across the road from our home it would be a safe journey to and from school.  All my family were Chatholics and paid seperate school taxes so therefore they would not allow me to attend a Public School which Naiagara Street school was. Therefore when the time came for me to go to school  I went up Adelaide towards Bathurst Street were I attended St.Mary's Catholic School. The school had the girls on one side and the boys on the other even in the playgrouns at recess and for the longest time I thought that was why they called it a seperate school.We were taught by nuns the Sister's of St. Joseph. I think my mother was gorgeous and always smartly dressed dispite the low income we had.

Victorian Beaded Evening Bag

This has got to be one of the most delicate a precious Victorian bags. The entire purse is beige silk with tiniest seed beads of silvery and black. The condition is excellent for it's age and it is one of my very favourite keepsakes a true piece of history.

Weight Loss in 1937

This is an article on suggested weight Loss method in an 1935 Old Hollywood scrap book.  This is like a Home version of the vibration machine.  I wonder if wearing the long sexy satin pyjamas is criteria for this exercise.

Old Hollywood 1935

I have just returned from a visit to my mother's hometown of Selkirk Manitoba Canada.  I visited my uncle antique shops where he has a 50 years plus collection of vintage antique oil lamps.   In the shed I did find two old scrap books filled with clipping and articles of old Hollywood with clipping having dates of 1935.  I think that it was interesting to see the old styles of clothing costumes hairdos and shoes.  There are notes of Movies that I have never heard of. If these were coloured it would be fabulous. The top pictures says"
Joan Crawford tops a frock of turquoise blue with a blue fox coat and Myrna loy wears a powder blue pebble crepe.
Below the caption says Don Ameche Simon Simon and Robert Young in the film "Josette"
Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas in "There's always a Woman"

Carol Tannenbaum at the Royal Ontario Museum

Several Years ago Carol Tannenbaum was to give a seminar at the Royal Ontario MUseum in Toronto.  As a collector I had many pieces I would have liked her to give her opinion on but one piece per attendee was the rule. With my ticket purchased I had to think long and hard to decide which item I would take since I never did get rid of any vintage items I had.  As the day approached I decided that I would take one of my favourite a four strand milk glass necklace with decorative ornament and it's matching wired bracelet. As the seminar progressed I waited in line for my turn to approach Ms. Tannenbaum and when I handed her the jewellery she held t in her hands and told me they were made in West Germany and dated to the early 1960's.  To my surprise she looked at me and said that the brooch I was wearing was valuable and that it was French Carved Bakelite.  I was very pleased I had two opinion instead of one.  This brooch is now special and will sit in my collection and wait to be inherited.

A 1935 Wedding

I have been enjoying PINTREST what a great site to find out what new ideas are out in this world and to share with others things of interest.  I posted this picture of my mother as a bridesmaid in Selkirk Manitoba in 1935, and it was well received by the members of Pintrest. with many views and likes so I thought I might add it to my blog.  The original cardboard frame remains with the original picture.

Weddings through the ages

On April 27th I presented a Vintage Fashion Show "Vintage Evening Elegance"with all proceeds to the Salvation Army. I received great response from those attending.  I do not normally keep many wedding dresses offered to me, but if a dress is older than 1970 and I am able to get the picture of the original owner in that dress than I am truly interested.  I found that many folks asked to see wedding dresses so I made the Finale  a bridal Parade.  Dresses were from a 1929 silk flapper style to a 1980 ruffled organza.

What is a Vesta?

This lovely 1-1/2 inch silver case on silver chain with a small charm attached lay for many years in my display showcase.  Many guests asked me what it was and all that I did reply was that it held tiny wax matches.   One fashion show I had a guest who hailed from England and she said "Oh I see you have a Vesta"  she went on to say that this was probably from the late 20's or the 30's when women who chose to smoke must do so discreetly.  The match striker is on the bottom.  If anyone recognized the symbol of the charm please let me know. I have just finished another successful Charity Vintage Fashion Show with proceed to the Salvation Army.  I hope that I now will have a tad more free time to post more regularity.

Port-side or Starboard Red or Green

This post follows upon My post of Captain George Elliott, the pipe smoking Captain.  During the war Captain Elliott was pulled ashore and made the Marine Superintendent for Imperial Oil out of Dartmouth Nova Scotia, it was the early 1940's. During the war an oil tanker was torpedoed and it was brought to McNabbs Island at the entrance to Halifax Harbour where it was to be eventually beached.   Captian Elliott set a salvage crew to reclaim any items that were worth saving.   The two copper and brass oil lamps that provided direction from the deck of the ship and the ships clock he maintained.  The lamp in the picture bears the number 684.  After Captain George Elliott's retirement he kept the lamp and the ships clock for souvenirs of his years at sea. He spent many hours painstakingly removing ever bit of battleship grey and had the clock mounted in a small grandfather clock case.  We have many things in this house that I have begged the grandchildren to take but unfortunately they don't want most of it, but somehow I feel that there will be no problem getting a taker for these.

Here are some interesting pipe paraphernalia.  To-day is is hard to find a dedicated pipe smoker but some of these did belong to my husband but most of the interesting pipes were used by my husband's father who was  Captain George Elliott and he was Captain of a ship for Imperial Oil during the Second World war. As one would expect this Ship's Captain was a pipe smoker and most pictures of the hardy captain standing on deck with his pipe in his hand.  I wonder if they allow smoking on board naval ships today????

Why I am keeping these and I guess it is the old story that everything has a memory and a tale to tell.
I suspect that as the years go on and time goes further down the road the memories become faint and eventually no one will know the stories or who they even belong to, and that will be their final demise.

Tying the knot in 1954

This wonderful typical 1950's gown was worn by Marguerite Dey of Collingwood Ontario when she married Mr. John Dance.  The dress with the exception of the veil is in remarkable condition and could be worn again if one is as tiny and petit as marguerite.  the skirt is accordion pleated tulle with lace bodice.  The original slip remains with the dress as well as the headpiece of tiny seed pearls and rhinestones.

All the years the dress was preserved so was the grooms suit with it's two pairs of trousers.  I seek out the photos of the original brides when I am offered a vintage wedding dress for I feel that the picture give more meaning to the day and the type of wedding held in 1954.

Three Generations of Bracelets

These great little dust collectors hang on the wall to my bedroom.  Some bracelets from my mother'  (only the orange baklite remains)  my daughter did collect the others which I was glad to see since that indicated to me that they meant a lot to her as well. There are bracelets that I wore and bracelets that my daughter wore in the 70′s and early 80′s. My father made this shadow box inserted dowels with glass door knobs on the ends and a mirror at the back and it works perfectly for displaying bracelets.

When I was growing up in Toronto we lived on Niagara street from there my grandfather walked to work at the ”Coro Jewellery Factory” which was on King street east of Bathurst in the late 1940 and early 1950′s and many broken trinkets destined for the trash came home in his lunch box. My mother I remembered spent much time piecing together odds and sods to complete pieces for us to wear.   I think now it is time to have another box built to accommodate the cast off bracelets that my two grown granddaughter’s have put aside.  They know the rule “what you don’t wear you give to grandma”.  The only thing I wish I could do is have my father here to build me another shadow box.  Thanks Dad, yours is the best.