Wyoming Breezes

I've visited and knit with Susan S. several times in the last two years. At every visit, I admired her beautiful, crocheted doilies and her knit blankets. My readers may remember the pattern that Susan agreed to share with me and with you. Sheila mentioned recently that her mother was willing to sell some of her work: I was thrilled at the opportunity to own some of Susan's works of art. I wanted larger, white doilies for the center of my kitchen and living room tables. Sheila selected a couple of doilies she thought I might like but also suggested I look through the entire box of doilies. Oh my, I was in heaven! From that box, I selected three other doilies and came home with these five beauties: The doilies range in size from 20 - 22 inches in diameter. Thank you, Susan and Sheila for allowing me to become the guardian of these works of art!

Yebisu beer sign purchased in a Tokyo antique shop Spring 1980 Wednesday, I featured some photos of my brother-in-law's beer sign collection , and today's Foreign Friday is about one sign (the vertical one on the left in the photo above). In 1980 while teaching at Robert D. Edgren High School in Misawa, Japan, I was a representative on the Overseas Education Association (OEA) board. The board met in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday several times a year, and after the meetings, the group would roam the city and pop into shops. One of my missions while I was in Japan was to find a beer sign for my brother-in-law's collection. I looked everywhere and simply could not find anything that was for sale. Then one weekend in Tokyo, I spotted an antique shop and on a whim asked about a beer sign. The owner showed me the sign pictured above. I was hesitant to purchase the large sign - about four feet long and 12 inches wide - as it would be difficult to get back to Misawa on t...

Beer signs, collected by my brother-in-law Harold for over 30 years,  line the basement walls. He collects only older beer signs (no neon signs) and refurbishes and repairs them himself. Harold obtains the signs from other collectors or antique malls. More signs surround an antique, slate-top billiard table It is fair to say that Harold has more signs than wall space. A a collection of beer taps and trays are displayed around the bar and more signs are in the storage room, waiting to be cleaned or repaired. Some signs are animated or revolve; others are flat and plain. Do you see a sign for your favorite brew or suds in any of these photos?

An unusual round handkerchief approximately 10 inches in diameter   Frequent readers know that I love searching for vintage linens in antique stores and thrift shops, and two weeks ago, I hit the mother-lode and at a bargain price. Out of curiosity, I stopped at a local thrift shop to browse, and found three plastic bags stuffed with ladies handkerchiefs. Each bag was priced at $2. It didn't take me long to decide to purchase the bags. When I got home, I sorted the handkerchiefs for laundering and checked them for condition. Some still had paper labels attached: "Oriental lace," "made in Switzerland," "made in Ireland." I threw the ripped and the very thin handkerchiefs away and washed the rest. A multitude of screen-printed hankies. Because of the designs and color, I think some were manufactured in the 40s or 50s. While I ironed these lovely pieces of cotton, linen, and lace, I admired either their simplicity or their beauty. I have ...

When I was searching for some of my mother's unfinished projects, I found one of my strangest collections. I am sure that you will find it peculiar as well. This box contains napkins from my childhood. Yes, you read that correctly: I said napkins . Why would anyone save napkins? Well, let me explain. . . I did not start this collection. You might say that it adopted me. The oldest napkin in the box is from my eldest brother's wedding shower (June 29, 1956) as chronicled by my mother's notation on the napkin. Life was different then: phone calls were expensive and it took forever to travel on two-lane highways. My mother saved items like this to send to family members who could not attend. She clipped articles from the newspaper and sent them as well. I do not remember attending many birthday parties when I was a child, but this napkin shows that I attended at least one. Don's family lived on a neighboring farm. Today, he is active in my church. I don't k...

As a teacher it was imperative to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. My collection of pins kept me safe for years. This pin is my favorite .