Think back to 1919 and you’ll enjoy this post…

(I knew we would be getting in late Wednesday night from St. Louis, as Jean’s airplane with his family on board, wasn’t supposed to arrive until 10:00 p.m., so I wrote this ahead of time… with a 2 hour ride home from St. Louis, getting them to their apartment, I figured it would probably be 1:00 a.m. or later before we got to bed…)

My wonderful sister in PA, sent me another box of goodies and I wanted to share them with you…

Rebecca and I love to put together our “Skinny Scarves” and list them in our Etsy shop. It’s just about time to get them back in stock! Cool weather will be here before we know it… at least I “think” it will…

Cindy sent me some fun yarns to use in them… I love how soft these are…and colorful…

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She also sent along a Needlecraft magazine from 1919 and it’s very interesting to look at. Whenever I receive or find an older vintage magazine, I always wonder whose hands touched the pages and what were they “in to..” as far as crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting goes. Did they sew for themselves or for their kids, were they good… I mean good, like Cindy Rice good! Could they make bullion roses like she does?

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Like the other magazines I have from the past, I enjoy the advertisments. Since I’m not a knitter or a crocheter ( to speak of), this magazine wasn’t “exactly” my cup of tea, but I did find a few fun things to share with you…

I loved this poem and hope you can read the print. The magazine has yellowed, so when I edited my pictures, I brightened them up a little bit…

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…and I just love this Cream of Wheat advertisement…

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Just look at these fashions from 1919…some for the womenfolk and some for the kiddies…

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This dragonfly crocheted edge caught my eye… I’ve been called the Dragonfly Lady a time or two… I’ll save that story for another time… :o)

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…a pencil “pointer?” Ahem…I thought these were called pencil sharpeners? I’ve used one just like this in school…Oh no, did I just date myself?

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So that’s it for today…short and sweet but still something to make you smile…

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

17 thoughts on “Think back to 1919 and you’ll enjoy this post…”

  1. I don’t think pencil sharpeners have changed much, do you? It looks like this was a new idea in 1919 — before that they must have used a knife, like my father often did. Or maybe one of those small sharpeners — I wonder when they first appeared. They might have required plastic. My dad was born in 1919, my friend Ricky in 1924 — she remembered when plastic first became commonly used — I have a plastic necklace that Ricky’s mother Nina owned — the beads are mostly clear and the pendant has a lovely tiny flower basket engraved on it.

    I’m so glad Jean’s family is here and look forward to your description of their arrival. At least they are accustomed to heat. I wonder how they’ll like winter here.

    Seamstresses must have loved the new simpler fashions, and ironing must have been much easier, not to mention walking in the new shorter skirts. Are any of these drawings inspiration for a new Rebecca outfit?

    1. My dad was born in 1918. He too used a knife for sharpening. In fact, I have his pocket knife. Thanks for reminding me.

    2. Hi Marilyn,
      I am just about of phone “juice” driving back from a 2 hour trip with Kristoffer. You’ll see what I got tomorrow…
      Thanks for your thoughts,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. We used those pencil sharpeners in school too! I’m hoping all went well with Jean and his family and I can’t wait for an update and photos. 🙂

  3. I hope your trip to St. Louis was a safe one and that Jean is now happily reunited with his family.

    Love the magazine! My mother can crochet with that kind of fine thread. She made me two pineapple large doilies that I still use under my lamps in the living room. I know I got all my crafting genes from her!

    My husband bought several “pencil pointers” off of eBay and has one in the garage, one in the shed, and one in his office. He just loves how sharp the points get without breaking off like some of the smaller sharpeners do. I still remember how thrilled he was when they arrived!

    Love seeing the 1919 fashions! I immediately thought of Downton Abbey and how fun it was to watch the show especially for the fashions. Just think of how hard it must have been to be brave enough to show your ankles for the first time! Thanks for sharing this wonderful magazine!

    1. Thank you for your thoughts Karen,
      I am just about of phone battery. So I am trying to acknowledge everyone’s sweet comments…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Love seeing the dragonfly center piece. Now I’m wondering why the title Dragonfly Lady for you?

  5. I can only imagine how long it took to travel all the way from Africa with three very small children with the layovers and transfers. What a welcome sight it must have been for her to see the apartment all set up and be able to sleep. Jet lag on steroids after that trip! Thanks for all you and your husband do for others.

    Love the magazine post. My Nana had a Pencil Pointer in her beauty school that I still have. My great grandmother made a beautiful crocheted tablecloth from what looks like a type of string during the Depression. This was before the era of Social Security and my mother could not figure out how she afforded even the string. I use it at Christmastime with the Author Series of plates by Royal Doulton with characters from Dickens novels.

    1. Hi Susette,
      My phone battery is almost gone so I’m trying to answer everyone at least a sentence or two
      Kristoffer and I took a little trip up to St Louis to pick up something for me… 🙂
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. How sweet of Cindy to send you the box of treasures, Jeanne! She knows you well! I too, love to look through old magazines to see how people lived long ago. They are so much better than what I remember learning at school!

    That Cream of Wheat ad is really a sweet one! I remember as a little girl listening to a radio show that I called “The Cream of Wheat Show”, which was someone reading fairy tales, but it was sponsored by Cream of Wheat, so they had a song they sang, and I still remember that song! Maybe Susette remembers the show?

    I loved looking at the old fashioned dresses! Everything seems so much more detailed than now in the drawings. I would have loved to have lived back in those days, but with air conditioning!

    The pencil pointer? I think we all have had those in school, so you aren’t really showing you age, Jeanne. I still see them today, and as a matter of fact, we have one. I never looked at the name on it, but certainly have never heard of it as being a pencil POINTER! I remember kids getting in trouble when they would sharpen their pencils at school for taking too long, and mostly gazing out the window—where they probably wished they were, instead of inside!

    I was thinking about you and Jean and his family last night. I hope the family made it safely and everything turned out well. I hope you might have some pictures too! Boy, it’s hot out today, ands I hope they have air conditioning!

    1. Hi Linda, my phone battery is in the red as Ktistoffer and I drive home. I just wanted to at least say thanks to everyone before it dies completely…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. Jeanne, you are so kind. I am blushing, thank you for the compliment.

    I hope all went well bringing Jean’s family home. I cannot imagine his wife not loving you. You’re a sweetheart and you’ve helped them all so much. I can’t begin to imagine how happy they must be to be all together again.

    I love the fashions from that era. Don’t those long skirts look very narrow at the bottom though? A girl couldn’t do much running around in those, could she? We have a pencil pointer still in use here. It is old, but still works perfectly. 🙂 Thanks for sharing photos from this old publication. Dragon Lady? You’ve got to share that story.

    1. Hi Cindy
      My phone battery is dying so I’m trying to just say thank you for your comments.
      I meant what I said!!!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Even when you are away from your sewing, you always give us something interesting to look at, Jeanne. Thank you for sharing your vintage magazine. I enjoy examining the details of the fashions, marveling at the advertisements, and pondering life during that era. My father was born in Pittsburgh in 1913, and mother was born in St. Louis in 1916, and I do love looking at the few photos I have of their early lives.

    With three carseats safely installed and a secure ride home from the airport, I trust Jean’s family arrived without incident and enjoyed a restful night’s sleep in their comfortably outfitted apartment. I’m quite certain that his wife was thrilled to meet you, dear Jeanne, and most grateful for the kindness you have shown to them. How wonderful that they already have helpful friends and a church family to call upon moving forward. May God’s blessing be upon their family during this period of transition and acclimation. Wishing them all the best in their new home.

    1. Thank you Anne,
      I am in my dpns trick coming back from Up past st Louis. He took me up there to pick up something. But my phone us just about of juice and I just wanted to say thanks yo everyone…
      Loved your comments, Jeanne

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