CAKE PLATES!

I dont know about you, but i LOVE cake plates.  No, not the little plates that come in your dishes set, i talking the real- um, ok, some call them cake 'stands'?

I was recently at an antique store in Winfield, Kansas ( i'm not saying the name because i cannot remember it and i didnt buy anything there) where in one of the rooms she had a great big dining room table FULL, i talkin' COVERED with cake plates.  Light green, pale blue and pink, nontransparent glass and simple, smooth, beautiful stands. 

I have two of my own that i've picked up at estate sales so that inspired me to bake a cake yesterday.  Maybe i should post my recipe?  Anyway,  the cake looks great on the plate so i thought that if you did not have a cake plate, you need to get one!  Here are some of my favorite pictures i found while looking around the web because i love them so much and i couldnt resist. 

(OK so i'm on ANOTHER kick now.  So what?)

How neat! i should paint one for display like this!

ok now i want a square one...

one of mine looks a lot like this

so delicate and darling

Crystal! i think i'd be afraid to own this one! ( i'm sometimes such a klutz!)

Well, that's all for now.

Headed for the fabric store again today!

 I hope you enjoyed these wonderful cake plate pictures.

Which is your favorite?  Do you just love cake plates or do already have one of your own?

So long,

Beth

Free Vintage Crochet Pattern: Perky Snood

Here it is!  The cutest, easiest little snood pattern of all time.
Using a yarn color similar to your hair color is more conservative but feel free to use what ever you would like.  Personally, I've had my eye on a yellow, red and orange blend of yarn that i just might have to try.  And remember that you can substitute the 4-ply wool and  size 3 hook for any other kind of yarn or hook as long as your gauge is the same.
Original 1942 pattern from
http://www.knitting-crochet.com/

~Perky Snood

Materials:
2 oz. 4-ply wool.
1 crochet hook, size 3- 1 yd. grosgrain ribbon.
23 inches round elastic.
Gauge:
4 meshes -- 3 inches.

Perky Snood

Ch. 49. First Row--~ long treble crochet (long tr.) in 12th st. from hook, * ch. 4, skip 4 sts. on ch. 1 long tr. in next st.; repeat from *, ending ch. 4, skip 1 st., 1 long tr. in last st. Ch. 9, turn.

Row 2- l long tr. in first long tr. of Row below, * ch. 4, 1 long tr. in next long tr.; repeat from *, ending ch. 4, 1 long tr. in 5th st. of turning ch., ch. 4, 1 long tr. in same st. as last long tr. Ch. 9, turn.

Repeat last Row 6 times (23 meshes). Ch. 9, turn.

Row 9--Skip ch. 4, 1 long tr. in next long tr., * ch. 4, 1 long tr. in next long tr.; repeat from *, ending ch. 4, 1 long tr. in 5th st. of turning ch. (23 meshes). Ch. 9, turn. Repeat last Row 7 times, ending last Row ch. 5 instead of 9.

Row 17--Skip ch. 4, 1 long tr. in next long tr., work even to within 2 meshes of end, ch. 4; yarn over3 times, insert hook in next long tr. and draw up a loop, over, take off 2 loops 3 times in succession, wrap yarn over hook 3 times, insert hook in 5th st. of turning ch. and draw up a loop (6 loops on hook), over, take off 2 loops 3 times in succession, over, take off 3 loops (a decreasing long tr.), ch. 5, turn.

Row 18--Skip ch. 4, : long tr. in next long tr., work 18 meshes, ch. 4, work a decreasing long tr. in last u long tr. Ch. 5, turn.

Decrease 1 mesh each side of each of next 6 rows as in last Row. Ch. l, do not turn.

Border. Sew ends of a 22-inch piece of round elastic together. Working around elastic, work 2 S.C. in each mesh on entire outer edge, join with slip st. to first S.C. Fasten off.

Make a tailored bow of ribbon and sew to front of snood as shown in illustration.

~

This pattern is similar to the one worn by pin up model Miss Amanda Lee and sold on Etsy

Snood Inspiration!!

Here we are on another vintage inspired day!
Today i thought I'd go with a little snood inspiration.  My hair is more of bandanna length for working but I'm still addicted to snoods.
*Be sure to check out my 'Victory Rolls and Victory Gardens' post on my other blog; Outside My Window by clicking HERE!

I have a wonderful, easy crochet pattern coming up so i thought i get everybody ready for it with a little inspiration.  ( i know I'm probably driving everyone crazy with the crochet patterns but i just can't resist!)  So here it is.  Its also a little bit of a cop-out because Ive been working a lot in my Victory Garden and i need to post something really fast but i love snoods.  Talk about an easy way to go 1940s!

Simple, yet so elegant.  I could never pull off a rust colored snood and a green dress like she does!





SWOON! So many colors!

a fabric one to match my dress?  Yes thank you!



Protecting her permanent wave!




I think this one is attached to her hat! so cute!





Oh! she has short hair like me! *take note Beth!*



Big ribbons anyone?


Here is a more sweeping, longer style with a small pompadour.  ELEGANT!



Vintage Add for snoods and nets



Umbrella cover and bun snood? who would have thought?



i know this isn't a snood, but i fell in love with this just now





And last but not least, the picture from the upcoming crochet pattern!



What's On My Bookshelf: Dear Enemy by Jack Cavanaugh

(no, this is not a sponsored post, just an example of what i like and love and call my own.)

Good Morning and Happy Monday!  I trust that you are having a wonderful Monday for a wonderful week.
Today i wanted to do another one of these 'What's On My Bookshelf' posts because i read a wonderful book last Friday.  Really, i read it in one day.  I couldn't put it down it was so good.

Dear Enemy by: Jack Cavanaugh, published by Bethany House Publishers, copy write 2005.
Here is the description from the back of the book:
"Nurse Anne Mitchell, after seeing firsthand the atrocities of war, has concluded, along with most of her fellow Americans, that the enemy is inhuman and thoroughly depraved.  But when a rouge rescue mission ends in tragedy, a bereft Annie finds herself in the middle of Belgium's Ardennes Forest, behind enemy lines- and captured.  What transpires in the bitter cold of the following days, however, is impossible for Annie to reconcile with er preconceived ideas about the enemy.  Her captor, Karl Hausmann, doesn't fit the stereotype she has embraced- and the encounter changes everything for her.  Tested by prejudice and the separation of time and continents, Anne must build on the awakening if life and love are ever to hold any true meaning for her again.  Dear Enemy is the story of heroic love, faith, and the unexpected, emerging in the wake of one of WWII's most fierce and bloody battles- the Battle of the Bulge."

I have to say that i truly love this book and that i will be reading again.  I read a lot, all the time.  I go to a couple different libraries a couple times a month and  I love it.  I enjoy a lot of books but there are few that i really really love and get into like i did this one.

This book made me laugh out loud at times.  I really loved all of the characters and Cavanaugh made me feel like i knew each one, they were colorful, hilarious, shady, people i loved from the start and people that made honest to goodness shivers run down my spine.  The wit and humor was masterful and crazy (in a way that i love because i could never in a thousand years think of it myself).

It was dramatic.  My emotions were on edge, the situations were tense and real.  Cavanaugh is truly blessed with his writing talent and the way he can weave words so that you really feel the fear, humor, anticipation, eagerness or whatever it may be.  I really got into this story, it was historically, time-period and geographically accurate.  He takes the story smoothly from one surprise to another.  There were so many unexpected happenings~

Another thing is that it is refreshing to read male authors.  Their writing style IS different from female authors, but sometimes they skip some 'important' things and leave us gals wondering.  Not here.  All of my questions were answered leaving just enough to the imagination of the reader.

I think that's enough for now, so I'll close by saying that i will totally recommend this book to anyone, especially for people who love WWII, history and stories with just that perfect touch of romance!

Free Vintage Crochet Pattern: 1940s Springtime Blossoms

Here it is!  This bag is made to match the Springtime hat in yesterday's post.  Its cute and so retro!

The only problem i had with this was that you need a bag bottom for, well, the bottom of the bag.  I just used a very small crochet hook with the regular belstraw art (i used smaller hook so stitches would be tighter and sturdier) and just crocheted until i got the size i wanted and then sewed cloth to the inside.  You can do what ever you want or you can to to the Free Vintage Crochet website where they have a bunch a crochet bag patterns or theAntique Crochet Patterns website (where i got this pattern) for more.  Oh yea, and if you're a knitter, be sure to check out Free Vintage Knitting website.

Have fun crocheting!!!

Free Crochet Purse Pattern:
Crochet a Stylish Bag

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Hiawatha Belastraw Art. 35, 3 Tubes
Hiawatha Leather Bag Bottom No. 6515
Steel Crochet Hooks No. 1 and No. 0
Lining Material, Buckram and Snap Fasteners
Flower Trimming

Gauge: 5 sc = 1"

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Springtime Bag - Sides
Using No. 1 hook start work in hole nearest one seam.
Rnd 1: With right side facing, work 2 sc in each hole around. Change to No. 0 hook and work sc even until crocheted section is 6" deep. Sl st in next st. End off.

Springtime Bag - Flap
With No. 0 hook make 5 1/2" chain.
Rnd 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch to end, 5 sc in end ch, do not turn but continuing around, work sc in each st along other side of starting chain, ending with 5 sc in end ch.
Rnd 2: Sc in each st to 5 end sts, place marker along edge just worked to indicate back section of Flap, work 3 sc in next st for back corner, sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 so in next st (front inc.), sc in each st of front section to 5 sts at other end, 2 sc in next st (front, inc.), sc in each of next 3 sts, 3 sc in next st for hack corner.
Rnd 3: Sc in each st to 3 sc of hack corner, sc in next st, 3 sc in next (center) st, inc. 2 sc evenly across front section (not directly over inc. of previous rnd), work to next back corner, sc in next st, 3 sc in next (center) st. Repeat 3rd rnd until Flap measures 8 1/4" across back section. Work 1 rnd even, Sl st in next st. End off.

Springtime Bag - Handle
Make 22" chain.
Rnd 1: Same as 1st rnd of Flap.
Rnd 2: * Sc in each st to 5 end sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, 3 sc in next (center) st. Repeat from * once more. Work 1 more rnd with 3 sc in center st at each end. Sl st in next st. End off.


Finishing for Springtime Bag
Sew back edge of Flap to outside of one long edge of Sides 1/2" below top edge, making sure ends of Flap are directly above corners of leather bottom. Line crocheted portion of bag with double fabric and buckram interlining. Fold in top edges of short ends of Sides (to form gussets). Tack at folds. Sew 2 snap fasteners to curved edge of flap. Line Handle with ribbon and attach as shown. Tack Flower in place.