Vintage Black Friday, A Tribute to my Grandmother

From the time I was just a little girl, October 31 was more than just Halloween, My paternal grandmother was born on this day in the late 1880's. Not sure the exact year, she was in her 40's in 1929 when my Daddy was born. She was always alot of fun and had interesting things for me to do and play with when I visited. We would bake cupcakes together and make homemade popcorn balls. Halloween was always a special occasion when she was alive.

I wanted to share with you a couple of keepsakes that I have from my grandmother, Irma. The photograph below was taken when she was 17. The gold locket from my grandfather Jack, was his engagement present to her. He was so handsome, and beside the photograph is a lock of his hair.

So very romantic.

She was a jokester and very witty, and her father had been a photographer who owned a studio. My mom has photos of my grandmother and her friends, at the river when they were in high school, and then some of her and girlfriends dressed up like men. I'm not sure what the occasion was, but they were having fun posing and being silly in the photos.

The black photograph album is one that I picked up a few weeks ago at a flea market, no sentimental value, but I liked it as a backdrop for this post.

The locket has her initals engraved in it:

 IGR. Irma Gertrude Russell.

My grandfather was a printer and owned a printshop. They were big party goers in their younger years. He loved surprises and hosted a surprise  Halloween Birthday Party for her November 1st., 1926. Below is the invitation he sent out to all their friends.

Can you read it? Click to enlarge it.

 He wrote the little poem for the invitation.
The black cat and pumpkin graphic are original.

And since Halloween is Saturday,

I thought I'd share a few images

 of vintage black fun for your enjoyment.

image from Country Living

image from Country Home

And in closing I'll pay tribute to my old kitty, "Blackie".

Alyson rescued her at a "Haunted House" downtown,

 Halloween Night, of her 7th grade year.

Blackie was 17 yrs. old when she passed.

Still miss her.

(she's on the kitchen counter, where else?)

Be sure to find other Vintage Black Friday Finds

over at Gypsy Brocante.

Thank you Jill!

Have a Fun Vintage Friday,

and a great weekend!

Debra

Vintage Black Friday, Indulge me... AND a Blogaversary!

Vintage Black Friday is here again hosted by Jill at Gypsy Brocante, and before fall slips away into a sea of Wonderful White Christmas, I thought I'd share a little impromptu vignette, that I pulled together on my coffee table in the sitting area of my lower level family area.

My favorite part of having booth space at a flea market is the ability to satisfy the urge to create vignettes. My house looks like a "store" at times, so I have to try to tone it down...hard, very hard! These are a few pictures of things I grabbed from around the house and "staged" here for some fun.

Here's a little black wagon with some fall produce, and a black gothic stand holding my big chippy chalk squirrel bank.

A great little vintage black floral tray holding nesting boxes, a black teapot "for one", and a fruit print that is usually in my kitchen.

Don't you just love the cut-outs

on this little gothic hexagonal stand?!!

Kind of has a Moroccan feel to it.

This is one of a set of very small "pocket books" that I found at a flea market this summer. It is collected poems of Edgar Allen Poe.

And an UPDATE: My inspiration, Theresa of Garden Antiques Vintage is having her 3 Year Blogaversary Party. Run on over and check out her great post. She's planning a great PAR-TAY and give-away to celebrate! Happy Anniversary "Sweet T"!!!

Now, I've got to get busy with some last minute
things since I have the kids coming from St. Louis and

 my husband's brother and his wife coming from Texas.

I'll see you in a few days.

Gots to love on my kids!!

 Hope you are having a "Wonder-Fall" time of the year.

 I know I am! I'm savoring every moment!

Debra