Mitzi's Miscellany

Relatives You Didn't Know About

I'm in the process of cleaning and organizing my crafting room/office.  It's a long, agonizing process!  As I go along, I keep finding wonderful things I forgot I had, like boxes of old photos.  Of course, such discoveries slow me down because I have to stop to scan them into the computer and share them with y'all.   I decided this group of lonely folks are long lost relatives we didn't know about, and they need to be assigned to  new families.  You can "adopt" them by clicking on the images and "saving" them, and using them in a future art project, or simply framing them and adding them to your wall of family portraits!

Your cousin Mildred, once removed:

The adorable brother and sister of your great great Grandfather:

Your depressed great great Aunt and Uncle, their two depressed children and their depressed dog:

Your great great Uncle Edwin:

Little Hazel, whose mother always curled her hair every day.  Hazel is somehow related to your dad, we're just now sure where she fits in:

Adorable little Edwina, your great grandmother's sister:

 Little Viola, your great-great aunt:

Your distant cousin's wedding photo:

Your dapper dressing great aunt Josephine:

The sweet children that are related to your father in some way:

Your great great aunt Wilhelmina, who marched to the beat of her own drummer.  She wore her hair short, dressed in men's clothing, and dared to smile during her photo session!

I know you'll provide a great home for these deserving souls!

Mitzi

Some Happy Easter Decor from Cindy Koth

Happy Easter, everyone!  Today I'd like to share some of my loyal blog reader Cindy Koth's cheerful Easter decor.  You might remember some of Cindy's Valentine decor that I shared a while back.  I'd say Cindy celebrates the holidays in great vintage style, wouldn't you?

Here we have a lovely grouping of plush bunnies in baskets:

 

Bunnies do have a tendency to multiply....and some of these are mechanical:

 

Charming children's tea sets with rabbit motifs:

A very special tin litho set in its own cupboard:

Cotton bunnies and other delights from the past:

Mohair and plush bunnies and a Kandies for the Kiddies tin:

Cindy can't stop the rabbits from reproducing!

Little bunnies pulling their carts to load up with Easter treats:

You can tell the grass inside these carts is the old cellophane type from the 1960's:

Cindy said the bunny on the left is pulling over the others for speeding!

Another shelf of bunnies and their carts:

A charming cover of The Farmer's Wife magazine:

Cindy's Easter decor puts mine to shame!  I want to thank her for sharing her treasures with us today. 

To end my Easter post, I'd like to show you a picture of me back in the 1960's, wearing my new Easter bonnet.  We were getting ready for church, and I was very uncomfortable because the bonnet had prickly flowers that were scratching my head.  I didn't look very happy, did I?

I hope you have a happy Easter with your family and/or friends, and pets if you have them.  My dogs are looking forward to some ham.  They've been good helpers lately, so I'll give them a few bits.

Mitzi

Happy Birthday to My Mom

Saturday, March 30th is my mom Lucile Maran's birthday, and she'll be 86 years young.  I'd like to celebrate by sharing some pictures from her interesting life.

This photo was just taken last month.  I think my mom looks great for her age, or for ANY age, don't you?

My mom has a youthful attitude, too.  She's not one to sit around and watch TV.  She's still selling antiques at the consignment shop Up for Grabs in Naples, Florida, and works there part time too.  She enjoys walking her dog Jezebel every day and having lunch with her dog loving friends, Clorinda Haug (left below) and Rochelle Baum (center):

My mom has always had a special sense of style, and I've learned a lot from her.  She knows how to set up great displays from all her years as a store owner, first as the owner of an antique shop attached to our home, then as the owner of the Mole Hole gift shop in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and as the owner of the Wind in the Willows boutique in Naples, Florida:

Here she is back in the 1970's, watering her plants at the Mole Hole in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan:

Jezebel loves to go for a ride in the car:

"Walking" Jezebel in Naples with friend Alexandra Berz (right):

I'm really proud of my mom.  My dad passed away just over a year ago, and it's been a tough year, but she's made the huge adjustment to her new life really well.  She married my dad when she was only 19 years old, and they had a very happy marriage:

Recently I helped her pack up many things in her townhouse so she could put it on the market.  She wants to move to a smaller home with a little less maintenance.  We took down all the family photos, like this "glamour shot" of her from college:

My mom's Easter decor:

I just returned from Naples a couple weeks ago.  My brother will be going there for my mom's birthday, and I'll be going back in May.  We take turns visiting so she always has something to look forward to, although at Christmas we both went at the same time.

So I'd like to wish my mom a Happy Birthday, and end this post with a picture taken at Easter long ago.  We were dressed in our Easter finery, getting ready for church.  You can tell in the picture I wasn't fond of getting all dressed up:

Happy Birthday, mom!  Much love to you!

Mitzi

Happy Holidays from Mitzi's Miscellany

Hello friends!  I've had a lot of fun sifting through my boxes full of old pictures lately, and have acquired several new boxes full of vintage fun at recent auctions.  I can get carried away for hours thinking of captions to go with some of the unusual family photos or individual portraits. 

For some of you readers that might be new to my blog, you simply must visit some of my older posts when my dear friend, photographer Joshua Smith, was a "guest" blogger.  He was kind enough to share some valuable tips about photography with us.  His initial post was so popular, I invited him back a second time for more lessons in his craft for those of you interested in improving your own skills (wink).  You can also download and save his images for your own art, such as collage work, if you wish.

 

I invited Mr. Smith back a third time, when he was all excited about his employee of the month at Joshua Smith Studios, Miss Caroline Wilkins.  Perhaps you'll want to visit his post here to learn about the talented Miss Wilkins and get some ideas for holiday hairstyles!  Yes, I've had a lot of fun with my dear friend, Mr. Joshua Smith!

Here's a hairdo you might want to try.....or not!

I've created a little holiday card with a curious family photo I found in a box, just for you, with my special brand of humor:

I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever else you may be celebrating!

Mitzi

Three Generations

When I visited Naples, Florida recently, I helped my mom pack some family treasures and made some discoveries along the way.  First and foremost, my mom showed me our family bible from her side of the family.  It came with her grandparents all the way from England on the boat, and eventually made its way to Isabella County in mid-Michigan, to a small town called Mt. Pleasant, where I was born.

My grandma, Harriett Pitkin Audlin, was born on January 1, 1875.  Believe me, she wasn't wild about the middle name "Pitkin", and we aren't really sure where it came from, either!  Also, note below where it says "One child died an infant June 1881".  I'm surprised that only happened once.  Infant mortality was very high back then.

A beautiful chromolithograph marriage certificate:

And the inevitable deaths of the older folks....

Then, an amazing discovery!  My grandma was born in this log cabin!  I'd never seen this picture before.  And for my friends familiar with the Mt. Pleasant area, this was near Riverwood Golf course:

My grandma went to college at Central Michigan Normal School in Mt. Pleasant, which eventually became Central Michigan University, and became a teacher:

After growing up in a log cabin, my grandma was no stranger to roughing it!  As a newlywed, she and my grandpa lived in a tent when my grandpa worked building the new highways in Florida:

My grandparents returned from Florida and decided to start a business together.  No longer a teacher, my grandma became an entrepreneur and never looked back!

My mom graduated from Central Michigan College in Mt. Pleasant too, and also became a teacher.  That's my mom on the right, with the black hair:

She began to weary of the teacher's life, and after the antique-collecting bug bit her, she and my dad started an antique shop in part of our house.  Realizing that a creative outlet was the way to go, a full blown downtown store was the next step.  She and my dad set up The Mole Hole, which was a huge success in Mt. Pleasant.  She went from teacher to business owner just like my grandma.

A dear friend, Jack Harris, called in 1979 with an offer my parents couldn't refuse:  a store of his called the Wind in the Willows was up for sale in Naples, Florida, and he wanted to sell it to my parents.  They bought it, and loved their new life in beautiful Naples!

 

If only my grandma could see the beautiful home her daughter (my mom) has lived in for the last 15 years!  What a luxury, compared to a log cabin and a tent...

Now my mom is still in business at age 85, selling her antiques at Up for Grabs, an upscale consignment shop on US 41 in Naples.  She also works there once in a while,  usually at Up for Grabs Too, the expansion store two doors down.  Stop by and say "hello" if you are in Naples!

I've told my early story before, for those of you that are interested.  Here's one of few pictures I have with all three generations:  my grandma, mom, and me at Christmas with my grandpa and my brother Mike.  I got my Christmas wish, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet!

 

I used to live above the Mole Hole, which was an awesome downtown penthouse.  But I've had my share of apartment living, once above a garage, and another that had a constant parade of roaches.  I didn't handle that well at all! 

This is my home now:

Just like my grandma and my mom, I attended Central Michigan University and obtained a degree in education, although I was never a teacher.  I became a school psychologist, but I ended up working in the elementary schools just like they did.  My career spanned 27 years, but eventually I needed to pursue another dream and I retired early to run my antique business full time.

I'm sure people think I need my head examined for leaving a job that had such great hours, summers off, and other perks.  Now I work seven days a week, starting at 4:00 a.m.!  Not really from necessity, more from excitement and enthusiasm than anything.  I just love what I do, that's all!

So here we are, the Three Generations, at work in our businesses:

Do you share a special legacy with the women or men in your family?  I'd love to hear about it!

Mitzi

Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management

When I shop estate sales, I don't always take the time to leaf through the books for sale.  Earlier this month I attended a sale in Owosso, Michigan, which was a 40-minute drive from my home that turned into over an hour because I got lost.  As I drove around town on my unintentional tour of Owosso (which is a lovely little town, by the way), trying to figure out who to blame besides myself for the confusion, I decided to take my time once I got to the sale.

I'm so glad I spent some time at the bookshelf!  I discovered Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management and brought it home.  It certainly deserves some appreciation, and I'm more than happy to give it.  Just look at the thickness of this tome!  Mrs. Beeton has a lot of information to share:

 

 

Just as I've done all my life when inspecting a book, first I see if it has pictures.  Yes, Mrs. Beeton has some wonderful color plates of various foods, making them look very appetizing:

 

Wonderful looking vegetables, piled high on their serving platters:

 

 

Then she gets into some rather bizarre recipes.  Eel is the same as "conger".  How would you like some eel pie, or eel stewed in milk?  Calf's brains with black butter sauce, anyone?  How about fried calf's feet?  White Soup from Tinned Rabbit?  And then there's Cold Cabinet Pudding.  Hmmm....I hope that's not made from an old piece of furniture!

 

 

I don't know about you, but I don't like to stare down at an animal's face at the dinner table:

 

 

 

Did Mrs. Beeton fricassee the Easter Bunny?  I hope not....

 

 

Suddenly I've decided to become a vegetarian.  I wouldn't mind one of Mrs. Beeton's salads.  A work of art, each one of them!

 

 

Have you ever seen cheese look this beautiful?

 

 

And how about some crackers to go with the cheese?  Mrs. Beeton calls them "biscuits", because she's British.  Check out the center biscuit with the little face.  How cute is that?

 

 

Of course the Fancy Cakes and Sweets are going to be beautiful:

 

 

 

 

I always imagined being sick back in the day would be a nightmare.  Not at Mrs. Beeton's house!

 

 

But Mrs. Beeton isn't just about food.  She begins at the beginning, with a chapter called "The Mistress."  There she covers the functions of the mistress of the house, including "home virtues", hospitality, good temper, proper dress and fashion, wages for the house servants, and the social norms for visiting friends,  leaving calling cards, and hosting parties.  Mrs. Beeton wrote her book in 1859-61, so this is the era we're talking about, the Victorian era.  There were many rules to be followed then.  The introduction notes that Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management was a favored wedding gift for half a century.

The lovely Isabella Mary Beeton:

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia

Mrs. Beeton even makes suggestions for social conversation:  "One should never dwell unduly on the petty annoyances and trivial disappointments of the day.  A wife should never allow a word about any faults of her husband to pass her lips."

Ads in the back of the book claim Vaseline is your friend for a hundred troubles, both internally and externally!

 

 

The previous owner of the book had pasted a cutout obituary of Isabella Mary Beeton inside the book.  Sadly, she passed away at the young age of 28, just a couple years after completing her book.  Curious about the cause, I discovered Mrs. Beeton died of "childbed fever", a bacterial infection she contracted the day after the birth of her fourth son.  What a tragedy!  You can read more about Mrs. Beeton at Wikipedia.

Yes, I enjoyed the rules of household management circa 1850's via Mrs. Beeton's book.  I learned an important lesson, too.  Take time to open old books, because there could be a wonderful discovery inside!

Mitzi

P.S.  My friend Laura Loew notified me that there is a BBC production about Mrs. Beeton called The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton.  I know I'll want to watch it, how about you?

My Big-Time Gratitude Post

I thought it was high time I created a "gratitude post" to let readers know how thankful I am that you are here, reading what I have to say.  If you are a blogger, you know what I'm talking about, but for those of you that simply enjoy reading blogs, let me tell you it's a wonderful feeling to think that people care what you are writing about and view the pictures from your little corner of the world! 

This is my corner of the world now....

 

 

 

But I used to live in an old fire hall building in downtown Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (below).  It wasn't as bad as it looks in this picture!  You can read about it here. 

 

 

My parents have always been my biggest fans, and my dad used to go to the Collier County Public Library in Naples, Florida to read my blog regularly because my parents didn't have a computer at home.  Sadly, my dad passed away in March.  I alternate between feeling so thankful for his extraordinary life and missing him terribly.  I've felt so much support from my readers and friends who have expressed their sympathy.  Thank you all!

 

My blog is a truly "made from scratch" blog.  I'd estimate 90% of the pictures are taken by me.  I post pictures taken by others when I write an educational post and want to show a good example of something, or when I'm showing you a friend's lovely blog images.  One of my primary goals for the future is to improve my photography and purchase additional equipment so I can really show vintage items in their best light.  I'm glad readers appreciate my efforts.

 

 

 

My readers have done such nice things, like sending me pictures of their prized possessions, e-mailing me about their experiences with antiques or sharing special stories about their families.  I just received a wonderful note from a California reader named Melissa, whose grandmother Mary grew up near my Michigan hometown.  She sent me this adorable picture of her grandmother playing with her laundry set back in 1913:

 

Melissa's family moved West from Michigan, eventually settling in California.  Somehow they hooked up with an ostrich-pulled cart!  I think this is a very amusing photo, don't you?

 

My friend and loyal reader Sherry Spehar thought of me when she bought the contents of a barn and came across some old glass.  Since I re-frame a lot of pictures, it's nice to have authentic old glass on hand.  Customers can tell the difference!  She gave me a great deal on it and now I'll always have old glass when I need to fix up a print or picture.  Because it's hard to show you sheets of glass, I'll show you a picture of a Michigan barn:

 

 

 

Loyal reader Sev has made some suggestions that I'm taking seriously.  He would like to see some pictures of my home decor, especially my kitchen, and read about vintage costume jewelry.  I hope you realize I'm going to have to clean my house, Sev!  But I'll do it for you, because you're such a nice guy!

For now, here's my fireplace, with a temporary horse ribbon banner that I made.  We'll get to the kitchen later, I promise.  And the jewelry too!

 

Walt and Rosemary Howard, who run  Heritage Estate Sales in Owosso, were so thoughtful to buy me a little book a while back.  Isn't it cute?  This year my garden wasn't exactly magical, because we had drought conditions most of the summer, but maybe it will be magical next year....

 

 

My friend Rick thought of me recently and gave me a stack of old games.  He didn't even know I was planning a blog post about "games people used to play!"  Did you have "The Game of Life" in your house when you were a kid?

 

 

I forgot how tiny the little game pieces were.  It's amazing that they even survived!  These pegs surely got caught in many heat vents and shag carpets over the years!  I put pairs of same-sex couples in the vehicles just to update the Game of Life to reflect current times:

 

 

 

I've met some of the most interesting people since I began blogging.  I consider them true friends, even though we haven't met in person.  When you have something in common like a love of antiques or crafting, show care and concern for each other, and support each other in good times and bad, that sounds like a friendship to me!  Best of all, I don't sense any jealousy.  The blog field is so wide open, there's plenty of room for everyone to shine, so we all encourage each other.

I "met" Sandy from Frugal Herbalist who sent me some of her homemade lavender balm, which I keep on my desk and use when I get a sore neck and shoulders from too much time on the computer.  It's really great stuff, and I'll order more when it's gone.  Sandy is going to start an Etsy shop soon, and I wish her well!

Here is a picture of Sandy out in the field, collecting herbs:

 

I wrote about my fondness for old signs a while back, and asked readers to submit their own favorite hometown signs.  Jennifer Vanier responded immediately with a great example from her town of Prescott, Ontario:

 

 

 

Jennifer purchased a cool sign from a chinchilla ranch that went out of business:

 

 

And this was interesting:  chinchillas don't like to get wet.  They roll around in clay dust to "bathe" themselves.  The galvanized metal tubs below were purchased by Jennifer at the chinchilla farm.  They were used as chinchilla "bathtubs", filled with the clay dust:

 

 

Reader "Momma Mindy" followed one of my craft tutorials and created a couple cool camping kits for her son and daughter-in-law from up-cycled cookie tins using my vintage coffee labels.  You can read about it on Momma Mindy's Moments.  Here's one example:

 

Blogging has helped me keep connected with some of my relatives, too.  My Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary are regular readers, and I have cousins that enjoy the crafting posts. My cousin Shelly is a serious scrapbooker and all around creative person who meets weekly with a group of crafty friends.  I found out she's been sharing my blog with her craft group!  Recently group member Lois sent me the nicest note to tell me she enjoys reading my blog.  I persuaded Shelly to send me a picture of Lois's work, which is very impressive:

 

 

And I persuaded Shelly to send an image of her own projects, as well as group member Teri.  I'll bet these ladies have so much fun when they get together!

 

A lovely young Michigan mom, blogger, and super creative person named Kammy Wielenga contacted me recently.  She has some great ideas over at Kammy's Korner, so be sure to stop by.

I want to thank my friend, photographer and co-conspirator Autumn Luciano for coming up with great ideas for photo shoots, and for making my ideas come to fruition.  We have a lot of fun!  She's responsible for the picture of me on the left sidebar with the vintage radio.  She even talked me into posing in a vintage bathing suit once.  What a pro!  Someday soon I'm going to devote an entire blog post to Autumn!  Isn't she beautiful (picture below)?  And she has so much talent it's unbelievable!

 

 

 

I have learned so much since I began blogging, much of it thanks to my friend Lisa Longlois, who is responsible for my blog design and many technical matters.  Lisa and I have plans to do some crafting demonstrations at a local antique mall (more details to come).  Recently she showed me some Google Analytics info.  Apparently, the keywords that attract the most new people to my blog have been "medieval torture device".  I just threw that term out there when describing these old undergarments from a catalog.  I'm not sure this is what the "Googlers" were looking for when they began their search:

 

Many of you might not know my work situation, but I'll tell you now.  For the last 28 years I've been employed full time as a school psychologist, working with elementary school children.  It's been a great career, because just like teachers and other school employees I've had summers off, generous vacation time and reasonable work hours.  It's afforded me the time to start my antique business as a hobby 13 years ago as well as dabble on eBay, Etsy, and begin blogging in February 2009.

I've been going "Back to School" every fall since I was five years old!

 

After much planning, hand-wringing and excitement, I retired from my job this fall.  This has been my dream for about 10 years, so it wasn't an impulsive decision.  Of course, next year would probably be a better time financially (maybe the economy would be more stable) but next year could come and I might find myself saying the same thing.  So I just went ahead and took my own advice about getting started.  Now I'm truly living my dream in every sense of the word!

Here I am, doing what I love to do:  finding treasures to sell:

 

 

 

So in summary, I'm going to appreciate my friends and readers more than ever, and I want to thank you for your support.  I'm going to be reading your comments and taking the time to answer each one when I can.  If you aren't a blog comment-leaver, that's OK.  I'm flattered that you are taking time from your busy day to stop by my blog.  If you ever want to contact me privately, my e-mail address is:  mitziscollectibles@comcast.net

Mitzi

Special thanks to Clorinda and Olaf for helping my mom keep caught up on my blog posts; Colleen, Kat, Kim, Suzanne, Sue, Sharon, Felicia, and The Sea Witch for keeping in touch with me and all my Facebook friends for visiting!

Mitzi's Vintage Dating Service: V-Harmony!

Just in time for Sweetest Day, I have my Vintage Dating Service "V-Harmony" up and running!  Not much explanation is necessary here, I've just allowed some lonely hearts from the past to post their pleas along with some photos:

Looking for a "Sarah, Plain and Tall" type:  That's me, Frederick Hanson, on the left with my young son Frederick Jr.  We need a woman to clean the house, cook, and do some light farming. I'd like to have more children, so a woman with sturdy birthing hips is preferred. We share the house with my younger brother and his wife and as you can see, we will have the larger half.  Right now, we aren't speaking with them, but hopefully things will change when you get here.

 

Do you like a man in uniform?  I'll be off the boat soon and ready to meet some ladies!  My name is Kenneth Jones and I'd like to take you to Coney Island for a fun-filled day!  We'll ride the roller coaster, play some games, and hopefully see some fireworks at night, if you know what I mean!

 

Let me entertain you!  My name is Violet Henderson.  I've always been a bit exotic, and I'm looking for an adventurous type that might consider running away and joining the circus with me!

 

I'm an earnest young man.  And my name just happens to be Ernest.  I'm looking for a young lady of staunch moral character and high values.  My mother will have to approve, of course.

 

You will have a ball with my six children!  My name is Mavis Middleton and my husband runned off with the town trollop!  I have six children to raise on my own.  Will you help me?

 

I'll never give up!  My name is Clive Morrison.  Before Mother and Father passed on, I promised them I would find husbands for my three sisters, Wilma, Florence, and Anna Louise.  They are good company and can cook a fine meal, all three of them!  Please respond, and give me some hope.  I'm beginning to get a little discouraged.

 

My children might have poor posture, but they're straight arrows!  My name is Matthew Jensen and I've raised my two children, Reginald and Molly, without a mother.  Perhaps mothers remind youngsters to stand up straight, and I'll admit to failure in that department.  But my children are fine young adults in all other areas, and I'm ready to find mates for them!

 

Southern Belle looking for an Ashley Wilkes type:  I know the South can rise again!  I still consider Jefferson Davis our president and someday we will reassemble our army and lick the Yankees!  If you believe it too, contact me.  My name is Laurel Williams.

 

Looking for a "Marian the Librarian" type.  My name is Lloyd Merriweather, and I take education very seriously.  I've checked out more books than anyone else in Altoona, Pennsylvania!  Let's read together by the fireplace.

 

Loretta Lynn was 14 when she got married:  So I can start dating when I'm 12!  That's how we do it in Humpy Holler.  My name is Sara June Colby and I'm ready to find a feller!

I hope my readers can help find some dates for these well-meaning single folks!   As I've said before, "there's a lid for every pot", and I suppose we just have to keep looking until we find the lid that fits!

Happy Sweetest Day,

Mitzi

The Fascinating Story of Django Reinhardt

Every once in a while I like to write about "old timey" music, like I did a while back when I paid tribute to the great Louis Jordan.  In order to live in a vintage world like mine, you have to set the right tone, and Django Reinhardt's (I've also seen his name spelled Rhinehardt) music certainly provides a great background for a vintage lifestyle.  His fascinating life story illustrates how a personal tragedy can sometimes lead to a great triumph, and I thought it would be inspiring to give a little mini bio here.

 

Photo Credit:  Wall Street Journal Online

Django Reinhardt was born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in a Romany gypsy community that eventually moved to the outskirts of Paris.  He and his brother both played instruments as children, and Django often performed for money as a young man.  By age 18 he was married and living in a gypsy caravan with his first wife, who made decorative celluloid flowers to sell and supplement their income.

Celluloid and wire flowers:

Photo Credit:  Ruby Lane

After a performance one evening, Django knocked over a lit candle on the way to bed, igniting the highly flammable celluloid materials used to make the flowers.  He and his wife were pulled to safety, but Django was severely burned over half of his body, including the fingers of his left hand.  Doctors broke the dire news to him that he would never play the guitar again, and that his paralyzed right leg should be amputated.  Reinhardt refused to have the amputation and left the hospital after several days against doctors' recommendations.

Django's brother bought him a new guitar and helped him learn to play in a different way because of his injury. This is what I find so inspiring.  Many people would have become depressed and given up at this point, thinking their musical gift was ruined.  Instead, Reinhardt turned lemons into lemonade, and eventually became wildly popular with his new style of guitar playing.  He played all of his guitar solos with only two fingers, using the two injured fingers only for chord work.

Django eventually met violinist Stéphane Grappelli, someone who was on the same page, musically speaking. Together they formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France which enjoyed success in Europe until World War II interrupted the night life scene.

 The quintet was all string instruments, as you can see here:

After the war Reinhardt was asked to tour the US as a guest soloist with Duke Ellington.  Upon return to France, Reinhardt continued to play until a brain hemorrhage caused his untimely death at the age of 43.

In the first video, we can see Reinhardt's masterful guitar playing in action along with the Quintette du Hot Club de France.  This is their 1938 recording of "Sweet Georgia Brown":

 

 

Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France with the 1937 recording of "The Sheik of Araby".  I think you'll appreciate the difficulty of the piece, even if you've never picked up a guitar:

 

 

My little blog post barely skims the surface of Django Reinhardt's fascinating life and career.  My hope is that he might have gained a few new fans today!

Mitzi

Remembering the "Marcel"

Most of us familiar with the "Marcel" wave associate it with the 1920's, but the process was created by Francois Marcel, a French hairdresser, in 1872.  It caught fire again in the 1920's with the invention of electric curling irons and the popularity of the "bob" hairstyle, which could be worn sleek and simple, as Louise Brooks does below:

 

 

Just to back up a bit, in the 1910's, women grew their hair as long as possible and spent a lot of time grooming it.  The sudden shift in the 1920's to chopping it all off must have been quite shocking to many, and liberating to others.

 

 

To add some pizzazz to the bob, finger waves were suggested:

 

Many women owned curling irons already, although they weren't electric versions and needed to be heated over a gas burner.  It was hard to control the level of heat and many locks were damaged with these old implements.

Two vintage curling irons from my collection:

 

 

 

This gal spent some time at the salon with one of those old-timey electric perm machines.  I don't think we can blame a curling iron for this:

 

 

And here is what we're talking about when we say "electric perm machine":

 

 

 

No wonder this young lady is smiling.  Her 'do turned out just great:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This gal is sporting a hairdo that's not really a Marcel, but I wanted to share it here anyway because it's so cute.  I believe that's called a "spit curl" near her eye:

 

 

I have a feeling you'll be looking for examples of the Marcel when you comb through old pictures at the antique mall or flea market.  If you find a good one, think of me!

Mitzi