Wednesday, March 31, 2010

EHAG Emporium

Hello, it's time again, the doors are thrown wide open and here is my EHAG Emporium piece for sale.


"When Vegetables Go Bad - Jake and Dewey sneak into the Professor's Laboratory"

Click on this link to go to my Etsy shop.

Shoe Candy Container Ornaments and EHAG Emporium


I have finally finished the descriptions for the shoes click here to go to my Etsy shop.

 DON'T FORGET 

 DON'T FORGET

Tonight at 9 pm ET the doors to the EHAG Emporium fly open for the rush of sales for all of the wonderful Hallowe'en art that is available. If you love Hallowe'en then be certain to be there at 9 pm sharp because it is first come first serve and you wouldn't want to miss out on that very special one of a kind piece to add to your collection.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Little Tour of My Brain, Part 16 - Easter Postcards - Children at Easter

Children and Easter go hand in hand just like any other holiday celebration. Who doesn't like candy and fantasy?

What a romantic country image. That has been one busy chicken laying all of those eggs!

On the back of this postcard is written "Dear Rae, You will have a happy summer at Bowen Island and do not forget Auntie Blanshard". Most of the postcards that I have are from the US or Eastern Canada but the reference to Bowen Island is to the West Coast. To get to Bowen Island go to Horseshoe Bay 12 miles north west of Vancouver, then take a 20 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay over to the island.

The pink roses on this postcard are die-cut silk shapes that were glued on, most likely by hand, and then the card was embossed. This is a very Victorian image. I think that the child in the yellow "dress" is a boy. Young boys, and correct me if I am wrong, wore a piece of clothing similar to this. If anyone knows more information or what the clothing young boys wore was called let me know.


This hand-tinted photographic postcard was probably produced in Paris. The only markings on it are on the front "Bonnes Paques" at the top and on the bottom right corner "La Favorite" with "898" directly beneath it. There is no address on the back just the words "With much love Tom(?) Daddy". I wonder if some of the cards that I have shown with no address on them were sent home by soldiers from WW1? That is a somewhat bitter sweet thought; did they arrive home safely or was the postcard kept because this is the last sentiment and last physical evidence that they were alive and so dearly loved.

Those two children look as though they are being terrorised by two naughty zombie bunnies! Now that I have I ruined this cute image for you let us move on.

Well, I have obviously not read the backs of the postcards at all. This postcard is post marked 1919 and was mailed to "Master John McCallum, 1449 Mitchell Street , Oak Bay, Victoria, B.C." A postcard from Victoria! Victoria was a very tiny town back in 1919. It's main source of industry was fishing and logging.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

A Little Tour of My Brain, Part 16 - Easter Postcards - Anthropomorphic Easter Animals

I have more postcards featuring Easter animals but this time they are more like little humans in animal clothing, the proper term is anthropomorphic.

In this Raphael Tuck and Sons postcard a ewe is proudly showing off some very large chicks while the hen, with coloured eggs at her feet, looks on. I love that fence in the background.

While I was writing this I remembered a friend who had some antique Easter decorations that are the most disgusting I have ever heard of, three dead chicks. Evidently this was common!? I suppose they were just dehydrated. The chicks could be tucked in an Easter basket, "Oh Mummy aren't they cute?" or on a Christmas tree, "Look Ethyl, little chicks, so charming." I never did see them, I had no desire at all. Well now that I have grossed you out completely lets get on with more pleasant things.

The Cadbury Easter Bunny is only doing what comes naturally to all Easter Rabbits, flying an airplane. This postcard is from 1911.

Miss Ruth Pugh received this postcard from her cousin Inize Berry? on April 9, 1909. She writes, "Ruth what do you think of these big Easter eggs (Easter Eggs is underlined) I go to school everyday and like it some Pretty bad days too (too is underlined) come and visit me sometime your loving cousin"  She may not have used any punctuation in her pencil written message but she did like too underline words.

I like the richness of the colours and the formality in this postcard.

What a delightful rabbit couple out for a stroll. This card may be part of a series, I'm not certain, but it is the second part of a letter written home. It was probably in a package that was sent home because there is no post mark. The back of the card is written on, entirely ignoring the area for the address. The back reads - (there is an underlined 2 at the top of the card) "this Easter in Blighty now but of course one never knows and I may be home sooner than I think. I guess you have Frank at home now and having a rare time plenty of fun etc. eh, I only wish I was at home with you all for here I" and that is the end of the message that would have been continued on the next card or cards. Who knows what was said, thought, or happened in this anonymous person's life. I wish I had the rest of the cards.

Two chicks in their Easter finest are ready for the Easter parade. Chicks are baby hens and roosters but these little guys appear fully grown and perpetually in a state of grown-up childhood.

This a 1920s or 1930s children's postcard. It is cute but the quality of the drawing is not the same as the earlier cards.

Tennis anyone? That is one tough egg that is being batted back and forth over the tennis net. I just noticed that each rabbit is hitting an egg to the other rabbit! That is one difficult game! I like this delightful card it has coloured eggs, Spring flowers, a meadow with blue skies, a home in the distance and you can smell the sweet Spring air and feel the warm breezes blowing on your face.

This last card is cruder in the drawing and the printing than the previous cards which makes all the more charming. I wonder how many rabbits, eggs, and flowers will come out of the magicians top hat?

Saturday, March 27, 2010

A Little Tour of My Brain, Part 16 – Easter Postcards with Farm Yard Images

Easter is on the way and to start things off I have some antique postcards featuring farm animals. They are arranged from the least Eastery, such a delightful non dictionary word, to colours and styles that we consider more Eastery.

At the top of this postcard in very pale gold lettering are the words Easter Greetings. This postcard was sent to "Chas. H. Pugh, 100 Price Ave., Columbus, Ohio." On the back Charles has written "Apr. 9 - 1909 From my Sweet Hart Goldie".

The back of this card says -
Dear Friend:- Please except this Easter card. Go careful on the egg question. How are you keeping Willie? I am fine. We are having lovely weather. Had a blizzard yesterday. Write me when you get time. Bye Bye From Willie Gray
To Master William Harvey, R.R. #3, West Monkton Ontario

These cards give us a glimpse into an era where farm livestock was a matter of everyday experience for the greater part of the population.

The postcards picturing farm animals are beginning to look a little more like an Easter image that we are familiar with. Gentian and forget-me-not are in the upper right corner of the postcard.


Baby chicks inside an egg shaped frame, pale blue flowers, and a greeting in King James English, "May thine be a happy Easter", very proper indeed.

This postcard and one previous are part of a series. The flowers in the corner of this postcard are pheasant eye narcissus.

Birthdays fall on everyday of the year. The words written on the back of this card to Miss Augusta Lambert of Logan, Ohio say, “Wish you a Happy Birthday, Mrs Fred Stracke”.

Violets, pussy-willow, and little birds with a metallic silver cross create an interesting colour combination.

A farmyard vignette, a bouquet of violets held in place with a shirred yellow ribbon and an Arts and Crafts design in the background create a very elegant postcard.

The rabbits and chicks in this postcard appear somewhat awkward, as if one of them had said something that was not politically correct.

Three little chicks out for an early Easter morning stroll.

Bunnies, chicks, a basket, coloured egg shells, and snowdrops; it's beginning to look a lot like Easter.

A violet background and coloured egg shells transform an ordinary farmyard image into an Easter vignette.

Friday, March 26, 2010

My EHAG Emporium Sneak Peak


The EHAG Emporium will swing open the doors for the much anticipated sale of original Hallowe'en art at the end of the month, so don't forget. Here is a sneak peak of my contribution.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The EHAG Emporium and Hot Cross Buns!


I am not slacking off as some of you may think; it has been six days since I have posted anything. My goal is to do at least two or three posts a week but I have been working like a crazed little beaver in my studio and I am just about finished my EHAG Emporium piece, only one or two little last minute items to finish. Tomorrow I will photograph it, get the pictures ready, do the write-up and then all is done.

We are having weekly give-aways at the EHAG Emporium sales blog so head over there, follow the directions and you may win this weeks prize.

The images of the shoe candy containers are finished, all that is needed now is to do the write-ups and then they will be posted on my sales blog.

Easter is almost upon us and I have lots of images to post. I had better be off now there is lots of work to get done; in the mean time go to my post about hot cross buns for the recipe. Purchase the ingredients and make a batch of home-made hot cross buns, you will never buy them again.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Forget your Easter bonnet, put on your dancing shoes!

Years ago I worked at store called "Fox And Fluevog Boots and Shoes" making clogs and sandals. The Edwardian store interiors were amazing. The Victoria store was the best of the four shops that they owned. The three other stores were in Vancouver, Canada. Peter Fox one of the owners who designed the shoes also did the interiors and he was the most satisfied with the Victoria shop. The interior was an Edwardian library two stories high with floor to ceiling books on two walls. The books were bought at second hand stores by the box load.

Those stores are now gone but the two owners Peter Fox and John Fluevog opened their own stores. Peter Fox opened "Peter Fox Shoes" in Soho in New York in 1981. The store was closed in 2007 and "Peter Fox Shoes" became an e-commerce store. Peter Fox retired in 2008 and passed the store on to his long time store manager, Helga Magi.

John Fluevog opened "John Fluevog Boots and Shoes" in Vancouver and now has ten stores - 4 in Canada and 6 in the US, as well as a website  "John Fluevog Boots and Shoes".

Ken Rice, the fellow that I worked for making clogs and sandals, opened up "Ken Rice Shoe Studio" in Vancouver, BC. He also has a website "Ken Rice Shoe Studio".

All of this trip down memory lane is an introduction to my new candy container ornaments for Spring. I am working on my EHAG Emporium piece for the end of the month but I wanted to show you these 5 new shoes. After my EHAG Emporium piece is finished I will have close-up pictures and detailed descriptions of each shoe on my sales blog. If you can not wait and want to buy one or more of the shoes now e-mail me at info@happyholidays.ca. Each shoe is $55.00 U.S. plus shipping and handling.

Starting at the bottom the first shoe is - "Spring Time". There is a hand-made branch of vintage blossoms and leaves  with a birds nest tucked under the leaves. Two eggs are in the hand-made nest. Available in my Etsy shop.

The "Blue Skies and Flowers" shoe has a pale pink bouquet of vintage leaves and flowers on the front of the shoe. Available in my Etsy shop.

The magenta "Pansy" shoe has vintage leaves and flowers on the front of the shoe and it features a large vintage velvet pansy. SOLD

The two shoes on the top step are the yellow shoe "Candy" and the red shoe "Victoria". "Candy" is decorated with vintage leaves and flowers as well as vintage trims. The "red candy sugar heart" is handmade. "Victoria" has a hand-made bouquet vintage leaves and flowers.

"Candy Says I Love You" is available in my Etsy shop.

"Red and Yellow Victoria Shoe" is available in my Etsy shop.

The shoe candy container ornaments can be used in place of an Easter basket for that special someone, as a birthday, wedding or Easter gift; they would also look great on a Christmas tree.

In case you might be wondering, I shot this photo of the shoes on our kitchen table. All of the grass and flowers are fake. I love artificial plants. The marble steps are real!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A Little Tour of My Brain, Part 15 - St. Patrick's Day - assorted items

 HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! 

This post is an assortment of old and new Saint Patrick's Day items. I was given this flag by a young guy in Ireland as a souvenir of my visit to Ireland many years ago. The family that I stayed with was quite poor but I was welcomed into their home. The Irish are a wonderfully friendly people. Visit Ireland sometime.

These six die-cuts were made in Germany and are from around the 1920's.

A chenille shamrock Saint Patrick's Day pin with its backing card. It is about 3 1/2" x 4" and was made in Japan.

This child's card stands about 7 1/2" high, AND IT'S FLOCKED, can there be anything better?

The price for this packet of Dennison St. Patrick's Day seals was only 19 cents.

These two home made party place-cards were made using the Dennison seals illustrated above.

A vintage souvenir plaque from Ireland. It is paper bonded onto thin plywood and cut out.

This leprechaun is a Dennison party decoration.

There are 6 leprechaun face paper plates in this unopened cellophane wrapped set.

This St. Patrick's Day gift is a poem printed and bound in book form. There are five pages to the poem. The poem is only printed on the right hand page. The left side is left blank. On the inside it is inscribed –
Copyright 1913
P.F. Volland and Co.
Chicago, U.S.A.
(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

All Irish chocolates come in a box exactly like this! The hat is cut out and applied to a rectangular box underneath.

This celluloid covered metal pin back pin would be worn so that all can see you are Irish (no matter where you were born!).

I have worn this vintage tie in public on Saint Patrick's Day! I like it better than most of the "Irish" ties that I have seen. I do have a skinny green 1960's tie with two tiny shamrocks very tastefully placed on the tie. I guess I'm not much for good taste.

This is a souvenir hankie from the early part of the 20th century. It came from someone in my family tree. I have no idea if it was from my dad's or mum's side but I have always liked the colours used in the printing. It appears to have been printed with a process called chromolithography I'm not certain though. If anyone knows if they did this printing process on fabric let me know.