Close to Our Heart

 When a heart is full of love, that special person of affection is held close to our heart throughout the day. 

 While doing our exercise routine, 
loving thoughts may drift through our minds. 

 A simple act of doing laundry can be love filled 

when viewed it as a way to show we care.

Oh, let's not forget pressing those freshly laundered clothes

 to give them a crisp finish. 

Time to go out and gather the ingredients for a favorite meal.

Nourish the physical body while creating an environment

 for sharing conversation with those we love.

A few minutes of renovation projects so our house can truly become the "home where the heart is".

I enjoyed sharing these vintage Valentine postcards with you.

Until next time, live and love well.

Join me this week at:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home 
Let's Talk Vintage at Bella Rosa Antiques
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Innocent Love

I haven't been writing posts recently but I couldn't let Valentine's Day pass without sending a greeting to all you special people I've gotten to know through linky parties.  

Searching through my box of vintage Valentine postcards, this  delightful series of greetings remind me of the tokens that children would swap with their school mates.

  

Based on copyright marks and postmarks,

 these postcards date during the 1911-1912 time frame.

Don't you love the sailor suits that young boys wore in this era?

This shy miss is hopeful ...

And, even at such a tender age, a heart can be broken.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Until next time, live and love well.

Join me this week and share your heartfelt greeting at:

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Be My Valentine

If you have visited before, you know that

I typically share antique holiday postcards.  

Today I have something a bit different.

A friend was moving last summer,

decided to part with some of her collectibles and 

offered me her collection of postcards.

Thank you, Michele!

When I opened the box, I discovered

three antique pop-up Valentines.

This is the display I created so I could enjoy these treasures.

Cupid is ready to pierce the heart

of his next target needing some romance in their life. 

Loving wishes from Grandma and Grandpa

were sent via this charming girl carrying a bouquet of flowers.

It was fortunate they added a date to their signature --

February 14, 1915.

The largest of the three cards was so fragile,

it was best displayed in a frame.  

Thanks for stopping by to share this special day.

And what better way to ask you to "Be My Valentine"

 than with a bouquet of red roses?

Wishing you a loving Valentine's Day!

Until next time, live and love well.

Join me in Sharing PINK:

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Greetings from the Heart

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Valentine's Day wishes are being sent to you

 via some vintage postcard images.

This first series of postcards feature three lovely ladies

 receiving bouquets from Cupid.

They are unusual because the postcards
are paper with a silk inlay.

The heart and oval shaped images are printed on silk. 

This close-up shows the muted colors selected by the artist for both the focus artwork and the background.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
John Winch Publishers
Postally Unused

Golden hearts are sprinkled across deep green and blue.
Certainly not the typical color palette

 associated with Valentine's Day.
Look closely and notice the spider webs
suspending the hearts within the green band.  
Spiders were considered a symbol of good luck during this era.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
John Winch Publishers
Postmarked from Michigan, 1910

This card brings a bit of traditional color 

with red and pink hearts gracing the top of the frame.
But to me, the pop of color almost looks like an afterthought.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
John Winch Publishers
Postally Unused

Here are two additional cards by the same publisher, John Winch.

Dutch children are sharing love tokens.

Although these cards have a totally different theme,

they repeat the golden hearts on a field of green.

The handwritten note on the back of this card states,

"Dress in something new and fine 

Then you'll be my Valentine".

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
John Winch Publishers
Hand Written Message on Back Dated February 14, 1908

And nothing says "I love you" like a basket of fish! 

This lad certainly is proud of his catch.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
John Winch Publishers
Postmarked  from Collins, NY on March 3, 1908

Until next time, live and love well.

Sharing Valentine greetings with

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound
Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Supermoon Consolation

On May 6, Supermoon 2012 had sky watchers and photographers anxiously waiting to see the largest full moon of the year

 as the moon orbited the earth at it's closest point.

Unfortunately it was cloudy in Midland.

And while the night sky was certainly brighter Saturday evening, we did not experience the spectacular show

that many were privileged to see.

But, I did receive a consolation prize.

I was able to attend the Midwest Postcard Show

in Michigan on Sunday and discovered another

romantic man-in-the-moon postcard.

This newly-acquired card is part of the series 

shared with you during the Valentine holiday.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection

PFB Publishers, Series 6809, Circa 1908-1909

Printed in Germany

I shared the following photograph 

as part of my post titled Spooning Under the Moon.

To read this earlier post 

and see close-ups of the individual postcards,

you can click here.

Antique Postcards from my Personal Collection

PFB Publishers, Series 6809, Circa 1908-1909

Printed in Germany

I don't know how many postcards 

were originally published as part of this series,

but now I have located six variations of couples

 sharing a romantic gesture under the silvery moon.

Since Mother Nature didn't co-operate

with weather conditions favorable to viewing the Supermoon,

I will be satisfied with this vintage paper moon.

Until next time, live and love well.

Joining these lovely parties: 

Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup from Mrs. Olson

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Cupid or Cherub?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am sharing some sweet images 
of some romantic tiny winged spiritual beings.  


Tiny winged spiritual beings ? ? ?


I originally planned to refer to these images as cherubs.
According to Webster's dictionary,
one of the definitions of cherub
is a beautiful winged child that is represented in art.


OK, that definition fits.

But then,
I questioned whether these were images of Cupid.
Can you have more than one image of Cupid
depicted in a single piece of art?




Again, according to Webster,
cupid (with a lower case c)
is a winged infantile figure representing Cupid,
often holding a bow and arrow.


OK, one of the spiritual beings
 is carrying a quiver filled with arrows.


Cupid or Cherub?  What do you think?

Antique Postcards from my Personal Collection,

PFB Publishers, Series No. 8032,

Printed in Germany, Circa 1910




Until next time, live and love well.

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Spooning Under the Moon

Do you know the meaning of the old fashioned word "spooning"?

It simply means to cuddle and kiss.

What better place to share this affection than under the light of a silvery moon!

Here are some closeup views of this series of vintage postcards.

Printed in Germany

PFB Publishers, Series 6809, Circa 1908-1909

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Song published in 1909. The music was written by Gus Edwards, and the lyrics by Edward Madden. 

Place park, scene dark, silvery moon is shining through the trees;

Cast two, me, you, sound of kisses floating on the breeze.

Act one, begun. Dialogue, "Where would you like to spoon?"

My cue, with you, underneath the silvery moon.

By the light of the silvery moon,

I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune,

Honeymoon keep a-shining in June,

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, we'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon.

Act two, scene new, roses blooming all around the place;

Cast three, you, me, Preacher with a solemn looking face.

Choir sings, bell rings, Preacher: "You are wed for evermore."

Act two, all through, every night the same encore.

By the light, (By the light, By the light),

Of the silvery moon, (The silvery moon).

I want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)

To my honey I'll croon love's tune.

Honeymoon, (Honeymoon, Honeymoon),

Keep a-shining in June. (Keep a-shining in June)

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,

We'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon.

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,

We'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon. (The silvery moon).

Sharing with these lovely parties this week:

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
The Valentines Party at Holiday Haven
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Heart of the Home

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to add a bit of pink to my home's decor.

Some Spring floral garland, white net ribbon, paper doily hearts

and scrapbook embellishments add some seasonal inspiration

to a collection of candle sticks on the mantle.

From another angle, you can see both the fireplace mantle and the wall hanging

I told you about in my post titled "A Hug and A Kiss".

A vintage postcard published by John Winsch in 1910

 has been framed and exhibits the romance of the Victorian era.

A nosegay of pink roses sits on a table
 next to an angel who carries a Valentine token.

Two pillows featuring love birds are displayed on a favorite chair.

And of course, my seasonal doll is dressed in a delicate white dress

with pink trim as she welcomes Valentine's Day.

Thank you for visiting.  Until next time, live and love well.

Sharing with:

Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean's Decor and More

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Clouds and Sea

This week's Valentine's Day postcards

are dramatically different than the Ribbon and Lace

postcards shared with you last week.

These are much more masculine

with images of sailboats on the sea.

But they are every bit as romantic upon closer inspection.

A closeup of the postcard

with a vertical orientation is shown below.

The cloud formations depict a couple sharing a kiss.

The rippling waves in the foreground

 spell out the word LOVE.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection,
Ser. 400, M W Taggart, Copyright 1909

Look closely at the postcard with the horizontal orientation. 

The strong wave crashing against the rock formation

forms the image of a woman

and the rocks show the sturdy face of a man.

The wave is about to embrace the jagged rocks.

Again, the word LOVE is spelled by the calmer waves.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection,
Ser. 400, M W Taggart, Copyright 1909

I don't know whether there are additional postcards in this series.  These cards are not commonly seen.

They were purchased at two different postcard shows

and I have never seen the cards

other than when I made these two purchases.

I definitely will be keeping my eyes open for more.  

Until next time, live and love well.

Joining these lovely parties this week:

Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean's Decor and More

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.