Happy Thanksgiving 2022

Jessie Willcox Smith is one of my favorite illustrators.

I love these two giving thanks for their breakfast.

This illustration is from A Child's Book of Old Verses 

published in 1910 with 10 color illustrations.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

xo

Pam just commented she grew up with this illustration by JWS on her home's kitchen wall and I just had to know more. It was an advertisement for the American Radiator Company published sometime between 1910 and 1920. I love it.

Thanks, Pam.

xo

Washing Dishes: Jessie Willcox Smith

Thank God for dirty dishes;

they have a tale to tell.

While other folks go hungry,

we're eating pretty well.

With home and health and happiness,

we shouldn't want to fuss;

For by this stack of evidence,

God's very good to us.

~ Anonymous

I found this image and poem while searching on Pinterest. I love the beautiful blue and white Canton that this little girl is washing. Just look at the wear on the bottom. Maybe it wasn't valuable back in 1925 but now it's prized. I have quite a few pieces in my corner cupboard.

JWS is one of my favorite illustrators from the first quarter of the 20th century and this image is new to me. This little girl doesn't even have a step stool but has to balance precariously on a little ladder in old blue paint. I've been doing a lot of this lately but on a larger ladder, both outside and inside, dealing with my windows.

I have been a little distracted lately, since Sunday afternoon. I opened my car door for an errand and the car alarm started going off and I could not start my car. It completely shut down because it thought I was trying to steal it. I am still trying to figure out what to do. I stopped using my clicker about 10 years ago and never replaced it when the battery died. I have been using my key ever since. I am depending on friends for rides and will decide today what I should do. Will keep you posted. xo

Jessie Willcox Smith 1930s Covers

A very sweet Good Housekeeping Magazine cover dated June 1930 by Jessie Willcox Smith, one of my all-time favorite illustrators.

Here we have Picking Strawberries dated June 1931

Both covers found on Google images.

A Sewing Project at My Cottage

This was my introduction to sewing as a child. I sewed doll clothes by hand. I love this illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith found on Google Images.

I really shouldn't show this photo yet because the pillow cases aren't right. I just threw them on while the proper ones were being laundered. This spread is my current completed sewing project. I purchased this large piece of old unbleached linen at an estate sale and hoped it would become my lightweight summer bedspread. It was already sewn in three panels. I brought it home and laundered it but the center panel was too wide and the two side panels were too long. So up to the attic I went to get reacquainted with my sewing machine. It was a pretty easy project and I'm pleased with the results. It was just a matter of measuring and a lot of ironing. I put French seams where the side panels were attached so there are no raw edges and I top stitched them too. The deep hem on the side panels is so much nicer than the shirt tail hem that was there before. I cannot sleep on or under anything but natural fabrics that breathe. If there is one drop of polyester or another synthetic, I can tell and it smothers me. This must make me a close cousin of The Princess and The Pea.

Now I'm thinking about making some new curtains for my attic windows that I can close in the summer to block the morning sun. Will keep you posted. xo

Enjoying The Hammock

Jessie Willcox Smith is one of my favorite illustrator. Isn't this adorable? I don't recall ever having seen this one before. via

We are having a hot week in New Jersey but it cools off at night enough to turn off the central air and open bedroom windows. I can tolerate air conditioning during the day but dislike being sealed at night. I miss the sounds of outside too much. This arrangement works for me and I love waking up to birdsong in the morning. Stay cool. xo

Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol

I added the text to this illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith. 

Baby New Year by Jessie Willcox Smith

How adorable! I've never seen this circa 1910 image of Baby New Year sitting in a black doctor's bag.  via

Merry Christmas - Vintage Images

My own front door Christmas past.

Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you one and all for your good Christmas wishes for me.

Charles Dickens said it best.

GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!

Giving Thanks - Jessie Willcox Smith

I love this illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith of a brother and sister giving thanks for their daily bread before breakfast. I like to think this was painted to illustrate Thanksgiving morning. via

Eating Porridge | Jessie Willcox Smith

This would be me almost every morning without the table cloth and my blue and white Canton bowl is much smaller. Oh, and no onlookers either except for Webster. via

Have a Great Weekend

1912 illustration from Dickens's Children by Jessie Willcox Smith. Read the eBook complete with all ten of the full-color illustrations by this wonderful artist HERE.

image from Flickr