Let's Talk Vintage #62: Throwing a Milestone Birthday Party

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is where vintage lovers gather to share their ideas, projects, collections, decorating vignettes, favorite antiques and more. We're happy to have you visit today, if you have a blog post or online vintage shop,
feel free to link up.

 

Today I'm sharing a 75th surprise birthday party we had for my Mother. My Sister and I had been collaborating together for about six months.

The day finally arrived this past weekend. 

I'm thrilled with how it all turned out...

There was a lot of "pre-party" prep that went into it.

 To help me plan I used a secret board on Pinterest.

 

Such great ideas!

 

 

 

The photo above is of the huge mess in my

dining room as I gathered and worked

on what to bring. We had the party in a

different state. It was tough!

I created a party theme or "brand" by

making a graphic on Pic Monkey.

 

We ended up choosing the one

on the right with just a hint

of the "75" in the background.

 

The picture is of my Mom when

she was a little girl. Isn't she cute?

 

 

You can see it on the favor boxes

 and throughout my displays at the party.

I grabbed frames from my shelves and

filled them with different sayings and

facts about what was going on in 1940,

the year my Mother was born.

 

I also made a digital scrapbook on

Shutterfly.com and I created a

"Trip Down Memory Lane" video

 using the Windows Movie Maker

 program on my computer.

 

I chose the song "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller to

keep with the "Born in 1940" theme. 

 

 

Finally the big day arrived and we loaded up all of that stuff ... and went over the river and through the woods!

 

I had booked the hall at my Mother's church. They had just completed a renovation and the colors were perfect together!

Somehow we turned that giant mess into this.

I had my Sister, with my niece and nephew helping, while my Hubby and Brother in Law were on chef duty.

 

I used a white milk glass punch bowl and stand, which I have now fallen in love with and want to keep! I was originally going to sell it.

Found this floral arrangement last summer on clearance at a local flower and craft store... I knew it was going to be for this party... but I also used it for Bebe's Nutcracker party as well.

 

I found a couple of these sparkling

reindeer at Christmas Tree Shops.

 

At the last minute I threw some pictures

from the video presentation I made,

 onto a flash drive for this digital picture frame.

 

I found these neat black tablecloths with silver sparkling dots at a yard sale. They were originally supposed to be curtains for a girl's bedroom and she didn't want them.

 

I just cut the tabs at the top off which left me

with this elegant table covering.

 

The silver "mercury glass" Christmas trees

were found at a thrift shop in

the Adirondacks. I may have also

found the black and silver wreath there, too.

 

 

I used every silver plated vintage

tray in my arsenal, most found at yard sales.

My mother's favorite flowers are daisies so we HAD to have some in the mix. She also prefers tea over coffee so we had some specialty flavors on hand as well.

 

 This idea came from Pinterest. It is a large poster board, folded in half like a card, which reads on the front: "75 Reasons We Love Jean."

Everyone who came to the party signed it and left a sweet comment for my Mom. It was so cool!

We were all exhausted but so happy to be
able to have this special day for my Mom.
It was truly a wonderful party. My Mother
said she never had anyone do this for
her before.

************

Thanks so much for coming along
with me! I'd like to apologize
for my lack of interaction with
my LTV posts and postees these
past couple of weeks. Between the
Nutcracker performance, this party,
and keeping up with holiday
sales... I was running short on time.

I'm looking forward to visiting
everyone this week!

Here are this week's features:

Brooke of Creative Country Mom shared this wonderful vintage ice skate display.

And what a neat idea this is! Diana of Adirondack Girl at Heart came up with these sparkly Christmas Trees made from toilet paper roll tubes! Amazing!

and I just loved this vintage Christmas porch display
from Old New Green Redo!

And Cecilia of My Thrift Store Addiction
shared this adorable tea time table scape
using vintage jadeite. All inspired by thrift
store finds!

 

If your blog was featured, feel free

to grab this LTV button for your blog side bar!

Thanks so much everyone! Love the Christmas themes, which we will keep on doing for this week and next.

I can't believe Christmas is next Thursday!

I haven't even finished decorating!

Now it's your turn!

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Linking with:

 

What's It Wednesday

Vintage Charm

Pink Saturday

 



Let's Talk Vintage! #61: A Look Inside a President's Home Part 2

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This week I'm taking you along to

the home of our 15th President,

James Buchanan. Today is

part 2. You can also see last week's

LTV post, here.

 

Last week you saw the first floor.

 

Today, the upstairs. 

 

This is Harriet's room. Remember she

 was the President's niece turned

First Lady. He was the only

bachelor President we've ever had.

 

Her room was my favorite

on the second floor.

 

I'm sure it would be yours, too.

This doll is so unique.

 

Check out her "sitting" area.

 

She could pull a cord and it would

ring the bell for the servants.

 

This is the President's bedroom.

Nothing too exciting.

 

This was interesting though.

A "hat" tub. Now there's

a vision I don't want to

think about!

 

This little inlaid box on the mantel

caught my eye though.

 

The other two rooms upstairs

were for the President's

nephew and the house keeper.

 

Interestingly, there was a

door for access to President 

Buchanan's room

from the housekeeper's room.

 

Or was it for access to her room

from the President's?

 

Hmmmm.

Not sure but, well, moving on!

Check out this awesome collage below:

 

 

 

 

In the museum next door they have this most

amazing display of antique purses.

And yes, Rita, I thought of you when I snapped

all of the photos!

 

 

And, because I've never seen one before,

an antique Louis Vuitton trunk.

There was another inside the house that

was much bigger as well.

Hope you enjoyed the second half of my tour of

President Buchanan's home... I love seeing these

old places where the history comes to life.

Now let's take a look and see this week's LTV features:

Bernideen, of Bernideen's Tea Time,
 kicks it off with this most

amazing photo of her living room,

all decorated for Christmas.
Lovely!

And Bluebird1959 shared
some amazing holiday
displays....

One More Time Events shared
her post for a "Welcome Home
Christmas" tour. Love the
black and white kitchen displays!

 

 

If you've been featured today,

feel free to right click

and save this button

 for displaying

on your blog side bar.

Now it's your turn:

 



An InLinkz Link-up

Let's Talk Vintage! #60: A Peek Inside a President's Home - Part 1

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is the place to gather for

all things olde and unique.

 

If you'd like to link up a

post having to do with vintage

or if you have a vintage item for sale

somewhere on the web, we'd love 

to have you join in!

 

 

This week I am sharing our visit to a President's home.

 

The 15th President of the United States:

President James Buchanan.
A lawyer, very involved with politics
 who became the Secretary of State,
and then leader of the country for
one term.

 

Since it was in the vicinity of a one

tank trip for us, we decided to

take my Mother for a fun

"family day" out after we

had stuffed ourselves with turkey

and treats, the day before.

 

 

We started out from the visitors

center and made our way over.

 

 

The house is grand and charming

with its red brick and wooden

shutters. Before President Buchanan

bought it, it was a summer home.

 

 

Our tour guide started us

out on the front porch.

 

Note the 2nd floor

has green shutters while the

main floor has white.

 

 

This grand staircase

was very inviting.

It led to the second floor

which is where the bedrooms

were located.

 

We were able to see most of the

house for the tour. We did

not get up to the third level,

where the servants had stayed.

 

 

 

 

I chose this time of

year to visit because I knew

it would be decorated for

Christmas. And isn't our

guide dressed so dandy?

I blurred out his face because

I did not ask his permission

to use him on my blog.

 

 

 

Anyway, the hubs and I both

noticed the wonderful

arched window and woodwork.

 

 

The next room we went into

was the dining room.

Other than the room being very small,

I noticed the corner cupboards.

 

It was like the holy grail of

china. It was gorgeous!

And it was pink.

 

I couldn't take my eyes off

of it.

 

 

Not only was it pink,

it was Parisian.

 

Purchased by the first lady,

Harriet. Now Harriet was not the

President's wife, she was instead,

his niece! Buchanan was

the only bachelor President

we've ever had.

Anyway, supposedly it

had 96 place settings!

 

He said it was because you

received a clean plate every

time another course was served.

 

 

There was another cabinet

filled with it as well.

Also pink and Parisian.

 

 

Similar to this teacup I sold

last summer.

 

 

Here is a shot of some of the items you

would have seen in his home.

 

 

More items with some suggested

 prices of the era. Love the parasol.

 

 

Unfortunately I couldn't

stay in the dining area with

 the pink china, I was

escorted to the next room, 

which was the parlor.

 

There I saw this beautifully

decorated Christmas Tree.

Lovely! The ceilings were

high in this old home,

perfect for a towering tree.

 

 

And this beautiful fireplace and mantel.

Placed above is a painted portrait

of James himself.

 

 

 And here is the fair Harriet, shown as

a much older woman than she was as the

First Lady. She didn't have an easy life.

Her parents died when she was a child.

Which is how she and her brother

ended up with her Uncle James.

 

Then, her two sons died of rheumatic fever

and then her husband died as well.

Very traumatic.

 

This is where I will end the tour

for today's LTV. I can't wait

to show you more,

I decided to break this trip

up into a part 1 and a part 2

since it was photo heavy.

Stay tuned for next week's

second half!

_____________

 

Let's see who is featured this week:

 

 

We'll start out with Adirondack Girl at Heart's

"Junky Vintage Christmas Tree."

I think it is absolutely charming!

I love how she styled the photo using

vintage red plaid thermoses.

 

 

Brooke of Creative Country Mom

shared these beautiful antique

glass lamps. Her whole room

is stunning.

 

 

and Debby of Debby Goes Shabby

transformed this light fixture

with a $3.00 lace shower curtain!

This is just a shot of the first panel.

See the finished piece on her blog!  

 

 

and Sharon at Blue Willow House showed

us ways to decorate using vintage treasures

for Christmas. A girl after my own heart.

Love her displays! 

 

 

 

If you were featured today or during any

other LTV post, be sure to grab this

"My blog was featured!" button.

You earned it!

 

 

 

Now it's Your Turn:

 

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Linking with:

 

Vintage Inspiration Party

Bernideen's Tea Time

What's It Wednesday

Vintage Charm

Pink Saturday