Happy May Day

European traditions included a ceremony of bringing in a tree from the woods.
Its branches were lopped off and it was wrapped with violets...all a tribute to the Roman god Attis (read more history here)

Generations later, the festivities included tying a pole with colorful ribbons or streamers, and dancing round.
Customs were carried over that included hanging May Baskets on the doorknobs of neighbors.

Sadly, one doesn't see many Maypoles in the United States anymore, but I love the tradition nevertheless.

Here are some vintage magazine illustrations:

New Yorker Magazine, 1949

Fence ad, 1929

Lifesavers candy ad,1947

May Day!

It's May 1, which means it's May Day!
I love festivities and traditions.
May Day with it's flower baskets and Maypoles is based in pagan ideas--I think it's all fascinating and fun.
May Day around the world
Some history of the day: here,
and history of Maypoles: here
interesting history and origin
an amazing collection of Maypole postcards (real photos)

Vintage Japanese matchbox cover:

Peanuts Garden Flag I saw on ebay

May Day craft ideas

Quilting Inspiration

My mom and I drove up to the north county (inland) of San Diego today, to California State University San Marcos, and attended the El Camino Quilters (guild) Fall Festival of Quilts show.
The theme of the show was "Journeys", where quilters were introspective about their designs.
Some quilts were tributes to their mothers, while others represented their passage through empty nest syndrome, or having a loved one stationed in Iraq.
One lady did an applique quilt of shoes--representing all the years of her life, from baby shoes, to saddle shoes, to platforms.

I was intrigued by quilts made by copying old newspaper articles onto fabric, book excerpts, postcards, and things like the lined cursive writing samples in elementary schools.
Perfect items to describe one's journey, and influences, and struggles.
Personalized art, and memorabilia in art are my favorite things.

It killed me that my camera was recently stolen and I couldn't take photos.

I did buy a few goodies though :)
Redwork embroidery pattern of a Maypole (the shop's example was actually stitched in multi-colors of floss).
Pattern by Quilting Bee Designs

I love Maypoles.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, a design is brewing for either a multi-media Maypole, or a quilted one.
This vintage purse design by Enid Collins inspires also, and therefore fits into the puzzle somehow
I'm too broke to buy much, but did come away with a fat quater of fairytale fabric


and a yard of this luscious pig fabric


I was intrigued by a scrap quilt in which the scraps were arranged crazy-quilt-style in circular shapes atop a white background.
Hmmmm...would be a great way to use scraps.
Maybe even necktie scraps.

Speaking of circular shapes, I've always wanted to make this denim quilt using the lid of a large coffee can as the template (I have tons of jeans saved).
It looks simple to do, but comes out looking like a mock Cathedral Window pattern (a design so complicated that my mom and I both call it "that dreaded pattern" after attempting a class and neither of us ever finishing even one block)
Today I learned about a guild in Orange County called Camp Watch-a-Patcher that holds quilting retreats in Costa Mesa.

But what I'm most excited about is finally having met
Karen Cunagin--a name I have seen over and over again as inspiration behind the quilts I've seen in recent shows.
Karen, of Millefleur Fiber Arts, teaches classes, most often at Palomar College.
I am SO going to attend one of her classes or workshops!
How fun is that idea?!
Note she also has patterns for sale, and a blog, all accessible via the link above.

I Heart Maypoles

The photograph has a description but not a date.
It says this is May Queen Ellen Lied Berg, 20, of Little Neck, Long Island NY, in the middle of brownie groups at the Old Westbury Gardens.


The New Yorker Magazine, May 1941


(click on image to enlarge)
This undated photograph appears to be a Maypole at an elementary school.
The back of the photo indicates the film was developed in Winona, Minnesota.

Photo Friday

Found photos.
Photos in flea markets or garage sales or thrift stores.
Photos of people that families no longer know or want to know.
Or perhaps the photos are just strays...lost on the wind.

Occasionally I'll buy these photos.
I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but I feel compelled nevertheless.

Like this pretty girl, so carefree.
The image is dated September 1967.


Other photos showcase events.
This one is from a May Day celebration in San Diego around 1900.

(click on image to enlarge)
This one carries a photographer's stamp, "Herbert R Fitch, San Diego Cal".
According to the ebay seller I purchased this from, "Photogapher Fitch was a highly sought after and respected photogapher of the time - making official photos of the San Diego Pan Pacific Exposition, as well as images of various public monuments and sights including Scripps University. His work is well documented in San Diego City Archives"
The scene is described as "c. 1900 depicting a large group of Highschool girls dressed in virginal white dancing around a large maypole in the center of a grassy circle while classmates and families look on"
What's fun for me is seeing the old buildings in the background, wondering if any still stand today.

One of my favorite found photos, previously posted here.

Children's book, 1958

I found this vintage children's book at a thriftstore and fell in love with the illustrations.
The text is in German.
According to Babelfish, the title says, "glad beginning"

The book appears to be nursery rhymes and seasonal festivities.
This looks like a May Day celebration






This one is about taking a bath

rough translation:
The bath
Bruno may in the bath
Raus from the trousers
raus from the shirt
in the Water to the belly
to the neck brrr
Soap ago mummy soap
I am clean



This one appears to be Ring-around-the-rosey

Update: someone on Flickr just commented that I was incorrect.
"...it was an exercise game of the easiest sort. There was going in a circle holding hands the first two lines, hunkering down to the floor for the third, jumping up and clapping hands at the fourth or some such. Most I remember wondering about the second line, saying "we are three children" as we did it with the kindergarten teacher in a circle of at least 25 people (and never a shrub in the middle)... :)

The second is some kind of sensory finger counting game for people from newborn up to kindergarten age, referring to each one that is touched as if they are little brothers at harvest time, telling a little story:
This one is the thumb ( touch thumb)
This one shakes the plums ( touch forefinger)
This one picks them up ( touch middle finger)
This one carries them home( touch ring finger)
And the tiniest, he eats them all alone. ( touch little finger)"


The book was $5--rather expensive by thrift standards.
But I love illustrations.

Happy May Day

Maypoles

I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating--I love Maypoles.
(also posted here and here)

I guess it reminds me of childhood innocence, old traditions and festivities, and simplicity.
Sweetness. Something lost that I want to retrieve.

Someday I hope to have my own home, and I'll be able to display all these images I am collecting.
I collect images of seagulls also. But that's another topic..

I just purchased this photo. I love it.

(click on image to enlarge).
I wonder what year this was? Was it a birthday party for the little girl on the right who is standing? What are the things on the sides of the girl's heads that make them appear as if they are dressed like geishas?
Is that a boy or a girl in the front, defiantly sitting with crossed legs?
I want to go back in time and hear the giggles, taste the fruit punch, be part of the conversations....

Cover of Better Homes & Gardens, May 1929.


The Nickell, 1901.


How bizarre, I didn't even know my innocent collection has phallic symbolism, until I just now read about the tradition in Wikipedia.
All things considered, that's pretty funny.

I just think Maypoles are so pretty, decorated in flowers and satin ribbons and pastels.
Spring time.

Vintage illustrations

I'm drawn to vintage coloring books for ideas--especially for quilt blocks.
I haven't made anything yet, but I'd like to one day.

At the Road to California Quilt Show earlier this year, one of the vendors had a quilt displayed in which each block represented a California Mission.
I think, if I remember correctly, the blocks were embroidered.
Anyway, the designs were from a coloring book.

This Hawaiian one is especially fun because it has an image of a Maypole.
Inside are children from various nations (Samoa, Japan, and The Mainland).
The illustrations are just fun to look at.
This book is not dated, but is probably late 50's.

Photo Friday

(click on image to enlarge)

I love May Poles.
The epitome of sweet innocence.

This is from a stereoview, A June Carnival – Dancing ‘Round the Daisy Pole.
Keystone View Company, Manufacturers and Publishers.
Copyright 1900 by B.L. Singley

Cruising the web

I have avoided crafting, but I still love to search for crafty (and other) stuff online.
Like this great recycling idea
Mosaic a bowling ball into a garden orb

Ooh, I have to try this Black Forest Tart.

I have an obsession with May Poles lately.
Here are some great vintage photos
(despite the dreaded background music. Background music on sites is one of my pet peeves)

Grrr...more problems with bloggers 'add image' icon.
Photos loaded this way don't seem to be up on my blog anymore, and I've noticed the same on other blogs.
The frustration continues.
Typepad is looking better all the time....