Fresh Picks: So Sew!

Around this time every year, Mom began sewing my back-to-school dresses. Beginning in 7th grade, I created my own new fall outfits. Today my sewing machine is hidden in a dark closet corner, but seeing these fabulous vintage patterns and notions…I’m itching to go again. Even if you don’t sew, the addition of vintage buttons or trim gives a ho hum piece fresh vintage style!

VINTAGE 1960s MCCALLS SEWING... sewsewenchanti... $6.00	Vintage Leaf Pattern Bark Cl... tparty $49.90	Sunburst over Emerald Green ... AddVintage $7.00
Sweet Sunflower Buttons TheVintageRecy... $3.50	Loopy Mod 1970s Trim 10 feet thehappyhoarde... $10.00	McCalls 4567 Vintage 70s Eas... sassybydesign $6.50

Treasury tool by whalesharkwebsites

FOODIE FRIDAY -- L is also for LICORICE

black buttons from thevintagerecycler.etsy.com

LICORICE....it's not just that black candy that you either love or despise. The essence and flavor or commonly used in a myriad of cuisines across the globe. Other herbs and spices of similar flavor include anise, star anise, tarragon, and fennel. Aniseed essence is commonly used in place of true licorice in candies, and hard, salty licorice candy is favored in many parts of Europe, especially The Netherlands.

Here's a little culinary trivia, courtesy of "what'scookingamerica.net":

licorice - Its botanical name is Glycyrrhiza, from the Greek meaning "sweet root." The taste of the licorice root is so distinctive that its sweetness is detectable in water even when diluted to 1 part licorice to 20,000 parts water.

History: Licorice has a long and honorable history in the service of mankind. The earliest usage of Licorice was back in the first syllables of recorded time. Licorice freaks throughout history have included Pharaohs and Prophets. Men discovered generous supplies in KingTut’s tomb, while Egyptian hieroglyphics record the use of Licorice in a popular beverage in the days when the Bible was still being written! Alexander the Great, the Scythian armies, Roman Emperor Caesar, and even India's great prophet, Brahma, are on record endorsing the beneficial properties contained in Licorice. Warriors used it for its ability to quench thirst while on the march, while others (including Brahma and venerable Chinese Buddhist sages), recognized Licorice's valuable healing properties.

Natural licorice can be effective medicine. For over 3000 years, licorice root has been used as a remedy for peptic ulcers, sore throats and coughs in eastern and western medicine. Licorice root has been used since the third century BC to help dissipate coughs.

image from surrenderdorothy.etsy.com

Before and After: From Vintage to Handmade

In these days of repurposing and recycling vintage objects, the beauty of the newly created art is just an extension of the marvelous items that went into it. Vintage jewelry, buttons, books, furniture, china, and knick-knacks—marvelous in their own right—can take on a new, rich beauty when combined creatively.

Which is better? That’s like asking whether you like peaches or peach pie—both can be absolutely delicious. Just for fun, here are a few examples of Before and After.

Pot metal dress clips from GeneralWhimsy2 and Wedding hair pin from OhFaro

Dragon ware teacup from ThreeChicksVintage and Soy candle in 1950s Seyei teacup from ReBopShop

Computer circuit board from preciousplaytime and Recycled circuit board clock from DebbyAremDesigns

1938 Of Mice and Men book by YesterdaysSilhouette and Vintage book journal by TheFancyLamb

Moonglow plastic buttons from TheVintageRecycler and Vintage button brooch by calloohcallay

Welcome New Member: The Vintage Recycler

If you love to sew, and you love Etsy, you may already know The Vintage Recycler. With more than 1,100 sales, this shop offers any style button imaginable: wood, plastic, glass, ocean pearl, metal and more! While buttons are the main fare, there's also a sprinkling of other vintage notions including dress clips and belt buckles.

Check out these absolutely gorgeous Czech glass handpainted leaf buttons! They would instantly elevate any sewn or knitted project to stunning!

We're pleased to welcome The Vintage Recycler to the Etsy Vintage Team, with a reminder that when searching on Etsy, be sure to choose "All Items" before you type our tag etsyvintageteam, so that you will see ALL our members, including those with Vintage, Handmade and Supplies.