A few weeks ago at an estate sale around the corner from our house, I found an entire box of vintage patterns for $5 (I know, I hate it when people say things like that! Sorry!). The box itself was pretty awesome — custom-made to hold patterns, it was wooden, with dovetail joints, the whole shebang. The patterns were in really bad condition, most of them nothing special or not to my taste (feel better?), but then there was this (now prepare to feel worse):
I know. Can you believe the cuteness of this? Dated "July 1950" this is a pattern to make four dolls, Russian and Dutch. I've never seen a pattern like this before! I love the Dutch girl's clogs. Clogs are a major part of my life. I wear a clog every single solitary stinkin' day, with everything, and they are the only shoes that work for me. Recently I got a bee in my bonnet to paint some clogs, and Holly pointed me toward Hannah, who has a gorgeous collection of them:
That's exactly what I was talking about. Aren't those sweet? I don't know where I've been (out of it), but I was so excited to see Hannah's work. I about went mental over her silkscreened skirts:
Good grief, how cute is that. I'm going to get this one:
In brown. But it was hard to decide. I also like these:
They're all so cute. And you've got to love a girl who, while counting her collection of enamel flowers, says things like, "I started counting and got up to 200, then somebody started playing a ukelele outside and I got distracted. . . ."
It's going to be in the 90s — upper 90s — all weekend. Yipes!!! Help.
So pretty and useful, too. It all reminds me of Solvang, Ca.
Posted by: Lacy | June 27, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Sweetie, for the love of my bank account please stop posting this stuff!
Posted by: Gemma | June 27, 2008 at 08:54 AM
That pattern is, well wow.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | June 27, 2008 at 08:55 AM
So cute! I am suddenly into those cute motifs. And, yup, I hate when I hear about the great stuff someone just stumbles upon... and usually it was only 5 cents! Great! Where are these fabulous sales where everything is a nickel? Not around here, that's for sure. At least, not very often.But,I take solace in the fact that you will probably use that little pattern which makes the cute little dolls on it very happy. If I found it, alas,they would probably languish in a drawer for a few years... So, consider it kismet.
Posted by: julie | June 27, 2008 at 08:59 AM
That pattern is amazing!
And hooray for Matryoshka skirt! It's wonderful.
And not only does she have a huge collection of enamel flowers, and someone nearby who plays ukulele, but she apparently lives with gnomes and mushrooms, too :)
Posted by: Dave | June 27, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Love this post -- that first paragraph cracked me up! "Feel better? ... Now prepare to feel worse." HAHAHA!
Thanks for the chuckle, you sweet thing!
Posted by: kelly | June 27, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I have seen her work before, but didn't know aout the painted clogs. That is just too adorable for words. I remember wanting a pair of red painted clogs so badly when I was in 5th grade! I fear the urge is not returning.
Lovely post!
Posted by: leslie | June 27, 2008 at 09:09 AM
as a fellow Dutch girl I had a laugh, as I have a whole box of wooden shoes and clogs collecting dust in our garage :) perhaps I'll ship them off to you!
Posted by: Casey | June 27, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I love what Hannah makes and have been resisting buying her Matryoshka skirt since she listed it. Your post is making that resistance hard....
I might need to finally buckle and get it!
Posted by: Andrea | June 27, 2008 at 09:11 AM
I never come across those kind of sales, either, but man, are those some cute finds! Not to mention, you tempted us with the description - but no picture of - the pattern box. And now I want a new skirt too. Thanks!
Posted by: erica | June 27, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Those are adorable skirts...but I'm also jealous of the box. Who doesn't love a well-made box? Maybe you could post a picture?
Posted by: andrea | June 27, 2008 at 09:25 AM
hannah rocks. almost makes me wish charlie was a girl. but my 3 nieces will have to do. carrie just gave me the "floral garden" clogs from cape clogs (.com etc.)
Posted by: jeanne-marie | June 27, 2008 at 09:28 AM
and HOW are you just now finding Hannah?! Sheesh!
Posted by: jeanne-marie | June 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Those skirts and clogs are so awesome!
Posted by: sizzle | June 27, 2008 at 09:36 AM
This post was utterly charming and beautiful at the same time. Pretty dutch things. Yes, I like the brown the best and, my lord, those clogs are making my heart ache. Only ever found one pair that fit that high instep I have and I wore them so much they cracked down the middle. Course that was back in the 60's and 70's when men would say, "She's got legs for miles." :) xxoo
Posted by: Carolyn | June 27, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Oh, this is my kind of stuff! With a name like Heidi- you gotta know I love that Dutch doll - and those are TOTALLY Heidi clogs, and Heidi skirts!! I love it all - I even collect ceramic Dutch shoes, Heidi dolls, Heidi books - etc! That is some seriously cute stuff, Alicia!
Posted by: HeidiAnn | June 27, 2008 at 09:46 AM
i know, isn't hannah too much?? i own 4 of her skirts including that blue one in the bottom photo. and they fit really well too.
as a fellow clog fanatic, i got some custom ones made at this place near me - they are one of my favorite pairs of shoes!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faeriefurballs/2416527219/in/set-72157605729254015/
(man, i wish i found cheap patterns at estate sales!! ;) )
Posted by: Jennifer | June 27, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Ha, I have no grace because I'm always grumping when people post their lovely finds. I appreciate the apology 8-) because that is a wonderful pattern!
Posted by: Donna | June 27, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I hope you make up those cute dolls, I would love to see your creativity in using them. Do a post when you get those skirts and let me know how they fit.
Posted by: Elizabeth Mackey | June 27, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Too Cute!!!...Katie
Posted by: hazelsvintagepretties | June 27, 2008 at 10:40 AM
i discovered hannah a while back and have been wanting that red skirt with the love birds. it is so darling! and what a great pattern find!
Posted by: amy | June 27, 2008 at 10:46 AM
The "Apple Pickin'" Skirts are really really cute. What a fun shop!
Posted by: Marilyn | June 27, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Can I beg and plead and beg and plead for a copy of that pattern? Adapt if you will, please, please I must make it. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 27, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I have a pair of black clogs painted with lingonberries that my husband brought me from Sweden about 10 years ago. Sadly they are too short...a size 40 and I wear a US 9.5...so they have never been worn. I would be happy to send them to you if you think they would fit.
Posted by: Pam | June 27, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I'm copying Jennifer's post ---
"Can I beg and plead and beg and plead for a copy of that pattern? Adapt if you will, please, please I must make it. :)"
What a find!
Posted by: Kristi Van Os | June 27, 2008 at 11:57 AM