Back with a Vengeance

Hi all- things are starting to return to normal around here. Our power was out for a week after Sandy hit, and   then we left for a weeklong vacation the day after it came back on. So, I am slowly getting back into the regular routine. But just because things were a little difficult around here doesn't mean that I didn't do any thrifting or things to blog about- on the contrary! I found a little bit of thrift store therapy went a long way toward restoring my peace of mind.

I'm being much more selective now than I ever was- just because something is a good deal doesn't mean I need to buy it. I almost always consider the resale value of an item, and am really trying hard not to buy things to keep for myself. Or, at the very least, if I buy something to keep, something else has to go.

So here are two of my best scores of the last few weeks!

This set of Libby Carousel glasses is in mint condition. I paid $7.50 for the set of 8, so that's less than $1 a piece. While they are cute and very collectible, they're headed to the antique booth; I need another set of printed glasses like I need a hole in the head.

This is one of my all-time faves. It originally was going to go to the Etsy store, but once I tried it on...well, I have other jackets that I can get rid of!

It's an original issue A2 bomber jacket, not a knock-off. It's goatskin, so soft and luxurious. I haven't yet figured out how to read the government label (there's a date code hidden in there) but it's not old, probably recent issue. But the style is identical to WWII issue and so iconic, it doesn't matter to me. And I think I have the correct patch that goes on the velcro spot left over from my days at our local air base.

The price was $40, which is probably the highest I've ever spent on a single item at a thrift store. I carried it around for a while before I figured I could at least double or triple my money if I tried to sell it. But for now it's staying with me, and I wore it yesterday as a salute for Veteran's Day. 

WWII Weekend 2012!

It's here! My favorite event ever, combining two of my most favorite things (aviation and vintage living, that is):

World War Two Weekend in Reading PA

We are going tomorrow (Saturday), since the weather looks exceptional. I'm hoping to see other vintage friends and bloggers there- please do leave a comment if any of you want to meet up somewhere. 

I'll probably be wearing the same outfit as above- my Rosie the Riveter getup, with gray Freddies overalls and blue chambray shirt with saddle shoes. Or I might wear a yellow dress- haven't decided yet!

The star of this year's show (like last year's as well) is the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress. There will also be a bunch of B-17s (my personal favorite) B-25s, P-51s, Spitfires, P-40s, and many others.

This is such a great event- really like stepping back into 1944. You get to see all these things up close and personal too- it is so worth the price of admission. I have been to every show for the last 15+ years and it gets better every year!

Two years ago I was a vendor and had to be there all 3 days- for me that was like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. I'm actually kind of bummed not to have anything to do but enjoy myself this year, LOL. 

I'll post a wrap up next week- would love to see everyone there!

WWII Weekend 2011 Wrap up

Wow, what a great weekend this was! Every year is a blast, but this year we actually had great weather! Usually it's either wet and muddy or hot and humid. But for a change it was sunny and in the 70s- perfect!

I dressed like a defense worker/ female aircraft mechanic (I hate calling it a "Rosie the Riveter" look, because it's just a stereotype, but that's essentially what it was.) I wore my Freddie's of Pinewood gray overalls, a blue chambray shirt, saddle shoes and my hair in a bandana. It was a good look, and very comfortable! Sure beats my usual stockings, girdle, heels etc! It was also a bit serendipitous- I picked up the shirt for 75 cents (brand new Eddie Bauer!) at a thrift shop the night before. It was perfect- a darker blue chambray fabric that matched the period fabrics I was emulating. And my pocketbook was a metal lunchbox.

I have to say that I was asked to have my picture taken as "Rosie" more than I ever had been before when I just wore a 1940s dress. I'm sure it helped that I always had at least one child in tow, and they were dressed in vintage as well- people took their picture a lot. My daughter wore a blue feedsack dress with buckle shoes and my son wore overalls and Converse sneaks.

Some reenactors and vehicles. If you have never been to this event, imagine this scene x100 and you will begin to get an idea of the scope of it.

Me at the controls of a Curtis C-46 Commando transport. This is one of the most unheralded aircraft of the Second  World War- a workhorse of the China-Burma-India Theater, flying "the Hump" over the Himalayas. A good friend of mine spent the war as a crew chief for one of these based out of India, and I have done several speaking engagements with him and a program based on this aircraft. So needless to say this was a thrill for me to finally get to see one up close. Like their counterparts, the C-47s (Douglas DC-3) some of these are still flying everyday in Haiti and Alaska.

The stars of the show- the only flying B-29 in the world and a B-17.

B-17 taxiing. Unlike a lot of other air shows, you can really get up close to everything here.

If you've never been to Reading Pa.'s WWII weekend, make your plans now for next year- June 1,2,3 2012!

Thank you to all our Veterans!

Please take a moment today to thank a veteran and reflect on what they have done for us. Without their service to our country, we would not have the freedom to express our opinions on forums like these.

I have had the priviledge of knowing and working with many veterans in my previous job, they are all true heroes. I especially want to mention those that have passed away since this time last year, Bob Clancy (Lt. Cdr. USN, Ret.) and Sylvester Lapkiewicz (Col. USMC, Ret.). I miss these gentlemen every day and wish I still had them here to talk to.

Since today is Thrifted Thursday, I want to show you some of my collection of WWII sweetheart jewelry. I think this is appropriate for today, because it was a memento of loved ones overseas. I collect it because it helps me connect with the time period on a personal level, and also because I can't bear to see someone give the stuff away. I guess it's the museum curator in me, but I feel like I need to give these pieces a home where someone will appreciate them.

I am wearing one of the Buzz Bomb Alley bracelets I got over the summer, and I can't help but think about the airman that created them. I can picture him sitting in the Quonset hut waiting to be called for a mission, hearing the bombs fall outside and thinking of home. Creating a bracelet out of coins and scraps of aluminum to send to "Honey" so she would have something to remember him by. I often wonder if he made it home.

Flea Market Friday: Buzz Bomb Alley

Today was a good day to go yard saling! I only stopped at one, but it was a multi-family sale. (I did pass by a couple others- just too much kid stuff- one was almost 100% teddy bears) Everything was 25 cents a piece, a bargain in many ways, as you shall see:

Some misc.pieces of jewelry, including a pillbox, shell butterfly pin, "V for Victory" pin (not sure if this is period- looks like a repro to me) and PBR bottle opener. (I apologize for the quality of the photos- they were really hard to photograph.)

This is a beautiful rhinestone art deco necklace with all the stones intact. I can't imagine ever getting rid of this, but apparently someone didn't want it...I tried it on and it just lays over your collarbone so perfectly- I can't wait to go somewhere dressy enough to wear it!

Some WWII sweetheart jewelry:

This one is engraved "Loving Mother" on the front and "Buzz Bomb Alley" on the back. The chain is silver, but the engraved part is aircraft aluminum.

A "trench art" cuff of aircraft aluminum, hand hammered and engraved with a bird, heart and a name.

This is my favorite- engraved "Dear Honey" on the front and "Buzz Bomb Alley" on the back. Once again the engraved part is aircraft aluminum, but the chain includes 4 British sixpence coins dated 1942-44.

For a WWII aviation buff like myself, I knew right away what "Buzz Bomb Alley" was, but apparently the seller didn't (or didn't care?). I can't ever imagine getting rid of these pieces if there was a family history behind them. I would guess that these were made by an airman stationed in England during the infamous V-1 & V-2 (German guided missiles, aka "buzz bombs") attacks on London. "Buzz Bomb Alley" was the nickname given to London and the areas south and east of the city, where most missiles were targeted.

For more info and a map: http://www.kentishtowns.com/kentish_towns/in_the_past/doodle_bugs/doodle_bugs_hit_kent.php

Here is a link to an oral history provided by a former airman that experienced the buzz bomb attacks firsthand:
http://www.kwsu.org/WWII/Stories/DonThomas/01aBuzzBombAlley.aspx

I feel fortunate and honored to be the caretaker of these things for the next 50 or so years!