2014 Visual and Creative Writing Favorites

I took a look at my STATS with all the numbers for Posts, Pageviews, Traffic Sources, Audiences and whatever else Blogger keeps track of.  I could not make 'hide nor hair' of it and 'nor do I care' all that much, but it is the end of the year and traditionally some sort of a review is in order.  If nothing else, I am mostly a 'Traditionalist' with a focus on the Visual and Creative Writing...eye roll-sheepish grin.  So, here are my...

Visual and Creative Writing Favorites for JANUARY through JUNE

(To View and Read the complete post...click on the linked Title.)

 

JANUARY ~ Beneath His Wing
I've written about both my Grandmother and Mother many times here on CollectInTexas Gal.  They have been the inspiration and focus for posts about Sewing, Aprons, Cooking, Hankies, Dishes, The 1940's and more. 
I've often blamed given credit to Mother for my being a 'Saver and Collector'.

FEBRUARY ~ Finding My Inner Broachable Self
Who knew that Brooches and Pins were holding together the 'Molecular Strands' of my DNA, and the undeniable draw to jumbles of old jewelry was in my genes.
 I should have guessed it long ago...for you see, as a little girl I was always drawn to the 'Special Things' box and it's contents of 'Four Fifty's Pins'.

MARCH ~ Coveting Thy Neighbors Broach
Whenever I run across a piece of Sarah Coventry jewelry, I think about the word 'covet' and how I do...and how I shouldn't, and how I can't help myself.  
......when I make repairs, it is with the idea that I will sell the piece at less than the price would be if it were in it's original condition, and make note that it has been repaired.  Not so on this piece.  My 'CovetItness' got the best of me and this piece was deemed priceless!

APRIL ~ The Three Yahoos...Who Knew We Stunk
Our Mother LOVED to read, and between work, cooking, cleaning, sewing and gathering eggs...we had chickens, she would make time to read.  That was when she would herd us outside, latch the screen door and say, "You three Yahoos go play."  For years I thought of myself and my siblings as 'Yahoos', and that our mother used it as a term of endearment.

Not so long ago, I was telling my sister about mother calling us a 'Bunch of Yahoos'.  Her response was, "That's terrible, I can't believe she would call us that.  You do know what Yahoos are, right? "

MAY~ RETRO...I Repurpose It Today and Lived It Back Then

I get a kick out of the 1950's being such a popular period for collectors and those who are 'Living/Decorating/Dressing The Retro Rage'. 

 

I grew up in the 50's and 60's and remember times like when my mother came home from the store saying, "If things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's worth of groceries for $20."

 

JUNE ~ Buttons Basic To Human Psyche
"The impulse to collect is a basic part of the human psyche."
I can not tell you how LIBERATING that statement is to my psyche.  To know that it is not an addiction, but a normal thing to scrounge through ragbags, to rifle through thrift store clothes racks with snippers and be tempted to snatch and run when spying collectible buttons on strangers shirts.  I have no problem with people I know...I just snip and say..."You will just love the necklace and earrings I'll make from these buttons."

JULY through DECEMBER
Continued Tomorrow...Last Day of 2014