Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Summery Brooches

It's another fabulous Vintage Thingies Thursday, hosted by Suzanne at Colorado Lady! Click on over to see the goodies she and the other gals are showing this week. Also, while you're here, check out my book giveaway for April & Oliver, on the right sidebar. I have 5 copies and it ends tomorrow night.I have a large collection of vintage brooches, most of which I received from my mother. Some are mine or my sister's from our childhood.These butterflies and bumblebees are about the size of a quarter. My sister and I each had one, and when I began teaching she gave a lot of her pins to me.I would wear them in pairs on floral shirts, and they often blended right in. My mother told us that when she was a girl many pins were sold as pairs in different sizes or a theme, meant to be worn together.This large, gold-tone butterfly was my mom's from her working gal days. It is marked ERRY's on the back. Because I am a teacher, I don't dress up much in the summer, but I do try to wear these in the spring and early fall.
Do you have a summer "uniform", like mine of capris and t-shirts with flip flops?

Photobucket

24 comments:

Donna said...

great looking bugs !

Postcardy said...

I have some pins that were my mothers. I like looking at them, but I never wear them (or any other pins).

I think it is interesting to see several on a similar theme.

Jewelgirl said...

Your insect pins are wonderful and
always so cute for summer!
I love lightweight jean capris and
Tees but no flip flops, basic sneakers for me! :)

~~Carol~~ said...

Those pins are gorgeous! I especially love the bees, and I like how you wear them on floral shirts! Did the children ever spot them on your shirt?!

SueLovesCherries said...

Hi Elizabeth! Crazy storm we had yesterday, huh? I always enjoy visiting your blog on VTT - you always have a nice variety of oldies to share!

My "uniform" is the same all year - I love, love, love jeans and t-shirts! Except in the Fall, I love sweatshirts, too!

Terry said...

Howdy Elizabeth
They are all fabulous.
I really like them all.
This was a great post .
Thank you for sharing the history
along with the really great photos.
Happy Trails
Hugs

Bea said...

Great pins, Elizabeth. Can you guess that the bees are my favorite? =)

Janet, said...

The bees are my favorite, too. they are so pretty.

Jan Ely said...

When I see vintage pins like these they always remind me of my first grade teacher who used to wear them all the time! Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

CC said...

Love these gorgeous pins. The butterfly at the bottom is my favorite..it's just beautiful.

Caths Pennies Designs said...

Great pins! I remember my mom having lots of pins similar to those.
Happy VTT!
Cathy

Coloradolady said...

What a great collection of pins, Elizabeth. I love them. My mom had a few like these.

My summer uniform consist of the same attire as yours....its too hot for anything else!

Have a great VTT and a wonderful weekend.

Miri said...

I'm not usually a bug-lover...:) yours I love!

I'm showing a Honey Bunch book today, do you know those? Also, I just listened to Dorothy Dale, a Girl of Today-is that one of yours?

marianedwardsdreamweaver said...

how interesting that they were sold in pairs..lovely pins btw :)

Jesmi said...

Great pins. Thank you for such an amazing collection.

LV said...

Really enjoyed your post. You have a wonderful collection of pins and you know the history behind them. Great post. Glad you had time to stop by post today.

ClassyChassy said...

My mom had bee pins - and some flies too - not sure why they were so fashionable, but some jewelry designers made a killing, didn't they?? Have a great day!

Kristine said...

Very pretty.

Threeundertwo said...

I love the bug pins! Now that you've brought it up, I remember my mom had a few pairs of pins too (she probably still has them). What an interesting way to wear jewelry.

I live in my uniform of capris and tee-shirts over the summer. Colder months I switch to jeans. I'm exciting that way.

Becky said...

Oh Elizabeth! Your pins are fabulous! And you really got good pics of 'em too.

My year round "uniform" at home is whatever is comfortable. Working at home has many advantages :) And either flip-flops or bare feet.

Happy VTT!

mub said...

I love that big butterfly, it's so fancy!

My summer uniform depends on if I have to leave the house or not *L*

Roslyn said...

I would probably put them in a display case except when I was wearing them they are so decorative

Mrs. B. Silly said...

Capris, t-shirt and flip flops sounds good to me! I'm pretty casual in the summer months too even though I don't work outside the home, I like to dress up a bit in the winter and fall.

I'm so excited about the book, thank you again!

Bridget

SmilingSally said...

I remember when they were called "scatter pins" because we would scatter them on our left shoulders. There might be two horses--one larger than the other or two poodles. Sometimes they were identical. Sometimes there was a chain that kept them together.