Women in the garden (2) - Vintage photographs

"I love all things most gardeners abhor! - moss in lawns, lichen on trees, more greenery than 'colour' (always said as though green isn't a colour!), bare branches in winter..."

Edna Walling

As much as I adore the first cold snaps of winter that turn our footsteps deliciously crunchy, I do miss the outdoor 'hands on' tasks that go into hibernation until spring! I know now that being stuck indoors does me no good, I feel much better when putting myself to use outdoors, or at least taking a minute to really ENJOY these seasonal changes! Branches of fallen evergreens find themselves on every surface of my home before you can say "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" as I can't bear things to look grey or dull!

In respect to this, I thought it was about time I shared a few more from my 'In the Garden' vintage collection. The above photograph is actually a large 10x8 print that I purchased from my beloved Bridport market - I thought she was the most perfectly dressed woodland rambler I'd ever seen! It is enough to re-affirm my love of large format, it is the best.

I am currently reading (amongst other things, I can't lie - I am a serial book-cheat!) "The Virago Book of Women Gardeners" which is a fantastic compendium of female gardening writing, containing anything from humorous anecdotes to inspirational battles against health, war, and prejudice. 

 "...perhaps the chiefest attraction of a garden is that occupation can always be found there. No idle people are happy, but with mind and fingers busy cares are soonest forgotten" 

Alica Amherst, 1902 

As the author Deborah Kellaway states: "Of course, you can't make an anthology of women gardeners unless they sometimes lay down the trowel and pick up the pen..." which could give the impression that women's advice can be seen as being from "fireside gardeners" - those who live through the pages of books rather than the dirt and the changing weather. But with iron-strong characters such as the glorious Vita Sackville-West, Gertrude Jekyll and Beatrix Potter all giving advice, you know you're in safe hands!

Staying with the great Gertrude Jekyll, here is a fantastic anecdote which sums up my current philosophy:

"For planting ground is painting a landscape with living things and I hold that good gardening takes rank within the bounds of the fine arts, so I hold that to plant well needs an artist of no mean capacity". (Wood and Garden)

It's common for people to turn to horticulture as a second career, many from an arts/literature educational background. To me, it's all one and the same. I think those of us who harbour a traditional 'romantic' side can easily see the transition between admiring nature in novels or canvas, and proceeding to involve yourself into such inspiring landscapes. Anyone object to this? Well, I'd recommend you step outside, and take a proper look!

If you are missing the daily pottering at the moment, I highly recommend you curl up in front of the fire with this book. There's plenty to inspire, I can't wait to get planning my 2013 efforts, it's looking busy! I hope you've enjoyed this selection of photographs too, I've been squirrelling them away for a while, I knew I'd need a boost this time of year.

Wishing you a good week, thanks for reading!

Katie

A dog by my side - Vintage photographs

In my collection of vintage photographs I have some key themes including 'In the garden', 'Our family at home', and a range of soldier domestic portraits. However, I've realised I've also gained another - "A dog by my side". I have always loved dogs, when I was younger I'd pick up any dog ornaments at charity shops/boot fairs, although I have had to downsized that particular collection (it's for the best!)

I hope you enjoy these most recent finds (all from Ebay), the first two are definitely new favourites of mine! Contrasting the women to the stocky old-breed bulldogs is very interesting. Particularly considering how we view bulldog/staffordshire type breeds today, and what the usual stereotypes follow certain owners of these breeds are. The captions are also quite a contrast to modern day expectation: "Types of English Beauty" and "That island of England breeds very valiant creatures"- quite different to the popular modern "British Bulldog" iconography, don't you think? Physically, you can see how more recent breeding has effected the Bulldog, their faces and bodies are less squashed and stocky in these examples.

This last photograph is just so gentle and beautifully lit, I think she was a famed glamour girl of the times? Irish Wolfhounds are one of my favourite breeds, they are always so graceful despite their size.

I have plenty more where these came from, never fear!

Thanks for popping by,

Katie

Women in the garden - Vintage photographs

"With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy."  

Lope de Vega

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Having just returned from the seaside, I thought it was a perfect time to share these beautiful seaside theme photographs with you! I picked most of these up in my favourite camera and collectible shop in Bridport, which I blogged about last year - read about it HERE

I absolutely adore being beside the sea. Like many others, some of my earliest memories are family beach holidays, caravaning in Dorset, beaches in Bournemouth, dockyards in Portsmouth and many other piers, broadwalks and cliffs. Happy times, very happy times. That's why I enjoy collecting these photographs so much.

I hope you enjoy seeing these people enjoying their holidays of the past too, I'd love to know which are you favourites, and your own favourite seaside memories!

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came" - John F. Kennedy



Katie

"Jackie" the 1960s Cairn Terrier - Vintage photographs

June 1963, 8 Weeks Old

In 'Snoopers Paradise' in Brighton I chanced upon this set of photographs, obviously all torn out of the same family album, featuring an adorable Cairn Terrier, Jackie! I have a Cairn myself, so always am on the look out for more unusual memorabilia to celebrate this plucky little breed of dog!
As you will go on to see, the photo's are utterly charming, a very proud owner indeed! I also greatly appreciate annotations on photographs, gives me the briefest insight into their story, I'm thrilled we know this little dogs name at least. Regarding a previous discussion about favourite themes of photos to collect, vintage dog portraits are always popular, hope these don't disappoint!

December 65

December 65

December 65

Those last three images that project Jackie into colour, are particularly hilarious! The senarios of 'Dog on rug, dog in front room, dog on dresser" - i mean, the imagination needed! Quite amazing, and also quite surreal, 'domestic oddness' is another love of mine! It's great to see her all grown up! Jackie has the classic grumpy face of a judgemental Cairn, they don't put up with much silliness, trust me.

If seeing Jackie has made you think a Terrier could be for you, please visit Terrier Rescue, who have a great online forum to represent all the dogs who need homes, many foster homes across the south!

On the theme of cute canines, I had the pleasure of meeting a very lovely pup at the weekend, not a Cairn this time, but a beautiful (and rare!) Keeshond, Martha, who belongs to Bruce's Aunt&Uncle...just a tiny bit jealous!

Hope that post hasn't made anyone too "Puppy Broody" (as i call it, I'm a constant sufferer!), and hope you're having a good week!

Katie

In an English Country Garden - Vintage photographs

My collections of vintage photographs fall under only a few themes, one of which being "Garden Portraits". Here are some new favourites that i picked up at The Pantiles 40s Fair, and also Spitalfields Market recently. It can be quite overwhelming (in an exciting way) to find a box filled with mixed photographs to rummage through, hence why I only allow myself certain topics, or I'd be utterly surrounded with them! I hope you enjoy seeing these recent finds. If you too are a fan of the vintage photo, what subjects do you tend to look out for? I'd love to know!

Katie

Happy National Gardening Week

A fine fellow I brought on Ebay this year - What a cabbage selection! And WHAT a beard!

Just a quick blog post as i am just about to head out the door to the Imperial War Museum to have a look around their new exhibitions! As this week is National Gardening Week i thought it a good time to share with you this fine gentleman! I've already posted some pictures from my patch so far this year, so instead, here is the Gardening-related reading material I'm currently enjoying!

Firstly, "Women Rule the Plot - The story of the 100 year fight to establish Women's place in farm and garden" by Peter King. This is the one i knew fine fellow blogger Landgirl1980 would enjoy, so i will be scanning sections from this one very soon!

Secondly (the one I'm about to take with me on the train!) "Virgins, Weeders and Queens - A history of Women in the Garden" by Twigs Way (possibly one of the best names I've ever heard!!) which looks absolutely fantastic, LOADS of unusual photographs and paintings I've never seen before, can't wait to get stuck in!

 And lastly, "The Once and Future Gardener: American Garden Writing from Magazines 1900 - 1940" by Virginia Tuttle Clayton (another great name!) Perhaps slightly off-topic for me because I do tend to stick to British history books BUT this had such beautiful lush illustrations taken from the magazines, i couldn't resist! I recommend to all who enjoy Art Deco illustrations, no matter what the topic!

Once I've finished these beauties they'll be on the blog again, so stay tuned! Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Katie

Oh ok just one from our garden, the shed looks mighty inviting when the April showers kick in! :)

Three Ladies from Lymington - Vintage photographs

Hello! Just a quick post of some wonderful photographs i found whilst on holiday in Lymington. We payed a visit to the Grandma's Attic antiques fair where all my family walked away with something (including an 1850's silver cigarette case and an Art Nouveau ring) but my purchases were somewhat more frugal! I must admit there was a near altercation on the postcard stand because one woman was hogging the boxes for no less than 20 minutes! And considering they were a bargain price of 10p/30p each, she was faffing far too much with her choices. Years of browsing antiques fairs has given me an eagle eye for my collections, and i can't stand people faffing about - if you take that long deciding on an item, you don't really want it! Despitecompetetive males aged 50+ (all looking for military history items/stamps) bustling about at these stands, I can always find what I'm looking for (Portraits including gardens or flowers, backdrops depicting nature scenes, British domestic family life and Aldershot related history - phew!!)

Here are the three lovely ladies I brought home from Lymington!

The posing with inanimate objects trend is just so fantastic - and odd! Two great examples here, shame the last photographer chose to focus more on the chair than the figure!

Hope the weeks off to a good start!

Katie

First Easter Blog! Vintage Finds.

Today is the first in quite a few Easter - related posts I have planned for the holidays. My collection of photographs usually relate to "People In Gardens" but i like to branch off into springtime/easter themes too, as it's my favourite time of the year (probably because it usually falls around my Birthday!)

The first of these photo's was found on Ebay, I still smile every time i look at it! These two just seem so proud of their pets they wanted to present them on a nice fluffy rug...which hopefully ISN'T made out of past rabbits! But a great example of an obscure Easter picture eh?

The second charming photograph was discovered in a book shop in Tunbridge Wells, I'm not usually fussed about childrens portraits BUT this one really caught me unaware! His little handmade outfit, wonky socks and cheeky smile make him an excellent Easter-gram! The daisies and flowers are the perfect springtime setting! Well done that photographer!

Just thought these two would brighten up a Wednesday! Plenty more vintage treats to come!

Hope you're having a good week!

Katie

The Best Shop in Bridport, and the treasures i found there!

Whilst on holiday last month in Charmouth, me&Bruce jumped on a bus and headed into the market town of Bridport, only a few miles away from Lyme Regis. We had no idea what to expect, but when the bus passed this shop upon arrival, we ran back to take a closer look!

The little boxes outside had a variety of old magazine pages, postcards and music sheets, which was a promising start! Once inside, we found a treasure trove of all our favourite type of goodies! Old photographs, cameras, postcards, film, glass plate negatives, super 8 film, old filmstar posters, kodak memorabilia, etc etc...IT WAS AMAZING!

Image found via Google

As you can imagine, we spent quite a long time rummaging through every box! Bruce found several amazing postcards and a new cable release, so he was pleased!

 

Visit the website HERE

I was picking up everything i fancied really! But my BEST find was this amazing album, which i discovered lying at the very bottom of a pile of family photo albums. What made it so special for me, was the rather recognisable gentleman that kept appearing throughout this collection, with his wonderful round glasses and crooked smile...how could i refuse?

I payed a very reasonable £5 for this treasure, i KNOW it would go for far more on Ebay, but Doug was too fair in his prices - if his shop was in some trendy London backstreet, he could get away charging triple, but you could tell that he just wants others to enjoy these little curiosities that he has such a passion for!

Back to the album, it seems to have a running theme of locations, including Swanage, Bagpath in Gloucestershire, and the reference to Sunnyside, which i believe is in Rotherham?


So, why do I think it deserves to be shown? Well for a start, the photographs are simply amazing, all the best kinds of nostalgia - children building dens, favourite pets, school pictures....but the actual pairing of the images, and how the owner created the album is also it's appeal. 
They are not in date order, but rather paired by themes or even, favourite images first! When looking through these pages, keep an eye out for our distinctive gentleman ageing, then becoming a boy again, and several examples of charming before > after family portraits. One ripped photograph leads the imagination wild...and the portraits of him and his wife suddenly aged, is very emotionally charged, and unexpectedly appears in the middle of the album. This was obviously a later project to be completed, sadly, it only reaches the middle of the book, the loose photographs i found at the back are in the last image.

I hope you enjoy looking at these photographs as much as i do!

 

I really do have a passion for albums such as these, I'm aware that found imagery is a well exhausted medium, but i just can't help myself! I would rather let my investigator side search for references to shed light on these collections, than spend my time staring at continuous empty, monotonous contemporary photo-rubbish... oh yes indeed!

Thanks for reading!

Katie