Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Summer Giveaway Hop - Win Vintage Books from Birdhouse Books




Thanks for visiting Birdhouse Books - Adventures on eBay as part of the Summer Giveaway Hop.

Birdhouse Books is a store on eBay specializing in vintage children's books, cookbooks, and ephemera (Roadside Americana postcards, vintage Valentines, Christmas cards, dog cards, cat cards, and more!).

This giveaway is open to residents of the United States, and entries will be accepted August 1 through August 7.  A winner will be chosen at random on August 8, and your prize will be mailed via Media Mail with Delivery Confirmation tracking.

The winner will receive two wonderful 1964 vintage children's books (chapter books for children):


  • Gull Number 737 by Jean Craighead Moore - children's fiction about a family who is fascinated by seagulls, and wants to help them.
  • Mystery Mountain by Florence Laughlin, illustrated by Barbara Werner - children's mystery involving horses and adventures in the mountains.

It's easy to enter!  Just visit Birdhouse Books and find your favorite item.  Then come back here and leave a comment about what your favorite item is in the store.   Be sure to include your email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner!  One entry per person.

A reminder - entries need to have the following in a comment to count:

  1. your favorite item in my store
  2. your email address


Thanks again for your visit!  Don't forget to visit the Summer Giveaway Hop page for over 170 more giveaways!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Children's Illustrator Eloise Wilkin


Eloise Wilkin is my favorite children's illustrator.  I grew up with Little Golden Books and as a small child especially loved the Eloise Wilkin books.  As an adult, I find they evoke a happy nostalgia.   Her illustrations of children, often with their toys, their families, and their pets, are so sweet.

Eloise Wilkin was born in 1904 in Rochester, New York.  She studied art at the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Her early work included illustrating The Shining Hours, and designing paper dolls.

Ms. Wilkin signed a contract in 1944 with Golden Press to illustrate three Little Golden Books each year.  She used her children and grandchildren as models for the books she illustrated.  She illustrated 47 Little Golden Books, and later created a doll for Vogue dolls based on Baby Dear.

She passed on in 1987 (cancer), but her beautiful illustrations for children continue to live on.

I have several Eloise Wilkin books at Birdhouse Books, and always try to keep a few on my bookshelves!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mad Men Era Christmas Card - Secretary to Boss

Just had to share this great Christmas card with you!  It reminds me so much of Mad Men (one of my favorite TV shows).  The card features a secretary in Mid-Century days, and it is to her boss at Christmas time.  The vintage graphics are fabulous!  It is an unused card, with original envelope - and I think it would look great framed in an office!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Born in the Kitchen: Plain and Fancy Plantation Fixin's - a rare cookbook by Flora Mae Hunter

Born in the Kitchen: Plain and Fancy Plantation Fixin's is a rare and hard to find vintage cookbook by Flora Mae Hunter.  Flora Mae Hunter was born on a plantation in Thomasville, Georgia in 1911.   In this book she recounts her life, growing up on a plantation, and shares many traditional Southern recipes.  This book is signed by Ms. Hunter with an inscription on the front endpaper.   The recipes look great!  The one that sounds especially tempting to me is Orange Cake with Chocolate Sundae Icing.  You'll find this book in my eBay store - Born in the Kitchen vintage cookbook at Birdhouse Books.  It would be of interest to anyone who collects Southern cookbooks, Black Americana, or Georgia history.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Big Lots of Vintage Playing Cards - Single Swap Cards



I had so much fun putting these lots of vintage single swap playing cards together!  They are great for a collector, a dog lover, or anyone who loves vintage graphics and illustrations.   At Birdhouse Books I currently have a number of vintage playing card lots (click here to see!).

They include:


  • Scenthounds - Dachshunds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds
  • Terrier Dogs
  • Sporting Dogs - Retrievers, Pointers, and Setters
  • Transportation - Trains, Ships, Cars, and Travel
  • Animals - Bears, Ducks, Horses, Deer, and more
  • and a huge lot with a bit of everything!  (87 cards) - Coca Cola, advertisements, art, retro pop culture
Hope you'll pop by and visit - vintage playing cards at Birdhouse Books.