Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books

Hi vintage friends!

Just a note to let you know I have many new listings at Birdhouse Books on eBay, and I am running a weekend sale on Halloween greeting cards and children's books.

I just listed some fabulous vintage Christmas cards.  I have a giant crate of cards to list still (literally hundreds of cards), so will be adding more weekly until Christmas.  I also have some Bucilla needlework kits, vintage children's books, and other holiday items to list in the next few weeks.  Please stay tuned!

Here are a few vintage Christmas cards that I think you'll like.  This beautiful vintage Christmas card was designed by children's illustrator Gyo Fujikawa:

 This 1960's vintage Christmas card is by Hallmark.  It features a French Horn and greenery.

 This sweet Gibson Christmas Gems vintage card features angels and Baby Jesus.

 This vintage card is by Gibson Christmas Gems, and depicts the three Wise Men.

 This sweet retro card features a little girl playing a cello, and it is a Betsey Clark illustration.

I hope you found some goodies here.  There are over 2000 additional books, cards, and ornaments at my store!

Dear Abby - Pets in Halloween Costumes

Dear Friends,

I hear Halloween is coming very soon (i.e. tomorrow!).  I asked some of my friends if they had photos of their pets in Halloween costumes to share.  They sent some wonderful pictures, and I can't wait to share them with you!

First, let's see if you recognize this little dog:

Yes, you're right - it's me!   I don't mind wearing the angel wings, but my halo kept going crooked.

This is my friend Kobi dressed as a banana:

These are my dear friends Señor Miguel Luis y Señorita Lili.  They live in Mexico!

Here is my great pal Gizmo dressed as a pumpkin:

Gizmo likes to dress up!  This year he has a Yoda costume:

This is Louie dressed as Eeyore.  He is so cute!  I love Chihuahuas.

The next few pictures are of my late friend J.R.   He was a wonderful dachshund who lived a very long, wise life, and he ran lots of dachshund rescue fundraiser auctions.  He was considered a hero in the dachshund community because he helped so many rescue dogs!  J.R. in a jaunty cap:

J.R. as a cowboy:

J.R. as a bunny rabbit:

J.R. in hunting gear (remember dachshunds are naturally hunting dogs and were once trained to hunt for badgers!):

Here is Romy as the Tin Man:

Meet Remy as Dorothy:

This is Bogey as the Cowardly Lion:

Here are Bogey and Remy as Minions:

None of my kitty friends wanted to put on costumes for the holiday, but two of my guinea pig pals sent festive Autumn pictures!   This is Radar exploring some little pumpkins:

And here is Radar's sister, Magenta.  She looks ready for Fall too!

And just for good measure, here is one more picture of me, still in angel costume:

Wishing you a happy and safe Halloween!  Please remind your people to keep candy up high out of the reach of furbabies, and to provide a safe and secure place for pets indoors if trick or treaters are visiting your home.  Have fun, and please leave comments below!

Love and Halloween xxx's,

Abby

Throwback Thursday - Vintage Halloween on Pinterest

I love Pinterest.  You can find me here:  Birdhouse Books on Pinterest.  Although I do spend time there with work (posting vintage children's books and holiday cards), I also just enjoy the vintage graphics and photos found there.  Since I love Halloween and also love Pinterest, of course I enjoy finding fun Halloween pictures at Pinterest.  I wanted to share a few vintage Halloween pins with you today.

Spooky Music for Spooky Occasions is a vintage children's record:

Kool-Aid ad from 1964 - great photo of children in costumes:

A die-cut Halloween owl, like you would hang on a door or a classroom wall.  These were usually by Dennison or Beistle:

A 1960's vintage photo of children in Halloween costumes:

Also 1960's vintage, a little boy making popcorn ball treats:

An antique photo postcard of a witch and her cat:

A 1960's Halloween ad from Woolworth dimestore:

Brach's candy ad from 1962:

A Halloween candy cup made of plastic.  I remember these from parties!

Cute vintage Halloween postcard with two children looking at a grinning Jack O'Lantern.  "The goblins will catch you if you don't watch out."

Collegeville Costumes 1961 - trick or treaters in costume:

Eureka Halloween seals.  I loved these little booklets as a child.  Most of the ones I recall were by Dennison.  The design was very similar, though:

So there you have it - a few fun Halloween images to get you in the mood for the holiday.  I hope you enjoyed!  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Cat Card

Found at Birdhouse Books:  Halloween cards

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Lonely Planet Kids - The Travel Book

Title: Lonely Planet Kids - The Travel Book: A journey through every country in the world 
Publication Date: September, 2015 
Publisher: Lonely Planet Kids 
Pages: 212 
Recommended Ages: 8+  

Where can you climb a giant tower of sticky buns? What is a bokikokiko? Discover the answer to these questions and hundreds more with Lonely Planet Kids The Travel Book: A Journey through Every Country in the World the new, kid-friendly (ages 8+) version of Lonely Planet’s best-selling The Travel Book. In Lonely Planet Kids The Travel Book, every country from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe gets a dedicated page spread packed with amazing facts on animals, culture, sports, food and much more, bringing the world to life with eye-popping photography and illustrations.

About Lonely Planet Kids

From the world’s leading travel media company comes Lonely Planet Kids, a children’s imprint that brings the world to life for young explorers everywhere. We’re kickstarting the travel bug and showing kids just how amazing our planet can be. We will inspire and delight curious kids, showing them the rich diversity of people, places and cultures that surrounds us. We promise to share our enthusiasm and love of the world, our sense of humour and continual fascination for what it is that makes the world we live in the diverse and magnificent place it is. It’s going to be a big adventure! Come explore.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Lonely Planet Kids Blog Tour Schedule

October 15

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Giveaway)

Cherry Mischievous (Spotlight: Adventures Around the Globe)

Rockin' Book Reviews (Review: How to be an International Spy)

October 16

Domestic Chanteuse (Spotlight: The Travel Book)

Reading Authors (Review: You Rule!)

October 17

Adalinc to Life (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

Geo Librarian (Review: The Travel Book)

October 18

2ReadBook (Review: How to be an International Spy)

Tea Time and Books (Spotlight: You Rule!)

October 19

The Blended Blog (Review: The Travel Book)

Icefairy's Treasure Chest (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

October 20

Bookworm for Kids (Review: You Rule!)

Mami Tales (Review: How to be an International Spy)

October 21

Here's the Story (Review: The Travel Book)

Alwaysjoart (Review: You Rule!)

October 22

Tina the Bookworm (Review: How to be an International Spy)

Sunshine Girl Blog (Spotlight: Adventures Around the Globe)

October 23

Fuonlyknew (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

Books for Books (Review: You Rule!)

October 24

Jemima Pett (Review: The Travel Book)

October 25

Published Bestsellers (Spotlight: How to be an International Spy)

October 26

K&A's Children's Book Reviews (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

Christy's Cozy Corners (Review: The Travel Book)

October 27

My Soul Called Life (Review: How to be an International Spy)

I Read What You Write (Review: You Rule!)

October 28

Blooming Brilliant (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

Writer With Wanderlust (Review: The Travel Book)

October 29

View From the Birdhouse (Spotlight: The Travel Book)

Kevin Gerard, Author of Diego's Dragon (Review: You Rule!)

October 30

P is for Preschooler (Review: Adventures Around the Globe)

The Logonauts (Review: The Travel Book)

October 31

Oh My Bookness (Review: How to be an International Spy)

Blog Tour Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice  
Giveaway ends: November 8, 11:59 pm, 2015  
Open to: Internationally 
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Lonely Planet Kids and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway   

Did You Know Tuesday - Trick or Treat

I have vivid memories of trick or treating on Halloween as a little girl - in a costume and carrying either a plastic pumpkin to fill with treats - or later a pillowcase that would be full of candy by the end of the night.

I wondered when the practice of trick or treat started.  It seemed like a baby boomer invention to me ... so I looked to see what I could find.  Trick or treating became popular a bit earlier than I thought!  Knocking on doors on Halloween night to receive candy from neighbors became popular in the 1930's in the United States and Canada.  It was originally popular in the western states, and then moved eastward  The term "trick or treat" was first used in the Oregon Journal in 1934.  

Trick or treating hit a problem in the 1940's because of sugar rationing during World War II.  It picked back up with great enthusiasm in 1947.   Many October 1947 children's magazines featured trick or treat covers and trick or treat candy began to be featured in magazine advertisements, like the Milky Way ad from 1947, pictured below.

Trick or treating was popular in tv shows and children's books during the 1950's and 1960's.  The first Peanuts comic strip depicting trick or treating appeared in 1951.  Later, in 1966, Charles Schulz would create It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, a Halloween classic for children.

Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.  It is now the second most commercially popular holiday in the United States - after Christmas.

I love the vintage magazine illustration below, which depicts a 1950's family trick or treating -- even Mom is wearing  a mask.  They are out in daylight (early evening), with their faithful basset hound and beagle to help -- and a Radio Flyer wagon full of treats.

What do you remember about trick or treating?  I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Music Monday - "Venus and Mars & Rock Show" by Paul McCartney and Wings (1975)

I just heard this song on the radio and knew it had to be this week's Music Monday share. "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" is a song medley from Wings' 1975 album Venus and Mars.  These songs were written by Paul and Linda McCartney.   I became familiar with them from the Wings Over America album, which I played over and over again during my teen years.  (I have it on CD, and yes, still love it.)   I love the way this soft pretty song ("Venus and Mars") segues into a real classic rock number.  Do you remember this one?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - High Strung by Janice Peacock

HIGH STRUNG (Glass Bead Mystery Series Book #1)

by Janice Peacock

After inheriting a house in Seattle, Jax O'Connell is living the life of her dreams as a glass beadmaker and jewelry designer. When she gets an offer to display her work during a bead shop’s opening festivities, it's an opportunity Jax can't resist—even though Rosie Perez, the store's owner, is the surliest person Jax has ever met.

The weekend’s events become a tangled mess when a young beadmaker is found dead nearby and several oddball bead enthusiasts are suspects. Jax must string together the clues to clear her friend Tessa's name—and do it before the killer strikes again. 

Author Links

Amazon

Goodreads

Author's website 

Giveaway 

Win an eBook copy of this cozy mystery (ends 11/2).  Winner will receive the eBook from the author's publicist, Booktrope Publishing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books

Happy weekend! 

I have some fun new additions to my store, and would love to share them with you.  You'll find all these books at Birdhouse Books on eBay.

Miss Osborne-the-Mop is a hard to find children's book by Wilson Gage.  This story of a magical mop is charmingly illustrated by Paul Galdone.
 

Trixie Belden and Mystery in Arizona is a 1965 hardcover edition with cameo endpapers.

I have three adorable children's books in my shop now starring Boo the dog.  The photographs are so incredibly cute!

I just listed two great cookbooks by  George Stella.  One is Still Livin' Low Carb.

I also have George Stella's The Complete Low-Carb Cookbook listed.

COMING SUNDAY - This lovely hardcover edition of Little Women is by Great Classics for Children.

COMING SUNDAY - Tim and Sally's Beach Adventure is a cute hardcover picture book.

COMING SUNDAY - I love this book!  Walt Disney's Alice in  Wonderland is a lovely hardcover, dustjacket edition with illustrations by Mary Blair.  (She is one of my favorite illustrators.)

COMING SUNDAY - This big sturdy hardcover is a special read-aloud edition of Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

COMING SUNDAY - This lovely hardcover is a 25th Anniversary edition of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

I hope you'll stop by my store and browse -- I have over 1700 treasures there waiting for perusal!