A Preview of 2016 at View from the Birdhouse

Thanks for visiting View from the Birdhouse!  I'm looking forward to a fun year of blogging here, and hope you'll visit often.

I will be having daily themes through the year:

Music Monday - little mini histories behind songs (lots of retro music!).
Did You Know Tuesday - retro topics and nostalgia, as well as interesting facts about children's literature.
Wordless Wednesday - vintage ephemera from my shops at eBay, Etsy, and Bonanza.
Throwback Thursday - nostalgic fun with pictures!
Dear Abby - my little dog Abby blogs on Fridays.  :-)
Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books - new arrivals at my online shops.

This year I will take a break from the scheduled topics some days and just post about something fun for a change of pace.  This could be a visit to an antique show, a vintage treasure hunting experience, or unique historical places around town.  It could also be a fun seasonal topic!  I'm looking forward to these change of pace days.

I will continue posting book reviews, author interviews, and spotlights (with giveaways when possible!).  I am going to limit these book posts to 2 - 3 a week.  The books featured here will include cozy mysteries, historical fiction, women's fiction, and children's books.   A few upcoming books you'll see featured this month:

Murder Most Malicious by Alyssa Maxwell (a historical Upstairs-Downstairs type mystery)

Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble (romantic suspense)

The Lady's Command by Stephanie Laurens (historical romance - regency)

The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LeBan (women's fiction with a culinary theme)

I would love to connect with you this year!  I love social media.  You will find me online:

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

You also can subscribe to this blog by email with the "follow by email" option in the right column. (It is near the top of the column, as you'll see in the photo below.  The subscription option is just beneath the Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest buttons in the right column.)

Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

Trish

Summer Changes at My Blog and Shops

Hi all!

It already feels like Summer here, with temps this week in the high 80's.  I like to change things up during the Summer months, and I'm excited about the changes Summer is bringing to my blog and shops.

I have some new daily blog themes (and some that remain the same):

Music Monday
Did You Know Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday
Throwback Thursday
Dear Abby (yes, my little dog finally gets her own day!)
Weekend Window Shopping With Birdhouse Books

I will also be pinning these new posts daily on Pinterest.  I am excited about some new days, and hope you'll join and comment.  Your comments make blogging even more fun!

I will still be doing some book related blog posts (especially with giveaways!) but am moving toward 2 - 3 days a week with those.

I'm also planning to spend more time this summer putting down vintage roots at some other sales venues.  In addition to listing a few eBay things at my shop daily, I will be listing new items daily at Etsy and Amazon.  I also will be refreshing my stores weekly at Bonanza and eCrater.

You can find my Birdhouse Books shops online:

eBay
Etsy
Amazon
Bonanza
eCrater

As always, I will be listing vintage children's books, holiday cards, and a few other vintage treasures as well.  

Let's stay in touch this Summer!   Would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Vintage Sewing Patterns

Do you enjoy sewing?  I learned to sew with my Mom when I was growing up, and I enjoyed sewing in home ec in high school.   Sorry to say, I have not kept up with sewing clothes, although it is something I would love to pick up again at some point.   (I do still enjoy embroidery.)

I have started finding and listing vintage sewing patterns the past few months.  Most of the ones I have found are from the 1960's - 1970's.   It is a lot of fun looking at the patterns and the different fashions that were popular.   I think it would be great fun to sew using the older patterns (maybe with some vintage fabric and buttons, too??).

I've started a little "vintage patterns" department at Etsy, and I will be adding more regularly.  You can find the patterns here:  vintage sewing patterns at Birdhouse Books.

Birdhouse Books on Etsy

I've shopped at Etsy at Christmas time for several years, buying unique handmade and vintage gifts.  I'd thought about selling there more and more as time went on and I heard Etsy mentioned more frequently by friends and in the media.

I just opened a vintage shop at Etsy, and I have to say I love it!  Etsy is a beautiful site, and it is a pleasure to navigate and list there.

My Etsy shop focuses on pretty, cute, and whimsical vintage items:

Vintage children's books
Vintage cookbooks
Vintage holiday cards - Christmas, Valentines, Easter
Vintage sewing patterns
Vintage dog and cat cards

When I can find them, I will certainly add vintage Christmas decorations and vintage toys as well!

I will be adding listings regularly there, and hope you'll stop by to browse!  Just click here to visit:  Birdhouse Books on Etsy.