COLLECTION #163: Vintage Western-themed Valentines

I love western themes: Cowboys and Indians,  wide-open spaces, horses, cattle, cactus, Mexican Senors and Senoritas. Western themes were really popular from the 1920s through the 1950s... from silent movies to Roy Rogers, Stage Coach to Gunsmoke. I have lots of Western themed collectibles, and these cute li'l Valentines are right up there with my other faves.

I love my giant sized Mexican boy & girl on a burro. The sombrero folds over to what used to be a 'tissue ball' hat. (it's now pretty mushed and torn).  My guess is this one is from the late 30s or 1940s.

The others are probably from the 1940s or '50s, but the cute li'l roping cowgirl and cowboy is definitely 1930s vintage.

I hope you enjoy my western Valentines, and don't mind that I've roped you into another one of my Valentine collections. I'm not horsing around, and I won't steer you wrong, (I think it's time I ride into the sunset before you brand me 'loco'!) Yippeee yi ki-yay!

COLLECTION #57: Mexicana!

I love my Mexicana collection.... those fun, vintage south of the border items that were oh-so-popular in the 1940s. Somewhat kitschy, and possibly politically incorrect, they are fun, colorful, and evocative of an era when anything from Mexico or other Latin American countries was particularly exotic and romantic.

It's hard to showcase this collection with just a few photos, there are items I have that will probably have to carry over into another category or two of collecting,  (like my Mexican linen collection).

 
I love the fun Sombrero Man & Woman book ends. What sets these apart is that their hats are hinged, and there is a deep hole for storing I'm not sure what? Matches? Cigarettes? Coins? Contraband?  I picked them up for a couple of bucks at a yard sale when we lived in Western New York. I guess these items aren't as popular on the East Coast as they are on the West.

The dolls are cute too, my favorite is the chubby man doll with his little moustache and baby face. Of course, the imagery is totally stereotypical. The sleeping Mexican man with the big sombrero, the donkey, the oxcart, the lovely Mexican lady with her clicking castanets. (Were castanets even from Mexico? I'd better study my Mexican culture!)


This little guidbook on the left is from the California Pacific International Exhibition that was held in San Diego in 1935 .  It was held in the lovely Balboa Park, and many of the gorgeous museum and exhibition buildings are still there.

 I hope you enjoy my little Mexicana collection as much as I do!

COLLECTION #37: Vintage Table Linens

Today's collection is some (but not all) of my vintage table linens. I just love the fun patterns and cheerful images on these tablecloths and tea towels. As you can see, I gravitate toward reds, yellows and greens, and I especially love fruit and Mexican themed patterns. For those of you who wonder where I keep all these things... actually, only a couple of them are on display. Mostly I keep them in the storage space under the seat of our breakfast nook. But a couple of them are used in my displays, and I regularly use them on my table for festive meals. Every cinco de Mayo, I layer 3 or 4 Mexican themed cloths & tea towels on my table, along with my other Mexican "stuff". (You'll see those things in the months to come).

I intended to shoot all of my linens in one shot, but I have another category that needed it's own featured day and photographs, so I'll put that one up next week.  So, today, enjoy my little retro linen extravaganza!