Wayback Machine: Woolworth's/Woolco

 

The other day, I saw a title of a book that surprised me:

What surprised me was that the book takes place in England and I had never thought of all the places there might be Woolworth (or Woolco) stores.

I loved Woolworth.  I walked to the store in Bethlehem (photos above) for my sewing supplies.  Later one would open at the mall and I would go there too.  The Bethlehem store was my favorite.  It had been opened in 1892 and had the original hardwood floors and an old world scent that I loved.

Frank Winfield Woolworth is credited as inventing the Five and Dime Stores.  Woolworth's Five and Dime store would later be matched with similar stores like Ben Franklin, Newberry's, and McCory's, etc.

I suppose some people will tell me that they were the walmart of those days but it wasn't the same thing.  There was a charm to our old Woolworth and the clerks were kind and helpful.

Who remembers this--protests to desegregate Woolworths?

Protests apparently didn't happen in our region.  The main population in our valley was white Pennsylvania Dutch folk.  Still there were many areas in our state that were ordered to end segregation.  I don't remember much about these events but it's an important chapter of the story of Woolworth's.  

When I was young, I loved little dolls like the ones above that Nana would buy me at Woolworth's.  As an older child and an embroiderer, it was still safe enough for me to walk to the Woolworths.

Did you buy your craft supplies at a five and dime store?

I bought all my embroidery supplies at Woolworth's and even bought records there in my early teens.  Later I would also get my knitting tools there as well.  One of my first teenaged jobs was at Woolworth's.

 

What do you remember about five and dime stores?

Have a safe and happy day!

This Week's Tasks

 

Life has been crazy.  

Last week I had to return my mom to the hospital after her mammogram for more tests.  Fortunately, the radiologist found it was just a cyst and she is fine.  

I'm already at the hospital 4 times a week driving Dave to radiation.   He's pretty weak and had a terrible weekend.  He gets chemo on Thursdays--the day his son drives him.  But the reaction from that doesn't hit him until Saturday and this past week was a doozy.  He woke up without a voice and spent most of the day in the bathroom.  It was pretty awful for him.

Brad came home after a month working in Quebec.  Since he got back, I've been cooking his favorite things and spent most of the weekend in the kitchen.  

This week, I'm going to spend more time in the sewing room.  I did finish a quilt top that I made for my brother.  I used the same pattern that I used for Paula's top and I'll be taking that to Lizzie this week.

I'm almost out of hand sewing projects and need to get some more prepared.  Hand sewing comes in handy while I'm waiting for someone at the hospital or watching the Phillies at night.  This past week I did buy more "Daisy and Grace" quilt-as-you-go templates.  I'm enjoying these projects so much, so why not?  The templates come from the UK and I figured if I waited the prices would increase or they wouldn't be available at all. 

I also need to reorganize my scraps.  I really like the system that Sue at the youtube channel "From Small Things" uses to keep her scraps organized.  You can see her videos here.  Sue's only been doing videos for about a year (or less) and she is already very popular with quilters.

So what are you up to this week?  I hope something fun is coming your way!

Flower Friday: September 12, 2025

 

This week:  September Gold!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Victory Quilt

 

World War 2 poster

Years ago, I really REALLY wanted to make an embroidered Victory Quilt.  I'm not sure if I had intended to make it for a program or for my family while our boys were in the navy and one of them deployed to Iraq and Aghanistan.

I had received a box of pattern pieces and found this ad:

While cleaning out, I found the ad again and did a net search.  This time I found a copy of the pattern.  It was a weak copy but I might be able to do something with it.

You can see it here at The Quilt Index.  Unfortunately, I have a long list of projects to do but I might consider doing this one later on.  We'll see.

Do you like this Victory Quilt?

Have a safe and happy day!

Knitting and Physics

 

News Flash!

Not everything on the internet is true!

It should go without saying but I'm married to a person who still hasn't learned that lesson.  Probably three or four times a month I have to gently say to him, check the source, check reputable news agencies.  

Last week, he booked a flight home that would take him to Newark Airport.  A while ago, we had agreed he wouldn't do that because at that airport, there are so many problems with delays, etc. 

So I was pretty surprised when he told me he booked a flight to Newark.  "I read about it," he said.  "The problems with the airport are cleared up."  Translation:  He read it on the internet so it must be true.

Result:  He didn't get home on Saturday at all and ended up booking a hotel for another night until he could fly out Sunday.

Even though I don't knit anymore, I enjoy watching Kristine Vike's youtube channel.  She's a scientist and a maker from Norway.  I love that she cites creditable sources on youtube page.  

The last video was about Knitting and Physics and a critique of a recently published video about Physics and Knitting.  Even if you don't knit, I think you will enjoy it.

The video is here.

I already looked into the book she cited during the video (The Golden Thread:  How Fabric Changed History).  Because my library doesn't have it, I ordered a used copy.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Flower Friday: September 5, 2025

 

Happy Flower Friday!

We got rain last night!  Whooppeee!  It's been many weeks since our last rain.  My friends in other parts of the valley tell me they got a few brief showers but we didn't here.  I'm grateful and I"m sure my garden is too!

The annuals seem to be doing the best these days.  My brother's mandevilla is still really healthy--of course he waters it everyday.

Most of the petunias began fading in August.  It was so dry!  These mini petunias aka calibroacha are still going strong.

Because weeding has been impossible the last few weeks, I began pruning.  During the early summer a catbird kept scolding and chasing Lucky.  We thought her nest might be in the oak leaf hydrangea.  He kept sticking his nose in the bush and that's when catbird would get more aggresive.  We were right.  I found her nest when I was pruning.

That's all I have for this week!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

September

 

Did you have a good Labor Day holiday?  Mine was quiet and restful.   

I worked in the garden on Sunday morning and began trimming bushes.  The soil is just too hard and dry to do any effective weeding so I am pruning.  It was a cool and productive morning. 

But Monday everything was different.  The bees appear frantic and aggressive.  I can't remember the last time we had rain and I wondered if that and the cooler temps are making the bees that way.  

That brings me to my only goal for 2026.  I want to make a temperature quilt.  I know that most people record the high and lows of the days.  But I also want to record the days we have rainfall.  Have you made a temperature quilt?  I'm interested in any insights you might have before I begin.

I might make one like the one I found on this website (here).

Anyway, that is what I am researching when I am not caregiving these days.  

Have a safe and happy day!

Happy Labor Day!

 

Have a safe and pleasant holiday!

Flower Friday: August 29, 2025

 

Happy Flower Friday!

Bill sent over a photo of his favorite rose.  He thinks this one is Double Delight:

It's Plumbago time!

Japanese anemones:

Before I go, I am really busy for the next few weeks.  Not only caregiving for family but driving my neighbor to chemo/radiation treatments.  Dave was always the caregiver for his wife who has had multiple strokes and heart attacks.  For a while Dave was taking himself to his radiation treatments.  His son and grandkids took him to chemo.  But now he is too weak and unable to drive.   I'm driving him to his radiation treatments 4 days a week.    I'll try to post ahead this weekend but if I'm not around, just understand how busy things are these days.

Wishing you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Cleaning Out, Passing On

 

There's a popular method of decluttering these days called, "Swedish Death Cleaning."  Weird name but a worthwhile premise.  It's a method of cleaning out unnecessary possesions but it also lightens the burden of your loved ones should something happen to you.

About a year ago, my mother had a plumbing problem and my husband and I had to go down to her basement.  Although my mom's house looks pristine, the basement is her "Monica's Closet."

I went through some things, carried them upstairs to my mom, and offered to get rid of some of the junk.  She refused.  My husband said afterwards, "It will take 15 dumpsters to clean that basement out."   I don't think he was exaggerating.

Ironically my husband is the "saver" in our family.  I do have collections but I periodically  go through and streamline and purge my things.  My huband still had clothes from high school when we got married 30 years ago (he's in his 70s now and I'm not sure he doesn't still have some of those things tucked away).

 So while my husband is in Canada, I started going through more things.  My main focus was paper.  There were boxes of documents we had saved and are of no use now.  I just don't want our kids to have the hassle later.  I've taken 5 trips to the dump to get rid of paper and shredded documents.  IT FEELS GOOD!  

I even went through my patterns (which were here, there, and everywhere) and decided what to keep, donate, and toss.  I have only one more box of embroidery patterns to go through and then that job is done as well.  

I'm not getting rid of everything.  I just decided that one tote box of organized patterns should be enough to last me...forever.  THAT feels really good too!

One of the things that helped encourage me was the upcoming guild sale.  I donated a lot of fabric and patterns and really did a good clear out!

But what really brought all this on was the the weather became cooler.  There is something about the approaching autumn that ignites the desire to clean and declutter.  I hope you are having pretty good weather and feeling up to that too!

Have a safe and happy day!

First Day of School!

 

Today is the first day of school in our town!

Cooler weather will probably slide in next month and already the mornings are starting nice and cool.  The weather and the beginning of a new school year is like a page turning.  I find I have energy again and am busy in the house and garden.  More on that tomorrow...

I also have been able to be in the sewing room more.  I finished the top made from Paula's shirts.  It was a strange experience.  Even though I washed the shirts her scent was still on the fabric and I found myself talking to her as I worked.  I really miss her.

It was a challenge to figure out what to do with the selection of shirts but I decided to go with a pattern called Easy Peasy (free pattern is here).

The top is now with Lizzie and I will show you it once it is back and bound.  I wanted a lot of hearts quilted on it and I hope that Jenny (Paula's daughter) will like it.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Flower Friday: August 22, 2025

 

June and autumn are the best times for roses around here.  I only have one rose left but it is so happy now I thought I would feature it on the blog header.

My friend Molly used to say that climbing roses are the most disease resistant and strongest type.  The only rose I have left is the yellow climbing rose in the front yard.  Many of the roses in this region had Rose Rosette a virus that really deforms the stems.  It's one of those diseases that you not only have to remove the whole bush but also not plant there because the soil still has the virus for many years.

We removed the arbor from the front this spring because of the new path we had put in.  I trimmed the remaining climbing rose and have been keeping it short--like a tea rose.   Apparently this has been a good thing for the rose.  It's been healthy and flourishing.  Today I'll prune it again for another batch.

Another flower blooming around here is the Crepe Myrtle.  These bushes were not common when I was young and to be honest, the first time I saw them was when I was in Alabama years ago.  But in the last decade or so, people around here have been planting the bushes and it's survived.  Perhaps there is a new hardier bloom that can take our zone 6 weather.  I also noticed many folks plant that in protected areas:  against the house, inbetween two buildings, etc.

A bush aside of my neighbor's home.

Do you have this bush?

How is your garden doing?

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Wayback Wednesday: A Penny Saved

 

Most of us remember being children and having--or better--finding a penny.  In our little corner store, some of the candy was 2 for 1 cent!

Oh the decisions!

I did have a weakness for Tootsie Rolls.  

What candy did you prefer?

As the penny is being phased out, I thought it would be fun to reminisce about pennies.  I thought of this because I am streamlining some sewing research and patterns.  This crossed my path:

Who was the clever person to use pennies to create sewing templates?  This had to be from a British magazine (yes, I've had some of those too) because we did not have a half penny since 1857.  The Brits demonetized their half penny in 1984.

In the U.S., the penny was originally bigger in size than our current penny.  In the early 19th century, there was a "Large Penny" which was over an inch in diameter; current pennies are .75 inches.  Below is a Large Penny in top left with other later pennies. 

Pennies were also used as templates for sewing  "Penny Mats".  Usually made of wool, many of us have made one or two of these in the last few decades.  

If you don't know what a penny "mat" or "rug" or "circle" is there is a great article here.

Also in this genre of wool mats is the Lambs Tongue Mat (I hate the name) which uses a more oval shape to create the mat:

Both are 19th century mats

This modern pattern uses both pennies and tongues:

Have you made any of these kinds of mats?

Have a safe and happy day!