History Education Store for Educational Items

History Education Store for Educational Items

The History Education Store offers lots of items for gifts and schools. The store offers replica copies, often made in the USA such as copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as copies of pirate codes and treasure maps.

Crossword books feature topics such as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, Texas, and New York City.

Other items include:
Historical currency and coins, pictures, games, decorations, and kids' books.

Hardwood Cutting Board : The Chef's Medallion

Cutting boards serve useful functions, of protecting tables and cabinet tops, and giving a nice surface for knife blades and providing more counter space. The Catskill Craftsmen Chef's Medallion Hardwood Cutting Board includes easy care instructions, such as careful rinsing after cleaning in soapy water, and regular application of mineral oil to protect the wood. While much of their work is done in the USA, this particular cutting board is from Vietnam.

The company produces a complete line of cutting boards, in traditional and specialized shapes, including a guitar and the State of Texas.
http://catskillcraftsmen.com/Boards/boardsp3.html

Many of the cutting boards have rounded corners and border "trenches" to keep liquids from running onto counters and tables.

Other items include work benches, kitchen islands, cupboards, tables, and wooden kitchen tools. There is an additional section on ways to care and clean the products.
http://catskillcraftsmen.com/index.html

The company, located in the Catskill Mountains, makes efforts for a "green" business:
According to the company website:
"Lumber is purchased from area sawmills, then dried, manufactured, and packaged on site. All sawdust, shavings and waste materials generated during the manufacturing process is converted into wood pellet fuel, and used to heat homes. We are proud to say, "Our operations generate no wood waste."                       
http://catskillcraftsmen.com/about/about.html

Catskill Craftsmen
http://catskillcraftsmen.com/

Catskill Craftsmen Chef's Medallion Hardwood Cutting Board
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CATSKILL-CRAFTSMEN-CHEFS-MEDALLION-HARDWOOD-CUTTING-BOARD-NEW-/190833225200

On Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CATSKILL-CRAFTSMEN-CHEFS-MEDALLION-HARDWOOD-CUTTING-BOARD-NEW-/190833225200

Fairy Gardens at Gardenfairy , Fairy Dust , and Fairy Theme Items

Bachelor Button Fairy
http://www.gardenfairy.com/vintagegraphics/index.htm

At the Gardenfairy website, meander through the images of fairies and enjoy looking at the shop items.

Fairy Dust Bath Salts
These bath salts list ingredients including "ancient desert sea salts for aching limbs."
The fairy bath salts come in various colors and scents with essential oils.
Yellow Fairy Dust has honeysuckle, with peppermint, lemon, melissa, and ginger.
Indigo Fairy Dust includes myrrh, amber, and frankincense.
Red Fairy Dust blends sandalwood and three types of rose oil.
There's also Blue, Orange, Green (no link), and Violet.

Each packet is listed at the time of writing to be about $6.50.
Each packet is listed for specific conditions:
Red Fairy Dust is for romance.
Orange is for overworked folks.
Indigo is for sleeping.
http://www.gardenfairy.com/fairydust/index.htm

Children may enjoy the Gardenfairy coloring pages.
http://www.gardenfairy.com/coloringbook/coloring_10.htm

There are also links to free vintage postcard graphics.
http://www.gardenfairy.com/vintagegraphics/index.htm
Gardenfairy asks that the graphics are copied, not linked to the website.

Pappagallo Shoes : Comfortable and Cute

Pappagallo Shoes : Comfortable and Cute : Papps

The Vintage Village 
http://thevintagevillage.com/

Women from the 1960s and 1970s will remember Pappagallo shoes. These trendy ballerina flats, loafers, and tiny heels came in a variety of colors, often purchased to match an outfit.

The shoes were comfortable and good-looking. The ballet flats were especially popular in the mid-to-late 1960's. The shoes came in a variety of colors, especially in pastel green, yellow, blue, and pink.

Yet, today, Pappagallos are scarce, often found only in second-hand thrift stores.

Visit this website The Happy Homemaker, for a thread about people looking for Pappagallo shoes. http://happyhomemaker.blogspot.com/2005/06/im-bit-behind.html
According to the Happy Homemaker, "Most Pappagallo shoes were made of Italian kidskin, which allowed for the brilliant colors and the shiny appearance." And today, even though a shoe may look like a Papp, modern shoes just don't have the same "last" or mold, or pattern, and therefore don't have the comfortable Papp fit.

If any shoemaker can create a line of shoes like Pappagallo, there may be plenty of customers. "Papps" were made of soft yet durable leather, and cut in comfortable yet stylish designs.

One poster writes that his girlfriends each owned about 25 pairs of Papps, and his father sold them in his store: "The fun part was that girls almost always bought a new pair of the tasseled flats to match the new clothes they bought. The look was classic and the girls looked MUCH better than they do today..."

A husband wrote in on the occasion of his 40th wedding anniversary, to write about the first time he saw his future wife, in a college classroom in September: "I noticed how well dressed she was … wearing a Villager outfit and black leather Pappagallo shoes…I had no idea before then that Villager or Pappagallo existed, having grown up in a family of four brothers and no sisters. But I did appreciate how well she looked in her blouse, skirt and shoes."

Papps were often sold in the same store with clothing and accessories from Villager, John Meyer of Norwich, and Lady Bug.

In this day of shoes that hurt our feet, or make us look like we're wearing Munchkin or Frankenstein boots, the lovely light Papps would be a sight for sore eyes, and a good feeling for sore feet.

Read more about Pappagallo Shoes at the Merry Rose:
http://themerryrosegeneralstore.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-makes-it-pappagallo-qualities-of.html
and "Almost Like Papps"
"Almost Like Papps"

References:

The Happy Homemaker, Thread about people looking for Pappagallo shoes. Friday, June 03, 2005
http://happyhomemaker.blogspot.com/2005/06/im-bit-behind.html
The Vintage Village Green Papps
http://thevintagevillage.com/
Also See:
About Pappagallo Shoes. By Justin Graves. The Writers Network. Posted on Beauty and Style. June 07, 2011http://www.beautyandstyle.com/accessories/womens-shoes/trends/about-pappagallo-shoes
"Very few people in the fashion industry are unaware of Pappagallo shoes and its storied history. Women's shoes sold under the brand name Pappagallo were in fashion and very much in demand 40 years ago."

For a Ralph Lauren ballet flat that looks similar to the vintage Pappagallos, try this link:
Ralph Lauren http://www.ralphlauren.com/family/index.jsp?flats=&categoryId=46098046&cp=51960806.51960826.46098196&view=all&omniselect=View_All99
The difference is that the Lauren flat has an extremely pointed toe and a single seam on the back of the heel, rather than the Pappagallo extra piece of material seam.

There's also the Corso Como 'Famenka' Flat.
These have a similar appearance to the Papps, even with the striped lining.
The reviews are generally favorable, with some concern about getting a good fit through online ordering. Someone also mentioned that the shoe itself is very comfortable, but the piping around the edge can be uncomfortable. This reviewer contacted the company, which seems open to listening to customers.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-ballet-flats

Nordstroms is listing a round toe flat for women. The shoe toe shows "cleavage." The reviews range from saying the shoe is comfortable and stylish, to some complaints about the back of the heel being too high, which is a problem with many ballet flats on the market today.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-gala-round-toe-flat-women/3713928?origin=related-3713928-0-4-PP_OOS-Rich_Relevance_Recs_API-&recs_type=related&recs_productId=3713928&recs_categoryId=0&recs_productOrder=4&recs_placementId=PP_OOS&recs_source=Rich_Relevance_Recs_API&recs_strategy=


The Topshop "Milano" Ballerina also has a similar cut and lines to Papps.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/topshop-milano-ballerina/3479438?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Cream&resultback=8470

Note: This article was originally written and published on this website The Merry Rose General Store on Thursday, November 1, 2012. On January 27, 2013, the article was updated, deleted, and then republished on The Merry Rose General Store.

Christmas Presents Ideas for Kids : Wolf Stuffed Toy with Adoption Papers from Defenders of Wildlife

Help to Save Wolves with Wolf Pup Stuffed Toy from Defenders of Wildlife

As Christmas is approaching, finding the last minute items for children can seem daunting.
If the kids love animals, consider combining a cuddly stuffed toy animal with a donation to organizations that are working to help or save animals.

One organization is Defenders of Wildlife. http://www.defenders.org/
Visit their Adopt an Animal webpage : https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_homepage&s_src=3WEW1300XXXXX&s_subsrc=right_side_support-our-work_121512

For about $25 or more if you want to contribute extra, you symbolically adopt an animal.
Defenders of Wildlife will send the stuffed toy with an adoption certificate with the child's name printed as well as a greeting from the person making the purchase.

Popular animals include a wolf, a penguin, a polar bear, a snow leopard, a sea turtle, a tiger, a fox, a bear, and other assorted animals that may need protection in their habitat.

If you are in a time crunch, or have fewer funds, look for stuffed toy animals at dollar stores, Goodwills, or other second hand or bargain markets. You can make a homemade "official" certificate out of scrap paper and decorte it with cut out or printed lettering, pictures, or sparkle.

You can make a donation to a wild life organization or the local animal shelter.
For kids who love to help animals, combine a soft stuffed toy animal with the gift of helping.

Williamsburg Marketplace, Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia is famous for helping spur the American Revolution.
Take a virtual visit to some of the Williamsburg markets for ideas for Christmas decorations, recipes, gifts, and home comfort.

The Williamsburg Marketplace
http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomeView?utm_campaign=E12123&utm_content=E&utm_medium=email&utm_source=MBS&catalogId=12121&langId=-1&storeId=10001

"One of the earliest maps of Williamsburg (Middle Plantation), drawn by Franz Michel, a native of Switzerland who traveled to America. Michel's fanciful map shows ships, deer and a turkey, as well as Williamsburg "between the Jems and Jorgk Rivier, six miles from the Jems and ten from Jorgtown." On the page facing the map is a letter from Michel to his brother Hans."

Lorien Herbs and Natural Foods

For inspiration and information about herbs and natural foods, visit the Lorien Herbs and Natural Foods webpage. The heading includes an image of the store, located in the historical Windmill building, in the Perry Street Village area of Spokane, WA.

Lorien Herbs and Natural Foods.
http://www.lorienherbs.com/
1102 S. Perry Street
Spokane, WA 99202
509.456.0702