New Puppy in the Crow's Nest!




No worries Max, you're still our main man --

but imagine my delight last week when I was at my Aunt Marlene's
for a visit and she gifted me this turquoise teapot cozy! She had knit it years ago for my grandmother and now it is mine ours. Macy loves it too.

To fully appreciate the poodley-ness of it all you have to have
known my grandmother Gladys...


An animal lover from a tiny tot she always had pets. When I came along she had her beloved white and black miniature poodles, Buttons and Bows. Let's just say that she didn't miss out on that 50's and 60's poodle decor thing either.

Not by a long shot.

So many of you commented on my great grandmother's stern look in my last post that I had to include one of our rare photos of her smiling (middle right) - although it is just a bit of a smile. Born in 1878, the youngest of eleven, she was a hard working no-nonsense woman says my Aunt Marlene (that's Marlene on the lower right looking EXACTLY how she did last Thursday when I went to visit, minus the gloves). Great Grandma Eliza Ann was a very talented seamstress, crocheter, tatter and knitter. She passed her knowledge on to her daughter and my aunt. My grandmother was sought out in town for her sewing skills as she could mend nylon stockings (which were quite a luxury during the war). Throwing them out because of a hole was not an option. Gladys could do an almost invisible mend on them. I don't even darn socks... but I do come from a long line of 'makers' on both sides of the family and that makes me happy. 


 

Back to Grandma Gladys and her poodle teapot cozy. I am sure that she loved it. After a little searching on the web I came across this book with the catchy title:

Poodle Novelties in Canadiana

It looks like it was the source for the cozy. Marlene also made our family the poodle bottle cover -- I caught a recent glimpse of it in the lower right on this picture
of me on my way to a Brownie Halloween party in 1968.

(That was before I dropped out due to my allergy to
wearing severely pilled brown leotards.)



Apparently there are a still a few more of these puffy pooches around...

The World Famous Crochet Museum


Vintage poodles are showing up in hip and trendy places
all across North America...
Julie's laundry room at First Comes Love


This gal has a particularly fancy collar and I love her sparkly eyes...


Craft Schmaft
The infamous bottle cover... or 'Hooch Pooch'



And don't forget the TP roll covers! Patterns are available again
in new books and you can buy the finished product on Etsy.


Handmade by Mother
If you'd prefer a plastic version there is always Pierre...



Original patterns can still be found in thrift shops. I was lucky enough to receive my friend Louise's retro & vintage crochet and needlework books and magazines. They provided lots of entertainment for my mother-in-law and I last Christmas. We had a hoot looking through the 'fashions' and bazaar items. This crocheted tea cozy must be from about the 60's judging by the clip art. That gal with the apron looks just like me. :)




Apparently poodle decor from the 1950's and 1960's is quite collectable now. Grandma Gladys would be tickled to know that her style has reached sensible folks everywhere. She displayed quite an array of poodle frippery from ceramic cuties to towels, jewellery, and appliques on the dresses she made for my cousins, sister, and myself. Now THAT is a photo I wish I had here!

I don't drink tea, but I love teapots and tea cozies and I'm just happy to have been given this fun girl who happens to be sporting my favourite colour. She keeps us company in the kitchen now and makes me smile. Max is happy too knowing he's still our one and only.


** Edited to add: found that picture... each dress has a poodle applique!



Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Linking up to:

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20 comments

  1. what a great post I loved every word and every photo,

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  2. Two words. Understated elegance.

    I know every house in America and Canada will soon be sporting a poodle to cover one of the unmentionables in their homes. Forget the scarves and mittens! Get those knitting needles and crochet hooks out and make yourself and everybody on your gift list a Canine Cover-Up! Sure to bring a smile (or look of total dismay) to all who enter your humble abode.

    You've outdone yourself. I'll be laughing all night at those goofy poodles!! And Grandma Gladys's poodle didn't look at all happy with her plaid hat. Nope. Maybe if she had a friend made from plastic grocery bags. I'll be saving my bags for you and Macy. I foresee a doggy craft party in the near future.

    I'll take a size large Poodle in black and white Angora yarn to cover my Mr. Coffee, please.

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  3. I thoroughly enjoyed your post on your grandmother's poodle tea cozy. Both my grandmothers crocheted, but never anything whimsical - always practical. I have never seen all these different poodle crafts. My favorite stuffed animal growing up was a black poodle named Frenchy (I wasn't very creative at four!) I still have him and will have to dig him out!

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  4. TY for sharing ur Grandma and all this poodleness! When I was growing up in the 70s, we had bathroom wallpaper with black and pink poodles at their vanity, doing girly things like hair and makeup - boy, if I ever found that wallpaper again :)

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  5. Love the history and pictures behind that cute poodle tea cozy. Your Grandma and Aunt sound like creative ladies. It must run in your family. I'll be on the lookout for poodle stuff. So cute!

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  6. OMG.... you are me and that's my mother!

    Bliss

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  7. OH I do remember these! How fun to have one that was your grandmother's!

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  8. Tracy, Thanks so much for sharing this inspiring story on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I love your new puppy and all those great photos have such wonderful memories. Your Grandma and Aunt sound awesome!! Thanks for sharing the history of the vintage poodles too!

    Jody

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  9. What a fun and interesting post!

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  10. Fun post Tracy. I love all those vintage ads and book covers. TP covers were all the rage, weren't they?

    Good to see your great gma crack a smile, albeit a tiny one. I imagine one has to be pretty hard-working and no-nonsense when you're the youngest of 11.

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  11. Tracy, i loved this post. I am a kitsch fan and also love family history and dogs. Never had a poodle though except for a stuffed animal poodle named Fifi.

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  12. Now that's a statement of those days, for sure. I have to laugh at the thought of pouring tea from something so fluffy. Do you suppose one day our children, nieces and grandchildren will unearth some of the creations of ours from these days and share them across the world through whatever technology they may have in the future? You gotta wonder. This does bring back lots of memories of days gone by. Such fun stuff you have inherited.
    Liz

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  13. It really tickles me to see that things come around full circle, even the crafts and not just clothing styles.
    I have some vintage craft books and love looking at them every now and again.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Michele

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  14. So glad you were given that tea cozy! What memories it must evoke for you. And thanks for all the other photos - I have suddenly been taken back to my childhood where I saw lots of those white poodle bottle covers! It looks like they are now kitschy and collectible!

    Thanks so much for joining in this week.

    xo
    Claudia

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  15. Boy, you sure packed a lot into this post! Neat!! How nice to have that tea cozy!! My aunt made a cat bottle cover back in the day!

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  16. What wonderful memories! It brought back my own memories of items my sweet grandmother would knit for us. One of the most memorable projects was a knitted purse with a cut out sections of white milk jugs to make the side, bottom, and top! I still have it. I am visiting from A Favorite Thing Saturday and am your newest follower! Would love for you to stop by Still Woods Farmhouse for a visit!

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  18. What a cute poodle tea cozy! All the pics are great -- I didn't know there once was Lassie dog food! And Pierre the Poodle made from plastic bags -- that's got to be a hoot!!
    (that was my deleted post above -- I was signed in as the wrong person!)

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  19. Absolutely adorable. I have never seen these poodle creations before. They certainly are fun. So lovely that you have one that your aunt made. Have a great day. Tammy

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