Author Nora Jane Struthers

The Purple Fiddle in Curlers

by Nora Jane Struthers in Uncategorized






Dear Friends,

This past Saturday night my band and I made our debut at The Purple Fiddle in Thomas, West Virginia.  If you’ve never been and you’re a band, book yourselves there!  If you’ve never been and your a music lover, go there for a weekend!  It’s a restaurant, hostel, bar, and music venue all rolled up in a charming victorian house.  
The show was great.  Check out some of the video from the show on youtube.
Thanks for reading friends.
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
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Aprons and Homemade Pizza and MUSIC

by Nora Jane Struthers in Uncategorized



Oh My!

Dear Friends,

What a joy!  Helping a pal bake pizza (homemade dough and everything) is one of life’s most delicious and relaxing pleasures–especially when your friend knows how to make the pizza and you can just follow directions and munch on the shredded mozzarella.  
And the aprons are just so practical!
This music party was organized because Emily’s mom was in town visiting and –since she and Emily are both fantastic musicians who specialized in harmony singing–I was not about to let her get away from Nashville without meeting and singing with her.  It was a wonderful time and we had some truly rocking three-part harmonies before the evening was through.
Thanks for reading friends!
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
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"Hey, Are those Washingtons?"

by Nora Jane Struthers in 1940's, Vintage Fashion Blog



Dear Friends,

Well, I am sure this will come as a shock to some of you, but amongst Old-Time Musicians and music-lovers, overalls are an impressive piece of vintage apparel and some folks are no less brand-crazy than the teenyboppers of yore.  I was gifted this pair of vintage Washingtons (which I was told are from the 1920’s) and I have been literally stopped in the fire lanes at festivals and fiddler’s conventions by folks, who ask in disbelief, 
STRANGER:  “Hey, are those Washingtons?”
NJ:  “Why yes they are!”
STRANGER: “Those are gettin’ hard ta come by.”  (Very impressed.)
I sure do like em!  I especially like that they have an extra button on each side that allows me to have a waist even in overalls!  Yeah 1920’s!
Thanks for reading friends.
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
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Old Red Belt

by Nora Jane Struthers in 1960's, Vintage Fashion Blog



Dear Friends,

On Tueday night I went out to an Itialian Restaurant in Hendersonville with my roommate Justin to hear his good buddy Troy Angle play some classic bluegrass with the self proclaimed, “legend in his own mind’ Steve Huber.  It was a great show.  No cover.  Good food. Great music.
I wish I could tell you the name of the place–I’ll update later if I can find it.
I wore this pink dress which I bought about a year ago at Brooklyn’s biggest vintage and thrift store, Beacon’s Closet.  The dress itself is Abercrombie and Fitch-shhh don’t tell!  (It was also $12.)
I paired it for the first time with this vintage belt gifted, as part of a ball-gown / belt combo, to me by my grandmother.
I wore my sole-less firebird beaded Minnetonka moccasins which are both comfy and stylish 🙂
And I brought my ever-so-versatile tan cardigan which is actually from Brooks Brothers–shhh don’t tell that either!  Expensive?  yes.  Well made?  yes.  The most useful article of clothing I have ever owned?  Absolutely.
Thanks for reading friends.
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
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New York City Vintage

by Nora Jane Struthers in Uncategorized

Dear Friends,

Vintage shopping in New York City is awesome.  I bought this sweet 1950’s zip-up-the-front, white linen with strawberry’s on the pockets, for $20 bucks on Thursday and then I wore it Thursday night at my dad and my Dirt Road Sweetheart appearance on the Kings County Opry!  Wow!  Talk about a tax write-off that’s been put to good use!
Dad’s got on a red tie–he’s so stylish.  
Thanks for reading friends!
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
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