Vintage Etsy or YOU KNOW YOU WANT THAT CLOCK

When my son comes home from work he throws his crap all over the kitchen counter that sticks out in the living room and collects our crap.
Once my Wellbutrin runs out for the day and turns ugly I may yell about his crap all over my counter and might throw it on the ground or maybe at him.
The other day I decided to set this great MCM metal trash can, black with silver deer on it, on the washstand my the counter and have him throw everything in there.
It looks pretty good, but it is a bit tall so I spent some time trolling Etsy trying to find a type of atomic container or planter or large bowl to use. I did not find anything I wanted, but I found some great atomic housewares I want, but do not need.
Here are a few:
Atomic Starburst Vintage Glasbake Casserole or Cake Pan (actually I might NEED this more then I thought)

Amoeba atomic vintage pitcher

Ameoba Boomerang Glasses Atomic Federal Red Black Turquoise Eames

SCHAEFER ATOMIC CLOCK
I really love this beer advertising clock, but man I do not need it.

If you love Mid Century Modern and Atomic vintage you should check out Kim on Tuesday for her Atomic Tuesday roundup and No Pattern Required.

Green Fields of France

War is so glorious y'all.....



Green Fields of France is my favorite anti-war song....






Please don't forget the troops dying.
45 in July and already 40 in August...there will never be enough bodies for Afghanistan.

Music for an Irish American's Passing

In Teddy's honor.

Mmmmmm, Raspberry

No, not raspberries to eat, but this amazing raspberry silk HATTIE CARNEGIE gown at Dorothea's Closet.

Strapless gown has fantastic seaming along front and off-set pleats to side of center waist, drapes dramatically to the floor. Supported by self crinoline, has RIGHT metal zipper suggesting it was custom made for a left handed wearer! Stole wraps around shoulders, seams create lift, straps pull under arms.

Carnegie was in business from 1909 until her death in the 50's but her business continued until the late 70's. From the Vintage Fashion Guild Listing:

It was said that a lady could be dressed from "Hat to hem" at Hattie Carnegie (the one item she did not have being shoes!) By the 1940s, Carnegie's store was actually a department store. There was a handbag shop, where a customer could order a bag to match an outfit or hat, the fur salon which was next to the Custom Salon, a millinary shop and a ready-to-wear hat shop, her jewelry department, an antique shop that sold furniture, china and glass, a cosmetic and perfumes department, the Jeune Fille shop which sold Spectator Sports and ready-to-wear from other design houses.

To see more of this great dress go here and for more information on Hattie Carnegie check out the entry for her on the Vintage Fashion Guild.

Liberal Lion

This is how I will remember him.
Fighting the good fight for the regular guy.


The good stuff is around min 3:35....




TeddyCare.
In lieu of flowers, let's pass health care reform.

Statesman

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”

Requiescat in Pace

New Life for Vintage

My views on taking perfectly good vintage and hacking it up to make "trendy" garments that for the most part are NOT well made is well known.
But in the hands of a talented seamstress and designer a piece of vintage clothing that is damaged and has outlived its usefulness can be a thing of beauty.

This brings me to re:couture a line of designs now being offered at Shrimpton Couture (a site that is everything I want to be when I grow up)....

"re:couture is a new label from designer Tallulah Charlotte and is exclusively available through Shrimpton Couture. Tallulah is a long time vintage devotee who chooses to work with damaged vintage and restores or re-works it to make pieces wearable once again while adding her own unique vision to each piece."

(Tallulah. I love that name. I hope that is her real name. If I had had a girl I would have named her Tallulah. It is a name that you don't mess with. Powerful.)

These are just lovely designs that stay true to their original eras.

I would even argue that this delicious design (really, it is just lovely) is a step up from the "originally a maxi length vest that was ruined beyond repair near the hem" it stated out as, because maxi length vests should never had existed in the first place.
Except maybe as garments for Maude or Mame, no one else could pull these off without giving off a real "crazy cat lady drinking highballs at lunch" vibe.



Another wonderful design.
Respect paid to its 50's base with an added modern twist.

re:couture.
Re-making vintage done right.

Shitty Movie Blog

If you like movies you might want to check out Shitty Movie Blog.
It's no Pajiba and the author is one foul mouth dude (takes one to know one, right?) and our household TOTALLY disagrees with his review of Inglorious Bastards (though Quinten could be more generous with his editing and I am tired of the black hole that is the Tarantino ego) but still, there is some good fun writing there.
Go check him out.

WWBW? (what would Betty wear?)

If you don't watch Mad Men (why not?) then you won't get this.
This is what Betty would wear:

Betty would wear this* after the baby and then tell Don that she has a headache.
Forever.
Because Don is a cad.
He's hot.
But he's a cad.

*"This" is a vintage 50's Vanity Fair Peignoir set in aqua that you can find here at Damn Good Vintage.

Sadness Abounds

Tonight we found out that a wonderful "online" friend, Mary Catherine Lamb, passed away last night.
My heart is heavy with grief.
After a good cry I went looking for an old post I did on MC and her crazy sock monkey quilt.
Here tis:

I know that Sock Monkeys have their fans.
So do clowns...and those creepy "dolls" that crazy ladies display
in glass cases.

I am NOT a Sock Monkey lover.
I think they are creepy and probably plan to take over the world,
but when Sock Monkeys are added to a quilt and created out of
vintage Bark Cloth fabric, well, then that might equal love.

I give you "Sock Monkey Jamboree"

That makes even me smile with glee.

The quilt has been aquired The University of Nebraska's
International Quilt Study Center along with other quilts created by
the extremely talented and creative Mary Catherine Lamb including a
quilt titled THE FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE freaking APOCALYPSE(!).

From their website: "The INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln houses one of the largest publicly owned collections in the world. The quilts range from outstanding early examples of American quilts to contemporary and international quilts. The International Quilt Study Center's comprehensive collection now numbers more than 2300 quilts from seventeen countries, dating from the early 1700s to the present."

Of course this begs the question what will she create next?
I think there is only one way to go after using the Four Horsemen and
Evil Sock Monkeys.
That would be to place all of the Evil Overlords List on a quilt.

I'm sure this is all some evil plan to bring about the APOCALYPSE
and install Sock Monkeys as our Evil Overlords....hopefully they
won't read the list.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also you can enjoy this video of her and her work that Oregon Public Broadcasting produced.

Requiescat in Pace

Sand and Light

Watch this amazing video of a performance artist who uses sand and light and music to tell a story of WW2.



You can read more about Kseniya Simonova here.

Weekend Sale at Damn Good Vintage

Vintage 50s 60s Pink Linen Shirtwaist Dress
Was $75
Now $37


Vintage 50s Vogue Special Design Box Jacket Suit with Shell
Was $24
Now $12

Aloha

Great article on the Honolulu Star Bulletin's website:
50's Years of Hawaii Fashion on View
via Fashion Tribe twitter.....

LOL

Tomato Pie

Last week I made Paula Dean's Tomato Pie recipe.*
Last week my husband and I ate the whole damn thing.
It was just that good.
This week I made a larger one (just dbl the recipe and made it in a 9X13 dish instead of a regular pie pan) so I could have leftovers today.
Just as good this week as last except The Teen who hates tomatoes said "ok, you were right mom, this is really good". So much for leftovers.

Great recipe for this time of year when you have all those tomatoes sitting around and wondering who you have not given some to.
The first time I just used a pre-made pie shell, but this time made my own pie crust.
Really pie crust is easy folks, especially if you use a food processor.

Yum.
and Yum.
Oh, Yum.

Tonight it is fried pork chops with gravy and mashed taters and probably cantaloupe.

*You need to peel the tomatoes. To do this you make an X into the bottom of your tomato, drop it into boiling water for a min or two (just to the point where you see the skin begin to peel away at your X) the drop them in cold water for a min. You can now just slide the skin off.

Weekend Bonus Sale at Damn Good Vintage

From Damn Good Vintage and Sew-Retro this weekend.

Vintage 40s New Look Nipped Waist Suit Quitted and Beaded Peplum XS B32


Was $150
This Weekend Only $75

Vintage 60s Pattern Spadea Suzy Perette Fly Away Panel Tunic Dress with Skirt Factory Folds NS-217 B35


Was $20
This Weekend Only $10

90's Revival

Who knew?
It seems there is already a "revival" of 90's fashions.
My guess is that it has to do with the overabundance of 90's clothes at the thrifts and yard sales and the fact that you really can't label something made in the 1990's vintage.

Here's a bit of real vintage clothes:

Vintage 40's Blue Tweed Jacket

Vintage 40's Purple Plaid Swing Dress

Vintage 60's Serbin Day Dress


Vintage 50's Red Wiggle Dress


Crazy Fred Perlberg Party dress.
I love this dress in a "Sharon Stone in Casino would
look so awesome in it" kinda way.

Morning Glory and Disappointment

I did finally hear back from my Doctor.
The scans did not really show any real issues with the parathyroids, but they might have seen something with my thyroids.
Sigh.
Getting an ultrasound on Friday.
The problem is that my Dr. took off on vacation today (no I do think re deserves a holiday, he's a nice guy) so I could only talk to his nurse. Nice lady, but she was just setting up the time and trying to explain what was going on.
Ultrasound on Friday, results at the beginning of the week with a visit to see Dr. Mayfield.
I've gone down the thyroid road before and nothing has ever come from it.
So this is all probably an exercise in futility and a waste of money and I'm just disappointed because it would have been nice, for once, to have a cut and dried "this is what is wrong and it will fix what is wrong with you" ending.


Pretty.
Morning glories are one of those vintage flowers I love. Old style, vibrant colors and a bit chaotic.
The ones pictures are going on the sunny side of the back deck.

Weekend Bonus Sale at Damn Good Vintage

This week.
LS Ayres knitted wool shell covered with crazy discs.
Was $80, this weekend $40

Vintage 60's Jacques Heim Coat Dress Pattern from Vogue
Was $45, this weekend $22.50

Now Your Dog Shall Kill You

Way to make your dog hate you.
Woe unto man when the cat Snuggie comes out.
Our feline overlords will rise up and finally deliver the cosmic smackdown we have been asking for.

I Hope I Have Parathyroid Disease

Went to my Doctor the other day and while I was there I mentioned the blood tests he did last year that he had wanted me to come back and retake that I blew off because the gal who called said he was worried that my cholesterol count was high and I was all like "of course it was, I had a meatloaf sandwich before I went in".
One year later he is like "no, I was worried because your CALCIUM level was high in the blood test, your cholesterol is fine".

Oh.
OK.
So we redid the blood test and HE called me this morning to tell me that he was making an appointment for a nuclear thing to see if I have Parathyroid Disease. It involves the parathyroids (who knew we had these? raise your hand) and a tumor.
Not cancer...he kept telling me not to worry about cancer.
Once they know for sure they will go in and remove the parathyroid in what seem to be a pretty easy and fast procedure.

I hope I have this.
Why?
Because the symptoms read like a who's who of what has been fucking wrong with me for years :

• Confusion, foggy thinking
• Muscle cramps. A tingling sensation in the hands and feet.
• Loss of energy, always tired
• Trouble sleeping, waking up at night.
• Feeling bad, but not able to say the reason
• Loss of interest in activities, inability to concentrate
• Changes in personality, more irritable or cranky
• Bone pain, especially in the legs
• Heartburn (GERD)
• Decreased sex drive
• Frequent headaches
• Thinning hair
• Heart palpitations (arrhythmias), high blood pressure
• Depression

The last month I've gotten worse and it would be so wonderful to feel normal again and not like some tired crazy bitch who wants to sleep all day and/or fight with my husband and son.
(of course I could just be going though menopause)

Engagement Session

Due to an unfortunate follow on twitter of vintageglam I went to Vintage Glam Weddings (a pretty, but massive time waster if there ever was one, I got sucked in looking at all the pretty, pretty vintage inspired weddings and spent like an hour there) which caused me to find out that in the wedding photography biz there is now something called the "Engagement Session".

These seem to involve the future bridge and groom being photographed looking at each other lovingly or kissing or laughing or looking seriously into the future whilst in picturesque settings.
I think I hate these, not because I have a problem with pretty people having their picture taken in cool places looking awesome in their vintage, but because of the damn name.
"Engagement Session" goes though me the way "space" does when you are talking about a room. In your house.
"Oh that couch fills the space nicely"
Ugh.
and Ugh.

Oh and croquet balls and mallets seem to be a running theme in the wedding pictures.
Maybe to throw at your beloved after the wedding when you catch him drunk kissing that HOR! Renee?

I like my wedding pictures full of people who look like they are scared to fucking death, not looking happily to the future.

BTW, I have 40 MINIONS/FOLLOWERS ya'll!!!!
What is the matter with you people?

Latest (and maybe greatest) Vintage Lampshade

I have been shopping for a cheap Venetian blind lampshade, but they always include a lamp (got enough of those) OR they are too expensive. A few weeks ago on ebay I spied not your traditional Venetian Shade, but a circular shade of copper and cream.
Yes, I needed that.
No one else seemed to notice it and I paid $9 something for it.

Sweet!

Included is a picture of the Wall O' Vintage Clocks so you can see how the light hits. I have a new clock ($11 on eBay) on the way to add to the collection and I'll get a picture up when it arrives.

Fresh From The Garden

Weekend Bonus Sale at Damn Good Vintage

Each week Mainstreet Mall sellers feature one item from their shops at a saving of 40-50% off their original price.
The sale runs 9am Sat to 9pm Sunday, central time.
Check back each Friday for a new thread with great deals for Mainstreet Mall Online!

Here are the 2 items I have on sale this weekend from Damn Good Vintage and Sew-Retro Patterns.

Vintage 80's Gunne Sax Sexy Hourglass Wiggle Pinup Prom Dress w/ Huge Polka Dot Sleeves
On Sale for $50

Vintage 50s Pattern Scallop Neckline Drop Waist Dress with Deep Pleats
On sale for $10

Oh MY

Bill Nighy is going to be in Deathly Hallows.
Bill Nighy.
Harry Potter.
My crazy wishes have now come true.

Christmas Score

Last Christmas I decided I needed a very specific vintage tablecloth for Christmas, but I am really, really cheap so I could not buy one when they would show up on eBay because the bidding normally went over $60.
Did I mention I was cheap?
Patience is normally not a virtue I excel in, but I have been waiting since Spring for one to show up at a price I was willing to pay.


At a price I was willing to pay.

Aqua and red and mini Santas who look like they might have been taking in a bit too much of the Christmas "cheer" (winkwinknudgenudge) with atomic stars and did I mention that it is fun?
I also found the other tablecloth I wanted, the one with the hanging shineybrite ornaments, and it should be here in a few days.
Vintage 50's creepy Santa head in a star for the top of the tree was another purchase, but I have put it up so you can't see a picture of it.
Don't be sad.
It is just as well since, seriously, it is one creepy!ass Santa head in a star.

New Vintage Kitchen Chair

So I went to an estate sale ("Mom never thew anything away!") today that I should have gone too yesterday and of course Mapquest fucked up the directions so I was driving all over fucking Sherwood, AR trying to find it and just happened upon it by chance in a place not at all where Mapquest said it should be.
They had one table of Mom's stuff left.
"Should have been here yesterday" said the dude "It all went fast, we priced it to get it out of here".

Grrrrr.
My bad.

So I was annoyed and had money in my pocket.
I went by Galaxy Furniture in North Little Rock to bitch at my friend Tracey about my sucky day and ended up having a portabella mushroom burger from the restaurant next door (starts with an R, name is on the tip of my tongue) and buying this awesome chair and hearing about her new couch she got out of a dumpster.


Also, Sunkist has "Sparkling" Lemonade that taste pretty damn good with Cranberry Vodka in it.
Also, I think my friend Lisa's birthday was today....HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!

Vintage Ossie Clark

Emma Watson at the HARRY POTTER premiere in London wearing vintage Ossie Clark.
She looks great even if she did get rained on.
(and really this post just gives me a reason to say there is less then a WEEK LEFT till Half Blood Prince opes. squee)

I Can Haz Souls?

Basement Cat.
He wants your soul.

4th Food

BBQ Chicken Breast, Baked Potato Salad and Fresh Cantaloupe

Brined the chicken in apple cider vinegar, hot sauce and salt for about an hour, 30 min on our crappy ass grill (remember kids, when you buy a $99 gas grill...you get a $99 gas grill) to get some smoky flavor. Cover with sauce and put into the oven for another 20ish min and it comes out tender and smoky and BBQ-y.

Bake some potatoes, cut up with skin on then mix with bacon, a tad mayo, a tad miracle whip, sour cream, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, cheddar and melted butter. Taste better at room temp.

Awesome local cantaloupe.

Lemon Ice Box Pie

So this time I just bought a pre-made graham cracker crust instead of making my own and it still was yummy. Make 2 packages of lemon pudding according to the directions for pie on the packages (do not use instant, it sucks) substituting some of the water (YMMV) with the juice of 2 lemons. Put in fridge, then slather with whip cream.
We also had a bit of raspberry jello and I put that on my slice of pie and it was super yummy, tart and sweet.
Next time I'll use one package of lemon and do that as a layer, then add a layer of raspberry jello with a topping of whip cream.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Menu:
BBQ Chicken Breasts
Baked Potato Salad
Salad with Fresh Tomatoes from the Garden
Lemon Ice Box Pie