Vote for Bitsy

Awwwww, Cutest Dog Contest.
How freaking cute is she?
Go vote for Bitsy.

What I'm Reading

Every night before I go to bed I take my Ambien and read for about 45 minutes.
While the pills help me stay asleep it still takes a some time for me to get sleepy so I'd rather read until I pass out then stare at a dark room.

I don't do "chick lit" or political books, it is mostly mysteries and a bit of supernatural stuff.

I am working my way though the Kurt Wallender books by Henning Mankill a Swedish author. Wallender is tenacious, brooding and a bit of a mess.
The novels are really quite good though at times the dialogue can seem stilted, but I wonder if that is more of a problem with translating them into English then Mankill's writing.
Still they keep my attention and in my head Wallender looks like Kenneth Branagh, so that's a plus.
One Step Behind and Firewall are in my pile now.

Let's see, I also got a copy of Hands of Flame which is book 3 of The Negotiator series from Paperspine today. I'm kinda "meh" about the heroine, Margrit Knight and her on again off again Gargoyle boyfriend, but the mythos of the "Old Races" along with a hot dragon dude and interesting vampire (even if the author fucks with vampire lore and that always annoys me) have kept me reading.

And just because:

Look At That Cadillac

Swanky.
Another picture from the estate sale last week.
The notation reads;

THE LE MANS — Cadillac's most exclusive experimental creation highlights the General Motors Motorama of 1953. Named for famous Le Mans — scene of the world-famed road race — this plastic fiberglass car powered by a 250 h.p, engine. Racy sports styling is combined with rare elegance — featuring specially embossed seat leather and jeweler engraved hood emblem, wheel discs and instrument panel surfaces. This single seat car is 5 1/2 lower than the standard Cadillac convertible, The Le Mans, according to Don E. Ahrens, Vice President of General Motors and General Manager of Cadillac Car Division, is regarded as the most advanced interpretation of American luxury-sports car styling.

The models outfit looks very Clare Mcardle-ish. A lot of designers would lend their designs and names to advertisements for luxury cars.

Bonus!
Look at That Cadillac from the Stray Cats, Live at the Savoy in 1983.
God we were all so young....

Nom Nom Nom

Dior Noir and Vintage Couture

Wenda Parkinson in Christian Dior’s 1949 hussar-style velvet-and-wool tailleur and black-fox muff, in Paris

John Galliano showed his newest collection for Dior this week.
Very Dior, Very Noir, Very Lauren Bacall:

"Galliano said he found the cinematic cue while thinking about Lauren Bacall. "She was a great Dior client; there are amazing photos of her in the salon with Bogart. It was that and Arletty in Hôtel du Nord," he said. That central character—a provocative, smoldering femme fatale with a side-parted, over-one-eye hairdo and red lips—gave him free reign to script a wardrobe narrative. It started with abbreviated wartime trenchcoats, flipped through silver lamé dresses, arrived at a sequence in which the heroine is seen in her scanties, and then followed her out to make a drop-dead entrance in some nightclub or other."

I like very much.
Well, except for the tacky socks and I hope he has gotten the whole underwear as outerwear thing out of his system.

September's Vanity Fair had an interesting article that both fashionistas and vintage lovers will find interesting.

"With the house of Lacroix filing for bankruptcy, and Yves Saint Laurent gone, some fear that haute couture is finished. But Paris's fashion phoenix has survived world war, cultural revolution and economic meltdown, reshaped to fit the times. (that is a really poorly worded sentence, no?) Tracing its lineage- Worth, Poiret, Chanel, Dior and onward- Amy Fine Collins describes the current incarnation: spectacular shows accessible to millions on the Internet and a new global client base in the Middle East, India and China."

Which is true.
I just went to Style.com and saw a collection that I would have never seen before the advent of the Internet without traveling to Paris or London.
The article is an interesting read on the history of haute couture with a nice collection of vintage fashion photographs.

If you have time click though Vivienne Westwood's RTW, it is of course crazy awesome, but she really has some great tailored pieces too.

Vintage Lips

I got this pictures today at the sale.
I love vintage pictures of woman and have been collecting them for awhile.
I just thought she looked lovely.
Bare eyes with defined lips.
Hair waved to perfection.
And her dress looks like it was Divine.

But the look in her eyes is haunting.

Estate Sale Shoes

Too Cute!
Tomato Red Suede Dancin' Shoes.
40's or early 50's.
Rhythm Step Shoes

Pinup Cube is actually The Porn Cube™

This was a fun estate sale in a 1930's bungalow located in North Little Rock, AR.
Now I put that picture there so those of you who do not want to see naked women from the 70's can advert your eyes.
You have been warned.

I got some great vintage that I'll blog about latter, but first we need to get to what I referred to as the "pinup cube" but what is in reality a Porn Cube™.
Look y'all.


How creepy are those legs just floating in air.
Not sure what Elizabeth Taylor and Bobby Sherman have to do with porn, but maybe they like watching?
And yes, there is something just wrong about naked twins.
So, so wrong.
Yes, it was fabulous, no I did not buy the damn thing....but now I wished I had.
$4, all that awesomeness for $4.

So if you live in Little Rock y'all need to go to this sale that Roy Dudley is running and buy the Porn Cube™ .
Now.
Oh, and if you are a smaller dude there are hats and 60's tight swim trunks (I picked one pair up, they have a velveteen cheetah print, rawrah!meow) and some great 70's shirts.
Yes I did buy the blue dress with the polka dot cape.

Estate Sale WTF?

I have no idea.
Yes I want it.
No I do not need it...whatever it is.
But I am going to the sale tomorrow so I will report back..maybe I'll take my camera so I can take a better picture.

Still Love Glee

Not enough Jane Lynch tonight, but still who can be unhappy when you have Kristin Chenoweth and Queen?
Enjoy.

Live


God I love Freddy Mercury.

Again.


I've always like this version with George Micheal* at a Tribute to Freddie Mercury.



*I've always liked GM and when he did that episode of Extras it made me admire him even more.

Obama Dress

Y'ALL, you know how much I dig our President, but really, there is a point where one can go too far in expressing their admiration.
Victoria Rowell sprinted over the line last night in her Obama Stalker Dress:

The Funny

Just added to the blogroll:
The Bobblespeak Translations

If you watch the Sunday morning shows, you'll find this a hoot.

Almost as funny as the person on Twitter who translates Courtney Love's crazy ass Tweets.
Go here:
CLtranslated

Obama is a Jedi

Corelle?

I need new dishes that are not vintage.
Love my vintage plates but they are not good for the microwave and my teenager is hard on them and when it comes down to it, I just really like Corelle for everyday.
I can't decide which to get.
This:

Or this:
While they are both different, they would both be fine for my kitchen. The walls are a khaki green and I have a good amount of turquoise accents. Yellow chrome table with gray and chrome chairs. I really like the mugs in the floral set.

I also made the mistake of going to the Corelle website which has even more patterns to choose from.

What say you minions?

Shopping Vintage Etsy

Last week I decided that I wanted new teapot and more and more if find myself turning to Etsy for my vintage purchases.
The one I use right now is very small, but only holds about 1 2/2 cups and I really wanted one that would hold about 3ish.
I also wanted it to to be kinda atomic or mid century modern.
I ended up buying the teapot pictured above from EPOCA ECLECTIC , I know, awesome.

While shopping I also ran across these other vintage teapots/coffee pots I liked (a couple have already sold) and a Nosferatu Vinyl Wall Art.
Seriously.
Creepy, but awesome:
You know you want one.

I also liked this vintage Pyrex tea/coffee pot:


and this incredible Arn Jacobsen Tea Set:


and this small Atomic Star Pitcher:



(and DAMN YOU whoever bought that Schaffer Beer Clock!!! I went back to buy it and it had sold the day before. Arrrrrggggghhhh. I would never have shown it if I had thought I might get a nice run of sales so I could buy it for my kitchen. Very sad.)

That's My President

Great speech.
"

That large-heartedness – that concern and regard for the plight of others – is not a partisan feeling. It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character. Our ability to stand in other people’s shoes. A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand. A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.

This has always been the history of our progress. In 1933, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism. But the men and women of Congress stood fast, and we are all the better for it. In 1965, when some argued that Medicare represented a government takeover of health care, members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, did not back down. They joined together so that all of us could enter our golden years with some basic peace of mind.

You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there are instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth the added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, and the vulnerable can be exploited. And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom, and we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter – that at that point we don’t merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves.

What was true then remains true today. I understand how difficult this health care debate has been. I know that many in this country are deeply skeptical that government is looking out for them. I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road – to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term.

But that’s not what the moment calls for. That’s not what we came here to do. We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when it’s hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history’s test.

Because that is who we are. That is our calling. That is our character. Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.

"

And that is what is great about America.

I did not watch the Republican response (we all know what they were going to say anyway) since FOX did not carry the speech tonight we went from Obama to GLEE y'all. I love that show.

WTH? Mosaic makers on Etsy?

No seriously, what the hell is the matter with you people?
Cutting vintage teacups in half and selling them for "crafts" or making them into nightlights.
Why does this bother me?
A. I was looking for a couple of Franciscan Starburst teacups/coffee cups and found the one cut in half along with that great Temporama pattern. I actually clicked on to buy the 2 because it was just what I was looking for except it is JUST HALF of the fucking teacups.
and
B. I just hate useful things that are still in good shape being cut up, broken up and basically ruined to become supplies for someones craft/art.

God and don't get me started on the mosaic tiles that used to be vintage plates.....

Arrrgggghhhh....

New Purse

When I was in high school 79' to 81' (we are great, we are fun, we're the class of 81'....cheeeeesy I know) my BFF (no long BFFs and it has been over 20 years since we spoke, but I did stalk her on the internet and find our she lives in Phoenix and is a Senior Project Manager for a huge construction company and works with Habitat for Humanity) Theresa Schultz was everything cool.
Scary smart, pretty, skinny and she had an Aigner* purse and shoes.
Dear GOD I wanted some Aigner of my own.
You need to remember that at that time among those of us with a bit of taste Aigner was ALL THAT and a slice of cheese.
It was not to be.
My mom would not spend "that kind of money" on a purse.
I'll tell you all of this because the other day I decided I was finally going to get my Aigner purse.
So I went shopping and bought one on Etsy from thecherrychic. (it looks like vintage linens and such are her thing with a lot of kitsch thrown in.)

I'm so happy.
Perfect size, super soft leather in great shape and very fast shipping.

In my quest for the perfect everyday purse I have come close, like the 80's blue leather bucket bag with gold bunnies and poodles (which is like crack to me) that I got from Dorothea's Closet, but still not right.
And I have a bunch of vintage 40's, 50's and 60's purses that I use if the spirit moves me, but i am VERY hard on purses so I try to use them sparingly so this will be a great purse for the next year or so.

*I've always thought the quality of Aigner leather to be superior to a lot of what passes for "quality" handbags these days. The prices were reasonable and are very reasonable now for a vintage one. I think for the summer I'll get one of the woven straw and leather handbags.
Though I must say that what they are putting out now, if the website is any indication, is just ass. I like the classic stuff.

What's For Dinner This Week

Tonight it is homemade bread and cheesy potato soup.

Sun: BBQ Pork Steaks
Slaw
Corn

Mon: Meatloaf
Mashed Potatoes

Tues: Pizza (pizza hut?)
Salad

Wed: Burritos
Spanish Rice
Salad

Thurs: Baked Ital Sausage with Onions and Potatoes (hmmmm I sense a theme this week)

Weekend Sale at Damn Good Vintage

Vintage 1950's Polished Cotton Dress
From L'Anglion with Blue and Purple Roses

Was: $115
Now: $57.50

Sew Vintage Patterns

Pattern Blog.
What I like and what has been listed in the last week at Sew-Retro.
Done.

Vintage Swimwear Interview

Collectors Weekly has a new interview they just posted with vintage swimwear collector, Pam of GlamourSurf. "Pam talks about the evolution of vintage swimwear from the 1920s through the 1980s. She discusses the changing styles, famous designers, and the various materials that were used."
Go take a look.

Sexy, Curvy Vintage

Lord have mercy these gals are hot!

(Rockabilly Fashion Show put on by Senorita Hollywood and blogged by Pam from GlamourSurf. BTW, a little bird told me that Senorita Hollywood will have a booth at the upcoming Rockabilly Rave USA in New Orleans this October.)

Other People's Vintage

That I like. 1940's big shoulder green gabardine coat and 50's Vintage Silk Print Dress by Claire McCardel from Denisebrain.



1940's Plus sized dress with fun print from Dorothea's Closet.

CHECKERBOARD Vintage 1950s Penney's DOLMAN Cardigan from Fast Eddie's.

Dior and More

Just a quick look at what vintage I have coming soon to Damn Good Vintage:

A Dior Ultrasuede Coat

Early 50's Purple Rockabilly Dress


Cute 40's Day Dress (look at the buttons and the hidden pockets on the hips)

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.