This Vintage Life

Playing Dolls

2011-05-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because my children are all grown, and any grandchildren are yet to be born, that I find myself drawn toward vintage baby dolls. Some are my own, saved since childhood, and others I've picked up via Ebay or estate sales.

This motley crew includes (from left to right) Thumbelina, Tiny Tears, Betsy Wetsy, Chatty Baby, little Kitten, and big Kitten. All date from the mid 50's to the mid 60's.

Spring sales beckon.......

2011-04-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and the yard & estate sales are going strong. This past weekend was a good one. Here are a few of my recent finds:

I found some white Franciscan Ware in the Coronado pattern to add to the pink pieces I found several months ago. I love the soft colors and the wavy border on these pieces.

Here is a nice selection of Norcal pots, purchased for a song at a church rummage sale and all cleaned up for repotting succulents on my patio. This pottery is no long being made, so possibly one day it will be considered collectible.

This cool black wicker indoor-outdoor chair has a mid-century vibe, purchased right in my own neighborhood from a fellow MCM fan.

Well, this piece needs work. Someone started to paint it a la "shabby chic", but only got the top and front done, and not very well at that. The original finish is blonde wood of some sort. I think I will first try to remove the paint, see how it looks au natural. It would also be a good candidate for my Rustoleum "Cabinet Transformation" kit. At any rate, it's very sturdy and for $5 a deal that couldn't be passed up!

A Belated Valentine's Day Greeting

2011-02-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Weekend Yard Sale Finds

2011-01-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over and sunny weather has returned I was eager to get back out on the yard sale hunt. Although yard-saleing may not be in full swing for a few more months, I did locate a few ads, mapped out my route, & set off to see what I could find. First was an "Estate Sale by Sal". Sal & her crew seem to control much of the local estate sale trade. Items tend to be priced a little high, especially when you're primarily interested in resale value. Even so, this sale had nothing of interest. Next stop was a large yard sale, lots of stuff, but again, nothing I wanted. Third stop, small sale, nothing much. Final stop was at an unadvertised estate sale that I spotted signs for. Finally, I found something halfway decent. My finds were modest, but interesting, both for myself and for resale. Yay!

Clockwise from top left we have a ceramic cinnamon jar, made in Germany; a sandy pink CA pottery planter, possibly Bauer; an Everedy Tidbit Set, and some mid mod flower coasters. Not pictured is a Pyrex brown glass loaf pan and an old clipboard that I plan to display vintage book plates on for etsy sales.

Designed to serve such tasty tidbits as olives, pickles, candy, & peanuts and perfect for card parties, backyard BBQs, cocktails, records parties.......and other wild events. A must-have for the mid-century hostess.

A decade later this wood and cork flower-power coaster set by Serv Wood would be a big hit with your guests.

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

OK, so I know this isn't exactly a NY photo. However, I did buy it at a local antique store's after-Christmas sale, so technically I'm looking ahead to Christmas 2011.

My New Year's resolution is to simply blog more consistently! Even if it's a short one....like this.

So many books, So little time........

2010-12-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

The holidays are fast approaching.....and what am I doing rather than shopping, wrapping, and decorating? Reading! I picked up a big stack of books from the library, but only 2 are worthy of review, IMO.

I've read a few rock memoirs, most of them nothing more than tales of debauchery and all manner of excess. Rather tiresome, not to mention depressing. Just Kids, by Patti Smith, is different. So much so, that it won the 2010 National Book Award for nonfiction. Beautifully written, it tells the story of her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe, beginning with their first chance meeting around the age of 19 and ending with his death in 1989 from AIDS. A worthy read. Unless of course you can't get past Mapplethorpe's style of art. One more thing, this book has virtually no profanity. Now that's refreshing.

In contrast to the aforementioned title, Oh No She Didn't, by Clinton Kelly is pure fun, with a little fashion education for those who might need it. Myself included. He is hilarious, snarky, and definitely more caustic than on his TV show "What Not to Wear", as he points out the top 100 style mistakes women make. Some are obvious, some not so much. You just might recognize yourself in a few of these fashion faux pas. But so what? Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. That's entirely up to you. Nothing earthshaking here, just funny stuff!

Now back to preparing for my craft show tomorrow........

Cottage DayDreams Home Show

2010-10-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well, our first Cottage DayDreams Home Show has come and gone and I am happy to report it was a rousing success! My sister Marta flew out from Denver and together we turned my living and dining rooms into our very own "store" showcasing our various handcrafted and vintage items. We made some good sales and had a whole lotta fun in the process. After the show concluded we hit the streets of downtown Riverside checking out antique stores and yard sales before Marta had to head home to Colorado.

Our future dreams include purchasing our own vintage cottage downtown where we will stage monthly sales events. In the meantime, sales will continue through my etsy stores ~ Cottage DayDreams, Vintage Armoire, and Treasure Cache, in addition to more seasonal home shows. I can't wait for the next one!

Martha Delivers

2010-10-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

Here is Martha, looking radiantly youthful, courtesy of a recent facelift or a good job of photoshopping. Probably both. Whatever I may think about this domestic doyenne, I must admit she knows how to put out a book full of classy, inspiring projects. This is the second in her "Encyclopedia" series. I bought the original Encyclopedia of Crafts when it first came out but was disappointed to find not a single mention of anything to do with sewing! What kind of "encyclopedia" is that?! When her Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts came out I first checked it out from my local library, renewed it as many times as allowed, and finally purchased my own copy. (Which, by the way, NOW seems to be greatly discounted from the original cover price.) It's good. It's impressive. It comes with a CD featuring patterns and templates so you can print them up at home. Not quite as easy to use as the full-size patterns that come with some of the other new sewing books, but still a good idea.

The book begins with a fabric glossary, then moves into a section on techniques, including basic sewing, applique, embroidery, quilting, fabric dyeing and printing. Next it's on to the actual projects, listed in alphabetical order from A for "animals" to W for "wall decor". (XYZ ends with "tools & materials".) Along the way you have projects for aprons, bags, coasters, linens, quilts & blankets, clothing for Baby as well as the family dog, pillows, slippers, curtains.........the list goes on and on.

While a true encyclopedia of sewing would need a multitude of volumes to fully cover everything, this book provides a good start, to say the least. I am inspired.

Sweet baby quilt made from vintage hankies.

Oilcoth bibs for baby.

Oilcloth lunch bags. I think velcro would work better than a clothespin.

Cute wrap & tie skirt.

Cute if you have the right breed of dog. Our pits would NOT be caught dead in this.

Doily tablecloth for a ladies' tea or wedding shower.

Some sort of fabric flower tree. I don't quite get it.

Old fashioned embroidered state bird quilt.

Embroidery 70's Style

2010-10-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my 1970's embroidery projects that I've managed to hang on to over the years.

This design could match anything Sublime Stitching puts out today. I think my sister Marta did the embroidery because it's quite detailed & very neatly done. I love it!

Embroidering on a stretchy knit undershirt isn't always easy, but I managed to get it done in time for the Stones concert.

I originally made this as a dress, then shortened it into a top. I would wear this today paired with loose-fitting linen pants.

Last but not least, I made this cool hippie/cowboy shirt for my husband, back before we were married.

Embroidery Mania

2010-10-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got back from Denver I have been embroidering like a madwoman. Actually it started while I was there on vacation. My sister was appalled that I had arrived in town without a single project to work on. She promptly pulled out a little embroidery kit from Sublime Stitching along with some scrap fabric to get me started. From then on I was hooked. Not that embroidery is exactly new to me, I just hadn't done it in awhile. In the early 70's I embroidered hippie-style for both myself and my boyfriend/husband. About 10 years later I got into counted cross-stitch as the country style of decorating took over and in the mid 90's I moved into the primitive stitchery mode. But in recent years embroidery had pretty much been forgotten. So, it's great to be back.

Sublime Stitchery bills itself as the hip alternative to traditional embroidery, ie. "This ain't your gramma's embroidery!" OK, I get the point. The author wants to attract a certain demographic. However, as someone old enough to be a "gramma, I still find these simple to stitch designs a whole lotta fun.

Fierce, but colorful, owl coasters

Retro Mod Potholder

Pink Felt Eyeglasses Case

Mid-Century Modern Martini Coasters

Retro Hula Girl Pillow

On the Yard Sale Trail

2010-10-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

This morning I made just a couple quick yard sale stops while running errands. I found both these items at a sale right in my own neighborhood. In fact this lady seems to have one every couple months, and from the looks of it she's either a former antique dealer or just tends to horde a lot of junque.

The seller assured me these were genuine vintage children's wooden shoes from Holland. Judging by the chipped paint and worn wood I already assumed as much.

These little metal trays are marked "Massilly" and "France" along the bottom edge. Thanks to Google I was able to determine that Massily is a tin-making company that originated in France. As it appears the company is still in operation today, these trays may or may not be vintage. Either way, they are cute. And at $1.00 for all 4 they were dirt cheap too.

Now, on to a recent make-over:

I actually picked up this late 60's/early 70's treasure at a yard sale last month. It seemed to call my name with that harvest gold faux wicker and torn vinyl lid. I thought it would make a nifty storage spot for my ongoing embroidery projects. I covered the lid with a piece of floral chintz (also picked up at another yard sale) and replaced the worn metal knob with a vintage bakelite drawer knob from another piece of furniture. See the finished product below. I like it. Unfortunately the bakelite knob wouldn't attach properly so I had to go back to the old metal knob for now, until I can figure out how to make it work.

Chic & Simple.......maybe

2010-09-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

Chic & Simple Sewing, by Christine Haynes, is another book by the new crop of young, hip, sewing mavens. It includes full-sized patterns with multi-sized cutting lines, a great timesaver that eliminates the need to trace and/or enlarge from the printed page. With more than 20 projects inside, it has something for everyone....more or less. Many of the styles are on the "young" side, which is no surprise given that both the author and target audience are young! My favorites are the Wrap Skirt, Classic Wrap Dress, and the Retro Shift Dress. I also like the Babydoll Top and Dress, although if I'm old enough to remember wearing this style in the early 70's, then I guess I'm too old to be wearing it now. Ah, well.

Several of the styles are too simple, to the point of lacking style. l suppose if you're 25 and choose a really great fabric maybe a shapeless sack dress (for lack of a better term) with or without shoulder straps and tie belt, might do. Or an A-line skirt with elastic waist......looks great on that super skinny 20 yr old model, but on the average seamstress? Not likely. What this book refers to as "The Trench" is actually a rather plain, unstructured, open front cardigan style that looks more like a lab coat than any sort of trench I've ever seen. So, basically this book is a mixed bag, good but not great, and definitely not a "must-have".

Sew Serendipity

2010-09-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

First of all, I absolutely love this book! I actually want to make these clothes!

Sew Serendipity was written by Kay Whitt, a former elementary school teacher who left the classroom to launch her own pattern company. Which, judging by these designs, was a smart move. This book features 3 basic designs ~ a skirt, a tunic/dress, and a jacket/coat. What makes them unique is in the creative way she combines fabrics and decorative touches, turning simple styles into one-of-a-kind pieces. The featured fabrics are gorgeous, where can I buy them? (Oh, better check the resource list in the back.)
Included are full-size patterns with cutting lines to fit from XXS to XXL!

In addition to the super-cute skirt pictured on the cover, check out these designs, all made from a basic 6-panel skirt pattern.

Here is the easy to fit dress. Make it shorter and you have a tunic.

Here is the jacket made in the short hip-length version. I love the combination of silk and linen.

2010-08-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

In the past few weeks I've added some new and interesting titles to my sewing library, which I will review briefly in the days ahead, giving you a peek at some of the projects inside. You can also read more reviews on amazon.com. If you can find these at your local library check them out, it's free! But if you want to purchase, you can click through my amazon link......and I will reap a (very) small commission.

First up is Sew Retro, A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution. It includes a pocket of pattern pieces and instructions to make "25 vintage-inspired projects for the modern girl". On first glance this book sounds great. The history of sewing, accompanied by designer bios and vintage illustrations is fascinating, beginning with "The Cult of True Womanhood" (uh-oh) in the 1800s and ending with "Revolution 1960s and 1970s". The actual sewing projects are the basics you find in many other current books on the market, ie. handbags, coasters, aprons, potholders, quilts, and skirts, supposedly with a vintage twist.......which I just don't see. For example, check out the "flapper apron", circa 1920's, pictured below. Can't figure out what earns this basic apron the "flapper" title. Several designs seem more appropriate for a Girl Scout troop project (eg. 60's elasticized headband), and others are just poor representatives of the vintage decade they are supposed to represent! Maybe it would have been better if authentic vintage fabrics were used rather than the current crop of cotton prints available at any fabric store. Cute, but NOT vintage!

Inspired by Denver, Littleton, and Marta!

2010-08-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

Long time no post. Well, I resolve to do better, especially now that I am back from a wonderful trip to Denver with tons of ideas for creative sewing and crafting, thanks to my sister Marta, "Oh So Charming Cottage", and visits to local antique stores and street fairs. Fun, fun, fun! Here is a picture of a few of my finds. First is a flower pin (or brooch) created out of vintage barkcloth that I just love! I am going to attempt to replicate it, "make it my own", and sell in my etsy store. Next picture shows a piece of gorgeous vintage barkcloth in a lush purple floral design, along with the pin and my vintage 60's era purse. The last picture shows my stash of additional material purchased from Denver Fabrics in Littleton. The cowboy print came out of a local antique store and I have already made it into a baby comforter. In the background is my vintage pink rayon print dress, purchased at "Oh So Charming".

Mystery Sink Revealed

2010-04-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Within just a couple weeks of moving into our new home I noticed the white kitchen sink was looking, well, a little less than pristine. Tiny chips were appearing with use and as they grew larger I noticed it looked slightly pinkish underneath. At first I though it must be some sort of undercoat they used when refinishing the sink. As curiosity got the best of me I began peeling away with my fingernails (which goes to show what a poor refinish job this was) to reveal more and more of this pink. Not too far along I realized that there was indeed a PINK sink hiding underneath!. My fingernails were shot so I grabbed a putty knife and continued on. The trick was to fill the sink with extremely hot water, soak about half an hour, then drain & peel. To remove the really stubborn areas around the faucets & top edges I found a product called SoyGel (yep, made from soybeans!) that did a nifty and odor-free job of removing the last of it. So now, I have an interesting mauve pink sink, not a color I would choose for a kitchen, but kinda cool in a retro sort of way. Apparently it's the original, tiled-in sink, and replacement would involved ripping out the counter tile, not a job I wish to do. So, I will attempt to work around this and make this kitchen somewhat unique. First attempt.....paint the wall area above the cupboards, which is like a wide band around the room, a pink shade. So far, so good, except that it doesn't exactly coordinate well with the old yellowish-cream cabinets and beige speckled tile that dominate the room. Next, pay my painter son, Jesse, to paint the cabinets a creamy white. And make some sort of window valance to tie the colors together. Waverly's "Sunset Boulevard" fabric might do the trick.

Meanwhile, I'm open to suggestions.

Easter Greetings

2010-04-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

Retro Mod Wallpaper

2010-03-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

I first read about the modernist wallpaper available at Bradbury & Bradbury at Retro Renovation and fell in love with this stuff.. While I adore the Post-War 1940's prints, the Atomic Age designs really fit in best with the age of my house. Either one would work, I suppose.

My favorites...."Sunnyside" from the Post-War collection. (above) and "Appleberry" (below)

Here are some examples from the Atomic Age, 1950's designs. Each one comes in several colors popular in that time period, ie. aqua, pink, sage, gray. Considering my recently uncovered PINK kitchen sink, one of these designs would probably work well! Featured prints include "Atomic Doodle" in pink, "Gee Gee" in sage, and "Boingo" in turquoise.

1950's Mersman

2010-03-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Within a couple hours after returning from a Sat. morning of yard-saleing, DH decided he just HAD to revisit a previous sale to further feed his sports memorabilia addiction. Without me of course. While negotiating a deal he spotted this table and asked them to throw it in as a surprise "gift" for me. It's a Mersman mahogany step end table, popular in the 1950's. I remember my parents had a set similar to these during my early years in Seattle. Now, I don't quite know where to put it. Currently it's sitting downstairs in the family room, piled high with stuff waiting to be sold on ebay.

Retro Motel Chairs

2010-03-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

These colorful motel chairs remind me of family road trips in the 50's/60's. Lots of happy memories there, especially if the motel had a pool. We didn't simply check into the first chain motel, despite that cute sleepwalking Travelodge bear. Nooooo, we had to drive around & check out prices first, while us kids in the backseat whined for a pool with a SLIDE. If the price was right, my parents would then go inside to check out an actual room to be sure it was decent.

The chairs pictured above can be purchased at www.candybouncer.com for $95 with free shipping. You most likely have to assemble them, which should be an easy task, Crate and Barrel currently has this chair in red, priced at $74.95 in their outlet. Or, you can get lucky and find an original at a local garage sale or flea market!

Vogue's (IMHO) Losers

2010-03-25T09:28:00.001-07:00

Well, since my blog-tech skills are lacking I was unable to combine the "winners" and "losers" in the same post without getting the picture all out of order. So, on to the rejects......and I won't name the designers, as I don't remember them and really don't care.

First we have an attempted update on the 80's loose-fitting cropped overalls. Remember them? I suppose these might possibly work if you're pregnant, but not hugely so. The next one....nice city shorts, but that vest? WTH? Next, we have a pair of pants that make a 6' anorexic model look short and stocky. Finally, the ubiquitous caftan, UGH!

OK, upon previewing my post I see the pics don't correspond with my descriptions. Oh well, I'm sure you can figure out which pattern goes with which description! I obviously need help with my blog formatting skills, but I don't have all morning to try to figure this out.

Vogue's Winners......and Losers

2010-03-25T08:56:00.001-07:00

This a.m. I received notice of a sale on Vogue patterns. Not interested in the sale, as I can do much better at JoAnn Fabrics, who semi-regularly sell Vogues for $3.99, but I enjoyed checking out the newest Spring styles. So, I decided to highlight some of my favorites, as well as my "what were they thinking?" rejects.

The first pattern is by Anna Sui, who goes for the boho-feminine floaty chiffon type styles. The second is by Kay Unger. I visualize this in silk dupioni, my favorite dress-up fabric. And the third is by Michael Kors, seen weekly on Project Runway. Very cute, and a little retro in the polka dot fabric.

Happy St . Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Well, St. Pat's Day is here. Time to tie on my apron, haul out the crockpot, and, despite my vegetarian leanings, cook up some corned beef and cabbage for my family of men. Phew, my kitchen is going to smell. Guess I can stand it for one day out of the year. And, I am well aware that I still need to bake that birthday cake for my husband (he keeps reminding me) as his b-day was last Friday!

More 40's Fashions

2010-03-15T09:02:00.001-07:00

These styles are so great, I had to post more. Most have already been sold on etsy, but I really should challenge myself by making one of the few I have left.

Next up....the fabulous 50's!

Sewing through the Years - 1940's

2010-03-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

For the past 6 months or so I've been searching local yard sales and flea markets for vintage sewing patterns. It's fairly easy to find patterns from the 1970's and ugly 80's. but 60's are a little scarcer, and 40's and 50's are the real treasures.
According to etsy.com standards, "vintage" is anything 20 years old or older.....so that would mean a 1991 pattern is now "vintage"? Hmmmm. Etsy not withstanding, I limit my vintage offerings to 1980s or older. First, take a look at these gorgeous fashions from the 40's. The style on the left is called a Redingote Coat. I had to google that one, had never heard of it before!

Yard Sale Chintz

2010-03-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's yard sales netted me this excellent cache of polished cotton chintz decorator samples, made in England and dated from 1980-1983. I scored 38 pieces for the princely sum of $3.50. These are good sized samples, big enough for some cute cottage aprons and table linens. I have a rather long love affair with cotton chintz fabric, starting around 1970, when this fabric began to grow in popularity. Our very first couch (1974) and handmade kitchen curtains were both large-scale floral chintz fabric.

Retro Renovation

2010-03-10T22:23:00.001-08:00

Check out the new Mad Men Barbie line....

Retro Renovation

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2010-02-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

This vintage ad is featured over at retrorenovation.com, along with Pam's ongoing campaign to "Save the Pink Bathrooms". Lots of interesting info on the history of pink bathrooms along with some great photos. Speaking of which....our new home, built in 1956, has a pink-tiled master bath. Not sure if this is the authentic "Mamie Pink" (named after Mamie Eisenhower, who apparently was a huge fan of the color), but it is beautiful!

In Praise of Pink Bathrooms

2010-02-15T20:21:00.001-08:00

Barbie's Mid-Century Dreamhouse

2010-01-25T14:54:00.001-08:00

Midcentury-miniature design for Barbie, from Maryann Roy

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Mid-Century Marvels

2010-01-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

For Christmas my sister & bro-in-law gave us a subscription to "Atomic Ranch", a great magazine focusing on all types of mid-century homes, from the modest ranch to the mid-century modern Eichler. For those who love this era, check out www.atomic-ranch.com. I highly recommend it!

Lo-Budget Mid-Century Modern Style

2010-01-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

Now that we have this 50's home I've been studying magazines & catalogs, looking for a little mid-century modern style that will (hopefully) blend in with my antique mission style furnishings. I found these cool chairs at my local Target at a great price and bought them with the gift certificates my boys gave me for Christmas.

JJill Sale!

2009-12-31T08:58:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again, when JJill offers an additional 25% off already reduced clearance prices! I certainly don't need any more clothes, but I find these sales hard to resist. Here are a few jackets with a little retro styling to them. I already have the silk twill print, and am eagerly awaiting delivery of the coral tweed.

Vintage Barkcloth

2009-12-31T08:47:00.001-08:00

I just purchased several pieces of this vintage barkcloth from a fellow etsian. Although I didn't have a definite purpose for it, the price was right and I thought it might work for curtains in my new 50's split-level home. So....I tacked it up to the huge front window & asked my oldest son's opinion. He thought it looked like tacky 50's/60's mountain cabin decor. Definitely NOT the look I was going for. Oh well, I'll figure out some purpose for it. Or simply re-sell it on eBay. In the meantime, I'm open to suggestions.

Eames Era Christmas

2009-12-05T14:03:00.001-08:00

This cool vintage Eames era Christmas tablecloth is currently going for $102.50 on ebay, with 35 bids and 1 more day to go!

Our New Home

2009-12-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's not exactly the historical home I was originally looking for, (unless 1950's qualifies as "historic", lol) but I think we will love living here! It's in an excellent older area of Riverside next to the Victoria Country Club.

2177 FLINTRIDGE Ct, Riverside, CA 92506 | MLS# K09101797

Bubble Lights 2010 Calendar

2009-12-02T19:05:00.001-08:00

Perfect for the mid-century modern home, this 2010 calendar features original 1950s ads for George Nelson's classic bubble lights, accompanied by a brief design history. Available online through www.modernica.net for $9.95. I'm ordering one for our new 1950's era home...we're scheduled to move within the week.

MId-Century Modern.........for the birds

2009-07-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

My newest vintage obsession is the mid-century modern style, extending from the 1950's into the mid-60's. I was doing a search on eBay for anything with the keyword "Eames" (which turned up over 5,000 listings!) and came across these adorable bird feeders and birdhouse created out of melmac/melamine dinnerware of that era. Aren't they the cutest thing ever?

Craftsman Bungalow Relocation

2009-04-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Eight dilapidated Craftsman bungalows are currently in the process of being renovated in downtown Riverside. A local developer bought the houses for $1.00 each from the city and moved them to a former railroad spur between Orange and Lime Streets. Originally part of the Twogood Grove Tract, named after an early Riverside resident & developer, these bungalows were built from 1900-1912.

We drove out to see these homes this weekend. It's an interesting set-up.......a brand new street, named Twogood Lane, with 8 old homes (most still dilapidated) that will have all new inner workings, ie. plumbing, electrical wiring while keeping the original Craftsman design with its distintive woodwork. The prices are in line with the area. I wouldn't mind living in one of these!

Easter Greetings

2009-04-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

Easter will soon be here. I told my sons, ages 18, 22, & 26 and all still living at home, that there would be no Easter baskets this year. They were disappointed. So I capitulated and said I would make a single candy basket for the whole family to share. Here are a few of my Easter accouterments, which I barely remembered to pull out from under the bed earlier this week.

The ceramic duck with eggs vintage planter was made in Japan, probably in the 1940's. I'm guessing here. I found it among my mother's estate items.

The chick and the pig (both wearing party hats!) came from Mrs. Tiggywinkle's, a wonderful gift shop in downtown Riverside near the Mission Inn.

Historical Riverside - Craftsman Home

2009-03-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

I think this is my favorite! This 1910 Craftsman was built by famed architect G. Stanley Wilson for Carleton W. Derby. This beautifully renovated home is located in the shadow of Mount Rubidoux within walking distance of Fairmount Park and the gorgeous Mission Inn. Currently listed at $499,900 this home includes the original blueprints and specs! Go to http://www.redfin.com/CA/Riverside/4465-5th-St-92501/home/4939526 and check out all the additional photos!

Historical Riverside - Tudor Revival Home

2009-03-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

Another of the higher priced homes on the market at $625,000, this Tudor Revival style home was built in 1922 and is located in the Mount Rubidoux Historic District. See more photos at http://www.redfin.com/CA/Riverside/3620-Mount-Rubidoux-Dr-92501/home/4926177.

Historical Riverside - Mediterranean Home

2009-03-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

For the past year or so I've been checking out the vintage homes in the downtown Riverside historical districts. Sooner or later I want to live in one! It may be in Riverside, or it may be in Old Towne Orange, or even OT Tustin. Or somewhere else. I don't have a favorite architectural style. I like them all....Craftsman, Mediterranean, Spanish, Tudor, Bungalow. Not so much Victorian though, too much "gingerbread".

This mediterranean period home was built in 1924 by famed local architect Henry L.A. Jekel. In 1933 another local architect, G. Stanley Wilson, designed and built the second story. It is featured in the book "Cottages, Colonials, and Community Places of Riverside, California" by Joan Hall. This is the highest priced historical home currently available in Riverside. It's been on the market for a long time now which indicates it's overpriced. Riverside has been hit hard with foreclosures, so it's almost impossible to sell a high-end house like this one. Currently listed at $699,000. http://www.redfin.com/CA/Riverside/4428-Houghton-Ave-92501/home/4927004

New Store

2009-02-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

I decided to open a new etsy store in order to separate my designs using vintage fabrics from items made entirely from new fabrics. Currently I'm in the process of moving some things over from the old shop and trying to sew some new items too. So now I have 4 etsy stores and 1 ebay store! One thing I love about this new store is my brand new bird banner and avatar! Check out my new store and see what you think!

Seattle 1962

2009-02-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

I was born in Seattle but moved to the promised land, ie. SoCalif, in 1960 at the tender age of 8. We returned to Washington every summer to visit relatives and in1962 had the pleasure of attending the World's Fair in Seattle. We came home with a cool set of 8 frosted glass drinking glasses depicting different scenes from the Fair. This is the only one left, found during one of my treasure hunts at my Dad's house. I'm currently bidding on the whole set of 8, up for auction on eBay. Considering my low-ball bid, I probably won't win. But maybe.

2009-02-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight I whipped up a couple sets of coasters using some great vintage 60's/70's fabrics. I made one set from an Indian madras print bedspread (hippie fave for both home decor and apparel) and the other from some gorgeous cotton Hawaiian prints with gold metallic accents. I remember hitting the beach in the early 60's in my Hawaiian "jams". Yep, girls wore them too.

Retro Potholders

2009-02-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

When I was going through my mother's fabrics after she died I found this box of little hand-pieced fabric arcs. I assume the fabrics were from the 40's and 50's. I even recognized one rosebud print that she had made me a baby dress out of (pic of dress coming later). Along with the little quilt pieces were printed directions for making a "Wedding Ring" quilt. Since I have neither the inclination nor patience to put together such a quilt I decided to make these potholders for my etsy store. Perfect for the retro kitchen!

70's chintz........from curtains to handbags

2009-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

In the mid-70's I made kitchen curtains for our first home out of a gorgeous floral chintz fabric. Chintz was a popular decorating fabric of that time, sort of a precursor to Rachel Ashwell's "shabby chic" years later. My favorite place for chintz was at a wonderful little fabric shop in Costa Mesa called "Woof & Warp". This was back when almost every town had a small independent fabric store, long before JoAnn's and Hancock took over. "Woof & Warp" had the most amazing selection of chintz. I don't know what eventually happened to those curtains, but I saved the leftover fabric, and finally.......in 2008 I made this handbag!

I covet these patterns

2009-01-30T22:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some Betsey Johnson patterns currently for sale on etsy.com that I would love to have for my very own......if they weren't so expensive. I made all of these in the early 70's!

Vintage Betsey Johnson

2009-01-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am currently putting together a little collection of vintage Betsey Johnson patterns from the early 70's. I loved these patterns back when she was with Alley Cat and featured as a young designer for Butterick Patterns. I spent many happy hours sewing these outfits. Now I want them back! Not to actually sew and wear but to display on the walls of my new "sewing studio" (aka the dining room). Here is my find of the night.......uncut and in mint condition! And this is one I actually made!

Prison Art, Continued

2008-12-29T21:39:00.001-08:00

Prison Art

2008-12-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

In memory of Michael Smith, my student and my friend

Soledad State Prison
1952 - 2008

~now in the presence of the Lord~
R.I.P.

Barbie Rules!

2008-12-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

For my recent B-day my sister sent me some vintage 60's Barbie clothes. I dug out my old Barbie, a 1962 bubble-cut brunette, and dressed her up in her new "Mood for Music" outfit. Doesn't she look gorgeous in her blue velvet capris, cream halter, and pale blue sweater with faux angora collar? Oh, and don't forget to notice those tiny gold wedgies on her little feet!

B-day Greetings

2008-12-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my 57th b-day. Blah! Then I was greeted by this online ad, which I found quite funny. Probably because I'm definitely NOT overweight. So......it was an uneventful day, just like any other until about 6 pm when I got a call from my youngest son (almost 18) who was lost with a friend in thick fields of bamboo lining the Santa Ana River bottom. They had attempted to take a shortcut home and had been wandering around down there for the past 2 hours. It was now dark. Cell phone cut out, lost contact. So I decided I'ld better go ahead & call Sheriff's dispatch. Three hours later they were airlifted out via helicopter, cold, dirty, and a little cut up. Happy birthday Mom.

2008-12-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've had a busy weekend, including a garage sale that didn't net much, and am frantically trying to get all my Christmas items listed on etsy and/or eBay. Here is a sampling of my ornaments.

Free Etsy Banners

2008-11-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

After a couple false starts, I'm going to attempt to get this blog going. Here's something I found today in the etsy forums. These wonderful etsians are offering a great selection of FREE banners. I just love free stuff!

This site is cool :)

Searching for a Vintage Home

2008-09-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

For the past year I have wanted to move. First it was to Orange County to be near family members......and the beach. My husband shot down that idea, and for good reason I must admit. So I shifted my focus to what I really love....finding a historical home in the downtown area of Riverside. Stay tuned.

Project Runway

2008-03-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

My absolute favorite TV reality show.....Project Runway!

~T-Shirt designed by Chris March of Season 4~