Thought I would use this forum to advertise some of the great creations crafty people have made using designs from my fabric collections. Happy Holiday shopping!
Here is a nifty tablecloth and napkin set by Etsy shop owner WithLoveRuby of Australia.
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Hot Junk to Get
- VINTAGE EYEWEARWell, you can go get glasses at the local Lenscrafters, OR you can hunt down some spectacular vintage hand cut frames at your local antique shop and have them fitted with your prescription lenses. Or maybe---do both. I have some very normal, "don'-t-cause trouble" frames, and some "in-your-face" frames I like to wear when I am feeling "con cohones" and have had a drink or two. Better to buy "new old stock", if you are going to invest much in the lenses. It is not good to throw money into old frames in bad shape that will fall off your head or lose an arm and need that proverbial piece of masking tape to keep them together. Unless that is the look you crave--the look of half the boys in my nerdy seventh grade class circa 1965. If so, I have an old briefcase and a pocket pen holder I would like to sell you. I'll throw in the slide rule.
- Lawn art and ashtraysBack when guys stayed home more, listened to the radio and do other things at the same time, they probably labored over homemade lawn art, standing ashtray holders, and door stops. Usually they were made out of plywood, then painted. Look for slightly crackled paint. Many of the best of these were old comic strip characters like Jiggs and Maggie, or the ocasional Disney character. Black cats are plentiful. Also Butlers. You do not have to smoke to appreciate them.
- old silhouettesMany of these come from the 20's and 30's. You can often guess the age of the piece by the dress of the person whose portrait it is. Hung together on a wall, they have a wonderful impact.
- Old cookbooks by local groups: i.e. Grange cookbooks, church cookbooks, college cookbooks, etc.
- Tacky Souvenirs from old site seeing locales
December 09, 2011
December 08, 2011
Diner Deluxe Tribute
Are you old enough to remember when most diners consisted of a lot of chrome, had wall box jukebox players at each table, and served cream for coffee in tiny little glass containers instead of plastic ones? Do you have other memories of actual car hops coming out to your car and taking orders for food, and then delivering it on tray that hooked to the car by the driver's window? Have you ever had a hamburger, fries and a coke for $.50? Oh good! You are a kindred spirit!
I have strong memories of diners and car hop places going way back to the fifties. For years I could not hear a doo-wap song on the radio without seeing myself sitting in a diner booth. I have always loved diners, their aesthetic and their ambience.
Somewhere around 1979 0r 1980 I purchased this book.
Oh, good! I thought Someone else loves diners and appreciates them.
Little did I know then that I would actually get to know Richard Gutman when our children were at the same school in the 1990s! Here is a nice article about him. I mentioned that I had the book and he told me even THEN it was already a collectible. I subsequently bought this book:
And, to be honest, many others, all with picture of diners that brought back find memories for me.
Since then, some years have passed. I have a book of my own in progress and I continue to seek out as many authentic period diners as humanly possible to enjoy a nice burger in. I also bought one of these, by Jerry Berta:
Until my own book comes out, I have my own little tribute available now: my latest fabric collection! Check it out and look for it at your favorite quilting fabric stores on line and in person.
The gals come in cream,too:
And, how would you know where to pull over, if not for a great roadside sign?
If you can't find a diner, travel back in time to a Car Hop Stewart's drive-in:
And, whatever you do, choose from this selection of gourmet offerings:
Here's a nice little pattern to bring everything together:
You can see the entire collection here. All prints come in black or cream backgrounds. It's called? What else? Barbara's Diner! Bon appetit!
November 04, 2010
This could get me cooking again!
As my friends and family know, I took a little career diversion in 2009. I went from spending one hundred percent of my time writing and illustrating kids' books to allotting a portion of my studio time for enjoying what I call "Brain Candy"--designing for licensing, specifically for fabrics.
As it happened, if I may continue the metaphor, my sweet tooth was clearly satisfied. I discovered that I LOVE creating patterns. What's more, I also found out that I did not have to design fabric with flowers or fauna some other straight laced icons. I could go totally funky and simply employ the kinds of images I already embrace and love drawing, decorating with and writing about: vintage kitsch! And so, Really Really Retro TM was born, got its own web site and is now a trademarked name and brand. In addition, my first fabric collection came out with Elizabeth's Studio and my second is on the way.
But what is funky cotton cloth for, if not used to make something? Designs are one thing, but they need to be taken to the next step and turned into something. Of course, the problem is this: I do not have the time to do much sewing. My book work and the design work keep me totally occupied. But I want to see my cloth made into things, I say. Lots of things. What's a girl to do?
As it happened, a girl has to do nothing. Those things have been made--made into wonderful things, for that matter. And here is the first fantastic use of my Really Really RetroTM designs that I discovered and will feature in this blog-- Beautiful aprons by Joan, the gal behind the MOMOMADEIT Etsy shop. Joan decribes her aprons as "Everyday Housewife TM Aprons with classic fit and style."
I'll say. Her designs are so very stylish that they make me think of the very late Barbara Billingsly who could wear an apron in high heels, wearing pearls, and still cook up a rounded meal to feed the Beaver, Ward, and Wally. Here is a little more from the artist behind Momomadeit:
"I grew up in the fifties, came of age in the sixties and seventies, and worked at a tedious and mind boggling job until 2006. Etsy makes me feel like I am back in the sixties and seventies again!
There are lots of Everyday Housewife™ aprons here to choose from - for everyday, every season and any reason! And even some sweet things for your little one! I LOVE being able to offer you quality made items at affordable prices, ESPECIALLY COOL APRONS! What a fun way to make everyday special!!
My aprons have been featured on Good Morning America and in several magazines. I personally make each and every apron I sell. My customers have referred to my work as "impeccable", "stellar", "absolutely beautiful" and "just the best!".
Look for my aprons in the project book "A is For Aprons" and in the Simplicity Pattern Book."
The above bio alone makes me want to buy her aprons!
I also love this quote: "If you're going to be in the kitchen, you might as well look as hot as the food! "
BTW, the beautiful young lady wearing these fabulous aprons is the artist's daughter, who teaches chemistry by day and moonlights as an apron model by night. Can't wait to see her in my next fabric designs!
If you are looking to be hot in the kitchen, and want it to not be about the food, do yourself a favor and get one of these snazzy aprons. And, of course, I would love it if you got one with my fabric designs on it! Happy shopping!
