Hopin' and Wishin'

My kitchen progress is coming along, slowly, but surely.  Finding all the right pieces takes a lot of patience, and of course budgeting for some of the more expensive changes has to be accomplished one improvement at a time.  This year, we painted the cupboards peacock blue, created a chalkboard refrigerator and added to our collection of colorful 1950s housewares, including our pastel ceramic Monterey dishes.  My goals for 2013 are: finding the perfect retro oven (it has to be one of the harder to find 30" models), replacing the light fixture above the dining table, and re-tiling the back splash.  Maybe by 2014, I can think about new counter tops?!?

Bold indicates items that I covet, the rest is already in place. (From left to right): Our Peacock Feather blue cabinets, chalkboard fridge, white subway tile for the back splash,  vintage Pyrex, yellow wooden "eat" sign, Airstream kitchen hand towel,  1950s Wedgewood stove,  Yellow Lustro Ware canisters, "Why, yellow Gorgeous!" kitchen hand towel, mint green shake mixer, "Make Lemonade" printable,  aqua Lustro Ware reamer, gold star burst clock, pastel ceramic dishes, Amy Butler fabric in Coreopsis, George Nelson Saucer light, & mint green rotary wall phone.

What's your perfect kitchen?

XOX

All that glitters is gold (outfit #32)

I scored this adorable 1960s, green striped shirt waist dress at a thrift store.  The label says something like, "Jean Sutton Casual" but it's hard to read since it's starting to unravel.  My gold belt and clip-on starburst earrings were also thrifted, and my gold Sanita clogs are from ebay.  I loved finding this disintegrating brick alleyway.  Someone has randomly hand painted the bricks, but neglected to tuck point or fix the mortar, so I pretended to hold up the wall.  I hope someday they properly fix this wall, or my favorite trivia bar is going to collapse on its patrons! 

Happy Sunday!

Sofa dreaming

  It happened again.  Another person told us their grandmother/aunt/neighbor/whatever just got rid of a pristine 1950s-60s couch.  "They barely ever sat on it," or "it still had a plastic cover."  This leaves me wanting to bang my head on the wall and sob.  This must be the third person in so many months to tell us we just missed out on a dreamy mid-century sofa.  "If only we had known you liked that sort of thing", they say.  Ugh.
   So, I'm broadcasting it to the world.  Putting the intent into the ether...we are looking, friends! 
 I found the most amazing aqua blue, 1950s sectional, with rounded corners and peg legs.  I pressed my face against the store window like some sort of deranged stalker.  The store wasn't open.  In fact, the store has never been open in the eight years I've lived here.  I believe it's only a storage space, despite the large furniture store description on the awning.  I went next door and asked the shop owner if he knew the owner and could possibly call him...or at least look the other way while I jimmied the lock. :)  To my delight, he actually had a set of keys for the building, but as soon as I got up close, I saw a SOLD sticker on the sofa.  Damn it all! 
  I've come upon a couple of other beauties "in the wild," but was lacking the confidence to spring.  I've been a bit weary to buy anything in the thrift store.  Since I can't exactly submerge it into some disinfectant, I'd really prefer to know the previous owner. 
   So please dear friends, help a girl out.  Keep your eyes peeled for the sofa of my dreams.

1950s sectionals Love that nubby mint green upholstery

Embossed designs on the backrest

1960s daybed

1960s Danish banana sofa

What's your sofa style?

Check yourself (outfit #31)

I purchased this 1950's shirtwaist dress from a thrift store.  It's made by a company called Pom Pom Fashions.   My red Swedish clogs are from Ebay.   I call this my "market dress."  All that's missing is a sweet straw shopping basket, filled with goodies from this Italian grocery store, which was built in 1921.

Happy Sunday!

Seeing spots (outfit #30)

This darling, 1950s polkadot dress was thrifted.  My jade and pearl clip-on earrings and matching apple pin belonged to my late grandmother.  Polkadots were such an iconic trend in the 50s, and they are just as flirty and fun today.  I think green is such a flattering color on red heads, don't you agree?

Happy Sunday!

Shine bright like a diamond

This is my six year old son, Emery.   I love finding clothes and cool hats for him, because he actually seems excited to wear them.  He's always asking me, "does this make me look like a gentleman?"  The Wash and Wear, button down shirt was purchased from Jack Sprat on Etsy.  They specialize in affordable vintage for little boys.   If you've ever attempted to dress your sons in vintage clothing, you know just how difficult it is to find clothing in decent condition.  Little boys just wore their clothes out.  I fell in love the with atomic, 50s diamond pattern, and knew he'd look super stylish in this shirt, paired with one of his beloved, thrifted hats.

Spinning in circles (outfit #29)

Here is my 1940s silk blouse, that I purchased at an estate.  It buttons up the back and has the prettiest circle cutout pattern on the collar.  My skirt is 1950s, designed by Rhoda Lee, and was thrifted.

Happy Sunday!