TY for Two... or, Many Thanks to Two Fellow Bloggers :)

I was lucky enough to win not one, but TWO giveaways last month! And, oh, the giveaway goodies were full of goodness!

One giveaway was hosted by Zootsuitmama when she reached 30 followers. The prizes were the most adorable rooster appliance cover, rooster oven mitt, and kitchen-y themed tablecloth. These will fit in with my red-accented kitchen very nicely! She even included a neat little wooden souvenir lipstick caddy. Thank you bunches and bunches, Zootsuitmama!!




The other giveaway was hosted by TartDeco for her birthday. She offered a dream hair accessory custom-made by TartDeco and based on details provided in the person's giveaway entry. The little tophat with a big gingham bow, red flowers, and a bit of sparkle that she made for me is just cutest thing! Thank you bunches and bunches, TartDeco!!




Hmm, I think someone might a bit jealous that I have a new new hat...

My Kingdom for a Sensible Oxford...

Every day Mr. Lucky and I have a walk about our tiny town... after all a dog needs exercise, and how can you resist this face?

My walking sneakers had become completely worn out, so I ordered new ones. Sadly, walking shoes in this day and age are basically bulky (and, may I say odd-looking) sneakers, or "athletic shoes," if you prefer. I like to call them my Frankenstein walkers...

What I wouldn't give for a good old-fashioned sensible oxford, say, like this...

Between needing an extra wide width and having a couple foot issues, I can only dream of owning "stout hiking shoes" like Nancy Drew always wore whilst tracking down a mystery or confronting thugs and misers.


On the other hand, a quick perusal of Zappos.com does yield a few possibilities for a duck-footed vintage-lover like myself...

I suspect these choices are the closest I'll ever get to a good old-fashioned sensible oxford,
so I just might order myself a pair or two ;)

What particular item of vintage goodness have you had trouble finding? Do you look high and low on the chance you'll find the real thing or opt for a more accessible contemporary "vintage-style" version?

"Kitschen" Giveaway at ZootSuitMama!

ZootSuitMama is hosting a terrific giveaway and all you have to do to enter is show her your kitchen. Just post photos of your kitchen on your blog and let ZootSuitMama know about it here. Now, go get your camera and take some snapshots. Let's see those "kitschens!"

Speaking of which....

Here are the highlights of my kitchen. When we moved in the walls were a lemon yellow that I'm not fond of, so at some point in time I plan to paint them a jadeite or celadon green (it goes so well with red accents).

I love this picture - it's so me when I'm in the kitchen ;)

Many years ago, this breakfront traveled in the back of our small pickup truck all the way from St. Johnsbury, Vermont to northeastern Pennsylvania. Even though we barely had room for our luggage once we got it in there (the truck had a cap on it), I'm still glad we bought the breakfront! Since it has red trim, I keep it in my kitchen :)


These are my favorite and most often used cookbooks. They make up about 1/4 of my cookbook collection. I'd say about 95% are vintage cookbooks.


I have a pair of these red plastic wall pockets, which I thought had been lost when we moved to our house nearly five years ago. I was a bit despondent over the fact that my beloved wall pockets had gone missing. The darnedest thing happened though. While preparing for a big family dinner about 2 years ago, I pulled out a huge plastic pitcher that I hadn't used since we moved in. When I took off the lid, what did I find but my red plastic wall pockets! I laughed, I cried, it was better than "Cats" ;)


What do you do when you have too many vintage potholders to ever use them all? Hang 'em on the wall. Incidentally, the apron with the doggy on it is one of my favorites, so it gets to be permanently on display ;)

Bakelite handles, cherry decals, owl cookie jar... some of my favorite things!

"Holders three, for you from me"

Cherries and owls again - I love the labels on these crates!

One of my two most favorite things in my kitchen. I've had this clock so many years that I can't remember the delightful story that used to go along with it - lol!

And the second of my two most favorite kitchen things - a 1950s refrigerator painted red by my dad and my husband. See more about my red refrigerator here.

Okay, your turn! And tell ZootSuitMama that Miss CherryBubbles sent you!

It's Chiffon! And I don't mean the margarine ;)

After yesterday's post about the fabulous vintage look and feel of Twin Peaks, I got to thinking about the red chiffon dress that Audrey Horne wears in the second season...

Aren't chiffon dresses too dreamy?

Just for fun, I decided to do a search for similar vintage chiffon dresses on Etsy. I found quite a few, so thought I'd share in case any of you are looking for a lovely spring/summer party dress.

Here's a sunny yellow surplice bodice dress from SalvageLife...


Or if yellow isn't your color, how about this lovely fuchsia dress from Sustalux...


Maybe you prefer a little mystery with your chiffon, like this midnight black dress from LipStickWhiskey...


Or perhaps you're sweet and innocent, so this pretty pink dress from FabVintage might be more your style...


For the woman with dangerous curves, how about this figure-hugging mint green chiffon dress from FastEddiesRetroRags...


And finally, if you love red most of all, here are three lovely red chiffon dresses....

from Bohemiennes


from TimelessVixenVintage

from MyFavoriteVintage

I find it difficult to choose a favorite from amongst these fabulous frocks, but I do lean toward the midnight black one. I like mystery ;)

Which chic chiffon confection would you choose?

It was 20 years ago today...

...that I watched the Twin Peaks premier movie. Television was changed that night, and so was I.




That being said, I don't intend to talk about the show as groundbreaking television - I'll leave that to other blogs for which the topic is more appropriate (see links below). And I truly love a mystery... however, what I would like to chat about is how the look of the show really appealed to my interest in vintage.

From the very beginning, the sets and costumes offered a sense of stepping back in time, yet still living in the present. The sets are rife with terrific vintage lamps, pictures, furniture, bric-a-brac, and gadgets. Every interior seems to have its own style - ranging from Northwestern lodge to Polynesian/tropical to old-fashioned motel. Sometimes, I just watch for interesting things in the background. This fabulous lamp appears at the very beginning of the pilot...


The young female characters, particularly Audrey Horne, often wore clothing that evoked the 1950s - plaid skirts, twin sets, pencil skirts, and even a Pendleton 49er or two. Here's a typical Audrey ensemble...


And, by golly, I sure love the fun vintage-style Double R Diner waitress uniforms...


Can't tell you the last time I was in a diner where the wait staff wore uniforms like that. Wait, maybe I can. It must have been at least 15 years ago, and it was unusual even then.

Some of the male characters can be seen wearing vintage motorcycle jackets, classic plaid flannel shirts, bowling shirts, and even a vintage red and black plaid hunting jacket...




If you watch Twin Peaks, look for Dr. Jacoby's wacky neckties. He's got quite a collection to wear with his high-waisted zoot-suit-style pants...


Now, here's one of my favorite vintage dresses, which shows up in the second season....

Who doesn't love vibrant red chiffon and Greek goddess-styling?

I'm afraid I could go on endlessly about the look of my favorite television show of all time, but I'll pull in the reigns now. Twin Peaks is worth watching for more reasons than I care to list here, but if you only watch for the vintage-y costumes and sets, you'll find a fabulous feast for the eyes.

Twin Peaks sites:
Twin Peaks Archive

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Twin Peaks Fest

David Lynch & Mark Frost sites:
David Lynch.com
By Mark Frost
Dugpa
Interview Project

My Spring Blossom Tableau...

I love when the spring flowers begin to bloom. Daffodils have added sunny yellow to the burgeoning green leaves and grass in my yard now. Tulips will bloom soon in a riot of color. And aren't grape hyacinths just the most adorable little things?

Today, upon returning from a morning walk with Mr. Lucky (my little fur boy), I decided there were enough daffodils in bloom to take some inside. I recently picked up a nice cherry-red Haeger vase/planter, at a local thrift shop, and thought it would look lovely filled with spring flowers.

What do you think of my spring tableau?

The Haeger vase/planter still has its original label on it!

At the same time I found the Haeger, I purchased this lovely lady picture, which is marked "Delegard Tool Co., Minneapolis 6, Minn.

Don't you just love the flowers below her shoulder?

As an added bonus, the lady picture flips up to reveal an unused 1950 calendar and a place to write important telephone numbers. There are even three good old-fashioned 5-digit phone numbers pencilled in....

...anyone need to call Ruth, Shirley, or Al?

Hope you're all enjoying the full blossom of spring!

"Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment." ~ Ellis Peters

Charmed, I'm sure...

When it comes to jewelry, a bracelet is a must-wear accessory for me. In fact, if I should happen to leave the house without a lovely bauble encircling my wrist, I feel positively nude (and not in the artistic sense).

My favorite type of bracelet to wear is a charm bracelet. Charms have a long history by themselves, but charm bracelets were most popular after World War II and into the 1950s. Several years ago, NPR did a piece on Tracey Zabar's book "Charmed Bracelets" - check out the All Things Considered interview here when you have a few moments.

So, why do I love charm bracelets? They jingle. They tell a story. Sometimes the charms are articulated - the kind with moving parts. They can serve as a remembrance of people or places. They can be fun, kitschy, or just plain wacky.

Here are a few of my own charm bracelets....

I like to call this one "Song and Dance."


While not a charm bracelet in the truest sense, it does have dangle-y bowling charms and a nice solid-sounding jingle. I wear this one a lot.


This is my absolute favorite charm bracelet.
It's got four articulated charms and even a tiny bullet!


I love this "Lie Detector" with the little arrow that spins.


I started collecting charms from Vermont a few years ago, so I can make myself a charm bracelet in honor of a state that I love to visit and in which I was married. I still need lots more, in particular a maple leaf charm. Here are the ones I have so far...

Squirrel, bear, pinecone, moose, and Bennington Battle Monument.


Okay, now it's your turn. Tell me, what piece of jewelry can't you leave the house without? Do you have a favorite bracelet or necklace or earrings?