1950's Atomic Ranch House

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-24T21:15:00.001-08:00

Another quick post to let you all know how much I have missed you. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!

Holy Smokes!

2011-11-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

Has it been that long since I posted?

Have not had a free minute to browse eBay much less update my blog, much less read all of yours.

I will snap a few pics of my Pink room and post soon, I did not intend to let this blog languish as long as I have.

So I do hope everyone is doing well, you are not far from my thoughts!

Pink 1950's Boomerang Eames Mid Century Fish

2011-10-21T04:24:00.000-07:00

What are the odds I'd find a perfect match to the Pink 1950's Boomerang Eames Mid Century trivet I bought only a week or two before?

This is large, a cutting board... The condition is much better than the photo... And I am thrilled! My kitchen being pink too.

My vintage space rocket globe lamp arrived a week ago, and I'm so thrilled with it too! Larger than it seems in the photos, I will hang it from the ceiling in the corner of my Space themed office here where I toil away at ground zero space center.

Happy Friday to all my blog friends! I haven't even had time to browse eBay, and for me, that's busy! I hope everyone is finding the vintage goodies of their dreams!
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Vintage Space Globe Lamp

2011-10-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

It's a little "crude" in style, but I could not resist getting this space lamp!

Most of the really good vintage space stuff sells for heaps of money too, so this was a bargain.

The last quarter of the year is underway and I have been so terribly busy. I'm happy to have work in this economy, but it's eating up much of my time.

I did get the pink room, my old bedroom, pretty well rearranged and will post pics, but I've shown much of it before so it won't be much of a "reveal".

I hope all my blog friend are well, I do apologize for not being able to keep up with your blogs, just know that I would if I could, at this time.

:)

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Quick Update

2011-09-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

My other computer started doing funny things last Saturday, so I bought a new one, in hopes of transferring everything from the old to the new before it crashed, if that's what it was doing.

Took a few days, and a lot of time on the phone with tech support, but I have the new computer, with all the old stuff on it.

Whew. :)

Will be blogging again soon... Soon as I rest from all the stress lol.

Hope all my blog friends are doing well, have not been able to check your blogs, but will be around soon!

Happy Wednesday.

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Mid Century Orbs

2011-09-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Snagged this to hang in the Space room. (Orange on the inside, 7" diameter). It's space-age, right? Looks like it to me. Seller said he had a twin, but it has a hairline crack. I took a chance and gave him a few bucks more for the second one. Fingers crossed it arrives in one piece, he offered to glue it, but that could cause a lot of problems... So, I'll get at least one. :) I hope!

Happy Tuesday. I'm still playing in the Pink room, my old childhood bed room, trying to get it fixed up the way I want it.

Oh and I got that RCA Victor Vibra radio in my last post already, and I love LOVE it!! No glowing from the back, thanks to (Carole, I believe?) so I guess it's a transistor, which is better.

Keep an eye out on eBay for one, really nifty, I love mine! :)
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Mid-Century RCA Victor Vibra Radio

2011-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

I saw one of these exact radios last week. Something about it caught my attention. The grill cover design, I think. Sort of vaguely reminds me of the old Disneyland ride "Adventure Thru Inner Space" or something like that. Futuristic snowflake. Well, like I said, it's vague.

I did a quick check, and there was another auction for the same radio, THIS radio, also selling. This one was in far better condition. I let the first one slide. It sold for around $10-$12. Good sign. I was able to snag this for about $20 US. Yay!! I assume it's a tube radio? Does anyone know? I can't seem to find info on the internet.

Will go in the Pink room, my old bedroom, since that one is trending more towards early 60's and 70's stuff.

Ahhhhhh I see the seller of that black Breyer Black Stallion horse now has 6 negatives for non-communication and not sending the auction items. It used to be Paypal only reimbursed for items over $25. I think that's changed, right? Don't they reimburse the whole amount if the seller never responds to a Case, or sends anything? Looks like another bum deal. :(

No big loss, really. $11.05 total, item + s/h. But I *think* Paypal will refund 100%.

I hope your deals are going better than mine seem to go!

Happy Saturday!
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I Bought A Pink Mid Century Boomerang Trivet!! Whoo hoo!

2011-09-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

My Dear Blog friends, I have had NOTHING to talk about lately! I was so desperate to write about SOMETHING I bid on and won this trivet! Yes it's been that bad!!

But check it out, THIS was the auction photo, but what arrived was the photo at the top!! Whoo hoo! Can you imagine, do you see the color difference? I sure do!!

It's a little scuffed up, so I am using it as a computer mouse pad since the spongy one's keep making my mouse shut itself off, which means I have to reboot the computer half the time to get the wireless mouse to "find" the computer, so this was a perfect solution.

Let me tell you, seeing and hearing me try to bend over and get under my computer desk to unplug and plug my computer back in so the mouse connects is NOT a pretty sight! I mean, my knees crack and I groan all the way down with my bad back. I need to hire me one of those service monkeys, but it would be my luck all it would do it throw poo at me lol. Oh gee guess I am officially an old lady now that I'm thinking "service monkeys".

I've been looking for a vintage bedspread that SORT of looked like the one I had as a kid. This one went on sale, I got distracted, it went OFF sale %@#*&, watched it, and it went ON sale again. Whoo hoo lol.. Snag.

Cute, price was pretty good, with the 30% off. Damn I sure the hell hope recreating this whole second childhood things is worth it. I better be able to lay in that room, in that bed and be childhood HAPPY again or some heads are gonna roll!!

Still waiting on my Black Stallion Breyer horse. Auction says "will be mailed within 2-4 days", but it's been over two weeks now. WHY ME!!!??? Please Dear ebay gods, do NOT make this another battle with a seller! I am getting to old for this kind of nonsense!! Make it arrive on my porch soon. Thank you.

Uh oh, a quick check of their auctions and someone who bought an item on the same day I did, gave them a neg for not hearing from the seller or getting their item. Yeah, I always pick the lucky one's hahaha. Case with ebay opened. Didn't I just do this?

Speaking of...

Oh and that OTHER crazy lady seller who was rude to me over the gray Breyer horse?

The one who pulled her own completed auctions, including the one I already paid for, without a peep out of her, with eBay sending me these ominous emails that said :

IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT: Recently an auction was canceled do to POSSIBLE suspicious activity!!!

?

The one where I then filed a dispute with ebay, and she sent me that snarky email? The one who told me in that email:

"Had you bothered to contact me you would have been told that there is nothing wrong with your order."

Well I was nice and gave her a neutral feedback, stating "I got my item, but seller was rather rude after she canceled her own wining auction".

She emailed me, but I didn't read it. Muahahahaaa... Why let her get the last word in? Believe me, I did NOT feel good doing that, but I get tired of taking crap from crap sellers.

Please don't think I am unsympathetic to the crap sellers take from buyers, been there, done that. But her response was just so uncalled for, I mean, hey, didn't she think it might be odd to the buyers if winning auctions VANISHED from peoples ebay list with no trace EXCEPT to contact ebay? Hello?

So, the deed was done. She's lucky I didn't give her a negative feedback. Sheesh!

Gee, scarce pickin's lately!! I hope you are finding better goodies than I am! Happy Wednesday!!!
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Holy Smokes! Over $900 For a Doll From the 70's? 1972 Blythe Doll

2011-09-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

This Kenner doll Blythe sold for $923. Wow! I vaguely remember this doll from back then, but why the heck are they so expensive?

Here is another one, currently at $610.

Gee, I had similar doll, in fact, Mom bought me one about this time, a hippy doll similar to this, named Scooby Doo (I believe her name was, and not, not the cartoon dog with the same name), and for some reason, I lost her, so Mom got me another to replace her about 20 years ago. But I'm sure they don't go for this kind of crazy price!

Then again, I don't see any auctions for my doll on eBay either... Maybe she is worth hundreds too!

Things that make you go "hmmm"!

Have you seen items selling for crazy high prices that you didn't expect?

Happy Friday!
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UPDATE on eBay Auction

2011-09-03T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is the email I got from the seller:

"Had you bothered to contact me you would have been told that there is nothing wrong with your order. I had ebay remove *NEW* listings I had started due to a fee dicrepency. I have no idea why they are emailing all of my buyers but your item will ship in the morning. Check my feedback and know that you are in good hands. I will no longer be selling with ebay due to this latest list of garbage they have put me through. You can find me on Ebid.net. Lower deller fees means lower prices for buyers! Wendy"

Had I "bothered" to contact her? Her auction vanished from my list after I paid for it, how the hell was I going to contact her except via eBay dispute center? And why didn't she email her buyers so they wouldn't worry? Huh? Tell me that, snarky lady!! lol...

eBay sent me two more emails, one stating: "Urgent Information Regarding Your eBay Account". It simply stated the auction was "reinstated".

Well that was... Scary to get an email with that title!

Sheesh!!

You can bet I ain't gonna go look for her on Ebid.net, but mentioned Ebid.net in case anyone reading this wants to check them out as another option to buy and sell.

Thank you for all the comments regarding this latest eBay drama. In my 11 years on eBay, I never experienced this! Good thing I didn't buy another gray dapple Arabian, thinking this Breyer horse was "gone".

Hope all my American friends have a wonderful Labor Day holiday, and the rest of my friends have a wonderful weekend!
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What The Heck? Auction Cancelled AFTER I Won and Paid?

2011-09-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Bought and paid for this Arabian Breyer horse on August 30th from eBay seller green_horse_gems, and I get notice via eBay yesterday afternoon, that the seller canceled the auction? They had several Breyer auctions, and I find it odd... Either they didn't like the ending prices, or, maybe they were selling for someone else who changed their mind?

Pretty sneaky, since there is no way to leave feedback now. Unless I am even sneakier... Which I can.

Whatever, why not immediately refund any paid auctions? It's already been 16 hours.

Of course I opened a case with eBay, and except all my money to be refunded, but has this happened to any of you?
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Vintage Model Horses - Breyer and Peter Stone

2011-08-29T10:34:00.001-07:00

I guess if you were a kid and you liked horses, you have heard of Breyer model horses. They've been around a while, since 1950, and they still make them today.

I just added this 1981 issue of The Black Stallion to my collection. Hey, it was $5, and $5 s/h, in excellent condition, according to the description.

Since I just bought a few of The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley I read as a girl, what the heck.

These are my Breyer horses from when I was young.

Not too many. But I sure loved them.

Don't know why I wound up with more Appaloosa's than Arabians, because Arabians have always been my favorite.

Still, no matter, I played with them very carefully.

No Barbies for me! This was my toy of choice.

So I happened to be looking around eBay at the Breyers, and wow, they have all this tack for them too!

Cool, realistic halters...

And OMG look at the bridal and saddle combo! If I had this when I was a kid, I would have gone... Can I say it? Frikkin' crazy happy if I had this realistic looking tack to play with!!

And they have all kinds of tack and stuff nowadays. If you know horses, yeah, all of that stuff!

Then I saw all these fancy Arabian halters and lead ropes.

And I noticed this model horse modeling these halters was particularly stunning.

That's when I discovered, Peter Stone model horses for the first time. About a week ago.

I guess "Stone horses" as they are known, have been around as long as Breyer, but gee, a poor kid like me would have never been able to afford one. They all seem to start at $150. Custom one's much higher. I'm glad I didn't know about them because I would have spend my childhood drooling over the Peter Stone horses and feeling like my Breyers were a little less cool than I thought they were.

I guess folks do these "mock" horse shows with them? But wowie wow they are amazing!

Nope, can't start collecting them now, even if I can afford them. I just cannot justify sinking money into a model horse that I could buy an amazing mid century lamp for.

But gee... They are beautiful.

I suppose toy horses was the first thing I collected.

Did you collect anything as a kid? I bet you did too!!
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Another Steiff

2011-08-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

So cute. I'm sure it's one of the newer "vintage" Steiff's but I got it for a song, and she's adorable! Floppy cat.

What kinds of stuffed toys did you have as a kid?

I've been redoing the pink room, again. It's slow going, because the summer heat slows me to a crawl. The heat dulls my mind and I can't think of a single clever thing to say!

What has everyone else been up to?

Happy Tuesday!
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Who Will Keep Our Memories?

2011-08-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

I am still reliving my second childhood and having such fun! I am still soooo in love with this Steiff tiger! As I mentioned, they are cheap, cheap on eBay, the "newer" vintage one's like this selling for $10 - $20 US (Starting at $6.20 in UK pounds, $9.70 Aussie). Now how can you not love that?

Now see? this post about "Pam", on Eartha Kitsch's blog, just gets me. About how everything we are, gets thrown out, or if we are lucky, sold off when we die. Or at least, some of us lol. Do you think about this? I do. Too much.

Which I why I have vowed to get out all the things I love, and enjoy them now, and get rid of the rest of my "stuff" or meaningless junk. I'm almost there. That's part of what I have been doing the last few years.

I found a Sears catalog with the exact same set of French Provincial furniture I had as a kid. Gee it was expensive back then. I know it was a stretch for Mom to get this for me, and I am sure the family spent at least a year or more paying it off.

She got me the stuff at the top of the page, which was most expensive.

But how cool to see it again!

One of my vintage composition dollies. Mom loved her dolls. I wasn't so crazy about them like she was, but I love these girls.

This one has my little Steiff Gussy cat I bought years ago at a yard sale for a quarter. A lot of money for me back then!

The girls have other clothes. I bought an inexpensive lot of doll clothes on eBay, and I need to see if they fit.

Do you still play with dolls? I hope so!

A gift from Mom years ago. A book called The Little Wooden Doll, and a wooden doll that came with it. Sweet.

Just a few of the many, many horse books I used to read, and love, as a kid. Do you still have some of your favorite childhood books? I cheated and bought a few on ebay. They are very inexpensive.

Mom, bless her heart, bought me a few pieces of "good" jewelry for me as a young lady.

She tried her best to make me feel special, and she did.

I mentioned these before. The vintage chenille cat, flocked rabbit and the two wooden "puppet" cats. I made them this special box long ago to store them in safely. Now they have come out to play again. I adored "littles" like these, as I used to call them.

The Ballerina jewelry box I bought recently with some of my vintage things. Back when I'd wanted a horse so badly, I bought the stop watch. I don't remember why this was important, except I think I was reading The Black Stallion, and it seemed important to be able to time my horse doing something, when I got it lol...

The little tiny Mammy doll and toothpick doll Mom got me for my doll house. I hope to have that out and set up soon!

And a little Christmas in August! Vintage snowmen and a wooden train.

The wooly sheep and baby jesus in the wooden cradle were Grandma's, the rest, Mom's, as she loved Christmas.

OK, so, do you think a lot about what will become of your things after you die, or do I simply have a terribly fatalistic attitude that should be pushed aside in favor of enjoying what we have now? lol... (I do enjoy "now", but times I think about it...)
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Giveaway At Vintage Christines!

2011-08-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Go check out this amazing giveaway at our friend Vintage Christine's! She will be giving away other goodies too, so go, follow her blog, you will adore her if you don't know her already, and enter to win!

More Childhood Memories

2011-08-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

I know this is a Steiff tiger, but I believe Steiff made these up until fairly recently, and this guy looks to be in such good condition, he may be "newer" than I am, but I had one of these as a kid (bought at a thrift shop or yard sale). But his face! Sooo charming! Prices are good on common Steiffs these days, (read: CHEAP!) so he has a new home.

I think I was 25 before I finally got my very own stereo, but for years all I had was a little transistor radio and an ear plug I used to listen to late into the night. OK, so mine was white, but transistor radios are cheap, cheap and they made a lot of them, so these can be bought for a few dollars too.

I'm afraid the songs on the radio have changed, though lol.

I'm not 100% happy with the curtains I got for the Space room, but price was CHEAP!! And just enough material for the two windows. I can get a different kind in the future, but for some reason, finding barkcloth in the right colors and design and enough material for the vintage Space room, has gone on for over two years without luck, so I finally have to get something!

I got my set of vintage artists paints, brushes and supplies and while I'm thrilled, a tube of dark cerulean blue exploded in transit from the pressure. Ha ha! Blue stained fingers, even now! I didn't mind so much, it was confined to one area of the inside of the box, but I always hated wasting good oil paint.

I didn't have much as a kid, and I'm not buying many things, and I still have some of my stuff, oh and my childhood was less than "ideal", but as you get to be an old bat like me, it's very "soothing" to remember good times, even if they weren't fantastic at the time. Some of the memories were. At least I can recreate a better one now lol.

I remember adults telling me to "enjoy being a kid" but I couldn't wait to grow up! Now I see what they meant. They were right ha ha.

For the "older folks", do you still have or collect the things you had as a kid? Better yet, favorite childhood memories? Simple things, big or small... I know I asked this about toys before, but I guess I'm on a childhood kick lately.

Uncle Atom fed into this when he mentioned Dairy Queen on his blog and I wrote a long missive about how they just tore down my local Dairy Queen after about 60 years. Boo hoo!!

Happy Friday, I seem to be a little uninspired about my blog posts lately, sorry for the repeat questions! I get bouts of depression and can't think of fun things to say.

Oh and a huge THANK YOU to Vintage Coconut for her offer to send me a replacement horsie! She found two at a yard sale I believe, and I couldn't imagine breaking them up they had been together for so long. What a sweet thing to offer, tho, thank you!!
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Looks Like We Are Going To Have To Put Her Down

2011-07-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

Awww what a shame!

Now who'da thunk something made of metal could be so fragile?

This poor old gal will have to be put down. No big loss, I think I paid $10 total, but posting these to show the seller to let them know.

I'm more sad something vintage has been damaged beyond repair.

Time to go carnival horse hunting again!
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In My Desperation To Recreate My Childhood...

2011-07-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

I had to get this little quilt square because of all things, it has my Moms name embroidered in the middle square. Chances of that are? Slim. Had to get. Yeah, I know, it must sound strange to some of you. That's ok lol...

Ha ha "recreating" my childhood is not really a "desperation" but it's a challenge.

Do you remember the things you had as a kid? I'm having a heck of a time remembering!!

Obviously it wasn't that many things, or I would remember.

Anyway, getting a few little things to put in the pink room as I recreate the little "princess" room I wish I'd had as a kid.

Actually Mom was able to swing a wonderful French... Something bedroom set from Sears, complete with a canopy bed, desk, chair and dresser. Thank you Mom, I know it was a stretch back then.

I'm not going to buy that set of furniture again (I haven't seen it) but...

I remember a little traveling carnival came to town, and I learned how to play this horse racing game really well. I won quite a few of these cheap pot metal horses. I was horse crazy as a kid, and besides my Breyer horses (I still have) this was one of the things I collected as a kid. Horses.

I used to go to thrift shops as young as 7 or 8 years old, and I know I would have fallen in love with this horse dish as a kid. That's coming home to me.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit the ballerina stuff I am getting. Is it silly? Do I seem senile? I prefer "eccentric" thank you. Nope, never wanted to dance, except there was that tap dance class I took as a wee little girl. Maybe that's the reason? I did wear a pink tutu.

I know I had one of these music boxes. Maybe mine was a bit older, but geez there are other eccentric old ladies out there that like Ballerina music boxes too, and I didn't want anything fancy or expensive. I didn't have fancy as a kid.

And the art supplies I WISH I'd had as a kid. I was drawing when I was little. Horses, mostly. Mom was kind enough to let me have the nice oil paint set her Mom gave her, but i thought they were too good for a kid like me to use at the time, so i saved them. Still have them and Grandmas brushes. Thankfully as they mean a lot to me, because Mom and Grandma were artists too.

Prices are great this time of year, so I have been picking this stuff up for a song. There are a few books I can remember reading as a kid, and I am looking at those next.

What about you? Do you still have the things you played with as a kid? Do you collect the things you played with or get toys and stuff you WISH you had as a kid?
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1950's Googie Atomic Westclock Alarm Clock

2011-07-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

We all see vintage, 1950's mid-century alarm clocks, but the "Googie" style of this one, and the color (for the master bedroom, which needs more blue/turquoise) caught my eye, and... I snagged it.

The whole deal over my eBay IDs being blocked knocked me out for a few days, I have to admit. But I finally resolved it and went browsing on eBay again. I love "shopping" online too much to give it up. And, there is no place like eBay to find the variety and great deals I find there.

Happy Saturday to all my friends! Very busy lately, will try to catch up on all your blogs. :)
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What Will Be Popular 50 Years From Now?

2011-07-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

I discovered my other eBay ID has been "put on hold" until I can verify that one as well. Missed out on a sweet auction deal because of it, and I am not looking forward to dealing with eBay reps after my last experience with them. Sigh.

At any rate, I got to thinking: We select the things we think were iconic during the 50's, or mid century, today. Not necessarily the things that were popular back then, but things we think best represents what each of us enjoyed about the mid century era.

So what do you think will be popular and iconic about our era, the turn of the century, 50+ years from now? What will people think was cool about the times we live in now?

I thought about it, and I'm drawing a blank!

I bet you have better ideas!

Happy Friday to all my friends!
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Ballerinas and Poodles

2011-07-11T15:02:00.001-07:00

Both the lampshades for the ballerina lamps, and the white poodle family arrived today, and I am thrilled!!

Shades are perfect, perfect for the lamps!

Soooo cute!! I just love my latest additions!

I was a died in the wool cat and horse lover as a kid, so why the ballerinas and poodles is beyond me. All I know is, I adore them here in the pink room!! This used to be my room as a kid, and I guess I have some idealized version of the way it used to be. If you think I am trying to recapture my youth, you are 100% correct!!

Going to change this room around again. Seems to me I have done this a few times already. But what I want to do is get my old handmade dollhouse displayed in here, but... That will take some time and work.

At any rate, I didn't want the negative post I made yesterday to linger too long, I really do love the things I find on eBay, and I'm not going to let one witch keep me from finding mid-century treasures. :)

Thanks for all your comments.

Happy Monday!!!

My eBay Buying ID Was Suspended LOL!! WARNING - A Rant

2011-07-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

Got an email about a long forgotten eBay ID of mine. Something about increasing seller limits. I never used that ID except to post on their chat boards a few times.

When I checked that ID by "searching for a seller" on eBay, I was shocked to see it had 7 negative feedbacks for non-mailing, and ripping people off.

It had been hacked, and someone used it to sell things they never intended to mail.

In a bit of a panic, I contacted eBay "Trust and Safety" immediately concerned about My personal info being accessed.

Long story short, I was accused of being the fraudulent seller of the other ID, and no, they weren't concerned about how someone else was able to use the other ID, it must have been me, or my fault, and they suspended my current buying ID!

When I explained to her that I doubted very much that REAL scammers called eBay and admitted to fraudulent IDs associated with IDs in good standing, and give verifiable info that the buying ID was Me, she wasn't swayed.

LOL!!

I had to remind her, the reason I called was that I was CONCERNED an ID of mine had been HACKED, and I was concerned my personal info was compromised, The rep once AGAIN accused me of being the scammer, or of knowing the person who did it. Because she was convinced, eBay IDs never get hacked.

Finally she got off the topic of accusing ME of being the scammer, and then accused me of either being "phished" or being lax about sharing my password. Uh, NO.

Well, this kind of put a damper on things! For now. I can easily sign up with a new ID. Big deal. It's a non issue. But jeepers, they sure weren't concerned for MY trust and safety.

Yes, yes, I've heard this kind of story all too often when it comes to eBay. No, I'm not "swearing off" eBay just YET. But they had some balls flat out accusing me of ripping people off rather than giving me any confidence that MY trust and safety was a concern.

Thanks for letting me vent. :)
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The Holiday Haul

2011-07-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

The July 4th weekend, or any summer holiday weekend, seems to be a good time to snag a few deals on places like eBay.

I didn't get as much this July 4th, I've already got most of what I need.

But this turquoise footstool just called my name: "1950's Atoooomic Raaaaanch Laaaaady!!" lol.. Plus I have two in this exact same pattern in white and pink, so this was a good choice to add to them.

Speaking of "kitsch" and stereotypical 1950's "stuff" I've decided to add to my poodle collection. My collection consisted of...

One. A large pink stuffed poodle.

I thought this adorably kitsch, with male and female poodle calling on the phone, not to mention, I finally got my own very first vintage gravel art pictures! Whoo hoo! I guess I sort of predicted the trend a few years ago right here on my blog, that vintage gravel art would become more popular. Funny thing is, I don't have any of it... Until now. Pierre will need a pom for his tail, but I'll pick one up at the craft store. Oui!!

So, to go with the 1950's kitsch ballerina lamps, I needed a stereotypical poodle family on a gold chain. Yes, every 1950's house should have ONE poodle thing SOMEWHERE! :) And a paint by numbers. And a snow globe.... (I have yet to get those).

And I bought these lamps, strictly for the lamp shades ONLY... For the ballerina lamps, who are currently shadeless and looking very nekkid.

Were you able to snag some deals this past weekend???

A big THANK YOU to all who posted their opinion in my last post about defining your OWN 1950's style. I loved all your comments. It's funny I bought the poodles just before the anon comment about looking "too 50's" was brought up. Now I'm glad I did lol...

Happy Wednesday blogland, and all my wonderful friends. I hope you have having a fab 50's (or vintage) day yourself!!!!
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You Have A Right To Define YOUR 50's Style

2011-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I received an anonymous comment on an old post I made, about considering putting black and white checkerboard design flooring in my kitchen. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to discuss personal taste...

Here is my original post:

I’d been wondering about what to do with the flooring that needs to be redone in the areas of the house without the hardwood floors: The entranceway, kitchen and bathrooms.

Then I came across this standard black and white checkerboard flooring on eBay:

$10.99 a linear foot. I’m sure I could find it for less. But it is a do-able standard pattern, and I like it. Using it for all the floors that need it would be more cohesive throughout the house rather than a different design for the different rooms/areas.

It would work quite well. A little bit “diner-ish”, but I’ve always loved this pattern. It wouldn’t be “true” to the house, the original Linoleum patterns are impossible to find, and to be honest, they weren’t outstanding patterns at all. The bathrooms were kind of a grey-streaked style, the entranceway a white with black streaks and the kitchen looked like small colored tiles in traditional mid-century colors.

Note I do say it looks "a little bit diner-ish", but I do love the pattern.

Here is the anonymous comment I got about this post:

Oh no....I hope you didn't really put this black and white "malt shop-style" flooring down. If you did, did you get a neon sign to put outside you place that says Mel's Drive In or maybe See's Candy? Please...do your research and see what other colors, styles and patterns where around then. You would be surprised what you can create with what's available today.

Well!! Nice to see folks comfortable enough to feel they can express their opinion about what your home should and shouldn't look like!! lol...

Research?

This person also included a link to some 50's tile floor designs which, quite frankly I wouldn't dream of using in my kitchen no matter how "traditional" they were. I would have felt the same back when this design was new. MY opinion.

It's MY opinion, that it would be a disaster to put something this busy and dark on a kitchen floor. It simply looks, in MY opinion "dreary".

Now if YOU have floors like this, please don't take offense at MY opinion. Perhaps if I saw your kitchen with one of these designs, I would change my mind!! But I wouldn't dare tell you I thought it looked dreary lol. If it makes YOU happy, who am I to judge? To each his or her own.

But if one really IS to "do their research", you'll be hard pressed to find living rooms photographed from the 50's containing HeyWake furniture, Majestic, Moss or Continental Art Company lamps, bullet planters and even two-tiered fiberglass lamp shades like many modern "50's homes" have today.

In fact, they had very standard lamp shades, non-descript lamps, and Colonial style was all the rage. I don't know a single "modern" 50's style enthusiast that fills their home with Colonial revival.

Yes, people back in the 50's were nostalgic for the "good old days" too, and for them, that meant a style from 30-50 years earlier, just like we do today.

The things we are attracted to today, are things selectively picked from the 50's, that we feel best represents the 50's as seen from a distance of time. As I have said before, the whole "atomic" phenom of today wasn't seen the same as back then. Yes, science and the atom were new and exciting, but the atomic bomb was a real threat.

I don't recall seeing a single kitchen when I was growing up, that had floor tiles like the ones seen in the link, nor as dark as shown in the photo above. Colors were always lighter, less busy. Maybe it's a regional thing?

I also never heard of bullet planters or majestic lamps until I started to see what was for sale, and what was most popular in regards to the 50's, on eBay, as I started to concentrate my focus on decorating and 1950's interior design.

Certainly not when I grew up during the 50's and 60's. Again, maybe it's a regional thing? A class thing? I didn't grow up hanging out with well to do people. Were they the one's who had all these iconic items? Anyone?

But here's MY opinion:

If YOU want pure 50's kitsch, black and white diner style floors, jukeboxes, poodle skirts, Elvis and soda shop stools, then by all means HAVE it!!

We should all decorate our homes any way we see fit! If it makes you happy, then don't listen to a single other person. You have to live there, not anyone else. Fill your house with whatever mid century style you wish! I know I am. :)

Happy July Fourth to all my US blogger friends, and happy Monday to everyone!!!
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Cool and Easy Eames Mid Century Artwork To Make

2011-06-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it been 10 days since I last blogged here?

I get real OCD about my work sometimes. And sometimes I get OCD when things are also busy for me, such has been the case lately.

Pffft, but who cares about that, right?

I've been collecting images of mid century 1950's artworks with the idea in mind to recreate some of these myself for My walls.

I saw this on on eBay a few days ago, and loved it for the simple design and image. I painted a sort of similar artwork like this before. City buildings.

So this one was cool enough to add to my artworks link, located on the right of my blog.

A simple enough design, that anyone could reproduce this, or one much like it.

This one sold for $56, a fair price, but I'd rather make a bigger one, in colors that match the room.

You could too! Using construction paper, acrylic paints or whatever you wanted.

No need to pay mid century prices when you can make your own!

I hope all my good blog friends are doing well, I haven't had time to go around to your blogs, but I'll be coming up for air soon. Meanwhile, have a creative day and make your own original 1950's artworks!
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My Shabby Chic 1940's Phase - Antiques, Vintage

2011-06-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

I discovered some old photos on disks of my art Studio. Well, it became more of a vintage showcase after a while. But I thought some of you might be interested to see this stuff.

Above is an old wooden display case, showing some of the very few family antiques I have, I believe mostly from my maternal great Grandmother, and Grandmother. Old school books (childrens books?) from the turn of the century, antique purses, a small sewing kit, some tatting or lace, and handmade cards, some from my great Aunt.

I believe the delicate pink thing (upper left) is called a "maids cap". All hand sewn. You can click for a larger image on any of these photos.

My Aunt gave all of this and more to me when I went to visit her in the 70's. She said it was all antique lace and lingerie from her mother in law. She was going to throw it out, so of course I agreed to take it!!

More of the lace and tatting and such from my aunt, to the right.

My art Studio. For several years it was an Art Deco theme of black and gray with red accents. I think that was before I got my digital camera.

Paint by numbers on the wall, plastic flowers (why did I re-sell all those? I had so many!), a vintage statue of Josephine Mom's had forever...

My wonderful green crushed ice formica kitchen table. More paint by numbers, and such....

My 1950's working Packard Bell TV. I know Dana over at Mid2Mod is going to send me the Packard Bell console (stereo? What was it again?) she has, right Dana? Ha ha.

And well, just more cosmetics, knick knacks, and I see my 1950's pink poodle there. Again, click on pic if you like to see details. I like to look at all the little things other folks have, so I made these images quite large.

Well, there you go! Something a bit different today. I went through the "Shabby Chic" phase, but realized as much as I love the look? I didn't like living with it. Too many things to dust off! My art Studio isn't exactly air tight, so a lot of dust gets blown in there on a daily basis. But it sure looked nice for the time I did it.

Happy Saturday everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
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How Hard Is It To Find A 1950's Eames Mid Century Magazine Rack?

2011-06-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Not hard to find them at all...

Hey, we all have this hardback Better Homes and Gardens decorating book, don't we? (Below in blue). It's a staple for every mid century home.

What's hard is finding a mid century magazine rack in a style you want.

All of these have a style where your magazines have to sit up on end.

And I don't know about your vintage magazines, but mine refuse to cooperate, and they slump over sideways.

Or you have to sort of curl them up so they will behave.

I bought one several months ago with two "shelves" in which the magazines lie flat...

And I finally found another!

This kind displays your vintage magazines, newspapers and books beautifully. They lay nice and flat. You see, I have a thing about function being as important as form. Bonus: the "atomic particle" ball feet. I have a thing for those, too.

Now I can put all those vintage newsworthy newspapers Mom saved from noteworthy events on display!

Happy Friday to all my blog friends! Still working on cleaning out closets and kitchen cabinets. So boring I wouldn't dare show photos or talk about it. Not much to say this time, but wanted to say hello to all my friends. A bit of a string of boring posts lately, my apologies!
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For The Pink Room, For The Space Room

2011-06-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know why these captured my attention. I'm not a ballerina kind of gal. But it's one of those times I saw them, and had to have them. For the pink room, which needs a bit more '50's in it. Both "atomic" and girly. Ballerina lamps.

There are several vintage space rocket banks for sale all the time on eBay. Mostly metal, with a spring action that shoots the coin into the rocket-shaped bank. But I saw this, and once again, not exactly my usual thing, but I had to have it. Folks usually bid on the metal action banks, so this was very inexpensive. Not too "young" looking, is it? Well, I don't think so (I'm trying to keep the space room a bit "older" looking, which means passing up some cute spaceman nursery cutouts for the wall and such). 1960's - 1970's spaceman rocket coin bank.

Retail therapy? It's the only therapy I can afford! Ha ha.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope your own therapy is going well!
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Happy Friday To All My Friends

2011-06-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

My 1950's Atomic Ranch House cat Chris helped me clean the front porch off. That was hard, several big pots that had to dragged or rolled over to the planter to empty the old dirt. He sat, I worked.

I have been getting the stuff out of the living room that I put in there to paint the master bedroom. Not a lot in there, so why is it taking so darn long? Chris helped. He sat while I worked.

After all that hard work, it was nappy time.

Am I a crazy old cat lady? Yes indeed I am!

I bet you have pet friends that help you around your house too, don't you?

By the way, why isn't my list of followers showing up in any of my browsers? Are you seeing it? Does yours show up?

Oh well! I'm sure it will show up again!!

I hope all my friends are doing well this fine day!!
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It's A Buyers Market on eBay

2011-06-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

I'm chained to my computer longer than those poor Chinese kids who work at sewing factories. In fact, I'm jealous of them... At least they get one day a week off... Har...

What to do while I slay corporations and perform aggressive take-overs? Why browse eBay, of course!

So what the hell is this thing? Well, there is a term for rough looking metal mid century sculptures: "Brutalist" or "Brut" for short. Ever hear of it? No? Plug the word into eBay, you'll see what I mean.

So when I saw this bright red "Brut" enameled candle holder, rather tall, around 17", I just had to have it.

You see, scented candles, or burning a lot of them, have replaced being the crazy cat lady. So instead of collecting cats, I guess old bats like me now burn scented candles. I still do both. Have cats and burn scented candles. In that order.

But seriously, I keep my eye out for interesting looking sculptures. This was cool enough, and, cheap! Crazy candle cat lady cheap.

I think I paid a total of $5 for both these red, white and blue, USA, plastic patriotic 1970's necklace and earring sets.

Nothing says "I love America" like plastic.

Thanks to you fellow bloggers who turned me on to 70's stuff and helped me to appreciate it as a real vintage instead of "just the junk I had when I was younger than I am now" lol.

Oh boy, HAD to get this super duper cool small space rocket lampshade!! OK, so it has a LITTLE damage, but we don't have to have EVERYTHING perfect? Right?? Cheap, cheap.

So I HAD to get a lamp to go with it, and found this base in white, which matched the same lamp base I already have in the spaceroom in black. Oh yeah, it was cheap!!

So, even as a an American chained to my work seven days a week, you can still find great deals for mere yuan lol...

Happy Tuesday evening from 1950's Atomic Ranch House, where every day is Monday!! :)
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Mid Century Atomic Eames Ashtrays!

2011-06-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks once again to our friend zootsuitmama, for the idea of showing photos of our ashtrays! Well, she suggested ashtrays and tablecloths, but I admit I don't have time today to pull out my tablecloths... Boo!

So a quick shot of my cool ashtrays.

The fat lava ashtray just arrived today. Hooray! (Above).

A pink ashtray on a cool wire tripod stand. Gee I have a thing for ashtrays on these tripod stands... This pink one is my favorite.

A pair of chartreuse ones I got... Still getting things done in the house, so I stuck this with my pair of 1950's black panthers...

You all have at least ONE black panther in your 50's house, don't you?? Everyone should have at least one. A poodle too.

The black and white ashtray I got from our friend Vintage Christine. When I saw it in one of her photos she showed us, at the place she goes to sell stuff (sorry Christine, I forget where!!), I knew I had to have it if she didn't sell it... And she didn't!

Oh my gosh! If I were a real 50's housewife, I'd be horrified at the dust here! I am, sort of lol... The price I pay for working so much, and while I was also working in the master bedroom, the poor living room was temporarily neglected. It gets dusty in there! This is supposed to be black, but it just looks... Dirty.

So, not many, but I sure love what I have! As always, smokers are welcome, just please smoke on the back porch, no smoking inside the 1950's Atomic Ranch House. Ashtrays inside are for looks only. :)

Please share your vintage ashtray collection, if you have one, on your blog so we can all see what YOU have! zootsuitmama says she has a prize for the person with the most ashtrays!

Happy Monday to all my blog friends!
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Witco Mid Century World Map

2011-06-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

I've seen one of these before, thought it was cool when I saw it. I could have sworn it had an airplane at the end of the wire, on top of the globe, right by the round thingie... Maybe not?

Regardless, guess what? One is for sale on eBay.

But hold on to your hat, it's currently at $471 US!!

It's very cool. I'd put it here in the Space room, but gee... A little rich for my pocketbook. I bet it sells for twice this price!

Check it out, auction ends in two days... Click HERE. If you buy it, please let us know!!

Edit: SOLD for $898!!!
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Danish Modern Tivoli Atomic Mobile and 1950's Pink Birdcage

2011-06-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

Mid century Tivoli Mobile in red, white and blue, and... All mine! Great for Fourth of July celebrations and on display in the Space room all year long. As a bonus it comes with it's original box.

Did any of you see this fantastic, 1950's pink tripod birdcage? I thought about getting it....

I really thought about it...

But... I passed on it. Sold for $41, a really good price, if you ask me. Did one of my blogger friends get it? I hope so!

Happy Friday!!
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What Are YOUR Hobbies?

2011-06-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

We all love LOVE buying vintage treasures, I know many of you have turned it into a business.

But once in a while I like to combine my love for vintage with one of my favorite hobbies: art.

Won this collection of wonderfully vintage calligraphy pens for a song yesterday. I don't do much calligraphy lately, but I know these will look good in a mid century ceramic cup on display in my Studio.

I've collected vintage art supplies over the years because art is something I've been doing, well, my whole life: Brushes, artists supply box, older paint palettes, watercolor tins... Things like that. Some I use, some I display.

I have the set of oil paints my Grandmother had, or sent to my Mom (I forget which), and brushes that were Grandmas.

So I was curious if any of you have other hobbies, that you try to buy vintage items to represent or use?
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1950's Fat Lava Ashtray

2011-05-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have a bit of a 'thing" for fat lava. The ceramic ware with a glaze that "pops" and makes holes during the firing process. This ashtray is a good example:

See the holes? Looks like... Lava! (One of my degrees is in Geology, so it's a sort of side-interest as well).

Now most fat lava vases and such sell for a nice small investment, and as much as I love the stuff, I never can justify paying as much for a mid-century vase as I might for a vintage table, for example.

But because it was an ashtray, I snagged it for a song... $10.

Dana at Mid2Mod has caught the fat lava fever too. Please check out her blog. If you love mid-century, you will learn a lot from hers, not to mention, she is a wonderful person! She's got a mid-century shop in Texas, USA, and congrats to her, the business is doing very well! Good to hear. Now go check out her blog! Scoot!

By the way Dana, blogger is glitching again and I could not add a comment to your blog today. This happens once in a while where the comment window simply will not show up for me on random blogs.

So a nice small addition to my tiny fat lava collection! No smoking in the 1950's Atomic Ranch House, all ashtrays are for atmospheric looks only. :)
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1950's Linoleum Tiles

2011-05-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

These are so cool. 40 tiles, just enough for my small entrance way. The original tiles need to be replaced. They are nothing special so it's no loss...

But... Not quite the colors I want. I've seen one of my blogger friends get pink and white tiles in this type of pattern in her kitchen (who was that??), meaning they sell modern reproductions in different colors, so I think I will pass on these. Auction ended at $76.

But they sure are cool! My old bathroom floors were more like this color... A sort of light gray background with "stripes" of color, just like these..

I'm still waiting on the two chenille blankies. The seller showed me a tracking number, and they were mailed out May 12, expected arrival May 18. Well, they are not here. :( waaaa I wonder if they are lost forever??

Seller said she would check with her P.O. again, as it seems to indicate they are still sitting in her state. Bummer. Boo.

I have been busy working on a work project, so nothing fun to report! I wish I had more to say or photos to show! But I've been keeping up with as many of your blogs as possible, reading if not commenting.

I hope all my US friends have a very happy Memorial Day, and I salute my late Father and my Uncles who served in WWll... And all who served, are serving, and their families, big (((hugs))).

OH! Got my mid century German plant table, and I love it!! The seller forced a peg-joined joint apart in order to break it down for shipping, so I'll have to add some wood glue to get it back the way it was so I can put things on it, then I'll take a photo.

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Where Are My Chenille Blankies????

2011-05-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

Where are they? I want them! It's been like two weeks! I want my blankies!! lol... I want them before the end of the world! Isn't that supposed to happen today? Well I won't let it happen because I want my blankies!!! Hee hee...

Waiting on them so I can take pics of the sort of finished master bedroom. Waiting...

That questionable lamp in my last post sold for $162. Not bad for the seller, but I'm still not convinced it was from the 1960's.

I didn't win a pair of amoeba ashtrays on tripod stands. Did one of my blogger friends win those? I hope so. I also let an awesome barometer/thermometer slip by me (sold for cheap) because I lost the time and missed the auction by minutes. Oh well, win some, lose some.

Happy Saturday to all my blog friends. Not much to report from the 1950's Atomic Ranch House but I hope everyone is doing well!
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Is This Real Vintage or a 1980's Repop?

2011-05-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

It's cool, but almost looks TOO cool, you know? I mean, have you ever seen a boomerang print lamp shade from the 50's or early 60's? I haven't.

It reminds me of this lamp click HERE which was correctly identified as an 80's redo, 50's style.

Seen these come up for auction occasionally, this one identified as "1960's", but the seller may not know themselves.

What do YOU say, my savvy mid century shoppers?

"REAL" 1960's, or a 1980's-ish reissued 50's STYLE lamp?

(I'm not implying the seller is intentionally trying to misrepresent, nor am I implying a "reissued" lamp is "less than", I'm simply curious what my blogger friends think!).
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1950's Mid Century Eames German Plant Stand Table

2011-05-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, this was one of those occasions when I wasn't really looking for one of these, and was sure it would sell for the usual price of $150 - $300 like they always do on eBay, but was able to snag this on a whim for $40!!

$40!!

How could I say no to that??!

I wasn't even trying, really. I guess all the other people looking at this missed the auction? Was a surprise to me!

Happy Sunday everyone. I am going through the boxes in the closet, in the master bedroom. Purging a lot of old stuff. It's really very liberating, and makes for a lot more space!

Hope you are getting the things done you want to do. :)
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Vintage Vanity and Medicine Cabinet Collection Pt.2 Redux!

2011-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Well! Blogger crashed yesterday, didn't it? And it ate a couple days worth of posts. Oh well, Then I will repost yesterdays post!

The rest of my vintage vanity etc collection. I forgot I had these in this pressed cardboard dresser or jewelry box, with red Bakelight handles.

Compacts and such, collected over the years for just a few dollars.

As always, you can click on the images to see bigger photos.
I used to have more 1930's matchbook covers. Love the little hosiery mending kits. See them?

I also collect things men used back in the day, and these wrapped razor blades have amazing graphics. Like little works of art. The one called "Tre Teste" just makes me giggle lol... Does that mean "three balls"?

Other small things I picked up for cheap. I love the vintage train travel tags.

And one of my favorite small items, a pair of ladies hosiery mending kits with fantastic graphics on the cover and back. Aren't they charming??

I hope this inspires many of you to pick up a few vintage vanity items. I was surprised only a few people (zoot suit mama, Uncle Atom and Vintage Christine, that I know of) have a collection like this. These things can be picked up for very small amounts of money. I know because that's how I collected these things! So check out eBay and your local shops or whatnot and start your own vintage vanity/mens toiletries collection today!

Happy Friday everyone!
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Chenille Blankets for the Master Bedroom

2011-05-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Yes! Score! In perfect colors, a pair of chenille blankies for the master bedroom. Won these last night on eBay. Solid colors, I don't think chenille ever came in "atomic" designs.

It was only a month ago that I realized making the walls and accessories ALL pink, was too much. The original color of the room has always been pink.

Then I remembered the curtains I'd bought for the room, months ago, had blue in them (well, more gray blue than turquoise, but you can't win them all).

So I had to gather all my blue things along with the pink to put in there, and I have very few blue things. So I needed a blue/turquoise cover for the bed.

I keep meaning to get out some blank canvasses and try my hand at a few 50's style abstract paintings for the master bedroom and living room. I'm not much of an abstract artist, more of a ultra-realistic artist, but I'll give it a go.

I envy those of you whose homes are already decorated!

Did you try to stick to certain color schemes? It's harder than it seems when you are buying a lot of these things!

Happy Thursday, I was thinking of doing a post on all my lamps, and inviting others to show theirs off too. What do you think? I know some of you have done posts on your lamps and I love looking at them. We love our vintage lamps, don't we?!
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Parts of the Master Bedroom

2011-05-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

I say "parts" because I don't yet have the master bedroom looking 100%, so I can't photograph the whole thing. So no, these are not "teaser" photos but "I'm still getting it together" photos. I mean, that vintage ice chest and 1950's picnic basket really need to go somewhere else, and Dads mid century conga and bongos, well, yeah, not exactly room in here for them, nor the basket of his smaller instruments. Time to go through the closets. Again.

At any rate, I can show some of the master bedroom. The fun part is the decorating part, don't you agree?

Double tiered side table, turquoise lamp with fiberglass shade, enamel tray and McCoy pottery.

Yes, the only REAL pottery I have is thanks to our friend Vintage Christine in the white and turquoise dish. This is just perfect in this room! The enamel tray I picked up years ago at a thrift before I collected specifically 1950's stuff. Sweet find, also the right colors.

The Italian Londo Bitossi rimini blue dove Mom bought about 40 years ago, and me? I almost threw it out when I went through her estate the first time because I thought it was just some junk hippy knick knack. Then I saw one on eBay with a broken tail selling for like $100 and guess what? All of a sudden I liked this, I really liked this!!

I have a pair of these vases or candle holders, both with the same design. Don't you just love the jewel-like quality to the glass and the classic starburst design? I know our friend zootsuit mama has a couple like these too!

OK, the color of this photo looks funky, but it was a happy accident that my pink cone lamp matches the trim color exactly. Nope, don't have anything plugged in this room yet. getting there....

On the other side table my pink Western Electric or is it Bell telephone. Yeah, we used to have this exact phone in the kitchen with all 5' of cord. Imagine being 14 years old and trying to yank this 5 pound baby as far out the back door as possible to giggle in private with one of your girl friends about the hottie named Paul in your math class? lol... The pink atomic tripod ashtray. Oh no smoking in my house, ashtrays are just for show. =)

Some of the mid century pottery I bought. I have this funny obsession with these but I had to cut my collection off when I saw I really have so little room to display things. One look in the other "pink room" and it looks like an antique mall exploded in there, so best cut down on the buying.

For you young'ins, it's hard to describe seeing childhood photos of yourself as OLD black and white photos. Very surreal. Wow, am I THAT old??!! Chubby cheeks, I got shrivelled up and skinny in my old age lol.

My only poodle things, well, OK I have a couple more, but a pink and black beaded poodle dog. One of the pair of mid-century sculpture and boomerang vase.

You see, in using pinks and blues for this room, I wanted to be very careful not to do the shabby chic, chippy, cottage, Paris apartment look. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that look, but not in this room.

I also wanted to make sure there was enough masculine in here. You know nothing makes a mans manhood shrink faster than frilly lace and pink fru fru, and believe it or not, even an old bat like me has male company on occasion, so best to make your guests feel comfy (oh I hide the old family photos, that's just too much too ha ha). Was that too much information? Ahhh you all are hip, right? OK, moving on...

And the curtains are hard to see, but geometric shapes, and the double tiered fiberglass lamp shade, and more photos. On the dresser is my little kid hand print in clay, painted blue. Do kids still do those??

You know, I could have SWORN the desk and dresser were Drexel, would have bet money I saw that name stamped on the back of the dresser, but when I had it pulled out for painting, nothing, nadda, nine, just a few numbers scrawled on in grease pencil. Hmmm. Oh well, whatever, Mom bought this second hand back in the late 50's so it's 50's stuff at any rate. Sure looks like Drexel stuff...

Well, thank you for letting me share some of my slow, snails pace progress with you. It feels good to look like I am getting something done. 3 gallons of paint and a bottle of Ibuprofin to keep my crippled up old back moving ha ha. But hey, progress is progress!!

Happy Wednesday, thanks again for stopping by! We'd LOVE to see your bedroom if you'd like to show it off on your blog!!!
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1950's Vintage Space Flight Rockets Books

2011-05-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

I've become very, very fussy about what I buy lately. But I snagged these for less than $5 for the lot, so I thought they would make a good addition to the space theme room. Cutting down on the purchases unless I really love it. Or it's too cheap to pass up.

My blog posts and comments have been sparse lately, but I am just finishing up painting the trim color in the master bedroom. Zzzzz painting is soooo boring!

Because I bought the cheap paint from Home Depot for the master bedroom (I only had a certain amount of cash on me when I got a bunch of paint, and the other 6 cans of paint were the good stuff, so I thought I'd go with the cheap stuff for this room so I could get all the paint at once), it had to have 3 coats of paint on all the walls and most of the trim, too. Three coats. Yeah, that's always a good time lol....

Never buy cheap paint from Home Depot. It's not like the cheap paint from Wal Mart which is good enough for two coats. Oh no, this crap is as thin as I have ever seen wall paint. Ugh. I debated another day before I went ahead and used it anyway. Use Glidden or Behr, but not the SpeedWall or Speedball or whatever they call it. Trust me on this.

So, next I have to sew up the curtains I have for the room, and then get everything settled, then I hope to FINALLY show some photos.

Funny thing is, after all that work, it won't look like anything spectacular! *groan* No Better Homes and Gardens house here folks, just a working class middle class room, but I am excited so I suppose that counts for something lol....

I hope everyone had a happy Mothers Day yesterday!
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Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

After 12 years of waiting, Mom finally gets pregnant with my late brother. She was so happy!

This is her on the front porch of our house, the one I am renovating, holding my baby brother, shielded from the bright sun.

Not sure why all the scuffs showed up on this photo, it was taken on an overcast morning (this morning!)

My Mom and her Mom. Mom pregnant with my late brother, she brought her Mom out from the east coast for a visit. I think they are at Newport Beach CA in this photo.

Mom always wanted 6 children. She loved kids! Alas she only had us 3, but she was so happy to have us.

Happy Mothers Day Mom, I miss you!
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Show Us Your Vintage Cosmetics and Medicine Chest Goodies

2011-05-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

OK, so I added "...and Medicine Chest Goodies" for the guys. Do you guys collect vintage manly man stuff too? You know, like old Dapper Dan tins and shaving cream cups? I didn't want to limit this to the ladies only.

Now ladies, I KNOW you all have much better vintage cosmetic and make up collections than I do!!!

I tried to buy some vintage make up and such back when prices on eBay were insane. Then I had to resell some of it when times got tight. I don't have much left, never had much to begin with...

But show us all YOUR vintage cosmetics and shampoos and bottles of cremes and do dads and all that fun stuff you keep on your vanity!

Guys, show photos of your vintage guy stuff, you know, all the goodies you might have that a man would have owned back in the day.

Share on your blog, show off your collections!!

Happy Monday, sorry for the crappy photos, I'm still painting the master bedroom and stuff is all messed up in there so I couldn't arrange things nicely. I was just at that "I'm done painting!!!" stage when I realized, I still have to paint all the trim! Yay me!! lol... Oh yeah, and around inside the windows. Sigh, it never seems to end!!
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Small Pleasures

2011-04-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have not been around to all your blogs the past few days. My apologies!

Work has been causing me stress lately. Ahh but all of us who work have stress. Who wants to hear that! Boo! lol...

So I thought I'd take a few photos of a few of my favorites little things.

The little chenille cat has seen better days. I played with her as a little girl. She sits atop some small old books, which are no bigger than the palm of your hand. Love those little books!

The little vintage strawberry tea set Mom and I got in Julian CA about 20 years ago. Isn't it sweet?

I'm also 3/4 of the way done painting the master bedroom. Yay! But how boring to show that, so instead, a couple small cloth rag dolls Mom made. Love the jickity embroidery faces. Moms hand shook pretty badly, but that didn't stop her.

The mini perfume collection Mom and I amassed. Most of it. The older one's are in the other room.

And some photos of My lovely Mom when she was a girl.

Show us photos of some of your favorite small things, and remember, it's the little pleasures in life that bring us joy!

Happy Thursday to one and all.
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Hoppy Easter!!

2011-04-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Lovely vintage Easter goodie images borrowed from some talented people from the internet.

As much as I love mid-century stuff, I don't think I will ever get tired of looking at older vintage arrangements.

Just lovely to look at...

Of course the Easter bunny came to my house weeks ago, but I'd love some of these things as well.

Oh I already have enough goodness, but it's fun to look, isn't it?

I hope you all are having a happy healthy Easter, with family and friends and good food.

Time for me to hop away for today!
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Ready For Easter?

2011-04-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

I've been ready for 6 weeks now lol... Guess it was fun to decorate in advance.

Sweet bunny pillow, cat pillow I made for Mom many years ago, and our original and well-loved copy of the children's book The Velveteen Rabbit.

A few bunny things I bought for Mom (new) about 10 years ago.

Sorry, they are on high shelves which makes for bad photos... But they are displayed...

One of the many cloth doll rag rabbits Mom made. Hand sewn, not by machine, either. Real handmade.

Ugh, another bad angle of the print panel rooster, chicken and baby chicks in a vintage basket. Sorry, sorry, wasn't going to get up on a chair for a better shot lol...

The Easter bunny came early!

My bunny luvs See's candy lol...

Hard to wait until Easter morning to sample all the goodies!

Well, more fluff than content, I hope all of you are excited about Easter. I hope those of you who have wee one's will take photos of kids having fun on Easter egg hunts so the rest of us can enjoy them!

Happy Wednesday! Are YOU ready for Easter?!
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Giveaway at I Heart Everything

2011-04-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

A fantastic giveaway over at Ambers blog click HERE.

Go sign up, follow her blog and pass it on!

Amber, please do NOT put my name in the pot, I am waaaay to behind on giveaways to enter any more!! Just letting other folks know about your cool giveaway!

For those of you who own a vintage small business, or sell you art or whatever, check out my previous post below, or link at the side, to promote your own business!!
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Promote YOUR Business!

2011-04-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Do you have a small business selling retro, vintage or antiques? Are you a struggling artist? Then promote your business here!

I will post a link at the side of my blog, encouraging people to browse and shop from other bloggers. This is your chance to toot your own horn and advertise your own business... And it's 100% free!!

It is NOT limited to vintage only, artists and craftspeople are greatly encouraged as well.

The Rules:

If you own an online shop or run auctions from places like eBay, etsy or your own website, or if you have a brick and mortar store, or both, feel free to post a link and a brief description of what you sell. Include any other info such as an address if you own a store. Don't forget to mention the country your store is in too!!

You should have some sort of blog, or be a blog reader, however, if your ad/website is a professionally run "chain store" business, drop shipper, distributor or an ad for viagra, it will not be approved. This is to help the small business people in the blogsphere.

It should be related to retro, vintage or antiques, direct from the artist or handmade things. BUT I will consider just about any small business as long as you run it.

That's it!

Post up your info, and come back to browse other shops. I hope this helps everyone!

***Disclaimer***

Please shop responsibly. Good vibes only. =)
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How Is Everyone Doing?

2011-04-15T09:51:00.001-07:00

I got my wonderful 1950's floor lamp a few days ago, and I was so busy, the box sat there for two days before I could open it. I am so thrilled! Now I will be more thrilled when I get more light bulbs and test it ha ha. I'll grab one and check all the sockets out, just to be sure.

I am so sad to report, one of my favorite, favorite lamps... Died... DUM dum de DUMM...

The opening at the bottom is about 2-3" wide, and the screw is about 4" up inside that. Now how the HECK am I going to be able to rewire it if I can't reach the bottom bolt with conventional tools??? I tried unscrewing the lightbulb socket, and it does, but you can't "pull it up" to bring wire up too. Does that make sense?

Any suggestions? I'm so bummed!!

I have been so swamped with work, I have been out of commission. Not to mention internet problems and an afternoon spent trying to wrestle the "telephone interface network" box at the corner of my house open, to run some phone lines directly in and bypass the problem I am having with the inside wiring (all legal, I've been paying for two landlines and only able to use one the connection is so bad on the other). Still unable to open it!!! Will call someone in... Ugh lol...

I did do some browsing on eBay yesterday and watched as a most bitchin' 50's couch and chair sell for only $300... In gray, which I could have used, and have been looking for ages... (A couch in black, or gray if not black).

But I wasn't sure what freight shipping would be, and the auction was ending too soon. And... What if I get it, and it stinks??!!

Hope everyone is doing well. I have not had much time to read and comment on your blogs, but I should be able to now.

What a week! lol...
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1950's Retro Style Atomic Lamp Shade

2011-04-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is the third time I've seen this lamp come up for auction. Lamp shade, in this case.

And for the first time, the seller was honest and said it looked like "a 1980's re-pop of a 1950's style" which I am 99% sure is correct.

Still, I considered getting it, IF the price was reasonable.

Well, it's sold for $102 US. More than I was willing to pay, and gee, what a bidding war at the last few minutes! 40 bids!! People, learn about paying one big price and sniping!! lol...

Happy Wednesday to all my blog friends.

What do you think? Are 1950's, mid-century or vintage reproductions OK?

Yes or no?
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Still In Love With Telstar 1950's Predicta Repro Television Sets!

2011-04-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

I saw a terrible movie last night with an amazing 1950's interior design.

It had one of these 1950's Predicta T.V.s. I love these. And it's one of the very few reproductions I'd ever consider getting.

Have any of you ever priced these? I should call the company phone number. They don't list prices, but rather direct you to dealers who sell these. That doesn't sound very cheap.

But I keep coming back to these... And drooling...

Find the official website HERE.

And if any of you have priced these, please let us know what they run. Otherwise I'll make some calls myself! =)
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1950's Honeywell Thermometer

2011-04-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

It sits on your desk and reminds you how hot or cold it is. I like things that DO things: mirrors, radios, lamps, clocks, and thermometers, stuff like that.

It justifies my buying it: I can USE it.

And. . . It was a good price, of course.

There are a lot of deals on vintage things on eBay lately. I noticed in the 1940's browse section in particular. So many tempting things!!! But alas, I pass on a LOT of things... I have a lot of vintage things sitting on desks and dressers and shelves and such already. Things, I love my things, but I have limited space for my things. . . lol...

So, how do you justify your buying, or do you throw all caution to the wind and get what you like?
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Mad Men Style Original Advertising Art

2011-04-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

If I didn't already plan on putting up my own art and photos, I'd snap these up and frame them in my 50's home.

Original advertising art watercolors, auctions ending very soon. . . Around $10 - $13 at the moment. . .

Find the first one ending soon HERE.

Get them while you can, I'm passing on these, but I sure love them!!!
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More Painting - Hall: During and After

2011-03-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

The worst, most boring house renovation progression photos on the internet. Honestly, that's what I have!

Hall used to be a boring white, white, white. Now it's a pale butter yellow, with a light goldenrod trim. I had to remix the trim color myself, adding acrylic paint. It was too light, and, I've done it before. Good thing my old paints were still in great shape!

Walls painted, working on the trim color, and you can see where a very stupid 13 year old 1950's Atomic Ranch House lady painted her old room door with white semi gloss, and how it peeled off the door. Mostly. Looked like crap lol...

I was going to keep the doors in the hall way the original dark brown, but that would require so much more effort, (sand, stain, finish), that I decided painting the doors the same wall color was a better (read: easier) idea.

After!

Really brightened it up. I'm thrilled with the results, but people!! I'm going at a snails pace, here!! (I'm old, I have a crippled up back, and I have to work too).

The hall is so narrow, it was impossible to show all 6 doors.

At any rate, thought I'd post some progress photos. I know they are boring as heck, but it helps me to see some progress. So much work, so little to show!

I'll make some Googie style frames for the hall in green, I think. Put up some family photos.

Moving on to the master bed room next. Ho hum, but... Moving along!

Happy Thursday to all my blog friends!
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Mid-Century Eames 1950's Floor Lamp

2011-03-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

My newest baby!

After careful consideration, and a long time browsing, (oh, been looking about two years or so), I was able to score the freakin' awesome 1950's floor lamp in the colors I wanted, at a price I liked.

I know people prefer the floor to ceiling tension pole lamps. We used to have one when I was a kid.

By the way, we also had a matching tension pole set of shelves. I've never seen or heard of another. Have you?

At any rate, I carefully considered the pros and cons of the tension pole lamp, and went with the floor lamp.

There's no issue with it "working right", (meaning, it being able to be tight enough against the floor and ceiling), it can be easily moved, and it won't mess up any spots on the ceiling! And in my area, in case of a moderate earthquake, it stands a better chance of standing.

Fingers crossed the eBay gods will get it here in great shape, and that it's as advertised!!

The last set of killer triple tiered blond end tables I got?

Well, one back leg is an inch short! Really short! How the heck did that happen!?

Because they assemble in many pieces, I think if I reassemble it switching out the "legs" between each layer, eventually it will "right" itself, but jeepers, it seems every item I get has an issue!

But I'm happy to report, the big lamps I got for the master bedroom are fantastic! Big lamps is just what it needed. I almost settled on small table lamps.

I hope all your buying experiences are working out for you!

Happy Tuesday!
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Vintage SPUTNIK Antenna Booster 1950s Space Age Radio

2011-03-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Wow. This is so cool. It's supposed to boost your car radio antenna signal with space age technology.

It's a Sputnik designed, chrome antenna ball you put on your car antenna.

I doubt it really enhanced your radio signal, but it just enhanced this sellers pockets.

It sold for $191 US !!!
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Award Time - Your Blog Wins!!

2011-03-24T08:29:00.001-07:00

That's right! If you are reading this blog, and have a blog, your blog wins an award!

Designed by me in about 3 minutes. Only the best from 1950's Atomic Ranch House!

And as far as I know, this is the FIRST OF IT'S KIND 1950's Atomic Mid-Century Blog Award! Whoo hoo!! Congrats!!!! Just right click and grab your award!

(I had to upload this one elsewhere, because blogger made it look too blurry).

Not into Mid-Century? That's cool, I have a choice of TWO awards! Take both if you want!!

Now, a while back, our friend zootsuitmama awarded my blog, so I in turn need to award others.

But I'm one of those people who doesn't like to pick and choose when it comes to these things, because if you are not a winner, it kind of sucks, right?

And I love ALL your blogs!!

So everyone reading this wins an award!! Yay! Congrats!!

Pass on the awards, or not, as you see fit!

OK, the second part.

I think we are supposed to tell a few things that no one knows about us.

I'll do it if you all do it!! Please post your "No one knows I..." either here in comments, or on your blog, or not at all!

No pressure here!

OK, here goes:

I worked as a Cartographer (map maker), but I am directionally dyslexic.

I did a decade plus working as a Neotectonic Paleoseismologist. A fancy couple of words that means I did hard labor in remote areas of the southern California deserts, measuring the slip rate of the major Earthquake faults.

I earned about 200 awards for my artwork during the 5 or so years I showed it. I'd enter one show, win, and because I wasn't convinced, I'd enter a second and third year, just to make sure it wasn't a mistake lol...

Okie doke, now tell us a few things about yourself we didn't know!!
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Atomic Eames Mid-Century Design Art

2011-03-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

I put a token bid on the awesome Mid-century painted tray, but I let someone else have it.

What I really want, is simply the image, because I still plan on painting "original" 1950's artworks for my walls. I'm an artist, or so they tell me, so I can't justify buying any art when I can make my own, and in the huge sizes I want.

But I love this design, and it will be a breeze to recreate it and embellish on the design, on a large canvas.

Back to more house wall painting today, though, no fun artwork for me. Boo!!

Do any of you make art? What kind?

Happy Wednesday to all my blog friends!
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More House Painting Zzzzzzz

2011-03-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

So I buy an interior paint called "Cypress", and I'm thinking it will be a very pale goldenrod yellow color like this. That's what the color chip looked like. I think. You know how those things look different in the store.

But I roll the color on the hall way walls yesterday, and it looks like this: a very pale yellow GREEN color!

I have one of those fancy-schmancy LCD computer screens, so the color on your screen may vary considerably, and they look very close in color, but believe me, on the walls it becomes all too obvious!

Now that I look at both of them, they both have a sort of green-ish color. Ugh.

I want a very pale orange-y yellow, not too baby nursery looking, but not too lemon-y. Make sense? lol...

I guess I'll be making yet another trip to the paint store again... I can't tell you how many times I have gone through this color stuff when it comes to house paint!!

Besides, what was I thinking when all I bought was a small quart of goldenrod color to do the trim around 6 doors? It might do one and a half lol.

Oh well, happy Monday to all my blog friends everywhere, I hope your chores and projects are going better than mine!!
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WARNING! If You Are Diabetic - Do NOT Enter! Spring Cookies!!

2011-03-19T06:33:00.001-07:00

I do a lot of off the wall image searches on google, and the other day I plugged in "Spring Cookies".

WOW! Look what I found!!!

(All photos ripped off from the internet, but used with dignity).

These look sooo good!

I know they use a certain type of frosting for most of these...

It's sort of a liquid frosting, and you can "paint" with it.

I've bought some pre-made cookies like these before...

And as good as they look, some of them are hard and crumbly, which isn't to my personal taste.

But how delightful to be invited over for coffee, and have cookies like these presented! I imagine they are wonderful when fresh...

I'm not much of a cook myself. A T.V. dinner is about the best I can manage...

But for those of you who do cook, I bet these are a wonderful inspiration!

They look sooo charming, it makes me want to try making these!

So for those of you who are still in the midst of winter...

Bring a little Spring to your home by baking and decorating something like these!

And if you do, please share photos on your blog!

Happy Spring to all my blog friends... (No matter what part of the world you live in, and even if it's Fall for you lol)

I think I will go buy me some sweets today!

Happy Saturday to everyone!
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Atomic Radioactive Fallout

2011-03-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well, they say the radiation from Japan is hitting the west coast of the USA as I speak lol. That would be me and my atomic ranch house.

No, Chris the 1950's Atomic Ranch House cat does not have radioactive eyes, but in every photo I take of him, he sure seems to!

In light of the subject, (but not to make light of it), I thought I'd remind everyone of the real threat of nuclear and atomic concerns during the Cold War era of the 1950's.

At one time, I blogged about my interest in collecting some of the surplus Civil Defense stuff for sale on eBay like this Geiger counter radiation detector:

Quite a bit of it is new old stock, and very cool. There is an interesting amount of it available.

Given the hysteria now though, you will have to wait at least a year before prices on CD radiation testing kits and such are affordable again.

I did opt for an official Fallout Shelter sign.

Oh and some propaganda Atomic books and such:

Because every 1950's Atomic Ranch House needs to have good information, just in case...

I grew up with my late older brother talking about the effects of radiation poisoning, and how many "prime targets" were in my area (there were, and still are, a lot of military bases here in southern California). I guess that influenced me a great deal, as I still have nightmares about nuclear winter.

Watching movies like "Panic in Year Zero":

Only made me more frightened, and with some good reason. The threat of atomic bombs WAS real. The 50's weren't always the "good old days" as many might like to think.

Two shows I'd like to highly recommend are a very campy documentary, or "mockumentary" called "The Atomic Cafe":

Synopsis

The film covers the beginnings of the era of nuclear warfare, created from a broad range of archival film from the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s - including newsreel clips, television news footage, U.S. government-produced films (including military training films), advertisements, television and radio programs. News footage reflected the prevailing understandings of the media and public. A quote which illustrates how the producers used archival footage to illustrate the absurdity of the government's public nuclear propaganda of the time:

Civil defense film: Be sure to include tranquilizers to ease the strain and monotony of life in a fallout shelter. A bottle of 100 should be sufficient for a family of four. Tranquilizers are not a narcotic, and are not habit-forming.

Though the topic of atomic holocaust is a grave matter, the film approaches it with black humor. Much of the humor derives from the modern audience's reaction to the old training films, such as the Duck and Cover film shown in schools. A quote to illustrate what can be perceived as black humor culled from the archives:

And a very sobering documentary (there are several excellent one's) called "Radio Bikini":

Radio Bikini is a 1988 documentary film directed by Robert Stone.[1] It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1988 for Best Documentary Feature.

The film documents the nuclear tests performed around Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads in 1946, and their effects on the indigenous population and American servicemen involved in the testing.

These three videos will give you a good sense of the feeling at the time from a few different perspectives.

I suppose I am mentioning all this today is because of the radiation hitting my coast, and because we have come to associate the word "atomic" with cool furniture and lamps, when it was borne out of something serious (as a small reminder), and because I am a realist, so I (personally) think we should not rewrite and romanticize the past.

There were some pretty awful things during those times... You know, like DDT, polio, Veterans returning from WWll with PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, no seatbelts, women and minority rights were sparse at best, the mentally and physically challenged were hidden in institutions and given lobotomies and electro-shock therapy, thalidomide and the awful deformations of so many babies, hydrogen and atomic bomb threats... Well, you get the point lol... But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the wonderful things about the 50's, I simply think we also shouldn't forget the terrible parts either.

So I hope everyone is keeping all things in perspective on this super fine Friday!
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Oh Gee, Don't You Hate Missing An Auction?

2011-03-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

It's a real challenge finding curtains for the Space room. Two windows, one small, one medium. In the colors I want, in a style I want, for an affordable price.

I had my eye on these, but alas, I was dealing with a business client, and the auction ends just as I'm hanging up the phone.

Arg!

Ending price for two sets of curtains in the right size, style, colors and price was $12. $12!! I'm kicking myself.

The price one pays for being an entrepreneur. Sigh.

So, here I sit on the west coast. All kinds of conflicting info is going around about the threat of radioactive fallout from Japan.

Sales for Geiger counters is way up. I've posted about those before when I was tempted to buy some 1950's Cold War surplus.

But, it's hard to know what the real danger is, and as frightening as this is, I imagine this is what it felt like to be under nuclear threat back in the 50's. It wasn't all Betty Crocker and Leave It To Beaver!

Hope all my blog friends are doing well today!
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Is It Racist and Offensive or Simply Vintage Kitsch?

2011-03-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was poking around some different blogs, and came across a heated debate where the blog owner bought, among other things, a mid-century "African Zulu" type statue. It had big red lips, a caricature of sorts, much like the image above. (I won't mention names or blogs as she was really inundated with comments, mostly negative, and has closed comments to that post, regardless).

Now while I skimmed the responses, it seems a lot of people took offense to the black statue she'd bought and planned to display in her home, calling it "racist and offensive".

The discussion continued, and the question was asked: Are all vintage black statues considered "racist"...?

What if the person collecting it was Black themselves? Would that make a difference?

Or what about the negative stereotype of the "lazy mexican" taking a siesta. This was brought up a few years ago when a restaurant depicted a man in a sombrero, taking a siesta, and people called it "racist".

Does this statue also become racist?

Is it sexist to show pin-up models of a silly blond without a clue, who only caters to men and doesn't ask any questions because women are only good as sex kittens without brains?

Or is this sexist because it shows women doing "men's work"...?

What about the Japanese stereotypes? The big grin, the broken English. Racist?

Is this also racist, or not, and why?

Would you instantly dislike someone if you knew they collect Nazi memorabilia?

What if their Grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. Would your opinion change?

Or photos of Nazi's. Would you leave someone's house who had a photo of a Nazi displayed?

What if you later found out it was Oskar Schindler? A man who saved many Jews?

I'm curious what your thoughts are about this subject. Should we get rid of all "offensive" vintage things, and never display them, or enjoy them as an item from a different time, no offense intended?
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Candy We Ate As Kids

2011-03-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

I came across one of those websites that sells "vintage" candy. You know, the candy most of us (oldsters) ate as kids. But they sell candy from various different eras.

In poking around a bit, I found several/many websites that offer the candy we ate as kids.

Some online stores offer different kinds, so you need to look around if you are searching for something specific.

Here is one online company that sells old fashioned candy, click HERE!

Here is another one click HERE!

Ironically, as I was posting this very post, a news story came on TV. They now have franchise stores here in southern California that sell both candy, and old fashioned soda! I don't think they sell online, but hope they do soon. Check out Rocket Fizz stores HERE.

So what was YOUR favorite candy as a kid???

Do you have any stories to share with us??

Post your favorite childhood candy and favorite memories!
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Vintage 1950's Space Rocket Moon Bedspread

2011-03-11T08:16:00.001-08:00

Another addition to the Space room!

I have a similar bedspread in brown, and mid-century pillows for my Space room in green and brown.

I love the bold design of this one!

My two, triple tiered blond end tables arrived yesterday, and they look amazing! Will assemble them today, I can't wait!

Happy Friday, I hope all my friends in Japan are safe, my thoughts go out to them today! I'm near-ish the southern California coast, so the tsunami waves are due to hit in.. Minutes!
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ChemCraft Senior Atomic Energy Chemistry Lab Kit - One for the Guys!

2011-03-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

I want this!!

My apologies to my male viewers who may have hit the back button in terror as they checked out my ultra-fem pink room in my last post. I am acutely aware how things like pink frilly fru-fru stuff can make grown men break out in a cold sweat lol...

Now I grew up with two older brothers (and NO, I was NOT spoiled in any way, shape or form, in fact, they used to beat me up lol). So it makes sense that I thought a lot of the "boy toys" were pretty cool too. I wasn't a "tom boy", but hey, airplane models and chemistry kits and such were, well, cool!

It's my understanding that this 1950's ChemCraft Senior Atomic Enegry Chemistry Lab Kit is like the holy grail of chem lab kits, and it looks to be in about as pristine condition as one can find (save for what looks like one missing implement or tool).

******Edit*****
Upon closer inspection, I think the "missing" place is where one of the booklets goes, so this seems to be a complete kit!!

Makes me want to create atomic energy!!!

I've been watching this auction with some interest, because somewhere I read that these can go for thousands of dollars in good shape. Well, with the economy and all, this one might be a "deal".

I do think this is very, very neat. If it were more affordable, or if I were big on collecting chemical kits, I'd be snapping this one up.

Currently at $293.00 as of this post, I wonder where it will end tomorrow?

Find auction HERE.

If one of my blogger friends buys this, let us know!

*****EDIT*****

Auction ended at a mere $316!! Sounds like a deal to me!!!
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The Pink Room - Before and After

2011-03-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

I warn you, this is not a big change!

But a few asked so... Here goes...

Here are the before pictures of the awful, dark, cheap 1960's Colonial Revival dresser and mirror I had in the "pink" room...

And the vintage crib I removed and replaced with shelves.

Shabby chic warning!!! Shabby chic warning!!!

It's not my intent to recreate this look, even though I do like it, but given what I have to work with in this room for now, I guess you could call it that.

After!!

I slapped a few coats of off-white paint on the dresser and mirror frame. Slapped that paint right over drawer knobs and pulls and everything. And it does look better!

Wrong chair in there (one of my kitchen chairs), the floors need to be redone, I still have too much "stuff" in this room, but it's all sentimental stuff that Mom, Grandma and I owned when I was a kid.

Mom loved the Colonial look, bless her heart, (her Mom was raised in a proper Victorian household), so, this is why I have quite a bit in here. This was her room as she needed to be cared for in her last few years. And she loved to have all of her beloved things around her. I'm far too sentimental to just throw everything she owned out. It would be like throwing her life out!

The shelves I also painted white...

Too much stuff! Still getting it settled, will have to get rid of some of it, but ta-da! This is what I have been doing the past few weeks!

Yes, yes, I know. The color of the walls are awful!!!!

Learn from me:

Never ever ever paint your walls a straight pink color thinking it will look good. Use a very pale pink, or a peach-pink color.

It was painted about 10 years ago and will have to wait for a new color. Too much else to do!

So, as I said, not much change, not much to show, but it sure took me a long time to get it done!

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Monday!
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1950's Blonde End Tables and Lamps

2011-03-06T05:11:00.000-08:00

A couple new additions.

I had to think hard, really hard about whether or not I could *use* these end tables. I just got a set with a matching table a few months ago...

But I have never seen a set that had a triple tier! The price was right, I was the only bidder... So... Fingers crossed they arrive as described and they will be mine.

I'm not 100% crazy about these lamps, but I discovered that little bedside lamps were too small in the master bedroom on those end tables.

When I put a full sized lamp on one of them? Perfect. So I wanted to get a tall set that did NOT have a double tier shade like I like (the end tables are so close to the wall, the big drum shades prevent them from sitting on the table!), so these were both tall enough, had the right matching shades, and pink and blue are the colors for the master bedroom.

So rather than wait and wait and wait for the "perfect" pair of pink lamps, or a match to a single I have, and the "right" shades, I went ahead and bought these.

That is, assuming the seller honors the "shipping is free if you use the Buy It Now feature" and sends me an adjusted invoice ;)

Happy Sunday one and all!

I finished painting the shelves, dresser and mirror frame in bedroom #1. Finally! Now trying to "fit" things on the shelves in there without making it look too crazy busy. Will show the before and after pics, but believe me, it won't look like much.

Hope all my blog friends are doing well!
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Thank You Vintage Christine - From The Bottom of My Heart!!!

2011-03-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Vintage Christine, I was just blown away by the gift she sent me.

This ah-mazing pulp space paperback!

Perfect perfect for my space room/office!

The graphics on the cover are pure mid-century art, and the other reason why this is special, well, Christine knows. ;)

Christine, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! It brought a tear to my eye.

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Carlo of Hollywood Frames Thanks starduster58

2011-03-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

One of our blog friends who hasn't actually started a blog yet, emailed me these amazing Carlo of Hollywood frames he both made, and bought. The above photo is a valance I believe he made himself, in the Carlo of Hollywood style!

Can you tell which frames he made, and which are originals?

Excellent, I wish I had these!

He also made his own gravel art! Remember I had a post about that a while ago. I hope mine look as good as his!

And I believe he made this too? Or he bought it, but regardless, it's so cool!

starduster58, I hope you start your own blog, I posted a tutorial in my last post, but you can google for easy to follow instructions yourself.

We sure would love LOVE to see the cool 50's stuff you have!!

I just want a big pair, ok and a small pair of Carlo of Hollywood frames in my master bedroom!

Errr maybe a set in the kitchen too? The living room? Hallway? lol....

Sorry this post is a bit rushed, I decided since I painted the shelves in one room, now I have to paint the dresser too grrr... So I'm trying to rush and get that finished...
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I Am Painting Shelves Zzzzzz The Boring Part of Home Renovation

2011-02-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

Oh sure, I want this he-man to PLEASE come paint my shelves for me!

Photo unceremoniously ripped off from the internet because the cat just can't seem to hold the camera and click the shutter button at the same time and take a photo of me painting.

You can see he is trying real hard here to take my photo... (I assure you, that's not a yellow area in his fur, but a spot on the lense!).

The drudgery part of home renovating, is, well, dull!! And hard work.

I can't tell you how much "stuff" I had to move, to get those shelves moved into another bedroom. And all that "stuff" has to sit there, mocking me, until I can get the shelves painted.

My old lady hands don't like holding a heavy paint roller!

And those furniture glide dealies in my last post?

It was more like: push shelf 1 foot, scoot one loose pad back under corner of shelves with toe, move, scoot loose pad, move, and there I did the dance until both shelves were in the proper room. I was NOT smiling like the woman on the package!

But I have some Carlo of Hollywood frames to show you next post, that our blogging friend starduster58 both made himself, and owns! I'm trying to get him to start his own blog so we can see all his cool 50's stuff!!

starduster58, if you are reading this, click HERE is a tutorial on how to start your blog, it's so easy, the hard part is signing up, and you've already done that!

Happy Monday! How is everyone doing?
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Major Tom? Buzz?

2011-02-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

Another addition to the Space Room/Office. NASA astronaut bank.

I tend to doubt these are very "vintage", but will "fit" in the room fine. It sure was affordable!

If you know for a fact these were made, say, in 1995, please do NOT tell me! I want to live with the illusion it's mid-century, therefore will fit with all the other mid-century. I'm cheating a bit for the space room to include stuff up until man walked on the moon, rather than the "no later than 1960" rule I try to stick by.

I've also been shopping for big, vintage, built airplane models.

I just want one. OK maybe two.

Was outbid on a nice 1950's Starlifter last night (grrrr), and a space Apollo capsule a few days ago grrrr.

I want maybe one or two vintage built models of flight to hang from the ceiling in here, the Space/office room. But I don't feel like spending much money on them. I've spent enough on the modern things in this office as it is!

Happy Saturday. Will be trying out those furniture moving glide pads today on some big shelves. I sure hope they work as good as advertised! They were hard to move the first time. Fingers crossed these will help:

They are used like this, under the feet of the furniture:

I hope I'm smiling like that gal is!!
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Speaking of Vintage Easter Egg Craft Kits...

2011-02-24T01:37:00.000-08:00

These 70's Easter egg craft kits were mentioned by Wanda, on my last post.

So can any of you tell me WHY these sold for $98.34??!!

Yikes!!!!

I wouldn't pay more than $1.00!
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Is It Too Early For Easter?

2011-02-22T16:21:00.001-08:00

It's only TWO months away!!!

OK, I missed bringing out my few vintage Valentines, so got out the Easter stuff. I was curious to see if Mom still had this one pink egg she made.

Mom also used to have a pair of the nice white bunnies, but the late, and great cat Charlie got to goofing around in the living room one day, and knocked one off the shelf.

Aww sure do miss this guy. He was the sweetest most unassuming pet friend! I couldn't get mad at him, he was just curious and exploring like cats do.

At any rate, back around the 70's Mom started to make these decoupaged eggs. She used bits of wrapping paper and glued them to chicken eggs we prepared. They are "mid-century" if you count the 70's, I guess they are vintage too, but it's hard to think of things as "vintage" that I grew up with!

If you are that curious, click on the image for a larger view...

It was this pink styrofoam egg that got me wondering. I remember Mom making this way back, had to be the early 70's. It's simple: Pink headed pins, some white lace and plastic dove and flowers all covered with a varnish that's already turning tea-colored by age. But it charms the heck out of me now. I guess because she is gone and I attach all kinds of sentimentality to the things she made or had.

Back around the late 70's, early 80's they re-issued copies of these German cardboard eggs, and Mom bought these. I've seen them sold all over eBay as "antique". I'm sure they are re-issues like these. I'm sure most sellers may not know that either.

Well, except for the fact they always LOOK about 30 years old as opposed to 80 years old. Huh....

And some 1981 Enesco tin eggs. Whatever she had saved, I got out.

Nice and simple, I'm sure I have a few other things, but what the heck! Why not bring out the bunnies now! By Easter, I should have hundreds if they do what bunnies do haaa haaa....

And a HUGE thank you to my friend Vintage Christine who sent me an adorable sheet of puffy vintage style robot stickers!

So adorable! perfect with my other space stuff, and the space notebook she gave me. Thank you! I have my eye on a few more space things on eBay right now... Fingers crossed!

Happy Tuesday!
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The Vintage Laundry Room Challange

2011-02-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

Our friend zootsuitmama challenged us to show our vintage laundry rooms.

Well, I don't have one. Long story short, the washer and dryer are supposed to be hooked up just inside the small garage door, but decades ago the drain would not drain, and a plumber told my folks they'd have to tear up the concrete garage floor to fix it, and Dad never had the money for that, so we toted our laundry to laundermats forever.

Next time you complain about doing laundry in your own house, think of having to haul it to a laundermat like I did my whole life lol. (I never miss an opportunity to bitch and moan lollll)

OK, so rant over, I thought I would grab some photos off the internet to see what other folks' vintage laundry rooms looked like.

I love this collection of laundry soaps and such. You can find deals on these, on eBay.

Oh huh, seen a lot of these coin laundry signs throughout my life!

Another cute sign.

Love how they hid the modern stuff in old stuff.

OK, not sure a stack of old picnic baskets qualifies, but I love the storage idea here.

And some clever person has made a medicine chest from old scrub boards with glass scrubbers.

Mom used to wash her laundry on these old washboards back in the day.

Thanks to zootsuitmama for the post idea! Maybe one day I will get my own washer and dryer to work here at 1950's Atomic Ranch House (will be getting a second opinion on it, that's for sure, the plumber years ago may have been wrong!).
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Carlo of Hollywood Frames - A Great Item To Sell - Easy Money to Make

2011-02-18T04:21:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I took a shot at bidding on a pair of original Carlo of Hollywood frames. The iconic, asymmetrical blonde wood frames sold for more than my entire blonde wood set of night stands and table. Sigh.

But I came across these three auctions where some clever person has made their own, and offered them for sale.

I figured I would not be able to afford them (they were about 9" x 7" to 3" x 5" on the openings, and sold for $54, $73 and $67), and I was right.

Too rich for my blood being reproductions made of substandard wood (the wood grain being one of the things that made original Carlo of Hollywood frames great, and the pine knots in this wood are embarrassing to any wood worker worth their salt) and unfinished, to boot.

Description:

SET OF TWO
CARLO OF HOLLYWOOD STYLE FRAMES

Personalize your home with these mid century modern style custom frames.
Take these to a glass shop to get a glass cut to fit, and then use cardboard for backing. Simple as that!

DIMENSIONS
Picture opening: 7 3/4" x 9 3/4"
Top horizontal: 13 3/4"
Bottom horizontal: x 10 3/8"
Sides: 14"

Sanded and ready to paint.

NO BUY IT NOW

Check out my other listing for more frames.

Made of 3/4" pine wood.

But what a clever idea to make reproductions, because if they were priced right, or larger, or a bit more finished, I would pay what they were worth... AS reproductions.

So if you are a handy and need an idea to make some money, it wouldn't take much to make these frames, and they would sell for some decent money on eBay and etsy.

Just a tip or idea from me to you! I'd love a larger and medium sized pair of these, so if any of you make these (or your hubby or BF), please let me know (and maybe give me a discount for the selling idea lol). =)

Happy Friday!
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Atomic Eames Cigarette Set!

2011-02-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

Quite often I will come across individual pieces, and later discover they are actually part of a set.

Case in point:

I first saw the cigarette case in this awesome atomic Eames design months ago... (above)

Then I saw the case and the bowl (ashtray?) in another auction, months ago.

Today I find the bowl and a matching lighter!

So now we know, this came in a matching set of three (that we know of). If you are interested, find the auction HERE.

*********Please note: I have no idea who the seller is, I have no association with them, nor will I get anything for mentioning their auction. Please bid responsibly at all times. Thank you.

I do love this design, but I won't be bidding on it myself, so let the highest bidder grab this very cool set! I've seen the cig case more often, so I'm sure you will find a matching one with a bit of patience.

But now you know it's a trio!

If one of my blogger friends wins this auction, let us know!!
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Keeping It Simple

2011-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

These days I really make a big effort to buy things I can use.

I have the smallest kitchen counter in the world: About 9' x 3' of useable space, so I have to keep the beloved pink kitchen appliances and things to a bare minimum.

I bought these because I use a lot of things to "doctor up" my morning coffee: Sweet-n-low, cremora, sugar free hot cocoa, so those packets can go in these, rather then the unsightly boxes they come in.

Used to buy whatever I could find for cheap in Thrift stores.

Now I am very picky.

I keep each room to particular color schemes which limits buying, and strive to buy fewer, bigger items rather than a lot of smaller things (a mistake I made for many years!). And of course, I'm particular about my things being from the 50's, with a few perhaps from the 40's and older (as any 50's house would have things that are older, but not newer).

Just a couple of tips which worked well for me so far.

What sorts of tips or tricks do you use to keep your place pulled together and looking retro/vintage?

Happy Wednesday!
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A GOOD eBay Transaction!

2011-02-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

Well, this is something to brag about! The pink vintage vanity chair arrived, all in one piece, packed just right, and as good as described! Yea!

What else am I doing?

I cleared off the vintage baby crib because I decided, it has to be sacrificed for a pair of shelves in the "pink" room. Sigh.

It has a sweet design on the side, but you can start to see why I need more space. Mr Rooster is in the way.

Then when you look at the bed and all Moms dollies I took out of the crib, (she made a lot more, the rest are in the closet and under the bed!), you see what I am dealing with...

The bed looked good before this, I promise you!

But there is still too much "stuff" in this room, and it needs to go on shelves rather than grow out on the floor in corners and spaces where stuff should not be.

So I am moving the two shelves from the master bed room, into the pink room.

Where I will put the stuff on these shelves is beyond me. And you can see the master bedroom still has too much "stuff" itself.

I'll have to go back through the closets and make more room in there. I don't like stuff sitting on the floor filling corners!

Meanwhile, I hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day!

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Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day from 1950's Atomic Ranch House!

I am moving some stuff around in anticipation of moving furniture etc. around, and while I had the vintage baby crib cleared off, I thought I'd put a few of my favorite hand sewn dolls Mom made in it. Snap a few photos before I have to move more stuff around.

Mom would literally hand stitch her dolls. Needle and thread. I tried to sew up as many as I could with my old machine, but didn't always have much time, so Mom would simply do it on her own. In her later years she had a condition which made her hands shake, sometimes very badly, so she could not use the machine. That didn't stop her!

This is a Victorian style button baby. So cute! The back of her head is sewn with all buttons. She made a pair of these, one for me and one for her. Tea-dyed cloth, sweet pink ribbons.

Victorian Rosie is the name of this one. Again, she made a pair, one for me and one for her. It's hard to tell, but Rosie has green wooden garden stakes as arms and legs, with roses wired to it, making her hands and feet. Velvet dress with rose leaves and trim. Pink ribbon hair.

A sweet baby cloth doll with pink hair. She made 3 of these, and 3 more in a larger size (for each of us kids). I love that you can see where she (or I, I forget) used a pencil to sketch the design to embroider the face.

OK, call me silly, but I thought they needed some dolly tea, so I set out the vintage strawberry doll tea set Mom and I got in Julian, a sweet little mountain resort area here in California, that had a lot of antique shops and such.

The set is quite small, it looks big here because it's in the front.

I hope all my fellow bloggers have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
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Well It's About Time!

2011-02-12T02:54:00.000-08:00

3+ weeks later and the footstool finally arrived, not mailed until 3 weeks had gone by. They included a nice note, and they did say it could take up to a month when you read the fine print, but jeez...

They wrapped it well... Too well! Wrapped it and the legs in the saran wrap from hell lol... About a mile of it.

But still, three weeks to get an item mailed out is too long from a seller who is not a high volume seller, so they will get rated as such on the star rating. I can't rate them high on fast shipping.

I also got my vintage artist box and supplies. Can you see the little compartment to the right, with the four charcoal sticks in it? Well, they stuffed the box with easter grass... Yes, easter grass, wrapped it in cardboard and duct tape, and mailed her off.

Err they didn't really "stuff" the grass in there, they simply laid a bunch on top of everything so the brushes and charcoal sticks still banged around inside the box.

So of course the charcoal banged around and broke in transit, covering the inside of the box with a nice black dust coating, not to mention some dirt that was already in there got spread around.

The brushes felt dry... Very dry. This is the second time I bought used artist brushes advertised as: "still have a lot of life left in them".

Hmmm, we shall see.

Am I being too picky here? I've been wanting a vintage artist box for about 10 years now, but until lately, they always sold for a lot of money. So I didn't break the bank with this one, but I'll have to really clean it out.

These vases turned out to be in new condition, and yes! They really are pink in color, as advertised, not the yellow color in the photos. They also took a few weeks to get here because the seller said they were in a car wreck on the way to mail a bunch of eBay packages, and were in the hospital a few days. Hmmm, wow, I hate to sound jaded, but I've been on the internet long enough to know that people say a lot of things.

However, I am happy with these.

So I don't know. I think I am very reasonable, I try to shop carefully, but virtually every purchase comes with some kind of aggravation these days.

I haven't sworn off buying, but gee... Getting more discouraged!

Thanks for letting me vent!! Happy Saturday!
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What's In YOUR Drawers?

2011-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

No, not those lol...

I'm fully aware that this post will rank right around "mildly interesting" to "downright boring", but I do like to strive to make regular posts... And since eBay hasn't been very kind to me, I'm not buying much these days.

So I thought I would go around, open a few random (well, mostly random) drawers in the 1950's Atomic Ranch House and show what's inside.

I'd love it if some of you did the same on your blogs, because it feeds those of us who are curious (nosy!).

The above photo shows my vintage hankey collection stored in dark green holder, vintage hose, hat and my chinchilla collar I bought years ago.

Velvet black hat, pink and white beaded purses and some silk scraps I intend to mend an old crazy quilt with.

Glove box, red and black Bakelite buttons, Art Deco old photo of a couple on a crescent moon, and those chalkware fish I got for the bathroom. Miller Studios, I believe, in pink, for a great price!

Butterscotch Bakelite buttons (about the only bakelite I could ever afford, found in jars of buttons scored at Thrift stores back when there was still stuff to score), misc plastic flowers in basket, vintage ceramic stuff.

I have a lot of old family photos, a bunch in drawers and more in bags (eek!!!) that I must get better organized, but am not sure how. Albums? Boxes? Hmm.

Vintage Valentines I scored over the years, some from the family. Time to get these out before the 14th!!

And a lot of basic ephemera (and more photos) from the family. Some drawers in our house never got cleaned out, so I have finger paintings from childhood and the recipts from things like the 1959 car Dad bought.

I have been itching to get back into my Altered Art (my "serious art" will have to wait), and intend on incorporating all of this in my "Family Altered Book" I started a few years ago (and need to work on... After I get a new printer).

I also have a shoe box of old letters Mom kept, that she wrote to her Mom, and I will read those in time.

I always envisioned my 1950's house having everything "period" right down to what's in drawers and cabinets, so this isn't a "mistake" or happenstance sort of thing.

So, if you have made it this far, I thank you! I know this wasn't terribly exciting, but if like me, you are running out of blog post ideas, snap a few pics of what's inside your drawers so I can see too!

Happy Thursday!
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The GJB Fan Club - Vintage Christine

2011-02-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is SO adorable! Vintage Christine started a fan club for her wonderful father George, and she sent out little lockets with his photo, wrapped up in sweet paper, placed in a decorated match box!

Christine, it was soooo charming to get your little package, and what a wonderful Daughter you are to your Dad!

Christine! Have you told us a few things about your Dad, so when we write to him, we know a bit about him? Was he in the service? What kind of work did he do? His hobbies past and present? Music he likes?

She invited us to drop him a letter, and I want to do so, and be able to mention some of the things he likes.

I already know what to send him, but I'd love to hear a bit more about him. If I have missed a blog post where you answered all this, please forgive me, I don't recall.

Shoot me an email if you'd rather answer there!

He reminds me so much of my Dad in his later years. I'll have to dig out a photo of my Dad with his white beard too. =)
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Your Worst Online Buying Experience?

2011-02-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

I almost emailed the seller of this footstool to ask if it had been mailed yet? Then I saw where they left crappy replies to anyone who complained about the shipping time! Ahhh my fault for not looking at the feedback as closely as I should have. I'm usually very careful about it.

At any rate, when I went to ask the seller a question, I clicked on the "where is my item" dealie and it gave a tracking number which said it was FINALLY mailed out and en route. Jeeeez I hope it arrives in one piece, this seller is a doozy!

So what have been your biggest or most "memorable" online purchase disappointment(s)?

I have so many, I wouldn't know where to start!!
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When Did You Start Buying and Collecting Vintage?

2011-02-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I come from a very modest family, so I was checking out yard sales and thrift shops, ohhhh about several+ decades now. I think I started a bit out of necessity, and a bit from thinking old stuff was cool.

Among my very first purchases were the tinsel trees (2 of them) for 25 cents,

and my Steiff Gussy cat, also 25 cents. Jeepers she looks dirty in this photo! It's my bad photography.

Oh these were not "popular" back then, simply a couple of the few lucky deals I got.

Back then, if the other kids found out you shopped "second hand", they gave you crap. But I loved looking at all the old treasures, and I always found things I loved and were affordable to me.

I continued buying, never stopped, really. Mom and I used to make all the thrift shop rounds. It was so much fun looking for treasures!

And as much grief as eBay has given me, it puts you in touch with things you could never buy locally. At least around here. Not to mention how fun it still is to "shop" eBay looking for that must-have item.

So what about you?

When did you fall in love with vintage buying and collecting, and what were the first things you bought?
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Where Is My Footstool?

2011-02-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

Over two weeks since I won and paid.

Info says:

Sale date: 01/16/11
Tracking number: --
Estimated Delivery: 01/31/11 - 02/08/11

Wellll, ok, it does say until Feb. 8.

*rolling eyes* lol...

Isn't there a 30 day window in which you can file a complaint? Or is that 45 days? Just in case, I'm sure it'll arrive (fingers crossed this one isn't broken).

Just missed the high bid on a nice bench for my desk. Well, I wasn't going to go crazy just because it was a sort of "name brand" and gee it looks just like the one the desk USED to have... Grump grumble... Watch these damn auctions all week, it sits at $5, it ends at waaaay more than I am willing to pay because I don't want to spend hundreds on a damn desk chair!! #%@&%!!!

Nooo I'm not mad about it! I've only been looking for a couple years now. =/

Happy Wednesday! Hope all my friends in the snow regions are safe! It's cold and windy here in southern CA USA!
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