Craftsy Classes on Sale until Sept 17

Just got an email today that Craftsy classes are on sale for $19.99 until Sept. 17th. So many rockabillies are DIYers so I thought I'd put this out in the blogosphere. Here are some of my faves:

Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dresses

Drab to Fab Furniture Upcycling

Product Photography Primer

Sin In Linen- Rockabilly and Tiki Linens

I just came across the Sin in Linen website today and it is to die for! Why sleep on everyday sheets when you can rock it up, right? I can't wait til I am done with graduate school and get a day job so I can buy some of these lovelies. They do have a sale section though, so maybe I don't have to wait.

They carry bedding, kitchen, home decor and bath items. They also have baby bedding! I also like that it is a woman-run business and they have a great tagline- "Try Something New in Bed!" Doesn't get any better than that...

Adorable Retro Aprons- Carolyn's Kitchen

Navy Petite Apron $56

I have been a fan of Carolyn's Kitchen for a while, but they just came out with a new line of adorable polka-dot aprons that I LUV! They even have matching garters. Make sure and sign-up for their newsletter for specials.

Free Vintage Apron Pattern

Bramcost Publications is having a fun 12 days of vintage handmade party where they are posting free patterns from their various vintage books. Todays post is a free vintage apron pattern that is super cute and not very difficult to sew.

Giddyap Bartender!

Unique 1950s Cowboy bar for sale in Utah- only $350. Comes with matching saloon doors!

Saw this post on the bar on Retrorenovation.com and had to repost just in case one of my awesome readers lives close by. The story behind the house this is in is worth a visit to the blog. I just love the detail on the bar top and it looks to be in perfect condition.

If you are interested, you can view the direct  classified ad here.

YEEHAW!

Boudoir On a Budget

pic from retrogasm

The idea of a boudoir is fascinating to me. According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of boudoir is "a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room" and the term derives from the French word bouder meaning to pout or to sulk. 

Well, if I am going to pout somewhere I want it to be FABULOUS! So I put together an etsy treasury of boudoir items all under $15 called Boudoir On a Budget.

Boudoir On a Budget treasury by Tart Deco

Coincidence or Karma?

So after posting yesterday's post about losing my Mojo, I just happened to get an article link emailed to me by sparkpeople.com called Going Through the Emotions. If you don't know about Sparkpeople, it is an online resource to help you get healthy, including a great nutrition tracker. I found it is very similar to weightwatchers online- but free! Anyhoo, the article touches on the very thing I posted on- feeling overwhelmed and undermotivated.

Elvgren "Well Built" taken from thepinupdictionary.wordpress.com

While the article is geared towards health, it stresses being aware of taking control what you can when your life seems out of control. My favorite line in the article is "You can be the hammer, making things happen, or you can be the nail that sits there and gets pummeled over and over." I felt it was a little bit of a sign that it just happened to come my way after I finally posted on my blog after my "hiatus."

Obviously I want to be the hammer! So off I go to workout (TurboJam!) and start putting together my list of construction projects. This might actually be fun ;) Speaking of lists, don't forget about my pin-up To Do lists I posted for Viva. They are free to print out as many times as you'd like so you can get organized in style!

Defining Rockabilly

Back in March I posted about some DIY tutorials on Design Sponge and I got an interesting comment that made think about how to define "Rockabilly." This can be a hard thing to pinpoint because the origin of Rockabilly lies in a mixture of genres (honky tonk, jump blues, etc.) as well as the cultural influence of the late 40s through the early 60s. A lot of Rockabilly music and fashion comes directly from this first wave influence. I have done several posts on music and fashion from this time. You can also use my label 50s Rockabilly to see all of my posts on the topic in general.

There was the second wave of Rockabilly in the 80s, when the influence of punk and harder rock n' roll genres added a gritty overtone to Rockabilly. Psychobilly and similar genres came out of this revival and the music and fashion reflected this as well. I find that a lot of the Rockabillies I know or see at events wear a mixture of the two styles; perhaps a vintage 50s dress with a spiked pomp and stilettos.

For me, Rockabilly is more of an attitude. As I mentioned in my reply to the post comment above, my idea of rockabilly is finding ways to rediscover "vintage" from a certain time period and put it back into our lives. I put vintage in quotes because sometimes the thing we rediscover is not an item, but an idea or cultural element. Some people choose to mash-up more than one culture because they find that it expresses their personality best. I tend to veer towards items that might not necessarily be considered Rockabilly, but makes me feel Rock n' Roll, which is essentially what Rockabilly helped to create. One of my favorite blogs Rock n' Roll Bride pretty much sums up how I feel when she talks about what makes a wedding Rock n' Roll:

 "It’s not about being ‘cool’, being a rebel or even thinking of the most unique idea you can, it’s about planning a wedding that reflects you and your partner and declaring your love in your way...  You don’t have to be ‘out-there’ or ‘offbeat’, you just have to be you."

So on that note, I present to you the website Perpetual Kid. It is so not "Rockabilly" but has a whole lot of nifty stuff that can add up to a whole lot of attitude. My favorites are the Tiki key-caps, the Gunbrella, and the Bonehead folding comb. Thanks to the Chronically Vintage Blog for turning me on to this fun site!

Rockabilly DIY from Design Sponge

I just discovered a new website with tons of fun and easy tutorials on how to spruce up your home called Design Sponge. There are a bunch, but I went through and picked the ones that were the most rockabilly:

Vintage brooch knobs (shown above)
Kitchen glass canister makeover
Kitchen metal canister makeover

Vintage Hankie boudoir pillow (shown left)

Light switch cover
Fabric covered hangers
Decorative shelf edging

Bookstrap side table (shown right)

Viva Las Vegas Series #5- Getting Organized in Style

I was inspired by a recent post on VaVoom Vintage about To Do lists. It struck me that getting ready for the Viva Las Vegas Weekender is SO much more involved than a regular trip. Forgetting even a pair of stockings or a jar of pomade (gasp!) could ruin the day's plans. So to make it easier for you all to keep sane I am designing some organization tools. The first is a To Do list with a little bit of attitude. I am working on a travel check list so keep an eye out!

To download it, click on the picture to enlarge and right-click to save it. When you print make sure the paper is set to landscape:

The To Do list is free for personal use only and cannot be used or sold for profit.

Butterick 5579 Retro Apron Pattern On Sale til 12/19

Hey vintage sewing fans! This pattern is on sale through Butterick online for $2.99 until Dec. 19th. It's a newer pattern and I love the idea of bringing back 1 yard apron patterns. If you pick it up, let me know. I haven't gotten it yet and I am curious about it.

Boudoir & Closet Giveaway Winner

I know you all have been waiting breathlessly to see who won my epic giveaway and I will make you wait no longer.

I had my handsome husband take a break from finishing up his Halloween costume (can you guess what he will be?) to pick the winning name and it is...

DECO DARLING

pic from www.gettyimages.com

Ms. Darling has been contacted via e-mail and has 48 hours to respond. She entered several pictures that were lovely, but the one I liked best of her entries is this one. I would die for a shoe closet like that!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! Your entries gave me a lot to think about in my quest for the perfect vintage closet.

I Own That?!? Seasonal Clothing

pic from loweroaklawn.com

Continuing with my closet obsession, I have recently discovered the joys of rotating one's wardrobe for the season. I don't really know why I haven't done this before- most likely because when I was younger I didn't have enough clothes to rotate and once I did I was paranoid that I would store something I would end up needing and then have to wade through my storage space to find it.

No longer am I a slave to my unfounded fears because I have jumped into the cravice of clothing storage and I like it! No pumas! (If you get that reference you get cool points)

The beauty of going through the process of choosing clothes to store is that you almost always will find something you forgot you had. I totally found a cute shirt I don't remember buying at all! Plus, I always tend to keep wearing the same things because they are returned to the forefront of my closet and are easier to grab again. I came up with all kinds of fun outfit ideas as I went through everything, as well as started a mental list of what would be needed to complete some more outfits.

BUT before you start tossing your clothes into a box with visions of closet space dancing in your head, be sure to follow a few steps so you aren't surprised by a stinky (or mothy) box full of stuff when you unpack again at the next seasonal switch:

1. Make sure everything is clean. Even if you only wore it once you should wash it again. Have you ever seen a vintage garment that is in almost perfect condition except shredded armpits? That's from your body, dearie, and it will erode away at your dainties and attract bugs. Even if you can't see it, it's there- trust me.
2. Pick the right storage box. Cardboard may be cheap but it won't protect your cherished pretties. I decided to go with a plastic bin with a lid that attached firmly and tightly. I used masking tape and a sharpie to mark it as seasonal clothes (so I can find it and not weird out- see above)
3. To help keep bugs from feasting on your wardrobe delights stay away from icky toxic moth balls and go natural. Use herbs known for repelling pests, like rosemary, cloves, and mint. I got some dried herbs from a natural food store (they can be used to brew tea too) and put a mixture of about 1/2 cup in a ribbon sachet I made. Another option is to use nylon leg and tie it at the top, then put that inside a circle of light cotton material and close up with a pretty ribbon. Place it at the top of the bin so the smell is strongest where the bugs could get in. If you want to get really fancy you can wrap your clothes in acid free tissue paper.
4. Try to store the bin in a place that is well-ventilated so must or mold doesn't form and dark so ultra-violet light doesn't get through. [I found this out through research kids, I have no idea about how ultra-violet light travels or attacks your clothes invisibly. Too high-tech for me!]
5. For good measure, use this semi-annual culling as an excuse to go through your stuff for donations. I found at least 3-4 things that I was able to part with this time around, plus a couple more that I kept but mentally tagged for future consideration.

So there you are! Go commune with your closet and enjoy the extra 3-5 inches on your clothing rod. That's room for at least one more crinoline!

Vintage Closet and Boudoir Giveaway (closed)

pic from thevintagehousewife

The last two apartments I have lived in were pretty old (1920s and currently 1884) and they both had very small closets in the bedroom. Being that my husband and I are hoping to eventually buy a 20s or 30s bungalow I have a feeling I will have a similar issue. Thusly, I am obsessed with how people organize their closets.

I LOVE it when I find an ad or picture in a vintage magazine that shows a bedroom closet or when I see an old movie that allows a peek at a boudoir. I am also inspired by modern closets, but vintage examples remind me of how little I really need for clothes, which is a good thing in my case.

So to have a little fun I am hosting a giveaway to feed my closet obsession. I will be giving away a vintage boudoir package to one lucky reader. The package will consist of a pair of padded hangers, 2 handmade ribbon sachets, a vintage hanky or lingerie bag, and a set of vintage shoe trees that have been personally "tarted" up by me. Plus there will be a surprise gift added based on the picture that wins.

What do you need to do to win? 

-Leave a link (and your email) in the comments of this post to a picture of a bedroom closet with a vintage feel that inspires you and tell me what it is you like about it. Please make sure that you include where you found the picture so I can give the proper credit! If you don't give me the pic source you can't win because I like to play nice when using other people's content, k? You can take a picture of your own vintage inspired closet if you'd like and upload it to the web so you can link to it. Just make sure and let me know it is yours.

-You get one entry for every picture you send, but they have to be a different closet (no multiple views of the same closet). Also, once a link for a picture is left in the comments it can't be used again (so no multiple entries on a single picture).

-You get an extra entry per picture of any bedroom closet that is 1950s or earlier

-You get an extra entry if you blog about this giveaway. Make sure and leave me a direct link to the post in the comments to get credit.


- The giveaway ends Monday, Oct. 18th at midnight, central time. That gives you two whole weekends to find your pictures. The winner will be picked by random out of a hat and I will post it by Wednesday of the same week.

- The giveaway is open to anyone in the US and Canada. Anyone outside of that may enter but they will have to pay the difference in shipping to their country.

- Make sure to leave your email in your comments so I can contact you if you win!

Fun, yes? I hope so! I can't wait to see what inspires you!

Cupcake Provocateur Apron Giveaway (closed)

I adore these aprons! Lucky for all of us, The Apron Goddesses blog is having a giveaway for a hostess apron of your choice from Cupcake Provocateur. Hurry, hurry or I am sure to win it!

The Art of Manliness

I have discovered a new blog for vintage loving men and it is pretty sweet. It is called The Art of Manliness, dedicated to "helping men be better husbands, better fathers, and better men. In our search to uncover the lost art of manliness, we’ll look to the past to find examples of manliness in action. We’ll analyze the lives of great men who knew what it meant to “man up” and hopefully learn from them. And we’ll talk about the skills, manners, and principles that every man should know."

Now this may seem to be a bit macho on the surface, but in reality this is a great site run by a husband and wife team. It has tons of helpful tips and funny articles, such as Finding Your Calling Part I: What is a Vocation to How to Survive a Shark Attack. I really enjoyed the article on How to buy a Used Car and it was extremely thorough.

I highly recommend visiting this site whether you are of the male persuasion or not. It is chock full of vintage and retro goodness and has nifty pictures throughout the site. Have fun!

Reproduction Fabrics

This is a post for all of my readers who sew. If you are like me you love the look of a vintage fabric but know how hard it is to find something vintage that is enough for a whole project or is in decent shape (not brittle).






I came across the website Reproduction Fabrics that has amazing fabrics at amazing prices, many under $10. The time line starts at 1775 and runs to the 1930s-50s.


They also have this fun tool called the Fabric Play Station where you can see how the fabrics in your shopping cart look together, which is pretty handy.

The Food Timeline

 (pic from gettyimages.com)

I was watching episodes from the first season of I Love Lucy the other day and I noticed that they were eating an egg out of those cute little egg cups. I also noticed that they had very little else on the table besides coffee and toast. This got me thinking, was this a TV breakfast or a typical 50s breakfast? So I got online and procrastinated even more from writing the paper that is due on the 10th and found this interesting website- The Food Timeline: popular American decade foods, menus, products & party planning tips.

The site gives you great info on food by decade starting from the 1900s, plus some on the UK and Australia. For instance, did you know that Taco Bell was established in 1951? Neither did I.

Home Economics Archive: Research, Tradition and History

Interested in reading Good Housekeeping magazine from 1885-1950 for free? I thought so. Home Economics Archive has every complete issue from these years available online, including ads (in black and white only).

Free Text-fillable Vintage Labels

 

Saw these mentioned on Pink Cupcake Vintage- there are SO many uses for these adorable vintage labels, from the worldlabel.com blog. The best part is that they have been modified for you to be able to add your own text easily, either as one whole sheet with the same text or each label with its own text. Sounds like a super easy DIY wedding item for sure! I'm actually thinking about printing them out without text and using them for handwritten Thank You notes when someone buys something from my shop. Really, the possibilities are endless... any other suggestions?

BTW, I apologize for not posting new Blog Special items this week. My comps for library school (25 pages in 2 weeks) is more intense than I originally hoped. Once they are done on March 8th, I will be back on track and will post specials that will certainly make up for it- promise!