Monthly Archives: March 2012

Vintage Book Shelf :: My Tiny 3-D Puppet Books

Vintage Books

Oooh weee! I had the most awesome find a month or so ago at the thrift store. You guys already know I have an obsession with vintage kid’s book…and usually it’s for the nifty illustrations. BUT these puppet storybooks from the 60s have a special place in my heart. They are so cool and fun! Typically the cover had this scratchy lenticular (aka 3-D) postcard on them and then inside cool photos of the puppet dolls acting out the stories. They remind me so much of the Rankin & Bass Christmas specials—like Rudolph. I always expect the characters in these books to start moving!

So as I was scanning the books like I always do, I was thrilled to find one! And then low and behold I found another….and then another. And suddenly I realized I had ELEVEN of them in my hand!!!! Holy smokes, talk about insta-collection!

Each one has an inscription to Cindy from grandma and “papa” Vasner—so sweet. It looks like she got one for every birthday and christmas. I’m sad she gave up her collection, but how lucky for me to have inherited it! Let’s take a look inside some of them.

I think this quirky “Tell Me What Time it Is!” book is pretty terrific. The little mock lederhosen on the boy are too cute. Check it out:

 

Pretty cute huh! But I have to say that this CINDERELLA book is one of my super favorites. I had one as a little girl and just loooooved seeing the fancy gowns!

Ahhhhh that dress! Also, can we discuss the crazy bunz on the stepsisters??? They were poofin’ long before The Snooki.

I just love these books, don’t you? The history behind them is pretty neat. You can read a little more about them in the post I did about one of my faves 3-D puppet books, Rocket Trip to the Moon! Do you have any Tiny 3-D books? Do you remember them from when you were a kiddo?

Meet G

Weekly Kiddos

Friends, I have a super special treat for you with this weekly kiddo.  He is the whip smart, handsome son of my wonderful friend, Amy Gershoni–part of the uber creative team, Gershoni. And this boy’s name is G.  Just the letter G.  Future teenage girls of the 2026 high school class, start swooning now.

G is a 4 years old, San Francisco native and urban explorer.

G is one busy little guy whose list of roles include Golden Gate Park roll polly collector, sidewalk chalk artist, sit-in drummer with “his” Farmers Market band.

G has an adventurous palette downing tobiko and strong cheese, but his current fav is pancakes with blueberries, bananas and walnuts. (That DOES sound yummy…)

Mr. G is a great mimic, wielding his pre-school French with perfect elocution.  He is an abstract painter, a tiny car racer (complete with sound effects), a power book reader/ listener, a great story teller with his own cast of characters, and a world class cuddler.

He can rock a Tree Pose unaided and is about to master the somersault.  He has recently learned how to shake hands.

But more than anything else, he is a charming, sweet boy who is gonna rock the world. Just you wait and see, friends!

My favorite vintage car? Easy. The metropolitan!

Best of Alix, Vintage Pop Culture, , , , ,


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The year was 1950 and cars were big, bold and beautiful. Fins? Got ’em! White wall tires? No problem! Which was what made the decision of the Nash Motor Corporation to concept a smaller “mini” car so revolutionary. For this very reason they decided they would test their idea first by creating a questionnaire brochure called a “surview” to gauge public interest. The brochure would show pictures of a prototype concept car, based on a design by auto designer William Flajole. It even included a postage-paid envelope for people to return their opinions on the car.


The survey was a hit! And as a result, one of the cutest little cars to ever roll off the assembly line was introduced to the public.

Can you even believe how cute this thing is?? It came in a sweet little two-toned version and even a convertible. Of course this strikingly cute car was popular. Even Nancy Drew, intrepid girl detective, drove a Nash Metropolitan!

With sparkling new power?? Sign me up!

I’m especially amazed by this prototype for the future they created, the Metropolitan “Astra-Gnome,” which was exhibited at the 1956 International Auto Show in New York. This bad boy was cooooool.  It was even featured on the September 3, 1956 cover of Newsweek magazine.

Alas it was only a concept car and never produced. The actual protoype still exists at the Metropolitan Pit Stop museum (see it here!). You can still see Metropolitans out on the road. (Remember, I saw one the other day!) Like look at this adorable police car? (Takes the sting outta getting pulled over….)

And this custom station wagon. LOVE IT! They never actually produced a station wagon version of the Metropolitan (well, they made two prototypes). If you ever see one, they were usually a sedan that was tricked out.


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So there she is! The beautiful Metropolitan. She’s one of my favorite cars. And I just found out she was Steve Job’s first car too. Is she your new favorite too??


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Kiddo Fieldtrip :: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Best of Dottie, Kiddo Fieldtrips, Real Life : Dottie

 

A few weeks ago (actually over President’s Day weekend) Eric and I took the Peach to the Conservatory of Flowers, because they had an amazingly fun exhibit for kids, based on San Francisco’s famous boardwalk, Playland by the Sea.  The popular amusement park, Playland by the Sea, was a mainstay in San Francisco from Victorian Times until 1972 when it closed. Although the amusement park has been dismantled and scattered across San Francisco–like the famous carousel is in Yerba Buena Garden, Playland by the Sea still looms large in San Francisco lore.  and it was the perfect inspiration for the wonderful floral exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers.

This was my first time to the Conservatory of Flowers and it was divine! And the exhibit–well, it took my breath away. And I know the Peach loved it too.

The exhibit also featured a few bits beyond the flowers–like these wonderful fun house mirrors, which the Peach loved.

Just walking into the room and seeing the original Playland sign was pretty impressive. Look at those awesome As!

 

The exhibit also included one of the original bumper cars from the popular ride. I think that was the Peach’s favorite.

The flower exhibit wasn’t just a staid arrangement, but had these buttons that kiddos could easily push to make the trains go or the carousel turn.  Too much fun!

What really made the exhibit particularly wonderful is that all of the structures were made from products that would have ended up in a landfill if it weren’t for the upcycling.

And it was so fun to see San Francisco landmarks that we all know and love.

We spent almost two hours there watching the Peach run around the room having a blast. It reminded me of my childhood trips to the Philadelphia Flower Show with my Dad years ago.  And it made me feel like spring was around the corner.  Perfect for this time of year.

After we left the conservatory, we headed to Cole Valley and  San Francisco’s new Ice Cream Bar. Eric had this insane milk shake and the Peach’s favorite strawberry wasn’t available, so she enjoyed a little cherry ice cream.

The best part was that we were able to make it back for the Peach’s 2:30 nap!  As you can imagine, she was pretty tuckered out from her full day of fun.  I think this may be our new spring tradition. Do you have any spring traditions?

 

 

Spring into Spring. Vintage Spring!

Kiddo Style: Vintage

Man, I’m happy to be back after a whole lotta travel over the past two weeks.  I have four trips away from home in March. And the one thing I brought back was a nasty little cold (or really bad allergies with the addition of a rough cough), so I spent the majority of this weekend sneezing my way through boxes of Kleenex and watching Yo Gabba Gabba with the Peach. However, of course I had some time to rock out some sweet fun on Etsy pulling together some sweet vintage finds for all y’all–with an emphasis on spring. Sweet spring!

I played with this game so hard that it probably gave me a headache! Also I remember wearing the red cones on my fingers pretending they were long glamorous fingernails.  From Etsy seller, Oopsee Daisies.

Hey there tambourine man!  Well, or girl or boy or whatever, just someone buy this wonderful vintage metal tambourine! Isn’t it parade season yet?  From Etsy seller, UDA Kids!

Put this daisy dressie on your lil’ cutie and you can’t help but think of spring. Oh, those wee darling daisies. Sigh. From Etsy seller, the Marvelous Ms. Tips.

Another big girl size–8-10 for our older friends. And what girl wouldn’t want to swing into spring with this happy skirt. Perfect with a t-shirt and some kicks.  From Etsy seller 3 Ring Circus!

As you can imagine, this is the perfect little blousie for your little baby girlie.  And the little flowers are almost as sweet the peter pan collar. From Etsy seller, Twinkle Tots Vintage.

 

These darling vintage baby toys are such sweet colors and would be just as sweet as decor for the nursery as well. From Etsy seller,  Sweet Shop Vintage.

I think a kiddo can never have enough cardigans–they are perfect for the changing weather of spring. And this sweet yellow cardi is perfect!  Almost as sweet as the little lady wearing it! From our friends at Salvage House!

Umm… Could this little vintage bow tie from the seventies be any cuter?  I expect Miss Pilgrim already has a similiar one for her little boy! From Etsy seller, LHP Designs.

Zoo plus rompers equals this adorable little bit of vintage cuteness!  And the little kiddos with the balloons on it too. From Etsy seller, Vintage Pod!

Um. Yeah. Unbelievable. From Etsy seller, Star Friends On Earth.