All posts by Dottie

Retro Round Up

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Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there! I must say mine was pretty waffletastic and so much fun!

Spring has finally come with a wink and a nod and whole lot of fun!  So, I rustled up some great bits to share with you all! Enjoy!

 

Whoa.  Love. From Etsy seller, Sweet Shop Vintage.

For your little artist. From Etsy seller, Scarlet Bird Vintage.

 

With weather getting warmer, this little romper is perfect! From Etsy seller, Wee Love Vintage.

Lishyloo has such great stuff, like this perfect Polly Flinders dress.  So lovely.

I just can’t get enough sweet vintage Tiki for boys! From Etsy seller, Storybook Retro.

These mugs are perfection.  Perfect for sipping lemonade!  From Etsy seller, Evelynn’s Alcove.

This little tunic dress is a dream come true. And it isn’t too early to find a great Fourth of July outfit! From Etsy seller, Roc Vintage.

I just can’t help but love a good bonnet on a baby.  And this bonnet on a baby? Too wonderful! From Etsy seller, Story Tellers Vintage.

I wish Keds would make these shoes again. Because I think every single kiddo needs a pair of these beauts.  From Etsy seller, Ramshackle Vintage.

I love this little ship shape shirt that would look great this summer! From Etsy seller, Petit Lapin Vintage.

Happy Monday!

Vintage Video:: thanks for being awesome, Ray Harryhausen!

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I read today that Ray Harryhausen died. Now that is not a name that I was immediately familiar with but he was a major influence in my childhood.

I grew up in a house full of boys in the seventies.  Our garage was full of skateboards, bikes, soccer balls, basketballs, pogo sticks, and at least two homemade go cart in different states of repair.  My mother bought Bactine by the caseload.

If they weren’t playing sports or fixing up the tree house on a Saturday afternoon, they were inside watching a movie featuring the mesmerizing work of  Ray Harryhausen.

My love of Ray’s work began with Mighty Joe Young. This was one of my favorites as it wasn’t as scary as King Kong!

And I loved Mysterious Island and that crazy crab!

But it was his Sinbad/ancient Greece/Rome movies that really got us kids excited! And for good reason!

Oh man, those skeletons! My brothers and I would re-enact this scene so many times one summer after watching it on KPIX.  It is still spooky!

Ray was a true genius and transformed special effects before we had computer generated abilities. How did he get this wonderful outlook and passion for his career?  Why, his parents, of course! YAY! Ray once said,

‘My obsession with fantasy has been lifelong, growing during my formative years and being taken to new heights by novels, paintings and of course films, and I was always encouraged by my parents.  They nurtured this unusual passion in me by taking me to films and theatre, and later enthused about my experiments with marionettes, models and animation, eventually even helping me with productions.  They never tried to discourage me in any way from my obsession, and could just as easily have said, ‘Get out there and be a doctor or a lawyer or follow some other profession that is going to bring you in money’.  Fortunately, they didn’t’.

These movies are so much fun for kids to watch today.  Even against the mind alteringly beautiful special effects of Spiderman and Ironman and all their manly buddies, there is still something utterly wonderful about Ray’s work.  Thank you, Ray, for some amazing memories of hanging with my brothers splayed out on the floor with our chins in our hands mesmerized by your work.

Did you watch any of these films growing up as a kid?

A Retro Round Up!

Retro Round Ups!

Last year Alix and I took our families to Tiki Oasis—a groovy retro weekender that is all about vintage tiki culture. One of the best things about Tiki Oasis is that the kids are welcome and the parents totally get into dressing them in amazing outfits! Like this little tiki baby romper.  From Etsy seller, 1 Sweet Dream Vintage.

Did you know our girl Jenny (from the sadly defunct Frecklewonder) has a dandy new shop of vintage goodies called, Mikasa Su Casa.  Once again she has tons of awesomeness, like this wonderful jacket. We’re so glad you’re back!

Paper dolls have the best outfits, amirite? Like that red jacket lined with fur number with matching hat. Sigh!  And the dresses are held on by magic, folks. MAGIC! From Etsy seller, the Apple Bobber.

Any kid that gets to wear these great kicks would be in hog heaven. Get it? From Etsy seller, Retro & Me.

I’ll have whatever this kiddo is having! And that would be the nifty yellow sports shirt.  From Etsy seller, Trucks and Dolls.

I have such a weakness for plaid in the summer. And this little sweet puff of a dress fits right into my heart.  From Etsy seller, Ethel and Effie G.

Would you check out this amazing vintage Russian yellow lion–ON WHEELS!  Yes! From Etsy seller, Two Red Suitcases.

Here kitty kitty!  From Etsy seller, Jolly Friends!

ARGH! Mateys! Check out this pirate perfection outfit for summer! From Etsy seller, Bug & Bear Vintage.

Check out this french bit of summer perfection. Swoon! From Etsy seller, Jolie Mome.

Happy Monday!

Vintage Crush: Daniel Green slippers

Vintage Pop Culture

There is nothing more addictive than a good Ebay search.

I have some set up for daily search updates. The list is long, but the one I remember and want the most is for a pair of Daniel Green brocade slippers size 10. (I know, I am a large footed lass!)

My obsession with these darling slippers began when my mother purchased a pair like the ones below for a fancy vacation with my Dad.  Her pair was bought on sale at Nordstrom for I believe $10.00. (My mother is the consummate bargain shopper-FYI.)  She loved them and was very excited to finally own a pair of Daniel Green slippers. However, during their airplane travel, my Mom’s luggage was lost and never returned. Unfortunately she never found another pair of discounted Daniel Green slippers, but she missed them.

Aren’t they darling?

Daniel Green slippers have been around for a long long time–since 1881, when a young shoe salesman named Daniel Green was inspired by slippers that workers at a piano factory made with the excess felt from leftover from the pianos.  Those little felt slippers turned into something fancier over the years.

When you think of those fancy satin high heel slippers that female celebrities wore with a stunning pegnoir, you were probably looking at a pair of Daniel Green slippers.

Amazing, right? And they are for sale. Right now.

Truly a gift to be cherished.  Wouldn’t you like to see a pair of these for Mother’s Day?

I think I’ll take one of each!

These little elf booties aren’t as fancy as pompom ones, but still so charming, yes?

From Salon of the Dames

These darlings are from the Frou Frou line and cost about $8.00 in the 1940s when they were introduced.  Divine, aren’t they?

From Straight Talking Mama

In the fifties/sixties, they started to shy away from the heel and focus more on creating a charming ballet flat.

From StutteringMama

But it was when Daniel Green incorporated its signature brocade that things really began to take off.  And many of the company’s famous brocade ones are available today in very good condition too!

Now these little gems are going for only $15 for some lucky size 7 footed lass.

Oh, how I wish I could squeeze my large feet into these gorgeous beauties, which must go to some lucky size 8.

I may have to write a little letter to our friends at Daniel Green who make some lovely slippers, but need to bring back the brocade ones, don’t you think?

And they truly are comfy! It says so on each insole of Daniel Green shoes. Each pair lasts quite some time and the quality is amazing.  I love the idea of buying a pair of these with my black yoga pants adding a bit of glamour to my work at home day.

Do you have fancy house slippers?

Dottie’s kitchen garden

Real Life : Dottie

photo gardenspring3.jpg

This year, I was determined to get a little garden growing. Since we moved into this house, we’ve been making minor improvements to the back yard. I think the little curving brick path was part of the reason I fell in love with our little nook of a house.  And I saw tremendous potential in making a wonderful garden that I could hopefully feed my family with.

When I worked at Old Sturbridge Village as a costumed interpreter in the summer during college, I used to work the kitchen garden there.  I helped plant many rows of beets and carrots during my days and got a taste for fresh gardening. But being a busy working mom, I wanted to spend my down time relaxing in the back yard instead of tending to a little kitchen garden.  I must admit, I probably spent more time doing armchair gardening thanks to one too many issue of Sunset Magazine and Gardener’s Supply catalog.

Last year, we did manage to plant a pear tree and several blueberry and blackberry bushes that hopefully will treat us to many a luscious pie over the next few years. We also added a raspberry plant with plans to buy some golden raspberries in May.

And this year, I finally got around to planting some seeds in that lovely raised garden bed Eric so dutifully planted for me last year.

Armed with a few packets of leek, beets and carrot seeds, I planted the garden in early March.  The Peach was a most devoted seed planter. Our rows weren’t all that straight, but I’m sure that won’t effect the taste of the vegetables in the long run.  And I planted a few starters of kale as well.

And then we just waited.  The seeds aren’t anywhere near ready to pluck from the earth, but that kale is good to go!

It is so beautiful.

I decided that the best solution for these grand kale leaves would be Kim Seversen’s Kale and Ricotta Salata.  It was the right choice.

Are you growing a garden this year? What is your favorite thing to plant?