I'm just saying...

That it saddens me a little the lack of pictures that you find of different ethnicities from the 1940's and 1950's. As someone with an affinity for this era, part of what I like to see are images of people that look like me. I'm pretty sure most people feel the same. Its not that brown people didnt exist pre-1960, its just that as the glorifying of this moment of time has become so prevelant, somehow these images have yet to make to pop culture. So, I'm going to do my part to show what I want to see, and put it out there for others to appreciate. Hopefully giving a more rounded picture to the story. Enjoy!

Here's a picture of my grandma and friends out at a club, late 40's early 50's. I think there's 15, maybe 16 bottles on the table! Where's the waitress!!! Ha ha!

The Chandelier--continued

Here is an updated picture of the chandelier. I decided to go for it, and paint it girly girly pink. So my wonderful husband volunteered to do it for me, taking all the crystals off one by one, giving it a few coats of paint while enjoying some beers in the garage. Then putting each one back on. In hindsight, we should have cleaned the crystals why they were off, but I was just so-o excited I didnt care. Right now its hanging in the corner of our bedroom, but it is a temporary set-up. I want to re-wire the cord so it can plug into an outlet. Any thoughts, I'd love the feedback. Needless to say I'm obsessed with chandeliers right now. I'd love to see anyones pics of their chandeliers too!

Thanks!

Thank You!

Midcenturystyle.net for featuring me as one of their members! I love this site... so inspiring for my when I own a home someday and can really go off! Check this site out!

Yay! Christmas

I've become fixated on having a vintage aluminum tree! Havent been able to find one that I dont have to order, but I'm going to do my best to find one. I think we're going to decorate tonite and do christmas pictures. One of these would definately be a great center piece. These trees originated in the 1950's and bring retro warmth and magic into your home! I'm heading off to Target... just received a message on Yelp pointing me in that direction. It may not be as authentic as I want, but I may have to just plan ahead and find a real one for next year.

Obsessing on these shoes!!!

My husband sold some old music equipment from his band days and gave me some of the cash to go buy myself something pretty! So I end up with this lovely little darling. Reminescent of vintage shoes of a couple of eras. Super comfy. Now I want this one in all the colors. I only have the yellow one showed. I got a great price at Nordstrom Rack ... Originally $109, I scored it for $31!

Exercise

I have the hardest time exercising outside. I used to have a gym membership, and I was really good about using it. I would go to the gym 4-6 times a week. Now that its no longer in the budget, I have to try to maintain my girlish figure the old fashioned way. This morning I was able, with the help of two cups of coffee, to motivate myself enough to strap on the old sportsbra and run/walk for about 20 min. I'm hoping to get back outside and do another 20-40 throughout the day. Where's that coffee!!!

Thoughts anyone on this?

I was given this lamp by these two guys from the Netherlands who have very modern taste and no interest in this chandelier at all. I'm considering painting it pink ,

kind of like this chandelier.

But I'm torrrrnnnn!

Should I leave it original or girly-it-up?

Love the Lamps!

I was inspired by Midcentury Style http://www.midcenturystyle.net/ to share my lovely lamps! Another score I was given due to my unusual job. Not sure about the date on these, but I assume mid 1950's, judging by the decor and the rest of the house they came from was a time capsule of that era. Any info would be appreciated :)

The Jazz Age

Here's a must have book for anyone who is a fan of the golden era of Jazz. Elizbeth Pepin and Lewis Watts created a great coffee table book covering the 1940's, 1950's jazz scene in San Francisco's Fillmore district. Its a beautiful book filled with pictures of the people and places that made that area so important. For me, it is especially meaningful since my family is not only featured in two sections, but also my mom wrote chapters and submitted photos for the book.

As a fan of the vintage lifestyle, I've noticed a lack of pictures of black women from the 1940's and 1950's. Not only do you find plenty of that in this book, but I also learned about a famous black burlesque performer from that time, Lottie " The Body" Graves. There is a beautiful picture of her hanging out at the Texas Playhouse on page 4.

You can find this book at Amazon.com and at better vintage clothing stores.

Respect your elders

Growing up, I always loved my grandparents furniture. My grandma liked nice things, and fortunately, she liked nice things from the 1950's and 1960's. After my grandma died and my grandpa started suffering from alzheimers, I mentioned to my dad how much I always loved the stereo and TV consoles. He offered to give them to me and even drove them about 400 miles from my grandparents house to mine. I love these so much!

The console with the TV is a Silvertone XXIII and the record player inside still works.


The other console is by a company called Viscount and has a working AM FM Stereo and record player inside. The cord had been cut by accident, but my husband was able to rewire it.


I see similar consoles at vintage furniture stores all them time and the pricing is reasonable. I strongly encourage anyone who loves mid-century furniture to get your hands on one if you can, because your records sound incredible when played on these!

Anyone know how to fix my sunglasses?

Love, Love, love these, but they snapped -- more like melted one day, right in the front while I was wearing them. Boo, Hiss!

They're from the early 1950's I believe, carved bakelite/ celuloid material. I'd appreciate any advice.


:)

Easy Decorating Idea

I found this window in the alley when I used to live by the beach. An old house was being retrofitted with new windows and the construction workers said I can have it. I later found out that vintage appliance and architecture stores charge good money for old windows, so its a find if you can talk someone who is just going to trash it into tossing it your way.

Any picture or postcard you put in the window creates a cool effect. I bought these pinup pictures at one of my favorite vintage clothing stores.

One of the best things I ever got!

I was driving down the main drag of one of the cutesy streets in my town,when I noticed in the window of our best vintage store what I thought was a bakelite cherries necklace on the manniquin. I had to park and go in, but unfortunately upon closer inspection I noticed it was made of wood. yuck! It did spur me on one of my obsessive tangents to find the bakelite version and make it MINE!!!! Ended up finding this one for around $300 on Ebay. Had to work hard for it too. Wonderful husband bought it for me for my 5th anniversary present! Only break it out for special occassions.

Cherries are handcarved bakelite from the 40's or 50's. Leaves and chain are celloid and clasp is in excellent condition. Have seen them online from $200-$2400 depending on condition.