My (Real This Time) 50s, Atomic-Era Fabric Tablecloth!

Recently, I was duped by repro fabric on eBay. Even though the fabric is fabulous and looks authentic vintage atomic-era, it is indeed repro. Despite the fabric's modern age, I love it still. I made a curtain, table coasters, a table runner, and a pillow. My TV room looks great.

After my repro purchase, I have been searching for real vintage. Last week, I found an amazing listing for a 22 x 46 inch rectangle of 50s, atomic barkcloth on Etsy. The fabric cost $15.00 and with shipping, the final cost came to just over $18.00 USD.

When I received my package yesterday in the mail, I excitedly opened the padded envelope and instantly, I could smell the true scent of authentic vintage barkcloth! Yes!

I let the fabric air out and then I ironed it. I pulled out my sewing machine and stitched the edges to make a simple tablecloth. Viola! My atomic beauty was done!

Here is an up-close look at the fabric! I just love the design:

I was also impressed that my green candles matched the fabric! The two pewter candlestick holders and bowl are Norwegian designs that were given to me by my parents (Dad is from Norway). The set is vintage 1960s.

I would love some more vintage fabric. I would like to make curtains for my dining/living room area. The only drawback to vintage fabric is of course, the price!

So, have any of your girls made any vintage fabric creations? Where did you find the best fabric and/or deal?

My Most Recent Etsy Purchases!

Here are the vintage-fabulous items I recently bought off Etsy! I had been so good until now! Oh well, I do not feel too bad since most of the things are for my house.

A 50s vintage aqua-colored plastic napkin holder ($8.00) for my atomic kitchen:

A Salem North Star gravy boat ($10.00):

An atomic-era red ceramic dish for my TV room coffee table ($18.00):

A late 50s/early 60s coffee percolator ($22.99)!  My 14-year old Mr. Coffee died:

A light powder blue melamine sugar and creamer set ($12.00):

And, finally, a late 50s silky nylon dress ($30.00)! I wore this on Saturday for me and the husband's date night:

Earlier today, I bought a pair of 1950s stilettos in black leather for $28.00! I also bought a 22" x 46" piece of 1950s atomic fabric! I made a tablecloth out of it. I will post pictures soon!  All I need is some atomic-looking floor rugs and my main level will be pretty much done!

The Saga of the Botched Middy Plus Continues!-Using a Diffuser

Last week, my stylist of three years was unable to cut my hair due to an injury. Since my cut and color were already way overdue, another stylist in the same salon refreshed my color and cut my hair. The color is amazing but the cut is not really a Middy. It is layered incorrectly and even looks like a mullet on one side.

After experimenting with various blow drying techniques, steam rollers, curling irons, and velco rollers; I decided to give my old diffuser a try. When my naturally wavy hair was very long, I used to diffuse my hair daily using Paul Mitchell Styling Glaze and Sebastian Shaper hairspray.

I simply towel dry hair and apply a quarter-sized amount of the glaze throughout my hair. Then I spray on a little bit of the Sebastian spray and diffuse my hair in sections. When the curls are dry, I use my 5/8" Gold N' Hot curling iron to better shape my hair. I put in two bobby pins, spray with more hairspray to set, and then I am done.

Before my stylist, Corry, can fix my hair, I think I am going to wait at least 5 weeks for my next appointment so my hair can grow out more. Until then, I am going to diffuse and curl my hair. I think this method covers the misshapen layers well.

The following pictures were taken yesterday before going out with the husband:

This is the left side :

The right:

The front:

I am glad I pulled my diffuser out of the storage closet! I was really having a hard time trying to style my hair with a barrel brush. I cannot wait until my poor Middy is fixed!

So, have any of you used a diffuser? What are your methods for getting hair to cooperate?

The Latest Home Updates!- Using the "Not-So-Vintage" Atomic Fabric

Recently, I posted about buying two yards of "vintage," atomic-era fabric on eBay. Well, MaryDeluxe commented that my beloved fabric was actually a repro. I am so thankful for her heads-up and I am also annoyed that the seller lead me to believe the fabric was vintage. After reading MaryDeluxe's comment, I went home and looked over the fabric itself and saw a glaring "2003" copyright on the edges.  I guess 7 years is now vintage? (Lol!) 

Despite my ignorance and the fact the fabric is modern-made,  I love it!  The pattern is very true to the 50s, Eames era look and it was easy to sew.  I made a table runner, a pillow, coasters, and a window curtain.

Slowly, but surely, my home is becoming a 50s-era abode (even though my home was built in '85). I am currently on the hunt for 50s vintage wallpapers for my powder room and master bath. In addition, I plan on re-flooring my kitchen with a more 50s-era appropriate style.

Without further ado,  here are the items I made with the repro fabric:

Here is the window curtain:

This is the pillow on my sofa:

Here is the table runner:

And here is an upclose look showing the beading I added to the ends:

An interesting note about the above table; my mom and dad found it at Goodwill for super cheap.  I think the table was made between the 1940s and the early 1960s. My mom is very talented at furniture repair and staining. Mom sanded the entire table, re-stained it, and spruced up the hardware. It looks so new! I also have a vintage, stained-wood foyer table that my mom repaired.  It was actually found at the dump! I am amazed at what people toss out!

My vintage home is work in progress and I am having fun! A huge part of me wants everything done now but the real thrill of vintage decorating is the hunt and watching the transformation from modern blah to retro wow!

Oh The Possibilities! -Vintage Wallpaper and Linoleum

It is times like this that I realize I truly wish I had a time machine! I am currently renovating my bathrooms and boy-oh-boy I could go crazy with some vintage wallpaper, bathroom rugs, sinks, and tile!

Both my master bath and powder room need work. When I moved into my 1985-built home in 1996, my master bath was decked out in 80s plaid wallpaper and get this, a blue shag carpet! Talk about gross city! My powder room was coated in duck print wallpaper. This beige wallpaper was speckled with tiny navy ducks. The walls looked like the inside of the yellow raincoat I had when I was 10!

Needless to say, the plaid and ducks are now gone but my walls are bare. I want to re-do both bathrooms with 50s styling. My best friend is an interior designer and I know I am going to need her help.

I was browsing the Internet today and I found several websites offering vintage tile, wallpaper, and even linoleum.

One site I found, The Secondhand Rose, is located in Manhattan and their site is very fun. They offer wallpapers in several vintage patterns and linoleum flooring.

I want this wallpaper for my powder room:

I would love this wallpaper for my master bath:

I would also love to remove the vinyl flooring in my kitchen for this beauty:

 Again, if I was a millionaire, I would go nuts! I think I can do the wallpaper just in the powder room for now. The average price per double roll is $70.00 USD. My master bath is big so I will more than likely wait between projects.

Have your girls ever used vintage wallpapers or flooring? Where do you find your wares? Have you found modern made stuff with vintage styles/patterns?

Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick Review #4 - #42 Satin

This is another review for the recently launched, Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks from Make Up For Ever. They retail for $19.00 USD and they can be found at Sephora stores and online at their site.

So far, I have four shades: #21 (a pearly bright red), #43 (a true, nuetral 40s red satin), #45 (a blue-toned scarlet red satin), and #42. The latest shade is a satin formula. It has does not have a shimmer or a matte finish. It is cream type with a slight sheen. The #42 is a warm, bright red. I noticed undertones of tangerine and a slight coral hue. When compared to MAC's Lady Danger or Nars' Jungle Red, the #42 has less orange in it but it is still a warm red nonetheless.

Like the other satin reds I have, this latest addition to my collection is very creamy but not too wet in texture. It has a good blend of both grip and slip. And like all the other colors in the Rouge Artist Intense range, this lipstick is VERY pigmented! Make Up For Ever boasts that this lipstick line has 50% more pigment than most standard lipstick and I have to say this product lives up to that claim well! One swipe of color is all I need for total opacity!

Here is a swatch on my inner right arm:

This is me, wearing the #42:

I seem to have an odd look on my face! Oh well! (Lol!)
    
So, if you are looking for a pigmented, smooth texture lipstick that packs a punch, give the Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks a try! You will NOT be disappointed!

And if you prefer red shades that are true the 40s and 50s vintage look,  I think you will adore the following:  #42, #43, #45, and #44.

Do You Wear White After Labor Day?

This up-coming weekend marks the last hurrah of summer. Families take that last trip to the beach, folks fire up the grill one more time,  and parents drive their kids to the mall to take advantage of the holiday weekend's "back to school" sales. There is something sad about Labor Day. Despite all the picnics, grilled corn, and cannon balls in the pool,  Labor Day weekend means summer is over.  Hot temperatures cool down and the lush green trees transform into vibrant hues of gold, orange, and red. The light cottons and whimsical sundresses are put away and the wool blends and dark colors taken out.

Even though summer does not officially end until September 21st, many girls store their summer whites (especially shoes) when Labor Day arrives.

For as long as I can remember, I have always heard people say "White after Memorial Day and before Labor Day."  If someone was seen wearing white shoes after the first Monday in September (especially in the South), fashionistas and traditionalists were horrified.  How dare she wear white!


As for me, if the weather is still hot, I will wear white shoes. Here in the DC area, it can stay very warm until late September. I usually put the whites away when October 1st arrives.

My mother-in-law is from South Florida and she says the year-round warm temperatures make the "no white rule" null and void.

So, do you follow the "no white after Labor Day" rule?