The Kitchen Of Tomorrow...Yesterday, 1975

I found this great Hotpoint catalog at my Pappy's the other day and just had to do some quick scans and share it! There's no date, but they finished the house where he lives around 1975, so I'm assuming it's from right around there. Not to mention, the women in the photos just SCREAM mid-seventies.....

































Tacky and gorgeous! Just like my Pappy's uber seventies orange kitchen! No kidding, the orange on the wall in the washing machine photo is the same colour of his kitchen counters and backsplashes....not to mention the same colour of the luciously '70s light fixtures in the kitchen as well as in the dining room. It sets off the dark wall paneling quite nicely! I should get photos of it one day and post them!

PS...update on the dress: I've altered the pattern and already have the bodice together...there's a little issue of the bodice being slightly short and not matching up in the front with the back, not sure why because the bodice length is the same as the original? The back is also slightly big and gappy at the shoulder blades. But I'm trying to come up with a solution and then I just need to finish and attach the skirt. Should be finished by Monday.
Happy weekend, my little bumblebees!!!!
xx

'Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?'

Right, my little chickens, your old friend the Dollster is back with a 'Fashion Thursday' post that requires your input!
I've decided that I simply MUST make time to do some sewing again. "Why haven't you been sewing all along, my dear?", I hear the peanut gallery query. The answer quite frankly is that I have no place TO sew. You see, my mother sold her mid '70s model Singer machine/table back at the end of August. As for my own machines, I only have two:
A mid '50s mint green Elna, that is unfortunately in dire need of motor work (probably just a good oiling actually) which I don't want to get into myself and which, being unemployed, I can't afford to PAY someone to do. The other machine is a Singer portable that is about seven or eight years old.
Both of these machines need a table to set up on. Now, I HAVE a lovely 1940's sewing table but unfortunately it's in the basement and very heavy. I've been trying to get help to get it upstairs (and up stairs again) and into my room for a good three months now.
Anyway, I've decided that I'm just going to start on some patterns and maybe through dire need I can convince someone around here to give me a hand!
My new project is going to be to alter some old patterns from the '50s, '60s, and '70s that I inherited from my grandmothers. My grandmothers were not small women. I, on the other hand, am a modern size 00, or will be again once this winter weight is completely gone! Most of the patterns I have are vintage size 18-ish or a bit larger, so there's a good amount of altering to do. But I really think that I can do it. I've altered so many vintage dresses to fit me and I've drafted and altered lots of my own designs....we'll see how it turns out!
The pattern I decided to start with is a 1964 Simplicity pattern for a one piece back wrap dress.

I've got three lovely fabrics that I picked up at Wal Mart on the cheap (golly, how I hate admitting that!) specifically for toiling. They're lovely vintage-y cottons and I have enough of all of them to make this dress, but I'm not sure which one to use....although it only really matters in the case that my initial toile turns out the first time!

A


B


C


All three of the fabrics are patterns, but are thankfully not one way designs!
So which do you lot think would look the nicest? Let me know because I simply can't decide on my own! If my toile turns out, I'm defo making a second one of these in a pink and white gingham!
Of course, I'll post my progress as I go along!
Bye bye for now my daahhlings!
x

Sandie Shaw - Always Something There To Remind Me [Very Good(-) quality]...

On a Sandie Shaw kick today for some reason!

McQueen? More like McClintock. A Royal McLetdown.

I'm such a critic, my dears. It's just my little way. I call it like I see it, no matter who I'm tearing apart. Today is no exception.

I've yet to read anything other than blatent pandering, bottom kissing, or rose coloured opinions of Kate Middleton's McQueen bridal gown. Personally, I was sorely UNDERwhelmed.

It looked like she walked out of a 1980's wedding catalog from Sears...or JC Penney. Plus, the train was so short that at one point, while she was going up the steps into Westminster Abbey, I was sure that we were going to get a flash from little sis holding the inadequate caboose too high!



All in all, the dress just brought to mind visions of the 80's...at least for me.













Of course there are the comparisons to utterly lovely and positively regal, Grace Kelly, in her 1956 Helen Rose bridal ensemble. There is no comparison, I'm afraid. While Kate DOES look lovely, she didn't look royal. Even with the slight similarities in the dresses, the Helen Rose frock just ooooooozes 'couture', while the McQueen dress is quite pretty, but nothing special.






















I don't know, my loves. Perhaps it's just me, but I was really expecting more. Not more dress...I mean, I knew it would likely be quite minimal...it's just that I didn't get that "Oh my goodness how GORGEOUS!" feeling when she stepped out of the car. Instead, it was more like, "Oh, doesn't she look pretty". Which in a common every day wedding would be fine, but in this case I felt a bit let down.

On a MUCH brighter note, the Queen looked stunning in yellow! She was like a beautiful ray of sunshine. Especially with the pleats around the neckline of her perfectly tailored dress.


















The biggest faux pas of the day (while generally attributed to Samantha Cameron for her lack of the requested headgear)...



....in my opinion should go to Princess Beatrice for wearing that ridiculous bow on her head.



A lovely girl, but that lid is an absolute embarassment!

As for my early morning tea rags, my mate Jimmy and I forgot to take pictures! Not only that, but I didn't even get a photo of the lovely tea setup before we dug in! However, so as not to leave you too disappointed, I DID get a cute as a button photo of Patches the bear (who my mom and I have dressed for every season for years)greeting his guests on the landing in his finest royal wedding drag!


Patches is wearing:
Tiara-mine, from pageant when I was itty bitty
Veil-vintage 1970's curtain panel
Dress-old Austin Powers era (late '90s) Halloween costume
Bouquet-Vintage 1980s, caught by little ole me at my "big sister's" wedding...



....She was prettier than ANY princess, don't ya think?!

Little Peggy March- I Wish I Were a Princess

Golly, it's early! Getting ready for the festivities! Pics to follow later today!!

Baby You Can Drive My Car...

I love old cars. I always have. My dad is the reason, really, as he always had vintage car magazines lying around that I'd get my mitts on as a kid and read front to back!
Needless to say, my dad knows a lot about old cars. He's one of those guys who can't sit through an old film...or an episode of Andy Griffith or Leave It To Beaver...without telling you the make and model of every car that comes on screen and relating a story about said auto. He's like an encyclopedia of vintage cars. So I was really proud when a conversation the other night provided me the rare opportunity to stump my father.
While sitting and discussing those oldies but goodies, I mentioned that my dream car as a little girl had been the Dodge La Femme. "I don't recall that. The Dodge what?", says my dad.
Oh my goodness, I've finally outmastered the master!!
So, I thought, "What a lovely idea for a post!"

The La Femme was only made for two years, 1955 and 1956. And she was a beauty! Made specifically for 'Her Majesty, The American Woman', the La Femme was a frothy pink stunner!



The Dodge Corporation hoped to cash in on the new wealth that was the aftermath of the Second World and Korean Wars. Families could now afford to buy a second car for mother and Dodge would give her the most fittingly feminine car that ever was...or ever will be.








Not only did the La Femme look the part on the outside (the 1955 being available in a pink and white combo called 'Heather Rose and Sapphire White' and the 1956 model available in two tones of pink called 'Regal Orchid and Misty Orchid') it also came with accessories and features specifically to suit a feminine driver.
Some of these features were a girly floral interior, matching purse and contents, raincoat, rainhat (a fisherman cap in '55 and a baseball type cap in '56) and umbrella, with slots behind the front seats for storing them.







Unfortunately, for those of us who would love to own one of these little cupcakes, they were discontinued after only 2 years and less than 2500 were made. Not only are they rare, but the accessories that made the car what it was are even rarer. Perhaps one day I'll own one, but it'll likely be so far down the road that my blue hair will be all that shows above the chintz of the front driver's seat!














My dad's currently working on finishing up a 1924 Model T that he and a friend are restoring. I'll try to get some pics of it from him and post them soon!
I've also informed him that, while I think the Model T is quite lovely, it's the next car in line for restoration that I'm interested in...his 1950 Ford coupe. Once the Model T is done, his time can be spent on this beauty....

The '50 in '66....


And today, waiting it's turn to be made gorgeous again....


I can't wait!!

Easter Bunny After Dark....

What would the Easter Bunny be watching, martini in hand, after a hard 24 hours work delivering Cadbury Cream Eggs, jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and Peeps???? Why Playboy After Dark, of course!! Sit back and enjoy the groovy chunes...and the even groovier 'bunnies'.....