OMG, IF ONLY I HAD 65 BUCKS!!!

Atomic Pink Christmas Shadow Box Wall Hanging

by chickitout

Oooooooookay, now you all know how much love I have for paper houses (see my blog post on paper houses), but this is RIDICULOUS. It's as if this artist took a trip through my brain one night when I was fast asleep. I have been a collector of mid-century modern Christmas decor and decorations for YEARS, and swoon over mid-century modern architecture and design. Pink? Check. Tinsel? Check. Mirabou feathers and eyelash lame? Check. RI-DIC-U-LOUS!

I want to point out several key design motifs that this artist paid homage to in this shadowbox:

Note the George Nelson atomic ball clock on the wall - a classic from this era, and originals command a hefty price on today's market. Luckily, repros are available at a much more affordable price.

Note the aluminum tree - also a classic from this era. Ornaments would be hung on glittery aluminum trees, and would be illuminated from behind by a color wheel. The overall effect was an everchanging dazzling color display - LOVELY!

Note the slant of the roofline. Houses designed in the mid-20th century had FABULOUS rooflines, often asymmetrical and often giving way to large overhangs on the front, side or back.

Note the sign on the top of the house with a nod to the atomic design motif. Starburst designs were very popular during this era, and you could find that motif used in everything from dinner plates to neon signs.

What was that? How can you get this look? Glad you asked. Here are some incredible vintage finds from our friends at Etsy. (Oh, and if you were wondering what to get me for Christmas...)

ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE VINTAGE COMPLETE ORIGINAL BOX
by Kleymannscloset

Vintage Japan Christmas Angel Posie Doll
by joberskitsch

Mid-Century Snowy Flocked Wreath in Original Box
by carmenandginger

Vintage Christmas ornaments - a box of 26 indents mercury glass balls for the feather tree or wreath
by pumpkintruck

Vintage Christmas Gift Wrap Wrapping Paper Christmas Paper Poodle Dog Christmas Paper
by timepassages

Large Vintage Glittered Christmas Bells
by VintagefromCrystal

The Hostess With the Mostest!

Miss Spooky Pant Apron, by AnniesAttic

Hostessing the perfect party is an art, which I have YET to really master. Usually something or other falls through the cracks, no matter how much planning and preparing I do in advance. Paige, however, is an ARTIST when it comes to hostessing a party, leaving me wondering if she's really a 1950's hostess with the mostest reincarnate. Every detail is expertly executed, every guest feeling like an honored attendee - no drink glass is ever empty at a Paige party.

In April of this year, Paige's mom Mary Ellen turned 70, and to honor the event, Paige threw her a wonderful suprise party at her house with a "Spring Chicken" theme (Mary Ellen's birthday being so close to Easter this year). For the event, Paige and I put our skills together to whip up delightful little easter chick hostess aprons for herself, daughter Ella, and myself to wear at the party, and they turned out REALLY STINKIN' CUTE! (I will post photos of the finished apron on a later post, as I haven't had time to iron it and shoot it yet - more on that subject later).

I have been a collector of vintage hostess aprons for the past 7 or 8 years, and have a lovely little collection that I display in my kitchen at various times of the year. My favorites are the ones in my Christmas collection - my entire kitchen is done up in vintage mid-century Christmas kitsch, and it is the only time of year that my kitchen feels like a lovely place (more on THAT subject at a much later time.)

In honor of my husband's 38th birthday, I am hosting a barbecue party at my mom's house this afternoon. This is a beer and ribs party - nothing I can get frilly and hostessy with, so no apron for me today, but I am hoping I can channel the hostess goddess within to make sure that everyone has a good time.

Enjoy these lovely hostess aprons from our friends at Etsy - they make me want to run out to an estate sale!!

black and white polka dots with CHERRY APPLIQUE hostess apron, by loverdoversclothing

RETRO TO HELL with HOUSEWORK APRON, by VintageDove

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS APRON, by SWEETKATHLEEN

Sweet Candy Cane Christmas Vintage Apron, by SerendipityTreasures

Paper Houses

Gingerbread House, by thesaltboxcollection

You know what I love? Paper houses. You know, the kind like your grandparents had (well, not mine, but I can imagine) lining the mantelpiece at Christmas. These little confections were crafted of cardstock, mica snow, glitter, bottle brush trees, chenille pipecleaner santas and snowmen, and colored cellophane in the windows that would glow if you put a light behind them. I would love to have an entire village of glittery paper houses and stores and churches, all in pinks, whites, blues and greens - and then I'd sit and make believe I really lived in this frosted little wonderland.

I did a bit of surfing on Etsy to see if I could find paper houses, and was suprised to find that there aren't many listed. I did, however, find a great seller who has a number of adorable ones, including the gingerbread house above. The creator of thesaltboxcollection started off by repairing a few inherited vintage paper houses, then went on to creating a whole new village using the same time-honored techniques. The result is a charming mix of buildings that leave me wanting more and more!

Enjoy these items by thesaltboxcollection on Etsy!

Village Schoolhouse, by thesaltboxcollection

Mail Pouch Barn, by thesaltboxcollection

Pink Farm House, by thesaltboxcollection

Southern Gentleman and His Lady - By JeweledAmbrosia on Etsy

Jeweled Ambrosia is a shop on Etsy that is a collection of beautful composition jewelry pieces, a lot of which are inspired by the Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer.

I originally became acquainted with Lisa and Jeweled Ambrosia when she was so kind as to feature one of my jewelry items on her blog: http://www.littlelovables.blogspot.com/. She has since been one of my favorite sellers, and we have even traded items in our Etsy shops.

Southern Gentleman and His Lady is a necklace inspired by the character Jasper in Twilight, and is a gorgeous and elegant statement piece for anyone's jewelry wardrobe.