Sweetheartville + Deluxe = True Love Always

I'm back, and somewhat recovered from all the long days and late nights leading up to participating in my first craft show. Deluxe was a success! The whole weekend was such a blur of activity, hilarity, and new faces, that now, a week later, I'm still remembering details to relate to the Mister. One of my very best friends was kind enough to accompany me for a girls' weekend, and I'm so grateful for her help and support. The show was held at the Farmers' Public Market in downtown Oklahoma City, a 1920's Spanish structure dripping with history. I read that one of my all time favorite honky tonkers, Hank Williams Sr., played there, so we were in good company. Over 50 vendors, all from the great state of Oklahoma, came together to offer shoppers a handmade alternative to the mall. Here is my booth.


Several new Sweetheartville handmade products made their debut at Deluxe, including my vintage-inspired hair ornaments, jeweled bags, Beauty Buttons, and Soiree Aprons. Putting together an entire craft show inventory and display on a limited budget in a little less than two months required dreaming up some rather creative display ideas, such as hanging said aprons on a two armed 50s floor lamp I had.


For my line of Beauty Buttons, I decided this sweet little 1960's vanity my mom picked up for me a few months ago, accessorized with one of my vintage hair dryers would make a fitting display piece. Originally, I had two wire photo holders--one for buttons, and one for magnets--but after about the thirty fourth time I had to retrieve a magnet from the floor, I opted to just lay them in some little vintage plastic trays I had brought along.

I had already decided to bring my vanity, but still felt as though I needed to have one other unique, eye catching display piece, and I'm the gal just crazy enough to haul her prized five dollar vintage dryer chair halfway across the state to stack boxes on it made from record sleeves.


Dollfaces, sometimes being crazy pays, like, say, when you win the prize for "Best Display" at your very first craft show.


Pictured above with yours truly are Sara, J.D., and Stephanie, the three lovely, hard-working ladies responsible for making Deluxe such a great success. In fact, the show was such a smash hit, that there's talk of another one in the Spring. I can't wait!

Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation...

...ridin' my pony on the reservation, in the Oklahoma hills where I was born. Yes, Dollfaces, that's how I'm spending most of my time these days, that is, when I'm not moving junk from one place to another, or figuring out how to cram twelve vintage coats and all of my and Mr. Sweetheart's clothes into one tiny closet in my Mom's house. Actually, there's been no pony ridin', only work, work, work. Moving from an upstairs apartment in the August heat and humidity of Oklahoma is probably my least favorite activity ever, right after having one of those allergy tests where they prick your back with dozens of lancets dripping with various allergen concentrates to see which bumps swell up the biggest, and, therefore, what you're most allergic to. It's a little better than that.


We're finally beginning to get settled in, though we're still living out of various boxes. For the most part, we're all adjusting to country life outside a small town pretty well. Also, I finally joined wardrobe remix over on Flickr like I've been meaning to. Here I am ready for a trip to the town's lone grocery store to buy fixins for supper.


On Saturday, Mom, Sugar Pea, and I hit a few garage sales on our way to town to do some more shopping for vittles. I chose the smart, but reserved, ensemble below for that outing.


It hasn't been all hard work. Mr. Sweetheart and I did go for a chicken fried steak at the old train depot that now houses a restaurant. I dressed up a bit for the big night out in this strapless fringed number and my cowhide pumps. That set the townsfolk's tongues to waggin', let me tell you.


Actually, these are photos of the beautiful Bobbie Cohn in some of the gorgeous western outfits that her husband, Nudie, designed and made for her. They're from the fabulous book Nudie The Rodeo Tailor, which was sent to me for no other reason than she knew I'd enjoy it by my new blog friend, Christie, at Serenity Now. Don't you know I just about died with excitement when she told me she wanted me to have it, especially since I'd been pining for this book for some time. Go check out her cute blog and say hi. A while back, after my post about the vintage apron display at the county fair, Wendy over at Vintage Purse a Day commented that she owned a vintage pattern that was pictured as part of the display wall. When I replied that I, too, owned the pattern, sans colorful envelope artwork, she generously sent me her copy, which I, of course, packed away in a box without scanning the charming envelope illustration to share with you all. Whoops. Maybe you can pick it out here, in the picture showing the aqua colored aprons. If you love vintage purses like I do, you really must stop by Wendy's and have a look at her huge collection of them, including her many General Crafts kit bags, which you already know about my deep love for. Now I ask you, could making connections with such wonderful friends through blogging get any better? Thank you from the bottom of my vintage-lovin' little heart, Ladies. Your kindness is much appreciated. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some unpacking to do. Oh, and there's the pony ridin', too.

I Got an A+!

Apparently, I have impressed those in the know about The New York World's Fair over at Peace Through Understanding with my apron homework, despite my limited "Fair knowledge". Tee hee. Thanks for the link, P.T.U. Dollfaces!

Vintage Aprons at the County Fair

I have loved county fairs since I was a wee little girl, and always had great fun entering my Girl Scout craft projects, school artwork, and potted plants. Each ribbon I won was a thrill, but the real joy was seeing everyone's handiwork and soaking up the atmosphere and the old fashioned community spirit. I had big plans to enter some crafts and baked goods in this year's Tulsa County Free Fair, but unforeseen stress and difficulty got in the way these last few weeks. I had decided to attend the fair anyway, but imagine my delight when I read that there would be a vintage apron display and program yesterday evening, opening night. I have been in sore need of some distraction lately, so I called up my good friend, and, babies in tow, off we went. There were canned goods, baked goods, plants, produce, crafts, artwork, quilts, rabbits, chickens, oh, and did I mention the vintage aprons?
First some gorgeous quilts.


On to the aprons! Here are just some of the fabulous examples on display.



This is an apron that converts to a bonnet! I'd love to see what it looks like as an apron.


You know how I love my aqua.


These little lamb pockets are just too much, Dollfaces.


Vintage cupcakes. Mmmmm.



Any PETA folks might want to look away, 'cause here comes Western Style!


The presentation was given by a retired Home Extension Educator who, over the last two years, has begun collecting vintage aprons. The aprons on display were from her personal collection, which now numbers over one hundred. The program was an overview of the history of the apron, as well as a show and tell session where she shared more of her beautiful collection. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay for the whole thing, as Sugar Pea was tired, hungry, and is just generally not as much of an apron enthusiast as her mama. It was still an enjoyable evening and a much needed time out.


If you'd like to see more, head on over to the flickr set I created for the fair. I leave you now with what may just be the cutest bunny in the known world.

1939 New York World's Fair Apron

At a junk store housed in a dusty barn in Elberta, Alabama, my mother-in-law and I unearthed one of my most exciting thrift finds to date. After our shopping spree, we returned to the house and began to pore over each piece in the large assortment for which the proprietress of the sale, "Miss T", had charged me sixteen dollars. As I began to take a closer look at the handful of vintage aprons we had snagged off a hook in a dirty corner, I was beside myself with excitement when I realized exactly what I was holding- an authentic souvenir from the 1939 New York World's Fair. The apron is actually a map of the magnificent fair grounds designed to introduce the public to the "World of Tomorrow".

The 1939 World's Fair, despite being a colossal financial failure, was one of the most important and influential world events of the 20th century. It was here that the public was first introduced to television, the electric typewriter, an electronic speech synthesizer, a precursor to the computer, and all the latest in electronics, agricultural science, food production, home construction, architecture and more.


The "Theme Center" of the grounds contained two astounding structures named the Trylon and Perisphere.


The image of the Trylon and Perisphere make up the deco-ish border design of the apron, as well.


One would enter the buildings on a futuristic moving stairway and then exit on a huge curved ramp called the Helicline, pictured in action in this Greyhound ad I found here, along with several other images from postcards of the day. The fountains seen at the base of the Perisphere were part of an optical illusion which also involved mirrored supports at the base, giving the effect that the structure was floating on a giant pool of water.


The grounds were an experimental architectural fantasy come to life, as the firms hired to design the buildings were encouraged to let their imaginations soar. I can scarcely wrap my mind around how beautiful and awe-inspiring the spectacle must have been, even by today's standards. From the central, all-white Trylon and Perisphere, the avenues stretched outward into different "zones", each with a different progression through deeper and deeper shades of one color, all lit up magnificently at night with various types of lighting, including neon, which had only recently become widely used.


The illustrations on the apron are surprisingly detailed and accurate. Above you can see the Corona Gate depicted on the apron, and below is an image of that same structure from a 1939 postcard.

Below, near the apron's border, in the Community Interests Zone, is the Cosmetics Building.

The Maison-Coty sponsored building was designed to resemble a cosmetic jar of the time.

You know how I love my vintage beauty products, Dollfaces, so you know this will be my first stop when I finally get my hands on a time machine and head to New York circa 1939. I found this photo on this informative site, which I highly recommend.


The fair was not exclusive to New York, this was, after all, the World's Fair. Sixty foreign countries participated in the event, each contributing a pavilion highlighting their own particular cultural offerings and commercial products. Central to the Government Zone, was the Lagoon of Nations.


Each night, over the lagoon, there was an elaborate show featuring fountains, flames and colored lighting effects, all synchronized to special music. It must have been truly breathtaking.


Sadly, only one of these beautiful buildings exists today in what is now known as Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. Most of the structures were demolished and later another World's Fair, this time in 1964, was held on the site. My thrifted souvenir apron is about as close as I'll ever come to experiencing what must have been a magical, once in a lifetime event, but it's certainly a pretty fabulous consolation prize, especially for an apron collector such as myself.

Why I Love Church Garage Sales

Here's a quick post (with rather hastily snapped photos) of all the great stuff I found at a huge church garage sale last weekend. Some of it was purchased for rock bottom prices on Friday, but the majority I got the next day at the buck for a bag clearance sale. Click on any picture to get a closer look.
A fondue pot, a Pyrex decanter with a candle warming stand, and a vintage checked tablecloth...


A queen size green velvet duvet cover, a pink throw pillow made from two washcloths, a blue and green throw pillow with daisies, a pretty cream colored blanket with a sort of "embossed" design, a red, yellow and blue casserole carrier, and a large piece of vintage floral fabric...


Some vintage scarves, a mod laquerware tray, and a old Avon "Sweet Honesty" perfume bottle made to look like a spool of thread with a thimble for a cap...


A whole mess of vintage cook booklets, including some dating from the 1920s and 30s. I'll be sharing some of the fabulous illustrations (and maybe even some recipes) from these in the future...


More vintage cookbooks...


A sheer Christmas hostess apron, two sets of Christmas place mats with some napkins, and a vintage Christmas ideas magazine. The chubby little elf I already had...

Several sewing books and a three volume vintage arts and crafts library...


Even more sewing books and pamphlets, a never opened Jiffy Weaving "Knotty Owl" kit from the late 60s or early 70s, and two partially completed crewel embroidery projects I might do something with...

Bunches and bunches of vintage patterns including several "Stretch and Sew" and some for square dance dresses.


I also came home with a large vintage tin for storing Christmas cookies, a jacket, a nice pair of shoes, a couple of cool belts, some scraps of fabric, some books for Sugar Pea and a few other odds and ends. Quite a haul, wouldn't you say? Don't worry. I'm not keeping all this stuff. I admit that I have a problem, but I'm not that bad. No, I have big plans for a lot of it. In fact, those big plans are what's keeping me so busy that my blog has suffered lately. Stick with me, Dollfaces, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

I'm Tying One On

So, I'm finally taking the plunge and submitting an apron to Tie One On. The theme this time is "The Pocket", and what could be more fitting than a pocket that covers the entire apron?


I made this from a vintage pattern in my stash using the corner motif of a vintage tablecloth and a lot of red rick-rack. Normally I wouldn't advocate cutting up a beautiful old tablecloth like this, but when you find one with too many holes or fifty year old coffee stains, I think it's nice to give it a second chance at life. I love to incorporate vintage elements into my sewing and crafting, and am getting much braver at cutting into my treasured vintage fabrics as my sewing skills improve. It's not visible in the picture, but there is an inverted V shape topstitched on the pocket so things won't slide down into the point of the front panel, effectively creating two side pockets. I had a little trouble with the waistband, as 1940's patterns can be somewhat vague in their instructions, but I'm pretty pleased with the finished product.

Gay, Unorthodox Things

Girls, don't miss the fun of doing gay, unorthodox things at your kitchen windows! Now I know what you're saying, "But Holly, what will the neighbors think? Can it be true? Are you, style maven and trendsetter that you are, actually suggesting that we let our freak flag fly, in full view of the Joneses?" Why yes, Dollfaces, and if they can't handle such a carefully coordinated and thrilling display, then they are not thoroughly modern and are to be pitied. Just take a look at these clever ideas for whipping up some "bright little window wavers" and matching aprons from the April 1941 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine. What was that, Hon? Why yes, I'm talking about stitching up some darling kitchen curtains with aprons to match. What on earth did you think I meant? Especially gay is the "Weights and Measures" duo "with kitchen facts and figures worked out in white bias tape." And to complete the vignette, "alongside hangs an old-fashioned slate."I collect and use vintage aprons, just as my mama, the original vintage vixen, did while I was growing up. We were vintage when vintage wasn't cool, and would don aprons from the 40's and 50's that she had collected from estate sales as we baked up a mess of Christmas cookies and fudge while we listened to Patsy Cline, Dwight Yoakam, Reba McEntire, or George Strait. (We were also country, but by that time it was moderately cool, thanks to Urban Cowboy.)

Here is a favorite from my collection, with an African safari themed fabric and green and gold rick-rack trim. If only I had yards and yards of this fabric, I could whip up the gayest kitchen curtains ever.