Every Day Will Count

Thank you all so very much for your heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and words of condolence over the past week. The loss of my dear sister has been devastating to me and my entire family. Your words meant a lot.

My sister Barbara was 5 years younger than me, which disproves the theory "Older is wiser", as she taught me many life lessons through the years. Barbara taught me how important it is to define your dreams and then go and get them for yourself. She taught me that it was OK to pursue being happy with my life. She taught me to take care of myself first, so I could be the best mom possible for my children. She taught me what it means to be a friend through her ability to listen and care. She taught me what it means to be a sister through her love for me, Pam, and Becky. She taught me what it means to be a daughter through her abiding love and respect for our parents. She taught me what it means to be a mother through her willingness to do anything for her children. She taught me what it means to be an aunt through her caring for all her nieces and nephews.

Barbara's passing has left a rift in my family that will never be filled. I wish that I had spoken with her in the week before she died and told her how much I loved her. As it is, I must believe that she knows it somehow.

Please reach out to someone in your family today and tell them that you love them. You never know if it will be your last chance.

During the past week, I found the following passage written by Barbara in her journal. It was written sometime in 2000, the year she turned 39. It was read at her memorial service on Thursday, and I want to share it with you here.

"What can I say, but be true to you and you will never disappoint yourself.
Try to treat your children as you would see your perfect self behave.
Don't sell yourself short. Amazing things can happen - even at 39.
If you were to know that you would have your last year on earth - how would you live your life?
Don't settle.
Know that every day will count.
Go surf, ride the bike with the kids, plant a tree, put a fence in, put a hot tub in.
Try to make a difference for your children."

Rest in peace now, my beautiful sister. I love you.

Shopping cart~

The shopping cart that I picked up at a yard sale recently for the mere sum of five buckeroos has gotten a make-over. Here is the before photo.I spray painted it with flat white paint and I made some white liners for the two wire baskets. Doesn't it look so much happier now? I'm going to tuck it in my hallway beside my front door. I'm going to fill each basket with odds and ends that seem to multiply in my house when I'm not looking. Super great storage for under $10 bucks! Caute!

You can view more transformations over at "Shabby Chic Cottage" and also over at "A Soft Place to Land" Kimba is hosting a "do it yourself" linky party. The Coloradolady is also hosting a Vintage Thingie Thursday. And last, but not least...Leigh over at "Tales From Bloggeritaville" is hosting a Thrifty Thursday linky party~ Becky is hosting a Linky party as well on her blog "Beyond the Picket Fence" Also... Jen from the blog "Sanctuary Arts at Home" is hosting a make-over party! You can also see more Show & Tells over at Cindy's blog "My Romantic Home"If you have linked to my blog and wish to view more... you can click right here to go have a lookie~lou.

Mummsie~

Happy...Clinque's "Happy"...

Birthday~

Sewin'

Have you ever wanted to make a slipcover for a chair but were afraid to give it a try? Well, I'm going to share with you how to do it the easy-peasy way! Firstly, either purchase a flat sheet from a thrift store or use one your willing to cut up. Your needing: a flat sheet, pins, a pen and scissors and large paper (optional). Thats it. The first thing your needing to do is start draping the sheet over the chair. Make sure the fabric is smoothed over the contour of the chair.... Next, your needing to start cutting and piecing the fabric over the chair. When pinning the sheet/fabric pin close together as this will later be the stitch line you'll be using on your pattern. Here is the chair covered with the sheet. You can see that it is pinned together over the entire chair~Once the chair is covered using this method, take your pen and and mark where the pins are. This will become the stitching line you will use later. Remove the pinned slipcover pattern you've just made. Mark each piece with corresponding letters, like A to A that when placed together they match up. Once the whole thing is removed and marked with line-up-leters cut the fabric pattern you've just made along the pen lines. This is now the pattern to be used either as is...or trace it on paper so you'll have a paper pattern.
Using the new pattern you've just made, trace it onto the final fabric your wanting to cover the chair with. The line you draw onto the final fabric will be your stitching line, so add your seam allowence when you cut it out! Then just sew the whole thing together. Keep fitting it to the chair as you go as you might need to make a few alterations to get a snug fit. I put in a zipper down the back of each slipcover I made for easy removal. I made 4 slipcovers in total~ Here is the finished chair with a match-box fabric motif. I made another one with a dark-dark denium for a dresser look.Here is Miss Chloe Rose trying out her chair which I slip covered with some Disney princess fabric. She is sad to see the Cheeto-orange stained chair arms covered up. She is sensitive like that~ I also made a matching denium slipcover for this little chair as well :-)Thats it, easy-peasy slipcovers!

Easter Swappin'

Anyone out there looking for an Easter swap?There are two that I have just signed up for worth a lookie-lou. The first one is a bunny swap being hosted by Vivian on her blog "Vivs-Whimsy" the sign up ends February the 26th. Hurry-hurry...

The second swap is an Easter Basket Swap from the blog Miss Rhea's Sweet & Shabby Roses. The date to sign up ends on February the 26th. The baskets are to be made using yogurt containers that you repurpose into a super caute basket. Easy-peasy! Go, right this very second and check them both out!!

Sad Times

Dear friends,

Tragedy has struck my family today with the sudden death of my younger sister Barbara. I will not be posting here for the next several days while I mourn this loss which leaves a large and empty space in my heart.

Thank you,
Jody

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior 1948

The perfect hat for spring, this 1948 cartwheel of pink feathers is by Christian Dior. Wide hats like this were worn to balance the new fuller skirts that had just been introduced the year before.

Thrifted Treasures~

I picked up some more treasures to add to my overflowing home... These three silver pieces were found at 3 different stores. The dish was $1.50 the two matching bud vases were $3 and the lone candle holder was $1.

The two matching glass jars were $4 bucks for the pair and the white glass vase was only .50cents. (I have the exact same one in my cabinet... oh I love things that match!)

This white wooden wall shelf was $3. I have no wall space left... *gasp* but I was thinking this would be so cute filled with jar fairies, so in my cart it went. Maybe I'll knock off that bottom decorative piece and add a wooden base to it and stand it up on my desk.... or maybe, I'll stick it out in the garage!

These two wreaths were $1.50 for both. The black one I am going to use for Halloween, and the twiggy-spring looking one is going to be-- well you guessed it... a spring wreath!

I also received this wonderful pie safe from my mother recently. I am going to paint it white. Surprised? I asked permission first, just incase she was wanting it back.... I'm sure it horrified her, but she was generous enough to say yes. (I'm sure all the while cursing under her breath!) I have no space for this piece, but that didn't stop me from taking it...lol... seriously, I love me some furniture! So where is this piece going? Um, that'd be in my bedroom. Ok, that even made me laugh~ Off to paint!

Welcome Fab Over 50!

You've heard me mention the upcoming Fab Over 50 website a few times in the last several months. The inspiration of Geri Brin, Fab Over 50 is a site that celebrates women of style and substance who just happen to be living the best years of their lives.

Today, I am extremely honored to tell you that Couture Allure Vintage Fashion has been chosen as the exclusive vintage clothing website to be featured at Fab Over 50. Couture Allure offers the web's finest selection of classic vintage clothing, clothing that appeals to fashionable women of all ages, including my sisterhood of fabulous women over 50 all over the world. I am very proud that Couture Allure is included among the list of outstanding shops that are recommended by Fab Over 50. Thank you, Geri!

The Fab Over 50 website launched last night. If, like me, you've been anxiously anticipating being part of this vibrant community, your wait is over. Go take a look at Fab Over 50 and register as a member today!

Giveaway #8 Winner!

The winner of the 1960 book "Interior Decoration" is Lucite Box! Congratulations, Holly. I'll be in touch via e-mail so I can ship your book.

O.W.O.H. event~

I really enjoyed myself this year being part of the O.W.O.H. event. There were over 1,000 people participating this year. On my blog-post for the event I had 702 comments on my giveaway alone...wow! The winners of my two giveaways are as follows: Rhonda from the blog "Blue Creek Home" won this vintage box full of vintage junk stuff.Lisa who's blog is "Life Unity" won this vintage tintype.I went to every blog who joined up with this yearly event. It took me about 4 long days to visit everyone! I bookmarked a lot to my computer and became a "follower" on some as well. I must have entered about 900 giveaways. For some reason typepad wouldn't allow comments from me. Anywho, I was extremely lucky to have won several wonderful items! Here is what I've won~ I won this piece of mixed media art..... from Lisa, her blog is "I've Been Thinkin' 'Bout 'Inkin" Cute name huh? Cute stuff too!Here is a view of the base.I also won this from Kathy whos blog is called "Kathy's Funny Farm"

It is a digital scrapbook. How cool huh?I won this stunning necklace from Sally, her blog is called "Wire Worked" Isn't it dreamy?

I was also lucky enough to win this beauty of a necklace called a Spirit Gourd Necklace from Vivian, isn't it amazing? I see myself wearing this one a lot too.Vivian's blog is called "Vivian Helena Creates" Vivian just happens to live up in the foot hills close by to where I live here in Fresno, California. Small-small world huh? I'm anxious to join up for next years event, to bad its a year away! lol

Going Braless - 1973

One would think by looking at an issue of Vogue from 1973, that we women let it all hang out. I can remember going without a bra when wearing a darker colored shirt or sweater that didn't allow things to show through, but I never wore my blouses unbuttoned to the waist. And I didn't go braless when wearing t-shirts or other garments made from thinner fabrics. While these photos are titillating, they don't represent the everyday woman of the time, but that is often true of images in Vogue.

St. Laurent Rive Gauche pink silk crepe de chine blouse, unbuttoned and untied. Sold for $135 in 1973 (about $693 in today's dollar).

St. Laurent Rive Gauche black silk jersey blouse, unbuttoned, and skirt. Set sold for $355 in 1973 (about $1822 in today's dollar).

Missoni rayon knit blouse, unbuttoned, with elastic waist was available in white or navy.

Black poly/rayon crepe tunic, unbuttoned, and wide leg pant pyjama by Leonard Fashion. Set sold for $300 in 1973 (about $1540 in today's dollar).

Blassport black wool gabardine one-button suit worn with nothing underneath. Sold for $200 in 1973 (about $1027 in today's dollar).

"Top Hit" Scarves by Baar & Beards

I love it when I have one of those serendipitous moments while perusing a vintage magazine.

Last week, I listed this vintage silk scarf. It's by Baar & Beards, a relatively well-known scarf company from the 1940s and 50s. This particular scarf is sheer silk chiffon with a print of bearded iris, and what look like daffodils and cherry blossoms with a border of hearts and clovers.

The label says "a 'Top Hit' fashion". At the time, I wondered what that meant, but I had no clue.

This morning, I was looking through a magazine from 1949, and this ad in the back popped out at me because there was that phrase "Top Hit fashion" again. Turns out, Baar and Beards did a line of scarves inspired by popular "Top Hit" songs. This ad features a scarf design with buttons and bows, which was a smash hit song "Buttons and Bows" sung by Jane Russell in the movie "The Paleface".

Darned if I can figure out what song my scarf is based on, though. If you have an idea, please let me know. I'd love to figure it out!

Here's Jane Russell, Bob Hope, and Roy Rogers singing "Buttons and Bows". Enjoy!

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Jonathan Logan

I am always pleased when I find a 1950s dress with the Jonathan Logan label, because I know that denotes a dress that is well made and has stood the test of time. Jonathan Logan dresses are always stylish and, many times, just down-right adorable. It's no wonder they are so popular with my customers!

Founded in 1944 by David Schwartz in New York's Garment District, by 1962, the company's sales had reached $80 million. Schwartz managed that by going against the norm in the garment industry. He employed 60 salesmen who were on the road, visiting stores to take orders and reporting on styles that were selling well. In this way, the company was able to react quickly and pull slow-sellers from the line, while stepping up production on styles that were hot.

Schwartz insisted on staying in the Junior market because, though only 20% of the country's women wore Junior sizes, those women bought 35% of all clothes.

In 1962, the company had 28 manufacturing plants all over the U.S., with a centralized distribution center in New Jersey. It was one of the first to use a Univac computer to sort orders. And it owned a C46 transport aircraft to fly fabrics and finished goods between the manufacturing plants and the distribution center.

Schwartz also owned the Butte Knit, Youth Guild, and Junior Accent labels, and began the Bleeker Street line in 1966 to appeal to the Mod generation.

Please note: Biographical information about Jonathan Logan is copyright of Couture Allure and may not be copied without permission.

The Look of Suits - 1962

It's 1962, and women's suits look very different from just a few years earlier. Jackets are shorter and boxier. Skirts are also shorter and slim-cut, often with a few tiny gathers over the hips. Many suits consist of a dress with matching jacket. But they're all elegant and supremely lady-like.

Maurice Rentner suit in red, white, and navy. The wool suit comes with a white cotton pique blouse decorated with the same ribbon that edges the jacket. Hat by Emme.

Frank Gallant wool tweed in a mix of black, brown, and white belted and buttoned in leather. Sold for $190 in 1962 (about $1350 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.

Branell linen and wool blend tweed in pale beige with black silk binding and buttons. Sold for $185 in 1962 (about $1314 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.

Travilla white wool boucle flecked with orange suit with an orange silk chiffon blouse. Hat by Sally Victor. Jewelry by Cadoro.

Marquise diagonal worsted wool in sandy beige with a buff-color silk blouse. Straw breton hat by Mr. John. Sold for $215 in 1962 (about $1527 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.

Happy Birthday...

Miss Chloe Rose! Well here it is your very first birthday. I pray you'll see at least 99 more!I've made a few things to help with the festivites. I hope you like them.... a sweet felt banner with your name on it~I made this cut out of you for the table. I've got you sitting on a silver tray with pink rose petals around you, and there are some big semi precious rings around you. I know how you like your bling~...Here is the before photo I used... Your playing with my silver charm bracelet which is loaded with hearts, you love to shake it and hear the sound it makes~I took this photo of you while you were playing at my house one day and...I turned you into a fairy. You look so serious, which is how you always look-- so its very fitting!I also made these crocheted cupcake party favors with a little two sided cut-out photo of you wearing a pink netting tutu. Ahhhhhhhhh such a cutie-pie sitting on a fluffy cupcake... may you always sit on soft stuff :-) I also added a tiny-tiny berry wreath around your head, adorable~Here is the photo I used for the cupcakes.... Always laughing/smiling when your not looking at the camera! On to more important things... like eating cake! At first you were very cautious... You added some frosting to your lips before you took a bite! You don't want to appear washed out in the photos... such a smart girl!Here you are when you had-had your fill of cake, or should I say frosting! Your favorite gift this year? Money-- real and pretend. What can I say, your a very sensible girl! Here you are listening to the money whisper sweet nothings into your ear~
Happy-happy birthday Miss Chloe Rose~