Eating Al Fresco

In my red and white retro kitchen, I have a vintage metal picnic "basket" I use to hold reusable grocery bags. It is covered with wonderful retro illustrations celebrating eating in the great outdoors. I love them so much, I decided to recreate them by painting them by hand on canvas. And because there were only 7 designs on the basket, I created 2 more designs to make a perfect set of 9.

I painted these in acrylics on 4"x4" gallery-wrapped canvases. Each of these cute paintings is so chunky that they can stand up on a shelf or be hung on a wall in an arrangement.

In the future, I may sell reproductions of these paintings. But I will not be painting these canvases again by hand. I am hoping that they find a good home soon with someone that will appreciate owning the only original paintings.

Click here to find out more...

Everyday is a Holiday at Jenny's Bake Shop

I have to admit right off the bat that I've been a fan of Everyday is a Holiday for over a year now. So you can imagine how thrilled I am to be able to introduce them to all my pearly friends.

Jenny and Aaron are a couple with a passion for the wonderful illustrations of the past. In their own words:

"Our love of old fashioned bakeries, sweet shops, ice cream parlors, and vintage holiday & party decorations all come together in our newest collection! All of the imagery is based on our 100% original paintings and every piece is handmade by us!"

Their work is amazing! I'll let their art speak for itself. And I'll let Jenny and Aaron's descriptions do the talking as well...

Retro Baking Gal

"Needless to say...we are crazy for anything vintage kitchen. But our favorite thing of all is vintage recipe books. Many of them are nothing more than pamphlets, but the ones with imagery inside are to die for. Sometimes we'll come across illustrations like this Retro Gal and we think 'wouldn't it be amazing to have a painting like that?' And that's what we did here. We referenced a bunch of very old black and white photos and chose the ultimate vintage kitchen color palette...LOVE the pink stove!!"

Chocolate Triple Layer Cake

"This piece is the ultimate in Cottage Bakery! An old fashioned, chocolate frosted, 3 layer cake, on a backdrop of our signature hand painted sweet & chic floral print. The background color is the perfect shade of vintage pink. The delicate floral pattern is reminiscent of vintage aprons, ticking fabric, and wallpaper. We adore the British cottage look and this piece definitely channels that love. The combination of the chocolate frosted cake and super sweet vintage floral mini print will truly cheer up your cottage inspired kitchen, dining area, little girl's room, cafe, sweet shop, coffee house, bed and breakfast, etc."

Retro Sifter Christmas Ornament

Retro Stand-Mixer Christmas Ornament

"Our ornies are all 100% handmade from prints of our 100% original artwork. They're excellent quality... made from very study artist mat board... they feel totally substantial and they're sealed with a protective clear coat. The backs are covered in various colorful patterned papers and vintage ephemera such as recipe book clippings. They hang by a length of classic bakery twine and each and every one is adorned with super fine glitter highlights."

Okay, have I tempted you enough? Head on over to their Etsy store by clicking here and see what else they have in store.

Frisco in the Fifties

Click on the above image to view larger

I've got some wonderful vintage advertising hanging on my "idea board" behind my computer. Everyday, I would look at one of the models and think about an idea for an art piece.

A while back I finally ventured forth to create what I was seeing in my head. I sketched my Frisco 50's lady and then hand watercolored her. Then I scanned her into the computer again so I could "play" in Photoshop. I scanned a real vintage pearl necklace clasp and faux pearls to make her jewelry. The vintage photograph in the background is a real snapshot from the fifties that came out of an aunt's photo album.

The woman reminds me of Maureen O'Hara (I always loved her in the original "Parent Trap"). I sure wish people still "dressed" to go shopping like they used to.

Cat Lover's Retro Emporium--A Hip Place for Cool Cats

If you want a good giggle AND a trip down "nostalgia lane", then head on over to Cat Lover's Retro Emporium. The Emporium's proprietor, Sandi, writes:

"You have just entered a time warp back to the 1950's and 60's; where the old and discarded are turned into new and useful goodies."

Here's a little sampling of what's in store at the Emporium along with their wonderful descriptions quoted straight from the listings.

Date Night Divas Pinback Buttons

"Advertisements from a 1950's magazine were clipped and turned into these neat-o pinback buttons. These show ladies doing what they do best; primp!"

King of the Grill Jumbo Glass Gem Paperweight with Original Collage

"Bits of paper are clipped from a 1950's department store catalog and then decoupaged onto a large glass gem to create this nifty, original collage paperweight. Felt is adhered to the back to protect from scratches. Men love their grills; give this to the man in your life and let him know he IS King of the Grill!"

Apple Pie Button Ring

"Two vintage round buttons, circa 1950's and a vintage pierced button are combined to create this lovely, girly ring. A single fire polished czech bead in the center helps make it even more extra special. All are attached to an adjustable gold tone ring base."

This is just a small sampling of the delightful pieces that have been created by Sandi out of the best of yesteryear. Head on over to Cat Lover's Retro Emporium and enter one of the most fun time warps ever.

D-Lux 57 Expands Their Line!

Back in September, I featured the wonderful apron designs by D-Lux 57 that I found on Cooking.com. Imagine my delight when I received an email the other day from Cynthia Berman, founder and designer at D-Lux 57, thanking me for featuring their aprons and letting me know that they have even more luscious aprons available at their website at www.dlux57.com. And then imagine how thrilled I was to have her share with me that they now have new coordinating plasticware--including trays, salad sets and coasters. I then asked if she would allow me to feature the new line of plasticware here at Dusting in Pearls. She wrote back ethusiastically:

"I would be delighted if you have us on your site. I am attaching some photos of our new plasticware so you can see it. Haven't got them up on our site yet and I am already selling matching trays with aprons. They look soooo great together as a gift. Also selling the trays and the salad sets just by themselves. Besides being on 'Bree' last week on the new season of Desperate Housewives, last night [October 6th] we made the cover of her new cookbook on the show. I am so excited."

So heads-up everyone! Here's another lovely to add to your holiday list for Santa.

Pink Pear Apron (the apron seen on TV)

As stated on the D-Lux 57 website:

"D-Lux 57 introduces a new fashion line of designer kitchen aprons. The high quality cooking aprons are 100% cotton and fully lined to protect clothing when spills occur. We offer kitchen apron sizes in little cooks, tween cooks, and adult cooks. (Great for Mother / Daughter looks)."

Pink Chocolates Apron

The thing I love most about these aprons is the story of the inspiration behind the conception of their design. It is touching and has moved me on many levels:

"The inspiration for D-Lux 57 came simply as inspirations often do. One night while cooking together, Cynthia's daughter appeared in an apron bought for her many years earlier at Harrods, while Cynthia was researching trends in London, England . The apron had long since been outgrown.

"Memories came flooding back and Cynthia vividly recalled baking bread with her aunt and the colorful quilts, so artfully created by her grandmother. This connection with simpler times has never wavered and to this day, she loves to cook and spends every night with one of her grandmother's quilts tucked cozily on her bed. That's when she decided to create this line of aprons designed to touch the lives of people in a nostalgic way.

"Made right here in the USA... with a lot of love. Each one comes in a keepsake fabric envelope, to preserve your new memories and to provide a unique way to share them. Hopefully they can become 'comfort food' for you too."

And just to whet your apron appetite even more, here are just a few of the lovely aprons in D-Lux 57's "Holiday Cheer Nostalgia Prints" line for this year...

Gingerbread Cookies Apron

Poinsettias Apron

So if you haven't already clicked on any of the links in this post, do it now and head on over to D-Lux 57. It's a party for the eyes and the heart.

Aprons from D-Lux 57

I was impressed when I found this line, because the D-Lux 57 line of aprons is built on a very special idea:

"Cooking never looked so good. D-Lux 57 introduces a new fashion line of aprons. The high quality aprons are 100 cotton and fully lined to protect clothing when spills occur. Bib style aprons have a flouncy skirt that will add a little flair to housework. This two pocket apron has adjustable neck & waist ties. Teenagers will love these Tween aprons. They are just the right size for the young cooks in between a kids and an adult size. Great for gifts or just some Mother/ Daughter time together. All D-Lux 57 aprons come with a coordinating fabric keepsake pouch. They can stack neatly on a shelf or they will keep your kitchen drawers neat and free of tangled apron strings. Years down the road they become wonderful keepsakes, full of memories of baking cookies with Grandma, gardening with Mom or helping Dad outside at the barbeque. Several fun fashion prints to choose from. Made with Love in the USA."

Isn't that really special? So here's a sampling of some of their darling aprons (all are available in the three sizes mentioned above).

D-Lux 57 Adult Pink Ironworks Apron with Keepsake Pouch


D-Lux 57 Adult Blue Cupcakes Apron with Keepsake Pouch

D-Lux 57 Adult Cherries Apron with Keepsake Pouch

Kootie's Closet Sponsors Our First Giveaway!

Glasses R Sexxy Circle Address Labels (set of 48)
Click here for matching personalized notes

Okay, if you haven't figured it out by now, I have a real passion for retro-anything! So imagine my sheer delight when I discovered the online store Kootie's Closet featuring lots of paper goods that have that retro design style I LOVE!

When I emailed the shop's owner, Kai, to ask her if I could feature her wonderful shop here at Dusting in Pearls, she responded with an enthusiastic "YES!" and the wonderful suggestion that she would like to sponsor a giveaway (the first here on Dusting in Pearls!). And the prize? Kai has offered the winner any item in her paper goods inventory in the online store as the prize! How cool is that?!?!

To enter this giveaway:

1) Visit Kootie's Closet online and browse the entire paper goods inventory to find the item you would love to win.
2) Come back to this post and leave a comment stating the item you'd love to win. And that's it! You're entered!

A random drawing for the winner will be held at noon (Pacific coast time) on September 27th. The winner and their choice of prize will be announced in a post here at Dusting in Pearls the afternoon of September 27th. [See the end of post for full rules and guidelines.]

Here is just a small sampling of the wonderful goodies you have to choose from at Kootie's Closet:

Hat Lady Personalized Notes (set of 12)

Turntable Circle Address Labels (Set of 48)
Atomic Tempo Personalized Notes (set of 12)

40s Platform Shoe Circle Address Labels (set of 48)
Click here for matching personalized notes

"Kootie's Closet Giveaway" Rules and Guidelines
Entries on this giveaway will be excepted up to 12 noon on Saturday, Sept 27th. Each person will only be counted once so duplicate comments won't help your odds (sorry). If you don't have an email link connected to the i.d. you use to leave the comment, then you'll have to check back on the day of the drawing (Sept. 27th) to find out if you won and then contact me via email so I can get your postal address privately on behalf of Kootie's Closet. If you do have an email link connected to the i.d. you use, then I will contact you off the blog as well as announce you as the winner. Basically, it's the standard blog giveaway rules that are out there in the "blog-o-sphere" already.

Breakfast at Tiffany's from Artistic Flair

I think I'm like most domestic divas when I say that I have a love for Audrey Hepburn's style and the designs of Edith Head that made a lot of Audrey's style a reality. So when I happened upon this beautiful piece of fused glass art at Artistic Flair, I was smitten.

Isn't it divine in how it captures the grace and essence of Audrey in the film?
The "diamond" necklace is made of Swarovski crystals.

If you want to see the details, click on the above images to enlarge them.
Breakfast at Tiffany's Artistic Flair

Deb DiSalvo at Artistic Flair is the creator of this gorgeous piece and details her process at her site (click the link above to go there). Deb says, "My Audrey is my absolute favorite piece I've made!" I can definitely see why. I highly recommend that you also click on the links below to see some others lovely pieces by Deb.

Pretty Kitty
I DO
Shopping Diva
Betty Boop
Ballerina Girl