“There is too such a thing as Tokyo Milk Phrenology Soap,” she said, stamping her foot for emphasis.
I’m not sure why there is… But there is.
Apparently the only thing phrenological is the wrapper; but who knows, maybe the soap gets lumpy, providing the tactile pleasure of a judgmental pseudo-science with the scented hipster cleanliness that’s next to Godliness.
You might not be old enough to remember this, but back in the day, even before the Golden Age Of Album Art, this was one of the ways you showed off your record collection and musical taste. Do that with your MP3s, yo.
Debbie Harry and Chris Stein photo via 80’s Record Party.
Jayne Mansfield with a rotary dial telephone full of bling on the January 1958 cover of Modern Man mag. It’s enough to make your teenage daughter go blind with jealousy. And we don’t just mean for the phone bling either. (You’d better keep this away from your sons too; they could make themselves go blind too.)
Maybe the linens and carpet have (I still wouldn’t use a black light!), but the furniture hasn’t really changed since John Van Koert designed the InnMaster I for Simmons:
Vintage ad via Spuzzlightyeartoo; more on Van Koert designs here.
From that 1962 New Ideas For Christmas magazine, “Soapsuds Centerpieces” — an article on using soap or detergent powder to “whip up” holiday decorations.
This bit of ephemera, Artex Hobby Products, Inc. Pattern Booklet No. 731, copyright 1973, illustrates a bit of the history of women working from home.
Artex Hobby Products, Inc., of Lima Ohio, is no longer in business; but it was a member of the Direct Selling Association. The following scans are of the pages outlining the benefits of becoming an Artex Instructor, i.e. selling the Artex product line via party plans, and the pages for the Artex Painting Class hostesses, who receive Artex merchandise as their Hostess Awards.
You can, quite easily, earn $10 to $100 per week in your spare time, without neglecting your family…by joinng the Artex Family today.
A trip to Paris, a color TV, even a new car could be yours as these are just a few of the many wonderful extras that are awarded to Artex Instructors throughout the year.
You will with fun-tastic lamps by CreativePal! Check out the Hollywood Finger Cigarette Ring Custom TV Lamp and Bobs Chocolate Candy Cigarette Box Lamp! No vintage things were harmed; graphics were scanned and recreated to create these gems. (PS You may also want to see my old post on candy cigarettes.)
But in her defense, no one wanted to pose for creepy Uncle Edgar.
I love the floral wallpaper and the chenille bedspread though.
Photo via bondman2.
We just had to put our sweet dog, Ween, to sleep on Sunday, so this post is particularly tender and bitter sweet; after all, Theda’s pup is a dead as she is. (I’m not the only one who thinks these things.)
Plus, this gives me the opportunity to plug my post about Theda Bara and other silent film news.
What an opulent setting!
So I’m virtually strolling through Etsy the other day, and I spot this:
A line art embroidery pattern of Vincent Price?! OMG. What’s not to love?
Turns out, this is an example of the custom handmade embroidery patterns you can have made at isewcute.
“What’s that?” you say with a combination of incredulity and needlework lust. Well, kiddos, let me hip you to the idea…
You want to embroider someone special’s face onto something, so you contact isewcute and June turns a photo into a pattern (in three different sizes) so that you can embroider to your heart’s content.
But as cool as that explanation is, I still wanted to know more about the person behind I Sew Cute… So I suggested an interview, and got it in spades.
June, about the custom work, does the customer sign-off on the finished design/piece before payment, or is it a surprise when it arrives?
The customer is involved throughout the whole process. We discuss what they want. I let them know what I can do… colors/materials… as well as how long it will take to create it. Prices are similar to the items already listed. I don’t charge more for a custom order over a non custom order. Payment up front depends on if it’s something I can sell if the customer chooses to opt out… but, thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet.
I do guarantee that they will be happy with my work & do all I can to make the vision they have in their head become real. I take photos throughout the process & keep the customer updated. They’re a lot more work than just creating whatever I dream up, but they’re more rewarding as well because I know a custom order is going to mean so much to the person receiving it. It’s a very personal experience.
What’s the strangest or most surprising custom pattern request that you’ve ever had?
Jim Ross. He was so fun to draw because he has a very interesting face. I work very hard to capture someone with real expression in their eyes & make them look lively. It’s a great challenge every time.
I don’t want you to think I’m crazy or being negative, but the Jim Ross answer had me snort Diet Coke out of my nose — it’s that awesome! Did they make a dish towel? A pillow? Oh, that’s just too cool!
Not negative at all! I’ll take the diet coke snort as a compliment! I do wish that customer would’ve sent me a customer appreciation photo, because I’d love to see it stitched. I check on Flickr to see if he’ll posted it — and, yep, you read right, it was for a he. I adore my manbroiderer friends!
Do you/have you ever done any pinups or more risque sorts of designs/works?
Sure! I love pinups! So long as they’re coy & playful; I don’t care for truly vulgar designs. I have sketchbooks full of girls in various stages of completeness from thumbnail sketches to finished ink drawings.
These are examples of a couple of things I’ve embroidered:
Do you sell patterns for your pin-up designs? I didn’t see any at your store last time…
I should get some listed, because I haven’t any up now, but do have that custom listing where I would create a pattern for anyone of anything they’d like. I’ll have to work on getting those pinup patterns listed!
What are the most popular patterns you have?
Definitely the personal custom embroidery pattern. It can be anything you want it to be! A favorite pet, family member, or celebrity.
Do you sell finished embroidered works, or just the patterns?
Right now just the patterns, but I do have plans to sell my embroidered art this Spring.
In other words, people, “Stay Tuned.”
You can keep up with I Sew Cute works at the Etsy shoppe as well at the official I Sew Cute blog.
(And I’ve got a number of other interviews with June coming up at other blogs; I’ll update this post with those links as they are published.)