Post Christmas Glow & A Blog Giveaway Winner

I hope you all had the merriest of holidays!  Our son and daughter-in-law visited us and that made for a wonderful Christmas.

 

 

 

Now we're lazing about, slowly putting away the decorations, finishing off the abundance of Christmas treats, and I'm managing a bit of sewing.  All the while, I'm enjoying the quiet and post Christmas glow.  You know that feeling you get when you're so content, so happy that you feel as though you could burst?  Yep, that feeling.  It started Christmas day when Davey and Yujin arrived.

 

 

And even though they're back in Ft. Stewart now, I'm still feeling the love of family!

 

 

And speaking of love...thank you for all of your sweet comments to my December 10th blog post!  Your encouraging words really made my fourth blogiversary special.  From your comments, I randomly drew a winner for a set of my Pot Mitts.

 

 

Congratulations, Little Susie Homemaker!  Please send me (Cindy@RetroRevival.Biz) your address so that I can ship them to you.

It's Been Four Years! And a Blog Giveaway

I can hardly believe it!  Four years ago today I gave blogging a try and posted for the first time.  I never dreamed that all of you would help turn my blog into such a cheerful corner of retro and vintage fun.  But you have.

You all are so kind and thoughtful and incredibly supportive.  I heart you!

 

 

You've stuck with me as I continue to obsess about vintage tablecloths.

You've read lots of posts about our farm life (and then our move to the big city).

You've read all about our beagle Twyla.

 

Occasionally, Captain Project gets a mention.

 

You've followed my cooking adventures.

Heard about all sorts of projects.

You've endured endless posts about my shower cap production.

 

And apron making.

 

 

And, of course, some general silliness.

 

 

Despite your eyeball rolling and probably wanting to kill yourselves...

 

You've stuck with me!

I can never accurately put into words how much I appreciate you ~ every one of you who's actively followed my blog and every one of you who pops by now and then.  Well, Retro Revival simply would not be the same!

As a little token of my appreciation, I'm giving away a set of my pot mitts.

(I have these in all sorts of fabrics so email me at Cindy@RetroRevival.Biz if you'd like to buy a set.)

 

On December 31st, I'll draw a winner from those of you who leave a comment on this post.

 

 

Thank you again for helping make blogging such a joy!

Make a Splash in Vintage/Retro Swimsuits

First things first...the winner of our May blog giveaway is...

BECKY.  Congratulations, Becky!  Hope you enjoy your sun/eye glass case!

Retro Revival's June blog giveaway is fabulous:

I've been obsessed with retro bathing suits for some time now and couldn't resist picking up this adorable makeup case, thinking it'd be perfect for my June blog giveaway!  It's bigger than it looks and will surely fit all of your makeup and bath essentials for a weekender.

We'll draw a winner on June 30th so to enter, please become a FOLLOWER of this blog and leave a comment.

Coincidently for my birthday last week, my daughter gave me this makeup case:

It's by the same manufacturer.  I love the graphic and the shape and can hardly wait to use it on my next trip.

Now...back to my vintage bathing suit obsession...I'd like to splish splash in any number of these vintage beauties:

Today's swimsuits are usually constructed with little support, are often flimsy and rarely lined.  If you’re lucky, you might get some sort of shelf bra in there but that’s about it.  One look at the swimsuits of the 1940s and 50s and you can see that they were nothing less than feats of engineering:  pieced structured cups, shirring, smocking and strategic seams galore.

 

There’s something way more sexy about these than most of today’s skimpy suits (well, especially when modeled by Bettie Page!).

Thankfully, there are a few retailers available today that create retro-inspired swimwear:

Pinup Girl Clothing (http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/swimwear.html) offers several options including this super cute cherry two piece:

And Baby Girl Boutique (http://www.babygirlboutique.com/swimwear.html) has authentic, vintage suits; I like this one:

From my personal photo stash, I have this picture my father took at a beach somewhere in California.  My mother looks great in her stripped two piece and her sunscreen.  My sister's in the front and I'm to the side (think I'm about four years in this picture).

Until July when I'll head to the shore again, I'll continue my search for the perfect retro or vintage suit!

I Saw Elvis in Iowa!

Yay for spring officially arriving in just a couple of days!  I am ready for calmer, warmer weather, especially after my visit to snowy Iowa last week.  And what a visit it was!  Spending time with my dear friend Melanie is one of my favorite ways to spend five days; we went antiquing, watched the Oscars together (commentating, of course, on all of the fashion fabulousness), hosted a dinner party and celebrated her birthday.

We spent one day walking through LeClaire, a quaint, tiny town on the banks of the Mississippi, and streets lined with great antique and gift shops – I love this town.  And look who we ran into on one of the sidewalks:

The dinner party was a smash with delightful people, a delicious dinner and a few cocktails!  As Melanie worked her culinary magic, I assisted:

Of course we wore our Retro Revival aprons in the kitchen. Melanie’s wearing (what else?) the “Melanie’s Kitchen” apron and I’m wearing one of my new designs, a 1930’s inspired “clothespin” style apron where the front of the skirt is a giant pocket (fashionable AND very functional).

For her birthday, Melanie received a few goodies:

And this is the cake plate I gave her – isn’t it fanciful and fun?!  Found it at Home Goods where I snapped the picture:

Back home on the farm this week, I’m busy tending to the chickens, the “terrorist,” otherwise known as our beagle Twyla and preparing for my second craft fair later this week.  If you’re in the Orlando area, please consider stopping by “The French Market,” a craft fair sponsored by the Dr Phillips performing arts school March 18th-21st (please email me if you’d like details).  And don’t forget to stop by http://www.aprongoddesses.blogspot.com/

and leave a comment to their March 10th blog for a chance to win a Retro Revival apron (contest ends March 25th)!  And finally, a friendly reminder that if you leave a comment on THIS blog or my March 2nd blog you’ll entered in the March giveaway to win the Retro Dish towel.

Apron Goddesses Giveaway -- Retro Revival Featured

I have exciting news!  The Apron Goddesses (http://www.aprongoddesses.blogspot.com/) have blogged about Retro Revival.  Yay!  If you head over to their blog and comment on it/my aprons/my website (instructions are included in the March 10th blog) you have a chance to WIN a product of YOUR CHOICE from Retro Revival -- how fun!  The contest ends March 25th so be sure to enter soon because you might have a hard time choosing which want you want -- there are over 70 to chose from!  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Above -- "Cherry Baby" retro inspired apron

Above -- "Cherry Pie Black" vintage inspired apron

Above -- "Domestic Diva" half apron.  On my website, aprons fall into one of two categories, either half like this one, or full, and are listed by alphabetically by name.

Above -- "I'd Like Sprinkles Please!" vintage inspired clothespin apron

The Apron Goddesses is one of my favorite blogs; Julia entertains me with her witty postings and is a huge promoter of handmade aprons.  She also *shames* me with her beautiful pictures...what is it with mine?  Not sure if it's my lame picture taking ability (probably) but I'm choosing to blame my camera -- ha!  Anyway, hoping you take the time to check out her blog and become a follower.

As a reminder, please take a moment to comment on THIS blog or last week's blog so that you'll be entered to win Retro Revival's fun, kitschy dish towel (scroll down to see the towel) -- I draw the winner on March 31st.