Oh, Brother!

Last weekend, I went to a car boot sale and found lots of cool things but I think my favourite find was this vintage sewing machine. I finally took some pictures of my amazing find today and thought I'd share.


It comes with its original case as well as the original sales receipt and labels from 1960! (Wish I'd taken photos of them - it's too dark at the moment) Best of all, it still works! The only problem is, I don't know how to use it! Pity that 'crafty' mum of mine lives over on the other side of the world.

You may remember my post about receiving a free sewing machine - unfortunately when I went to use it, the pedal wasn't working. I'd even bought a small bit of fabric for my very first project. It is currently being 'looked at' by the generous lady's electrician husband and hope I can have a proper go soon.

I've also added a few more things to my etsy shop.

Googie in England

Back from York (which was lovely, by the way) and I think I may have actually found some English Googie!


Driving up the A1, I spotted this gorgeous but seemingly unloved 'Little Chef' restaurant and shouted "Googie!", which I then had to explain to my passengers. I actually thought the restaurant had closed down because it looked quite dilapidated. On the way back, Dave was able to get a pretty good shot of it considering we didn't stop, and found that it WAS still in use.

Apparently there had been a bid to save the Markham Moor Little Chef from destruction a few years ago, which was thankfully successful. I found some more information here. The architect was Sam Scorer who originally designed the building as a petrol station and it was only turned into a diner about 1990.

A fantastic interior of the church can be seen here.

So what do you think? Googie or not googie?

Vintage Click

I love this picture of my husband with his uncle when he was just a little tyke. It was probably taken about 1982 but the wallpaper and decor make it seem like it's still in the 70s. Dig that crazy wallpaper! This was taken at his nan's place. She still has the tiles around the [electric] fireplace but the wallpaper is gone. Dave's uncle still sits in exactly the same place but with a different chair :)

I think the thing about the 70s (and earlier) is that they had all these funky designs but the problem is they threw them all together at once. Great fun to look at now though.

If you have a family pic you'd like to share, I'd love to see it!

Email me - moondoggie66[at]gmail.com

Boot Sale Bargains

Fab Mags

I found a great new flickr group (well, new to me anyway). The 'Vintage Publications Home Interior' pool is well worth a look. Here are just a few of my favourites...

Vintage Click

Whilst looking through some old photos (again), I thought how a lot could fit in very nicely with this blog. So I've decided to share some of these pictures from time to time, particularly those with a mid century feel, in a feature I am calling 'Vintage Click'.

My first offering today is one I have dubbed 'Bathing Beauties'. It features my mother and her siblings in the 60s, 'swimming' in their pool. Apparently, the kids were asked one day if they would like a pool. Of course they did! They were then given shovels and told they had to dig the hole themselves!

There's not too much on show for mid-century style research in this one, but dig those bathing suit patterns!

If you would like to share one of your own pictures on 'Vintage Click', please email me.

New From MoonDoggie Designs

Have had a busy day today.

Yesterday, we bought new furniture and put it together. Today we practically rearranged the whole flat to incorporate the new pieces and get rid of other stuff.

Not stopping there, I've also finished two etsy/misi shop designs. I've only put one in the shops so far and will put the other one up for sale tomorrow.

The first is one I've already shown on this blog (Flora style) but I'd forgot to complete the package and list it in the shop.

The second is a new one that just felt right to me. I really enjoyed making it and affectionately call it 'Blobs'. Click on the image to see the packages in my shop. Blobs will be up tomorrow.

UPDATE: The 'Blobs' package is now in my etsy shop!

Bowled Over

[Apologies for the even cheesier than usual title]

How gorgeous are these bowls?!


The 'smiley bowl' by Eva Solo has a very modern look and is available at a variety of prices. All of which I am not prepared to pay for a serving bowl right now. It (or they) will have to go on my ever growing 'For When I'm rich' list.

Etsy Betsy Spider VII

Electric Dreams

There's an ad on television at the moment that really makes me take notice. Not for what they're selling but all the cool, retro footage they use in it. I especially like the house the women in bathing suits walk into.

ECO Renew Savings fr..
Watch the ad...

Tikitsch!

I've been eyeing this one off for a long time and finally bought it against the wishes of my ever suffering husband. I can understand his concerns. At first I thought this cushion cover was garish, loud and tacky. Then I realised that's what I like about it!

It has tikis. It has hula girls. It has retro style flowers. I kept thinking about this fabric, watching it on ebay and finally decided tonight that if it's had this much of an impact on me I should get it - at least for fun's sake. Dave begged me not too and has threatened to burn it. I'll take my chances. I heard him say to someone the other day that he thinks it's just a phase but I think tiki is here to stay - at least in my heart!

Buy one for yourself on ebay :)

Etsy Betsy Spider VI

Strong cheeseboard focus today - who would've thought they could be so cool? Mid-century folk of course!

Today's Style Yesterday?

flickr via Dark Roasted Blend

This image was from a book published in 1962 with predictions of life for 1975.

More pictures from "1975: And The Changes to Come" by Arnold B. Barach can be seen on Derek Bostrom's flickr.

I also found this 1968 magazine article which predicts what life will be like in 2008. So close, yet so far...

modern mechanix via [lab]oratory

To read the entire article, click on the picture.

Fancy A Cheap Shag?

Retro To Go informs me that there are two new Shag prints on the market (Tiki and Zombie). They are glorious, of course, but at $110 a pop I'll have to hold myself back.