RetroBabs Vintage

Ira is a guest blogger for this blog and for the Vesties team on Etsy.  She gives marketing tips and suggestions for all things vintage.  She specializes in plastic dishes (Melmac) and is an expert in a the field.  I appreciate her input and help with my blog. I learned from her blog that I could get a widget from Craft Cult and find out how many Treasuries our shop  has been featured in.    35 to date!  I did not know about many of them.  Very cool to find that out and interesting to click on them!! http://vintageetsysociety.blogspot.com/2010/12/marketing-101-series-issue-3-happy-new.html

I thought you Etsy fans might like to see what I make out of vintage items and I sell in my art world as Barb!  I paint in watercolors and I am a member of the Village Artists in Homewood, IL.  This is an artist co-op and we share the gallery space and the studio space.  I make these paintings to fit these vintage boxes that I find at antique shops and resale shops.  I am always coming up with new ideas.    I also use vintage items in my art displays for shows.  Here is a photo of my work displayed inside vintage suitcases.  I think it works well as the backdrop for the paintings and REMIX pottery jewelry I make.

After having spent seven months living in New Mexico I purchased a sizable pottery collection.  Many of the pieces were obtained at estate sales, garage sales, resale shops, antique stores and art galleries.  The southwest has so many wonderful potters, I couldn't help my self!  When I arrived home to Illinois I began looking up a  few of the pieces and I soon realized I had some nice mid-century modern pieces. What intrigues me about pottery is its form and function.  It has beautiful, clean, smooth lines, a true work of fine art and is usable art for everyday living.  Pottery used as a vase, drinking vessel, bowl has been around for centuries. Perhaps I will part with some of my pieces and place them in the shop, but for now I think I will keep my collection and enjoy it.  The small, dark, navy blue vessel with the black interior in the center of this photo is my own pottery creation!  I might as well have my own pottery in my collection. Enjoy, Babs

Hey folks I made a new Treasury titled Blush for the winter bride.  I think vintage can be used in all occasions even weddings. Check it out. Please click and comment. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d114b7e7e9c8eefb1cff26a/blushfor-the-winter-bride Blessings Babs

I would like to give a big shout out and thank you to Ira Mency for helping me design this new blog. I think it looks wonderful. What do you think?  Please comment and let me know. As I said in the beginning blogs when I started this thing I wanted to talk about mid-century modern furniture. I have these two Kensington Aluminum chairs and I would appreciate any comment or info anyone has about them.  The info i have found out so far is that they were from the 1950's and they were from Alcoa when aluminum was a "new metal". I found an old magazine ad about them. They two chairs that I have were purchased at a school  but they look pretty fancy for a students chair. So anyone out there that has info about these chairs let me know. They are for sale but I haven't decided on the price yet because they are so rare and unusual. Lurelle Guild, is that the designer, or design line????????

  I love this clock plate , the detail is amazing.  It's a great gift idea HERE.

Thanks to Shadowjewels for including our miniature owl painting in her Treasury. 'Forever' by shadowjewels Forever – is composed of Nows –‘Tis not a different time –Except for Infiniteness –And Latitude of Home –From this – experienced Here –Remove the Dates – to These –Let Months dissolve in further Months –And Years – exhale in Years – ~ Emily Dickinson LARGE VINTAGE TRADE CARD - C...

I have sold a wonderful Mad Men type Martini Shaker that will be used in a play . Potentially it will be in a Tennessee Williams play called THE MILK TRAIN DOESN"T COME HERE ANYMORE at the Roundabout Theatre Company starring Olympia Dukakis . That is very exciting from a vintage point of view.  We at RetroBabs always hope our wares are recycled and enjoyed by others as much as we love them. I would also like the send a shout out to Shadowjewels for making this lovely Treasury on Etsy and including our cute, little, miniature painting in her collection. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d0ac10f03066d91f12e71c1/forever

I would like to take this moment and send my deepest regards for my dear friend Ira Mency upon the death of her mother. Ira is the shop owner of RetroChalet on Etsy. Ira is a wonderful person and I send her my love and prayers. Babs

RetroBabs Vintage and ReMIx: Treasury, Vesties Team Challenge, Natural

Hello Everyone I am in a team on Etsy,  it is called Vintage Etsy Society Street Team.  Every Tuesday they have a contest /competition and they put out something they want us to make a Treasury about.  A theme so to speak. Here is my entry for todays challenge , Please click, comment, and share it.  As per the rules I have to use a certain number of my team mates. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d07fff46c296d91dc5ca57a/more-than-just-natural-neutral-and

Bec and I were featured in a wonderful holiday treasury on Etsy. We have the kitchen set, instant collection of Turquoise and Aqua items. What a great way to start my morning.  Did my yoga opened the lap and found an email from ShadowJewels.  She is the Etsy curator of this lovely Treasury.  Thanks Shadow. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d04e06080456d91b38516bc/tempt-me-turquoise

I have started a conversation with Ira Mency of RetroChalet vintage shop on Etsy. Take a look at her blog, she is an expert in Melmac and plastic  ware. I learned something from her blog.  I collect Temporama dishes in ceramic and they make them in plastic/melmac. Love it!! Thank you Ira for answering all my questions. Here is a handmade vintage Christmas NOEL sign made from yarn and plastic mesh. I will list it soon in the shop.

Here is an address to a sassy new Treasury that features our shop and a sassy apron for the Holidays.  I would like to give a shout out to Jackie at jackiedretroboutique  on Etsy for making her lovely collection. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d0014185abd6d9139857f80/a-cozy-vintage-christmas-at-the-country

Hello Etsy Fans, I just participated in an Art Show over the weekend. The group I am with is called the Vintage Artists and I found  a way to incorporate my vintage shop with my art.  I took an old vintage suitcase (you know the hard body ones, that no one uses anymore, people think they are too bulky) and a travel train case and I displayed my art work and small paintings inside them.  They were so sturdy and supported my heavy art work.  It worked out beautifully and was very helpful in the transportation of my wares. You can use vintage items in you everyday life!!  Visit RetroBabs Vintage and ReMix on Facebook and on Twitter, Just click on the badges to the right and it will take you right there.

Hello Etsy Fans If you made it this far that means you visited our shop and read our policy and profile. To reward you for such good behavior and outright LOVE, we are offering a twenty percent off coupon for you to use in our shop.  Please leave a comment here, become our fan , become a follower of this blog.  Let us feel the Love.  Thank you so much.  CODE is 12345 for 20% off-have fun shopping at RetroBabs Vintage and ReMix on Etsy. Sincerely, Babs and Bec Happy Holidays