RetroBabs Vintage

It has been a while since my last post about the shop! Many of you know that Becky is married, has 2 kids and a full-time job now so she has moved on from the shop.  She also literally moved to Wisconsin and I am so sad, I miss those grandkids.  Life goes on and things change as does Etsy.  Etsy has really stepped up their game in marketing, I have even seen commercials on TV!   I hope all of you are well and like the look of the shop.  I changed a few things but our goal is the same: To sell fabulous mid-century items to you and to preserve pieces of history in the process. I miss all of our wonderful customers. Love ya, Babs Becky, Calla 4, Wynn 6

Hello RetroBabs friends! I know it has been a bit of a long break since my last post.  Well we have had another grandchild bless our lives.  Salem Rosa was born in April of this year and we are thrilled. Isn't she precious?? But I am biased in my opinion! This was our first meeting and instant falling in LOVE. I am sure the fans of our Etsy shop are disappointed that we do not have any items listed.  I have been very busy with grandkids and a new job.  I work at a school as a para-professional for special education.  I help teach 3-5 year old children in an early education program.  I LOVE IT and I spend my days PLAYING with the kids. RetroBabs Vintage does have some ombre' painted furniture on our FaceBook page.  Just instant message me if you are interested.  You will find the FB button on the left column of this blog. These are actually a four piece bedroom set -  a mens bureau, two matching ladies dressers and a lo...

Hello  RetroBabs fans and fellow artists, I am involved in a community art project called Opportunity Knocks.  My hometown of Oak Forest has obtained 20 doors from an apartment building they were demolishing.  The alderman have put the word out that they wish these doors to be painted by the public and artists living in Oak Forest.  The doors are to be painted by artists, school children, Brownie troops, etc.  They will stand until the end of fall at which time they will be auctioned off.  Hopefully, businesses or individuals will purchase them and the money raised will go towards next years project. I promised you a glimpse of the door project. So here I am in my grubby painting clothes! This is the back of the door. I had to incorporate  the I-beam/struts into the design.  I think I did a pretty good job to camouflage those poles.  Oak Forest's 1st community art project called Opportunity Knocks. 20 painted doo...

Summer is finally here and things are cranking along at RetroBabs . Bec is busy with her two kids, Wynn and Calla.  I spend my days in the garden and going to estate sales, garage sale, thrift stores to find treasures for ya' all. Here is a Mother's Day photo I love. Wynn, Bec and Calla  (aka' BEEB) I am involved in a community art project in my town.  We are painting doors and the theme is Opportunity Knocks .  I will post a photo of the final project soon. One of the best things that happened since March involved our whole family being able to get together.  There are 17 of us now so it was quite a crowd.   My nephew, Adam Carlton, took this photo- Check out Adam Carlton Photography on FaceBook. It is hard to get babies to cooperate. At least the adults are looking at the camera!!! My latest find was a butter dish lid to my beloved Temporama dishes. Long live the thrifters.  Finding the lid ONLY was a miracle! ...

The RetroBabs shop will be having a sale for St Patrick's Day.  Hope you can take advantage of it.  10% off items from March 1st to March 17th at midnight. http://www.etsyonsale.com/sellers?referralCode=DQTTWBU7IF sale I don't know about you all but I cannot wait for SPRING to arrive. Morning Glory vine from my garden.  Don't you love that sky blue color?? Here are a few photos to get you in the spirit of spring. Have a great day! Blessings Babs

My son-in-law told me he thought "Cursive" writing was a dying art.  (CURSIVE-You know the handwriting we learned in elementary school, the Palmer Method for penmanship. ) Kids are now allowed to print their homework and handwriting is a personal choice. (I think I am showing my age!!)  He is a Graphic Designer who specializes in fonts and has created a few unique ones of his own so he must know what he is talking about. ( Check out Digital Kitchen, a graphic design firm in Chicago and the title font for the HBO series TRUE BLOOD, which is his work.) If this is truly the case then this typewriter will be fabulous for the collector. It is from the 1970's, an Escort 55 by Montgomery Ward, a vintage manual typewriter with cursive font. with a dual ribbon it types in red and black It was made in Spain and it is a CURSIVE font typewriter!!! Too bad I do not know how to spell Etsy!! They are calling it script type on this sticker which is still attach...

Happy New Year and Happy Superbowl day!  We were scheduled to have a party today but a foot of snow fell in Chicago so people kept cancelling. I cannot blame my guests but what am I to do with 5 lbs of spicy wings and a 20 inch pizza??  Hubby and I ate a few pieces and we froze the rest.  I thought you might like to see my latest project.  My mother graciously  gave me a chandelier that I believe came from my grandmother.  It is an antique and has beautiful hanging crystals.  I have always liked it and would never give it up because of the wonderful memories BUT....... it didn't really fit into my decor.  So I asked my hubby if he had anything we could put "around" it.  He has made other items for the yard as art- globes, obelisk type ornaments etc. Here is what he came up with once I described I wanted to do a Pottery Barn hack. He said the metal was from a snake  (a long ,thin piece of metal you put down a drain to unplug...