JoRetro - Eccentric Vintage & Retro Mid Century Modern Accessories

1968 C & P Telephone Company of Virginia Yellow Pages Directory for NORFOLK - PORTSMOUTH - CHESAPEAKE - VIRGINIA BEACH.

I've been letting my fingers do the walking lately through my collection of vintage Yellow Pages.  I'm fascinated by the wealth of vintage graphics, from automobiles to washing machines and everything in between.  Vintage Yellow Pages' are a small slice of life from the year they were printed.  Curious about hairstyles or furnishings?  Just glance through the ads and you'll discover a time capsule full of retro information from the year they were printed.

It's amusing the number of comical caricatures  that dominate many of the ads in this 1968 directory.....proving that early on companies recognized that humor sells products and services.

Old Telephone Books are rare.  Like most of us today, everyone tossed out last years book to make room for the new directory.  Vintage books make great gifts for Graphic Designers, Advertising Consultants and anyone that loves vintage.  For a really special gift try finding a book from the year they were born, or their home town.

This past week I went on two road trips for my day job.  The first trip was to Ohio and then a few days later to Pennsylvania.  The highlight of the two trips was the Jeepster on display at the I-95 Northbound Welcome Center, in Linwood, PA.

The new welcome center has been open about six months.  The design has a retro feel about it and the construction materials are a pleasing combination of stone, wood and steel.  What really made me take a second look was the Jeepster!  I literally walked out one door, glanced over, saw the Jeep and walked back in again.

The Jeepster is part of their permanent collection.
It, and the unique items inside the vehicle represent activities and interests found in the State of Pennsylvania.

A brief history on the original Jeep, provided by the I-95 Northbound Welcome Center.

Sadly I was so busy that I only had time to visited two Goodwill stores.  In Ohio I found three Coke trays that match one we already had, making a nice set of four.  I also bought a couple of beaded purses. 
In Pennsylvania I got a nice silk scarf, three shirts and this great Mid Century Modern table.  The top is laminate with an inlay of black and red tiles.  The three wood legs complete a perfect retro side table.  You just never know what is waiting for you on the road!

Linked to Thrift Share Monday on Apron Thrift Girl.

Anyone that knows Havre de Grace, Maryland, knows its the Decoy Capital of the World.  So it only makes sense that a family of Collectors from Havre de Grace would have a large collection of decoys.  Dad traded repair work for decoys, and acquired quite a variety over the years.  This 1982 white swan decoy by Captain Harry Jobes is my favorite.

Consider incorporating a collection into your holiday decorations.  I've used my decoys in several arrangements throughout my house.  Repeating a similar item and color creates a theme that ties my living room, dining room and kitchen together.

I choose natural elements like pine-cones and added touches of blue and gold to blend with my furnishings.  This mallard decoy was made by my best girlfriend's grandfather, Ed Sampson.

The arrangement on my kitchen mantel includes a black-walnut swan that dad had Harry Jobes make special for him.

The canvasback decoy was made by Patrick Vincenti and looks wonderful grouped with the other decoys in the kitchen.  I enjoy my collection year round, but I especial like seeing the decoys grouped with holiday decorations and natural elements. 

Think of ways you could use your collections during the holidays.  George and Barbara's Pez Dispenser covered Christmas tree at Bahoukas Antique Mall was one of the coolest uses of a collection I've ever seen. 
I'd love to hear how you decorate with your collections!

Plan a visit to the Decoy Museum if you'd like to learn more about Havre de Grace's decoy carvers.

Inspired by Tammy Loves Dishes blog, I decided to plan my Thanksgiving day table-setting using my Glidden Pottery collection.  I love the way Tammy uses several vintage dish designs and linens together to create a theme, and beautiful table-scape!
You may remember my blog "Totally in Love with Glidden Pottery" where I first shared my new obsession with Glidden pottery.  I decided to focus my collection on Ernest Sohn's Rooster design.  The whimsical design and colors blend nicely with my French Country style home. 

Because it was hard to find the rooster pottery, I expanded my collection to include the teal matrix pattern pieces.  The two designs compliment each other and coordinate with my everyday dishes too.

Each dish is hand painted and no two are exactly alike, making each dish a small work of art to be treasured!

Shown here on a vintage tablecloth is my growing collection of casserole dishes, plates in varying sizes and baking pans. It's exciting to build a collection one piece at a time!
As Thanksgiving day approaches I reflect on how thankful I am for my family and good friends.  I'm also grateful for all the wonderful people I've met through my website and antique booth.  I've learned so much from visiting your blogs.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your lives with me...................Jolene

Last weekend hubby and I traveled 130 miles west to Berkeley Springs, WV for the day.  We had plans to enjoy the fall foliage and do a little exploring.  After a wonderful lunch at Tari's Cafe, we toured the State Park and stopped in several stores in town.  I found this cool retro glass ice bucket in a shop on North Washington Street.

It's eerie that on the same day my sister Irene bought this covered candy dish at one of our regular thrifting spots.  Just a weird coincidence, or is it proof that we have narrowed our thrifting down to a very specific collection of items?  It is spooky that we bought these on the same day, 130 miles apart and nether one of us had ever seen this pattern before.  I think the smart thing to do is sell these as a set.  Some people, and even things are destine to be together.

We are keeping these two Pyrex bowls, in the pattern "Designs" together as a set too.  "Thanks Holly for finding these!"  My girlfriends are getting really good at knowing just the sort of items we love.  She bought these at her church thrift store in Pennsylvania.

Take a look at another great find from my Berkeley Springs trip.  This is a 1960 Pyrex promotional Bluebird casserole dish, with it's original caddy.  Amazing that after 50 years they are still together.   

It's always fun to discover a Pyrex design for the first time.  It's a bit more country then I normally buy, but I never pass up a dish in great condition.

Here are a few more Pyrex dishes from our thrifting adventures this past week.  I can't wait to see what we  discover next!

Linked to Thrift Share Monday on Apron Thrift Girl.

I've been finding these food warmers for the past few months at several thrift stores.  I always check the small kitchen appliance area to see if there was one tucked under the coffee machines.  Do you know that feeling when you first discover an item that you love, and then you are always on the lookout in that section of the store to discover another?  

I find the combination of rich wood, steel and glass top designs architectural and irresistible.

The maze like pattern on this small unit is one of my favorite designs.  Irene found this unit called a "Cosmopolitan", it's just the right size to keep on your desk.

This large unit reminds me of the ones my mother in-law  uses for her buffets.  She's been serving meals for a over 70 years and knows you can't keep everything warm by throwing it back into the microwave....something I've tried doing unsuccessfully at several  thanksgiving dinners.

This Salton Hotray has a rich brown color and comes with a "hot spot" in the shape of a flower.  This area will keep an item like coffee much hotter then the rest of the tray.

This small unit with the gold grape leaf design has a more traditional feel then the mod units above.  I like the way a functional item is designed to appeal to many different people, and our unique decorating styles.

These vintage units are not in the best condition, with scratches and wear, but yet I still ended up getting them....sometimes collecting an item can get out of control. 

This past week I discovered this bread warmer, not with the kitchen appliances as you would think.  The retro fabric caught my attention. The lid was off and laying inside the unit surrounded by curling irons and blow-dryers.  I'd never seen one before so I wasn't sure what it was until I placed the fabric top on it, and saw the paperwork inside. 

I was telling my girlfriend about my discovery and she knew exactly what it looked like.  She said growing up they had one they used for rolls.  She remembered how proper their dinners were, except when someone asked for a roll, then she got to open the basket and her father would toss the bread through the air to her brothers.  It made her smile, she hadn't thought about that in years....what a fond memory......I love vintage stuff!  Want to see more...

Linked to Thrift Share Monday on Apron Thrift Girl.

I always look for afghans at the thrift stores.  Most of the time I don't find anything special, or the afghans are in bad condition.  But every once in awhile I find a real gem like this knitted afghan. 

The cable knitted design adds texture, and the combination of random yarn in solids and variegated colors creates a pleasing array of stripes.

This is just the sort of thing you could make from leftover yarn.  I love the idea of creating something so beautiful, and functional out of scrap materials! 

I hated this red crocheted outfit!
Mom spent months making these Christmas outfits for us.  Irene looks cute, but I have to say this was one of the worst days of my life!  For some reason my skirt and vest are two sizes too small.........I hate red, and does anyone really think that hat looks good on a teenager? 

But I absolutely love this crocheted apron!
The details are so wonderful, from the varied pattern, to the stripes, and the pocket.....there are so many reasons to find this handmade apron desirable.

I tried my hand at crochet.....
This photo shows one of the crocheted afghans I made in my teens.  I never learned to read a pattern book like Mom, but she could teach me a design, and if it was simple enough, I could repeat it over and over again.  This afghan took forever, and ever to finish!

Mom has made thousands of projects throughout the years.  She started crocheting doilies as a young girl, and years later even taught herself how to knit.  No pattern was ever too hard for her.  She might complain about it, but in the end she always finished every project she started.
  
I don't know whatever happened to my groovy afghan, and we don't have many of Mom's creations left either.......but there are hundreds of baby blankets in circulation that she gave as gifts. 

Who knows maybe the next one I buy at the thrift store will be one of her much loved works of yarn-art!

While following the recent Hurricane Irene reports I couldn't help but associate some of the headlines with my baby sister.  Be prepared if you're in her path!

This is Irene's "terrifying face", watch-out when she's not happy!

Irene "less then expected but still a bruiser."  Irene "hammers the East Coast."  Actually I think I hammered her in this photo!

She looks so sweet, doesn't she.....but even if Irene didn't harm you directly, she still just may mess with you.  I try to stay on her good side!

Ready or not, Hurricane Irene!