Drink Anyone?

The Cocktail Hour is back! Martha Stewart, Emeril, Bobby Flay....even Oprah...has dedicated episodes to this popular get-together.  Cocktail Hours originated in the 1950's and continued into the mid-70's. Weekday cocktails began when Hubby arrived home from work and ended at dinnertime...usually 2 hours....and consisted of either Manhattan's (stirred) or Martini's (shaken). Saturdays tho were Cocktail Party time. Everyone had a special Cocktail Set........................................

Barware (courtesy Google search)

Kitchy Shakers.........(courtesy Google Search)

and My Fav, but only cause of what it's made out of...Aluminum..and it's mine!

There was also the Hors d' vours and foods synonimous with Cocktail hours

Cocktail Kabobs------Button Mushrooms and Cocktail Franks marinated in French Dressing

Canapes

Olives stuffed with pimento

Broiled Grapefruit

Potato chips with onion dip.....just to name a few.

The Cocktails included the Manhattan, Daiquiri, Whisky Sour, Tom Collins and others. I used my vintage BGH set of 12 specialty cookbooks for these, but you could go on the 'net and get a myriad of suggestions for vintage cocktail parties.

There were also those kitchy little extras........swizzle sticks, beanbag ashtrays, and cocktail napkins...like this one I found on the internet........................

In the 1950-60's who could forget some of the beautiful built-in bars in any Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra movies. The everyday folks I knew had these for their rumpus rooms, dens, or family rooms.....................

 I found these retro bars on the internet and had to include them....
can't you just see Luvee and Mr. Howell with Gilligan as the Bartender?

Now this is the quintisential 40's Cocktail Bar.














And this pic is of a 1960's Cocktail Bar. Understated, modern, blends in with the decor of the room.

furniture peices were available in a wide variety of styles...modern, art deco, country, My parents had one that was definately an Early American./farm house feel from the early 70's.....it's a divider between kitchen and family room and it now displays vintage bottles, glassware, teapots, and cookbooks.

 The Cocktail Hour had a dress code.....Dinner jacket for the host.....Suit or sport coat for the gentlemen.....and the ladies....................the Cocktail Dress...............(courtesy Google search).

I found these examples on the internet........ But we can't forget the Cocktail Jewelry

Rings, brooches, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Even men had Cocktail Pinky Rings.

And, the one all important accessory any Hostess had to wear was the............................................

Cocktail Apron.

They were fancy little numbers, usually made of taffetta

 Like this one...........................

I had to do a little redo on this vintage taffata beauty, but the flocked and glittered floral pattern is all original. I also added a few vintage buttons for a bit more umph. This apron is a bit unusual....it is one size fits all. The aprons I find to recreate, redo, repurpose...well.....some....okay they don't quite tie all the way...women were petite back then....but this one fits.

Now this little Cocktail Hour Cutie is probably from the late 50's- early 60's. It's tropical floral accent to commorate the our 50th state..Hawaii....I just see the Tiki Bar poolside now...

It was in excellent condition when I found it, but I did have to do a little seam repair and of course add a little cocktail bling..........................

I added 4 little cocktail charms at both pockets.

You can click the pics to enlarge.

You can visit me at Apronation if you'd like add these to your collection...both are available for $19.99. If you'd prefer you can contact me at melody@brownginghamcreations.com to arrange aquiring them.

Sorry....seems blogger had some issues and lost posts from last Wed to last night.

I was linked into Rednesday Wednesday and Three or More Wed.

Today I linked to Thrifty Things Fri. at the Thrifty Groove and Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

 Hope Blogger has taken care of it's glitches

Uh,,,wait a minute.......it is Friday the 13th...not their bad. It's the Gremlins.

It's the most.................................

........wonderful time of the year. With the kids doin lawn mowin and everyone telling you 'The yard looks so good'.....

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It's the hap-happiest season of all with those runs to the garden center and gay happy meetings when friends come to call..........

There'll be Bar-b-ques for hosting........................

drinks for toasting and laughter in the setting sun's glow. There'll be scary gardening stories.......................

and tales of the glories of projects long, long, ago................................................

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

These are pics from last year. Just click on pic for closer views.

In honor of the most wonderful time of the year I just completed a fun Brown Gingham/Apronation Creation perfect for my favorite season ..........................

This garden themed apron is perfect for the gardener, garden clubber, or garden party hostess.

It's a vintage 1950-60's 1 pocket green gingham apron with garden implement and seed packet accents.

I hand-embroidered the seed packets

to make them stand out. I've also added a wonderful find................................

it's a kitchy little coffetable book now, but in 1958 this calender was all the rage. It's filled with beautiful designs..popular in the times........................................

trends...................................................

and even an overview of the Garden Club

Yes, the book is a little time worn, but its filled with inspiration, information, and nostalgia.

If you are interested in this

Wonderful Time Of The Year,,,Garden Edition

please contact melody@brownginghamcreations.com

Happy Gardening!

Today I'm linking to Pink Saturday over at Beverly's How Sweet The Sound

Also, if you'd like to see a lot more pinkness don't miss this post HERE

Southern Lady's Vintage Vintage Love Saturday
And, to Three or More Tuesday at the Gypsy Corner

Won't you stop by......................

For some cake and coffee on your way?

I know you have a lot of other stops to make what with Thursday being filled with parties. There's Vintage Thingy Thursday, Time Travel Thursday,and Tablescape Thursday, I'm just so glad you could come. Your the first to arrive....we can have a nice visit while I finish putting things out. Hope the weather hasn't been too horrendous in you neck of the woods. As you can see we've been water logged here in Ohio. The  most water in 150 years!
I'll just put out these placemats............................................................................

You like these? Thanks. This is the first in my line of table placemats I've created. This pattern  is called,
'Tea Party'

I took denim fabric and embroidered a 1940's transfer from my collection.....Oh when you have more time I'll show my whole box full! Jim's the one who finds them..he loves to look thru old paper stuff....anyway,
then  I take coordinating papers, hand-cut them, and create the border. Then They're laminated and ready to use as placemats. I'm hoping to create a whole line..even do custom orders if some likes.
Here can you  help me? You carry these cake plates and I'll get the other. Let's sit these two on top of each other and I'll put the 'SandwichGlass' up here and use them as risors. That way I put extra slices of cake on the other tiers. See.........................................................................

that's it..what? Oh..hehe...that cake plate doesn't look like sandwich glass you collect? Well, that's cause I design'ed this 'SandwichGlass' I took a glass cakeplate and hand-painted it......................

to match the celery green of the 1940's hand-tatted rose doily leaves............................................

I bonded them together and topped with a clear glass serving plate, so the doily won't get soiled it's sandwiched between the peices of glass............

Brown Gingham 'SandwichGlass'....get it....welllllll. Yes I have other designs...cakeplates, platters.... and again I love to do custom orders...couldn't you see your Grandma's dresser scarf  you've got in that box upstairs added to a serving peice? Uh-hu I thought so.
We'd better hurry....takes these plates.....................................................................

and I'll get the cups and saucers.......

Where did these come from? You were with me when I found plates! Mom had a tumbler forever from an Aunt and has been adding to the collection. Yea, I know no mark on the bottom..They are a glass tho...white on the bottom color on the top..maybe someone who comes by may know more about them and will let me know. There.............................................................................................

Just in time....here come the others!

For Mother

I've working on some designs recently that would be perfect for Mother's Day gifts..................................

This is 'Colleen', she's a bonnie little lass, part of my Angelic Inspirations. Colleen is 70ish, but looks great for her age. After a little nip and tuck of her origianl dress, I added the pinafore overlay of a 1950's irish linen and lace hankie.

I love the satin rose and Mother script. The color matched to original blue gingham and satin skirt.

I then gave her a new 'do' and added the hairband....1960's blue gingham with coordinating rickrack. I was soooo happy the color lot matched the 40's. I added a little butterfly applique for whimsy

Her 'wings' are a 1940's hand-tatted doily gathered by more 60's rickrack.

Now 'Rose' is a bit olser that 'Colleen'

 She is from the 1930's. She is a composite doll not plastic...to find out more about composite or composition dolls go HERE......she was a model back then paired with a boy on an advertising stand. She is all original.

Her hand-crocheted dress is original and only needed a little refit. She holds a garland created by using 1940's hand-tatted trim with new ribbon roses.

Her under skirt is a 1950-60 linen rose motif linen hankie...with it's original sticker.

'Wings' are a 1940-50 hand-tatted doily in a glorious red that matched the dress. Her 'hairpeice' coordinates with the garland she holds.

Both of these Angelic Inspirations are ooak and would be a perfect Mother's Day rememberance gift.

Mom's always need to carry a lot of stuff. Be it her craft project of the moment, books, shopping items, or the myriad of doodads she has to carry for the family while out..I have a great idea......................................

A roomy canvas tote with reinforced leather bottom and handles. I embellished with vintage quilt inspired fabric with coordinating butterfly. This can even carry cans of veggies!!

Does your Mom love roses? I have created a very 'rosy' gift set just for her..........................................

This is a 1940's rose tablecloth in perfect condition.

 I then found a 1940's apron that I redid and added pocket appliques created of matching roses taken from another vintage tablecloth and vintage rickrack.

To complete the set I located 4 1940's glasses in the rose motif.

Wouldn't this make a great tablesetting for Mom as a surprise?

I have other creations at, Brown Gingham Creations that would great gifts for any ocassion.

If you're interested in any creations listed in this post please contact me at

melody@brownginghamcreations.com

Don't forget to visit  these fun parties on Wednesday

Rednesday Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Angelic Inspirations

As a little girl I loved to play with dolls, but not baby in the stroller....no they wanted to play dress up with me. Paper Dolls were sheer delight. Today I'm still playing with dolls and not ashamed to admit it. I call them my, Angelic Inspirations, that are unique individual works of art, one-of-a-kind creations. No two are ever 

alike. The dolls I prefer to use are from the 1930's to the 60's. You know the arms and legs move by rubberbands and the eyes open and close.

 

I am extremely lucky to locate these, they are becoming limited in quantity due to their fragility. I 

sometimes have do a little 'corrective surgery'  and a little 'plastic surgery' on the faces if need be. I hand apply hair to the dolls or re-do the hairdo that is there. I always try to salvage the original dress the doll came with and incorporate it into the design usually as the slip or for embellishment and then its time to create.

Vintage hankies are hand-embroidered, unless they are so fragile they begin to shred...not a good thing, but managable.... I hand-embroidered the floral pattern of this 1940's hankie. Click to enlarge for better view. 

Then the embellishments are added, such as vintage rickrack, bits of jewelry, Sworovski Crystals, etc, then the underskirt of doilies, tulle, or other textile create the slip, and wings are attached. The final step is adding the angels 'voice'. Each angel has a charm which has a word or saying that has a special meaning.

This is how an Angelic Inspiration is born................................
 One day I was in a favorite antique mall when I spied this perfectly pink hat from the 1940's

It has layers of satin petals
with velvet dangle poms...
very remeniecent of tiny pink cherries


                                  

The back had the original net and very thick velvet covered wire supports. I just knew that repurposed this hat was really a perfect pair
of Angel wings! Now, this hat, when flattened was not a petite set of wings.

I knew this angel was to be larger than I was used to. I looked for months, but none of the truely vintage dolls, the size needed was at least 18", were in the price point I needed. So, while strolling thru some dolls one day I saw this face in the crowd........................................

She is definately not old, very modern, but those big baby blues just whispered Angel and she measured 18".

Het little slip was ready for much needed embellishment and her little satin slippers were ideal. On a roll I began my next search for her dress. I already had some vintage eyelet trim for the slip and was so excited when on another foray to the antique mall saw this delightful hand-tatted doily in exact size needed...........

I think these are tulips and I just love the color detail in them. Well, Now that I have the Doll, her dress and wings, it's time to put the creation together..........................................................................

As you can see her 'halo' is made of a wreath I created from latex rose petals and silk leaves. She holds a full bloomed latex rose in the palest shade of pink accented by a satin bow and her little charm that reads, 'Faith'.

See I told you  still love to play with dolls. I can't wait to show you my other Angels again, but for now I need to head off to find other vintage goodies for some other ideas I have. Thanks for stopping by!

'Faith' is available on my website  http://www.brownginghamcreations.com/ or just leave me a comment if you would like more info on her.

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Don't forget it's Pink Saturday with Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound. You can visit all the other links thru HERE  And,  Vintage Love Saturday, over at Southern Lady's  Vintage Love thru        HERE                                    
On Tuesday visit Me and Everyone at Tam's Gypsy Corner for Three Or More Tuesday